Foldable Hinge Assembly With Plate Cam for Thin Smooth Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies in flexible electronic devices face challenges with decreased elastic force due to reduced thickness, leading to torque generation and component interference, which affects smooth folding and unfolding operations.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly design featuring a hinge bracket with fixed cams and rail structures, incorporating rotating cams and elastic members, and a pin member to maintain sufficient force while minimizing thickness and component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the thickness of the electronic device is decreased, then the device becomes thinner and more compact, but the diameter of the cylindrical cam structure and spring decreases causing a decrease in elastic force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a cylindrical cam structure to a plate-shaped cam structure, changing the geometric dimension from three-dimensional cylindrical to two-dimensional planar. This allows the cam to maintain sufficient lever arm length and mechanical advantage while reducing the overall thickness of the hinge assembly, thereby resolving the contradiction between device thinness and elastic force generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the cam structure from cylindrical (radius, height) to plate-shaped (length, width, thickness), optimizing the distribution of material and force transmission paths. This parameter transformation enables the maintenance of adequate elastic force while reducing the thickness dimension of the overall assembly.
2Force
If the spring is mounted on the exterior of the hinge assembly to compensate for decreased elastic force, then the elastic force is increased, but torque is generated and the cylindrical cam structure tilts toward the gap between components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring from the external mounting position and integrates it within the hinge assembly structure. The spring is positioned to act directly on the plate-shaped cam, eliminating the need for external mounting that caused torque generation and tilting. This integration resolves the contradiction by maintaining elastic force while preventing operational interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate-shaped cam acts as an intermediary element between the spring and the hinge components. It transforms the linear elastic force of the spring into rotational motion while maintaining proper alignment and preventing tilting. This intermediary structure eliminates the torque-related interference that occurred with external spring mounting.
3Length of stationary object
If the cylindrical cam structure is tilted, then the elastic force of the spring cannot be sufficiently relayed and interference between components occurs, but reducing the cam size is necessary for thinner devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cam from a cylindrical three-dimensional structure to a plate-shaped two-dimensional structure. This dimensional transformation allows the cam to maintain adequate size for reliable force transmission within the constrained thickness of the hinge assembly, preventing both tilting and component interference while ensuring sufficient elastic force relay.
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 design ensures smooth operation and reduced weight, thickness, and cost by generating sufficient force without torque-related interference, enhancing the folding and unfolding functionality of electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member 424 providing an elastic force to the second hinge member 422 in a direction in which the rotating cam 4223 presses the fixed cam 413a or 413b
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An electronic device includes a display including a first area, a second area, and a folding area that is between the first area and the second area, a first housing configured to support the first area, a second housing configured to support the second area, and a hinge assembly configured to connect the first housing to the second housing and operate between a folded state and an unfolded state, in which the first area and the second area face each other in the folded state, and the first area and the second area do not face each other in the unfolded state, in which the hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket including a pair of fixed cams and a pair of first rail structures that defines a pair of hinge axes and a pair of hinge structures rotatably connected to the pair of first rail structures, respectively, in which each of the pair of hinge structures includes a first hinge member of which one side is connected to the first housing or the second housing, and the other side is rotatably connected based on a hinge axis along the first rail structure, a second hinge member connected to the first hinge member to integrally rotate with the first hinge member based on the hinge axis and including a rotating cam interoperating with the fixed cam on one side, and an elastic member providing an elastic force to the second hinge member in a direction in which the rotating cam presses the fixed cam, in which the second hinge member is pivotable with respect to the first hinge member based on a pivot axis perpendicular to the hinge axis.