Spiral-Groove Synchronization Mechanism for Compact Foldable Hinges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synchronization mechanisms for foldable screens require large gear sizes to ensure strength, involve numerous parts, are costly, and have complex assembly procedures, making it difficult to reduce size and cost while maintaining synchronous rotation.
Innovation Solution
A synchronization mechanism using a slider and swing arms with fitting parts that allow for synchronous rotation, reducing part count and size, and utilizing rotating shafts with sleeves for stable sliding, and incorporating spiral grooves and protrusions for reliable interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If four gears are successively meshed to ensure synchronous rotation, then synchronous transmission is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges four separate gears into a single integrated component with four teeth that can simultaneously mesh with four pinion gears. This unified structure maintains synchronous transmission of the swing arms while reducing the number of discrete parts from four gears to one, thereby simplifying the device complexity and assembly process
Solution Approach 2:
The gear component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides synchronous rotation for all four swing arms, maintains consistent rotation angles, and ensures stable transmission. By designing a single gear structure that can interact with multiple pinion gears at once, the component achieves multi-functionality that reduces overall system complexity
2Reliability
If four gears are successively arranged to meet synchronous rotation requirement, then synchronous transmission is achieved, but assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining four gears into one integrated gear structure, the patent eliminates the need for complex sequential assembly of multiple gears. The single gear component can be installed in one operation, significantly reducing assembly difficulty while maintaining the synchronous transmission function across all four swing arms
3Volume of moving object
If gear size is reduced to minimize mechanism size, then compactness is improved, but meshing tooth strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a sequential arrangement of four gears to a simultaneous multi-point meshing configuration. By designing a single gear that can engage with four pinion gears at multiple locations simultaneously, the structure achieves compactness while maintaining adequate tooth strength through distributed load sharing across multiple meshing points
4Reliability
If pinion gears are assembled and meshed based on positions, then synchronous rotation is achieved, but procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the assembly procedure by replacing four separate gears with one integrated gear component. This single component can be installed in one operation, eliminating the need for complex position-based assembly of multiple gears while ensuring synchronous rotation of all swing arms
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a synchronization mechanism, a rotating shaft mechanism, and an electronic device. The synchronization mechanism includes a swing arm and a slider, the swing arm rotates around an axis, the slider is slidably disposed in a direction parallel to the axis, a spiral groove is disposed on the swing arm, and a protruding part that fits the spiral groove is disposed on the slider. In embodiments of this application, a rotary swing arm mechanism on which the spiral groove is disposed is used to fit the slider, so that a size of a synchronization mechanism with a requirement for a small size of, for example, a foldable screen is further reduced, a quantity of parts is reduced, synchronous transmission is stable, and a clearance is small.