Modular Powered Hinge With Pin-and-Pad Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powered hinge systems for smart doors require custom manufacturing and complex installation processes, making them difficult and time-consuming for standard operators to install and upgrade.
Innovation Solution
A modular powered door hinge system featuring a power plate with an array of protruding pins or conductive pads, which easily couples with a powered hinge plate, allowing for rapid and facile installation without custom manufacturing. The system includes a status indicator for ensuring proper electrical connection and allows for easy upgrade from non-powered to powered hinges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom powered hinges are manufactured with embedded wires and electronic components, then power and data delivery to the door is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The powered hinge system is divided into separate modular components: a power module with electrical connections and a hinge module with mechanical functionality. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled together, eliminating the need for complex custom manufacturing while maintaining reliable power delivery to the door.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary coupling mechanism is introduced between the power module and hinge module, featuring arrays of conductive pads and protruding pins that establish electrical connections. This intermediary component simplifies the overall assembly by providing a standardized interface that automatically aligns and connects electrical pathways without requiring complex wiring or drilling operations.
2Reliability
If multiple electronic components are integrated within a minimal surface area of the jamb, then power and data connections are established, but alignment precision and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection interface is designed with arrays of conductive pads and protruding pins arranged in a two-dimensional grid pattern. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple electrical connections to be established simultaneously across the interface area, distributing the alignment requirements across many points rather than concentrating them, thereby reducing the precision burden on any single alignment point while ensuring reliable electrical connectivity.
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
The modular design simplifies the installation of powered hinges, reduces the time and effort required for operators, and allows for easy upgrades, while ensuring reliable electrical connections and compatibility with smart door systems.
Implementation Method 1
the array of pads may be coupled (for example, magnetically coupled) with the array of protruding pins, to form an electrical connection
Implementation Method 2
the array of pads may be coupled (for example, magnetically coupled) with the array of protruding pins
Data Source
AI summary
A modular powered hinge and related system and method, are described that is configured to provide power to a modular door system.