Tiltable Linkage Mechanism for Compact Hinge Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinge structures in hand-held devices are prone to wear and tear, occupy excessive space on circuit boards, and increase production costs, making it difficult to thin and reduce the volume of these devices.
Innovation Solution
A tiltable linkage mechanism comprising a first plate, a second plate, a swinging plate, a first hinge, a second hinge, and a third hinge with a position limiting structure that allows the second plate to tilt and rotate, reducing volume and space occupancy on circuit boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the hinge structure is made to have a reduced volume, then the volume of the hand-held device is reduced, but the cam in the hinge structure is liable to wear and tear after extended use, resulting in reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cam component from the hinge structure entirely, extracting the problematic element that caused wear and tear. The hinge is redesigned to function without a cam, using alternative mechanical means to achieve the same rotational and positioning functions, thereby eliminating the reliability issue associated with cam wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure is divided into separate functional components: a hinge body, a rotating member, and a positioning structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the positioning structure providing stable engagement points that reduce wear on moving parts while maintaining compact volume.
2Volume of moving object
If the hinge structure is made to have a reduced volume, then the production cost of the cam increases due to manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the cam from the design, the patent eliminates the manufacturing complexity associated with producing small, precision cam components. The alternative hinge mechanism uses simpler geometric shapes and standard manufacturing processes, significantly reducing production difficulty and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the cam smaller to reduce volume (which increases manufacturing difficulty), the patent inverts the approach by redesigning the entire hinge mechanism to achieve compactness through different means, such as optimized linkages and positioning structures, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while reducing volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conventional hinge structure is combined with the circuit board, then the hinge can provide rotational movement, but the hinge structure occupies a large space on the circuit board, making it difficult to reduce the volume of the circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the hinge structure from a planar configuration to a three-dimensional arrangement that utilizes vertical space rather than only horizontal space. By stacking components vertically and using layered construction, the hinge maintains its rotational capability while occupying significantly less area on the circuit board.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge components are nested within each other in a compact arrangement, with the rotating member positioned within the hinge body and the positioning structure integrated into the existing components. This nesting minimizes the overall footprint on the circuit board while preserving full rotational functionality.
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 mechanism effectively reduces the volume of hand-held devices by minimizing space occupancy on circuit boards, enhancing reliability through reduced friction and abrasion, and facilitating the thinning of devices without complex manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the first hinge is pivotally connected with the second plate and the first plate
Implementation Method 2
the second hinge is pivotally connected with the swinging plate and the first plate
Implementation Method 3
the third hinge is disposed within the position limiting structure to pivotally connect with the swinging plate and the second plate
Implementation Method 4
the third hinge has an end portion slidably clamped by the two clamping surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A tiltable linkage mechanism (1) including a first plate (11), a second plate (12), a swinging plate (13), a first hinge (14), a second hinge (15) and a third hinge (16) is provided. The first plate (11) includes an upper surface, the second plate (12) includes a bottom surface facing the upper surface of the first plate and a position limiting structure (123) disposed on the bottom surface. The position limiting structure (123) further has two opposite clamping surfaces. The first plate (11) and the second plate (12) pivotally connect with each other through the first hinge (14). The swinging plate (13) and the first plate (11) pivotally connect with each other through the second hinge (15). The swinging plate and the second plate pivotally connect with each other through the third hinge which is disposed in the position limiting structure. The third hinge (16) has an end portion that can slide between the two clamping surfaces. In this way, when the second plate (12) tilts from the first plate (11), the second plate rotates about the first hinge, the swinging plate (13) rotates about the second hinge, and the end portion of the third hinge slides within the position limiting structure.