Hinge Unit Rotation Restriction via Clamping Abutment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge units for electronic devices, such as digital cameras, fail to effectively restrict the rotation of display units beyond a fully open position without increasing the size of the apparatus, due to the complexity of existing gear-based mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A hinge unit comprising a fixed member, a rotational shaft, a holding member, and clamping members that diametrically clamp the rotational shaft, preventing further rotation by abutting with the fixed member when the holding member reaches the fully open position, thus restricting rotation without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gear parts with protrusions and recesses are used to restrict rotation, then rotation restriction reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex gear parts with protrusions and recesses from the hinge unit. Instead of using interlocking gear mechanisms, the invention uses a simple abutment structure where the display unit exterior directly contacts the apparatus body exterior to restrict rotation, thereby maintaining reliability while dramatically reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not using active mechanical engagement (gears with protrusions) but rather passive geometric constraint (abutment of exteriors). The rotation restriction is achieved not by positive engagement but by the natural contact and geometric arrangement of the exteriors, fundamentally changing the mechanism from active to passive constraint
2Reliability
If multiple components are used in the hinge unit, then rotation restriction reliability is improved, but the size of the electronic apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotation restriction function directly into the existing hinge structure by using the exteriors of the apparatus body and display unit as the restricting elements. This eliminates the need for separate restriction components, effectively combining multiple functions into the basic hinge assembly and reducing overall apparatus size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the exteriors of the apparatus body and display unit serve multiple functions: structural enclosure, aesthetic appearance, and rotation restriction. By designing the exteriors to perform both their primary enclosure function and the secondary function of rotation restriction through abutment, the patent eliminates dedicated restriction components and reduces apparatus size
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge unit which can be positively prevented from rotating in an opening direction from a fully open position, without being increased in size. The hinge unit includes a fixed member fixed to a camera body, a rotational shaft rotatably held by the fixed member, a holding member fixed to the rotational shaft in a state holding the image display section, and a clamping member having a pair of clamping portions for diametrically clamping the rotational shaft and configured to rotate in unison with the rotational shaft. In a case where the holding member rotates in the opening direction to a fully open position, one of the clamping portions is brought into abutment with the fixed member to thereby prevent the holding member from rotating in the opening direction from the fully open position.