Trifold Hinge Mechanism With Guided Tracks for Flexible Display Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge mechanisms in trifold electronic devices face challenges in ensuring structural reliability and stability of flexible displays due to increased thickness and weight, which can lead to reduced service life and potential damage during folding and unfolding processes.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with a simplified structure that includes movable connectors in track slots, allowing for stable movement of swing arms and support arms, and a miniaturized design that maintains reliability and reduces thickness, while ensuring consistent movement tracks to prevent damage to the flexible display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge mechanism uses a traditional robust structure to ensure reliability, then the structural strength is improved, but the thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is divided into multiple functional modules: swing arms, support arms, connectors, and track slots. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve high reliability through modular design while reducing overall weight by eliminating unnecessary structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters by using thin-walled but optimized components with precise geometric designs. The track slots and connectors are designed with specific dimensions and profiles that maintain strength while minimizing material usage, thereby reducing weight without compromising reliability.
2Reliability
If the hinge mechanism uses a traditional robust structure to ensure reliability, then the structural strength is improved, but the thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional three-dimensional bulky structures to a more planar, two-dimensional optimized layout. The track slots are designed as guided pathways that constrain movement in specific directions, allowing the mechanism to achieve structural integrity with reduced thickness by utilizing directional constraint rather than volumetric mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The components are designed with optimized thickness parameters and wall profiles. The track slots have specific cross-sectional geometries that provide structural strength with minimal material, and the connectors are designed with precise dimensional parameters that maintain reliability while minimizing overall thickness.
3Weight of moving object
If the hinge mechanism simplifies the structure to reduce weight and thickness, then the portability is improved, but the movement stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The track slots serve as intermediary elements that guide and constrain the movement of connectors. These track slots provide stable movement paths without requiring heavy structural support, as the geometric constraint of the track itself ensures movement stability while the lightweight connectors follow the predefined path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the track slots and connectors to ensure stable movement. The track slots have specific profiles and dimensions that provide sufficient guidance and constraint, allowing lightweight components to move stably along predetermined paths without requiring heavy structural reinforcement.
4Length of moving object
If the hinge mechanism simplifies the structure to reduce thickness, then the portability is improved, but the risk of damage to flexible display may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The track slots act as intermediary guiding structures that ensure controlled and consistent movement of the connectors. This geometric constraint prevents erratic or excessive movements that could damage the flexible display, while the thin-walled design maintains overall device portability. The track slot geometry itself provides the protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the track slots with specific geometric parameters that limit the range and manner of movement. The connectors are constrained to move along predefined paths with controlled degrees of freedom, preventing movements that could stress or damage the flexible display while maintaining a thin overall profile.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a third housing, a first hinge mechanism, and a second hinge mechanism. The first housing is rotatably connected to the second housing through the first hinge mechanism, and the second housing is rotatably connected to the third housing through the second hinge mechanism. When the electronic device is used, the first housing and the second housing are rotatable toward or away from each other under action of the first hinge mechanism, and the second housing and the third housing are rotatable toward or away from each other under action of the second hinge mechanism, so that the electronic device can be folded and unfolded based on different usage scenarios.