High-Strength Hinge Cover Structure to Prevent Foldable Phone Imprints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The formation of imprints on the hinge cover due to the internal structure of foldable-screen terminals affects the overall aesthetics and degrades user experience when the hinge cover is manufactured lightweight.
Innovation Solution
The hinge cover is made of a material with a yield strength greater than 300 MPa, such as titanium alloy or high-strength steel, and incorporates features like threaded columns, positioning columns, and shielding plates to enhance structural strength and reliability, while maintaining a lightweight design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the hinge cover is manufactured lightweight, then the weight is reduced, but an imprint is prone to be formed on the hinge cover due to the internal structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter (yield strength) to greater than 300 MPa, transforming the hinge cover from lightweight but soft material to high-strength material that resists deformation. This parameter change allows the hinge cover to maintain lightweight design while preventing imprint formation from internal structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies using titanium alloy or high-strength steel materials, which are composite or alloy materials that provide both low density and high strength properties. These composite materials enable the hinge cover to achieve both lightweight and high strength requirements simultaneously.
2Strength
If the hinge cover is made of high-strength material, then the resistance to imprint formation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hinge cover body and threaded column into an integrally formed structure. This combining of parts simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of components and assembly steps, while the integral structure also enhances strength to prevent imprints.
Solution Approach 2:
By specifying a yield strength threshold (>300 MPa) rather than using specific material grades, the patent provides flexibility in material selection and manufacturing processes. This parameter-based approach allows manufacturers to choose from various materials and processes that meet the strength requirement without being constrained to a single manufacturing method.
3Weight of moving object
If the thickness of the hinge cover body is reduced, then the weight is reduced, but the strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter (yield strength to >300 MPa) to compensate for reduced thickness. By using high-strength materials, the hinge cover body can be made thinner for weight reduction while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the superior material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of titanium alloy or high-strength steel composite materials enables thin-section design while maintaining strength. These materials have high strength-to-density ratios, allowing the hinge cover to achieve both reduced thickness for weight reduction and sufficient strength for structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a hinge cover, a foldable-screen terminal, and a method for manufacturing a hinge cover, and relates to the field of foldable-screen terminal technologies, to resolve a problem that when a hinge cover is lightweight, an imprint is prone to be formed on an outer surface, affecting overall aesthetics. The hinge cover includes a hinge cover body and a threaded column. The hinge cover body has an inner surface. The threaded column is disposed on the inner surface of the hinge cover body, and the threaded column is configured to be connected to a structural member of a foldable-screen terminal. Material yield strength of the hinge cover is greater than 300 MPa. The hinge cover provided in this application is applied to the foldable-screen terminal.