What Enables You To Flip Your Cell Phone Open?
The latest Nokia N90 and Motorola RAZR V3 clamshell mobile cell
phones all incorporate sophisticated hinges which allow you to
flip open your cell phones smartly amongst admiring onlookers.
Another winner is the hinge assembly in Orange SPV M5000 3G PDA
cell phone device which allows the screen half of the cell phone
to swivel 180 degrees and close to allow simultaneous tablet
mode and full phone functionality.
These hinge assemblies which were previously used in laptop
computers have been designed into the sleekest cell phones,
personal digital assistants (PDA) and small handheld digital
cameras over the past few years.
Basically, the hinge assembly connects the cell phone base to
the folder unit which contains the display screen. From the
simple open-snap-close mechanism, the latest hinge mechanism now
can control the angle of opening. Free-stop designs, where the
folding stops at any angle, and 2 degree-of-freedom hinge
assembly is in vogue. This flip-and-twist hinge assembly
combines 2 rotary hinges with perpendicular axes, letting the
clamshell cell phone flip open then twist 180 degress.
Each tiny custom hinge comprises a guide pin, shaft, cam, spring
and housing. Advancing from the classic hinge components which
were made from polyoxymethylene, the latest complicated hinge
components are designed and manufactured from metals to provide
stronger rotary hinge joints. These hinge components are
manufactured using the metal injection molding (MIM) process or
cnc machining. The former process, which are suitable for
complex solid net-shape components, allows the mass production
of hinge components competitively. However, with the recent
shortening of product cycle in the competitive cell phone
market, especially in Japan, more and more cell phone
manufacturers are working with competent precision machining
companies capable of machining these hinge components.
Leading Japanese companies in developing and selling
sophisticated hinge units include Strawberry Corporation,
Sugatsune Kogyou Co., Ltd, Omron Corporation and Yamamoto
Precision Co., Ltd.