Gravity-Biased Support for Automatic Device Orientation Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable electronic device supports fail to automatically adjust their orientation based on the presence or absence of a device, leading to instability and inconvenience in charging and data transfer processes.
Innovation Solution
A support system with a rotatable seat and strategically placed center of gravity that biases the system to remain in a device-receiving position when a device is not present and switch to an upright position when a device is inserted, utilizing a base and seat design with a device-receiving groove defined by front, back, and side walls, allowing for easy docking and viewing angles without additional mechanical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the support uses a fixed orientation design, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot automatically adjust between device-receiving and upright positions
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses the weight of the portable electronic device itself to trigger the automatic orientation change. When a device is placed in the groove, its weight causes the support to pivot from a horizontal device-receiving position to a vertical upright position, enabling automatic adjustment without external actuators or complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The support changes its orientation parameter (angular position) based on the presence or absence of a device. The design allows the support to exist in two stable states (horizontal when empty, vertical when device is present) by carefully positioning the pivot point and center of gravity, enabling automatic state transition without additional control mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the support is designed to remain in device-receiving position without device, then it is stable for charging, but it cannot automatically switch to upright position for viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates a counterbalance mechanism where the weight distribution is designed so that when a device is placed in the groove, the combined center of gravity shifts, causing the support to naturally pivot to the upright position. This uses gravitational force as a counterbalance to achieve automatic position switching while maintaining stability in each state.
3Extent of automation
If the support uses additional mechanical components for automatic orientation change, then automation is improved, but the design becomes more complex and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses the weight of the portable electronic device itself to trigger the automatic orientation change. When a device is placed in the groove, its weight causes the support to pivot from a horizontal device-receiving position to a vertical upright position, enabling automatic adjustment without external actuators or complex mechanical components.
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
Enables automatic and stable orientation changes between device-receiving and upright positions without user intervention, facilitating easy docking, charging, and data transfer while maintaining a compact and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
A centre of gravity of the support may be selected to bias the support to remain in a device-receiving position when no portable electronic device is received therein and bias the support to remain in an upright position when the portable electronic device is received therein
Data Source
AI summary
A support includes a device-receiving groove for receiving a portable electronic device. A center of gravity of the support being selected to bias the support to remain in a device-receiving position when no portable electronic device is received therein and bias the support to remain in an upright position when the portable electronic device is received therein.