Hinge Speaker for Foldable Device Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, often have fixed speaker locations that reduce music playing quality in various usage states due to obstruction by rotating bodies.
Innovation Solution
A foldable electronic device design featuring a speaker integrated into the hinge mechanism, allowing it to be hidden or exposed based on the rotation angle between the device's bodies, ensuring optimal audio performance across different usage modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the speaker location is fixed in conventional foldable devices, then the device structure is simple, but the audio quality deteriorates in certain usage states due to obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker is integrated into the hinge body rather than being fixed in one location, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation as the device rotates between different usage states (laptop mode, tablet mode, etc.). This dynamic configuration ensures the speaker remains unobstructed and optimally positioned for audio output regardless of the device's current configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The speaker is merged with the hinge body structure, combining the audio output function with the mechanical connection structure. This integration allows the speaker to move naturally with the hinge rotation, eliminating the need for separate speaker mounting mechanisms and ensuring optimal audio performance across all usage states.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device allows rotation to multiple angles for different usage modes, then the adaptability improves, but the complexity of the pivoting mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism is segmented into two independent hinge joints: a first hinge connecting the first body to the hinge body, and a second hinge connecting the second body to the hinge body. Each hinge can rotate independently around its own axis, allowing the device to achieve multiple usage angles and configurations without requiring a single complex multi-degree-of-freedom mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge body serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural connector between the first and second bodies, provides the pivoting mechanism for rotation, and houses the speaker for audio output. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while enabling versatile usage modes.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable electronic device includes a first body, a second body and a hinge body. The hinge body is pivoted to the first body around a first pivoting axis and pivoted to the second body around a second pivoting axis so that the first body is able to rotate relatively to the second body. When the first body rotates to a first position relatively to the second body, a first front surface of the first body is closed to a second front surface of the second body on a closing plane, and a pivoting plane where the first pivoting axis and the second pivoting axis are located on and the closing plane are oblique to each other.