Foldable Device Hinge Stops to Prevent Post-Drop Stuttering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices, such as foldable mobile phones or tablets, experience movement stuttering in their hinge mechanisms due to relative movement of components after a fall, preventing normal unfolding.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with swing arm assemblies featuring a support plate, first and second swing arms, and a connection member, including stop parts and avoidance slots, to prevent the support plate from inserting into the avoidance slot during a fall, ensuring smooth unfolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hinge mechanism allows the support plate to move freely during folding/unfolding, then the device can be switched between states smoothly, but the support plate may insert into the avoidance slot during a fall causing movement stuttering
Solution Approach 1:
The second stop part is preliminarily positioned at the first avoidance slot to prevent the support plate from inserting into the slot during a fall. This preliminary protective measure counteracts the potential harmful action before it occurs, ensuring that even if the device falls, the support plate cannot move into the avoidance slot and cause movement stuttering.
Solution Approach 2:
The second stop part acts as an intermediary element between the support plate and the first avoidance slot. It mediates the interaction by physically blocking the support plate from reaching the avoidance slot, thus preventing the harmful effect while allowing normal folding and unfolding operations to proceed smoothly.
2Strength
If the support plate is stopped by the first stop part to prevent over-extrusion of the bending area, then the display is protected from damage, but the support plate may still insert into the avoidance slot causing stuttering
Solution Approach 1:
The second stop part is preliminarily positioned at the first avoidance slot to prevent the support plate from inserting into the slot during a fall. This preliminary protective measure counteracts the potential harmful action before it occurs, ensuring that even if the device falls, the support plate cannot move into the avoidance slot and cause movement stuttering.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopping function is segmented into two distinct parts: the first stop part that prevents over-extrusion of the bending area, and the second stop part that prevents insertion into the avoidance slot. This segmentation allows each stop part to perform its specific protective function independently, ensuring both display protection and prevention of movement stuttering.
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 hinge mechanism prevents movement stuttering and ensures the foldable device can be normally unfolded, protecting the display area from damage.
Implementation Method 1
The connection member is slidably connected to the first swing arm
Implementation Method 2
The connection member is capable of sliding relative to the sliding part
Implementation Method 3
the second stop part is configured to stop the support plate, to prevent the support plate from being inserted into the first avoidance slot
Implementation Method 4
the second stop part may press against the support plate to stop the support plate
Implementation Method 5
both the first swing arm and the second swing arm are capable of being rotatively connected to the base
Implementation Method 6
both the first swing arm and the second swing arm are capable of being rotatively connected to the base
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
This application relates to the field of foldable electronic device technologies, and provides a hinge mechanism and a foldable electronic device, to resolve a problem, in a related technology, that a hinge mechanism is prone to movement stuttering after the foldable electronic device falls. The hinge mechanism includes a base and swing arm assemblies connected to the base. The swing arm assembly includes a first swing arm, a second swing arm, a support plate, and a connection member. The connection member is slidably connected to the first swing arm. A sliding part and a first stop part are disposed on the second swing arm, the sliding part is located on a back side of the support plate, and the first stop part is disposed at an end part that is of the second swing arm and that is close to the base, and is configured to stop the support plate at a position of the first stop part. A first avoidance slot for avoiding the connection member is formed between the first stop part and the sliding part, a second stop part is further disposed at a position of the first avoidance slot, and the second stop part is configured to stop the support plate, to prevent the support plate from being inserted into the first avoidance slot. This application may be applied to an electronic device such as a mobile phone.