Folding path control mechanism, folding display device and communication equipment

Abstract

A folding path control mechanism comprises a seat body, a sliding seat rotatable on the seat body, a rotating shaft passing through the seat body and gears arranged at both ends of the rotating shaft and driving the sliding seat respectively. The seat body comprises two first arc grooves and two second arc grooves, first and second isolation walls respectively located between the two first arc grooves and the two second arc grooves and first and second axial holes passing through the first and second isolation walls. Two oppositely arranged sliding seats are respectively installed in the first and second arc grooves. The sliding seat comprises an arc convex surface matching the inner arc surfaces of the first and second arc grooves, and a toothing space opened on the side of the sliding seat. The toothing space is located on one side of the arc convex surface and has a plurality of tooth structures. The rotating shaft passes through the first or second axial hole, and the gears located at both ends of the rotating shaft are engaged in the toothing space. The present application also provides a folding display device and a communication device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication electronics, and in particular to a folding path control mechanism, a folding display device and a communication device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of folding screen technology, folding screen mobile phones have become a hot technology. Although the folding screen can be bent, it still cannot be bent 180 degrees. The bent part still needs to maintain a certain R angle, otherwise the screen will be damaged. The existing folding methods are divided into inward folding and outward folding, that is, the screen is on the inside or outside after folding. For example, the Mate X released by Huawei is outward folding, but the problem with outward folding is that the screen is exposed and easily scratched by hard objects, and the folding screen is relatively fragile.

[0003] Regardless of whether it is folded outward or inward, the problem that needs to be solved is how to ensure that the bending mechanism adapts to the R angle required by the bending part of the screen when the folding screen is bent. At this time, the inner side of the folding part of the folding screen will be slightly shortened, while the outer side of the folding screen will be slightly extended. At this time, the components close to the folding screen must keep changing synchronously, otherwise the screen will be squeezed and damaged. And ensure that there is support on the back of the folding screen, otherwise the suspended screen will be damaged when pressed by fingers. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, it is necessary to provide a folding path control mechanism, a folding display device and a communication device, wherein the folding path control mechanism can make the folding display device fold evenly to protect the relatively fragile folding screen.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a folding path control mechanism, including a seat body, a sliding seat rotatable on the seat body, a rotating shaft passing through the seat body, and gears arranged at both ends of the rotating shaft and driving the sliding seat respectively. The seat body includes two first arc grooves and two second arc grooves with opposite opening directions, first and second isolation walls respectively located between the two first arc grooves and the two second arc grooves, and first and second axial holes passing through the first and second isolation walls. Two oppositely arranged sliding seats are respectively installed in the first and second arc grooves. The sliding seat includes an arc convex surface that cooperates with the inner arc surfaces of the first and second arc grooves, and a toothing space opened on the side of the sliding seat. The toothing space is located on one side of the arc convex surface and has a plurality of tooth structures. The rotating shaft passes through the first or second axial hole, and the gears located at both ends of the rotating shaft are engaged in the toothing space. When the two pairs of sliding seats slide along the first and second arc grooves respectively, the arc convex surface is strictly matched with the first and second arc grooves to slide through the engagement of the gear and the tooth structure.

[0006] Preferably, the sliding seat further comprises a fixed base opposite to the arcuate convex surface, the fixed base is a planar structure, and the meshing space is provided with an arcuate convex hull on one side close to the fixed base, and the arcuate convex hull is cocentric with the arcuate convex surface.

[0007] Preferably, the sliding seat is fixed to a folding plate through the fixed base, and the folding plate includes a first folding plate and a second folding plate, the two sliding seats in the first arc-shaped groove are fixed to the first folding plate, and the two sliding seats in the second arc-shaped groove are fixed to the second folding plate.

[0008] Preferably, a notch and a protrusion are respectively formed on adjacent end surfaces of the first and second folding plates, and the protrusion of the first folding plate is accommodated in the notch on the second folding plate when unfolded, and the protrusion of the second folding plate is accommodated in the notch on the first folding plate when unfolded.

[0009] Preferably, the sliding seat is at least partially fixed to the lug.

[0010] Preferably, a pair of the first arc-shaped grooves form a closed end and an open end at their two lateral ends, respectively, and a pair of the second arc-shaped grooves form a closed end and an open end at their two lateral ends, respectively, and the closed end and the open end of the first arc-shaped groove are located on the same side as the open end and the closed end of the second arc-shaped groove.

[0011] Preferably, the first and second axial holes are respectively formed at one end of the first and second isolation walls located at the opening end.

[0012] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application also provides a folding display device, including the aforementioned folding path control mechanism, a folding screen mounted on the side of the folding plate away from the sliding seat, and a synchronization mechanism, and the seat body is connected to the folding plate through the synchronization mechanism.

[0013] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application also provides a folding display device, including the aforementioned folding path control mechanism, a folding screen mounted on the side of the folding plate away from the sliding seat, a back cover and a synchronization mechanism, the seat body is fixed on the back cover, and the back cover is connected to the folding plate through the synchronization mechanism.

[0014] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application also provides a communication device, including the above-mentioned folding path control mechanism.

[0015] The folding path control mechanism of the present application is achieved by respectively setting first and second arc grooves corresponding to the first and second folding plates on opposite sides of the seat body, and then assembling two pairs of sliding seats with arc convex surfaces in the first and second arc grooves and respectively fixed to the first and second folding plates. The folding plates are rotated along a predetermined trajectory through the cooperation between the arc grooves and the arc convex surfaces, thereby avoiding damage to the folding screen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The drawings described herein are used to provide further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute improper limitations on the present application.

[0017] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of the foldable display device of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 A three-dimensional diagram of the foldable display device of the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 A three-dimensional image of the foldable display device of the present application with the back cover removed and a partial enlarged image thereof;

[0020] Figure 4 A three-dimensional diagram of the back cover of the foldable display device of the present application;

[0021] Figure 5 A three-dimensional diagram of the folding path control mechanism of the present application;

[0022] Figure 6 For along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line AA shown;

[0023] Figure 7 A three-dimensional diagram of a support base of the folding path control mechanism of the present application;

[0024] Figure 8 A three-dimensional diagram of a sliding seat body of the folding path control mechanism of the present application;

[0025] Fig. 9 A three-dimensional diagram of the synchronization mechanism of this application;

[0026] Fig.10 A three-dimensional diagram of the limit seat body of the synchronization mechanism of the present application;

[0027] Fig.11 This is a partial three-dimensional exploded view of the synchronization mechanism of this application;

[0028] Fig.12 A three-dimensional diagram of a fixed seat body of the synchronization mechanism of the present application;

[0029] Fig.13This is a three-dimensional diagram of the foldable display device of the present application in a closed state and a partial enlarged diagram thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solution of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in combination with the specific embodiments of the present application and the corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0031] Key References Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the folding display device of the present application includes a folding plate 10, a back cover 20, a folding path control mechanism 40 and a synchronization mechanism respectively fixed between the folding plate 10 and the back cover 20. A folding screen (not shown) is attached to the side of the folding plate 10 away from the back cover 20.

[0032] The folding plate 10 includes a first folding plate 11 and a second folding plate 12 matched with the first folding plate 11. The matching parts of the first and second folding plates 11, 12 respectively include a notch (not numbered) and a protruding piece 112, 122, and a plurality of fixing holes 111, 121 are provided at the lateral position of the protruding piece 112, 122. The protruding piece 112 of the first folding plate 11 is matched in the notch of the second folding plate 12, and the protruding piece 122 of the second folding plate 12 is matched in the notch of the first folding plate 11.

[0033] Please continue reading Figure 4 As shown, the back cover 20 comprises a back cover shell 21, a back cover cavity 22 opened in the back cover shell 21, and a fixing structure 23 disposed at the bottom of the back cover cavity 22. The back cover cavity 22 is an arc structure.

[0034] Please continue reading Figures 5 to 8 As shown, the folding path control mechanism 40 includes a seat body 30, a sliding seat 41 rotatable on the seat body 30, a rotating shaft 42 passing through the seat body 30, and gears 43 disposed at both ends of the rotating shaft 42 and driving the sliding seat 41 respectively.

[0035] The base 30 includes a fixed base 31 fixed in the back cover cavity 22, a pair of first arc grooves 32 opened on the surface of the fixed base 31 in a first transverse direction, a pair of second arc grooves 35 opened on the surface of the fixed base 31 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a first partition wall 33 located between the pair of first arc grooves 32, and a second partition wall 36 located between the pair of second arc grooves 35. The inner arc surfaces of the first and second arc grooves 32, 35 simulate the folding track that the folding display device should maintain when folding or unfolding. The two transverse ends of the pair of first arc grooves 32 respectively form a closed end 321 and an open end 322, and the two transverse ends of the pair of second arc grooves 35 respectively form a closed end 351 and an open end 352. The closed end 321 and the open end 322 of the first arc groove 32 are located on the same side as the open end 352 and the closed end 351 of the second arc groove 35. The first and second isolation walls 33 , 36 are located at one end of the opening ends 322 , 352 and are formed with first and second axial holes 34 , 37 .

[0036] The back cover 20 is made of aluminum alloy by CNC processing, and the base body 30 is made of stainless steel by powder metallurgy process.

[0037] In a specific implementation, the seat body 30 can be integrated with the back cover 20 and made of the same material, preferably without modifying the material. However, it is difficult to perform surface treatment on stainless steel as the appearance material, so the solution of this application uses a split design for the back cover 20 and the seat body 30. However, this application still includes an integrated design structure.

[0038] The sliding seat 41 includes a base portion 412 fixed to the first or second folding plate 11, 12, an arcuate convex surface 411 matched with the arcuate surface of the first or second arcuate groove 32, 35, a toothing space 413 opened on a side of the sliding seat 41, a plurality of tooth structures 414 provided in the toothing space 413 on one side of the arcuate convex surface 411, and an arcuate convex hull 415 close to one side of the base portion 412. The arcuate convex hull 415 and the arcuate convex surface 411 are cocentric.

[0039] In a specific implementation, one of the two pairs of sliding seats 41 is installed in the first arc groove 32, and the other pair is installed in the second arc groove 35. The base portion 412 of the sliding seat 41 is partially fixed on the protruding pieces 112, 122 of the first or second folding plate 11, 12, that is, the sliding seat 41 fixed on the first folding plate 11 will extend to the protruding piece 112 at the notch of the second folding plate 12; the sliding seat 41 fixed on the second folding plate 12 will extend to the protruding piece 122 at the notch of the first folding plate 11.

[0040] During assembly, the two rotating shafts 42 are respectively inserted into the shaft holes 34 and 37 of the first and second isolation walls 33 and 36. The gears 43 fixed at both ends of the rotating shaft 42 are respectively engaged with the tooth structures 414 in the toothing spaces 413 of the two sliding seats 41 on both sides of the first or second isolation wall 33 and 36.

[0041] When the first and second folding plates 11, 12 are folded or unfolded, the sliding seat 41 is driven to rotate around the first and second arc grooves 32, 35. At the same time, the two gears 43 at both ends of a rotating shaft 42 respectively engage and rotate with the tooth structure 414 in the toothing space 413, and the seat body 30 is respectively provided with two pairs of sliding seats 41 fixed to the first and second folding plates 11, 12 on both lateral sides. The rotation of the two pairs of sliding seats 41 relative to the first and second arc grooves 32, 35 is completely consistent and symmetrical. In this way, the first and second folding plates 11, 12 can be kept in a consistent rotation trajectory on both sides when rotating, and can be folded according to the curvature required by the folding screen to avoid damage to the folding screen.

[0042] The folding path control mechanism 40 of the present application is achieved by respectively setting first and second arc grooves 32, 35 corresponding to the first and second folding plates 10, 12 on opposite sides of the seat body 30, and then assembling two pairs of sliding seats 41 with arc convex surfaces 411 in the first and second arc grooves 32, 35 and respectively fixed to the first and second folding plates 11, 12. Through the cooperation between the arc grooves 32, 35 and the arc convex surfaces 411, the folding plate 10 is rotated according to a predetermined trajectory to avoid damage to the folding screen.

[0043] Please continue reading Figure 3 , Figures 9 to 12 As shown, the synchronization mechanism includes a gear frame 50, a fixed seat 61 fixed on the folding plate 10, a slider 62 limited between the fixed seat 61 and the folding plate 10, a damping block 63 installed on both lateral sides of the slider 62, and a gear assembly 64, 65 fixed on the gear frame 50.

[0044] The fixing seat 61 comprises a base 611 fixed on the first or second folding plate 11, 12, a limiting portion 613 disposed on one side of the base 611, and a limiting groove 612 disposed on the side of the base 611 and below the limiting portion 613. The outer side of the limiting portion 613 is provided with a plurality of grooves 614.

[0045] The gear rack 50 is a pair of gear racks that cooperate with each other. Each gear rack 50 includes a main body 51, a fixing ear 52 extending from the longitudinal outer side of the main body 51, an arc-shaped surface 53 provided at the top of the main body 51 and cooperating with the arc-shaped cavity of the back cover cavity 22, a protruding portion 54 protruding from both ends of the main body 51, a protective portion 56 extending from the longitudinal inner side of the main body 51, a pair of second axial holes 55 formed in the longitudinal direction through the main body 51, and a pair of first axial holes 541 formed in the longitudinal direction through the protruding portion 54. The protruding portion 54 can also be a part of the main body 51, and the second axial hole 55 and the first axial hole 541 are not on the same horizontal plane. The protective portion 56 includes a first protective portion 561 located below the second axial hole 55 and a second protective portion 562 located below the first axial hole 541, and the protective portion 562 corresponds to only one second axial hole 55 and one first axial hole 541.

[0046] The slider 62 includes a slider body 621, a limit block 622 extending from the bottom surface of the slider body 621 to the lateral outside, a mounting hole 623 opened on the lateral outer surface of the slider body 621, and a hinge part 624 arranged on the side of the slider body 631 facing the gear assembly 64, 65.

[0047] The damping block 63 is installed in the mounting hole 623. The damping block 63 includes an insertion portion 631 inserted into the mounting hole 623 and a damping portion 632 protruding from the lateral outer side of the insertion portion 631. The mounting hole 623 penetrates in the lateral direction. A damping block 63 is installed on both lateral outer sides of the mounting hole 623. An elastic member (not shown), such as a spring, is arranged between the two damping blocks 63 to provide elastic force between the two damping blocks 63. The limiting block 622 of the slider 62 is limited in the limiting groove 612 of the fixing seat 61, that is, it is pressed in the limiting groove 612 by the limiting portion 613. The damping block 63 cooperates with the groove 614 on the outer side of the limiting portion 613 of the fixing seat 61 to provide interference force when the slider 62 moves.

[0048] The gear assembly includes two first gear assemblies 64 respectively hinged to the hinged portion 624 of the slider 62, and two second gear assembly assemblies 65 located between the two first gear assemblies 64. The first gear assembly 64 includes a first gear 642, a hinged end 643 extending from the outside of the first gear 642 and hinged to the hinged portion 624 through a rotating shaft, and a rotating shaft 641 that fixes the first gear 642 and whose two ends are respectively rotatably fixed in the first shaft holes 541 of the pair of fixing seats 61. The second gear assembly 65 includes a second gear 652 meshed with the first gear 642 and a second rotating shaft 651 that fixes the second gear 652 and whose two ends are rotatably fixed in the second shaft holes 55. The first and second gears 642, 652 of the gear assembly include at least four, namely, a first gear 642 hinged to the hinge part 624 of the slider 62, a second gear 652 meshed with the first gear 642, another second gear 652 meshed with the second gear 652, and another first gear 642 meshed with the other second gear 652 and hinged to the hinge part 624 of the slider 62 on the other side.

[0049] The arrangement of four gears can reduce the radius of each gear and the thickness of the synchronous mechanism when the synchronous mechanism is relatively wide. Of course, the gear assembly can also be arranged to be six or eight to further reduce the thickness of the synchronous mechanism.

[0050] The gear rack 50 is fixed to the back cover cavity 22 of the back cover 20 through the fixing ear 52, the fixing seat 61 is fixed to the folding plate 10, and the slider 62 is limited in the fixing seat 61 and can slide in the limiting groove 612 of the fixing seat 61. The gear assembly is fixed to the back cover 20 along with the gear rack 50 and is rotatably hinged with the slider 62. When the first and second folding plates 11, 12 are folded or unfolded, the first gear assembly 64 is driven to rotate, and the second gear assembly 65 cooperates with the first gear assembly 64 to rotate. During the rotation process, the slider 62 slides relative to the fixing seat 61, and the damping portion 632 of the damping block 63 enters the second groove 614 from the first groove 614 on the limiting portion 613, so as to generate a strong holding force when the folding plate 10 starts to actuate and the actuation is completed.

[0051] Please continue to refer to FIG13. When the folding display device is in the folded state, the two pairs of sliding seats 41 of the folding path control mechanism 40 slide out of the first and second arc grooves 32, 35 in opposite directions until the gear 43 engages from the first end to the second end along the meshing space 413 of the sliding seat 41. The folding path control mechanism 40 controls the folding trajectory of the first and second folding plates 11, 12 to meet the folding performance of the folding screen by cooperating with the first and second arc grooves 32, 35 and the arc convex surface 411 of the sliding seat 41. The synchronization mechanism controls the first and second folding plates 11, 12 to fold at the same speed, that is, synchronizes the running speed of the first and second folding plates 11, 12. Thereby, the precise folding and unfolding operation of the folding display device is realized, and the mechanism damage caused by the different running states of the first and second folding plates 11, 12 will not occur.

[0052] The above is only an embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various changes and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included in the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A folding path control mechanism, characterized in that: The invention comprises a seat body, a sliding seat rotatable on the seat body, a rotating shaft passing through the seat body and gears arranged at both ends of the rotating shaft and driving the sliding seat respectively. The seat body comprises two first arc grooves and two second arc grooves with opposite opening directions, first and second isolation walls respectively located between the two first arc grooves and the two second arc grooves and first and second axial holes penetrating the first and second isolation walls. Two oppositely arranged sliding seats are respectively installed in the first and second arc grooves. The sliding seat comprises an arc convex surface matched with the inner arc surfaces of the first and second arc grooves, and a toothing space opened on the side of the sliding seat. The toothing space is provided with a plurality of tooth structures on one side of the arc convex surface. The rotating shaft passes through the first or second axial hole and is located at The gears at both ends of the rotating shaft are meshed in the meshing space, and when the two pairs of sliding seats slide along the first and second arc grooves respectively, the meshing of the gears and the tooth structure makes the arc convex surface strictly cooperate with the first and second arc grooves to slide; the sliding seat also includes a fixed base opposite to the arc convex surface, and the fixed base is a planar structure. The meshing space is provided with an arc convex bulge on one side close to the fixed base, and the arc convex bulge is cocentric with the arc convex surface; the sliding seat is fixed to a folding plate through the fixed base, and the folding plate includes a first and a second folding plate, the two sliding seats in the first arc groove are fixed to the first folding plate, and the two sliding seats in the second arc groove are fixed to the second folding plate.

2. The folding path control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A notch and a convex piece are respectively formed on adjacent end surfaces of the first and second folding plates. The convex piece of the first folding plate is accommodated in the notch on the second folding plate when unfolded, and the convex piece of the second folding plate is accommodated in the notch on the first folding plate when unfolded.

3. The folding path control mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sliding seat is at least partially fixed on the protruding piece.

4. The folding path control mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: A pair of the first arc-shaped grooves respectively form a closed end and an open end at both lateral ends, and a pair of the second arc-shaped grooves respectively form a closed end and an open end at both lateral ends, and the closed end and the open end of the first arc-shaped groove are respectively located on the same side as the open end and the closed end of the second arc-shaped groove.

5. The folding path control mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first and second axial holes are respectively formed at one end of the first and second isolation walls located at the opening end.

6. A foldable display device, characterized in that: It comprises a folding path control mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, a folding screen mounted on the side of the folding plate away from the sliding seat, and a synchronization mechanism, wherein the seat body is connected to the folding plate through the synchronization mechanism.

7. A foldable display device, characterized in that: It comprises a folding path control mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, a folding screen mounted on the side of the folding plate away from the sliding seat, a back cover and a synchronization mechanism, the seat body is fixed on the back cover, and the back cover is connected to the folding plate through the synchronization mechanism.

8. A communication device, characterized in that: It comprises a folding path control mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-5.

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