A rotating shaft mechanism and electronic device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202111269091.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-20
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-10-29
AI Technical Summary
[0024]另外，当电子设备处于展开状态时，第一开槽和第二开槽可相对合，以形成一个容置部，转轴机构可隐藏于该容置部内。这样，可使电子设备具有一体化设计的外观效果，以提高其外观美观性。
Smart Images
Figure CN116075083B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic equipment technology, and in particular to a rotating shaft mechanism and electronic equipment. Background Technology
[0002] With the gradual maturation of flexible display technology, the way electronic devices display technology has undergone tremendous changes. Foldable flexible screen mobile phones, foldable flexible screen tablets, and wearable electronic devices with foldable flexible screens are a major direction for the evolution of future smart electronic devices.
[0003] As flexible displays are a key component in foldable electronic devices, they are characterized by continuous folding. Typically, during the folding process of foldable electronic devices, to avoid stretching or squeezing the flexible display, the forces acting on the flexible display should be relatively uniform throughout the folding process.
[0004] Therefore, how to prevent the flexible display screen from being stretched or squeezed during the folding process of foldable electronic devices, so as to reduce the risk of damage to the flexible display screen, has become a major problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This application provides a pivot mechanism and an electronic device to reduce the risk of damage to the flexible display screen of the electronic device, extend its service life, and thereby improve the reliability of the electronic device.
[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a rotating shaft mechanism, which may include a spindle module. The spindle module may include a base, which serves as a support structure for the entire spindle module. The spindle module may also include a first support plate, a second support plate, a first gear connecting rod, and a second gear connecting rod. The first and second support plates are located on opposite sides of the base and are rotatably connected to the base. The first and second gear connecting rods are rotatably connected to the ends of the base, and the first and second gear connecting rods are located on the same side of the base as the first and second support plates. The end of the first gear connecting rod facing the second gear connecting rod has a coaxially arranged first gear and a first cam structure, and the end of the second gear connecting rod facing the first gear connecting rod has a coaxially arranged second gear. The first and second gears can mesh to achieve a transmission connection. Furthermore, a first track groove may be provided on the first support plate, and a first guide portion may be provided on the first gear connecting rod. The first guide portion can be inserted into the first track groove and can slide along the first track groove. Similarly, a second track groove may be provided on the second support plate, and a second guide portion may be provided on the second gear connecting rod. The second guide portion is inserted into the second track groove and can slide along the second track groove.
[0007] In this application, the spindle module may further include an integrated cam, which is provided with a second cam structure and a fourth cam structure. A third cam structure is positioned opposite to the first cam structure, and the fourth cam structure is positioned opposite to the second cam structure. Additionally, an elastic structural member may be located on the side of the first and second cam structures opposite to the integrated cam, and the elastic force accumulated in the elastic structural member can press the first and second cam structures against the integrated cam, thereby ensuring a tight fit between the first and third cam structures, and between the second and fourth cam structures. Thus, during the rotation of the first and second gear connecting rods relative to the base, the first and third cam structures, and the second and fourth cam structures, can cooperate to generate corresponding damping forces at different rotation positions, providing users with a distinct rotational feel and improving the user experience. Furthermore, the damping forces generated at different rotation positions can also cause the first and second gear connecting rods to stop moving without external force, thereby suspending the first and second support plates at their corresponding rotation positions. When applied to electronic devices, this can meet the personalized usage requirements of users.
[0008] Using the rotating shaft mechanism provided in this application, when the first support plate rotates relative to the base, the first guide portion can slide along the first track groove, thereby driving the first gear connecting rod to rotate around the base. Since the first gear connecting rod and the second gear connecting rod are connected by a first gear and a second gear transmission, the second gear connecting rod can rotate synchronously with the first gear connecting rod. At this time, the second guide portion can slide along the second track groove, thereby driving the second support plate to rotate relative to the base. This achieves synchronous rotation of the first and second support plates. When this rotating shaft mechanism is applied to an electronic device, the first support plate can be fixedly connected to one housing of the electronic device, and the second support plate can be fixedly connected to the other housing of the electronic device. The synchronous rotation of the first and second support plates achieves synchronous rotation of the two housings of the electronic device, thereby ensuring more uniform stress on the flexible display screen fixed to the two housings. This avoids the flexible display screen being stretched or squeezed, reducing the risk of damage and improving the structural reliability of the flexible display screen.
[0009] In one possible implementation of this application, the spindle module may further include a first gear shaft and a second gear shaft. The first gear shaft passes through the first gear, the first cam structure, and the third cam structure, and the first gear connecting rod is rotatably connected to the first gear shaft. Similarly, the second gear shaft passes through the second gear, the second cam structure, and the fourth cam structure, and the second gear connecting rod is rotatably connected to the second gear shaft. The first and second gear connecting rods can rotate around their respective gear shafts, thereby improving the reliability of their rotation and thus enhancing the overall stability of the spindle module's movement.
[0010] Additionally, the spindle module may include an integrated retaining ring. The end of the first gear shaft facing away from the first gear connecting rod can be threadedly connected to the integrated retaining ring. The end of the second gear shaft facing away from the second gear connecting rod can also be threadedly connected to the integrated retaining ring. In this case, an elastic structural member can be located between the integrated retaining ring and the first and second gears, and the elastic structural member can also elastically abut against the integrated retaining ring, the first gear, and the second gear, respectively, thereby enabling the elastic structural member to press the first cam structure and the second cam structure against the integrated cam.
[0011] It is understandable that the tightness of the fit between the first and third cam structures, and between the second and fourth cam structures, has a significant impact on the damping force generated between the mating cam structures. The tightness of this fit can be adjusted by the clamping force exerted by the elastic structural component on the first and second cam structures against the integrated cam. Furthermore, since the end of the second gear shaft opposite to the second gear connecting rod can be threadedly connected to the integrated retaining ring, the deformation of the elastic structural component can be adjusted by adjusting the tightness between the first and second gear shafts and the integrated retaining ring, thereby adjusting the clamping force exerted by the elastic structural component on the first and second cam structures against the integrated cam.
[0012] In this application, the elastic structural member may be, but is not limited to, a spring. There may be multiple elastic structural members, wherein at least one elastic structural member may be fitted onto the first gear shaft, and the elastic force generated by the at least one elastic structural member may be applied to the first gear. At least one elastic structural member may be fitted onto the second gear shaft, and the elastic force generated by the at least one elastic structural member may be applied to the second gear.
[0013] The aforementioned integrated retaining ring, elastic structural member, first gear shaft, and second gear shaft can all be mounted on the base. In one possible implementation of this application, the base can also be provided with a receiving groove. The integrated retaining ring, elastic structural member, first gear shaft, and second gear shaft can all be accommodated in this receiving groove. Furthermore, the integrated retaining ring can abut against the wall of the receiving groove to ensure a reliable connection between the integrated retaining ring and the base.
[0014] To achieve a rotatable connection between the first and second support plates and the base, in one possible implementation of this application, the base can be provided with a first sliding groove and a second sliding groove. A first sliding arm is provided on the surface of the first support plate facing the base, and a second sliding arm is provided on the surface of the second support plate facing the base. The first sliding arm can be accommodated in the first sliding groove and can slide along the first sliding groove towards or away from the second support plate. The second sliding arm can be accommodated in the second sliding groove and can slide along the second sliding groove towards or away from the second support plate. In this way, both the first and second support plates can be rotatably connected via a virtual axis through the cooperation of the sliding arm and the sliding groove. This allows for a more compact structure of the spindle module, facilitating miniaturization of the spindle module and reducing its space occupation within the rotating shaft mechanism, thus allowing for the inclusion of more functional modules within the rotating shaft mechanism.
[0015] Furthermore, when specifically configuring the first and second slide grooves, they can be staggered along the direction of the first and second support plates to make the structure of the spindle module more compact. In some other possible implementations of this application, the first and second slide grooves can also be configured relative to each other.
[0016] In one possible implementation of this application, the spindle module may further include driven gears, wherein there are an even number of driven gears, and the even number of driven gears are located between the first gear and the second gear, so that the first gear and the second gear are connected by transmission through the even number of driven gears, thereby improving the stability of the transmission between the first gear and the second gear, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the spindle module's movement.
[0017] The spindle module may also include an intermediate gear shaft, on which the driven gear can be fitted and rotatably connected, thereby improving the reliability of the driven gear rotation.
[0018] In this application, the base may also be provided with a gearbox, in which each driven gear can be mounted. The gearbox can store lubricating oil added for the driven gears, thereby helping to reduce wear on the contact surfaces of the driven gears in each transmission connection.
[0019] Additionally, the base may be provided with a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole, the opening directions of which may be the same as the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism. The first gear of the first gear connecting rod may be mounted in the first mounting hole, and the second gear of the second gear connecting rod may be mounted in the second mounting hole. Since the first gear and the second gear can be connected by a driven gear, in this application, the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole can be connected to the gearbox. This allows the lubricating oil stored in the gearbox to be used for lubrication of the first gear and the second gear, which helps to reduce wear on the contact surfaces between the driven gear and the first gear, as well as between the driven gear and the second gear, thereby improving the structural reliability of each gear.
[0020] In this application, the pivot mechanism may include multiple spindle modules as described above, the specific configuration of which can be determined according to the extension length of the pivot mechanism. Furthermore, when the pivot mechanism includes multiple spindle modules, these modules can be spaced apart. To reduce the gaps between the spindle modules, the pivot mechanism may also include a cover plate, which can be located between two adjacent spindle modules. The cover plate may include a first sub-cover plate and a second sub-cover plate, wherein the first and second sub-cover plates are rotatably connected to the base. The first sub-cover plate may be located on the same side of the base as the first support plate, and the first sub-cover plate is fixedly connected to the first support plate; the second sub-cover plate may be located on the same side of the base as the second support plate, and the second sub-cover plate is fixedly connected to the second support plate. This allows the first sub-cover plate and the first support plate to form a flat and continuous support surface, and the second sub-cover plate and the second support plate to form a flat and continuous support surface, thereby enabling stable support of the flexible display screen of the electronic device when the pivot mechanism is applied.
[0021] Secondly, this application also provides an electronic device, which includes a first housing, a second housing, a flexible display screen, and a rotating mechanism as described in the first aspect. The first housing and the second housing are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the rotating mechanism, and a first support plate is fixedly connected to the first housing, and a second support plate is fixedly connected to the second housing; the flexible display screen continuously covers the first housing, the second housing, and the rotating mechanism, and the flexible display screen is fixedly connected to both the first housing and the second housing.
[0022] In the electronic device of this application, since the first support plate and the second support plate of the rotating shaft mechanism can rotate synchronously, the two housings of the electronic device can rotate synchronously, thereby making the force on the flexible display screen fixed on the two housings more uniform. This can prevent the flexible display screen from being stretched or squeezed, thus reducing the risk of damage to the flexible display screen and improving the structural reliability of the flexible display screen.
[0023] In one possible implementation of this application, a first slot is provided at the end of the first housing facing the second housing, and a second slot is provided at the end of the second housing facing the first housing. Thus, when the first support plate is fixedly connected to the first housing, the first support plate can be positioned in the first slot, and the first support plate is fixedly connected to the wall of the first slot. The second support plate can be positioned in the second slot, and the second support plate is fixedly connected to the wall of the second slot.
[0024] Furthermore, when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the first and second slots can be aligned to form a receiving portion, within which the pivot mechanism can be concealed. This allows the electronic device to achieve a unified design appearance, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in another embodiment of this application;
[0027] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in another embodiment of this application;
[0028] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a spindle module provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0030] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A view of the spindle module shown in Figure A;
[0031] Figure 7 for Figure 6 The diagram shows an exploded view of the spindle module.
[0032] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a base provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0033] Figure 9a This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a spindle module provided in another embodiment of this application;
[0034] Figure 9b This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a spindle module provided in another embodiment of this application;
[0035] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the transmission method of the first gear connecting rod and the second gear connecting rod provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0036] Figure 11 for Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the spindle module at BB shown in the diagram;
[0037] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between the first cam structure, the second cam structure, and the integrated cam according to an embodiment of this application.
[0038] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in another embodiment of this application.
[0039] Figure label:
[0040] 1-Rotating shaft mechanism; 101-Main spindle module; 1011-First support plate; 10111-First sliding arm; 10112-First clearance opening;
[0041] 10113 - First track groove; 1012 - Second support plate; 10121 - Second sliding arm; 10122 - Second clearance opening;
[0042] 10123 - Second track groove; 1013 - Base; 10131 - First slide groove; 10132 - Second slide groove; 10133 - First mounting hole;
[0043] 10134 - Second mounting hole; 10135 - Gearbox; 10136 - Mounting slot;
[0044] 1014-First gear connecting rod; 10141-First gear; 10142-First guide part; 10143-First cam structure;
[0045] 1015-Second gear connecting rod; 10151-Second gear; 10152-Second guide part; 10153-Second cam structure;
[0046] 1016 - First gear shaft; 1017 - Second gear shaft; 1018 - Driven gear; 1019 - Intermediate gear shaft;
[0047] 1020 - Integrated retaining ring; 1021 - Integrated cam; 10211 - Third cam structure; 10212 - Fourth cam structure;
[0048] 1022 - Elastic structural component; 1023 - First sub-cover plate; 1024 - Second sub-cover plate; 1025 - Decorative cover; 10251 - Receiving groove;
[0049] 2-First shell; 2a-First surface; 2b-Second surface; 201-First slot;
[0050] 3-Second shell; 3a-First surface; 3b-Second surface; 301-Second slot. Detailed Implementation
[0051] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0052] To facilitate understanding of the hinge mechanism provided in this application embodiment, its application scenarios are first described below. This hinge mechanism can be applied to, but is not limited to, foldable electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops, or tablets. When applying the hinge mechanism provided in this application embodiment to electronic devices, please refer to... Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. In addition to the pivot mechanism 1, the electronic device may also include a first housing 2, a second housing 3, and a flexible display screen. Figure 1 (Not shown in the image). The first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are located on either side of the rotating shaft mechanism 1 and can rotate around it. This electronic device can be closed and opened according to different usage scenarios. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device is in a closed state, and Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the relative positional relationship between the hinge mechanism 1 and the two housings when the electronic device is in a closed state. In this state, the surface of the hinge mechanism 1, the first surface 2a of the first housing 2, and the first surface 3a of the second housing 3 collectively constitute the exterior surface of the electronic device. Specifically, the first surface 2a of the first housing 2 refers to the surface of the first housing 2 that faces away from the flexible display screen, and the first surface 3a of the second housing 3 refers to the surface of the second housing 3 that faces away from the flexible display screen.
[0053] Additionally, you can refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the electronic device in its deployed state is shown. It is worth mentioning that... Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the structure of the second surface 2b of the first housing 2 and the second surface 3b of the second housing 3. The second surface 2b of the first housing 2 refers to the surface of the first housing 2 used to support the flexible display screen, and the second surface 3b of the second housing 3 refers to the surface of the second housing 3 used to support the flexible display screen. The flexible display screen can continuously cover the second surface 2b of the first housing 2, the second surface 3b of the second housing 3, and the pivot mechanism 1, and the flexible display screen can be fixedly connected to the second surface 2b of the first housing 2 and the second surface 3b of the second housing 3, and the connection method can be, but is not limited to, adhesive bonding. Thus, when the electronic device is in a position such as… Figure 2 In the unfolded state shown, the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 can support the flexible display screen.
[0054] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 3This diagram illustrates the structure of an electronic device in either an unfolded or closed state, or an intermediate state between a closed and unfolded state. Figure 3 In the shown state, the included angle between the second surface 2b of the first housing 2 and the second surface 3b of the second housing 3 is greater than 0° and less than 180°, and can be 150° for example. The first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are composed of... Figure 2 The unfolded state shown Figure 1 The closed state shown, or by Figure 1 The closed state shown Figure 2 During the relative rotation of the unfolded state shown, the flexible display screen can be folded along with the first housing 2 and the second housing 3.
[0055] Understandably, this electronic device is made by Figure 2 The unfolded state shown Figure 1 The closed state shown, or by Figure 1 The closed state shown Figure 2 The unfolded state shown is the process of the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 rotating around the pivot mechanism 1. The pivot mechanism 1, as a key functional component in foldable electronic devices, is designed to correspond to the foldable portion of the flexible display screen; therefore, it plays a crucial role in... Figure 2 The support for the foldable portion of the flexible display in the unfolded state, and in... Figure 1 The closed state shown plays a crucial role in accommodating the foldable portion of the flexible display screen. Furthermore, the reliable structure of the hinge mechanism 1 is essential for ensuring stability during the movement of the electronic device. To facilitate understanding of the hinge mechanism 1 provided in this embodiment, its specific structure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0056] The terminology used in the following embodiments is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions “a,” “an,” “the,” “the,” “the,” and “this” are intended to also include expressions such as “one or more” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0057] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.
[0058] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 4 for Figure 2 The diagram shows the exploded structure of the electronic device. (By...) Figure 4 It can be seen that the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are located on opposite sides of the rotating shaft mechanism 1. They can be referred to together. Figure 2 and Figure 4 The rotating shaft mechanism 1 provided in this application embodiment may include a main shaft module 101, wherein the number of main shaft modules 101 may be one or more, and the specific number may be set according to the length of the rotating shaft mechanism 1 in its extending direction. In this application, the extending direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 1 is the same as the axial direction of the rotating shaft through which the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 rotate about the rotating shaft mechanism 1. Figure 2 and Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the rotating shaft mechanism 1 includes two spindle modules 101, which can be symmetrically arranged along the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 1.
[0059] For each spindle module 101, the specific settings can be referenced. Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a spindle module 101 according to an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the spindle module 101 may include a first support plate 1011 and a second support plate 1012. The first support plate 1011 may be connected to the aforementioned... Figure 4 The first housing 2 of the electronic device shown is fixedly connected, and the second support plate 1012 can be fixedly connected to the second housing 3. This allows the support plate on the corresponding side to rotate during the rotation of the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 relative to the rotating shaft mechanism 1.
[0060] Can be referred to together Figure 4 and Figure 5In this embodiment, a first slot 201 may be provided at the end of the first housing 2 facing the second housing 3, and a second slot 301 may be provided at the end of the second housing 3 facing the first housing 2. The first support plate 1011 may be located in the first slot 201 and fixedly connected to the wall of the first slot 201. The second support plate 1012 may be located in the second slot 301 and fixedly connected to the wall of the second slot 301.
[0061] Additionally, you can refer to the following: Figure 2 and Figure 4 When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the first slot 201 and the second slot 301 are aligned to form a receiving portion between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3. Figure 2 It can be seen that when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the entire rotating mechanism 1 can be hidden inside the accommodating part.
[0062] In this application, the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012 can support the flexible display screen, and can be further referred to. Figure 5 , Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the structure of the main shaft module 101 when the electronic device is in its unfolded state. In this state, the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012 are aligned, with a small gap between them to form a flat and continuous support surface, thus providing stable support for the flexible display screen. This prevents the flexible display screen from collapsing at the pivot mechanism 1, reducing deformation and improving structural reliability.
[0063] Reference Figure 6 , Figure 6 for Figure 5 The diagram shows a view of the spindle module 101 from direction A. In this application, the spindle module 101 may further include a base 1013, which serves as a support structure for the entire spindle module 101. The aforementioned first support plate 1011 and second support plate 1012 may be located on both sides of the base 1013 and rotatably connected to it. For specific implementation, refer to… Figure 7 , Figure 7 for Figure 6The diagram shows an exploded view of the spindle module 101. The base 1013 may be provided with a first groove 10131 and a second groove 10132, wherein the first groove 10131 and the second groove 10132 may be arc grooves. Furthermore, the first groove 10131 and the second groove 10132 may be arranged opposite to each other along the direction from the first support plate 1011 to the second support plate 1012. Alternatively, the first groove 10131 and the second groove 10132 may be staggered, which can effectively reduce the size of the base 1013 along the direction from the first support plate 1011 to the second support plate 1012, thus facilitating the miniaturization design of the rotating shaft mechanism 1.
[0064] You can continue to refer to Figure 7 In this application, a first sliding arm 10111 may be provided on the side surface of the first support plate 1011 facing the base 1013, and a second sliding arm 10121 may be provided on the side surface of the second support plate 1012 facing the base 1013. The first sliding arm 10111 can be accommodated in a first sliding groove 10131, and can slide along the first sliding groove 10131 towards or away from the second support plate 1012. The second sliding arm 10121 can be accommodated in a second sliding groove 10132, and can slide along the first sliding groove 10131 towards or away from the first support plate 1011. In this application, the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012 are rotatably connected to the base 1013 via virtual axes that cooperate with the sliding arms and sliding grooves, which effectively improves the structural compactness of the rotating shaft mechanism 1.
[0065] Additionally, you can refer to the following: Figure 5 and Figure 7 In this application, a first clearance opening 10112 is provided on the first support plate 1011, and a second clearance opening 10122 is provided on the second support plate 1012. Thus, the first clearance opening 10112 provides clearance space for the sliding of the second sliding arm 10121, and the second clearance opening 10122 provides clearance space for the sliding of the first sliding arm 10111, thereby avoiding interference between the movements of the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012. Furthermore, please refer to... Figure 5 When the rotating shaft mechanism 1 is in the unfolded state, the first sliding arm 10111 is housed in the second clearance opening 10122, and the second sliding arm 10121 is housed in the first clearance opening 10112, so that the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012 can form a continuous and flat support surface for supporting the flexible display screen.
[0066] You can continue to refer to Figure 7In this application, the spindle module 101 may further include a first gear link 1014 and a second gear link 1015. A first gear 10141 is provided at one end of the first gear link 1014 facing the second gear link 1015, and a second gear 10151 is provided at one end of the second gear link 1015 facing the first gear link 1014. The first gear 10141 and the second gear 10151 are driveably connected.
[0067] Additionally, refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the base 1013 provided in this application. A first mounting hole 10133 and a second mounting hole 10134 are provided at the ends of the base 1013. The opening directions of the first mounting hole 10133 and the second mounting hole 10134 can be the same as the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 1. Figure 8 In the illustrated embodiment, both the first mounting hole 10133 and the second mounting hole 10134 are opened in a direction away from the first slide groove 10131 and the second slide groove 10132. See also... Figure 7 and Figure 8 In this application, the first gear 10141 can be installed in the first mounting hole 10133, and the second gear 10151 can be installed in the second mounting hole 10134. Furthermore, the first gear 10141 can rotate within the first mounting hole 10133, and the second gear 10151 can rotate within the second mounting hole 10134, thereby achieving a rotatable connection between the first gear connecting rod 1014 and the second gear connecting rod 1015 and the base 1013.
[0068] Can be referred to together Figure 6 and Figure 7 The first support plate 1011 is further provided with a first track groove 10113, and the second support plate 1012 is further provided with a second track groove 10123. The opening direction of the first track groove 10113 is the same as the opening direction of the first mounting hole 10133, and the opening direction of the second track groove 10123 is the same as the opening direction of the second mounting hole 10134. A first guide portion 10142 is provided at the end of the first gear connecting rod 1014 opposite to the second gear connecting rod 1015. This first guide portion 10142 is inserted into the first track groove 10113 and can slide along the first track groove 10113. A second guide portion 10152 is provided at the end of the second gear connecting rod 1015 opposite to the first gear connecting rod 1014. This second guide portion 10152 is inserted into the second track groove 10123 and can slide along the second track groove 10123.
[0069] It is understood that the specific shapes of the first track groove 10113 and the second track groove 10123 are not limited in this application. For example, they can be strip-shaped grooves, as long as they allow the first support plate 1011 to drive the first guide portion 10142 to slide along the first track groove 10113 along a set track during the movement of the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012, and the second support plate 1012 to drive the second guide portion 10152 to slide along the second track groove 10123 along a set track. Furthermore, the specific structural forms of the first guide portion 10142 and the second guide portion 10152 are not limited in this application. For example, the first guide portion 10142 and the second guide portion 10152 can be pins, with one end fixed to a gear connecting rod and the other end passing through the corresponding track groove. To prevent the pins from falling out of the corresponding track grooves, reference can be made to... Figure 6 and Figure 7 A nut or other fastener can be provided at the end of the pin shaft that passes through the track groove and is away from the gear connecting rod.
[0070] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the first gear connecting rod 1014 and the second gear connecting rod 1015 are connected by a transmission via the first gear 10141 and the second gear 10151. The first gear connecting rod 1014 is slidably connected to the first support plate 1011 via the first guide portion 10142 and the first track groove 10113, and the second gear connecting rod 1015 is slidably connected to the second support plate 1012 via the second guide portion 10152 and the second track groove 10123. (See also...) Figure 9a and Figure 9b , Figure 9a The relative positions of the first support plate 1011, the second support plate 1012, the first gear connecting rod 1014, and the second gear connecting rod 1015 are shown in the unfolded state. Figure 9b This illustrates the relative positional relationship between the first support plate 1011, the second support plate 1012, the first gear connecting rod 1014, and the second gear connecting rod 1015 in the intermediate state. Figure 9a The unfolded state shown Figure 9b During the intermediate process shown, the first support plate 1011 rotates relative to the base 1013 in a direction away from the second support plate 1012, which drives the first gear connecting rod 1014 to rotate in the same direction relative to the base 1013. This causes the second gear connecting rod 1015 to rotate relative to the base 1013 in the opposite direction to the first gear connecting rod 1014. The rotation of the second gear connecting rod 1015 drives the second support plate 1012 to rotate relative to the base 1013 in a direction away from the first support plate 1011, thereby achieving synchronous rotation of the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012, with the rotation direction of the second support plate 1012 opposite to that of the first support plate 1011. Figure 9a and Figure 9b As can be seen, during the process of moving from the unfolded state to the closed state, a screen-accommodating space can be formed between the first support plate 1011, the second support plate 1012, and the base 1013. This space can be used to accommodate the foldable part of the flexible display screen, thereby reducing the pressure on the flexible display screen and lowering the risk of damage to the flexible display screen.
[0071] It is worth mentioning that, since the first support plate 1011 can be fixedly connected to the first housing 2 of the electronic device, and the second support plate 1012 can be fixedly connected to the second housing 3 of the electronic device, the above-mentioned solution provided in this application can achieve synchronous rotation of the first housing 2 and the second housing 3. It can be understood that the synchronous rotation of the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 can drive the synchronous movement of the parts of the flexible display screen that are fixed to the first housing 2 and the second housing 3, which can effectively improve the uniformity of force distribution on the flexible display screen, thereby preventing the flexible display screen from being stretched or squeezed, and improving the structural reliability of the flexible display screen.
[0072] You can continue to refer to Figure 7 The spindle module 101 may also include a first gear shaft 1016 and a second gear shaft 1017, wherein the first gear 10141 is sleeved on the first gear shaft 1016 and the first gear 10141 can be rotatably connected to the first gear shaft 1016.
[0073] The second gear 10151 is sleeved on the second gear shaft 1017, and the second gear 10151 can be rotatably connected to the second gear shaft 1017. This can effectively improve the stability of the movement of the first gear connecting rod 1014 and the second gear connecting rod 1015.
[0074] Reference Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission method of the first gear connecting rod 1014 and the second gear connecting rod 1015 according to an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment of the application, a driven gear 1018 may also be provided between the first gear 10141 and the second gear 10151. The number of driven gears 1018 may be even, and the first gear 10141 and the second gear 10151 are connected by the driven gears 1018, thereby improving the rotational stability of the first gear connecting rod 1014 and the second gear connecting rod 1015.
[0075] For reference Figure 11 , Figure 11 for Figure 6The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the spindle module 101 at point BB. In this embodiment of the application, during the rotation of the first support plate 1011 relative to the base 1013, the first gear connecting rod 1014 can be driven to rotate relative to the base 1013. The first gear 10141 rotates with the first gear connecting rod 1014, driving the driven gear 1018 to rotate, and transmitting this rotational force to the second gear 10151, thereby causing the second gear connecting rod 1015 to rotate relative to the base 1013 in the opposite direction to the first gear connecting rod 1014. The rotation of the second gear connecting rod 1015 drives the second support plate 1012 to rotate relative to the base 1013, and the rotation direction of the second support plate 1012 is opposite to the rotation direction of the first support plate 1011, thereby achieving synchronous rotation of the first support plate 1011 and the second support plate 1012.
[0076] Can be referred to together Figure 8 and Figure 11 In this application, the base 1013 may also be provided with a gearbox 10135, and the driven gear 1018 can be installed in the gearbox 10135. It is understood that the aforementioned first mounting hole 10133 and second mounting hole 10134 are connected to the gearbox 10135 to facilitate the transmission connection between the first gear 10141, the second gear 10151, and the driven gear 1018. By providing the gearbox 10135 and installing the driven gear 1018 inside it, lubricating oil can be stored, thereby achieving lubrication between the contact surfaces of adjacent driven gears 1018, the driven gear 1018 and the first gear 10141, and the driven gear 1018 and the second gear 10151. This reduces the risk of wear on each driven gear 1018, the first gear 10141, and the second gear 10151, thereby improving the structural reliability of the spindle module 101.
[0077] Additionally, reference may be made to this application. Figure 7 and Figure 11 The spindle module 101 may further include an intermediate gear shaft 1019, and each driven gear 1018 may be sleeved on an intermediate gear shaft 1019, and the driven gear 1018 may be rotatably connected to the intermediate gear shaft 1019. See also... Figure 7 and Figure 8 In this application, the base 1013 may also be provided with a mounting groove 10136, which may be located between the first sliding groove 10131 (second sliding groove 10132) and the first mounting hole 10133 (second mounting hole 10134). The first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017 and the intermediate gear shaft 1019 may be installed in the mounting groove 10136 so that the structure of the spindle module 101 is more compact.
[0078] You can continue to refer to Figure 7The spindle module 101 may further include an integrated retaining ring 1020. The ends of the first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017, and the intermediate gear shaft 1019 that are away from the first gear connecting rod 1014 and the second gear connecting rod 1015 can be connected via the integrated retaining ring 1020. Specifically, the first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017, and the intermediate gear shaft 1019 can be connected to the integrated retaining ring 1020 via a threaded connection. That is, threaded holes are provided on the integrated retaining ring 1020 at positions corresponding to the first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017, and the intermediate gear shaft 1019, respectively. External threads are also provided at the ends of the first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017, and the intermediate gear shaft 1019, thereby facilitating the connection between the first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017, and the intermediate gear shaft 1019 and the integrated retaining ring 1020. (See also...) Figure 6 and Figure 7 In this application, the integrated retaining ring 1020 can also be installed in the mounting groove 10136, and the integrated retaining ring 1020 can abut against the groove wall of the mounting groove 10136 opposite to the first mounting hole 10133 (second mounting hole 10134). Additionally, in one possible embodiment of this application, to improve the reliability of the connection between the integrated retaining ring 1020 and the base 1013, the integrated retaining ring 1020 can be fixed to the groove wall of the mounting groove 10136 by adhesive bonding or fastener locking.
[0079] The unfolding or closing process of the electronic device using the pivot mechanism 1 provided in this application is typically achieved by applying rotational force to the first housing 2 and / or the second housing 3. To allow the user to clearly perceive the unfolding or closing process of the electronic device as the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 rotate relative to the base 1013, the spindle module 101 provided in this application can also generate a certain damping force. For specific implementation, please refer to... Figure 7 The first gear connecting rod 1014 may also be provided with a first cam structure 10143, which is coaxially arranged with the first gear 10141 and is located outside the base 1013. Similarly, the second gear connecting rod 1015 may also be provided with a second cam structure 10153, which is coaxially arranged with the second gear 10151 and is located outside the base 1013. In this application, the first cam structure 10143 and the first gear 10141 can be integrally formed, and the second cam structure 10153 and the second gear 10151 can be integrally formed, which can help improve the structural reliability of the first gear connecting rod 1014 and the second gear connecting rod 1015.
[0080] Additionally, the spindle module 101 may also include an integrated cam 1021, which may include a third cam structure 10211 and a fourth cam structure 10212. The third cam structure 10211 may be disposed opposite to the first cam structure 10143, and the third cam structure 10211 may be sleeved on the first gear shaft 1016. In this case, the first gear shaft 1016 may simultaneously pass through the first gear 10141, the first cam structure 10143, and the third cam structure 10211. The fourth cam structure 10212 may be disposed opposite to the second cam structure 10153, and the fourth cam structure 10212 may be sleeved on the second gear shaft 1017. In this case, the second gear shaft 1017 may simultaneously pass through the second gear 10151, the second cam structure 10153, and the fourth cam structure 10212. It is worth mentioning that, in this application, the cam structure includes multiple protrusions and recesses. When the protrusion of one of the two opposing cam structures is located within the recess of the other cam structure, the two cam structures mesh to impede relative rotation between them, thereby generating a damping force. When the protrusion of one of the two opposing cam structures contacts the protrusion of the other cam structure, the two cam structures abut against each other.
[0081] Therefore, it can be seen that when two opposing cam structures rotate relative to each other and reach a predetermined rotation position, engaging with each other, a corresponding damping force is generated. This provides users with a more noticeable sensation during the rotation of electronic devices and can also prevent accidental opening and closing, thus improving the user experience. Furthermore, by rationally designing the spacing between the protrusions and recesses of the cam structures, the electronic device can maintain its rotation position without external force when closed or expanded to a certain angle; or continue to expand to a flattened state without external force when expanded to a large angle (e.g., greater than or equal to 150°); or continue to move in the closing direction without external force when closed to a small angle (e.g., less than or equal to 30°) until fully closed. This allows for the fulfillment of personalized user requirements.
[0082] Reference Figure 12 , Figure 12This application illustrates the mating relationship between a first cam structure 10143, a second cam structure 10153, and an integrated cam 1021 provided in one embodiment. In this application, the spindle module 101 may further include an elastic structural member 1022, which can be used to press the first cam structure 10143 and the second cam structure 10153 against the integrated cam 1021. Specifically, the elastic structural member 1022 may be located between the integrated retaining ring 1020 and the first gear 10141 and the second gear 10151, and the elastic structural member 1022 elastically abuts against the integrated retaining ring 1020 and the first gear 10141 and the second gear 10151 respectively, thereby accumulating an elastic clamping force along the direction from the integrated retaining ring 1020 to the first gear 10141 and the second gear 10151 to press the first cam structure 10143 and the second cam structure 10153 against the integrated cam 1021.
[0083] In this application, the specific arrangement of the elastic structure 1022 is not limited. It can be exemplarily a spring, and there can be multiple elastic structures 1022. At least one elastic structure 1022 can be sleeved on the first gear shaft 1016, and at least one elastic structure 1022 can be sleeved on the second gear shaft 1017. In some embodiments of this application, the elastic structure 1022 can also be sleeved on the intermediate gear shaft 1019, thereby providing sufficient clamping force between the first cam structure 10143, the second cam structure 10153, and the integrated cam 1021.
[0084] You can continue to refer to Figure 12 In this application, to prevent the integrated cam 1021 from falling off the first gear shaft 1016 and the second gear shaft 1017, fasteners such as nuts can be provided on the side of the integrated cam 1021 away from the base 1013. These fasteners can be provided on the first gear shaft 1016 and the second gear shaft 1017 and locked to the first gear shaft 1016 and the second gear shaft 1017, thereby limiting the integrated cam 1021 to the first gear shaft 1016 and the second gear shaft 1017.
[0085] As described in the foregoing embodiments, the first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017, and the intermediate gear shaft 1019 can all be threadedly connected to the integrated retaining ring 1020. Therefore, in this application, the deformation of the elastic structural member 1022 can be adjusted by adjusting the tightness between the first gear shaft 1016, the second gear shaft 1017, and the intermediate gear shaft 1019 and the integrated retaining ring 1020. This adjustment, in turn, adjusts the clamping force between the first cam structure 10143, the second cam structure 10153, and the integrated cam 1021, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the damping force during the rotation of the main shaft module 101.
[0086] By employing the rotating shaft mechanism 1 provided in this application, the modules for synchronous rotation and the modules for providing damping force in the main spindle module 101 can be integrated into one, which effectively simplifies the structure of the main spindle module 101 and makes the structure of the main spindle module 101 more compact. This helps to reduce the space occupied by the main spindle module 101 in the rotating shaft mechanism 1, so as to set more functional modules in the rotating shaft mechanism 1, which is conducive to realizing the diversified functional design of electronic devices using this rotating shaft mechanism 1.
[0087] In this application, when the rotating shaft mechanism 1 has multiple spindle modules 101, these multiple spindle modules 101 can be spaced apart. To reduce the gap between two adjacent spindle modules 101, so that the rotating shaft mechanism 1 can form a more complete support surface, see [reference needed]. Figure 13 , Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a rotating shaft mechanism 1 provided in an embodiment of this application. The rotating shaft mechanism 1 provided in this application may further include a cover plate, which can be disposed between two adjacent main shaft modules 101, and the cover plate includes a first sub-cover plate 1023 and a second sub-cover plate 1024. The first sub-cover plate 1023 is rotatably connected to the base 1013 and fixedly connected to the first support plate 1011, so as to form a continuous and flat support surface between the first sub-cover plate 1023 and the first support plate 1011. Similarly, the second sub-cover plate 1024 is rotatably connected to the base 1013 and fixedly connected to the second support plate 1012, so as to form a continuous and flat support surface between the second sub-cover plate 1024 and the second support plate 1012. In this way, during the rotation of the first support plate 1011 relative to the base 1013, the first sub-cover plate 1023 can be driven to rotate synchronously, and during the rotation of the second support plate 1012 relative to the base 1013, the second sub-cover plate 1024 can be driven to rotate synchronously.
[0088] Furthermore, it is understood that since circuit boards or sensors can be housed within the two housings of the electronic device, the electrical connection between the devices in the two housings can be achieved through cables passing through the pivot mechanism 1. In this embodiment of the application, these cables used to connect the devices in the two housings can pass through the pivot mechanism 1 within the area covered by the cover plate. This avoids interference between the cables and the spindle module 101 while also concealing the cables within the area covered by the cover plate, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the pivot mechanism 1.
[0089] When applying the rotating shaft mechanism 1 provided in this application to electronic devices, reference can be made to... Figure 4In addition to the aforementioned structure, the rotating shaft mechanism 1 may also include a decorative cover 1025. The decorative cover 1025 has a receiving groove 10251. In this application, since the base 1013 can serve as a supporting component of the rotating shaft mechanism 1, the base 1013 can be accommodated in the receiving groove 10251, and the base 1013 is fixedly connected to the receiving groove 10251. The connection method may be, but is not limited to, a fastening connection using screws or bolts. Furthermore, see [reference needed]. Figure 1 When the electronic device is in a closed state, the surface of the decorative cover 1025 can serve as the exterior surface of the pivot mechanism 1, which helps to improve the aesthetic appearance of the electronic device.
[0090] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A rotating shaft mechanism, characterized in that, The spindle module includes a base, a first support plate, a second support plate, a first gear connecting rod, a second gear connecting rod, an elastic structural component, and an integrated cam, wherein: The first support plate and the second support plate are located on opposite sides of the base. The first support plate and the second support plate are used to support the flexible display screen, and the first support plate and the second support plate are rotatably connected to the base. The first support plate is provided with a first track groove, and the second support plate is provided with a second track groove. The opening direction of the first track groove and the second track groove is the same as the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism. The first gear connecting rod and the second gear connecting rod are rotatably connected to the end of the base. The end of the first gear connecting rod facing the second gear connecting rod has a first gear and a first cam structure arranged coaxially, and the end of the first gear connecting rod away from the second gear connecting rod is provided with a first guide portion. The end of the second gear connecting rod facing the first gear connecting rod has a second gear and a second cam structure arranged coaxially, and the end of the second gear connecting rod away from the first gear connecting rod is provided with a second guide portion. The first gear and the second gear are connected by a transmission; the first guide portion is inserted into the first track groove and can slide along the first track groove; the second guide portion is inserted into the second track groove and can slide along the second track groove. The integrated cam is provided with a third cam structure and a fourth cam structure, wherein the third cam structure is arranged opposite to the first cam structure; and the fourth cam structure is arranged opposite to the second cam structure. The elastic structural member is located on the side of the first cam structure and the second cam structure opposite to the integrated cam, and the elastic structural member presses the first cam structure and the second cam structure toward the integrated cam.
2. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The main shaft module further includes a first gear shaft and a second gear shaft. The first gear shaft passes through the first gear, the first cam structure, and the third cam structure, and the first gear connecting rod is rotatably connected to the first gear shaft. The second gear shaft passes through the second gear, the second cam structure, and the fourth cam structure, and the second gear connecting rod is rotatably connected to the second gear shaft.
3. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The spindle module also includes an integrated retaining ring, wherein the end of the first gear shaft opposite to the first gear connecting rod is threadedly connected to the integrated retaining ring; the end of the second gear shaft opposite to the second gear connecting rod is threadedly connected to the integrated retaining ring. The elastic structural member is located between the integrated retaining ring and the first gear and the second gear, and the elastic structural member elastically abuts against the integrated retaining ring, the first gear and the second gear respectively.
4. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that, There are multiple elastic structural members, at least one of which is sleeved on the first gear shaft and at least one of which is sleeved on the second gear shaft.
5. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The base is also provided with a receiving groove, in which the integrated retaining ring, the elastic structural member, the first gear shaft and the second gear shaft are received, and the integrated retaining ring abuts against the groove wall of the receiving groove.
6. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The base is provided with a first sliding groove and a second sliding groove, and a first sliding arm is provided on the side of the first support plate facing the base, and a second sliding arm is provided on the side of the second support plate facing the base. The first sliding arm is housed in the first sliding groove, and the first sliding arm can slide along the first sliding groove toward or away from the second support plate; the second sliding arm is housed in the second sliding groove, and the second sliding arm can slide along the second sliding groove toward or away from the first support plate.
7. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first and second slide grooves are staggered along the direction from the first support plate to the second support plate.
8. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The spindle module also includes driven gears, there are an even number of driven gears, the driven gears are located between the first gear and the second gear, and the first gear and the second gear are connected by the driven gears.
9. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The main shaft module also includes an intermediate gear shaft, the driven gear is sleeved on the intermediate gear shaft, and the driven gear is rotatably connected to the intermediate gear shaft.
10. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The base is also provided with a gearbox, and the driven gear is mounted in the gearbox.
11. The rotating shaft mechanism as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The base is provided with a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole, the opening direction of the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole is the same as the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism; the first gear is mounted in the first mounting hole, the second gear is mounted in the second mounting hole, and the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole are connected to the gearbox.
12. The rotating shaft mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, The rotating shaft mechanism includes multiple spindle modules, which are spaced apart. The rotating shaft mechanism also includes a cover plate located between two adjacent main shaft modules; the cover plate includes a first sub-cover plate and a second sub-cover plate, the first sub-cover plate and the second sub-cover plate are rotatably connected to the base, and the first sub-cover plate is fixedly connected to the first support plate, and the second sub-cover plate is fixedly connected to the second support plate.
13. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes a first housing, a second housing, a flexible display screen, and a rotating shaft mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: The first housing and the second housing are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the rotating shaft mechanism, and the first support plate is fixedly connected to the first housing, and the second support plate is fixedly connected to the second housing; The flexible display screen continuously covers the first housing, the second housing, and the rotating shaft mechanism, and the flexible display screen is fixedly connected to the first housing and the second housing.
Citation Information
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