An electronic device

Abstract

This disclosure provides an electronic device including a housing, comprising a first housing and a second housing, the first housing and the second housing being closed to form a receiving structure with an opening. A slide rail mechanism, including an elastic component, is connected to the second housing and slidably disposed on the first housing along a first direction. A first end of a flexible display screen is connected to and cooperates with the elastic component, the elastic component providing an elastic force to the flexible display screen toward the first housing. A second end of the flexible display screen is connected to the first housing to cover the opening. A sensor assembly is disposed on the slide rail mechanism for detecting a first displacement of the flexible display screen near the opening relative to the slide rail mechanism and a second displacement of the flexible display screen away from the opening relative to the slide rail mechanism. The slide rail mechanism adjusts its speed of movement relative to the first housing based on the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement, keeping it synchronized with the speed at which the flexible display screen retracts due to the elastic force, so that the flexible display screen retracts more smoothly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of retractable screen products, and more particularly to an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous advancement of screen technology and the mass production of foldable flexible screens, the world's first 0.01mm thick flexible display has emerged, enriching the forms of terminal products. From smart wearables and smart homes to smartphones, ultra-thin flexible screens will enable multi-directional product designs, such as foldable phones, ring phones, and irregularly shaped terminal products. Simultaneously, the arrival of 5G enables electrical connectivity for all smart products, and the accelerated data transmission allows for the separation of some modules from the smart terminal product while still achieving functionality, such as camera modules and BOX acoustic modules. Further development in battery technology allows for smaller terminal products, higher battery capacities, and more flexible product designs.

[0003] As people's requirements for flexible screen products increase, when handling different tasks such as watching videos and making phone calls, it is necessary to increase or decrease the display area to improve the product experience. Currently, there are two main screen expansion structures: foldable screen structure and telescopic screen structure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides an electronic device to solve at least some of the problems in the related art.

[0005] This disclosure provides an electronic device, including:

[0006] The housing includes a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing are enclosed to form a receiving structure with an opening;

[0007] A slide rail mechanism includes an elastic component; the slide rail mechanism is disposed within the receiving structure and connected to the second housing, and the slide rail mechanism is slidably disposed on the first housing along a first direction;

[0008] A flexible display screen, wherein a first end of the flexible display screen is connected to the elastic component, the elastic component providing an elastic force toward the first end of the flexible display screen towards the first housing; and a second end of the flexible display screen is connected to the first housing to cover the opening.

[0009] A sensor assembly is disposed on the slide rail mechanism for detecting a first displacement of the flexible display screen relative to the slide rail mechanism on the side closer to the opening and a second displacement of the flexible display screen relative to the slide rail mechanism on the side farther from the opening.

[0010] When the slide rail mechanism moves relative to the first housing along the first direction, it drives the second housing, the slide rail mechanism, and the first end of the flexible display screen to move together; the slide rail mechanism adjusts the speed of movement relative to the first housing according to the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the sensor assembly includes a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is located on the side closer to the opening for detecting the first displacement, and the second sensor is located on the side farther from the opening for detecting the second displacement.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the slide rail mechanism further includes a pivot assembly, with the second end of the flexible display screen wound around the pivot assembly and connected to the first housing; the first sensor and the second sensor are distributed on both sides of the pivot assembly.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the slide rail mechanism further includes a bracket and a slider. The bracket is disposed on the second housing and slidably disposed on the first housing along the first direction. The first end of the elastic component is connected to the bracket, and the second end of the elastic component is connected to the slider, thereby cooperating with the first end of the flexible display screen.

[0014] When the bracket moves relative to the first housing along the first direction, it causes the second housing, the sliding member, the first end of the flexible display screen, and the second end of the elastic component to move together; the bracket adjusts its speed relative to the first housing according to the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the electronic device includes an deployed state and a retracted state;

[0016] When the electronic device switches from the retracted state to the unfolded state, the bracket moves away from the first housing, and the elastic component provides an elastic force to the slider pointing towards the first housing.

[0017] When the electronic device switches from the unfolded state to the retracted state, the bracket moves in a direction close to the first housing, and the slider moves in a direction close to the first housing under the drive of the elastic force; the bracket adjusts its speed relative to the first housing according to the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement, so that the first displacement is not greater than the second displacement.

[0018] In some possible implementations, when the electronic device switches from the deployed state to the retracted state, if the first displacement is less than or equal to the second displacement, the bracket maintains its speed of movement relative to the first housing; if the first displacement is greater than the second displacement, the bracket reduces its speed of movement relative to the first housing.

[0019] In some possible implementations, a controller and a drive mechanism electrically connected to the controller are also included, the controller being electrically connected to the sensor assembly; the drive mechanism is disposed in the first housing and is used to drive the bracket to move relative to the first housing along the first direction;

[0020] The controller adjusts the driving speed of the drive mechanism for moving the bracket based on the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement, thereby changing the speed at which the bracket moves relative to the first housing.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the drive mechanism includes a drive motor, a screw connected to the drive motor, and a nut fitted onto the screw; the drive motor is disposed in the first housing and electrically connected to the controller, the screw extends along the first direction, and the nut abuts against the bracket; the drive motor drives the screw to rotate, and the nut moves relative to the screw along the first direction, thereby causing the bracket to move relative to the first housing along the first direction;

[0022] The controller adjusts the rotational speed of the drive motor to control the screw rotation based on the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement, thereby changing the speed at which the nut moves relative to the screw, and thus changing the driving speed of the drive mechanism to drive the bracket to move.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the bracket is provided with a plurality of guide rails that extend along the first direction;

[0024] The elastic component includes at least one first elastic element and at least one second elastic element. The first end of the first elastic element is connected to the bracket, and the second end of the first elastic element is connected to the slider. The second elastic element is sleeved on at least one of the guide rails, and the slider is slidably disposed on the plurality of guide rails.

[0025] In some possible implementations, the first elastic member includes an arc-shaped main body, a first connecting portion connected to one end of the arc-shaped main body, and a second connecting portion connected to the other end of the arc-shaped main body. The first connecting portion is connected to the bracket, and the second connecting portion is connected to the sliding member.

[0026] When the slider slides along the guide rail, it drives the second connecting part to move, thereby causing the first elastic member to deform.

[0027] The electronic device provided in this disclosure detects a first displacement of the flexible display screen relative to the slide rail mechanism on the side closer to the opening and a second displacement of the flexible display screen relative to the slide rail mechanism on the side farther from the opening. When the slide rail mechanism moves relative to the first housing to unfold the flexible display screen, an elastic component provides an elastic force to the flexible display screen toward the first housing. When the flexible display screen retracts, the slide rail mechanism adjusts its speed relative to the first housing based on the difference between the first and second displacements, keeping it synchronized with the speed at which the elastic force drives the flexible display screen to retract. This ensures a flatter retraction of the flexible display screen and prevents visual issues such as screen bulging, swelling, and distortion.

[0028] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1 The figure shown is an exploded view of a telescopic screen structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 The diagram shown is an exploded view of a slide rail mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0032] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a slide rail mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A sectional view along the XX direction;

[0034] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0035] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The figures shown are schematic diagrams of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure when the flexible display screen is in a retracted state and an unfolded state.

[0036] Figure 8 The image shown is a comparison diagram of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure when the flexible display screen is in a retracted state and an unfolded state;

[0037] Figure 9The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the structure of an electronic device after the casing has been removed, according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0039] The terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this disclosure should be understood in their ordinary sense by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this disclosure and the claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms “a” or “one,” and similar terms do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. “A plurality” or “several” indicates two or more. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “front,” “rear,” “lower,” and / or “upper,” and similar terms are for ease of description only and are not limited to a location or spatial orientation. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and similar terms mean that the elements or objects preceding “comprising,” encompass the elements or objects listed following “comprising,” and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. The terms “connected,” “linked,” and similar terms are not limited to physical or mechanical connections and can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect.

[0040] The terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in this disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0041] This disclosure provides an electronic device. The electronic device of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the features in the following embodiments and implementations can be combined with each other.

[0042] See Figures 1 to 3As shown, this disclosure provides a slide rail mechanism for a telescopic screen structure, including: a support assembly 10 and a slide rail assembly 20. The support assembly 10 includes a support 11, which is provided with a plurality of guide rails 24, which extend along a first direction X. Figure 3 (The diagram shows the vertical direction). The slide rail assembly 20 includes a slider 22 and an elastic component 230 for connecting the flexible display screen 90 of the telescopic screen structure. The elastic component 230 includes at least one first elastic element 231 and at least one second elastic element 232. The first end 2311 of the first elastic element 231 is connected to the bracket 11, and the second end 2312 of the first elastic element 231 is connected to the slider 22. At least one guide rail 24 is fitted with the second elastic element 232. The slider 22 is slidably disposed on the plurality of guide rails 24 along the first direction X. When the slider 22 slides along the guide rail 24, it drives the first elastic element 231, the second elastic element 232 and the flexible display screen 90 to move together. The elastic component 23030 is stretched or compressed under the action of the slider 22, thereby generating a pre-tension force on the flexible display screen 90. It can be understood that the slider 22 along the first direction X is slidably disposed on the plurality of guide rails 24. Figure 3 The middle arrow slides along the guide rail 24 relative to the bracket 11, squeezing the first elastic element 231 and the second elastic element 232 of the elastic component 230, so that the elastic component 230 generates a reverse pulling force on the flexible display screen, so that the flexible display screen remains in a flat state when unfolded.

[0043] With the above configuration, the sliding mechanism provided in this disclosure allows the sliding member 22 to move along the guide rail 24 relative to the bracket 11 in the first direction X, thereby driving the flexible display screen 90 of the telescopic screen structure to move together, thus realizing the unfolding and retraction of the flexible display screen 90. The sliding member 22 drives the first elastic member 231 and the second elastic member 232 of the elastic component 230 to move together, exerting a stretching or compressing effect on the elastic component 230, which can generate a pre-tension force on the flexible display screen 90, making the flexible display screen 90 more flat when unfolded, and preventing visual problems such as screen bulging, swelling, and distortion when the whole machine slides out.

[0044] See Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, in some possible embodiments, the guide rail 24 includes a guide rod 240 extending along the first direction X, and the guide rod 240 is fitted with the second elastic member 232. The sliding member 22 has a plurality of grooves 220 corresponding to the number of guide rods 240, and the grooves 220 are fitted onto the guide rods 240. The sliding member 22 is slidably disposed on the guide rail 24 through the grooves 220. When the sliding member 22 slides along the guide rail 24, it drives the second elastic member 232 fitted onto the guide rod 240 to move and deform. It can be understood that by the fitting of the grooves 220 and the guide rods 240, the sliding direction of the sliding member 22 is restricted to the extending direction of the guide rail 24, that is, the first direction X, which can prevent the sliding member 22 from moving away from the guide rail 24. Optionally, the number of guide rails 24 is even, and they are symmetrically arranged on the bracket 11. The number of the second elastic elements 232 corresponds to the number of the guide rails 24, and each guide rail 24 is fitted with one second elastic element 232. In this embodiment, there are six sets of guide rails 24, symmetrically arranged on the bracket 11, making the sliding member 22 more stable when sliding. In other examples, the number of guide rails 24 may also be other, and this disclosure does not limit this.

[0045] In some possible implementations, the slide rail assembly 20 further includes at least one limiting stop 25 disposed at one end of the bracket 11 away from the bracket 11. Figure 3 (As described above, the upper end) The sliding member 22 is provided with a limiting part 221 that abuts against the limiting block 25. The limiting block 25 abuts against the limiting part 221 of the sliding member 22, which can limit the starting position of the sliding member 22 and prevent the sliding member 22 from disengaging from the guide rail 24. In this embodiment, the limiting part 221 can be understood as a groove. There are two limiting blocks 25, symmetrically arranged on the bracket 11, and two limiting parts 221, corresponding to the limiting blocks 25. This disclosure does not limit this. Figure 3 In the example shown, the limit stop 25 is located at the upper end of the bracket 11, the starting position of the slider 22 is located at the upper end of the bracket 11, and the elastic component 230 is in a pre-tightened state in this state, applying an elastic pre-tension force to the slider 22, thereby keeping the slider 22 in the starting position.

[0046] In some possible implementations, a plastic part 224 is fitted onto the guide rod 240, and the groove 220 is fitted onto the plastic part 224. The plastic part 224 can reduce the friction between the groove 220 and the guide rail 24, reducing wear and ensuring smooth sliding. In this embodiment, the plastic part 224 can be made of POM (Polyoxymethylene), a self-lubricating plastic. The groove 220 of the slider 22 and the plastic part 224 can be combined into one part through a co-molding process, ensuring that the slider 22 can only slide along the extension direction of the guide rail 24, i.e., the first direction X, preventing the slider from falling off and improving structural stability.

[0047] In some possible implementations, the first elastic member 231 includes an arc-shaped main body 233, a first connecting portion 234 connected to one end of the arc-shaped main body 233, and a second connecting portion 235 connected to the other end of the arc-shaped main body 233. The first connecting portion 234 is connected to the bracket 11, and the second connecting portion 235 is connected to the slider 22. When the slider 22 slides along the guide rail 24, it drives the second connecting portion 235 to move, thereby deforming the first elastic member 231 and generating a reverse elastic force on the slider 22 and the flexible display screen, so that the flexible display screen remains flat when unfolded. Optionally, the first elastic member 231 and the second elastic member 232 can be metal springs such as springs or tension springs, which have a pre-tension force during assembly to keep the slider 22 in the initial position. When the slider 22 slides relative to the bracket 11 along the guide rail 24, it drives the second connecting portion 235 of the first elastic element 231 and the second elastic element 232 to move, causing the first elastic element 231 and the second elastic element 232 to deform and thus generate a reverse elastic force on the slider 22. In this embodiment, the arc-shaped main body 233 is C-shaped, and it can be understood that the first elastic element 231 can be a C-shaped spring. There are two first elastic elements 231, symmetrically arranged between the bracket 11 and the slider 22. There are multiple second elastic elements 232, some of which are located between the two first elastic elements 231, and others are located on the outside of the two first elastic elements 231. By using the two types of elastic elements in combination and with spacing, the overall elastic force of the elastic component 230 can be improved to provide greater elastic force to the flexible display screen, thereby allowing the flexible display screen to have a longer unfolding stroke. It can also keep the elastic force basically constant, and the tension force on the flexible display screen is also relatively stable.

[0048] The bracket 11 may be provided with a guide groove along the first direction X for assembling the guide rail 24. During assembly, the second connecting part 235 of the first elastic member 231 and the sliding member 22 are first riveted together. Then, the guide rod 240 of the guide rail 24 is inserted along the guide groove on the lower side of the bracket 11. Then, the sliding groove 220 of the sliding member 22 and the second elastic member 232 are passed through the guide rod 240 of the guide rail 24. After the guide rod 240 is fully installed in the bracket 11, the tail end of the guide rod 240 is fixed to the bracket 11 by spot welding. Finally, the first connecting part 234 of the first elastic member 231 is fixed to the bracket 11 by riveting, completing the assembly of the slide rail assembly 20 and the bracket 11.

[0049] In some possible implementations, the bracket 11 can be made of stamped metal sheet, or it can adopt a hollowed-out weight-reduction design according to the overall spatial layout of the machine. This allows for easier adjustment and increased space utilization in areas where strength is significantly affected, while also achieving a slimmer overall design. The flexible display screen 90 is fixed to the sliding member 22 of the slide rail assembly 20. The sliding member 22 can be manufactured using a co-molding process with SUS stainless steel sheet and POM plastic. The stainless steel sheet serves as the main body for strength support, while the groove can be formed by injection molding with POM plastic, allowing it to slide against the guide rail 24 and reducing friction. The limiting block 25 can be made of plastic, which can limit the starting position of the sliding member 22 and prevent the sliding member 22 from detaching from the guide rail 24. The guide rail 24 can be formed using a stainless steel stamping process and fixed to the bracket 11 by spot welding. It cooperates with the groove 220 on the sliding member 22 to form a barbed structure, preventing the sliding member 22 from detaching from the guide rail 24 during sliding. The exposed surface of the slider 22 can serve as the adhesive area 226 for bonding and fixing to the flexible display screen 90. The guide rod 240 can be a cylindrical rod made of metal.

[0050] See you again Figure 1 As shown, this disclosure provides a telescopic screen structure, including a slide rail mechanism and a flexible display screen 90 as described in the above embodiment. A pivot assembly 12 is provided on the side of the support 11 away from the slide rail assembly 20, and the axial direction of the pivot assembly 12 is perpendicular to the first direction X. A first end of the flexible display screen 90 is connected to the sliding member 22, and a second end of the flexible display screen 90 is wound around the pivot assembly 12.

[0051] With the above configuration, the slider 22 moves relative to the bracket 11 along the first direction X, which can drive the flexible display screen 90 to move together, thereby realizing the unfolding and retraction of the flexible display screen 90. The slider 22 drives the elastic component 230 to move together, which has a stretching effect on the elastic component 230 and can generate a pre-tension force on the flexible display screen 90, making the flexible display screen 90 flatter when unfolded and preventing visual problems such as screen bulging, swelling and twisting when the whole machine slides out.

[0052] In some possible implementations, the pivot assembly 12 includes a pivot support 121, a pivot 122, and a rotating wheel 123. The pivot support 121 is disposed on the side of the bracket 11 away from the slide rail assembly 20. The pivot 122 passes through the pivot support 121. The rotating wheel 123 is sleeved on the pivot 122, and the second end of the flexible display screen 90 is wound around the rotating wheel 123. When the flexible display screen 90 moves together with the slider 22, the rotating wheel 123 rotates passively, making the flexible display screen 90 unfold and retract more smoothly.

[0053] In this embodiment, the flexible display screen 90 is formed by bonding a flexible OLED screen to an extremely thin stainless steel mesh, exhibiting high flexibility. Multiple pivot supports 121 can be arranged at intervals along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction X. Multiple rotating wheels 123 can be present, with one wheel installed between two adjacent pivot supports 121. Depending on the size between two adjacent pivot supports 121, the wheels can be divided into large and small wheels, installed in appropriate positions. Engineering plastic POM can be injection molded, with a through hole in the middle and grooves at both ends to accommodate bearings 1230, which are then fitted onto the pivot 122. After assembly, the bearings 1230 allow passive rotation on the pivot 122. The pivot 122 can be a D-shaped shaft with a D-shaped cross-section, its main function being to fix the inner ring of the bearing and prevent rotation between the inner ring and the pivot. It can be made of stainless steel and passes through multiple pivot supports 121. The rotating shaft 122 may have threads 1220 at both ends, which can be fixed to the middle frame of the electronic device by fasteners such as screws 126, thereby securing the rotating shaft. The screws 126 may be made of metal. The screws may include female and male screws, with one end being a threaded rod that passes through a screw washer and locks onto the rotating shaft, thus locking the screw washer to the rotating shaft. The bearings 1230 may be made of stainless steel or ceramic and are mounted on the rotating wheels 123. Each rotating wheel 123 has one bearing 1230 mounted at each end, along with a bearing washer. The bearing washer may be made of metal. When installing the rotating wheels onto the rotating shaft, a bearing washer is placed on both sides of each rotating wheel. The rotating shaft passes through the inner hole of the washer. After the two ends of the rotating shaft are locked with screws, the screw washer serves to fix the inner ring of the bearing, preventing the inner ring of the bearing from rotating with the outer ring of the bearing, and also serves to ground the bearing to the bracket.

[0054] See Figures 6 to 8 As shown, this disclosure provides an electronic device, which may be a mobile phone, mobile terminal, tablet computer, laptop computer, handheld terminal device with screen, vehicle display device, etc. The electronic device includes a housing, a retractable screen structure as described in the above embodiment, and a driving component 990.

[0055] The housing includes a first housing 91 and a second housing 92 slidably disposed on the first housing 91 along the first direction X. The first housing 91 and the second housing 92 enclose a receiving structure 991 with an opening. A telescopic screen structure is disposed within the receiving structure 991. The pivot assembly 12 is located on the side near the second housing 92. The first end 901 of the flexible display screen 90 is located on the side near the bottom of the housing. The second end 902 of the flexible display screen 90 is connected to the first housing 91 to cover the opening. A drive assembly 990 is disposed within the receiving structure 991 and connected to the first housing 91. The drive assembly 990 is connected to the slide rail mechanism and is used to drive the bracket 11 to move along the first direction X. Optionally, the first housing 91 may be provided with a support plate 93. The second end of the flexible display screen 90 is connected to the support plate 93, and the support plate 93 can provide support and protection for the flexible display screen 90. In this embodiment, the drive assembly 990 is connected to the bracket 11 of the slide rail mechanism.

[0056] The drive component 990 drives the slide rail mechanism to move along the first direction X, thereby causing the second housing 92, the slide rail component 20, the first end of the flexible display screen 90, and the slider 22 to move relative to the first housing 91 along the first direction X, so that the flexible display screen 90 switches between a retracted state and an unfolded state.

[0057] like Figure 6 As shown, due to the pre-tightening of the two elastic elements of the elastic component 230, the sliding member 22 is subjected to the pre-tightening force of the elastic component 230 at the starting position, and due to the presence of the limiting block 25, it remains stationary at the starting position, while the flexible display screen 90 is in the retracted state.

[0058] The drive assembly 990, acting as a power source, is fixed to the frame (i.e., housing) of the entire unit. After receiving instructions via the UI, the electronic device controls the drive assembly 990 to drive the slide rail mechanism to move along the first direction X. Figure 7 (As shown in the diagram, moving to the left) causes the slide rail mechanism to slide out relative to the first housing 91 in a direction away from the first housing 91. During this process, the first end of the flexible display screen 90 slides together with the sliding member 22, and the rotating wheel of the rotating shaft assembly is passively rotated by the force of the flexible display screen 90. Since the second end of the flexible display screen 90 is connected to the first housing 91, the flexible display screen 90 can gradually unfold as the slide rail mechanism slides out. Figure 7As shown. During the sliding process of the slide rail mechanism, the slider 22 can move from one end of the bracket 11 to the other end under the pull of the flexible display screen, which can further extend the unfolded length of the flexible display screen 90. In addition, during the sliding process, the elastic component 230 is stretched by the slider 22, generating an elastic pulling force on the slider 22 in the opposite direction of the sliding direction. The flexible display screen 90 is always subjected to this pulling force in the opposite direction, which is equivalent to pulling the flexible display screen 90 to the right, making the unfolded flexible display screen 90 more flat, ensuring that the bending trajectory of the flexible display screen 90 moves according to the design intention, and preventing visual problems such as screen bulging, swelling and twisting when the whole machine slides out.

[0059] Understandably, throughout the process, the slider 22 is pulled by the second end of the flexible display screen 90, enabling it to move from one end of the bracket 11 to the other. Assuming the slide rail mechanism slides out relative to the first housing 91 for a distance of S, and the slider 22 slides for a distance of S, then the first end of the flexible display screen 90 moves a distance of 2S relative to the first housing 91 along with the slide rail mechanism.

[0060] When the entire unit receives an external command to retract, the drive motor 130 begins to drive in reverse, retracting the slide rail mechanism and the flexible display screen. During this process, the bracket and fixed base move in the reverse direction under the drive of the drive component 990, and the flexible display screen and sliding parts gradually retract under the elastic force of the elastic component 230. The sliding parts return to their initial position under the elastic force of the elastic component 230, thus restoring the flexible display screen to its retracted state. Therefore, the slide rail mechanism of this disclosure can smoothly and effectively ensure that the flexible display screen maintains its curved shape during the sliding and retraction process of the entire unit, and ensures that the power loss caused by friction during the sliding and retraction process is at a low level. It is an operable and easily implemented solution, ensuring product reliability.

[0061] See Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in some possible embodiments, the bracket 11 is provided with a transmission member 13. The drive assembly 990 includes a drive motor 130, a screw 14 connected to the drive motor 130, and a nut 15 sleeved on the screw 14. The screw 14 extends along the first direction X, and the nut 15 abuts against the transmission member 13. The drive motor 130 drives the screw 14 to rotate, causing the nut 15 and the transmission member 13 to move along the first direction X, thereby causing the slide rail mechanism to move along the first direction X. It should be noted that the drive assembly 990 can also adopt a gear rack, worm gear, or other structure.

[0062] Understandably, whether the flexible display screen 90 is unfolding or retracting, the elastic component 230 always provides an elastic force towards the first housing 91 to the slider 22 and the first end 901 of the flexible display screen 90. During unfolding, the driving force of the drive mechanism drives the slider 22, the first end 901 of the flexible display screen 90, the bracket 11, and the second housing 92 to move away from the first housing 91 together, and the flexible display screen 90 remains in contact with the bracket 11 and the pivot assembly 12. However, during retraction, the driving force of the drive mechanism can only drive the bracket 11 to move towards the first housing 91. This driving force cannot be transmitted to the slider 22 and the first end 901 of the flexible display screen 90. The retraction process of the flexible display screen 90 relies entirely on the elastic force provided by the elastic component 230 to pull the slider 22 and the first end 901 of the flexible display screen 90 back to the starting position.

[0063] During this process, there is inherent friction between the flexible display screen 90 and the exterior decorative parts, the bracket 11, and the hinge assembly 12, as well as possible additional friction. These sudden changes in friction will hinder the elastic force of the elastic component 230 from pulling the flexible display screen 90 back, thereby slowing down the retraction speed of the flexible display screen 90. This results in the flexible display screen 90 retracting at an inconsistent speed with the bracket 11. The retraction speed of the flexible display screen 90 is slower than that of the bracket 11, causing the screen retraction to be out of sync with the overall retraction of the device. This can lead to phenomena such as screen bulging and swelling.

[0064] See Figure 9 As shown, in some optional embodiments, in order to reduce the occurrence of the above situation, the electronic device of this disclosure may further include a sensor assembly 80, which is disposed on the bracket 11 and is used to detect a first displacement S1 of the flexible display screen 90 on the side closer to the opening (which can be understood as the upper side) relative to the bracket 11 and a second displacement S2 of the flexible display screen 90 on the side farther from the opening (which can be understood as the lower side) relative to the bracket 11.

[0065] When the bracket 11 moves relative to the first housing 91 along the first direction X, it causes the second housing 92, the sliding member 22, the first end of the flexible display screen 90, and the second end of the elastic component 230 to move together. The bracket 11 adjusts its speed of movement relative to the first housing 91 according to the difference between the first displacement S1 and the second displacement S2.

[0066] With the above configuration, the sensor assembly 80 detects the first displacement S1 of the flexible display screen 90 relative to the support 11 on the side closer to the opening and the second displacement S2 of the flexible display screen 90 relative to the support 11 on the side farther from the opening. When the support 11 moves relative to the first housing 91 to unfold the flexible display screen 90, the elastic component 230 provides an elastic force to the support 11 towards the first housing 91. When the flexible display screen 90 retracts, the support 11 adjusts its movement speed relative to the first housing 91 according to the difference between the first displacement S1 and the second displacement S2, keeping it synchronized with the speed at which the elastic component 230 drives the flexible display screen 90 to retract via elastic force. This ensures a smoother retraction of the flexible display screen 90, preventing visual issues such as screen bulging, swelling, and distortion. It should be noted that the sensor assembly 80 monitors the retraction of the flexible display screen and can determine, according to pre-set logic rules, whether the movement speed of the support 11 should be slowed down, i.e., the rotation speed of the drive motor 130 should be reduced to decrease the overall retraction speed, thus solving the problem of asynchronous screen retraction and overall retraction.

[0067] In some possible implementations, the electronic device includes an unfolded state (e.g., Figure 7 (as shown) and the recovery state (as shown) Figure 6 (As shown). When the electronic device switches from the retracted state to the unfolded state, the drive component 990 of the drive mechanism drives the bracket 11 to move away from the first housing 91, and the elastic component 230 provides an elastic force to the slider 22 in the direction pointing towards the first housing 91.

[0068] When the electronic device switches from the unfolded state to the retracted state, the bracket 11 moves in a direction close to the first housing 91, and the slider 22 moves in the same direction close to the first housing 91 under the drive of the elastic force. The bracket 11 adjusts its speed relative to the first housing 91 according to the difference between the first displacement S1 and the second displacement S2, so that the first displacement S1 is not greater than the second displacement S2. Optionally, during the adjustment of the speed of the bracket 11, when the difference between the first displacement S1 and the second displacement S2 is between 0.05mm and 0.1mm, it can be understood that both sides of the flexible display screen 90 move synchronously relative to the bracket 11, and the bracket 11 can stop adjusting its speed and continue moving at the current speed.

[0069] When the electronic device switches from the unfolded state to the retracted state, if the first displacement S1 is less than or equal to the second displacement S2, the bracket 11 maintains its moving speed relative to the first housing 91. If the first displacement S1 is greater than the second displacement S2, the bracket 11 reduces its moving speed relative to the first housing 91. It should be noted that when the first displacement S1 is less than or equal to the second displacement S2, it can be understood that both sides of the flexible display screen 90 move synchronously relative to the bracket 11, and in this case, there is no need to adjust the moving speed of the bracket 11. When the first displacement S1 is greater than the second displacement S2, it can be understood that both sides of the flexible display screen 90 do not move synchronously relative to the bracket 11, and the retraction speed of the flexible display screen 90 is less than the retraction speed of the bracket 11. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the moving speed of the bracket 11 to keep the flexible display screen 90 and the bracket 11 in a synchronous retraction state, avoiding phenomena such as bulging or swelling of the screen.

[0070] In some possible implementations, the sensor assembly 80 includes a first sensor 81 and a second sensor 82. The first sensor 81 is located on the side closer to the opening and is used to detect the first displacement S1. The second sensor 82 is located on the side farther from the opening and is used to detect the second displacement S2. Optionally, the first sensor 81 and the second sensor 82 can be optical displacement sensors. In the example shown in the figure, the first sensor 81 and the second sensor 82 are distributed on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly 12, that is, the displacement flexible display screen 90 is arranged around the upper and lower sides of the U-shaped bending area of ​​the rotating shaft assembly 12.

[0071] In some possible implementations, the electronic device may further include a controller electrically connected to the drive mechanism for controlling the drive mechanism, the controller also being electrically connected to the sensor assembly 80. The controller may be the CPU of the electronic device, adjusting the drive speed of the drive mechanism for moving the support 11 based on the difference between the first displacement S1 and the second displacement S2, thereby changing the speed at which the support 11 moves relative to the first housing 91, so that the flexible display screen 90 and the support 11 move at balanced speeds, allowing them to retract synchronously. It can be understood that the controller adjusting the drive speed of the drive mechanism for moving the support 11 based on the difference between the first displacement S1 and the second displacement S2 may mean that the controller adjusts the rotational speed of the drive motor 130 for controlling the rotation of the screw 14 based on the difference between the first displacement S1 and the second displacement S2, thereby changing the speed at which the nut 15 moves relative to the screw, and thus changing the drive speed of the drive mechanism for moving the support 11.

[0072] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the applications disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

[0073] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: The housing includes a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing are enclosed to form a receiving structure with an opening; A slide rail mechanism includes an elastic component; the slide rail mechanism is disposed within the receiving structure and connected to the second housing, and the slide rail mechanism is slidably disposed on the first housing along a first direction; A flexible display screen, wherein a first end of the flexible display screen is connected to the elastic component, and the elastic component provides an elastic force toward the first end of the flexible display screen toward the first housing; The second end of the flexible display screen is connected to the first housing to cover the opening; A sensor assembly is disposed on the slide rail mechanism for detecting a first displacement of the flexible display screen relative to the slide rail mechanism on the side closer to the opening and a second displacement of the flexible display screen relative to the slide rail mechanism on the side farther from the opening. When the slide rail mechanism moves relative to the first housing along the first direction, it drives the second housing, the slide rail mechanism, and the first end of the flexible display screen to move together; the slide rail mechanism adjusts its speed relative to the first housing according to the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement. The slide rail mechanism further includes a bracket and a sliding member. The bracket is disposed on the second housing and slidably disposed on the first housing along the first direction. The first end of the elastic component is connected to the bracket, and the second end of the elastic component is connected to the sliding member, thereby cooperating with the first end of the flexible display screen. The sliding member further includes at least one limiting block disposed on the bracket, and the sliding member is provided with a limiting part that abuts against the limiting block. When the bracket moves relative to the first housing along the first direction, it causes the second housing, the sliding member, the first end of the flexible display screen, and the second end of the elastic component to move together; the bracket adjusts its speed relative to the first housing according to the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor assembly includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is located on the side closer to the opening and is used to detect the first displacement. The second sensor is located on the side farther from the opening and is used to detect the second displacement.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The slide rail mechanism also includes a rotating shaft assembly, with the second end of the flexible display screen wound around the rotating shaft assembly and connected to the first housing; the first sensor and the second sensor are distributed on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electronic device includes an deployed state and a retracted state; When the electronic device switches from the retracted state to the unfolded state, the bracket moves away from the first housing, and the elastic component provides an elastic force to the slider pointing towards the first housing. When the electronic device switches from the unfolded state to the retracted state, the bracket moves in a direction close to the first housing, and the slider moves in a direction close to the first housing under the drive of the elastic force; the bracket adjusts its speed relative to the first housing according to the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement, so that the first displacement is not greater than the second displacement.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the electronic device switches from the unfolded state to the retracted state, if the first displacement is less than or equal to the second displacement, the bracket maintains its speed relative to the first housing; if the first displacement is greater than the second displacement, the bracket reduces its speed relative to the first housing.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a controller and a drive mechanism electrically connected to the controller, the controller being electrically connected to the sensor assembly; the drive mechanism is disposed in the first housing and is used to drive the bracket to move relative to the first housing along the first direction; The controller adjusts the driving speed of the drive mechanism for moving the bracket based on the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement, thereby changing the speed at which the bracket moves relative to the first housing.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The driving mechanism includes a drive motor, a screw connected to the drive motor, and a nut fitted onto the screw; the drive motor is disposed in the first housing and electrically connected to the controller, the screw extends along the first direction, and the nut abuts against the bracket; the drive motor drives the screw to rotate, the nut moves relative to the screw along the first direction, and drives the bracket to move relative to the first housing along the first direction; The controller adjusts the rotational speed of the drive motor to control the screw rotation based on the difference between the first displacement and the second displacement, thereby changing the speed at which the nut moves relative to the screw, and thus changing the driving speed of the drive mechanism to drive the bracket to move.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bracket is provided with multiple guide rails, which extend along the first direction; The elastic component includes at least one first elastic element and at least one second elastic element. The first end of the first elastic element is connected to the bracket, and the second end of the first elastic element is connected to the slider. The second elastic element is sleeved on at least one of the guide rails, and the slider is slidably disposed on the plurality of guide rails.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first elastic member includes an arc-shaped main body, a first connecting part connected to one end of the arc-shaped main body, and a second connecting part connected to the other end of the arc-shaped main body. The first connecting part is connected to the bracket, and the second connecting part is connected to the sliding member. When the slider slides along the guide rail, it drives the second connecting part to move, thereby causing the first elastic member to deform.

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