Patent Application
20250036170
This application pertains to the field of communication technologies and particularly relates to a hinge mechanism and an electronic device.
Foldable electronic devices are increasingly favored by consumers for achieving balance among characteristics of portability, large display area, and the like. Foldable electronic devices are typically provided with hinge mechanisms, and the hinge mechanisms enable the foldable electronic devices to be foldable. Currently, most foldable electronic devices adopt an outward folding structure. When such electronic device is in a folded state, its display screen is located on an outer side, which makes the display screen of the electronic device prone to friction or collision with external objects, causing serious adverse effects on the service life of the display screen.
According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism includes a base, a first rotating part, a linkage member, and a floating support part, where
According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this application provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display screen, screen support parts, and the foregoing hinge mechanism, where the connecting parts of the first linkage member and second linkage member are each connected to the screen support part, and the display screen is supported by the floating support part of the hinge mechanism and the screen support parts.
The accompanying drawings described herein are intended for an understanding of this application and constitute a part of this application. Illustrative embodiments of this application and descriptions thereof are intended to explain this application, and do not constitute any inappropriate limitation on this application. In the accompanying drawings:
The following clearly describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application. Apparently, the described embodiments are only some rather than all of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of this application fall within the protection scope of this application.
The terms “first”, “second”, and the like in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish between similar objects rather than to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that data used in this way are interchangeable in appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of this application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, “first” and “second” are typically used to distinguish objects of a same type and do not limit quantities of the objects. For example, there may be one or more first objects. In addition, “and/or” in the specification and claims represents at least one of the connected objects, and the character “/” generally indicates that the contextually associated objects have an “or” relationship.
The following describes a hinge mechanism and an electronic device provided in the embodiments of this application through some embodiments and application scenarios thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
The two screen support parts are connected to each other through the hinge mechanism. Under the action of the hinge mechanism, the two screen support parts can move relative to each other, thereby allowing the electronic device to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state.
In a case that the electronic device is in the folded state, the two screen support parts are stacked and opposite each other, and the display screen is located between the two screen support parts. Certainly, the two screen support parts may alternatively be parallel to each other, or a relatively small acute angle may be present between the two screen support parts.
In a case that the electronic device is in the unfolded state, a surface of the display screen is a plane, and the two screen support parts are also substantially coplanar. Certainly, with consideration of the influence of factors such as machining accuracy and the property of the display screen itself, the display surface of the display screen in the unfolded state may not be an absolutely planar structure, and some positions of the display screen surface of the display may have slight bending deformation. In this case, it can also be considered that the display screen (or the electronic device) is in the unfolded state.
As described above, during the use of the electronic device, the display screen will undergo deformation with the relative movement of the screen support parts, and thus, at least a part of the display screen is a flexible structure. For example, the display screen may include a first display part, a second display part, and a third display part, where the first display part and the second display part are connected to each other through the third display part, so that the three parts are connected as a whole. Optionally, the first display part and the second display part are hard screens for improving their service life. The third display part is a flexible screen, and the position of the third display part corresponds to the position of the hinge mechanism, so as to ensure that the third display part will not hinder the normal bending and unfolding actions of the hinge mechanism. In another embodiment of the application, the display screen may alternatively be a flexible screen as a whole, which can also ensure that the display screen can deform with the action of the hinge mechanism, and can improve the consistency of the display screen, thereby improving the display effect of the display screen.
As shown in
The base 100 may be made of a hard material such as metal or plastic. The base 100 is a foundational part of the entire hinge mechanism, and other structures in the hinge mechanism may be directly or indirectly installed on the base 100 so as to be connected to the base 100. Optionally, as shown in
Moreover, most components or structures in the hinge mechanism are symmetrically arranged, such as the first rotating part 131. The first rotating part 131 is provided in plurality, and the plurality of first rotating parts 131 are all disposed on the base 100. After exclusion of the influence of factors such as the position, as shown in
Similarly, a second rotating part 220 configured to be connected to the first rotating part 131 is also provided in plurality, and the plurality of second rotating parts 220 fit with the plurality of first rotating parts 131 in one-to-one correspondence. In the plurality of second rotating parts 220, two second rotating parts 220 fit in one-to-one correspondence with the two first rotating parts 131 that are symmetrical in structure, and are rotatably connected to the two first rotating parts 131. In addition, one of the two second rotating parts 220 is connected to a connecting part 210 of one linkage member 200, and the other is connected to a connecting part 210 of another linkage member 200.
As described above, the first rotating part 131 and the second rotating part 220 fit with each other, and the two rotatably fit with each other. For example, the two may each be a structure combination such as an arc-shaped structural member, with a rotating axis located outside. This can reduce the sizes of the base 100 and entire hinge mechanism and reduce the complexity of the base 100. In a case that the first rotating part 131 and the second rotating part 220 adopt the foregoing structure, a limiting structure and the like may be provided on the base 100 to limit the second rotating part 220 in a direction perpendicular to the above rotating axis, ensuring relatively stable rotatable fit between the second rotating part 220 and the first rotating part 131.
For example, as shown in
Optionally, the guide rail 132 may be disposed on a side wall of the recess of the first rotating part 131, that is, a surface of the recess of the first rotating part 131 perpendicular to the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131. Based on this, the guide rail 132 and the guide slot 221 can further fit with each other in a limiting manner in a direction perpendicular to the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131, thereby ensuring high stability of rotatable fit between the first rotating part 131 and the second rotating part 220.
As described above, the hinge mechanism disclosed in this embodiment of this application includes the linkage member 200, where the linkage member 200 is provided in plurality, and each linkage member 200 includes a connecting part 210 and the foregoing second rotating part 220, so that the second rotating parts 220 of the plurality of linkage members 200 can fit with the plurality of first rotating parts 131 in one-to-one correspondence. Moreover, the linkage member 200 is an integral structural member, which can improve the reliability of connection between the second rotating part 220 and the connecting part 210, and also reduce the difficulty in assembling the second rotating part and the connecting part 210 with other components in the hinge mechanism.
As described above, at least one of the plurality of first rotating parts 131 is connected to one linkage member 200, with a linkage relationship formed between the two. At least another of the plurality of first rotating parts 131 is connected to another linkage member 200, with a linkage relationship formed between the two.
In addition, the connecting parts 210 are all configured to be fixedly connected to screen support parts of an electronic device, so that adjacent screen support parts in the electronic device can be connected to the hinge mechanism, thereby allowing adjacent screen support parts to move relative to each other through the hinge mechanism. For example, the connecting parts 210 may all be fixedly connected to the corresponding screen support parts through threaded components and the like. Actual structures, sizes, and the like of the connecting parts 210 may all be correspondingly determined based on actual shapes and sizes of other components such as the screen support parts in the electronic device. This is not limited herein.
As described above, at least one of the plurality of linkage members 200 is connected to at least one first rotating part 131, and at least another of the plurality of linkage members 200 is connected to at least another first rotating part 131. For ease of description, optionally, two of the plurality of linkage members 200 are a first linkage member and a second linkage member respectively, and structures, sizes, and the like of the two linkage members may be completely the same.
The first linkage member and the second linkage member may both be provided in one, and the two linkage members are respectively located on two sides of the entire hinge mechanism facing away from each other to be respectively connected to the corresponding screen support parts. In another embodiment of this application, the first linkage member and the second linkage member may both be provided in plurality. The plurality of first linkage members are all distributed on one side of the entire hinge mechanism, and the plurality of first linkage members are distributed along a direction with a larger size in the entire hinge mechanism, where the direction may be a length direction of the hinge mechanism, that is, the direction of the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131 (or a first synchronization swing arm 410 mentioned below) in the hinge mechanism, and the direction is direction A in
In addition, the first rotating part 131 and the second rotating part 220 rotatably fitting with each other are used, so that the base 100 can connect two adjacent screen support parts together and drive the corresponding second rotating part 220 to rotate relative to the first rotating part 131 when the first linkage member and the second linkage member move relative to each other.
As described above, the hinge mechanism includes the floating support part 300, where the floating support part 300 is disposed on a side of the base 100 facing a screen support side, that is, the floating support part 300 is located on a side of the base 100. As described above, the base 100 is a foundational part of the hinge mechanism and is substantially located at a middle position of the hinge mechanism, thereby allowing the base 100 to support the display screen and allowing the display screen to be directly or indirectly supported by the base 100. The floating support part 300 is located on the screen support side of the base 100, so that the floating support part 300 can be used to support the display screen, thereby improving the support effect on the screen.
Moreover, the floating support part 300 and the base 100 are movably connected to each other along distribution directions of the two, so that the floating support part 300 can move in a direction approaching the base 100 or leaving the base 100. The distribution direction may be a direction perpendicular to the entire hinge mechanism when the hinge mechanism is in a first state or a direction perpendicular to the display surface of the display screen in an unfolded state. More intuitively, the direction may be an exploded direction of components in
During operation, the hinge mechanism with the above structure has at least two states: a first state and a second state. The first state corresponds to the foregoing unfolded state of the electronic device, and the second state corresponds to the foregoing folded state of the electronic device.
In a case that the hinge mechanism is in the first state, the connecting part 210 of the first linkage member is located on one side of the base 100, and the connecting part 210 of the second linkage member is located on another side of the base 100, so that the entire hinge mechanism is in the unfolded state to support a middle portion of the display screen, while ensuring that screen support parts connected to each other through the hinge mechanism are also substantially coplanar and respectively support two sides of the display screen.
Moreover, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the first state, at least one of the plurality of second rotating parts 220 supports the floating support part 300, so that the hinge mechanism can enable the display screen to be stably supported by the floating support part 300 when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, improving the support effect of the hinge mechanism on the display screen. In addition, in a case that the second rotating part 220 supports the floating support part 300, a distance between the floating support part 300 and the base 100 is relatively large, for example, a distance between an outer side wall of the base 100 facing away from the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131 and the floating support part 300 is a first distance.
In a case that the hinge mechanism is in the second state, the connecting parts 210 of the first linkage member and second linkage member are both located on the side of the base 100 facing the screen support side. Moreover, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the second state, the second rotating part 220 avoids the floating support part 300, so that the floating support part 300 can move in a direction approaching the base 100 under the squeezing actions of components such as the display screen. This allows the floating support part 300 to avoid the display screen, providing an avoidance space for the display screen, and preventing the display screen from being squeezed and damaged when the display screen is being folded. In addition, a distance between the floating support part 300 and the base 100 is reduced, so that a distance between the outer side wall of the base 100 and the floating support part 300 is a second distance, and the second distance is less than the first distance.
As described above, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the second state, the connecting parts 210 of the first linkage member and second linkage member connected to the screen support parts are both located on the screen support side of the base 100, that is, the display screen and the screen support parts are all located on a same side of the base 100, so that the entire display screen is wrapped by the screen support parts and the hinge mechanism to form an “inward folded” electronic device.
An embodiment of this application discloses a hinge mechanism. Connecting parts 210 of a first linkage member and second linkage member of the hinge mechanism can be all fixedly connected to corresponding screen support parts of an electronic device, so that adjacent screen support parts can be connected to each other through the hinge mechanism. Moreover, the first linkage member can rotatably fit with a first rotating part 131 of a base 100 through a second rotating part 220, and the second linkage member rotatably fits with another first rotating part 131 of the base 100 through a second rotating part 220, so that when adjacent screen support parts move relative to each other, the first linkage member and the second linkage member can also move relative to each other, allowing the electronic device to be unfolded and folded. In addition, the electronic device formed using the hinge mechanism is an inward folded electronic device, so that in a case that the electronic device is in a folded state, the screen support parts and the hinge mechanism can protect a display screen and prevent the display screen from experiencing friction or collision with external objects. This can prolong the service life of the display screen in the electronic device.
Furthermore, in the hinge mechanism, the linkage member 200 is an integral structural member, which allows for relatively high reliability of connection between the connecting part 210 and the second rotating part 220, and can reduce the assembly difficulty of the connecting part 210 and the second rotating part 220 in a process of assembling the base 100, reducing connection materials.
To allow the first linkage member and the second linkage member to rotate synchronously relative to the base 100, optionally, as shown in
For example, the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 may be in transmission connection with each other through engaging teeth 800, or the two may be in transmission connection with each other through other transmission members. Moreover, to ensure that the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 can be in stable transmission fit with each other, as shown in
As described above, the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 may be in transmission connection with each other through engaging teeth 800, that is, the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 are each provided with engaging teeth 800, and the two may be directly engaged through their respective engaging teeth 800 to form a transmission fit relationship.
To reduce pitch circle diameters of the engaging teeth 800 of the first synchronization swing arm 410 and second synchronization swing arm 420, in another embodiment of this application, as shown in
Certainly, to ensure stability of movement of the first gear 431 and the second gear 432, the first gear 431 and the second gear 432 may be each provided with a gear shaft 450, and the gear shafts 450 are installed in gear holes 181 of the base 100, to support the first gear 431 and the second gear 432. Correspondingly, one of the first gear 431 and the base 100 needs to rotatably fit with the gear shaft 450, and the gear shaft 450 corresponding to the second gear 432 also needs to rotatably fit with the base 100 or the second gear 432.
In this embodiment, peripheral walls of the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 can be processed to form the engaging teeth 800. In another embodiment of this application, a matching gear may further be installed on the connecting rod 720, and the matching gear and the first synchronization swing arm 410 are fixed relative to each other in the circumferential direction of the rotating axis, so as to drive the matching gear to rotate during rotation of the first synchronization swing arm 410. The matching gear being in transmission connection with the first gear 431 can also allow the first synchronization swing arm 410 to be in transmission connection with the first gear 431.
With this technical solution adopted, gear standard parts can be directly used as the engaging teeth 800 of the first synchronization swing arm 410, so that there is no need to additionally process the engaging teeth 800 on the peripheral wall of the first synchronization swing arm 410, and the overall processing difficulty of the hinge mechanism can be greatly reduced. Similarly, the second synchronization swing arm 420 may also be provided with a matching gear, and the matching gear is engaged with the second gear 432, so that the second synchronization swing arm 420 can also be in transmission connection with the second gear 432 through the matching gear.
In the foregoing embodiment, the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the corresponding matching gear are used as an example, where the two may be fixed relative to each other by welding in the circumferential direction of the rotating axis. With consideration of later maintenance of the hinge mechanism, the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the corresponding connecting rod 720 may be fixed relative to each other in the circumferential direction of the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131, and the matching gear and the connecting rod 720 are also fixed relative to each other in the above direction. In this case, it can be ensured that the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the matching gear can be fixed relative to each other through the connecting rod 720 in the above circumferential direction. Similarly, the second synchronization swing arm 420 and the corresponding matching gear can also be fixed relative to each other in the above circumferential direction through the foregoing technical solution.
In the foregoing embodiment, the connecting rod 720 and the first synchronization swing arm 410 may fit with each other through key connection, thereby allowing the connecting rod 720 to rotate with the first synchronization swing arm 410 relative to the base 100. In a process of assembling the connecting rod 720 and the base 100, a limiting structure may be provided on the base 100, and the first gear 431 and the second gear 432 can be limited within the limiting structure, so that the first gear 431 and the second gear 432 are each relatively stably fixed relative to the base 100 in the direction of the rotating axis.
As described above, the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 may be each provided with the matching gear, and the first gear 431 and the second gear 432 are each in transmission fit with the matching gear. For example, the matching gear disposed at an end of the connecting rod 720 fitting with the first synchronization swing arm 410 may be a third gear, and the matching gear disposed at an end of the connecting rod 720 fitting with the second synchronization swing arm 420 may be a fourth gear. With consideration that the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 are substantially symmetrical in structure, the following uses the first synchronization swing arm 410 for description. Through key connection, the third gear, the connecting rod 720, and the first synchronization swing arm 410 can be fixed relative to each other in the circumferential direction of the rotating axis, ensuring that the third gear and the first synchronization swing arm 410 can rotate synchronously.
Optionally, the base 100 may be provided with a limiting structure, where the limiting structure may include a limiting slot 190, so that in a process of assembling the first gear 431, the second gear 432, and the base 100, the first gear 431 and the second gear 432 can be both installed in the limiting slot 190, and the limiting slot 190 can limit the first gear 431 and the second gear 432. In addition, a gear hole 181 may be processed and formed in a side wall of the limiting slot 190, and an end of the gear shaft 450 is inserted through the first gear 431 (or the second gear 432) through the gear hole 181 and is ultimately inserted into another side wall of the limiting slot 190 to support the first gear 431.
In another embodiment of this application, as shown in
As described above, the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the second synchronization swing arm 420 are connected to the first linkage member and the second linkage member respectively. Since the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the corresponding first rotating part 131 have different rotating axes, the first synchronization swing arm 410 moves relative to the first linkage member during rotating along with the first linkage member along the axis of the first rotating part 131. In view of this, the first synchronization swing arm 410 may slidably fit with the first linkage member. As shown in
To prevent the adverse effects on transmission connection between the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the first gear 431 (or the second synchronization swing arm 420) caused by relative movement between the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the connecting rod 720 in the direction of the rotating axis, optionally, the hinge mechanism disclosed in this embodiment of this application may further include a first elastic member 510. In the direction of the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131, the first elastic member 510 is connected between the base 100 and the first synchronization swing arm 410, so that the first elastic member 510 is used to allow the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the base 100 to be in squeezing fit with each other in the direction of the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131, thereby limiting the autonomous rotation of the first synchronization swing arm 410 and allowing the hinge mechanism to have a damping effect. In addition, under the action of the first elastic member 510, the first synchronization swing arm 410 can be further prevented from moving relative to the base 100 along the direction of the foregoing rotating axis.
For example, the first elastic member 510 and the first synchronization swing arm 410 may be directly connected to each other through abutting or fixed connection, or the two may alternatively be indirectly connected together through other structural members, so that an elastic force of the first elastic member 510 can act on the first synchronization swing arm 410. The first elastic member 510 is in a squeezed state or a stretched state at all times, so that the hinge mechanism, in any unfolding angle, can enable the first synchronization swing arm 410 to be squeezed onto the base 100, thereby allowing the first synchronization swing arm 410 to have a damping effect at all times. Alternatively, another structural member may be further additionally provided, and the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the base 100 are squeezed against each other only when the hinge mechanism is within some angle ranges, while the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the base 100 may be substantially not squeezed against each other when the hinge mechanism is within other angle ranges.
For example, the first elastic member 510 is in a stretched or compressed state to squeeze the first synchronization swing arm 410 and a surface of the base 100 attached to the first synchronization swing arm 410. In this embodiment, the base 100 may be provided with a notch, and the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the first elastic member 510 are both disposed within the notch, so that a first side wall of the notch of the base 100 facing the first synchronization swing arm 410 is attached to the first synchronization swing arm 410. In addition, two ends of the first elastic member 510 respectively abut against the first synchronization swing arm 410 and a second side wall of the notch of the base 100, and the second side wall and the first side wall are disposed opposite each other in the direction of the rotating axis. Certainly, there are also a variety of combinations for arrangement positions and connection manners of the first elastic member 510. Details are not described herein.
In another embodiment of this application, as shown in
Moreover, as shown in
Any one of the plurality of first limiting protrusions 161 may be clamped in a gap between any two adjacent ones of the plurality of second limiting protrusions 441, and any one of the plurality of second limiting protrusions 441 may be clamped in a gap between any two adjacent ones of the plurality of first limiting protrusions 161, so that during the relative rotation of the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the limiting member 140 along the circumferential direction of the rotating axis, through the first limiting protrusions 161 and the second limiting protrusions 441, not only the limiting member 140 and the first synchronization swing arm 410 can rotatably fit with each other in the circumferential direction of the rotating axis, but also the limiting member 140 and the first synchronization swing arm 410 can movably fit with each other in the direction of the rotating axis, where the movably fit refers to reciprocating movement along the direction of the rotating axis.
In the foregoing embodiment, one of the limiting member 140 and the first synchronization swing arm 410 may be connected to one end of the first elastic member 510, and one of the base 100 and the positioning member 150 may be connected to the other end of the first elastic member 510. The compressed or stretched state of the first elastic member 510 is correspondingly set based on situations of components connected to the first elastic member 510, that is, the limiting member 140 and the first synchronization swing arm 410 can be in a squeezed state in the direction of the rotating axis of the first rotating part 131. As described above, in a case that the limiting member 140 is located between the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the positioning member 150, two ends of the first elastic member 510 facing away from each other can abut against the limiting member 140 and the positioning member 150 respectively.
For example, in a fitting state in which the first limiting protrusion 161 is located between two adjacent second limiting protrusions 441 and two sides of the first limiting protrusion 161 facing away from each other are in contact with two second limiting protrusions 441 on the two sides of the first limiting protrusion 161 facing away from each other, the first elastic member 510 can be in a natural state. In addition, in other states than the fitting state, the first elastic member 510 can be in the stretched or squeezed state, thereby ensuring that the first elastic member 510 tends to make the first limiting protrusion 161 and the second limiting protrusion 441 be in the above fitting state and tends to switch to the above fitting state.
With the foregoing technical solution adopted, if the first synchronization swing arm 410 and the limiting member 140 are subjected to no external force, the hinge mechanism can stably be in a state of at least one specified angle. Certainly, during the design of structures of the first limiting protrusion 161 and the second limiting protrusion 441, when it is also necessary to ensure that the hinge mechanism is in the unfolded state or the folded state, the first limiting protrusion 161 and the second limiting protrusion 441 can be in the above fitting state, so that the hinge mechanism can stably hover at the unfolded state, the folded state, or at least another angle between the two states, thereby expanding application scenarios of the electronic device and improving the user experience.
As described above, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the second state, the connecting parts 210 of the first linkage member and second linkage member are both located on the side of the base 100 facing the screen support side, that is, the hinge mechanism is applicable to an inward folded electronic device. When such electronic device is in a folded state, the hinge mechanism needs to be used for providing an accommodating space for a display screen, ensuring that the display screen is not squeezed by components moving relative to each other in the hinge mechanism.
In addition, in the foregoing embodiment, the floating support part 300 capable of moving relative to the base 100 may be provided to provide avoidance for the display screen. For example, in a case that the hinge mechanism is provided with the floating support part 300, as shown in
Furthermore, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the second state, since the second rotating part 220 avoids the floating support part 300, the floating support part 300 can reset under an elastic action of the second elastic member 520, that is, the floating support part 300 moves along a direction approaching the base 100, thereby reducing a distance between the floating support part 300 and the base 100, improving the automation capability of the floating support part 300, and preventing the floating support part 300 from squeezing the display screen.
As described above, the display screen may be an integrated structure, and the electronic device includes screen support parts. A middle portion between two adjacent screen support parts in the display screen (that is, a portion corresponding to the hinge mechanism) also has a certain effect of being unfolded and supported under support and fixation of the display screen by the two adjacent screen support parts. Moreover, the floating support part 300 can also be used to provide some support for the middle portion of the display screen. Certainly, to improve the support effect on the portion of the display screen corresponding to the hinge mechanism, optionally, the hinge mechanism disclosed in this embodiment of this application may further include a support plate 610. The first linkage member and the second linkage member are each connected to the support plate 610, and the first linkage member and the second linkage member are each configured to drive the corresponding support plate 610 to rotate relative to the base 100.
With the foregoing technical solution adopted, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the first state, the corresponding support plates 610 of the first linkage member and second linkage member can support portions of corresponding regions of the display screen, so that a portion of the display screen corresponding to the hinge mechanism can be substantially supported by the support plates 610 and the floating support part 300, improving the entire support effect on the display screen, thereby improving the display effect and service life of the display screen.
For example, the first linkage member (and the second linkage member) may be fixedly connected to the corresponding support plate 610, so that the support plate 610 can provide reliable support for the display screen. In addition, the size and shape of the support plate 610 may be correspondingly determined based on parameters such as shapes and sizes of other components in the hinge mechanism. This is not limited herein.
As described above, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the second state, the connecting parts 210 of the first linkage member and second linkage member are both located on the side of the base 100 facing the screen support side, that is, the hinge mechanism is applicable to an inward folded electronic device. When such electronic device is in a folded state, the hinge mechanism needs to be used for providing an accommodating space for a display screen, ensuring that the display screen is not squeezed by components moving relative to each other in the hinge mechanism.
In a case that the hinge mechanism disclosed in this embodiment of this application includes the support plate 610, to provide an avoidance space for the display screen, the first linkage member may be rotatably connected to the corresponding support plate 610, so that the two can rotate relative to each other. Certainly, since the first linkage member and the second linkage member are substantially symmetrical in structure, for a fitting relationship between the second linkage member and the corresponding support plate 610, reference may be made to the first linkage member.
In a case that the first linkage member and the support plate 610 can rotate relative to each other, to ensure that the support plate 610 can rotate relative to the first linkage member, the base 100 may be provided with a first hinging part 171, the first linkage member may be provided with a second hinging part 231, and the support plate 610 is provided with a third hinging part 620 and a fourth hinging part 630. In addition, the first hinging part 171 is rotatably connected to the third hinging part 620, and the second hinging part 231 is rotatably connected to the fourth hinging part 630. In this case, rotating axes of the first hinging part 171, the second hinging part 231, the second rotating part 220, and the like are designed, for example, the rotating axis of the third hinging part 620 may be located on a side of the rotating axis of the second rotating part 220 facing away from the second linkage member, so that during rotation of the first linkage member relative to the base 100 around the rotating axis of the second rotating part 220, the support plate 610 can rotate relative to the base 100 by taking the rotating axis of the second rotating part 220 as a virtual axis. In addition, with connection of the first hinging part 171 and the third hinging part 620, the first hinging part 171 can move in a rail of the third hinging part 620, achieving the purpose of allowing the support plate 610 to rotate relative to the first linkage member.
In a case that the linkage members and the support plates 610 can rotate relative to each other, when the hinge mechanism is in the first state, the support plates 610 all support the base 100, and first surfaces of the support plates 610 facing away from the base 100 are coplanar, so that the support plate capable of rotating relative to the first linkage member (and the second linkage member) can support the base 100 to provide reliable support for a corresponding portion of the display screen.
Certainly, in the above state, there is a gap between each of ends of two adjacent support plates 610 close to each other and the corresponding first linkage member (and the second linkage member), so as to ensure that the first linkage member can rotate relative to the corresponding support plate 610 in a process of the hinge mechanism switching from the first state to the second state. This allows a relative rotation angle between the two adjacent support plates 610 to be larger than a relative rotation angle between the first linkage member and the second linkage member, thereby providing an avoidance space for the display screen by using an expansion effect of the support plate 610, and preventing the display screen from being squeezed and damaged by the support plate 610 when the display screen is being folded and in the folded state.
Correspondingly, in the case that the hinge mechanism is in the second state, the first linkage member and the second linkage member each supports the corresponding support plate 610, that is, the support plate 610 corresponding to the first linkage member is supported by the first linkage member, the support plate 610 corresponding to the second linkage member is supported by the second linkage member, and first surfaces of two opposite support plates 610 form a flared structure, with a flared opening facing the base 100.
For example, when the hinge mechanism is in the first state, the first surfaces of two adjacent support plates 610 for supporting the display screen are coplanar. With the relative rotation of the first linkage member and the second linkage member, the first linkage member and the corresponding support plate 610 can also rotate relative to each other, and the second linkage member and the corresponding support plate 610 rotate relative to each other, so that rotation angles of the two adjacent support plates 610 can exceed 90°, thereby allowing a distance between sides of the two adjacent support plates 610 close to the base 100 to be greater than a distance between sides of the two adjacent support plates 610 away from the base 100, and achieving the purposes of allowing the two support plates 610 to form the flared structure and allowing the flared opening to face the base 100.
With the foregoing technical solution adopted, the support plate 610 of the hinge mechanism switching to the second state can move along a direction leaving the display screen so as to provide avoidance for the display screen, so that the display screen is substantially not squeezed by the support plate 610 (or the entire hinge mechanism) when being folded and in the folded state.
For example, surfaces of sides of the first linkage member and second linkage member facing the support plate 610 are arranged as inclined surfaces, so that during actions of the hinge mechanism, the support plate 610 can rotate relative to the first linkage member by a preset angle and is supported by the first linkage member.
Based on the hinge mechanism disclosed in any one of the foregoing embodiments, this application further discloses an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display screen, screen support parts, and the hinge mechanism disclosed in any one of the foregoing embodiments, as shown in
It should be noted that the terms “include”, “comprise”, or any of their variants are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements that are not expressly listed, or further includes elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without more constraints, an element preceded by “includes a . . . ” does not preclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element. Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of the method and apparatus in the embodiments of this application is not limited to functions being performed in the order shown or discussed, but may further include functions being performed at substantially the same time or in a reverse order, depending on the functions involved. For example, the described method may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. In addition, features described with reference to some examples may be combined in other examples.
The foregoing describes the embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this application is not limited to the foregoing implementations. These implementations are merely illustrative rather than restrictive. Inspired by this application, persons of ordinary skill in the art may develop many other forms without departing from the essence of this application and the protection scope of the claims, and all such forms shall fall within the protection scope of this application.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202210396961.3 | Apr 2022 | CN | national |
This application is a Bypass Continuation-in-part Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2023/087285 filed Apr. 10, 2023, and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210396961.3 filed Apr. 15, 2022, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2023/087285 | Apr 2023 | WO |
| Child | 18914496 | US |
