Hinge Assembly Axial Distance Adjustment for Buckling Prevention

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hinge assemblies for flexible electronic devices are complex, costly, and heavy, leading to buckling issues when the device is flipped or bent.

Innovation Solution

A hinge assembly with a joint assembly comprising first and second plates, link components, and support components, where the link components have engaging holes and guide portions that allow shafts to move within slots, changing axial distances between shafts to prevent buckling, while maintaining a simpler structure for reduced manufacturing costs and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional hinge assembly structure is used to prevent buckling, then the device does not buckle when flipping or bending, but the structure becomes very complicated resulting in higher manufacturing cost, larger size, and higher weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuckling preventionVSAvoidhinge assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly is divided into multiple joint components, each independently hinged to the next. Each joint component includes plates, link components, and support components that can move independently, allowing the system to prevent buckling through distributed segmental movement rather than a single complex structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge assembly incorporates movable link components with guide portions that slide within slots on the plates. This dynamic structure allows the axial distance between shafts to change during operation, enabling the device to adapt to bending and flipping motions while maintaining simplicity in the overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a conventional hinge assembly structure is used to prevent buckling, then the device does not buckle when flipping or bending, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuckling preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly is divided into multiple joint components, each independently hinged to the next. Each joint component includes plates, link components, and support components that can move independently, allowing the system to prevent buckling through distributed segmental movement rather than a single complex structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The link component serves multiple functions: it connects plates, provides guidance through its guide portion sliding in slots, enables axial distance adjustment between shafts, and prevents buckling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby lowering manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a conventional hinge assembly structure is used to prevent buckling, then the device does not buckle when flipping or bending, but the size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuckling preventionVSAvoidhinge assembly weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly incorporates movable link components with guide portions that slide within slots on the plates. This dynamic structure allows the axial distance between shafts to change during operation, enabling the device to adapt to bending and flipping motions while maintaining simplicity in the overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge assembly uses thin plate structures with slots and lightweight link components with engaging holes and guide portions. These thin-walled yet structurally effective components prevent buckling while minimizing the overall weight of the assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS20180038141A1Hinge Assembly for Electronic Device

Publication Date: 2018.02.08 SHIN ZU SHING CO LTD

AI summary

A hinge assembly for an electronic device includes a joint assembly including joint components hinged one by one. Each joint component includes a first plate, a second plate, and a link component disposed between the first and second plates. Each of the first and second plates has two first slots diametrically extending in a first direction. The first plate has a second slot disposed between the two first slots and diametrically extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The second plate has a third slot disposed between the two first slots and diametrically extending in a third direction mirror-symmetrical to the second direction with respect to the first direction. The link component has an engaging hole and a guide portion. The engaging hole is corresponding to one of the first slots of each of the first and second plates, and the guide portion is formed on a surface of the link component and movable within the second or third slot. Movement of the guide portion causes the link component to move, and the engaging hole moves corresponding to the one of the first slots of each of the first and second plates along the first direction, thus changing an axial distance between the shafts.