Foldable Hinge Shielding Structure for Easy Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional folding apparatuses for flexible displays have complex shielding structures that complicate maintenance and replacement, as they require adaptive sliding with rotation of housings.

Innovation Solution

A folding apparatus with a rotating mechanism that includes a main shaft assembly, first and second transmission arms, and first and second rotating arms, where shielding members are fixedly connected to these arms, allowing them to slide relative to the transmission arms to shield the main shaft assembly, simplifying maintenance and replacement by exposing them for direct removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If shielding plates are disposed on the folding apparatus surface to shield internal parts, then the appearance effect is ensured, but the structure becomes complex and maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance effectVSAvoidshielding structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding structure is divided into multiple shielding members (first shielding member and second shielding member) that are separately disposed on different housings. Each shielding member can be independently maintained or replaced without affecting the entire shielding system, thus simplifying maintenance while ensuring appearance effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding members are designed to move relative to the housings during folding and unfolding operations. They adaptively slide along with the rotation of housings, maintaining proper positioning and shielding function throughout the range of motion without requiring complex fixed structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If shielding plates adaptively slide with rotation of housings, then shielding function is maintained during folding, but the structure becomes complex and replacement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptive sliding capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance and replacement ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding structure is segmented into multiple independent shielding members that can be individually accessed and replaced. Each shielding member is separately mounted on its respective housing, allowing technicians to replace only the damaged component without disassembling the entire folding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding members are designed as separable components that can be easily removed from the housings. The connection structures allow for straightforward extraction and replacement of shielding members, significantly improving maintenance efficiency while preserving the adaptive sliding function during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If complex shielding structure is used to ensure appearance effect, then shielding function is improved, but maintenance time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshielding functionVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding system is divided into multiple independent shielding members that can be individually maintained. This segmentation allows for rapid replacement of only the affected component rather than the entire shielding assembly, dramatically reducing maintenance time while maintaining effective shielding function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding members are designed as easily replaceable components with simpler structures. This approach allows for quick replacement of worn or damaged shielding members without requiring complex tools or procedures, reducing maintenance time and costs while ensuring continuous shielding protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4382756B1Folding device and electronic apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~3a
Figure 4

AI summary

This application discloses a folding apparatus and an electronic device. The folding apparatus includes a first housing, a rotating mechanism, and a second housing that are sequentially connected. The rotating mechanism drives the first housing and the second housing to be folded or unfolded relative to each other. The rotating mechanism includes a main shaft assembly, a first transmission arm, a first rotating arm, a first shielding member, a second transmission arm, a second rotating arm, and a second shielding member. The first transmission arm is connected between the main shaft assembly and the first housing, the first rotating arm is rotatably connected to the main shaft assembly and is slidably connected to the first transmission arm, the first shielding member is fixedly connected to a first sliding arm, the second transmission arm is connected between the main shaft assembly and the second housing, the second rotating arm is rotatably connected to the main shaft assembly and is slidably connected to the second transmission arm, and the second shielding member is fixedly connected to a second sliding arm. When the folding apparatus is unfolded, the first shielding member and the second shielding member approach each other to shield the main shaft assembly. The electronic device in this application has a simple structure and is easy to disassemble and maintain.