Foldable Hinge Power Generation for Battery-Recharging Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld touch screen devices are cumbersome for precise interaction and limited in viewing capacity, and their rigid nature hinders portability, while existing foldable devices inefficiently utilize mechanical energy for recharging.
Innovation Solution
A foldable touch screen display device with flexible or tiled segments that can change size, incorporating a power generation system using hinge mechanics to recharge batteries, featuring a central hinge mechanism with integrated power generators and ratchet mechanisms to optimize energy translation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the display size is increased to improve viewing capacity and interaction precision, then the device becomes more cumbersome and less portable
Solution Approach 1:
The display device employs a flexible display that can dynamically change its form factor between folded and unfolded states. When folded, the device achieves compact portability similar to a smartphone; when unfolded, it provides a larger display area comparable to a tablet, allowing the device to adapt its physical state based on usage requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The display is divided into multiple flexible segments that can be folded relative to each other around a hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows the single display to present different effective areas depending on whether it is folded or unfolded, resolving the contradiction between compact size and large display area
2Ease of operation
If a hinge mechanism is added to enable folding functionality, then portability is improved, but mechanical energy is wasted without utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism, which previously represented wasted mechanical energy, is now coupled to a power generation system. The mechanical energy expended during folding and unfolding operations is converted into electrical energy through electromagnetic induction, transforming what was previously a loss into a beneficial power source for charging the device battery
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses its own operational mechanics (folding and unfolding) to generate power for itself. The hinge movement that is inherent to the device's portability function now simultaneously serves to recharge the battery, creating a self-sustaining energy system
3Adaptability or versatility
If the display is made flexible to enable folding, then portability and size adaptability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible display is divided into multiple segments that can be manufactured separately and then assembled around a hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows each segment to be produced using standard flexible display manufacturing processes, while the overall folding functionality is achieved through the assembly of these segments, making the complex flexible folding structure more manufacturable
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
Enables convenient size adjustment and efficient power recharging through mechanical energy harvesting, enhancing interaction precision and portability while providing a versatile form factor from phone to tablet-like functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a power generation system that can utilize the inherent hinge mechanics of a foldable device such that when a force is applied to the hinge of the device, that mechanical energy can then be translated to a generator to ultimately recharge the batteries embedded within the device
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable touch screen display device made up of flexible or tiled display segments that can be folded from a compact state to an expanded state which also includes a power generation system. The form factor of the compact state is roughly the size of a typical handheld phone or smaller. The form factor of the expanded state is roughly the size of a larger phone or tablet computer, which may also include the mechanical functionality of a laptop. The device form factor may also be a flip phone configuration. Both folded states may include an integrated speaker and microphone. The power generation system utilizes the force applied to the hinge of the device to ultimately recharge the batteries embedded within the device. The device may further include sensors to indicate the position of each display segment. In one embodiment, a module attached to, situated within, or otherwise associated with at least one segment of the flexible display or rigid display may contain all or substantially all processing and memory, along with a communications system, which may be used in any folded state.