Foldable Hinge Mechanism With Nested Cam Damping in Thin Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge mechanisms for foldable electronic devices struggle to maintain stability and damping while being thinned to match the trend of lighter and thinner devices, leading to reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism comprising a main shaft assembly, housing fastening brackets, rotating modules, and damping modules, which includes cam mechanisms and elastic members to provide damping and support, allowing for a compact and reliable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge mechanism uses a large-size structure to provide damping resistance, then the damping force and stability are improved, but the size and thickness of the hinge mechanism increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damping component is nested within the rotating assembly structure, with the cam mechanism integrated into the swing arm assembly. The elastic member is positioned within the damping component housing, creating a compact nested arrangement that provides sufficient damping force without increasing overall hinge mechanism volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism transforms the rotational motion of the swing arm into axial movement of the damping component, utilizing a different dimensional approach to achieve damping functionality. The cam surface profile converts rotational displacement into linear compression of the elastic member, enabling effective damping in a compact space.
2Length of moving object
If the hinge mechanism is thinned to match light and thin electronic devices, then the device thickness is reduced, but the damping resistance and support force decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is designed with optimized local geometry where the cam surface profile is specifically shaped to provide maximum damping force within the limited axial space. The elastic member is positioned at the location where it can most effectively counteract gravitational and operational forces on the swing arm, achieving high support force in a thin profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping component utilizes composite structural design combining rigid cam surfaces with flexible elastic members. The cam mechanism provides structural integrity and force transmission, while the elastic member provides damping compliance, creating a composite system that delivers high performance in a compact thickness.
3Volume of moving object
If the hinge mechanism uses a compact structure to reduce size, then the device thickness is reduced, but the complexity of the damping mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping mechanism is merged with the rotating assembly, where the cam mechanism is integrated into the swing arm structure rather than being a separate component. The elastic member is combined with the damping component housing, reducing the number of discrete parts and simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides damping resistance, limits the rotation range of the swing arm, and transforms rotational motion into linear compression of the elastic member. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall mechanism while achieving compact size.
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 proposed hinge mechanism enhances the stability and damping of foldable electronic devices, reduces the size of the hinge mechanism, and maintains reliability, ensuring smooth operation and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the first elastic member gradually rebounds in the compressed state, and releases accumulated elastic potential energy, to push the second cam to slide toward the first cam
Implementation Method 2
the first cam can push the second cam toward the first limiting block, and the second swing arm can push the fourth cam toward the second limiting block
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism includes a main shaft assembly, a first housing fastening bracket, a rotating module, and a first damping assembly. The rotating module includes a first swing arm, the first swing arm is rotatably connected to the main shaft assembly, and the first swing arm is slidably connected to the first housing fastening bracket. The first damping assembly includes a first cam, a second cam, a first elastic member, and a first limiting block, the first cam is disposed on a side that is of the first swing arm, the second cam is located on a side that is of the first cam and that is away from the first swing arm, the second cam is slidably disposed on the first housing fastening bracket in a axial direction of the hinge mechanism, a cam surface of the second cam abuts against a cam surface of the first cam.