Hinge Mechanism for Display Stability in Selfie Photography
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Solution Overview
Problem
The thickness of the display unit with a liquid crystal display in electronic devices, such as digital cameras, causes contact issues when pivoted around a rotational shaft, leading to instability in opening and closing mechanisms, especially during self-portrait photography where the display needs to be visible.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design featuring a first and second housing with an opening and closing device that includes a stand, a pivotable base plate, a movable slide plate, a bias unit, a movement restriction system, and a movement bias system, allowing the display unit to be stably opened and closed without corner contact, enabling the display to be visible during self-portrait photography.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display unit is pivoted around a rotational shaft with respect to the device main body, then the display can be viewed from various angles including front-facing positions, but the corner portions of the display unit and device main body come into contact with each other during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The opening and closing device is divided into multiple functional segments: a base plate pivotally connected to the device main body, a movable plate connected to the display unit, and intermediate connection elements. This segmentation allows independent movement and positioning of each component, preventing corner contact while enabling display rotation to various angles including front-facing positions for selfie photography.
Solution Approach 2:
A movable plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the base plate and the display unit. This intermediate component facilitates smooth relative movement between the display unit and device main body during opening and closing operations, eliminating direct corner contact while maintaining stable connection and enabling versatile display positioning.
2Device complexity
If a simple pivotal connection is used between the display unit and device main body, then the structure is simple, but the opening and closing process is unstable due to corner contact
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism is segmented into a base plate, movable plate, and connection elements, transforming a simple pivotal connection into a multi-stage movement system. This segmentation prevents corner contact instability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular component design.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structure transitions from a static simple pivot to a dynamic multi-stage mechanism where the movable plate can shift position relative to the base plate during opening and closing. This dynamic adjustment capability ensures stable operation throughout the movement range while accommodating the thickness of the display unit.
3Ease of operation
If the display unit is moved to a front-facing position for selfie photography, then the display is visible to the photographer, but the thickness of the display unit causes contact with the device main body during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The movable plate serves as an intermediary that enables the display unit to achieve a front-facing position for selfie photography without direct corner contact with the device main body. This intermediate component absorbs the thickness issue and facilitates smooth, stable movement to the desired position.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening and closing device incorporates dynamic movement capabilities that allow the display unit to transition smoothly to front-facing positions. The multi-stage connection mechanism adapts during movement, maintaining stability throughout the trajectory and enabling reliable selfie photography operation.
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 enables stable opening and closing of the electronic device, preventing corner contact and allowing the display to be visible during self-portrait photography, enhancing usability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a bias unit configured to bias the movable plate to the base plate in a direction from the first position to the second position
Implementation Method 2
the movement restriction system is configured to restrict, by locking between the first member and the second member, movement of the base plate with respect to the stand and movement of the movable plate with respect to the base plate
Implementation Method 3
a movement bias system configured to bias, during movement of the base plate from the opened position to the closed position, the movable plate to move from the second position toward the first position in accordance with the movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~3D
AI summary
The present invention is an electronic device including a first housing, a second housing, and an opening and closing device for opening and closing the second housing with respect to the first housing between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the opening and closing device includes a stand that is disposed in the first housing; a base plate that is pivotably borne by the stand; a movable plate that is disposed in the second housing and that is movably disposed in the base plate, wherein the movable plate is configured to move between a first position where the movable plate overlaps with the base plate and a second position where the movable plate protrudes from the base plate; a bias unit configured to bias the movable plate to the base plate in the protruding direction; a movement restriction system that is formed of a first member and a second member, wherein during a state in which the base plate is at the closed position, the movement restriction system is configured to restrict, by locking between the first member and the second member, movement of the base plate with respect to the stand and movement of the movable plate with respect to the base plate; and a movement bias system configured to bias, during movement of the base plate from the opened position to the closed position, the movable plate to move from the second position toward the first position in accordance with the movement, wherein the first member is integrally formed with one of the first housing and the second housing.