Foldable Hinge Housing Buffer Structure for Drop Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices face damage from external impacts due to the transmission of forces to internal structures, particularly affecting the display and digitizer components when the device is dropped.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device design incorporating a hinge housing with protruding structures on the housings and a protective member to maintain a distance from the hinge housing during impacts, preventing it from entering the interior and causing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the device is designed as a foldable structure to increase screen size while maintaining portability, then the screen area is increased and portability is maintained, but the internal structure becomes more vulnerable to impact damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a protective member (buffer structure) that is pre-installed between the hinge housing and the display/digitizer components. This buffer structure is positioned in advance to absorb and dissipate impact energy before it can reach and damage the fragile internal components, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining a compact foldable structure and protecting against impact damage.
2Volume of moving object
If the hinge housing is positioned close to the display components to maintain a compact structure, then the device size is reduced, but the display and digitizer become more susceptible to deformation during drops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a protective member (buffer structure) as a mediator between the hinge housing and the display/digitizer components. This intermediary element physically separates components that would otherwise be in close proximity, allowing the device to maintain a compact form factor while the buffer structure absorbs impact forces and prevents direct transmission to the fragile components.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hinge structure is exposed to maintain a simple design, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the internal structure is more exposed to external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the housing structure into distinct components: a main housing and a separate protective member (buffer structure). This segmentation allows the protective member to be independently designed and positioned to specifically address impact protection needs, while the main housing maintains its simple hinge structure for ease of manufacture. The protective member acts as a separate protective layer without complicating the fundamental hinge design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A foldable electronic device may include a first housing, a second housing, at least one hinge structure that connects the first housing and the second housing, a flexible display that is positioned on the first housing, the second housing, and the at least one hinge structure, and a hinge housing in which at least a portion of the at least one hinge structure is seated, and the first housing includes a first protruding structure, at least a portion of which overlaps one side of the hinge housing with respect to a first direction that faces the hinge housing when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state.