U-Shaped Hinge Housing for Foldable Display Curvature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinge structures for foldable devices with flexible display panels face challenges in maintaining a limit curvature radius to prevent damage, are complex, heavy, or bulky, and result in increased thickness due to gaps when folded.
Innovation Solution
A hinge structure with a U-shaped housing and rotatable shafts that accommodates the bending part within a defined space, using separate connecting parts, support members, and gears to maintain a curvature radius, reduce thickness, and minimize component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional devices for ensuring curvature limit are used, then the flexible display panel is protected from damage, but the structure becomes complicated and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the curvature limit ensuring function with the hinge structure itself. The hinge housing's U-shaped section with defined space integrates the protection function into the existing hinge mechanism, eliminating the need for separate curvature limit devices and reducing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge housing serves multiple functions: it provides the hinge mechanism for folding, defines the space for accommodating the bending part, and ensures the curvature limit is maintained. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed
2Reliability
If upper panels are spaced apart to maintain limit curvature radius, then the curvature limit is ensured, but the thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from maintaining curvature through vertical spacing (thickness direction) to maintaining curvature through horizontal accommodation within the U-shaped housing's defined space. This dimensional shift allows the panels to contact each other while still ensuring the curvature limit is met
3Reliability
If many components are used to ensure curvature limit, then the display device is protected, but the device becomes heavy and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The protection function is merged into the hinge housing structure itself. The U-shaped section with defined space is an integral part of the hinge mechanism, eliminating the need for additional protective components and reducing overall device weight
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 allows for the flexible display panel to be folded within a defined space, reducing thickness and weight, while preventing damage and maintaining a curvature radius, even with repeated folding, and simplifies the structure with fewer components.
Implementation Method 1
first ends of the first device and the second device are rotatably coupled to both ends of the hinge housing by hinge shafts
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge structure for a foldable device having a flexible display panel is proposed. The hinge structure includes first and second devices, a hinge housing having a U-shaped section, with a space being defined therein, and configured such that first ends of the first and second devices are rotatably coupled to both ends of the hinge housing by hinge shafts, and a flexible display panel configured such that a first fixing part on a first side and a second fixing part on a second side, except for a bending part that is a part of a central portion, are fixed to upper surfaces of the first device and the second device, respectively.