Patent Application
20250165042
This application relates to the field of electronic device technologies, and in particular, to a hinge mechanism and an electronic device.
As flexible display technologies gradually mature, display manners of electronic devices are driven to change greatly. A mobile phone having a foldable flexible display, a tablet computer having a foldable flexible display, a wearable electronic device having a foldable flexible display, and the like are an important evolution direction of intelligent electronic devices in the future.
A hinge mechanism, as an important component for implementing a folding function of a foldable electronic device, has a feature of continuous foldability. The hinge mechanism may be configured to change a folding state of the electronic device, and may further provide sufficient support force for a flexible display of the electronic device in different folding states. However, because existing hinge mechanisms are complex in structure and mostly have chain structures, the flexible display is prone to pulling and compression, affecting reliability of an entire structure of the electronic device.
This application provides a hinge mechanism and an electronic device, so that good support is provided for a flexible display when the hinge mechanism is folded or unfolded, to avoid pulling or arching of the flexible display.
According to a first aspect, this application provides a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism may be used in a foldable electronic device, and a flexible display of the electronic device is connected to one side of the hinge mechanism. Further, the hinge mechanism includes a base and at least one hinge assembly. The hinge assembly may include a first rotating assembly and a second rotating assembly. The first rotating assembly and the second rotating assembly are disposed opposite to each other on two sides of the base. The first rotating assembly includes a first rotating element and a first housing fastening bracket. The first rotating element is located between the base and the first housing fastening bracket and is rotatably connected to the base and the first housing fastening bracket separately. The second rotating assembly includes a second rotating element and a second housing fastening bracket. The second rotating element is located between the base and the second housing fastening bracket and is rotatably connected to the base and the second housing fastening bracket separately. A side that is of the first housing fastening bracket and that faces the flexible display has a first support surface, a side that is of the second housing fastening bracket and that faces the flexible display has a second support surface, a side that is of the base and that faces the flexible display has a third support surface, and the first support surface, the second support surface, and the third support surface are separately connected to the flexible display.
When the hinge mechanism is in a flattened state, the first support surface, the second support surface, and the third support surface may form a flat support surface for supporting the flexible display, to avoid depression of the flexible display. When the hinge mechanism is in a folded state, the first support surface, the third support surface, and the second support surface may form a U-shaped support surface for supporting the flexible display, to avoid arching of the flexible display. In this way, when the hinge mechanism is folded or unfolded, the hinge mechanism can provide good support for the flexible display, thereby improving structural reliability of the electronic device.
In the hinge mechanism, the first housing fastening bracket rotates relative to the base by using the first rotating element. The first rotating element may further include a first arc-shaped rotating block and a second arc-shaped rotating block that are fastened to each other. Both a concave surface of the first arc-shaped rotating block and a concave surface of the second arc-shaped rotating block may be provided toward one side of the flexible display. A first arc-shaped guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the base and that faces the first rotating element. A second arc-shaped guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the first housing fastening bracket and that faces the first rotating element. Further, the first arc-shaped rotating block is accommodated in the first arc-shaped guiding groove, and slides in the first arc-shaped guiding groove to implement a rotatable connection between the first rotating element and the base, and the second arc-shaped rotating block is accommodated in the second arc-shaped guiding groove, and slides in the second arc-shaped guiding groove to implement a rotatable connection between the first rotating element and the first housing fastening bracket. The first arc-shaped rotating block and the first arc-shaped guiding groove have a first rotation center, the second arc-shaped rotating block and the second arc-shaped guiding groove have a second rotation center, and the first rotation center and the second rotation center do not overlap. Therefore, an axial phase difference between the first housing fastening bracket and the first rotating element can be implemented during rotation of the hinge mechanism, so that the first housing fastening bracket and the first rotating element telescopically move relative to the base.
Correspondingly, the second housing fastening bracket rotates relative to the base by using the second rotating element. The second rotating element may further include a third arc-shaped rotating block and a fourth arc-shaped rotating block that are fastened to each other. Both a concave surface of the third arc-shaped rotating block and a concave surface of the fourth arc-shaped rotating block are provided toward one side of the flexible display. A third arc-shaped guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the base and that faces the second rotating element. A fourth arc-shaped guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the second housing fastening bracket and that faces the second rotating element. Further, the third arc-shaped rotating block is accommodated in the third arc-shaped guiding groove, and slides in the third arc-shaped guiding groove to implement a rotatable connection between the second rotating element and the base, and the fourth arc-shaped rotating block is accommodated in the fourth arc-shaped guiding groove, and slides in the fourth arc-shaped guiding groove to implement a rotatable connection between the second rotating element and the second housing fastening bracket. The third arc-shaped rotating block and the third arc-shaped guiding groove have a third rotation center, the fourth arc-shaped rotating block and the fourth arc-shaped guiding groove have a fourth rotation center, and the third rotation center and the fourth rotation center do not overlap. Therefore, an axial phase difference between the second housing fastening bracket and the second rotating element can be implemented during rotation of the hinge mechanism, so that the second housing fastening bracket and the second rotating element can telescopically move relative to the base.
Therefore, the first housing fastening bracket and the first rotating element, and the second housing fastening bracket and the second rotating element may be telescopic relative to the base, so that the hinge mechanism in an unfolded state can stably support the flexible display of the electronic device, and the hinge mechanism in a closed state can form a support structure that meets a bending requirement of the flexible display. This can effectively reduce space occupied by the first rotating assembly and the second rotating assembly in a folding or unfolding process of the hinge mechanism, and is beneficial to implementing a miniaturization design of the hinge mechanism.
When the hinge mechanism is further disposed, in addition to the first housing fastening bracket, the second housing fastening bracket, and the base, the first rotating element and the second rotating element may provide support for the flexible display. Further, the first rotating element may further include a first body. The first arc-shaped rotating block and the second arc-shaped rotating block are disposed on a side that is of the first body and that is away from the flexible display. A side that is of the first body and that faces the flexible display has a first arc-shaped support surface. The first arc-shaped support surface protrudes toward the flexible display. Correspondingly, the second rotating element may further include a second body. The third arc-shaped rotating block and the fourth arc-shaped rotating block are disposed on a side that is of the second body and that is away from the flexible display. A side that is of the second body and that faces the flexible display has a second arc-shaped support surface. The second arc-shaped support surface protrudes toward the flexible display. When the hinge mechanism is in the flattened state, at least a part of the first arc-shaped support surface may be located in the flat support surface and abut against the flexible display, and at least a part of the second arc-shaped support surface may be located in the flat support surface and abut against the flexible display. When the hinge mechanism is in the folded state, the first support surface, the first arc-shaped support surface, the third support surface, the second arc-shaped support surface, and the second support surface form the U-shaped support surface. In this way, when the hinge mechanism is folded or flattened, five support surfaces, namely, the first support surface, the first arc-shaped support surface, the third support surface, the second arc-shaped support surface, and the second support surface, may jointly support the flexible display, to further enhance support for the flexible display.
In some technical solutions, the first support surface, the second support surface, and the third support surface may be planes. Alternatively, in some other technical solutions, the first support surface, the second support surface, and the third support surface may be arc surfaces. For example, in a technical solution, the first support surface may include a first plane and a first arc surface, the first arc surface is provided on a side that is of the first plane and that is close to the first rotating element, and the first arc surface may extend in a direction away from the flexible display. Similarly, the second support surface may include a second plane and a second arc surface, the second arc surface is provided on a side that is of the second plane and that is close to the second rotating element, and the second arc surface may extend in a direction away from the flexible display. Correspondingly, the third support surface may include a third plane, a third arc surface, and a fourth arc surface, and the third arc surface and the fourth arc surface are respectively located on two sides of the third plane. The third arc surface is provided close to the first rotating element, the fourth arc surface is provided close to the second rotating element, and the third arc surface and the fourth arc surface may separately extend in a direction away from the flexible display. In this technical solution, in a process in which the first housing fastening bracket and the second housing fastening bracket are folded or unfolded relative to each other, the first arc surface and the third arc surface may respectively abut against two sides of the first arc-shaped support surface, to implement smooth transition of the first support surface, the first arc-shaped support surface, and the third support surface, and the second arc surface and the fourth arc surface respectively abut against two sides of the second arc-shaped support surface, to implement smooth transition of the second support surface, the second arc-shaped support surface, and the third support surface. When the hinge mechanism is in the flattened state, the first plane, at least a part of the first arc-shaped support surface, the second plane, at least a part of the second arc-shaped support surface, and the third plane form the flat support surface, and when the hinge mechanism is in the folded state, the first plane, the first arc surface, the first arc-shaped support surface, the third arc surface, the third plane, the fourth arc surface, the second arc-shaped support surface, the second arc surface, and the second plane form the U-shaped support surface.
In some technical solutions of this application, the hinge assembly may further include a first sliding limiting assembly and a second sliding limiting assembly, to restrict rotation directions and rotation angles of the first housing fastening bracket and the second housing fastening bracket relative to the base. Further, the first sliding limiting assembly is connected between the first housing fastening bracket and the base, and the second sliding limiting assembly is connected between the second housing fastening bracket and the base. The first sliding limiting assembly includes a first limiting gear and a first limiting gear swing rod. The first limiting gear includes a first limiting gear shaft disposed on the base and a first limiting gear body sleeved on the first limiting gear shaft. The first limiting gear swing rod includes a first limiting sliding block and a first limiting gear part. The first housing fastening bracket is provided with a first limiting chute extending in a direction away from the base. The first limiting sliding block is accommodated in the first limiting chute. The first limiting gear part is disposed at an end that is of the first limiting sliding block and that faces the base, and meshes with the first limiting gear body. The first limiting sliding block slides in the first limiting chute to restrict a rotation direction of the first rotating assembly relative to the base. The second sliding limiting assembly includes a second limiting gear and a second limiting gear swing rod. The second limiting gear includes a second limiting gear shaft disposed on the base and a second limiting gear body sleeved on the second limiting gear shaft. The second limiting gear body meshes with the first limiting gear body. The second limiting gear swing rod includes a second limiting sliding block and a second limiting gear part. The second housing fastening bracket is provided with a second limiting chute extending in a direction away from the base. The second limiting sliding block is accommodated in the second limiting chute. The second limiting gear part is disposed at an end that is of the second limiting sliding block and that faces the base, and meshes with the second limiting gear body. The second limiting sliding block slides in the second limiting chute to restrict a rotation direction of the second rotating assembly relative to the base. In a process in which the first housing fastening bracket and the second housing fastening bracket are folded or unfolded relative to each other, the first limiting gear body and the second limiting gear body can rotate synchronously, so that the first limiting gear swing rod and the second limiting gear swing rod are synchronously driven to slide along the first limiting chute and the second limiting chute respectively, to implement synchronous opening and closing of the hinge mechanism, and make the hinge mechanism more stable in a folding or unfolding process.
In some optional technical solutions, the hinge assembly may further include a first damping assembly and a second damping assembly. The first damping assembly includes a first spring, a first moving shaft, and a first roller. One end of the first spring is fastened to the first housing fastening bracket, and the other end is connected to the first moving shaft. The first roller is sleeved on the first moving shaft and may rotate around the first moving shaft. The first limiting sliding block is provided with a first limiting protrusion, and the first limiting protrusion abuts against a peripheral side of the first roller. When the first limiting sliding block slides in the first limiting chute, the first limiting protrusion pushes the first roller to rotate, and drives the first moving shaft to compress the first spring, so that the first spring generates first elastic force, and sliding of the first limiting sliding block is dampened by using the first elastic force, to provide a buffer function for sliding of the first limiting sliding block, so as to cause the first limiting sliding block to slide more smoothly in the first limiting chute. Similarly, the second damping assembly includes a second spring, a second moving shaft, and a second roller. One end of the second spring is fastened to the second housing fastening bracket, and the other end is connected to the second moving shaft. The second roller is sleeved on the second moving shaft and may rotate around the second moving shaft. The second limiting sliding block is provided with a second limiting protrusion, and the second limiting protrusion abuts against a peripheral side of the second roller. When the second limiting sliding block slides in the second limiting chute, the second limiting protrusion pushes the second roller to rotate, and drives the second moving shaft to compress the second spring, so that the second spring generates second elastic force, and sliding of the second limiting sliding block is dampened by using the second elastic force, to provide a buffer function for sliding of the second limiting sliding block, so as to cause the second limiting sliding block to slide more smoothly in the second limiting chute.
In some other optional technical solutions, the damping assembly may be alternatively implemented by using another structure. Further, the hinge assembly may further include a third damping assembly and a fourth damping assembly. The third damping assembly includes a third spring, a first damping cam, and a second damping cam. The third spring is disposed on the base. The first damping cam is disposed on one end of the third spring. The second damping cam is fastened to the first limiting gear part and meshes with the first damping cam. When the first limiting sliding block slides in the first limiting chute, the second damping cam pushes the first damping cam and compresses the third spring, so that the third spring generates third elastic force, and sliding of the first limiting sliding block is dampened by using the third elastic force, to provide a buffer function for sliding of the first limiting sliding block. Similarly, the fourth damping assembly includes a fourth spring, a third damping cam, and a fourth damping cam. The fourth spring is disposed on the base. The third damping cam is disposed on one end of the fourth spring. The fourth damping cam is fastened to the second limiting gear part and meshes with the third damping cam. When the second limiting sliding block slides in the second limiting chute, the fourth damping cam pushes the third damping cam and compresses the fourth spring, so that the fourth spring generates fourth elastic force, and sliding of the second limiting sliding block is dampened by using the fourth elastic force, to provide a buffer function for sliding of the second limiting sliding block.
In this application, in some optional technical solutions, the hinge mechanism may further include a first flexible backplane, a first backplane support assembly, and a second backplane support assembly. The first flexible backplane shields the base and the hinge assembly by using the first backplane support assembly and the second backplane support assembly. Further, the first backplane support assembly includes a first sliding block and a fifth arc-shaped rotating block that are fastened to each other, where the first sliding block is disposed close to the first housing fastening bracket, the fifth arc-shaped rotating block is disposed close to the base, and a concave surface of the fifth arc-shaped rotating block is provided away from the flexible display. The second backplane support assembly includes a second sliding block and a sixth arc-shaped rotating block that are fastened to each other, where the second sliding block is disposed close to the second housing fastening bracket, the sixth arc-shaped rotating block is disposed close to the base, and a concave surface of the sixth arc-shaped rotating block is provided away from the flexible display. In addition, a first guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the first housing fastening bracket and that is close to the first backplane support assembly, an end that is of the first guiding groove and that is away from the base extends along the flexible display, a second guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the second housing fastening bracket and that is close to the second backplane support assembly, an end that is of the second guiding groove and that is away from the base extends along the flexible display, a fifth arc-shaped guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the base and that is close to the first backplane support assembly, and a sixth arc-shaped guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the base and that is close to the second backplane support assembly. In this technical solution, the first sliding block is accommodated in the first guiding groove, and slides in the first guiding groove to implement a sliding connection between the first backplane support assembly and the first housing fastening bracket. The fifth arc-shaped rotating block is accommodated in the fifth arc-shaped guiding groove, and slides in the fifth arc-shaped guiding groove to implement a rotatable connection between the first backplane support assembly and the base. The second sliding block is accommodated in the second guiding groove, and slides in the second guiding groove to implement a sliding connection between the second backplane support assembly and the second housing fastening bracket. The sixth arc-shaped rotating block is accommodated in the sixth arc-shaped guiding groove, and slides in the sixth arc-shaped guiding groove to implement a rotatable connection between the second backplane support assembly and the base. The first flexible backplane is disposed between the first housing fastening bracket and the second housing fastening bracket, and covers the base, the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, the first backplane support assembly, and the second backplane support assembly. The first backplane support assembly and the second backplane support assembly are separately connected to the first flexible backplane. When the hinge mechanism is in the flattened state, the first flexible backplane, a surface of a side that is of the first housing fastening bracket and that is away from the flexible display, and a surface of a side that is of the second housing fastening bracket and that is away from the flexible display may jointly form an appearance surface, to implement appearance integrity and integrity. A first accommodating cavity is further provided on a side that is of the first housing fastening bracket and that is close to the first flexible backplane, and a second accommodating cavity is provided on a side that is of the second housing fastening bracket and that is close to the first flexible backplane. Therefore, in a process in which the first housing fastening bracket and the second housing fastening bracket are folded relative to each other, the first sliding block slides in the first guiding groove in a direction away from the base, the fifth arc-shaped rotating block slides in the fifth arc-shaped guiding groove in a direction away from the base, the second sliding block slides in the second guiding groove in a direction away from the base, and the sixth arc-shaped rotating block slides in the sixth arc-shaped guiding groove in a direction away from the base, so that the first flexible backplane is folded and two ends of the first flexible backplane may respectively extend into the first accommodating cavity and the second accommodating cavity, to accommodate the first flexible backplane.
In some technical solutions, the first backplane support assembly may further include a first support plate. The first sliding block and the fifth arc-shaped rotating block are disposed on a side that is of the first support plate and that faces the flexible display. The first flexible backplane is connected to a side that is of the first support plate and that is away from the flexible display. The second backplane support assembly may further include a second support plate. The second sliding block and the sixth arc-shaped rotating block are disposed on a side that is of the second support plate and that faces the flexible display. The first flexible backplane is connected to a side that is of the second support plate and that is away from the flexible display. When the first flexible backplane is bent, a surface that is of the first flexible backplane and that is away from the base is closer to a curvature center than a surface that is of the first flexible backplane and that faces the base, so that pulling force exerted on the surface that is of the first flexible backplane and that faces the base is greater than pulling force exerted on the surface that is of the first flexible backplane and that is away from the base. A blind hole structure is provided on a surface of a side that is of the first flexible backplane and that faces the flexible display. The blind hole structure is located between the first support plate and the second support plate, so that surface stress distribution of the first flexible backplane can be improved, and bending resistance of the first flexible backplane can be improved.
In some other optional technical solutions, the backplane support assembly may alternatively be implemented in another manner. Further, the hinge mechanism may further include a second flexible backplane, a third backplane support assembly, and a fourth backplane support assembly. The third backplane support assembly includes a third rotating gear and a third rotating gear swing rod, where the third rotating gear includes a third rotating gear shaft disposed on the base and a third rotating gear body sleeved on the third rotating gear shaft. The third rotating gear swing rod includes a third swing rod sliding block and a third swing rod gear part. A third guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the first housing fastening bracket and that faces the third backplane support assembly, and an end that is of the third guiding groove and that is away from the base extends along the flexible display. The third swing rod sliding block is accommodated in the third guiding groove. The third swing rod gear part is disposed at an end that is of the third swing rod sliding block and that faces the base, and meshes with the third rotating gear body. The fourth backplane support assembly includes a fourth rotating gear and a fourth rotating gear swing rod, where the fourth rotating gear includes a fourth rotating gear shaft disposed on the base and a fourth rotating gear body sleeved on the fourth rotating gear shaft. The fourth rotating gear swing rod includes a fourth swing rod sliding block and a fourth swing rod gear part. A fourth guiding groove is provided on a side that is of the second housing fastening bracket and that faces the fourth backplane support assembly, and an end that is of the fourth guiding groove and that is away from the base extends along the flexible display. The fourth swing rod sliding block is accommodated in the fourth guiding groove. The fourth swing rod gear part is disposed at an end that is of the fourth swing rod sliding block and that faces the base, and meshes with the fourth rotating gear body. The second flexible backplane is disposed between the first housing fastening bracket and the second housing fastening bracket, and covers the base, the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, the third backplane support assembly, and the fourth backplane support assembly. The third backplane support assembly and the fourth backplane support assembly are separately connected to the second flexible backplane. A third accommodating cavity is further provided on a side that is of the first housing fastening bracket and that is close to the second flexible backplane, and a fourth accommodating cavity is provided on a side that is of the second housing fastening bracket and that is close to the second flexible backplane. In a process in which the first housing fastening bracket and the second housing fastening bracket are folded relative to each other, the third swing rod sliding block slides in the third guiding groove in a direction away from the base, and the fourth swing rod sliding block slides in the fourth guiding groove in a direction away from the base, so that the second flexible backplane is folded, and two ends of the second flexible backplane respectively extend into the third accommodating cavity and the fourth accommodating cavity.
According to a second aspect, this application provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a flexible display and the hinge mechanism in the first aspect. Further, the flexible display is disposed on one side of the hinge mechanism, and is connected to the first support surface, the second support surface, and the third support surface.
When the electronic device is folded or unfolded, because a first rotation center and a second rotation center of the hinge mechanism do not overlap, an axial phase difference between a housing fastening bracket and a rotating element disposed on a same side may be implemented in a rotation process of the electronic device, so that the housing fastening bracket and the rotating element telescopically move relative to the base. In this way, the hinge mechanism in an unfolded state can smoothly support the flexible display, and the hinge mechanism in a closed state can form a support structure that meets a bending requirement of the flexible display, to avoid pulling or arching of the flexible display, and therefore improve structural reliability of the electronic device. When the electronic device is in a flattened state, the first support surface, the second support surface, and the third support surface may form a flat support surface for supporting the flexible display, to avoid depression of the flexible display. When the electronic device is in a folded state, the first support surface, the third support surface, and the second support surface may form a U-shaped support surface for supporting the flexible display, to avoid arching of the flexible display. In this way, when the electronic device is folded or unfolded, the hinge mechanism can provide good support for the flexible display, thereby improving structural reliability of the electronic device.
To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following further describes this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
For ease of understanding a hinge mechanism provided in embodiments of this application, the following describes an application scenario of the hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism may be used in, but is not limited to, a foldable electronic device such as a mobile phone, an intelligent wearable device, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer. When a hinge mechanism provided in embodiments of this application is used in an electronic device, refer to
In some current foldable electronic devices, when the first housing 13 and the second housing 14 rotate around a hinge mechanism, the hinge mechanism cannot meet a bending support requirement of a flexible display, which may cause the flexible display to be compressed or pulled. In this case, after a plurality of folding operations are performed on the electronic device, the flexible display is prone to damage, which mostly occurs in a foldable part of the flexible display.
Therefore, a rotation structure of a hinge mechanism, as a key functional component in a foldable electronic device, may be designed, so that the hinge mechanism supports a foldable part of a flexible display. The hinge mechanism 11 provided in this application is intended to resolve the foregoing problem, so that the hinge mechanism 11 in an unfolded state can stably support the flexible display 12, and the hinge mechanism 11 in a closed state can form a support structure that can meet a bending requirement of the flexible display 12, to avoid pulling or arching of the flexible display 12, and therefore improve structural reliability of the electronic device 10.
It should be noted that the terms used in the following embodiments are only for a purpose of describing embodiments, but are not intended to limit this application. The terms “one”, “a”, “the”, “the foregoing”, and “this” of singular forms used in this specification and the appended claims of this application are also intended to include expressions such as “one or more”, unless otherwise specified in the context clearly.
Reference to “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or the like described in this specification indicates that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described with reference to embodiments. Therefore, statements such as “in an embodiment”, “in some embodiments”, “in some other embodiments”, and “in other embodiments” that appear at different places in this specification do not necessarily mean referring to a same embodiment. Instead, the statements mean “one or more but not all of embodiments”, unless otherwise further emphasized in another manner. The terms “include”, “have”, and their variants all mean “include but are not limited to”, unless otherwise further emphasized in another manner.
It should be noted that when the hinge mechanism 11 is in the folded state, the first support surface S1 and the third support surface S3 are disposed opposite to each other, and the U-shaped support surface formed by the first support surface S1, the second support surface S2, and the third support surface S3 may meet a bending requirement of the flexible display 12. In this application, a shape of a support surface formed by the first support surface S1, the second support surface S2, and the third support surface S3 may alternatively be an ellipse or an arc. A specific shape may be designed based on a bending shape of the flexible display 12.
In this application, a manner in which the first rotating element 113a is rotatably connected to the base 110, the first rotating element 113a is rotatably connected to the first housing fastening bracket 114a, the second rotating element 113b is rotatably connected to the base 110, and the second rotating element 113b is rotatably connected to the second housing fastening bracket 114b is not limited. In this application, because the first rotating assembly 112a and the second rotating assembly 112b are symmetrically disposed relative to the base 110, the following uses the first rotating assembly 112a as an example to describe structures of the first rotating assembly 112a and the second rotating assembly 112b.
In some other embodiments, when the hinge mechanism is disposed, the first housing fastening bracket 114a, the second housing fastening bracket 114b, and the base 110 may provide support for the flexible display 12, and the first rotating element 113a and the second rotating element 113b may also provide support for the flexible display 12.
The first support surface S1, the second support surface S2, and the third support surface S3 may be planes. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first support surface S1, the second support surface S2, and the third support surface S3 may be arc surfaces. For example, in an embodiment, the first support surface S1 may include a first plane and a first arc surface, the first arc surface is provided on a side that is of the first plane and that is close to the first rotating element 113a, and the first arc surface may extend in a direction away from the flexible display 12. Similarly, the second support surface S2 may include a second plane and a second arc surface, the second arc surface is provided on a side that is of the second plane and that is close to the second rotating element 113b, and the second arc surface may extend in a direction away from the flexible display 12. Correspondingly, the third support surface S3 may include a third plane, a third arc surface, and a fourth arc surface, and the third arc surface and the fourth arc surface are respectively located on two sides of the third plane. The third arc surface is provided close to the first rotating element 113a, the fourth arc surface is provided close to the second rotating element 113b, and the third arc surface and the fourth arc surface may separately extend in a direction away from the flexible display 12. In this embodiment, in a process in which the first housing fastening bracket 114a and the second housing fastening bracket 114b are folded or unfolded relative to each other, the first arc surface and the third arc surface may respectively abut against two sides of the first arc-shaped support surface S4, to implement smooth transition of the first support surface S1, the first arc-shaped support surface S4, and the third support surface S3, and the second arc surface and the fourth arc surface respectively abut against two sides of the second arc-shaped support surface S5, to implement smooth transition of the second support surface S2, the second arc-shaped support surface S5, and the third support surface S3. When the hinge mechanism 11 is in the flattened state, the first plane, at least a part of the first arc-shaped support surface S4, the second plane, at least a part of the second arc-shaped support surface S5, and the third plane form the flat support surface, and when the hinge mechanism 11 is in the folded state, the first plane, the first arc surface, the first arc-shaped support surface S4, the third arc surface, the third plane, the fourth arc surface, the second arc-shaped support surface S5, the second arc surface, and the second plane form the U-shaped support surface.
In the foregoing embodiments, the first body 1131a, the first arc-shaped rotating block 1132a, and the second arc-shaped rotating block 1133a may be an integrated structure, to simplify a structure of the first rotating element 113a and improve structural strength of the first rotating element 113a. Certainly, the first body 1131a, the first arc-shaped rotating block 1132a, and the second arc-shaped rotating block 1133a may alternatively be connected in another connection manner such as welding, bonding, or a threaded connection. This is not limited herein.
Still refer to
In some embodiments, the first backplane support assembly 118a may further include a first support plate 1181a. The first sliding block 1183a and the fifth arc-shaped rotating block 1182a are disposed on a side that is of the first support plate 1181a and that faces the flexible display 12. The flexible backplane 119 is connected to a side that is of the first support plate 1181a and that is away from the flexible display 12. The second backplane support assembly 118b may further include a second support plate 1181b. The second sliding block 1183b and the sixth arc-shaped rotating block 1182b are disposed on a side that is of the second support plate 1181b and that faces the flexible display 12. The flexible backplane 119 is connected to a side that is of the second support plate 1181b and that is away from the flexible display 12. When the flexible backplane 119 is bent, a surface that is of the flexible backplane 119 and that is away from the base 110 is closer to a curvature center than a surface that is of the flexible backplane 119 and that faces the base 110, so that pulling force exerted on the surface that is of the flexible backplane 119 and that faces the base 110 is greater than pulling force exerted on the surface that is of the flexible backplane 119 and that is away from the base 110. A blind hole structure 1191 is disposed on a surface of a side that is of the flexible backplane 119 and that faces the flexible display 12. The blind hole structure 1191 is located between the first support plate 1181a and the second support plate 1181b, so that surface stress distribution of the flexible backplane 119 can be improved, and bending resistance of the flexible backplane 119 can be improved. Further, when the hinge mechanism 11 is in the closed state, the first support plate 1181a, the second support plate 1181b, the first housing fastening bracket 114a, the second housing fastening bracket 114b, and the base 110 can form water drop-like accommodating space that meets a bending requirement of the flexible backplane 119, to avoid pulling or compression the flexible backplane 119, so as to reduce a risk of damage to the flexible backplane 119.
In the foregoing embodiments, the first support plate 1181a, the fifth arc-shaped rotating block 1182a, and the first sliding block 1183a may be an integrated structure, to simplify a structure of the first backplane support assembly 118a and improve structural strength of the first backplane support assembly 118a. Certainly, the first support plate 1181a, the fifth arc-shaped rotating block 1182a, and the first sliding block 1183a may alternatively be connected in another connection manner such as welding, bonding, or a threaded connection. This is not limited herein. The second support plate 1181b, the sixth arc-shaped rotating block 1182b, and the second sliding block 1183b may also be disposed in a similar manner. Details are not described herein again.
In some other optional embodiments, the backplane support assembly may alternatively be implemented in another manner.
The foregoing descriptions are example implementations of this application, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202211739538.5 | Dec 2022 | CN | national |
This is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2023/135447 filed on Nov. 30, 2023, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211739538.5 filed on Dec. 31, 2022. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2023/135447 | Nov 2023 | WO |
| Child | 19027270 | US |
