Hinged Device With Cam And Magnetic Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with hinge assemblies struggle to securely rotate and orient device portions to create a seamless display area while protecting internal components during various usage orientations.

Innovation Solution

A recessable hinge assembly with cams and magnets that allows device portions to rotate from closed to fully open configurations, ensuring a near seamless display area and protecting internal components by using cams to manage hinge pin spacing and magnets to bias orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a hinge assembly allows device portions to rotate freely, then the display area can be extended across multiple orientations, but internal components may be damaged due to uncontrolled movement and improper spacing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay area across orientationsVSAvoidcomponent protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cam mechanism dynamically changes the spacing parameter between hinge pins as the device rotates. At different rotational positions, the cam profile varies the distance between hinge pins, creating controlled gaps that prevent component damage while maintaining rotation capability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by making spacing adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cam acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rotating device portions and the hinge pins. It mediates the interaction by controlling when and how the hinge pins come into contact, using the cam surface geometry to create protective spacing at critical moments during rotation, thus preventing direct harmful contact while allowing necessary movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If hinge pins are kept close together for structural integrity, then the hinge assembly is stronger, but device portions cannot be properly oriented to create a seamless display area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge assembly strengthVSAvoidseamless display orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly transitions from a static fixed-spacing design to a dynamic variable-spacing design. The cam mechanism enables the hinge pin spacing to dynamically adjust during rotation, being close together when structural strength is needed and separating when display orientation is required. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between strength and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cam profile is designed to preliminarily create spacing between hinge pins before critical rotational positions are reached. This preliminary action prevents potential damage by establishing protective gaps in advance, allowing the device to achieve seamless display orientations without compromising the structural integrity that would be provided by consistently close hinge pins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the hinge assembly is designed to protect internal components during rotation, then component damage is prevented, but the ability to create a near seamless display area is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidseamless display area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cam mechanism changes the spatial parameter of hinge pin spacing based on the rotational position. During rotation phases where component protection is critical, the cam increases spacing to create protective gaps. During phases where display continuity is prioritized, the cam reduces spacing to enable seamless orientation. This conditional parameter change resolves the contradiction between protection and display capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables secure rotation and orientation of device portions to create a larger display area while preventing damage by managing hinge pin spacing and maintaining specific angular biases, ensuring effective protection and usability across different orientations.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member that applies a force in a direction in which the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis become closer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A recessable hinge assembly with cams and magnets that allows device portions to rotate from closed to fully open configurations, ensuring a near seamless display area and protecting internal components by using cams to manage hinge pin spacing and magnets to bias orientations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3377957B1Hinged device
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3377957B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3377957B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3377957B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion and a second portion. This example can also include a hinge assembly and a magnetic assembly. The hinge assembly can rotatably secure the first portion to the second portion. The magnetic assembly can be positioned relative to the hinge assembly and the first and second portions that bias the first and second portions to a closed position where the first and second portions overlay one another and to an open position where the first and second portions are juxtaposed and coplanar.