Foldable Housing Assembly Hinge Positioning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foldable electronic devices face challenges in providing a robust and flexible housing assembly that allows for seamless folding and unfolding while maintaining the structural integrity and display quality of large screen devices, often resulting in deformation and limited user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A housing assembly comprising a first and second housing with a connecting module that includes a connecting member, a coupling member, positioning members, and a hinge shaft, where the coupling member is slidably coupled to the housings and the positioning members guide the hinge shaft to prevent detachment and deformation, allowing for flexible folding and unfolding configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large display panel is used to improve user experience and visual effect, then the screen size is increased, but the device becomes difficult to carry due to large size
Solution Approach 1:
The housing assembly is divided into a first housing and a second housing that can rotate relative to each other, allowing the large display panel to be segmented across two separable sections. This enables the device to be folded into a compact form for portability while maintaining the large total display area when unfolded.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting module enables dynamic transformation between folded and unfolded states through rotational movement. The housing assembly can transition from an extended configuration providing large screen area to a compact folded configuration for easy carrying, adapting to different usage scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If the housing assembly is made flexible to allow folding and unfolding, then portability is improved, but structural integrity and display quality may be compromised due to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into rigid first and second housing sections connected by a specialized connecting module. This segmentation allows the majority of the structure to remain rigid for stability while only the connecting portion provides flexible rotational movement, preventing deformation of the display panel and maintaining structural integrity during folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting module acts as an intermediary between the first and second housings, providing a controlled hinge mechanism that enables folding while maintaining structural stability. This intermediary component absorbs the mechanical stress of folding and unfolding, protecting the display panel and housing structure from deformation.
3Device complexity
If a simple connecting mechanism is used to reduce device complexity, then manufacturing is easier, but the connecting mechanism cannot provide sufficient support and positioning during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting module integrates multiple functions into a single assembly: it provides rotational connectivity between housings, positions the hinge shaft through positioning members, supports the coupling member during sliding movement, and enables both folded and unfolded configurations. This multi-functionality achieves reliable positioning without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A housing assembly (100) includes a first housing (10) and a second housing (20). The housing assembly (100) includes a connecting module (30) coupled between the first housing (10) and the second housing (20). The connecting module (30) includes a connecting member (31) and a coupling member (32). The connecting member (31) is coupled between the first housing (10) and the second housing (20). The coupling member (32) includes a hinge shaft (329) with two sliding rods (3291) and a positioning member (34"). The positioning member (34") includes a first end (341") and a second end (342") opposite the first end (341"). The first end (341") is coupled to the connecting member (31), and the second end (342") defines a positioning groove (348"). The sliding rods (3291) are slidably coupled to the positioning groove (348"), and the hinge shaft (329) is slidably coupled to the positioning groove (348").