2-Axis Soft Hinge Mechanism for Flat Foldable Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge mechanisms for foldable devices often introduce artificial folding motions and stress on the display, leading to potential damage, and fail to maintain a desired contour and flatness in both folded and unfolded configurations.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with a base and cover design that includes rotation pivots and stopping mechanisms, allowing for natural folding and unfolding motions while restricting bending within allowable limits, ensuring the display remains within safe curvature ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex hinge mechanisms are used to guide and support folding, then the device can achieve folding functionality, but the mechanism becomes susceptible to failure and introduces stress on the display
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is divided into multiple independent pivot points (first pivot point, second pivot point, third pivot point) that work together to guide the folding motion. Each pivot point is supported by separate hinge members, distributing the mechanical stress and reducing failure risk compared to a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Hinge members act as intermediary elements between the display and the housing, providing flexible support and guiding the folding motion. These intermediaries absorb and distribute stresses, preventing direct transmission of force to the display components and reducing the risk of damage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex hinge mechanisms are used to guide and support folding, then the device can achieve folding functionality, but the mechanism becomes susceptible to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is segmented into multiple simple pivot points and hinge members rather than using a single complex mechanism. This segmentation reduces the complexity of individual components while achieving the overall folding functionality through their coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex centralized hinge mechanism, the patent distributes the hinge function across multiple simple pivot points integrated into the housing and display structure. This inverted approach simplifies the overall mechanism by eliminating the need for a single complex hinge assembly.
3Ease of operation
If flexible support is provided in the bending area, then a more natural folding motion is achieved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge members are merged with the housing structure, integrating the support function into the existing device components. This merging provides flexible support for natural folding motion without adding separate complex support structures, as the hinge members serve dual purposes as both structural elements and folding guides.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism provides dynamic support that adapts to the folding motion, allowing the display to follow a natural arc. The multiple pivot points and hinge members work together to create a dynamic support system that maintains contact and guidance throughout the folding range, enabling smooth and natural motion.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A foldable device may include a foldable layer and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism may include a hinge cover fixedly coupled to a hinge base. A plurality of rotation pivots may be rotatably coupled to the hinge base and the hinge cover. A housing of a computing device may be coupled to the rotation pivots, such that, as the rotation pivots rotate into the hinge base and hinge cover, the computing device is unfolded, and as the rotation pivots rotate out of the hinge base and hinge cover, the computing device is folded. Rotation of the rotation pivots into and out of the hinge base and hinge cover may be restricted by one or more stopping mechanisms, so as to maintain a foldable display of the computing device within allowable bending limits.