Foldable Hinge Housing With Sweeper Sealing Against Debris Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable electronic devices face challenges in ensuring a seamless folding mechanism while preventing foreign substances from entering the hinge assembly, which can interfere with the operation and durability of the device.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a sweeper mechanism arranged in each housing parallel to the folding axis, ensuring that the display areas contact the hinge housing in a folded state. The sweeper partially overlaps the hinge assembly, maintaining a lower surface height in overlapping areas to prevent contact with the hinge assembly, thus sealing the gaps and preventing foreign substances from entering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hinge is provided between the cover assembly and the main assembly to support the cover assembly in a tilted state, then the display device can be used at various angles and positions, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical hinge system with a magnetic field-based support mechanism. Magnets embedded in the cover assembly interact with magnetically permeable materials in the main assembly to provide tilt support without mechanical moving parts, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the support mechanism from mechanical (fixed-angle hinge) to magnetic (adjustable-angle through field interaction). By varying the magnetic field strength and permeability characteristics, the system achieves continuous angle adjustment without mechanical complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hinge is provided between the cover assembly and the main assembly, then the cover assembly can be tilted, but the reliability decreases due to wear and loosening of the hinge over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical hinges entirely by using magnetic field interaction to provide tilt support. This contactless support mechanism avoids wear, friction, and loosening issues inherent in mechanical systems, significantly improving reliability while maintaining the tilt function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the cover assembly and main assembly to transmit support forces without direct mechanical contact. This field-based mediation eliminates physical wear while maintaining the desired tilt functionality
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hinge is provided between the cover assembly and the main assembly, then the cover assembly can be tilted, but the device width increases due to the space required for the hinge mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the space-consuming mechanical hinge with a compact magnetic field-based support system. The magnets and magnetically permeable materials can be embedded within existing device structures without requiring additional width, thereby maintaining tilt capability while minimizing device dimensions
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
This solution effectively prevents foreign substances from entering the hinge assembly, ensures smooth operation of the hinge mechanism, and enhances the overall durability and reliability of the foldable electronic device.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnet is provided in the cover assembly or the main assembly, and a second magnet is provided in the cover assembly or the main assembly... the first magnet and the second magnet are configured to apply a magnetic counteracting force against a gravitational force
Implementation Method 2
a magnetically permeable material is provided between the first magnet and the second magnet... the magnetically permeable material is configured to concentrate magnetic flux between the first magnet and the second magnet
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An electronic device according to an embodiment may include a display including a first area and a second area, a pair of housings including a first housing supporting the first area and a second housing supporting the second area, a hinge connecting the first housing and the second housing to be foldable about a folding axis, a hinge housing in which at least a portion of the hinge assembly is accommodated, and a sweeper arranged in each of the first housing and the second housing in a direction parallel to the folding axis, so that the first area and the second area contact the hinge housing based on the folded state of facing each other. The sweeper may not contact the hinge assembly.