Foldable Hinge Damping Assembly for Stable Hover Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hinge mechanisms in foldable electronic devices struggle to maintain a stable hover state in the intermediate position, affecting user experience due to insufficient damping force.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism incorporating a damping assembly with elastic modules and friction assemblies, featuring tapered grooves and gear members that generate friction force to retain the device in any rotation state, combined with cam faces for additional damping, ensuring stable retention and hover functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a damping assembly is used to provide damping force for retention of folded or unfolded state, then the device can maintain stable folded or unfolded state, but the damping force is insufficient to implement hover in the intermediate state
Solution Approach 1:
The damping assembly is segmented into multiple independent friction assemblies (at least two), each capable of providing friction force. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the force generation across multiple components, enabling sufficient total friction force to be achieved while maintaining stability in folded, unfolded, and intermediate states.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the friction assemblies by configuring them with tapered grooves and engagement surfaces that can be adjusted in geometry and material properties. This allows optimization of the friction coefficient and contact area, thereby tuning the friction force to provide adequate hover capability in intermediate states while maintaining stable retention in folded and unfolded states.
2Ease of operation
If friction assemblies with tapered grooves are used to generate friction force, then hover function in intermediate state is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction assemblies are merged with the existing rotation assembly components, such that the friction assemblies utilize the rotational motion already present in the hinge mechanism. The tapered grooves and engagement surfaces are integrated into the swing arms and connecting components, combining the friction force generation function with the existing rotational structure, thereby achieving hover function without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction assemblies serve multiple functions: they provide friction force for hover in intermediate states, contribute to damping force for stable retention in folded and unfolded states, and work synergistically with the elastic modules. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If elastic modules are used to provide elastic force, then the structure can be simplified, but the force provided is insufficient for reliable state retention
Solution Approach 1:
The damping assembly uses a composite approach combining elastic modules (providing elastic force) with friction assemblies (providing friction force). This composite structure leverages the advantages of both mechanisms: the elastic modules provide a simplified structural basis with inherent force, while the friction assemblies supplement this with additional controllable force through friction, together achieving reliable state retention without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction assemblies act as a counterbalancing force mechanism to the elastic modules. When the elastic force becomes insufficient for reliable state retention, the friction assemblies provide additional opposing friction force to compensate. This counterbalancing approach ensures that the total force (elastic + friction) remains sufficient for reliable retention across all states without requiring a proportional increase in elastic module size or 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 proposed hinge mechanism effectively stabilizes the foldable electronic device in all rotation states, enhancing user experience through improved state retention and damping forces, with decoupled friction and damping forces providing redundancy for prolonged device reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the tapered face abuts against a groove face of the tapered groove under an action of elastic force of the elastic module
Implementation Method 2
relative motion between the tapered face and the groove face of the mounting groove can generate friction force. The friction force can be applied to a foldable electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
The hinge mechanism includes a base, a first rotation assembly, a second rotation assembly, and a damping assembly. The damping assembly includes an elastic module and an even number of friction assemblies. Each friction assembly includes an intermediate shaft and a gear member. The intermediate shaft includes a shaft body and a mounting part. The shaft body is connected to the base. The mounting part is disposed on the shaft body. The mounting part has a tapered groove. The gear member includes an insertion part. The insertion part has a tapered face, and the insertion part is inserted into the tapered groove. The tapered face abuts against a groove face of the tapered groove under an action of elastic force of the elastic module. A first swing arm of the first rotation assembly and a second swing arm of the second rotation group rotate around the base.