Hinge assembly and foldable device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a hinge assembly and a foldable device. The hinge assembly comprises a middle frame fixing block fixed on a middle frame, a synchronous swing arm, a first end of the synchronous swing arm being slidably connected with a first part of the middle frame fixing block, a rotating swing arm, a first end of the rotating swing arm being rotatably connected with a second part of the middle frame fixing block, wherein the first part and the second part are adjacent, and a bottom cover, the bottom cover being formed with a rotating space, a second end of the rotating swing arm being connected in the rotating space, and the second end of the rotating swing arm being capable of rotating in the rotating space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of foldable hinges and smart devices, and more specifically, to a hinge assembly and a foldable device. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of display technology, foldable display terminals are gradually becoming a development trend for future mobile electronic products. When unfolded, foldable display terminals offer a larger display area, enhancing the viewing experience. When folded, they achieve a smaller size, making them easy for users to carry. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the following are provided:

[0004] A hinge assembly, comprising:

[0005] A middle frame fixing block, wherein the middle frame fixing block is fixed on the middle frame;

[0006] A synchronous swing arm, the first end of which is slidably connected to the first part of the middle frame fixing block;

[0007] A rotating swing arm is rotatably connected at its first end to a second part of the middle frame fixing block, wherein the first part and the second part are adjacent to each other.

[0008] The bottom cover has a rotation space, and the second end of the rotating arm is connected to the rotation space and is capable of rotating within the rotation space.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, it further includes:

[0010] A pin is used to connect the first end of the rotating swing arm to the second part.

[0011] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, it further includes:

[0012] The synchronous swing arm has a gear portion at its second end that meshes with the gear. The first end of the gear is disposed on the first side of the gear fixing block. The bottom cover is disposed on the second side of the gear fixing block. The first side of the gear portion has a protrusion, and the first side of the gear fixing block has an abutment portion. During the rotation of the synchronous swing arm, the protrusion portion can abut against the abutment portion to define the flattened position and folded position of the rotating shaft assembly.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, it further includes:

[0014] A cam plate, wherein the second end of the gear is arranged on the first side of the cam plate, and a rotating cam is also formed on the first side of the cam plate;

[0015] The second side of the gear portion has a concave-convex structure, and the concave-convex structure and the rotating cam are configured to fit together.

[0016] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, it further includes:

[0017] The spring, spring baffle, and friction plate are provided. The second side of the cam plate is supported on the first end of the spring. The second end of the spring abuts against the first side of the spring baffle. The friction plate is arranged on the second side of the spring baffle.

[0018] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, in the flattened position and the folded position, the raised and recessed portions of the concave-convex structure and the rotating cam are opposite to each other and the spring is in a natural or compressed state. In the transition position between the flattened position and the folded position, the raised portions of the concave-convex structure and the rotating cam are in contact with each other and the spring is in a compressed state.

[0019] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, there are two middle frame fixing blocks and two rotating swing arms, both symmetrically arranged on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly.

[0020] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, it further includes:

[0021] Main support, which is connected to the bottom cover;

[0022] The rotating arm has a first limiting surface, and the main support has a second limiting surface. When the rotating shaft assembly is flattened, a first gap is formed between the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface.

[0023] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the first gap is in the range of 0.01mm-0.1mm, and the first gap causes the maximum flattening angle of the rotating shaft assembly to be between 181° and 190°.

[0024] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, it further includes:

[0025] The moving door panel is connected to the synchronous swing arm and the middle frame fixing block respectively.

[0026] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, there are two moving door panels, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the main support, and there are two rotating shaft assemblies, aligned in the longitudinal direction of the main support.

[0027] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a foldable device is provided, wherein the foldable device includes a flexible display screen, a mid-frame, and any one of the aforementioned hinge assemblies, the mid-frame being fixed to a mid-frame fixing block, and the flexible display screen being fixed to the mid-frame.

[0028] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, there are two middle frames, and the two middle frames are fixed on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the above and other features of this disclosure will become apparent, wherein,

[0030] Figure 1 An assembly diagram of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0031] Figure 2 An exploded view of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0032] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0033] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a synchronous swing arm of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0034] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a cam plate of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0035] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of a rotating swing arm of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0036] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the main support structure of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0037] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a first clearance of a shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0038] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; and

[0039] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of a moving door panel of a pivot assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0040] It is readily understood that, based on the technical solutions of this disclosure, those skilled in the art can propose various interchangeable structural methods and implementations without altering the essential spirit of this disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed embodiments and accompanying drawings are merely illustrative examples of the technical solutions of this disclosure and should not be considered as the entirety of this disclosure or as limitations or restrictions on the technical solutions of this disclosure.

[0041] The directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front, back, top, and bottom mentioned or possibly used in this specification are defined relative to the structures shown in the accompanying drawings. These are relative concepts and may therefore vary depending on their location and usage. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," and similar expressions are used for descriptive and distinguishing purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying the relative importance of the corresponding components.

[0042] Existing flexible screen hinges sometimes exhibit excessive angle extension during assembly with the main frame, leading to poor assembly consistency, low yield, and indirectly affecting screen arching and lifespan. To ensure that the hinge and main frame are aligned horizontally at ≥180° (this ≥180° alignment provides tolerance for screen installation, thus requiring a wider range of hinge flattening angles), the hinge's flattening angle in its free state needs to be controlled within a certain range to guarantee assembly yield.

[0043] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 These figures respectively show an assembly drawing of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an exploded view of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and a structural schematic diagram of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] The rotating shaft assembly 100 includes:

[0045] Mid-frame fixing block 1, the mid-frame fixing block 1 is fixed on the mid-frame;

[0046] Synchronous swing arm 2, the first end 21 of the synchronous swing arm 2 is slidably connected to the first part 11 of the middle frame fixing block 1;

[0047] Rotate the swing arm 3, the first end 31 of the rotating swing arm 3 is rotatably connected to the second part 12 of the middle frame fixing block 1, wherein the first part 11 and the second part 12 are adjacent to each other;

[0048] The bottom cover 4 has a rotation space 41. The second end 32 of the rotating arm 3 is connected to the rotation space 41 and can rotate within the rotation space 41.

[0049] It should be understood that the mid-frame described herein generally refers to the mid-frame of foldable devices, such as the mid-frame of a foldable smartphone. However, although not specifically described herein, the mid-frames of other terminal devices, such as foldable tablets or other foldable laptops, may also be applied. Furthermore, the terms "first end," "second end," "first side," "second side," or similar expressions used herein or below are for distinguishing corresponding parts of related components and do not necessarily require the first end and second end to be opposite each other, or the first side and second side to be opposite each other. In this example, the first end 21 and the second end 22 of the synchronous swing arm 2 are respectively opposite each other facing outwards and inwards, and the first end 31 and the second end 32 of the rotating swing arm 3 are respectively opposite each other facing outwards and inwards; other orientation arrangements may also be used. Furthermore, in this example, the first part 11 and the second part 12 of the mid-frame fixing block 1 are connected to each other and generally aligned, especially having a flush outline on the outer side. This results in a simple and aesthetically pleasing assembly of the pivot assembly 100, or pivot assembly body, which can be well matched with the moving door panel 300, which will be described below.

[0050] By using the design of a relative sliding connection (or sliding fit) between the synchronous swing arm 2 and the middle frame fixing block 1, the screen space formed at the bend when the hinge is folded is expanded, making the middle frame fixing block 1 have a larger range of motion. For example, in the flattened state of the hinge assembly 100, the middle frame fixing block 1 is flush or basically flush with the outer side of the synchronous swing arm 2. In the fully folded state of the hinge assembly 100, the middle frame fixing block 1 extends outward relative to the synchronous swing arm 2, and the extension amount is at its maximum, so as to support the full folding requirement of the foldable device in the flattened state. At the same time, the footprint or volume of the entire hinge will not increase too much or change significantly due to the flattening movement. For this purpose, in some embodiments of this disclosure, the synchronous swing arm 2 and the middle frame fixing block 1 are configured to be connected and engaged by a sliding groove. For example, the first part 11 of the middle frame fixing block 1 is configured with a sliding groove 111, and the corresponding two sides of the synchronous swing arm 2 are configured with joint parts 23. When the assembly is completed, the joint parts 23 are engaged in the sliding groove 111 to support the relative sliding movement of the synchronous swing arm 2 and the middle frame fixing block 1. This method has a simple structure, is easy to implement, and has strong practicality and adaptability.

[0051] Furthermore, the rotatable connection between the rotating arm 3 and the middle frame fixing block 1 enables the linkage between the middle frame fixing block 1 and the synchronous arm 2 and the rotating arm 3 respectively. That is, while the middle frame fixing block 1 slides relative to the synchronous arm 2, there is also a relative rotational movement between the middle frame fixing block 1 and the rotating arm 3. Therefore, the entire rotating shaft assembly can be viewed as a multi-link mechanism with a slider (multi-link slider mechanism). The relative sliding range between the middle frame fixing block 1 and the synchronous arm 2 can be indirectly defined by the rotation range of the rotating arm 3 within the rotation space 41 of the bottom cover 4. This definition method is convenient and cost-effective. The rotation angle of the rotating shaft assembly 100 can be limited by designing the rotating arm 3 and the bottom cover 4 without changing the structure or positional relationship between the middle frame fixing block 1 and the synchronous arm 2, ensuring the stability of core components such as the middle frame fixing block 1 and the synchronous arm 2. In addition, the rotating arm 3 and the bottom cover 4 can disperse stress and protect the flexible display screen from compression during whole-machine drop and roller tests. Specifically, in order to facilitate rotation, the second end 32 of the rotating arm 3 is constructed with an arc portion 34, and the rotation space 41 of the bottom cover 4 is correspondingly constructed with or constructed as an arc-shaped receiving portion. The size of the arc circumference of these two parts can be determined according to the range of the required rotation angle.

[0052] As can also be seen from the figure, the synchronous swing arm 2 is composed of a first sub-component 24 and a second sub-component 25 connected together, with a gap 26 between them. A through hole 27 is constructed on the wall forming this gap 26, and the through hole 27 is connected by a pin 14. This gap 26 and the pin 14 are used to arrange and connect the motion door panel 300, which will be briefly described below. Those skilled in the art will understand that, in order to ensure the intended function while also considering requirements such as lightweighting or material saving, slotting, hollowing, chamfering, or other similar structural designs can be made on various components, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0053] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the pivot assembly 100 further includes a pin 5, through which the first end 31 of the rotating arm 3 is connected to the second part 12. This provides a relatively simple way to support the rotatable connection between the rotating arm 3 and the middle frame fixing block 1. For this purpose, a through hole 311 is provided at the first end 31 of the rotating arm 3, and a corresponding opening 121 is provided at the second part 12 of the middle frame fixing block 1. In the assembled state, the pin 5 passes through both the through hole 311 and the opening 121. The pin 5 is exemplarily constructed as a cylinder, with a simple structure and easy manufacturing; the through hole and opening are also designed with matching shapes. Furthermore, for example from... Figure 2 and Figure 6As can be clearly seen, the first end 31 of the rotating arm 3 is constructed with two protrusions 312, and a gap is provided between the two protrusions 312 to achieve material saving and weight reduction. A through hole 311 is formed on the protrusion 312. Correspondingly, the second part 12 of the middle frame fixing block 1 is constructed with a pair of matching protrusions 122. In the assembled state, the protrusions 312 and the matching protrusions 122 are arranged sequentially and aligned side-by-side to facilitate the passage of the pin 5. Therefore, this design also improves the stability of the rotating arm 3 when it rotates relative to the middle frame fixing block 1.

[0054] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the rotating shaft assembly 100 further includes a gear 6 and a gear fixing block 7. The second end 22 of the synchronous swing arm 2 has a gear portion 221 that meshes with the gear 6. The first end of the gear 6 (the end facing the rotating swing arm 3) is arranged on the first side of the gear fixing block 7 (the end away from the rotating swing arm 3). The bottom cover 4 is arranged on the second side of the gear fixing block 7 (the side facing the rotating swing arm 3). The first side of the gear portion 221 (the side facing the rotating swing arm 3) has a protrusion 222. The first side of the gear fixing block 7 has an abutment portion 71. During the rotation of the synchronous swing arm 2, the protrusion 222 can abut against the abutment portion 71 to define the flattened position and the folded position of the rotating shaft assembly 100.

[0055] It should be understood that the gear portion 221 is constructed at the second sub-component 25 of the synchronous swing arm 2. Through the meshing of the gear portion 221 with the gear 6, the rotational motion of the synchronous swing arm 2 can be transmitted to the gear 6, and further, through the meshing of multiple gears 6, this rotational motion is transmitted to other synchronous swing arms 2 (e.g., synchronous swing arms on opposite sides), thereby achieving synchronous rotation of each synchronous swing arm. This achieves synchronous flattening and folding movements of the foldable device's frame, ensuring consistency in opening and closing movements. The engagement of the protrusion 222 with the abutment 71 defines the extreme positions of the rotating shaft assembly 100. That is, in the extreme states of the flattened and folded positions, respectively, the end face of the protrusion 222 abuts against the end face of the abutment 71, thereby hindering further unfolding or folding movements of the rotating shaft assembly 100. This limiting method can be combined with the limitation achieved by the rotation range of the rotating swing arm 3 within the bottom cover 4 mentioned above, achieving multiple safeguards. Therefore, the synchronous swing arm 2 not only achieves the function of rotational synchronization, but also, in conjunction with the gear fixing block 7, achieves the function of rotational limit, as well as the function of force transmission feedback, which will be described below. Thus, a single component undertakes multiple important functions, ensuring functional diversity while making the overall structure of the rotating shaft assembly 100 more compact, occupying less space, and highly economical. Regarding the connection between the gear 6 and the gear fixing block 7, those skilled in the art will know that it can be achieved in various ways. For example, the gear 6 has a gear shaft 61, and the gear fixing block 7 has a corresponding through-hole 72, through which the gear shaft 61 passes.

[0056] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The diagrams show a schematic diagram of the structure of a synchronous swing arm of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and a schematic diagram of the structure of a cam plate of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] The rotating shaft assembly 100 further includes: a cam plate 8, wherein the second end of the gear 6 (the end opposite to the rotating arm 3) is arranged on the first side of the cam plate 8 (the side facing the rotating arm 3), and a rotating cam 81 is formed on the first side of the cam plate 8; a concave-convex structure 223 is formed on the second side of the gear portion 221 (the side opposite to the rotating arm 3), and the concave-convex structure 223 and the rotating cam 81 are configured to engage. Similar to the gear 6 and gear fixing block 7, the connection between the gear 6 and the cam plate 8 can also be achieved through a shaft hole engagement, that is, an opening 82 is provided on the first side of the cam plate 8. Figure 5(Not shown in the image), the gear shaft 61 of gear 6 is inserted into or passes through the orifice 82 to achieve connection. Thus, the gear shaft 61 is constructed to extend outwards from both ends of the generally cylindrical gear body 62 of gear 6, so that the gear shafts at both ends are respectively used to connect with corresponding peripheral parts (gear fixing block 7 and cam plate 8). It should be understood that the concave-convex fit formed by the concave-convex structure 223 and the rotating cam 81 allows the synchronous rocker arm 2 to compress against the cam plate 8 during rotation, thereby achieving a force transmission effect, which will be described further below.

[0058] Regarding the specific structural form of the concave-convex fit, it is feasible that the concave-convex fit is constructed as a trapezoidal fit. Here, the trapezoid does not strictly refer to a trapezoid in the mathematical sense, but only needs to have a structure that generally has an upper base, a lower base, and a hypotenuse. Specifically, the concave-convex structure 223 is constructed with at least one first top 2231, at least one first bottom 2232, and at least one first inclined portion 2233 connecting the at least one first top 2231 and the at least one first bottom 2232. The first side of the cam plate 8, or the rotating cam 81, is constructed with at least one second top 811, at least one second bottom 812, and at least one second inclined portion 813 connecting the at least one second top 811 and the at least one second bottom 812. Therefore, in the flattened or folded state of the pivot or pivot assembly 100, the first top 2231 and the second bottom 812 are opposite to or in contact with each other, the first inclined portion 2233 and the second inclined portion 813 are opposite to or in contact with each other, and the first bottom 2232 and the second top 811 are opposite to or in contact with each other; while in the transition state / position between the flattened and folded states / positions, the first top 2231 is in contact with or pressed against the second inclined portion 813 or the second top 811 to transmit force. It should be understood that the concave-convex structure 223 and the rotary cam 81 can each have multiple sets of bottoms, inclined portions, and tops, covering the entire ring of the corresponding structure, in order to provide a more uniform, stable, and "seamless" force transmission effect. It should also be understood that those skilled in the art can construct this concave-convex fit with other shapes, such as replacing the trapezoidal fit with a fit between curved surfaces, or using a fit between a curved surface and a plane, etc.

[0059] Back Figure 2 and Figure 3The rotating shaft assembly 100 further includes a spring 9, a spring baffle 10, and a friction plate 13. The second side of the cam plate 8 (the side facing away from the rotating arm 3) is supported by the first end of the spring 9 (the end facing the rotating arm 3). The second end of the spring 9 (the end facing away from the rotating arm 3) abuts against the first side of the spring baffle 10 (the side facing the rotating arm 3). The friction plate 13 is arranged on the second side of the spring baffle 10 (the side facing away from the rotating arm 3). Based on the above-described concave-convex fit, when the spring is compressed, it can transmit the spring force to the cam plate 8, and then through the concave-convex fit between the cam plate 8 and the synchronous arm 2, it is transmitted to the synchronous arm 2, and then further transmitted to the middle frame fixing block 1, which is slidably connected to the synchronous arm 2, and finally to the middle frame connected to the middle frame fixing block 1. Therefore, when the user operates the middle frame of the foldable device, they can feel force feedback due to this force transmission. Specifically, in the flattened position and the folded position, the protruding portions (such as the first and second tops mentioned above) and the recessed portions (such as the first and second bottoms mentioned above) of the concave-convex structure 223 and the rotary cam 81 are opposite to each other and the spring 9 is in a natural state (relaxed state) or a compressed state. In the transition position between the flattened position and the folded position, the protruding portions of the concave-convex structure 223 and the rotary cam 81 are in contact with each other and the spring 9 is in a compressed state.

[0060] Therefore, it can be seen that in the transition position of the pivot assembly 100, suspension can be achieved through the transmission of spring force in the manner described above, thereby maintaining the current position of the pivot assembly 100 and, consequently, the foldable device. It is conceivable that this suspension force only needs to be sufficient to maintain the position or provide a suitable folding feel; it does not need to be excessive, allowing the user to adjust the position of the foldable device with a suitable force when needed. In this example, the pivot assembly body is equipped with three springs 9 of the same specification, arranged in parallel between the spring baffle 10 and the cam plate 8. However, it should be understood that the specific magnitude of the spring force can be achieved in various ways, such as selecting a suitable spring material and its spring constant k, setting multiple sets of springs, and setting multiple sets of springs in series, parallel, or mixed topologies, setting the spring dimensions, etc. Furthermore, the friction plate 13 exists to assist the cam plate 8 in completing the suspension during the flattening and folding process, increasing friction. Specifically, during the opening and closing movement of the pivot assembly 100, which compresses the spring 9, the spring 9 also exerts a compressive force on the friction plate 13. Consequently, the friction plate 13 generates a reaction force on the spring 9, which is then transmitted to the compression engagement between the rotating cam 81 of the cam plate 8 and the concave-convex structure 223 of the synchronous swing arm 2. This increases the engagement force, thereby improving the hovering effect of the pivot assembly 100 and the entire foldable device. Therefore, the friction plate can be considered a force amplifier; as the force increases, the friction between the rotating cam 81 and the concave-convex structure 223 also increases, resulting in more stable hovering. Thus, the friction plate 13 plays a role in assisting hovering. Here, the friction plate 13 can be constructed as an elastic body to achieve the above effect. Furthermore, the friction plate 13 can be constructed as two annular discs, respectively positioned at both ends of the spring baffle 10. This structure is simple, easy to manufacture and assemble, and can achieve the desired effect while maintaining a reasonable cost-performance ratio.

[0061] It should be mentioned that, in the case of a trapezoidal fit with a concave-convex joint, due to the presence of the first and second inclined portions, the pivot assembly 100 can rotate to the final corresponding position (flat or folded position) more quickly (compared to movement in the transition position) when it is about to reach the flattened position or the folded position. This effect can be understood as a driving force or promoting force, and it also prompts the user that the pivot assembly 100 and the entire foldable device have reached the final position. Furthermore, when folding or unfolding from the flattened or folded position, a relatively larger force (compared to movement in the transition position) is required to move away from the final position and into the transition position, thereby providing greater holding force and stability in the final position to prevent accidental operation or triggering to the transition position. For this purpose, those skilled in the art will know that the steepness and length of the first and second inclined portions can be set as needed to control the intensity of the aforementioned holding force and driving force.

[0062] Combination Figure 2 and Figure 3 It can also be seen that there are two middle frame fixing blocks 1 and two rotating swing arms 3, both symmetrically arranged on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly 100. Similarly, it should be understood that other various components of the rotating shaft assembly body can also be constructed in corresponding quantities. For example, the synchronous swing arm 2, friction plate 13, pin 5, gear 6, pin 14, including the C-ring 16 and drive shaft 18 which will be briefly introduced below, are all set in pairs so that they can serve the various middle frames of the foldable device in groups.

[0063] refer to Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 The diagrams show a schematic diagram of the rotating arm of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a schematic diagram of the main support of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and a schematic diagram of the first gap of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] The rotating shaft assembly 100 further includes: a main support 200, which is connected to the bottom cover 4; the rotating arm 3 has a first limiting surface 33, and the main support 200 has a second limiting surface 2001. When the rotating shaft assembly 100 is unfolded, a first gap G is formed between the first limiting surface 33 and the second limiting surface 2001. Therefore, the first gap G limits the range of motion of the rotating arm 3 within the rotating space 41, and in particular defines the movement space of the rotating arm 3 when it rotates in the opposite direction. That is, when the middle frame drives the middle frame fixing block 1 to fold in the reverse direction, the rotating arm 3 will rotate in the reverse direction. As a result, the first limiting surface 33 of the rotating arm 3 will move towards the second limiting surface 2001 of the main bracket 200, making the first gap G smaller and smaller until the first limiting surface 33 abuts or presses against the second limiting surface 2001. This prevents the rotating arm 3 from continuing to rotate in the reverse direction, thus preventing the middle frame from continuing to fold in the reverse direction. In this way, the middle frame and the flexible display screen on it are protected from damage due to excessive reverse folding. Here, the first and second limiting surfaces are both flat surfaces selected on the surfaces of the rotating arm 3 and the main bracket 200, and these flat surfaces are parallel or substantially parallel to each other in the flattened state so that they can abut with a large surface area. This ensures that the pressure during abutment or pressing is not too high, resulting in less damage to the components, while also providing reliable and large-range pressing resistance.

[0065] In contrast, previous self-locking methods for the rotating shaft flattening employed a surface fit between the synchronous swing arm and the gear fixing block. While this method achieved self-locking of the rotating shaft, it could not resolve the issue of the gap between the sliding surfaces of the synchronous swing arm and the middle frame fixing block, resulting in wobbling and play in the flattening of the entire machine. This technical solution uses force transmission to place the stop on the first limiting surface 33 of the rotating swing arm 3 and the second limiting surface 2001 of the main support 200, pressing down the gap and reducing the wobbling and play in the feel of the machine. Therefore, the self-locking flattening angle of this hinge assembly can solve the problem of poor shipment consistency of hinge assemblies, protect the stress-bearing components of the hinge assembly, improve the assembly yield of the whole machine, reduce the screen splitting problem caused by screen arching, and reduce the tactile feedback of wobbling. Compared with the previous structure that used the limiting cooperation between the synchronous swing arm and the gear fixing block, the cooperation between the main bracket 200 and the rotating swing arm 3 can solve the problem of movement wobbling of the hinge assembly, making the movement of the whole machine smoother, reducing the amount of wobbling, and improving the user experience. In destructive tests such as drop rollers, due to the reduction of wobbling, the reliability is higher and it can withstand higher standard tests, thus improving the reliability of the mechanism.

[0066] Regarding the specific numerical range of the first gap G, for example, the range of the first gap G is between 0.01mm and 0.1mm. The first gap allows the maximum flattening angle of the pivot assembly 100 to be between 181° and 190°. A maximum flattening angle exceeding 180° provides a certain amount of redundancy for the installation of the flexible display screen. Therefore, the maximum flattening angle of the pivot assembly 100 is limited by the value of the first gap G, or in other words, the required limiting angle can be quantified by the first gap G between the first limiting surface 33 and the second limiting surface 2001. For example, the size of the first gap G can be determined by the structural design or relative positional layout design of the first limiting surface 33 or the second limiting surface 2001. Here, the first limiting surface 33 is constructed at the second end 32 of the rotating arm 3, and the second limiting surface 2001 is constructed at the end of the main support 200. However, depending on the different designs of the connection between the main support 200 and the rotating arm 3, those skilled in the art know that other parts of the rotating arm 3 and the main support 200 can be used to define the first gap G. In this example, a 1° angle change corresponds approximately to a 0.01mm gap change. Furthermore, if an increased flattening angle is required, the gap can be adjusted to control it between 0.05-0.1mm, ensuring the maximum flattening angle of the shaft assembly 100 is controlled between 185°-190°. Combined with... Figure 3 It can also be seen that this rotating shaft assembly 100 has a flattening self-locking function. Specifically, when the synchronous swing arm 2 is compressed by the spring 9 and the cam plate 8 (the direction of the force is...), Figure 3 (In the downward direction), under the force of the cam, the synchronous swing arm 2 will have an upward force (in) Figure 3 (In the upward direction), the upward pressure will cause the middle frame fixing block 1 to also be subjected to an upward force. The middle frame fixing block 1 synchronously drives the rotating swing arm 3 to rotate along the bottom cover 4. When the rotating swing arm 3 rotates to a certain angle, the first limiting surface 33 of the rotating swing arm 3 will press against the second limiting surface 2001 of the main bracket 200, thereby producing a flattening angle self-locking. This effect of the middle frame fixing block 1 driving the rotating swing arm 3 to rotate (thereby achieving self-locking) can be understood as a seesaw effect.

[0067] Here, for reference Figure 9 It shows a structural schematic diagram of a rotating shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and in conjunction with Figures 6 to 7One connection method between the main support 200 and the rotating arm 3 can be observed. A protrusion 35 is constructed at the second end 32 of the rotating arm 3. This protrusion 35 is positioned outward and at a higher height relative to the first limiting surface 33, allowing it to be inserted into a corresponding slot 2002 located at the end of the main support 200, thus completing the fixed connection between the main support 200 and the rotating arm 3. In the assembled state, the outer surface of the protrusion 35 can be flush with or slightly inward relative to the outer surface of the main support 200, presenting a neat appearance. Furthermore, for the sake of connection stability and uniformity, while still ensuring the simplicity and cost control of the implementation scheme, each rotating arm 3 in this example has two protrusions 35, and four corresponding slots 2002 are respectively provided at both ends of the main support 200, and these four slots 2002 are arranged in a rectangular array. Therefore, it needs to be clarified that… Figure 8 The cross-sectional view is taken from the first limiting surface 33 of the rotating swing arm 3, and does not show the position of the protrusion 35 of the rotating swing arm 3. Furthermore, the structure of the main support 200 and the moving door panel 300 (which will be mentioned later) is not the focus of this disclosure and will not be elaborated upon here. For example, the ends of the main support 200 are also provided with insertion portions 2003 with a cross-section resembling an oblong hole, and hollow protrusions 2004 in the form of annular cylinders between the insertion portions 2003. These are respectively inserted into the corresponding sockets of the bottom cover 4. For example, the hollow protrusions 2004 are connected to the corresponding sockets of the bottom cover 4 by pins 15 or threaded fasteners. For this purpose, one end of the pins 15 or threaded fasteners can be constructed with a cross-shaped or I-shaped groove structure to facilitate installation or removal using appropriate tools.

[0068] In addition, from Figures 1 to 3It can also be clearly seen that the shaft assembly 100 includes a C-ring 16 and a main support fixing block 17. The main support fixing block 17 is arranged between the C-ring 16 and the friction plate 13. The C-ring 16 is located on the outermost side of the entire shaft assembly body. The C-ring 16 can be understood as a buckle, which is snapped onto the drive shaft (described below) in a snap-fit ​​manner. It plays a positioning role and allows the various components connected by the drive shaft to be assembled or brought together as needed. It provides a large fastening force in an economical way and is easy to assemble and disassemble. The main support fixing block 17 is mainly used to connect with the main support 200. For this purpose, the main support fixing block 17 has an oblong through hole 171 in the middle for insertion and connection with the oblong protrusion provided at the corresponding part of the main support 200. Furthermore, the main support fixing block 17 has lugs 172 at both ends, which abut against the C-rings 16 and friction plates 13 located on both sides, respectively, to act as a base and transmit the clamping or compressing force from the C-rings 16. In addition, the main support fixing block 17 has a cylindrical portion 173 in the middle of the side facing the spring 9, which passes through the corresponding through-hole 101 of the spring baffle 10 and into the middle space of the spring 9, so as to guide and regulate the extension and retraction of the spring 9 to at least a certain extent while fixing the spring baffle 10 and the spring 9. Similarly, the second side (the side facing the spring 9) of the cam plate 8 has a cylindrical section 83 with a structure similar to the cylindrical portion 173 in the middle. This cylindrical section 83 passes into the middle space of the opposite end of the spring 9 relative to the cylindrical portion 173, and similarly, it can guide and regulate the extension and retraction of the spring 9 to at least a certain extent while fixing the spring 9. Therefore, it is understandable that a certain gap is left between the cylindrical portion 173 and the cylindrical segment 83 so that the spring 9 will not be hindered by the collision between the cylindrical portion 173 and the cylindrical segment 83 when it is in compression.

[0069] As briefly mentioned above, in order to compactly assemble the shaft assembly 100, the shaft assembly 100 also includes a drive shaft 18. Starting from the end opposite to the rotating rocker arm 3 (let's call this the first end of the drive shaft 18), the drive shaft 18 is longitudinally connected in series with a C-ring 16, a main support fixing block 17, a friction plate 13, a spring baffle 10, a spring 9, a cam plate 8, a synchronous rocker arm 2 (specifically its second end 22), and a gear fixing block 7, with the end near the rotating rocker arm 3 inserted into the bottom cover 4. For this purpose, those skilled in the art will understand that the connected components have corresponding receiving holes to support the connection of the drive shaft 18. These receiving holes can be, for example, the first connecting hole 161 formed by the C-shaped ring 16 due to its C-shaped shape, the second connecting hole 174 opened by the lug 172 of the main support fixing block 17, the third connecting hole 131 opened in the middle of the friction plate 13, the fourth connecting hole 102 opened in the middle of both ends of the spring baffle 10, the middle space of the spring 9 (the spring 9 on both sides in the figure), the fifth connecting hole 84 opened in both ends of the cam plate 8, the sixth connecting hole 224 opened in the second end 22 of the synchronous swing arm 2, the seventh connecting hole 73 opened in both ends of the gear fixing block 7, and the receiving groove opened at both ends on one side of the bottom cover 4, so as to accommodate the end of the drive shaft 18 near the rotating swing arm 3 (let's call it the second end of the drive shaft 18). In addition, it can be seen that the first end of the drive shaft 18 has a larger external dimension than its shaft body, and is larger than the first connecting hole 161 of the C-ring 16. Therefore, when the C-ring 16 is snapped onto the shaft body of the drive shaft 18, it can abut against the first end of the drive shaft 18, keeping its position stable and enabling it to perform its intended function reliably. The drive shaft 18 is generally cylindrical in shape; however, those skilled in the art will know that the shaft body of the drive shaft 18 can be modified in detail according to the specific structure of the components to be connected, including their connecting holes, for example, by adjusting the diameter, adding flanges, chamfering, etc. It should also be mentioned that both ends of the cam plate 8 are simultaneously constructed with a rotary cam 81 and a fifth connecting hole 84. Similarly, the second end 22 of the synchronous rocker arm 2 is simultaneously constructed with a protrusion 222, a concave-convex structure 223, and a sixth connecting hole 224. Thus, one part of the component can achieve multiple functions, making full use of the component material while saving space.

[0070] refer to Figure 10 It shows a structural schematic diagram of a moving door panel of a pivot assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and in conjunction with Figure 1 and Figure 9As can be seen, the pivot assembly 100 further includes a moving door panel 300, which is connected to the synchronous swing arm 2 and the middle frame fixing block 1 respectively. For this purpose, the moving door panel 300 is constructed with a first connecting portion 301, which is generally triangular in shape and has an arc-shaped hollow portion 3011 for the pin 14 to pass through. The first connecting portion 301 is arranged within the gap 26 of the synchronous swing arm 2 and is connected to the first sub-component 24 and the second sub-component 25 of the synchronous swing arm 2 by the pin 14. In the flattened state of the pivot assembly 100, the pin 14 is located at the outward end of the hollow portion 3011; in the folded state of the pivot assembly 100, the pin 14 is located at the inward end of the hollow portion 3011. Thus, the movement of the moving door panel 300 relative to the synchronous swing arm 2 is supported by the displacement of the pin 14 within the hollow portion 3011. Similarly, the moving door panel 300 is also constructed with a second connecting part 302 that is generally triangular in shape, the second connecting part 302 being used to connect with the end of the middle frame fixing block 1 in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the ends of the first part 11 and the second part 12 of the middle frame fixing block 1 along the longitudinal direction are respectively constructed with arc-shaped strip-shaped first guide part 112 and second guide part 123. Correspondingly, the second connecting part 302 is constructed with a slot 3021 that matches the shape of the first and second guide parts. In the flattened state of the pivot assembly 100, the first guide part 112 and the second guide part 123 extend outward from the slot 3021. In the folded state of the pivot assembly 100, the outer ends of the first guide part 112 and the second guide part 123 are flush with the outer end of the second connecting part 302. Thus, through the relative movement of the second connecting part 302 with the first guide part 112 and the second guide part 123, the relative movement of the moving door panel 300 relative to the middle frame fixing block 1 can be supported, thereby realizing the outward movement of the moving door panel 300 from the flattened position to the folded position. It should be understood that, in order to support the connection between the middle frame fixing block 1 and the rotating swing arm 3 via the pin 5, the middle of the second guide portion 123 of the second part 12 of the middle frame fixing block 1 is disconnected, or in other words, it is constructed with a through-hole 1231 to facilitate the passage of the pin 5. It should also be understood that, since the size of the main body of the second guide portion 123 and the slot 3021 of the second connecting portion 302 is larger than the through-hole 1231, and the through-hole 1231 is located in the middle of the second guide portion 123, the presence of the through-hole 1231 will not affect the relative movement between the second connecting portion 302 and the second guide portion 123.

[0071] It is also evident that there are two moving door panels 300, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the main support 200, and two rotating shaft assemblies 100, aligned in the longitudinal direction of the main support 200. For example, the main bodies of the rotating shaft assemblies 100 are respectively arranged at both ends of the moving door panels 300 and the main support 200 in the longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, the moving door panels 300 and the main support 200 are constructed into approximately cuboids, with the two moving door panels 300 located on both sides of the main support 200 in the width direction. Here, the number of rotating shaft assemblies can also be understood as the number of the main bodies of the rotating shaft assemblies 100 (i.e., excluding the main support 200 and the moving door panels 300). This technical solution can support the opening and closing movement of the foldable device relatively evenly and stably.

[0072] According to another aspect of this disclosure, this disclosure also relates to a foldable device, wherein the foldable device includes a flexible display screen, a mid-frame, and any of the aforementioned pivot assembly 100, the mid-frame is fixed to the mid-frame fixing block 1, and the flexible display screen is fixed to the mid-frame and the moving door panel 300.

[0073] For details on the specific implementation methods and technical effects of the foldable device, please refer to the above explanation of the hinge assembly; further details will not be elaborated here. However, it should be understood that two mid-frames can be used, fixed to both sides of the hinge assembly 100, and can also be fixed to the hinge assembly 100, for example, by a threaded fastening connection. The size of the flexible display screen can be designed to be larger than the total size of the mid-frames and the hinge assembly, so that the flexible display screen can completely cover the mid-frames and the hinge assembly, thereby making the entire foldable device more aesthetically pleasing during use. To match the foldability of the hinge assembly, the selected flexible display screen should also be a foldable screen. Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the specific form of the foldable device; terminals such as foldable phones and foldable tablets are all applicable. There is also no particular limitation on the folding method of the foldable device; for example, it can be folded left and right along the longitudinal axis of the device, or it can support folding up and down along the transverse axis of the device, requiring only adaptive adjustments to the component dimensions and other characteristics of the hinge assembly 100.

[0074] It should be understood that all the above preferred embodiments are exemplary and not restrictive, and various modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art to the specific embodiments described above under the concept of this disclosure should be within the legal protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A rotating shaft assembly, wherein, include: A middle frame fixing block, wherein the middle frame fixing block is fixed on the middle frame; A synchronous swing arm, the first end of which is slidably connected to the first part of the middle frame fixing block; A rotating swing arm is rotatably connected at its first end to a second part of the middle frame fixing block, wherein the first part and the second part are adjacent to each other. The bottom cover has a rotation space, and the second end of the rotating swing arm is connected to the rotation space and is capable of rotating within the rotation space. The rotating shaft assembly also includes: Main support, which is connected to the bottom cover; The rotating arm has a first limiting surface, and the main support has a second limiting surface. When the rotating shaft assembly is flattened, a first gap is formed between the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface.

2. The rotating shaft assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: A pin is used to connect the first end of the rotating swing arm to the second part.

3. The rotating shaft assembly according to claim 2, further comprising: The synchronous swing arm has a gear portion at its second end that meshes with the gear. The first end of the gear is disposed on the first side of the gear fixing block. The bottom cover is disposed on the second side of the gear fixing block. The first side of the gear portion has a protrusion, and the first side of the gear fixing block has an abutment portion. During the rotation of the synchronous swing arm, the protrusion portion can abut against the abutment portion to define the flattened position and folded position of the rotating shaft assembly.

4. The rotating shaft assembly according to claim 3, further comprising: A cam plate, wherein the second end of the gear is arranged on the first side of the cam plate, and a rotating cam is also formed on the first side of the cam plate; The second side of the gear portion has a concave-convex structure, and the concave-convex structure and the rotating cam are configured to fit together.

5. The rotating shaft assembly according to claim 4, further comprising: The spring, spring baffle, and friction plate are provided. The second side of the cam plate is supported on the first end of the spring. The second end of the spring abuts against the first side of the spring baffle. The friction plate is arranged on the second side of the spring baffle.

6. The shaft assembly according to claim 5, wherein, In the flattened position and the folded position, the raised and recessed portions of the concave-convex structure and the rotating cam are opposite to each other and the spring is in a natural or compressed state. In the transition position between the flattened position and the folded position, the raised portions of the concave-convex structure and the rotating cam are in contact with each other and the spring is in a compressed state.

7. The shaft assembly according to claim 2, wherein, There are two middle frame fixing blocks and two rotating swing arms, both symmetrically arranged on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly.

8. The shaft assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The first gap is between 0.01mm and 0.1mm, and the first gap allows the maximum flattening angle of the rotating shaft assembly to be between 181° and 190°.

9. The rotating shaft assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: The moving door panel is connected to the synchronous swing arm and the middle frame fixing block respectively.

10. The shaft assembly according to claim 9, wherein, There are two moving door panels, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the main support, and there are two rotating shaft assemblies, aligned in the longitudinal direction of the main support.

11. Foldable devices, wherein, The foldable device includes a flexible display screen, a mid-frame, and a hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mid-frame is fixed to the mid-frame fixing block, and the flexible display screen is fixed to the mid-frame.

12. The foldable device according to claim 11, wherein, The number of middle frames is two, and the two middle frames are fixed on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly.

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