Foldable Hinge Mechanism With Retracting Pin for Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinge mechanisms in foldable electronic devices face mechanical interference when the display unit rotates over 180 degrees, hindering heat dissipation and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism incorporating a fixed member, a rotary member, a pin, and multiple gear sets that allow the pin to protrude and retract, creating a gap for heat dissipation while avoiding interference by engaging and disengaging gears as the rotary member rotates, ensuring smooth operation and efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the display unit rotates over 180 degrees with respect to the input unit, then the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but mechanical interference occurs affecting convenience of usage
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism employs dynamic gear engagement and disengagement based on rotation angle. The pin is movable and can switch between engaged and disengaged states with the gear, allowing the mechanism to adapt its behavior depending on the rotation range, thus enabling both >180° rotation for heat dissipation and controlled engagement for usability
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism changes the positional parameter of the pin relative to the gear based on rotation angle. When rotation exceeds a certain angle, the pin disengages from the gear, changing the mechanical constraint state and allowing continued rotation for heat dissipation while maintaining control during normal operation
2Temperature
If a movable bottom cover is provided to form a gap for heat dissipation, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism combines multiple functions into a single mechanical structure. The gear and pin system simultaneously provides rotation control, position limiting, and enables the bottom cover movement for heat dissipation, merging what would otherwise be separate mechanisms into one integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The movable pin in the hinge mechanism serves multiple purposes: it engages with the gear to control rotation during normal use, disengages to allow >180° rotation for heat dissipation, and its movement itself creates the gap needed for cooling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components
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 mechanism effectively prevents mechanical interference and enhances heat dissipation by allowing the pin to automatically adjust its position, ensuring efficient cooling and improved user experience in foldable electronic devices like laptops.
Implementation Method 1
a first gear set, and a second gear set. The first gear set has a first teeth-uncompleted gear and a first driven gear coupled to each other, wherein the first teeth-uncompleted gear is affixed to the rotary member, and the first driven gear is affixed to the pin
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism is provided, including a fixed member, a rotary member pivotally connected to the fixed member, a pin, a first gear set, and a second gear set. The first and second gear sets are connected to the fixed member and the rod and respectively have a teeth-uncompleted gear. When the rotary member rotates relative to the fixed member from an initial angle to a first angle, the first gear set drives the pin to rotate in a first direction. When the rotary member further rotates relative to the fixed member from the first angle to a second angle, the second gear set drives the ping to rotate in a second direction, which is the opposite of the first direction.