Foldable Phone Hinge Synchronization for Flexible Screen Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable flexible screen mobile phones face damage due to uneven pressure or tension during folding, as the flexible screen is a fragile component, and existing hinge mechanisms fail to distribute force evenly.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism comprising a main shaft component, swing arm component, and synchronization component, where swing arms rotate around different axes and synchronization arms are geared to ensure even force distribution on the flexible screen, reducing the likelihood of damage and accommodating the screen during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hinge mechanism is used, then the mobile terminal can be folded, but the flexible screen experiences uneven pressure or tension during folding, leading to deformation and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is divided into multiple independent components: a main shaft component, multiple swing arm components (first and second swing arms), and synchronization components. Each swing arm independently supports one side of the flexible screen, allowing separate control and force distribution. This segmentation enables precise management of forces applied to different regions of the flexible screen during folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing arm components act as intermediary elements between the main shaft and the flexible screen. These swing arms transmit and distribute forces from the main shaft to both sides of the flexible screen in a controlled manner, ensuring even force distribution. The synchronization component serves as another intermediary that coordinates the movement of both swing arms, maintaining balanced force application throughout the folding process.
2Volume of moving object
If the hinge mechanism rotates by 180° in ultra-thin accommodation space, then the terminal achieves compact folding, but the flexible screen is at risk of damage due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The swing arm components are designed to rotate within the ultra-thin accommodation space created by the nested structure of the hinge mechanism. The first and second swing arms are positioned within the space defined by the main shaft and synchronization components, allowing 180° rotation without requiring additional external space. This nested arrangement enables compact folding while protecting the flexible screen from damage.
3Volume of moving object
If swing arms rotate around different axes, then accommodation space is formed during rotation, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second swing arms rotate around different axes, creating an asymmetric rotation pattern that efficiently utilizes the available space. This asymmetric design allows the swing arms to trace different rotational paths, forming the necessary accommodation space for the flexible screen during folding. While this increases structural complexity compared to symmetric rotation, it enables the compact 180° folding capability required for ultra-thin design.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide a hinge mechanism and a foldable mobile terminal. A swing arm component and a synchronization component are disposed on both sides of a main shaft component of the hinge mechanism, so that when a swing arm rotates around the main shaft component, a synchronization arm on a same side as the swing arm rotates accordingly to drive a synchronization arm and a swing arm on the other side to rotate, and further, housings on both sides of the foldable mobile terminal including the main shaft component can move synchronously, and force of a flexible screen is relatively even. In addition, because swing arms on both sides of the main shaft component rotate around different axes, through such a design, accommodation space that can accommodate the flexible screen can be formed during rotation of the swing arms, so that damage to the flexible screen is reduced.