Foldable Screen Hinge With X-Shaped Support for Thin Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile electronic terminals with inward-foldable flexible screens face challenges in minimizing thickness while supporting left and right rotating support plates, as existing designs struggle to efficiently utilize space when flattened and folded.
Innovation Solution
A hinge with a cross structure support mechanism, featuring rotatable left and right rotation support plates that incline into the middle housing when folded and cover the housing when flattened, utilizing a synchronous reverse rotation mechanism and reset springs to minimize motion space and thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the left and right rotating support plates are designed to rotate into the middle housing when folded, then the thickness of the terminal is reduced, but the support structure becomes complex and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The support parts are nested within the middle housing structure, with the left and right support plates rotating into the hollow space of the middle housing when folded. This nesting approach allows the support function to be integrated within the existing housing structure rather than adding external components, thereby reducing overall thickness while maintaining support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support parts are designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The left and right support plates can rotate between different positions (supporting when flattened, retracting when folded) based on the terminal's state. This dynamic design allows the same structure to serve multiple functions across different terminal configurations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support parts rotate to form a cross structure when flattened, then the support stability is improved, but the motion space required increases the terminal thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The support parts achieve stability not through extensive rotation in one plane, but by utilizing three-dimensional spatial arrangement. The cross structure is formed by the spatial positioning of left and right support plates at different angles, creating stability through volumetric configuration rather than large planar motion, thus reducing the required motion space.
Solution Approach 2:
The left and right support plates are designed with asymmetric rotation angles relative to their respective main support plates. This asymmetric design allows the formation of a stable cross structure while optimizing the use of available space within the middle housing, preventing unnecessary motion space consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the rotating support plates are allowed to rotate freely over a large range, then the ease of operation is improved, but the space required for rotation increases the terminal thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The support parts are designed to rotate only to the extent necessary to achieve the support function, rather than allowing full free rotation. The rotation range is deliberately limited to what is needed for the cross structure formation and support provision, eliminating unnecessary motion space while maintaining adequate operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation angle parameters of the support parts are precisely controlled and optimized. By changing the specific rotation angle parameters from arbitrary values to optimized values, the design achieves sufficient operational freedom while minimizing the space required for rotation, thus reducing terminal thickness.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge for a mobile electronic terminal having an inward-foldable flexible screen is provided in the present invention. A support structure having a left rotation support plate and a right rotation support plate is provided in a middle housing; the support structure comprises a support part of the left rotation support plate and a support part of the right rotation support plate; the support part of the left rotation support plate and the support part of the right rotation support plate are rotatable parts; the support part of the left rotation support plate and the support part of the right rotation support plate rotate to form a cross structure, so as to support the left rotation support plate and the right rotation support plate when the electronic terminal having the inward-foldable flexible screen is flattened. By means of the X-shaped cross structure, the left and right rotation support plates in the middle can be stably supported when the terminal is flattened, the motion angle of the support structure is reduced, only a small motion space is needed, and a requirement of reducing the thickness of the terminal is met while it is ensured that the left and right rotation support plates are supported.