Hinged Glass Article With Inclusion-Free Hinge Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of hinged glass articles for foldable displays is energy-intensive and resource-consuming, and existing methods struggle to address the issue of glass breakage due to defects and inclusions, particularly at the hinge surfaces where tension occurs during folding.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating small inclusions within the glass wings and avoiding inclusions on the hinge surface facing tension, along with complex hinge geometries that obscure the hinge features, reduces the need for stringent purity and refinement processes, enhancing reliability and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass is made with high purity and stringent refinement processes to eliminate inclusions, then reliability of hinged glass article is improved, but energy consumption and resource use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing inclusions in specific regions (wings and non-tension surfaces) while maintaining high purity only in the critical tension surface of the hinge. This localized approach to purity reduces overall energy consumption for glass refinement while maintaining reliability where it matters most - preventing crack initiation on the tension surface during folding.
2Use of energy by moving object
If glass is made thinner to reduce weight and energy consumption, then productivity and energy efficiency improve, but the glass becomes easier to break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the glass thinner overall to reduce energy consumption and weight, but applies local quality by ensuring the tension surface of the hinge remains free of inclusions and maintains appropriate thickness. This localized reinforcement through inclusion control allows thin glass to maintain breakage resistance in critical areas while being energy-efficient overall.
3Shape
If complex hinge geometries are used to obscure hinge features and improve aesthetics, then product appearance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical properties (refractive index matching between glass and filler materials) to obscure hinge features rather than relying solely on complex geometric shapes. This approach achieves aesthetic obscuration through optical effects while maintaining simpler geometries, reducing manufacturing complexity compared to purely geometric solutions.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinged glass article includes wings including glass and a hinge positioned between the wings. The wings fold about the hinge. The hinge includes a glass portion integrally joined to the wings and a polymer portion overlaying the glass portion. The glass portion of the hinge includes a first surface facing away from a second surface thereof. The polymer portion overlays the first surface. The glass portion of the hinge is asymmetric (with the wings unfolded) such that halves of the glass portion of the hinge do not mirror one another about a lengthwise middle of the hinge. Also, the first surface of the glass portion of the hinge is free of small inclusions impinging thereupon that have a linear cross-sectional dimension extending fully thereacross and through a center thereof greater than 2 μm and less than 30 μm.