Multi-Arm Hinge Mechanism for Flat Mobile Device Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing opening/closing devices for mobile terminal devices face instability in movement operations and inefficient space utilization, as they either require complex operations or result in overlapping housings when opened, limiting the use of liquid crystal display devices and keyboards.

Innovation Solution

An opening/closing device with a hinge arm, slide arm, and link arm mechanism that allows the movable plate to be rotated and slid smoothly between closed and open positions, ensuring the surfaces of the housings remain in the same plane, thereby enabling stable and efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single arm is used to move the second housing with respect to the first housing, then the device structure is simplified, but the movement operation becomes unstable and arbitrary rotation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidmovement stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The opening/closing mechanism is divided into multiple independent arms (first opening/closing arm, second opening/closing arm, link arm) that work together. Each arm has a specific function and the coordinated movement of multiple arms provides stability while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If two kinds of operations (slide operation and elevating operation) are required to move the second housing, then the movement control is precise, but the open and close operation becomes troublesome and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement control precisionVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slide operation and elevating operation are merged into a single opening/closing arm rotation operation. The opening/closing arm is rotatably connected to both the first housing and the second housing, allowing one rotational movement to simultaneously achieve both sliding and elevating effects, thereby simplifying the user operation while maintaining precise movement control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If the first housing and the second housing are positioned at the same plane when opened, then the space utilization is optimized and no overlapping occurs, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism uses dynamic multi-linkage arms that can adapt their configuration during movement. The opening/closing arms and link arms work together to dynamically adjust the position of the second housing, enabling it to reach the same plane as the first housing while maintaining structural efficiency and avoiding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2615331B1Opening/closing device
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 MITSUBISHI STEEL MFG CO LTD
  • EP2615331B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP2615331B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2615331B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An opening/closing device includes an opening/closing mechanism which moves a movable plate between an opened position and a closed position with respect to a fixed plate, the opening/closing mechanism including a hinge arm including a first axial portion rotatably connected to the fixed plate, a third axial portion rotatably connected to the movable plate, and a slide groove provided between the first axial portion and the third axial portion, and capable of moving the movable plate between the closed position and the opened position with respect to the fixed plate by being rotated around the first axial portion as a center, a link arm including a second axial portion rotatably connected to the fixed plate and a fifth axial portion slidably connected to the slide groove, and a slide arm including a fourth axial portion rotatably connected to the movable plate at an end portion and connected to the fifth axial portion at the other end portion, and wherein when the movable plate is moved between the closed position and the opened position, the fifth axial portion is slid in the slide groove in accordance with rotations of the hinge arm and the link arm, and surfaces of the first housing and the second housing are positioned at substantially the same plane when the movable plate is moved to the opened position.