Rotating Sliding Hinge Aligns Display and Keypad Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face challenges in providing an efficient and user-friendly mechanism for transitioning between closed and open positions, especially in terms of aligning display and keypad surfaces for optimal user interaction without mechanical discontinuities.
Innovation Solution
A slidable and rotatable design where the display portion can rotate and slide relative to the keypad portion, allowing for angular offset and alignment of surfaces, facilitated by a coupling mechanism that includes a rotation axis and slide directions to achieve a fully open position with aligned surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display portion rotates relative to the keypad portion to achieve angular offset, then the transition between closed and open positions becomes more flexible, but the mechanical complexity increases due to the rotation axis and sliding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct portions (display portion and keypad portion) connected by a coupling mechanism that allows independent rotation and sliding movements. This segmentation enables flexible transition while managing mechanical complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism incorporates dynamic elements including a rotation axis and sliding mechanisms that allow the display portion to move between fixed and rotated positions. This dynamic structure provides adaptability for different operational states while maintaining mechanical simplicity through well-defined movement paths.
2Ease of operation
If the display portion and keypad portion are aligned in the open position, then user interaction is optimized, but the mechanism requires precise alignment control which increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is designed so that when the display portion is in the rotated position, the first surface and second surface are automatically aligned in a common plane. This equipotential design ensures optimal user interaction without requiring complex active alignment control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical structure itself provides the alignment function through its geometry and constraints. The rotation axis and sliding mechanisms are configured so that the aligned position is achieved naturally by the mechanical design, eliminating the need for additional alignment actuators or control systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the display portion covers the keypad in the closed position, then the keypad is protected, but the device thickness increases to accommodate the covering structure
Solution Approach 1:
In the closed position, the display portion is positioned to cover and protect the keypad portion. The coupling mechanism allows the display portion to nest over the keypad when closed, providing protection while minimizing the increase in device thickness through efficient spatial arrangement.
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable electronic device, including a first portion having a first surface, a second portion having a second surface, and a slide portion, the slide portion coupled to the first and second portions. The first portion, second portion and slide portion are adapted so that the first portion can rotate between a closed position wherein the first portion at least partially covers the second surface, and a rotated position wherein the second surface is at least partially exposed and the display portion is angularly offset by a rotation angle with respect to the second portion. After being rotated into the rotated position, the first portion and slide portion can slide relative to the second portion along a second slide direction into an open position in which the first surface and second surface are aligned.