Hinged Device Testing System for Accurate Force Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional measurement systems are unable to accurately characterize forces associated with flexible specimens that involve constraint mechanisms like hinges, as they either damage the specimens by over-constraining them or fail to measure the reaction forces effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of hinged device testing systems that allow flexible specimens to be folded and unfolded while minimizing additional stress, using fixturing that guides the moving parts and includes a translation linkage to limit forces not in the direction of measurement, and a load cell to measure folding forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional measurement systems are used to measure forces on flexible specimens with hinges, then measurement capability is provided, but the specimens are damaged by over-constraining or reaction forces are not measured effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized fixture as an intermediary between the conventional measurement system and the hinged specimen. This fixture includes a movable support that follows the hinge's natural motion path and a reaction force sensor that specifically measures the hinge reaction forces without interfering with the specimen's folding mechanics. The intermediary fixture isolates the measurement process from the specimen, allowing accurate force measurement while preserving specimen integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixturing is used to guide moving parts during folding, then measurement stability is improved, but additional stress is introduced on the hinged device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic movable support that can follow the hinge's motion path rather than a fixed static fixture. The movable support is positioned to contact the specimen at points that naturally follow during folding, providing stabilization only when needed while allowing free motion otherwise. This dynamic approach minimizes additional stress while maintaining measurement stability during the critical measurement phases.
3Measurement precision
If translation linkage is used to limit forces not in measurement direction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the hinge's own reaction forces as a counterbalancing mechanism. The reaction force sensor measures the natural reaction forces generated by the hinge during folding, and this information is used to compensate for and eliminate the effects of unwanted lateral forces. By using the system's inherent forces against itself, the need for complex mechanical constraint structures is reduced while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An example hinged device flexible substrate testing system includes: a first plate comprising a first surface configured to hold stationary a first side of a hinged device under test; a second plate comprising a second surface configured to hold a second side of the hinged device under test; a first cam follower coupled to the second plate; a first drive arm configured to move the first cam follower to cause the second plate to rotate about a hinge pivot axis of the hinged device under test; an actuator configured to rotate the drive arm; and a load cell configured to measure loads on the first plate while the actuator moves the second plate.