Foldable Device Hinge With Integrated Rotary Brackets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinges for foldable electronic devices have a large number of components and complex structures, leading to high manufacturing and assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring two guide frames, a transmitting assembly, a frictional torque generating assembly, and rotary brackets, where each rotary bracket is integrally formed with an arcuate pivot portion, actuating portion, and frictional surface, reducing the number of components and facilitating assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hinges use multiple separate components (guide frames, rotary brackets, cams, shafts, coupling mechanisms), then the synchronizing mechanism and frictional torque generating mechanism can be formed, but the number of components increases and structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary bracket and cam frame are merged into a single integrated component. The rotary bracket includes an arcuate pivot portion pivotably connected to the guide frame, an actuating portion coupled with the transmitting assembly, and a frictional surface that contacts the thrust plate. This integration eliminates separate cam frames and reduces the total component count while maintaining the frictional torque generating mechanism's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary bracket serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a pivot connection element, a torque transmission element through its actuating portion, and a frictional torque generating element through its frictional surface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components.
2Reliability
If conventional hinges use multiple separate components, then the required mechanisms are formed, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the rotary bracket and cam frame into one component, the number of manufacturing operations, quality inspections, and assembly steps is reduced. The integrated component can be manufactured as a single piece or pre-assembled unit, lowering production complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If conventional hinges use integrally formed synchronizing and frictional torque generating mechanisms, then component number is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex within each component
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated rotary bracket is segmented into distinct functional portions: the arcuate pivot portion for pivotable connection, the actuating portion for transmitting assembly coupling, and the frictional surface for torque generation. This segmentation within integration allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall component unity.
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 simplified design reduces manufacturing, assembly, and inspection costs while ensuring synchronous rotations and stable retention of device parts in unfolded and folded states.
Implementation Method 1
a frictional surface which is in frictional contact with a respective one of the thrust plates
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge includes two guide frames spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction, a transmitting assembly interposed between the guide frames, a frictional torque generating assembly having two opposite thrust plates, and two rotary brackets disposed opposite to each other. Each rotary bracket includes an arcuate pivot portion pivotably connected with the respective guide frame, an actuating portion coupled with the transmitting assembly to actuate the transmitting assembly, and a frictional surface in frictional contact with the respective thrust plate to bring synchronous rotations of the arcuate pivot portion, the actuating portion and the frictional surface, and to make synchronous and opposite rotations of the rotary brackets.