Foldable Terminal Hinge Structure for Quiet Gap-Free Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinge devices for flexible display panels in portable terminals are complex, prone to vibrations and noise, and increase component costs due to interlocking structures that cannot evenly fold both ends of the display panel at the same angle, leading to changes in length and increased thickness.
Innovation Solution
A hinge device with interlocking gears and blades that distribute load through radial protrusions and a tension mechanism, allowing stable folding and unfolding without gaps, reducing vibrations and noise, and simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional interlocking structures with gears are used to fold flexible display panels, then the hinge device can provide folding function, but the structure becomes complex and component costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex gear interlocking mechanism from the hinge device and replaces it with a simplified blade-based folding mechanism. The hinge device achieves folding functionality through the relative movement of first and second blades connected to the flexible display panel, eliminating the need for traditional gears and interlocking structures while maintaining the essential folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using gears to drive the folding motion, the patent inverts the approach by allowing the blades to move relative to each other directly through controlled friction and mechanical constraint. The folding action is achieved by the blades sliding past each other rather than through gear rotation, fundamentally reversing the traditional mechanism approach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional interlocking structures with gears are used, then folding function is provided, but vibrations and noise are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gear components that generate vibrations and noise during engagement and disengagement. The blade-based mechanism operates through smooth relative movement and controlled friction, eliminating the impact and grinding noises characteristic of gear interlocking structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes controlled friction between the blades to achieve stable folding without the harmful vibrations and noise of gear engagement. The friction force, which could be considered a harmful resistance, is instead harnessed to provide controlled, quiet operation and stable positioning during the folding process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional interlocking structures are used, then folding capability is achieved, but durability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the complex interlocking structures and gears that have multiple potential failure points. The simplified blade mechanism with fewer moving parts and no meshing components significantly reduces wear and mechanical failure risks, thereby improving durability and reliability of the folding operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hinge devices are used for flexible display panels, then folding function is provided, but the thickness of the portable terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bulky gear mechanisms and interlocking components that increase the thickness of conventional hinge devices. The blade-based folding mechanism requires minimal space between the first and second bodies, enabling a thinner overall profile for portable terminals with flexible display panels.
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 device improves durability, reduces vibrations and noise, and lowers component costs by distributing loads and simplifying the manufacturing process, ensuring stable folding and unfolding of flexible display panels.
Implementation Method 1
the first interlocking gear and the second interlocking gear may be mounted on the corresponding housing in such a way as to rotate relative to each other by a predetermined angle around gear shafts by engaging with each other
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of first gear-side protrusions and second gear-side protrusions may be arranged radially in circumferential directions around the gear shafts, and on the undersides of the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade a plurality of first blade-side protrusions and second blade-side protrusions engaging with the first gear-side protrusions and the second gear-side protrusions through rotations
Implementation Method 3
a tension mechanism may further include elastic members elastically installed at the interlocking portions between the first and the second hinge blade and the first and the second tension blade
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge device of a portable terminal with a foldable structure according to the present invention includes: housing positioned between one end of a first body and one end of a second body; first hinge blade and second hinge blade fixed to the first body and the second body, respectively, and supported against the housing to rotate at a predetermined angle between an ‘unfolded position’ in which the first body and the second body are placed on the same horizontal line and a ‘folded position’ in which the first body and the second body face each other and thus come into contact with each other; and first interlocking gear and second interlocking gear for interlocking the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade with each other so that the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade move relative to each other, wherein the first interlocking gear and the second interlocking gear are mounted on the corresponding housing in such a way as to rotate relative to each other by a predetermined angle around gear shafts by engaging with each other and, on the upper sides of the first interlocking gear and the second interlocking gear a plurality of first gear-side protrusions and second gear-side protrusions are arranged radially in circumferential directions around the gear shafts, and on the undersides of the first hinge blade and the second hinge blade a plurality of first blade-side protrusions and second blade-side protrusions engaging with the first gear-side protrusions and the second gear-side protrusions through rotations are arranged radially in circumferential directions around rotary axes of the first and second hinge blades.