Sliding Mechanism Elastic Element Deformation Thickness Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding mechanisms for terminals, such as sliding phones, require a driving spring that increases thickness, compromising compactness without adequately addressing strength and sliding comfort.

Innovation Solution

A sliding mechanism featuring a sliding plate with slide rails on both sides, a guide rail, and an elastic element that deforms to provide semi-automatic sliding, eliminating the need for a driving spring while maintaining strength and enhancing user experience with smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a driving spring is arranged between the sliding plate and the fixed plate to drive the sliding plate to slide, then the sliding function is achieved, but the thickness of the sliding mechanism becomes larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesliding functionVSAvoidthickness of sliding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the driving spring from the sliding mechanism, replacing it with a driving assembly that integrates the elastic element and driving wheel. This extraction removes the thickness-increasing component while preserving the sliding function through the elastic element's deformation and the driving wheel's engagement with the drive gear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the elastic element and driving wheel into a single driving assembly that is integrated with the sliding plate. This combination eliminates the need for a separate driving spring and reduces overall thickness while maintaining the driving force for sliding through the elastic element's deformation and the driving wheel's interaction with the drive gear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Length of moving object

If the thickness of the sliding mechanism is reduced to improve compactness, then the compactness design is enhanced, but the strength of the sliding mechanism may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethickness of sliding mechanismVSAvoidstrength of sliding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs position stopping elements that are pre-positioned on the fixed plate and slide rail to stop and stabilize the sliding plate at the starting and ending points of sliding before the actual sliding action occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures structural strength is maintained at critical points while allowing thickness reduction in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing position stopping elements at specific locations (starting and ending points) where strength is most needed, rather than uniformly thickening the entire mechanism. This localized reinforcement maintains strength where required while allowing overall thickness reduction for compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If position stopping elements are arranged to stop and stabilize the sliding plate, then the sliding plate is stabilized at starting and ending points, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of sliding plateVSAvoidcomplexity of sliding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the position stopping function into two independent components: position stopping elements on the fixed plate and corresponding position stopping elements on the slide rail. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in structure while collectively providing stable positioning at starting and ending points, avoiding the need for a single complex stopping mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 overall thickness of the sliding mechanism without compromising strength, offering a comfortable and efficient sliding experience by utilizing the elastic element's deformation to create friction and stabilize the sliding plate at starting and ending points.

Implementation Method 1

a guide rail and an elastic element sliding along the guide rail are provided. Since the guide rail protrudes toward the slide rail, and the elastic element has a certain elastic force, the two are matched, deformation occurs when the elastic element slides along the guide rail

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the elastic element deforms to accumulate an elastic potential energy. After the first roller set passes the top of the first arc sliding track, the elastic potential energy is released to make the first sliding member slide along the first arc sliding track automatically

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Spring

Implementation Method 3

the deformation process of the elastic element can form a friction between the guide rail and the elastic element, such that a smooth, comfortable sliding feeling is provided for the sliding plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3550809B1Sliding mechanism and terminal device provided with same
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3550809B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3550809B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP3550809B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~2A

AI summary

A sliding mechanism includes: a sliding plate (1) and a fixed plate (2) arranged in a stacked way, wherein the sliding plate is provided with a slide rail (3) on both sides in a sliding direction; a guide side of the fixed plate is accommodated in the slide rail, enabling the sliding plate to slide along the fixed plate; the guide side is provided with a guide rail (4) protruding toward the slide rail, and the slide rail is provided with an elastic element (5), the elastic element sliding along the guide rail and being deformed; a gap is provided between the sliding plate and the fixed plate, and position stopping elements are correspondingly arranged on the fixed plate and at least one of the sliding plate and the slide rail, and configured to stop the sliding plate at a starting point and an ending point of sliding.