Rotating Component Synchronization via Movable Strip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotating components in foldable devices face issues with large matching clearance due to assembly tolerance accumulation, leading to complex structures and reduced synchronization efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A rotating component design featuring a hinge bracket with a movable strip having meshing portions that drive two rotating structures to rotate synchronously in opposite directions, simplifying the structure and improving synchronization by reducing the number of gears needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a conventional rotating component uses six gears and five meshing points to achieve rotation, then the rotating function is realized, but the structure becomes complex and assembly tolerance accumulation causes large matching clearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidmatching clearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple gear functions into a single movable strip with meshing portions. Instead of using six separate gears with five meshing points, the invention integrates the transmission function into one component (the movable strip) that directly drives both rotating structures, thereby simplifying the overall structure and eliminating assembly tolerance accumulation across multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The movable strip is segmented into multiple meshing portions (first meshing portion and second meshing portion) that can independently engage with different rotating structures. This segmentation allows each meshing portion to be precisely manufactured and positioned, reducing cumulative tolerance while maintaining the simplified single-component architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple gears are used to drive rotating structures, then rotation function is achieved, but synchronization effect deteriorates due to assembly tolerance accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization effectVSAvoidnumber of gears
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple gears into a single movable strip that simultaneously drives both rotating structures. This unified approach ensures that both rotating structures are driven by the same component, eliminating synchronization errors that would arise from independent gear assemblies and their respective tolerance accumulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The movable strip acts as an intermediary component that translates linear motion into synchronized rotational motion of both rotating structures. By serving as a common mediator, it ensures that both rotating structures receive identical motion input, thereby maintaining precise synchronization without the complexity of multiple separate gear trains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If six gears and five meshing points are used in the rotating component, then the rotation mechanism is complete, but the matching clearance increases due to assembly tolerance accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematching clearanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges six separate gears into one movable strip component, directly reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. This consolidation eliminates the accumulation of assembly tolerances across five meshing points, resulting in smaller matching clearance and improved manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential rotation-driving function from the complex multi-gear system and concentrates it into the single movable strip. By removing unnecessary intermediate gears and meshing points, the design achieves the same rotational function with reduced component count and minimized tolerance accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This design reduces the condition of large matching clearance and enhances the synchronization effect, allowing for accurate and efficient folding and unfolding of foldable screens in terminal devices.

Implementation Method 1

a first meshing portion facing toward the hinge bracket and a second meshing portion facing away from the hinge bracket; and two rotating structures including a first rotating structure and a second rotating structure, the first rotating structure being disposed on a first side of the movable strip and meshed with the first meshing portion, and the second rotating structure being disposed on a second side of the movable strip and meshed with the second meshing portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear meshing: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP4053674B1Rotating component and terminal device
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4053674B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4053674B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4053674B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to a rotating component (100) and a terminal device. The rotating component (100) includes: a hinge bracket (101); a movable strip (102) disposed on the hinge bracket (101), the movable strip (102) including a first meshing portion (102a) facing toward the hinge bracket (101) and a second meshing portion (102b) facing away from the hinge bracket (101). The rotating component (100) further includes two rotating structures (103), where the first rotating structure (A) is disposed on a first side of the movable strip (102) and meshed with the first meshing portion (102a), and the second rotating structure (B) is disposed on a second side of the movable strip (102) and meshed with the second meshing portion (102b). When the movable strip (102) moves, the two rotating structures (103) rotate synchronously in opposite rotation directions.