Hinge Mechanism With Slider Locking For Laptop Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-joint hinge mechanisms in laptop computers are unsafe and unstable due to multiple rotational degrees of freedom, leading to operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism design incorporating rotary members, sliders, and shafts with guiding channels and cavities, where sliders restrict rotation between members, allowing controlled angular movement and torque application to manage rotational degrees of freedom, ensuring safe and stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-joint hinge mechanism is designed with more than one rotational degree of freedom, then the hinge mechanism provides greater flexibility and movement capability, but the operation becomes unsafe and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism dynamically controls the rotational degrees of freedom by allowing sliders to move between recesses and cavities. When a slider is in a recess, it locks one rotational DOF; when moved to a cavity, it unlocks that DOF. This dynamic switching enables the mechanism to provide flexibility when needed while maintaining stability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider acts as an intermediary element between the rotary member and the member with the guiding channel. It mediates the rotational movement by selectively engaging with either the recess (locking) or the cavity (unlocking), thereby controlling which rotational DOF is active at any given time and preventing simultaneous rotation of multiple joints.
2Device complexity
If a conventional hinge mechanism is used to pivotally connect the screen with the main body, then the connection is simple, but the hinge mechanism has large dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is nested within the member structure, moving between a recess (part of the member) and a cavity (in the shaft). This nesting arrangement allows the locking and unlocking mechanisms to be integrated within the existing hinge components rather than adding external elements, thereby reducing the overall volume while maintaining the multi-DOF capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism is provided, including a rotary member, a first member, a second member, a first shaft, and a first slider. The first member has a first guiding channel. The second member pivotally connects to the first member and has a first recess. The first shaft pivotally connects the rotary member and the first member, wherein the first shaft has a first cavity. The first slider is movable between the first recess and the first cavity. When the first slider is located in the first recess, the first member is prohibited from rotating relative to the second member by the first slider. When the first slider slides from the first recess along the first guiding channel to the first cavity, the rotary member is prohibited from rotating relative to the first member by the first slider.