Foldable Hinge Magnet Mechanism for Stable 360° Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable electronic devices face instability issues when the screen is flipped and attached to the host, requiring additional fasteners to maintain the folded state, which complicates design and hinders thinness and lightness.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device equipped with a movable magnetic component comprising a counterweight wheel and a carrier, where the pivot joint of the counterweight wheel is eccentric to its gravity center, allowing it to rotate by gravity and drive a magnet in the carrier to move closer or away from the body surfaces, generating a magnetic attracting force to maintain the folded state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If additional fasteners are added to fix the first and second bodies together in folded state, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fasteners with a magnetic field-based retaining mechanism. Magnets embedded in the first and second bodies generate magnetic attraction forces that hold the bodies together in folded states, eliminating the need for additional mechanical fasteners and reducing device complexity while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the retention mechanism from mechanical (fasteners) to magnetic (magnetic field strength). By adjusting magnetic field parameters such as magnet strength and positioning, the system achieves stable retention without adding mechanical components, thus improving stability while avoiding increased device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different mechanisms are disposed for different surfaces to accommodate screen folding, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal magnetic retention mechanism that functions across all folding states and surfaces. The same magnet arrangement in the first and second bodies provides retention for front-facing, back-facing, and side-facing folded configurations, eliminating the need for different mechanisms for different surfaces while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic retention system automatically adapts to different folding configurations without requiring additional mechanisms. The magnetic attraction force self-adjusts based on the relative positions of the bodies in various folded states, providing universal adaptability through a single mechanism rather than multiple specialized mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional fasteners and mechanisms are added to maintain folded state, then stability is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky mechanical fasteners with compact magnets that can be embedded within the body structures. This substitution maintains stability through magnetic attraction while minimizing additional thickness, as the magnets integrate into the existing body geometry rather than adding external protruding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnets are nested within the first and second bodies, with the magnetic retention mechanism integrated into the existing structural geometry. This nesting approach allows the retention system to occupy minimal additional space, maintaining stability without significantly increasing device thickness.
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 ensures stable folding and unfolding without additional fasteners, saving space and maintaining the magnetic attracting force across different folding states, preventing the device from falling apart.
Implementation Method 1
The counterweight wheel is rotated in the second body by gravity in response to a posture of the second body
Implementation Method 2
the first magnet and the second magnet move closer to each other to generate a magnetic attracting force
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a foldable electronic device including a first body, a first magnet disposed in the first body, a second body, a hinge connected to the first body and the second body, a counterweight wheel pivoted to the second body, a carrier pivoted to the second body, and a second magnet disposed in the carrier. The first body and the second body are rotated relatively by the hinge to be folded or unfolded and converted between a 0-degree state and a 360-degree state. An end portion of the counterweight wheel is connected to the carrier, the pivot joint between the counterweight wheel and the second body is eccentric to a gravity center of the counterweight wheel, and is located between the end portion and the gravity center. The counterweight wheel rotates by gravity in response to a posture of the second body.