Hidden Split Hinge Structure for Thin Foldable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable electronic device hinges with internal teeth or ridges increase thickness, volume, and production costs, while also complicating manufacturing precision.
Innovation Solution
A hidden type split hinge design that removes internal teeth or rib structures, featuring a curved seat body with juxtaposed curved tracks and torsion units with pivoting holes and tooth portions, allowing for thinner, lighter construction and reduced component complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If internal teeth or ridges are provided on curved plates, then the hinge can achieve proper engagement and rotation, but the thickness of plates increases and the overall volume of hinges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the internal teeth or ridges from the curved plates, extracting the problematic feature that caused increased thickness and volume. Instead of having teeth embedded within the plate structure, the design uses a different engagement mechanism that does not require additional thickness, thereby reducing the overall hinge volume while maintaining functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional tooth structure embedded in the plate to a two-dimensional surface engagement mechanism. By changing the dimensionality of the engagement feature from volumetric (teeth within the plate thickness) to surface-level (ridges on the plate surface), the design achieves proper engagement without increasing plate thickness, thus reducing overall hinge volume.
2Reliability
If internal teeth or ridges are provided on curved plates, then the hinge can achieve proper engagement, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex internal tooth structures from the design, eliminating the need for high-precision manufacturing of embedded teeth. By replacing these with simpler surface ridges or alternative engagement features, the manufacturing precision requirements are significantly reduced, leading to lower production costs while maintaining engagement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a simpler, less precise engagement structure that is easier and cheaper to manufacture. By replacing complex internal teeth with simpler surface features, the design accepts a slightly less durable but much cheaper manufacturing approach, reducing production costs while maintaining sufficient reliability for the application.
3Reliability
If internal teeth or ridges are provided on curved plates, then the hinge can achieve proper engagement, but the number of components increases and production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the engagement features directly into the plate structure itself, eliminating separate tooth components. By integrating the engagement mechanism as surface ridges or contours on the curved plates rather than as separate internal tooth structures, the design reduces the number of discrete components and simplifies the overall assembly, thereby reducing production complexity while maintaining engagement reliability.
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 design reduces overall thickness, simplifies manufacturing, and meets market demands for thinner and lighter devices while maintaining structural integrity and torque stability during folding and unfolding.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion unit comprising a plurality of plates which are stacked in a transverse direction... the plates are elastically deformed to generate a restoring force
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a hidden type split hinge. First and second curved tracks are provided on a curved seat body for respectively limiting a first and second curved blocks of first and second rotating members in a way of being relatively swung. First and second torsion units are symmetrical and adjacently provided to a first side of the curved seat body, and one end of the first and second torsion units is respectively provided with first and second pivoting holes, and the first and second pivoting holes are respectively in communication with first and second elongated opening holes, first and second tooth portions are respectively provided around peripheries of the first and second pivoting holes, and the first tooth portion is engaged with the second tooth portion, and the first and second pivoting hole are axially connected to the first and second shaft ends of a first lateral surface.