Foldable Display Hinge Assembly With Integrated Detent Slider
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies in foldable electronic devices require separate components for rotation, detent, and interoperation functions, leading to increased weight and cost, and face limitations in torque and lifespan of elastic members due to repeated folding and unfolding operations.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly integrating rotation, detent, and interoperation functions through a slider mechanism, featuring a hinge bracket, rotators, a slide bracket, and a detent assembly with a cam and elastic member, allowing for perpendicular force application to enhance lifespan and torque performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate components are used for hinge assembly and sync assembly, then rotation function and detent function can be implemented, but the number of components increases and weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hinge assembly and sync assembly into a single integrated unit. The hinge bracket serves dual purposes as both the hinge assembly and sync assembly, eliminating the need for separate components. This merging reduces the total number of parts while maintaining both rotation and detent functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. It acts as the hinge assembly enabling rotation, and as the sync assembly enabling synchronized folding operations. The cam mechanism within the hinge bracket provides both detent function and synchronization capability, making the component universal in its functionality.
2Reliability
If separate components are used for hinge assembly and sync assembly, then rotation and detent functions can be achieved, but weight and cost of the electronic device increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the hinge assembly and sync assembly into one integrated hinge bracket, the total weight of the mechanism is reduced. Instead of having separate components that each contribute to the overall weight, a single multi-functional component is used, eliminating redundant materials and reducing total weight.
3Reliability
If elastic member interoperates with cam during repeated folding and unfolding, then detent function is achieved, but torque limit and lifespan of elastic member are constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is arranged to receive force in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, changing the dimensional orientation of force application. This perpendicular arrangement optimizes the elastic member's workload distribution, reducing stress concentration and extending its operational lifespan during repeated folding and unfolding cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the elastic member arrangement from parallel to perpendicular relative to the rotation axis. This parameter change optimizes the mechanical advantage and stress distribution, allowing the elastic member to withstand repeated cycles of folding and unfolding with extended lifespan.
4Power
If elastic member receives force perpendicular to rotation axis, then torque application and lifespan are enhanced, but component arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optimized component arrangement achieves enhanced torque application through the perpendicular elastic member configuration, while the overall complexity is managed by integrating all components within the single hinge bracket structure. The merging of functions compensates for the increased arrangement complexity.
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 integrated hinge assembly provides improved lifespan and torque capabilities while reducing component count and weight, enhancing the functionality and efficiency of foldable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member arranged to receive a force in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the hinge assembly. The cam and the elastic member may provide a detent force perpendicular to the rotation axis
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a display including a first area, a second area, and a third area between at least the first area and the second area, a first housing configured to support the first area, a second housing configured to support the second area, and a hinge assembly configured to connect the first housing to the second housing and operate between a folded state in which the first area and the second area face each other and an unfolded state in which the first area and the second area are open. The hinge assembly may include a hinge bracket, a first rotator connected to the first housing and rotatably connected to the hinge bracket based on a first hinge axis, a second rotator connected to the second housing and rotatably connected to the hinge bracket based on a second hinge axis, a slide bracket slidably connected in a first axis direction parallel with the first hinge axis or the second hinge axis by interoperating with rotations of the first rotator and the second rotator, and a detent assembly configured to provide a detent force resisting movement of the slide bracket in the first axis direction.