Portable Device Hinge Mechanism for Automatic Keyboard Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional portable electrical devices, such as tablet PCs, lack a physical keyboard, making it uncomfortable for users accustomed to typing on a physical keyboard, and carrying both the device and a separate keyboard is inconvenient, which decreases user motivation to purchase these devices.
Innovation Solution
A portable electric device design that allows the display screen to be covered over a physical keyboard in a closed status and automatically raises to reveal the keyboard in an open status, utilizing elastic members and pivotal portions to store and release restoring forces for automatic operation, enabling seamless transition between modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a traditional tablet PC is designed to be compact and easy-to-carry without a physical keyboard, then the device portability is improved, but the typing comfort and input efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tablet PC and physical keyboard into a single integrated device. The keyboard is built-in beneath the display screen, allowing users to have both the portability of a tablet and the typing comfort of a physical keyboard without needing to carry separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hinge mechanism that allows the display screen to be dynamically adjusted between different positions - covering the keyboard for portability or raising to reveal the keyboard for typing. This dynamic structure enables the device to adapt between compact and expanded states based on usage needs.
2Ease of operation
If a physical keyboard is added to a portable electrical device, then the typing experience is improved, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the keyboard is positioned beneath the display screen, and the display screen can cover the keyboard when closed. This nesting approach allows both components to occupy the same spatial envelope, minimizing overall device size while maintaining full functionality of both the screen and keyboard.
3Length of moving object
If the display screen covers the physical keyboard in closed status, then the device compactness is improved, but the keyboard accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism enables dynamic transition between closed and open states. In closed status, the display screen covers the keyboard for compactness; when opened, the screen raises automatically to reveal the keyboard for accessibility. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between compactness and accessibility.
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
Enhances user convenience and desirability by allowing automatic conversion between reading and typing modes without manual operation, maintaining the compactness of the device while providing a full typing experience.
Implementation Method 1
the first elastic member and the second elastic member are respectively deformed to store a restored force. On the other hand, when the external force is gone, the restored force of the second elastic member rotates the connection unit to be away from the lower unit... and the restored force of the first elastic member rotates the upper unit to contact with the lower unit
Data Source
AI summary
A portable electrical device includes an upper unit, a lower unit and a connection unit having a first end and a second end opposite with each other. The upper unit is pivoted on the first end of the connection unit with a first pivotal portion having a first elastic member. The lower unit is pivoted on the second end of the connection unit with a second pivotal portion having a second elastic member. Therefore, by releasing the first elastic member and the second elastic member, the connection unit is rotated to leave the lower unit, and the upper unit is rotated to contact with the lower unit.