Foldable Hinge Stop Structure for Over-Folding Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable electronic devices face challenges in reliably controlling the included angle in a flattened state, leading to potential over-folding and damage to the flexible display due to large size and fitting tolerance variations in rotational fitting parts.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism is introduced, comprising a main shaft, housing supports, and a flatness stop mechanism with stop structures and connecting rods, which restricts the rotation of housing supports in the unfolding direction, ensuring precise control of the included angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the thickness size of a stop plane between rotational fitting parts is used to control the included angle, then the structure is simple, but the reliability of control is low due to large size and fitting tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The stop mechanism is segmented into multiple components: a stop structure with a stop surface, a connecting rod with a stop groove, and a stop protrusion. This segmentation allows for more precise control of the included angle by distributing the stopping function across multiple interacting elements rather than relying on a single stop plane, thereby improving control reliability while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting rod acts as an intermediary element between the stop structure and the rotational fitting parts. It transmits the stopping force through the stop groove and stop protrusion interaction, enabling precise control of the included angle without requiring direct contact between large rotational fitting parts, thus improving control reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If large size rotational fitting parts are used, then the structure is stable, but the fitting tolerance is large leading to over-folding
Solution Approach 1:
The stop structure and connecting rod are pre-configured with specific geometric features (stop surface, stop groove, stop protrusion) that establish the correct included angle before the folding operation begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that the rotational fitting parts maintain the correct relative position, preventing over-folding even when using large size components with inherent tolerance variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from the thickness size of a stop plane to the geometric configuration of the stop surface, stop groove, and stop protrusion. This parameter change allows for more precise control of the included angle by using the interaction geometry rather than relying on the dimensional tolerances of large rotational fitting parts.
3Ease of operation
If the connecting rod slides freely, then the movement is smooth, but the sliding stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The stop groove and stop protrusion are designed with curved surfaces that guide the sliding motion of the connecting rod. The curved geometry ensures smooth relative movement between the stop groove and stop protrusion while maintaining stable positioning, as the curved surfaces naturally guide the motion path and reduce friction during the sliding process.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge mechanism includes a main shaft, a first housing support, a second housing support, and a flatness stop mechanism. The flatness stop mechanism includes a first stop structure and a second stop structure. The first stop structure includes a first connecting rod and a first stop block, where the first connecting rod is rotatably coupled to the main shaft, the first connecting rod is slidably coupled to the first housing support, the first stop block is fastened to the first housing support, and the first stop block is disposed opposite to the first connecting rod. The second stop structure includes a second connecting rod and a second stop block.