Rotating Shaft Variable Torsion Control for Foldable Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotating shafts in electronic devices, such as laptops and clamshell phones, are difficult to fold or unfold, leading to a poor user experience due to insufficient torsion force and fixing strength, making it inconvenient to operate.
Innovation Solution
A rotating shaft device with a driving component that adjusts the torsion force of a rotating component via control signals, utilizing a system of fixing members and a damping mechanism, including disc springs and telescopic rods, to modify the torsion force based on control instructions, allowing for easier folding and unfolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the torsion force and fixing strength of the rotating shaft are increased to meet service life requirements, then the strength and stability are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users find it difficult to fold or unfold the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the torsion force adjustable rather than fixed. The driving component (motor) dynamically changes the torsion force based on operational state: providing higher torsion force when the device is stationary to maintain stability, and reducing torsion force during folding/unfolding operations to improve ease of operation. This resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of operation through temporal and conditional adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of torsion force from a constant value to a variable value that can be adjusted according to different operational requirements. The control system modifies the torsion force parameter in real-time: increasing it for stability during use, and decreasing it for ease of folding/unfolding. This parameter change strategy directly resolves the technical contradiction between maintaining strength and improving operability.
2Reliability
If the structural member connected to the rotating shaft is designed with enough fixing strength and torsion force, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases making it inconvenient to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a purely mechanical structure with a机电 system (mechanical-electrical system). Instead of relying solely on complex mechanical structures to provide fixing strength and torsion force, the patent uses a motor-driven system that can actively adjust torsion force. This substitution reduces structural complexity while maintaining or improving reliability through active control.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving component serves multiple functions: it provides torsion force to maintain stability during normal use, assists during folding/unfolding operations, and can be controlled to adapt to different operational states. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanical structures, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 solution reduces the torsion force required for folding and unfolding, making it easier for users to operate electronic devices by adjusting the torsion force dynamically, thereby improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the third fixing member is provided with a disc spring at a side facing towards the second fixing member, and the damping between the second fixing member and the third fixing member is adjusted via the driving component by adjusting the compression of the disc spring
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating shaft device, an electronic device and a control method thereof are provided according to the present application. The rotating shaft device includes a driving component and a rotating component. The driving component is configured to receive a control signal, and adjust a torsion force of the rotating component based on the control signal. In the case that the rotating shaft device is applied on the electronic device, various control signals may be provided to control the driving component to adjust a torsion force of the rotating component by the controller, such that the torsion force of the electronic device in a folding or unfolding process is smaller than the torsion force of the electronic device in a state being maintained, which solves the issue of poor user experience resulted from being difficult to fold or unfold and inconvenient to operate.