Foldable Screen Hinge Gear-Rack Structure to Prevent Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable screen designs face challenges with high assembly accuracy requirements, potential jamming due to dust accumulation in sliding rail slots, and a lack of diversity and flexibility in mobile device designs.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a simplified rotating structure with matched gears and a rack, which reduces the risk of jamming and enhances smoothness during screen folding. The design includes a connecting rod assembly to limit screen support movement, ensuring stable and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple pairs of meshing gears are disposed in the hinge, then the screen can be driven to fold and unfold, but the assembly accuracy requirement becomes extremely high and jamming occurs with slight deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple gear functions into a single gear structure. The gear includes both a first gear portion that meshes with the rack to drive folding, and a second gear portion that meshes with another rack to drive rotation. This integration reduces the number of separate gear components from multiple pairs to a single unified gear, thereby reducing assembly accuracy requirements while maintaining the screen folding function.
Solution Approach 2:
The single gear structure performs multiple functions: it drives the first rack for folding motion, drives the second rack for rotation motion, and provides structural support for the hinge assembly. This multi-functionality replaces what previously required multiple separate gear components, reducing complexity and assembly precision requirements.
2Ease of operation
If a sliding rail slot is disposed to guide folding, then the screen can be guided during folding, but dust enters the slot after use and causes unsmooth movement and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding rail slot mechanical guidance system with a gear-rack mechanical transmission system. Instead of relying on a sliding rail that is exposed to dust, the invention uses enclosed gear and rack mechanisms that provide guidance and motion control through meshing teeth, eliminating the dust-entry problem while maintaining smooth motion guidance.
3Area of moving object
If larger screens are used to meet consumer needs, then browsing and video viewing experience is improved, but the device becomes harder to carry and holds poorly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic foldable screen structure that transitions between folded and unfolded states. The hinge mechanism with gear-rack transmission enables smooth, controlled folding and unfolding motions, allowing the screen to adapt between large display area configuration and compact portable configuration. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by providing both large screen area when needed and compact form factor for portability.
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 achieves a stable working state with high reliability, reduces jamming occurrences, and enhances the user experience by improving the smoothness of screen folding and the overall feel of the electronic device.
Implementation Method 1
The rack is located between the first gear and the second gear, and includes a meshing part and a connecting part. Two opposite side surfaces of the meshing part are provided with a gear tooth structure, one side of the meshing part meshes with the first gear, and the other side meshes with the second gear.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a screen support, a hinge support, a gear, a rack, and a connecting rod assembly. The gear is fastened to the screen support through the hinge support. The gear is meshed with the rack for transmission. The rack is rotatably connected to the connecting rod assembly. The connecting rod assembly is slidably connected to the screen support.