Foldable Phone Hinge Friction Assembly for Compact Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hinge structure of foldable phones in existing technologies occupies a large volume due to the use of concave-convex wheels and springs, which increases the overall size and compromises the thinness and lightness required for improved user experience.
Innovation Solution
A hinge structure incorporating a base, swing arm assembly, rotating shaft, friction plate, and compression spring, where the swing arm assembly includes damping plates and a friction plate, and the compression spring provides elastic restoring force to enhance rotational friction, all of which are sleeved on the rotating shaft to reduce volume while maintaining damping effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If concave-convex wheels and springs are used in the hinge structure, then damping effect is improved, but volume of the hinge structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the damping plate, friction plate, and compression spring into a single integrated assembly that is sleeved on the rotating shaft. This merging of components achieves the damping effect while significantly reducing the overall volume compared to separate concave-convex wheel and spring assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping plate, friction plate, and compression spring are nested within each other and sleeved on the rotating shaft, with the compression spring positioned between the damping plate and the swing arm assembly. This nested arrangement minimizes the volume occupied by the damping mechanism while maintaining its functionality.
2Reliability
If concave-convex wheels are used to achieve damping, then rotational friction is increased, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the damping function and friction generation into a single integrated assembly comprising the damping plate, friction plate, and compression spring. This eliminates the need for separate concave-convex wheels and reduces structural complexity while maintaining the required rotational friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing arm assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the structural connection for rotation, houses the damping mechanism, and generates the necessary friction through the interaction between the damping plate and friction plate. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces the overall volume of the hinge structure while enhancing damping and rotational friction, improving the user experience by providing a smoother opening and closing operation with reduced transmission loss.
Implementation Method 1
elastic restoring force of the compression spring acts on surface contact between the at least two damping plates and the friction plate
Implementation Method 2
rotational friction force between the at least two damping plates and the friction plate can be increased
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A hinge structure and an electronic device pertain to the technical field of electronic products. The hinge structure includes a base (301), a swing arm assembly (302), a rotating shaft (303), a friction plate (304), and a compression spring (305). The rotating shaft (303) is disposed on the base (301), both the swing arm assembly (302) and the friction plate (304) are disposed on the rotating shaft (303), and the swing arm assembly (302) is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft (303). The swing arm assembly (302) includes at least two damping plates (3021), the at least two damping plates (3021) are sleeved on the rotating shaft (303), the at least two damping plates (3021) are rotatably connected to the rotating shaft (303), the friction plate (304) is disposed between the at least two damping plates (3021), the at least two damping plates (3021) are in contact with the friction plate (304), the compression spring (305) is sleeved on the rotating shaft, and the compression spring (305) abuts against the swing arm assembly (302).