Foldable Display Hinge Assembly With Helical Slider Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies for foldable electronic devices require separate components for rotation, detent, and interoperation functions, leading to increased weight, cost, and potential operational abnormalities due to gaps between components.
Innovation Solution
A unified hinge assembly integrating rotation, detent, and interoperation functions using a hinge bracket with rotators, sliders, and an elastic member, where rotators are connected through helical structures to provide synchronized folding and unfolding operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate components are used for hinge assembly and sync assembly, then rotation and interoperation functions can be achieved, but the number of components increases leading to increased weight and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hinge assembly and sync assembly into a single integrated hinge assembly. The hinge bracket serves as a common component that supports both the rotator (for rotation function) and the slider mechanism (for interoperation function). This merging eliminates the need for separate sync assembly components, thereby reducing the total number of parts, weight, and manufacturing cost while maintaining both rotation and synchronized folding functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as the structural support for rotation (via rotator connection) and as the guide for synchronized movement (via slider connection). The elastic member provides both detent function for maintaining folding positions and synchronization force for coordinated folding/unfolding of multiple housings. This multi-functionality reduces component count and overall device weight.
2Ease of operation
If separate components are used for hinge assembly and sync assembly, then rotation and interoperation functions can be achieved, but the number of components increases leading to increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hinge assembly and sync assembly into a single integrated hinge assembly. The hinge bracket serves as a common component that supports both the rotator (for rotation function) and the slider mechanism (for interoperation function). This merging eliminates the need for separate sync assembly components, thereby reducing the total number of parts, weight, and manufacturing cost while maintaining both rotation and synchronized folding functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as the structural support for rotation (via rotator connection) and as the guide for synchronized movement (via slider connection). The elastic member provides both detent function for maintaining folding positions and synchronization force for coordinated folding/unfolding of multiple housings. This multi-functionality reduces component count and overall device weight.
3Ease of operation
If separate components are used for sync assembly, then interoperation function can be achieved, but gaps between components cause interoperation differences and abnormal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the sync assembly functions directly into the hinge assembly, eliminating gaps between separate components. The slider is connected to both rotators through the hinge bracket, creating a continuous mechanical linkage that ensures synchronized folding/unfolding operations without interoperation differences or abnormal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket acts as an intermediary component that mechanically links both rotators and the slider together. This intermediary structure ensures that movements are transmitted smoothly and synchronously between the folding housings, eliminating gaps and misalignments that would occur with separate sync assembly components.
4Ease of operation
If multiple separate components are used, then rotation and detent functions can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hinge assembly and sync assembly into a single integrated hinge assembly. The hinge bracket serves as a common component that supports both the rotator (for rotation function) and the slider mechanism (for interoperation function). This merging eliminates the need for separate sync assembly components, thereby reducing the total number of parts, weight, and manufacturing cost while maintaining both rotation and synchronized folding functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as the structural support for rotation (via rotator connection) and as the guide for synchronized movement (via slider connection). The elastic member provides both detent function for maintaining folding positions and synchronization force for coordinated folding/unfolding of multiple housings. This multi-functionality reduces component count and overall device weight.
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 unified hinge assembly reduces operational differences and abnormalities, improving the quality of folding and unfolding operations by eliminating the need for separate components and maintaining a consistent relative distance between sliders, thus enhancing the overall performance and reducing the weight and cost of the device.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member 460 disposed between the first slider 440 and the second slider 450 and configured to provide an elastic force in the direction parallel with the first hinge axis Ha or the second hinge axis Hb
Implementation Method 2
the first rotator 420 may be connected to the first slider 440 and the second slider 450 through the first helical structure 423 formed in a helical shape in a direction with the first hinge axis Ha as a center
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a display, and a hinge assembly foldable together with the display and corresponding to a folding area of the display. The hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket defining first and second hinge axes, first and second rotators connected to the hinge bracket and respectively rotatable about the first and second hinge axes, first and second sliders connected to the hinge bracket, respectively slidable relative to the hinge bracket in a direction parallel with the hinge axes, and spaced apart from each other in the direction, and an elastic member between the first and second sliders and providing an elastic force in the direction. The first and second rotators respectively include first and second helical structures having a helical shape with the first and second hinge axes as a center, and are each connected to the first and second sliders through the first and second helical structures.