Foldable Hinge Rotating Mechanism With SMA Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotating mechanisms in foldable electronic devices require numerous parts, leading to increased assembly complexity, cost, and inconsistency, compromising the damping hand feeling and stability.
Innovation Solution
A rotating mechanism utilizing a damping member made of shape memory alloy, which generates damping force through deformation, simplifying the structure by reducing the need for additional positioning structures and enhancing damping hand feeling and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional rotating mechanisms use mechanical spring force to provide damping, then damping hand feeling is improved, but the quantity of parts increases and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical spring-based damping system with a shape memory alloy (SMA) damping body that utilizes material deformation and phase transition properties to generate damping force. The SMA damping body deforms during rotation and generates damping force through its unique material characteristics, eliminating the need for separate mechanical spring components and reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining damping hand feeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the damping body by using shape memory alloy material that undergoes phase transitions. The SMA material changes its stiffness and damping characteristics based on temperature and stress conditions, allowing the damping force to be generated through material parameter changes rather than mechanical component interactions.
2Reliability
If conventional rotating mechanisms increase the quantity of parts to achieve specific damping, then damping performance is improved, but assembly difficulty and fitting difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the damping function directly into the rotating structure by integrating the shape memory alloy damping body within the rotating mechanism. The SMA damping body is positioned to interact with the rotating components, combining the structural and damping functions into a unified system, thereby reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying assembly processes while maintaining damping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory alloy damping body provides self-regulating damping through its inherent material properties. The SMA automatically adjusts its damping characteristics based on the rotation state and applied stress, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple precision-fitted parts. The material's phase transition behavior provides automatic damping optimization without requiring additional assembly steps.
3Force
If conventional rotating mechanisms use multiple parts to provide damping, then damping force is sufficient, but product costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs shape memory alloy, a composite material with unique properties combining elasticity, plasticity, and phase transition characteristics. The SMA damping body utilizes these composite material properties to generate sufficient damping force through a single integrated component, replacing multiple conventional parts and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining or enhancing damping performance.
4Ease of operation
If conventional rotating mechanisms increase parts quantity for damping, then damping hand feeling is achieved, but product consistency is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the multi-component mechanical damping system with a shape memory alloy damping body, reducing the number of parts that require assembly and fitting. This substitution minimizes variability introduced by manual assembly processes and part tolerances, leading to more consistent damping hand feeling across different products. The single-piece SMA component eliminates fitting difficulties and assembly variations inherent in multi-part mechanical systems.
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 provides improved damping hand feeling and stability with reduced parts, simplifying assembly and maintaining consistent performance across different states.
Implementation Method 1
the damping body is made of a shape memory alloy. When the first synchronization swing arm and the second synchronization swing arm are in a folded state, the damping body is in a first state, where the first state is an initial state of the damping body
Implementation Method 2
The first synchronization swing arm is rotated relative to the fastening base to drive one end of the damping body to rotate, the first synchronization swing arm and the second synchronization swing arm are relatively unfolded from the folded state, and the damping body is in a second state, where the second state is that the damping body is deformed and generates damping force relative to the first synchronization swing arm
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a rotating mechanism and a foldable electronic device. The rotating mechanism includes a fastening base, a first synchronization swing arm, a second synchronization swing arm, and a damping member. The first synchronization swing arm and the second synchronization swing arm are respectively mounted on two opposite sides of the fastening base in a width direction and are rotatably connected to the fastening base. The damping member includes a baffle plate and a damping body, the damping body is connected between the first synchronization swing arm and the baffle plate, two opposite ends of the damping body are disposed along a length direction of the fastening base, and the damping body is made of a shape memory alloy.