Foldable electronic equipment and detection method of electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a foldable electronic device and a detection method of the electronic device, the electronic device comprises a first shell, a second shell, a flexible circuit board and a detection circuit, the second shell is rotatably connected to the first shell; the flexible circuit board is provided with a bending part, and a strain gauge is arranged on the bending part; the detection circuit is electrically connected with the strain gauge; the bending part is synchronously bent along with the folding of the first shell and the second shell, and the strain gauge deforms along with the bending of the bending part; when the strain gauge deforms, the detection circuit can obtain a changing electric signal. According to the foldable electronic equipment provided by the invention, the strain gauge is arranged on the bending part of the flexible circuit board, the detection circuit can obtain the changing electric signal when the strain gauge deforms, the folding angle of the electronic equipment is obtained through the electric signal, the structure is simple, electromagnetic interference or other interference cannot be generated on the circuit of the electronic equipment, and the folding angle of the electronic equipment can be obtained. And external interference is not easily caused, so that the accuracy of a measurement result can be ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic devices, and in particular to a foldable electronic device and a detection method for the electronic device. Background Art

[0002] With the increasing popularity of electronic devices, foldable electronic devices provide a richer user experience, that is, the foldable connection of two shells provides a solution for miniaturization of electronic devices and large display screens. Among them, the folding angle of the two shells is generally detected by magnets and Hall sensors. However, magnets can easily interfere with surrounding circuits and magnetic devices, and can also magnetize surrounding metal devices, causing the Hall sensor to make incorrect judgments and angle value detection errors. Summary of the invention

[0003] In one aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device, the electronic device comprising a first housing, a second housing, a flexible circuit board, and a detection circuit, wherein the second housing is rotatably connected to the first housing; the flexible circuit board has a bending portion, and a strain gauge is provided on the bending portion; the detection circuit is electrically connected to the strain gauge;

[0004] The bending portion bends synchronously with the folding of the first shell and the second shell, and the strain gauge is deformed with the bending of the bending portion; when the strain gauge is deformed, the detection circuit can obtain a changed electrical signal.

[0005] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides a detection method for an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a first shell, a second shell rotatably connected to the first shell, a flexible circuit board and a detection circuit, wherein the flexible circuit board has a bending portion, a strain gauge is provided on the bending portion, and the detection circuit is electrically connected to the strain gauge; wherein the bending portion bends synchronously with the folding of the first shell and the second shell, and the strain gauge deforms with the bending of the bending portion; when the strain gauge is deformed, the detection circuit can obtain a changed electrical signal; wherein the detection method includes: obtaining the folding angle of the first shell and the second shell according to the electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit.

[0006] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides a detection method for an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a first shell, a second shell rotatably connected to the first shell, a flexible circuit board and a detection circuit, the flexible circuit board having a bending portion, a strain gauge being provided on the bending portion, and the detection circuit being electrically connected to the strain gauge; wherein the bending portion bends synchronously with the folding of the first shell and the second shell, and the strain gauge deforms with the bending of the bending portion; when the strain gauge is deformed, the detection circuit can obtain a changed electrical signal; the detection method comprises: obtaining the internal stress of the bending portion of the flexible circuit board according to the electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit.

[0007] Another aspect of the embodiments of the present application further provides a foldable electronic device, which includes a processor and a memory coupled to each other, wherein the processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory to perform the detection method in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0008] The foldable electronic device and the detection method of the electronic device provided by the present application, by setting a strain gauge on the bending part of the flexible circuit board, the detection circuit can obtain the changing electrical signal when the strain gauge is deformed, so as to obtain the folding angle of the electronic device through the electrical signal, and the structure is simple, and no electromagnetic or other interference will be generated to the circuit of the electronic device, and it is not easily affected by external interference, so the accuracy of its measurement results can be guaranteed. In addition, the change in resistance value based on the above strain gauge can be used to characterize the degree of plastic deformation of the bending part of the flexible circuit board, and then the internal stress of the bending part of the flexible circuit board can be obtained according to the resistance value of the obtained strain gauge, so as to facilitate monitoring the change in internal stress of the bending part of the flexible circuit board during the production process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structural disassembly of the electronic device in the embodiment;

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device in a semi-folded state in the embodiment;

[0013] Figure 4 is a partial structural schematic diagram of an electronic device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0014] Figure 5 is a partial structural schematic diagram of an electronic device when it is unfolded in some other embodiments of the present application;

[0015] Figure 6 is a partial structural schematic diagram of an electronic device when folded in some other embodiments of the present application;

[0016] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of the structure of an electronic device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0017] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a framework of a foldable electronic device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0018] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the structural composition of mobile terminal devices in other embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. It is particularly noted that the following examples are only used to illustrate the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Similarly, the following examples are only some embodiments of the present application rather than all embodiments, and all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in the field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0020] Reference to "embodiments" herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various locations in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0021] As used herein, "electronic devices" (or simply "terminals") include, but are not limited to, devices configured to receive / send communication signals via a wireline connection (e.g., via a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a digital subscriber line (DSL), a digital cable, a direct cable connection, and / or another data connection / network) and / or via a wireless interface (e.g., for a cellular network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), a digital television network such as a DVB-H network, a satellite network, an AM-FM broadcast transmitter, and / or another communication terminal). Communication terminals configured to communicate via a wireless interface may be referred to as "wireless communication terminals", "wireless terminals" or "mobile terminals". Examples of mobile terminals include, but are not limited to, satellite or cellular phones; personal communication system (PCS) terminals that may combine cellular radiotelephones with data processing, fax, and data communication capabilities; PDAs that may include radiotelephones, pagers, Internet / intranet access, web browsers, organizers, calendars, and / or global positioning system (GPS) receivers; and conventional laptop and / or palmtop receivers or other electronic devices that include radiotelephone transceivers. A mobile phone is an electronic device equipped with a cellular communication module.

[0022] It should be noted that the electronic device in the embodiment of the present application is mainly for foldable electronic devices. The foldable electronic device connects two shells foldably so that the electronic device can be miniaturized and the display screen can be enlarged. Taking a mobile phone with a foldable screen as an example, a foldable screen mobile phone has gradually become the development trend of the whole machine in the future. Its main advantage is that it combines entertainment and office work, and is easy to carry, which caters to the current consumer's pursuit of portability and diverse functions. Among them, foldable screen mobile phones generally have folding methods such as inward folding and outward folding. For a foldable screen mobile phone with an inward folding method, after folding, the display surfaces of the flexible screen are close to each other along the folding area, that is, the flexible screen is in a folding form folded inward. For a foldable screen mobile phone with an outward folding method, after folding, the display surfaces of the flexible screen are separated from each other along the folding area, that is, the flexible screen is in a folding form folded outward. The foldable electronic device of the present application may include electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, laptops, and wearable devices. The following is an example of a foldable screen mobile phone.

[0023] See also Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device 10 in some embodiments of the present application, Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure disassembly of the electronic device 10 in the embodiment, Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device 10 in the embodiment in a half-folded state. It should be noted that: all directional indications in this application (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) are only used to explain the direction of the electronic device 10 in a certain posture (such as the attached Figure 1 The relative position relationship and movement of the components under the display are shown. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly. Figure 1 The direction indicated by the arrow X can be simply regarded as the long axis direction of the electronic device. Figure 1 The direction indicated by the arrow Y can be simply regarded as the short axis direction of the electronic device. Figure 1 The direction indicated by the middle arrow Z can be simply regarded as the thickness direction of the electronic device. Generally, the size of the electronic device in the long axis direction is greater than the size in the short axis direction.

[0024] The electronic device 10 may include a flexible screen 11, a hinge assembly 12, a shell assembly 13 and a flexible circuit board 14. Among them, the hinge assembly 12 may mainly cooperate with the shell assembly 13 to support the flexible screen 11; and enable the flexible screen 11 to be folded. For example: the hinge assembly 12 and the shell assembly 13 may be hinged by a hinge so that the two can rotate relative to each other; the flexible screen 11 is connected to the shell assembly 13 by one or a combination of assembly methods such as snap-on, glue-on, and welding, so that the flexible screen 11 and the shell assembly 13 can rotate together relative to the hinge assembly 12, thereby achieving the folding of the flexible screen 11. In other words, the electronic device 10 is configured to be foldable in the above-mentioned long axis direction. Furthermore, structural parts such as a battery module, an antenna module, a camera module, a fingerprint module, etc. may also be provided inside the electronic device 10 (specifically, between the flexible screen 11 and the shell assembly 13) Figures 1 to 3 (not shown in the figure) so that the electronic device 10 can realize other corresponding functions to meet the user's usage needs.

[0025] Further, based on the folding line 100 of the flexible screen 11, that is, the flexible screen 11 can be folded along the folding line 100, the present application can simply divide the flexible screen 11 into a first display unit 201 and a second display unit 202. In other words, the first display unit 201 and the second display unit 202 are an organic whole, and the two can display the screen independently or collaboratively. Among them, the first display unit 201 and the second display unit 202 can be symmetrically structured relative to the folding line 100, that is, the size, shape and other parameters of the two can be the same or similar. Further, the folding angle formed by the first display unit 201 and the second display unit 202 is θ; wherein 0≤θ≤180°. Among them, when the above-mentioned folding angle θ is equal to 0°, it can be considered that the flexible screen 11 is in a folded state; when the above-mentioned folding angle θ is equal to 180°, it can be considered that the flexible screen 11 is in an unfolded state; and when the above-mentioned folding angle θ is between 0° and 180°, it can be considered that the flexible screen 11 is in a semi-folded state. Therefore, the user can fold the flexible screen 11 according to actual usage requirements so that the first display portion 201 and the second display portion 202 are at corresponding folding angles.

[0026] The flexible screen 11 may be a display screen such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or a display screen such as OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), QLED (Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode), or a display screen such as Mini-LED or Micro-LED. This application takes the flexible screen 11 as an OLED display screen as an example for exemplary description.

[0027] In one embodiment, the hinge assembly 12 may include a base 121, a first connecting member 122, and a second connecting member 123. The first connecting member 122 and the second connecting member 123 are respectively located on opposite sides of the base 121 and are movably connected to the base 121, so that the three form a wingspan structure similar to that of a bird, so that the flexible screen 11 can be folded.

[0028] The base 121 can be arranged along the folding line 100, for example, the extension direction of the base 121 is parallel to the direction of the folding line 100, so that the flexible screen 11 can be folded along its folding line 100 before being assembled with structural parts such as the hinge assembly 12 and the shell assembly 13, and can be folded relative to the base 121 along the folding line 100 after being assembled with the above-mentioned structural parts. Furthermore, any rotation of the first connecting member 122 and the second connecting member 123 relative to the base 121 will drive the other to rotate relative to the base 121. In this way, after the first connecting member 122 and the second connecting member 123 are respectively connected to the shell assembly 13, that is, after the flexible screen 11 is assembled with the shell assembly 13, not only can the folding of the flexible screen 11 be symmetrical and synchronous, but it can also facilitate the flexible screen 11 to maintain its angle after folding.

[0029] It should be noted that the first connector 122 described in the embodiment of the present application can be located on one side of the base 121, and the second connector 123 can be located on the other side of the base 121. They can be symmetrical with respect to the base 121, so that the hinge assembly 12 can be installed in the same manner as the flexible screen 11, thereby increasing the assembly efficiency of the electronic device 10. Furthermore, the above connectors can be multiple groups, which are spaced apart on the base 121 in the extension direction of the folding line 100 to increase the reliability of the flexible screen 11 during the folding process.

[0030] It is understandable that the shaft assembly 12 is not limited to the above structure, and may also be other structural components that can be rotated and folded under the action of external force, such as hinge structural components, shaft structural components, etc.

[0031] The housing component 13 has a certain structural strength and is mainly used to protect the electronic device 10. The housing component 13 may be made of glass, metal, hard plastic, etc., or may be made of other electrochromic materials. Furthermore, since the housing component 13 is generally directly exposed to the external environment, the material of the housing component 13 may preferably have certain properties such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and scratch resistance, or a layer of functional material for wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and scratch resistance may be coated on the outer surface of the housing component 13 (that is, the outer surface of the electronic device 10).

[0032] The housing assembly 13 may include a first housing 131 and a second housing 132 that are foldably connected, and the flexible circuit board 14 may electrically connect the circuits in the first housing 131 and the second housing 132, so that the electronic device 10 can realize its corresponding functions, thereby meeting the user's use requirements. The first housing 131 and the second housing 132 may be connected to the hinge assembly 12 respectively, so that the first housing 131 and the second housing 132 can be switched between a folded state and an unfolded state through the hinge assembly 12. The second housing 132 is rotatably connected to the first housing 131, and the first housing 131 and the second housing 132 can rotate relative to each other so that the electronic device 10 can be switched between a folded state and an unfolded state. Furthermore, the folding angle formed by the folding of the first housing 131 and the second housing 132 may be 0 to 180°. When the folding angle θ is equal to 0°, the electronic device 10 is considered to be in a folded state; when the folding angle θ is equal to 180°, the electronic device 10 is considered to be in an unfolded state; and when the folding angle θ is between 0° and 180°, the electronic device 10 is considered to be in a semi-folded state (e.g. Figure 3 hover state shown).

[0033] The first shell 131 can be connected to the first connecting member 122, and the second shell 132 can be connected to the second connecting member 123, so that the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 can rotate relative to the base 121. At this time, the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 are located on both sides of the rotating shaft assembly 12. Since the shell assembly 13 is generally a cavity structure, the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 can be matched to form a containing space ( Figure 1 (not shown) so that when the electronic device 10 is in the above-mentioned unfolded state, the hinge assembly 12 is located in the above-mentioned accommodating space, that is, the hinge assembly 12 is located inside the electronic device 10, so that the hinge assembly 12 is in the above-mentioned unfolded state. Figure 1 The flexible screen 11 is not visible in the electronic device 10, so as to increase the aesthetic appearance and grip feel of the electronic device 10. Furthermore, the flexible screen 11 is connected to the first shell 131 and the second shell 132, and the first shell 131 can correspond to the first display part 201, and the second shell 132 can correspond to the second display part 202, so that the flexible screen 11 can not only be supported by the shell assembly 13 and the hinge assembly 12, but also be foldable.

[0034] It should be noted that: when the electronic device 10 is in the above-mentioned folding state, the flexible screen 11 can be located between the first shell 131 and the second shell 132, that is, the flexible screen 11 can be hidden inside, commonly known as "inner folding"; or the flexible screen 11 can be covered by the first shell 131 and the second shell 132, that is, the flexible screen 11 can be displayed outside, commonly known as "outer folding".

[0035] Of course, in other embodiments, the electronic device 10 may also eliminate the hinge assembly 12, that is, the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 are directly connected and foldable, for example, the connecting portion of the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 may be made of a bendable material.

[0036] In one embodiment, the flexible circuit board 14 may have a bending portion 141, a first end portion 142 and a second end portion 143, wherein the bending portion 141 is disposed between the first end portion 142 and the second end portion 143 and is in a bent state when the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 are folded. That is, the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 is disposed corresponding to the hinge assembly 12 and can be synchronously bent as the electronic device 10 is folded. In this way, when the electronic device 100 is used multiple times, i.e., repeatedly folded, the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 can be synchronously repeatedly bent multiple times. Optionally, the first end portion 142 can be configured to be used to electrically connect the circuit in the first shell 131, and the second end portion 143 can be configured to be used to electrically connect the circuit in the second shell 132, so that the circuits in the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 can be interconnected through the flexible circuit board 14.

[0037] Of course, in other embodiments, the first end 142 can be configured for connecting to the first shell 131, and the second end 143 can be configured for electrically connecting to the circuit within the second shell 132; or, the first end 142 can be configured for electrically connecting to the circuit within the first shell 131, and the second end 143 can be configured for connecting to the second shell 132.

[0038] It can be understood that the flexible printed circuit (FPC) 14 is a highly reliable and extremely flexible printed circuit board made of polyimide or polyester film as a substrate, which generally has the characteristics of high wiring density, light weight, thin thickness, and good bendability. Based on the above characteristics of the flexible circuit board 14, the flexible circuit board 14 generally includes an insulating film, a conductor line, and an adhesive.

[0039] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 1 is a partial structural diagram of the electronic device 10 in some embodiments of the present application. Among them, a strain gauge 145 may be provided on the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14, and when the bending portion 141 is synchronously bent with the folding of the first shell 131 and the second shell 132, the strain gauge 145 is deformed with the bending of the bending portion 141.

[0040] Specifically, the strain gauge 145 may be a foil strain gauge, which has the advantages of good heat dissipation, large allowable current, small lateral effect, long fatigue life, simple production process, and suitability for mass production. When the strain gauge 145 undergoes mechanical deformation under the action of external force, its resistance value will change.

[0041] Furthermore, the strain gauge 145 may be in the shape of a strip, and its length direction may be the long axis direction of the electronic device 10. During the bending process of the bending portion 141, the strain gauge 145 is stretched or contracted synchronously to change its length, thereby changing its resistance value. The relationship between the resistance change and the deformation of the strain gauge 145 is: ΔR / R=Kε, where ΔR / R is the relative change in the resistance of the strain gauge, K is the strain sensitivity coefficient, and ε=ΔL / L is the relative change in the length of the strain gauge.

[0042] In one embodiment, the electronic device 10 may further include a detection circuit 15, which is electrically connected to the strain gauge 145 so that the detection circuit 15 can obtain a changed electrical signal. The electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit 15 may be a current signal or a voltage signal. When the strain gauge 145 is deformed, its resistance value changes accordingly, so that the detection circuit 15 can obtain a changed current signal and / or voltage signal.

[0043] Specifically, the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 is bent synchronously with the folding of the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 , so that the folding angle between the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 can be obtained according to the bending shape of the bending portion 141 .

[0044] In some embodiments, when the electronic device 10 switches from the unfolded state to the folded state, the bending portion 141 switches from the bent state to the extended state; when the electronic device 10 switches from the folded state to the unfolded state, the bending portion 141 switches from the extended state to the bent state.

[0045] It can be understood that the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 can be stretched to an extended state in the folding direction of the electronic device 10, and can be squeezed to a bent state in the unfolding direction of the electronic device 10, and this reciprocating process allows the bending portion 141 to be bent repeatedly.

[0046] At present, the angle measurement device of the folding angle of the foldable electronic device has a complex structure, and the accuracy of the detected folding angle is low. For example, Hall sensor detection requires the installation of a Hall chip and a magnet on the electronic device, which not only has high requirements on the circuit routing of the electronic device, but also generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field will also cause electromagnetic interference to the electronic device. In addition, when the Hall sensor is used for angle measurement, it is easily interfered by the outside world. The foldable electronic device of the present application can realize angle measurement through the design of the above-mentioned detection circuit 15 and the strain gauge 145. It has a simple structure and will not cause any electromagnetic or other interference to the circuit of the electronic device 10. It is not easily affected by external interference, so its measurement result is accurate. Among them, the changing electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit 15 can be configured to characterize the folding angle of the first shell 131 and the second shell 132.

[0047] In addition, after the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 is repeatedly bent, the internal stress of the bending portion 141 will change, which may cause functional failures such as broken wires. Based on this, it is particularly necessary to monitor the internal stress of the bending portion 141, especially to obtain the relevant internal stress of the bending portion 141 before the electronic device 10 leaves the factory to avoid stress risks in advance and prevent defective products from entering the market. The bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 is synchronously bent with the folding of the first shell 131 and the second shell 132, so that the internal stress of the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 can be obtained according to the deformation of the strain gauge 145 on the bending portion 141. Among them, the changing electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit 15 can be configured to characterize the internal stress of the bending portion 141.

[0048] In one embodiment, the detection circuit 15 may include a sampling circuit 151 and a processing circuit 152, wherein the sampling circuit 151 is connected to the strain gauge 145 and the processing circuit 152 respectively to collect the changed electrical signal. The processing circuit 152 is configured to receive the changed electrical signal, and obtain the folding angle between the first shell 131 and the second shell 132 and / or obtain the internal stress of the bending portion 141 according to the electrical signal. The sampling circuit 151 may be a bridge circuit to convert the resistance change of the strain gauge 145 due to deformation into a voltage change signal or a current change signal, and output it to the processing circuit 152. The processing circuit 152 may be an analog-to-digital conversion circuit to convert analog signals such as voltage change signals or current change signals into digital signals, and transmit them to a processor inside the electronic device 10, etc., to obtain the folding angle between the first shell 131 and the second shell 132, and / or obtain the internal stress of the bending portion 141. It can be understood that the sampling circuit 151 generally has an analog signal input interface and an analog signal output interface, wherein the analog signal input interface is connected to the strain gauge 145 , and the analog signal output interface is connected to the processing circuit 152 .

[0049] Optionally, the processing circuit 152 may include an amplifier circuit 1521 and an analog-to-digital conversion circuit 1522. The input end of the amplifier circuit 1521 is connected to the output end of the sampling circuit 151, the output end of the amplifier circuit 1521 is connected to the input end of the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 1522, and the output end of the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 1522 is connected to the processor of the electronic device 10. The amplifier circuit 1521 is configured to amplify the electrical signal collected by the sampling circuit 151 and output it to the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 1522. The analog-to-digital conversion circuit 1522 is configured to convert the electrical signal into a digital signal and transmit it to the processor inside the electronic device 10. Figure 4 As shown, a bridge circuit is used as the sampling circuit 151, which has the advantages of simple structure, high sensitivity, wide measurement range, good linearity and easy temperature compensation. Among them, the sampling circuit 151 can include resistors R1, R2, R3 and R4 connected end to end in sequence, and the two electrode ends of R4 are respectively connected to the two electrode ends of the strain gauge 145, and one electrode end of the bridge DC power supply E is connected between R4 and R1, and the other electrode end is connected between R3 and R2. One electrode end of the processing circuit 152 is connected between R4 and R3, and the other electrode end is connected between R1 and R2. The single-arm bridge output voltage U0 collected by the processing circuit 152 is 1 / 4EKε, where E is the bridge DC power supply voltage; Kε=ΔR / R, where ΔR / R is the relative change of the resistance of the strain gauge, and K is the strain sensitivity coefficient. Furthermore, when the strain gauge 145 is deformed so that the resistance value changes, the single-arm bridge output voltage U0 collected by the processing circuit 152 will change accordingly, thereby obtaining the folding angle and / or the internal stress of the bending portion of the electronic device. In addition, in some embodiments, in order to improve the output sensitivity, the sampling circuit 151 can also be a half-bridge or full-bridge circuit, which will not be described in detail.

[0050] It can be understood that the present application sets a strain gauge on the bending portion of the flexible circuit board so that the deformation of the strain gauge, that is, the change in resistance, can characterize the folding angle of the electronic device and / or the internal stress of the bending portion of the flexible circuit board. Among them, when the deformation of the strain gauge is configured to characterize the folding angle of the electronic device, compared with the technical solution of using a Hall sensor for angle measurement, the foldable electronic device of the present application can perform angle measurement through the above solution, and its structure is simple, and will not generate any electromagnetic or other interference to the circuit of the electronic device 10, and is not easily affected by external interference, so the accuracy of its measurement results can be guaranteed. When the deformation of the strain gauge is configured to characterize the internal stress of the bending portion of the flexible circuit board, the internal stress of the bending portion of the flexible circuit board can be monitored to avoid the outflow of defective products generated during the production stage.

[0051] See also Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5is a partial structural schematic diagram of the electronic device 10 when it is unfolded in some other embodiments of the present application, Figure 6 1 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the electronic device 10 when folded in other embodiments of the present application. Among them, the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 can be arranged across the base 121 of the hinge assembly 12, the first end 142 of the flexible circuit board 14 can be connected to the first shell 131, and the second end 143 can be connected to the second shell 132. Optionally, the first end 142 is electrically connected to the circuit in the first shell 131, and / or the second end 143 is electrically connected to the circuit in the second shell 132. Among them, the first end 142 can be fixedly connected to the circuit in the first shell 131 through a connector such as a board-to-board connector and a spring pin connector; the second end 143 can be fixedly connected to the circuit in the second shell 132 through a connector such as a board-to-board connector and a spring pin connector. Optionally, the first end 142 can be connected to the circuit in the first shell 131 through a wire; the second end 143 can be connected to the circuit in the second shell 132 through a wire.

[0052] In one embodiment, the strain gauge 145 is disposed on the bent portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14, and the first housing 131 and the second housing 132 of the electronic device 10 rotate relative to each other in the folded state (eg, Figure 6 ) and expanded state (as shown Figure 5 When switching between the two modes (as shown), the strain gauge 145 is deformed so that its curvature changes accordingly.

[0053] like Figure 6 As shown, when the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the strain gauge 145 has a first curvature. Figure 5 As shown, when the electronic device 10 is in the unfolded state, the strain gauge 145 has a second curvature. The first curvature is smaller than the second curvature. It can be understood that the curvature of the strain gauge 145 refers to the degree of curvature of the strain gauge 145 in the length direction, that is, the ratio of the chord height of the strain gauge 145 in the length direction to the length of the strain gauge 145 is its curvature.

[0054] In one embodiment, the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 may include a connecting portion 1410, and a first bending portion 1411 and a second bending portion 1412 connected to opposite ends of the connecting portion 1410. Specifically, the two ends of the first bending portion 1411 are respectively connected to the first end 142 and the connecting portion 1410, that is, the first bending portion 1411 is disposed between the first end 142 and the connecting portion 1410; the two ends of the second bending portion 1412 are respectively connected to the second end 143 and the connecting portion 1410, that is, the second bending portion 1412 is disposed between the second end 143 and the connecting portion 1410.

[0055] When the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412 are arranged opposite to each other. Among them, the strain gauge 145 can be arranged on the first bending portion 1411 and / or the second bending portion 1412. Optionally, one or more strain gauges 145 can be provided, which can be flexibly selected according to actual needs. For example, two strain gauges 145 can be provided, and the two strain gauges 145 can be provided on the first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412, respectively. For another example, one strain gauge 145 can be provided, and the strain gauge 145 can be provided on the first bending portion 1411 or the second bending portion 1412. It can be understood that the number of strain gauges 145 can be flexibly selected according to actual needs.

[0056] The first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412 can be switched between a bent state and an extended state. Figure 5 As shown, when the electronic device 10 is in the unfolded state, the first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412 are in a bent state; Figure 6 As shown, when the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412 are in an extended state.

[0057] It can be understood that when the first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412 are switched between the bending state and the extended state, the strain gauge 145 can be driven to switch between the bending state and the extended state simultaneously. When the first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412 are in the bending state, the strain gauge 145 is in the bending state synchronously and has the second curvature. When the first bending portion 1411 and the second bending portion 1412 are in the extended state, the strain gauge 145 is in the extended state synchronously and has the first curvature. The first curvature is smaller than the second curvature.

[0058] See also Figure 7 , Figure 7 1 is a schematic block diagram of the structure of the electronic device 10 in some embodiments of the present application. The electronic device 10 may include a circuit board 16 disposed in the first housing 131 or the second housing 132, and the circuit board 16 is configured to integrate the above-mentioned detection circuit 15. In other words, the detection circuit 15 is disposed on the circuit board 16 and is electrically connected to the strain gauge 145. Among them, the circuit board 16 may be a circuit board integrated with one or more of a processing circuit, an audio circuit, a power circuit, a switching circuit, a filtering circuit, a signal amplification circuit, etc.

[0059] Specifically, the sampling circuit 151 and the processing circuit 152 can be integrated on the circuit board 16, and the sampling circuit 151 can be electrically connected to the strain gauge 145 through a connector such as a board-to-board connector, a spring pin connector, or a conductor line. Of course, in other embodiments, the processing circuit 152 can be integrated on the circuit board 16, and the sampling circuit 151 can be integrated on the flexible circuit board 14, and the sampling circuit 151 can be electrically connected to the processing circuit 152 through a connector such as a board-to-board connector, a spring pin connector, or a conductor line.

[0060] Further, when the electronic device 10 is folded, the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 is bent, and the strain gauge 145 is bent synchronously. The sampling circuit 151 can collect electrical signals before and after the strain gauge 145 is bent, and can obtain the change of the folding angle of the electronic device 10 and / or the change of the internal stress of the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 according to the electrical signal collected by the sampling circuit 151 before the strain gauge 145 is bent and the electrical signal collected by the sampling circuit 151 after the strain gauge 145 is bent. It can be understood that the change of the resistance value of the strain gauge 145 before and after the bending can be configured to characterize the change of the folding angle of the electronic device 10 and / or the change of the internal stress of the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14.

[0061] In addition, the sampling circuit 151 can also collect electrical signals during the bending process of the strain gauge 145, and can obtain the folding angle of the electronic device 10 and / or the internal stress of the bending portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 based on the electrical signals collected by the sampling circuit 151.

[0062] When the electronic device 10 is gradually switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the length of the strain gauge 145 gradually increases, and the resistance value of the strain gauge 145 gradually increases, that is, the change in the folding angle of the electronic device 10 is inversely related to the change in the length of the strain gauge 145. When the electronic device 10 is gradually switched from the folded state to the unfolded state, the length of the strain gauge 145 gradually decreases, and the resistance value of the strain gauge 145 gradually decreases.

[0063] When the electronic device 10 is gradually switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the length of the strain gauge 145 gradually increases, and the resistance of the strain gauge 145 gradually increases. At this time, the internal stress of the bent portion 141 gradually increases, that is, the change in the internal stress of the bent portion 141 of the flexible circuit board 14 is positively correlated with the change in the length of the strain gauge 145. When the electronic device 10 is gradually switched from the folded state to the unfolded state, the length of the strain gauge 145 gradually decreases, and the resistance of the strain gauge 145 gradually decreases. At this time, the internal stress of the bent portion 141 gradually decreases.

[0064] The foldable electronic device provided in the embodiment of the present application, by arranging a strain gauge on the bending portion of the flexible circuit board, can obtain a changing electrical signal when the strain gauge is deformed, so as to obtain the folding angle of the electronic device and / or the internal stress of the bending portion through the electrical signal. The structure is simple, and will not generate any electromagnetic or other interference to the circuit of the electronic device, and is not easily affected by external interference, thereby ensuring the accuracy of its measurement results.

[0065] Based on the structural setting of the above-mentioned foldable electronic device, the embodiment of the present application further provides a detection method for an electronic device, which can be used for the above-mentioned electronic device. Among them, the detection method includes: obtaining the folding angle of the first shell and the second shell according to the electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit. Specifically, the correspondence between the change in the resistance value of the strain gauge and the folding angle of the electronic device can be established in advance. When it is necessary to obtain the folding angle of the electronic device, the detection circuit transmits the collected changed electrical signal to the processor of the electronic device, and the processor can find the folding angle corresponding to the electrical signal.

[0066] Furthermore, the sampling circuit can collect the resistance change signal of the strain gauge, and transmit the resistance change signal to the processing circuit to convert it into a digital signal, and further transmit the digital signal to the processor, and the processor obtains the folding angle of the electronic device based on the received digital signal.

[0067] It can be understood that during the folding process of the electronic device, the resistance of the strain gauge increases or decreases, thereby establishing a one-to-one correspondence between the resistance of the strain gauge and the folding angle of the electronic device, and then the folding angle can be obtained by obtaining the resistance of the strain edge in real time.

[0068] In addition, an embodiment of the present application also provides a detection method for an electronic device, which can also be used for the above-mentioned electronic device. Among them, the detection includes: obtaining the internal stress of the bending portion of the flexible circuit board according to the electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit. Specifically, the correspondence between the resistance change of the strain gauge and the internal stress of the bending portion can be established in advance. When it is necessary to obtain the internal stress of the bending portion, the detection circuit transmits the collected changing electrical signal to the processor of the electronic device, and the processor can find the internal stress corresponding to the electrical signal.

[0069] Furthermore, the sampling circuit can collect the resistance change signal of the strain gauge, and transmit the resistance change signal to the processing circuit to convert it into a digital signal, and further transmit the digital signal to the processor, and the processor obtains the internal stress of the bending part based on the received digital signal.

[0070] It can be understood that during the folding process of the electronic device, the bending part bends synchronously, so that the resistance value of the strain gauge increases or decreases gradually, thereby establishing a one-to-one correspondence between the resistance value of the strain gauge and the internal stress of the bending part, and then the internal stress of the bending part can be obtained by obtaining the resistance value of the strain edge in real time.

[0071] See also Figure 8 , Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a framework of a foldable electronic device 10 in some embodiments of the present application. The electronic device 10 may include a processor 60 and a memory 70 coupled to each other.

[0072] The processor 60 may be a processing unit that integrates one or more of the processing circuits and sampling circuits of the aforementioned embodiments, and may be configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory 70 to execute the detection method described in the aforementioned embodiments. The processor 60 controls the memory 70 and itself to implement the steps of any embodiment of the aforementioned detection method.

[0073] The memory 70 stores program instructions 701 that can be executed by the processor 60, and the program instructions 701 are used to implement the steps in the embodiments of any of the above detection methods. The memory 70 can be a medium that can store the program instructions 701, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, or can also be a server that stores the program instructions 701. The server can send the stored program instructions 701 to other devices for execution, or can also execute the stored program instructions 701 by itself.

[0074] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed methods and devices can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device implementation described above is only schematic. For example, the division of modules or units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0075] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0076] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0077] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the various implementation methods of the present application.

[0078] The aforementioned storage media include various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0079] In addition, the present application also provides a mobile terminal device, see Fig. 9 , Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the mobile terminal device 900 in other embodiments of the present application. The mobile terminal device 900 can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable device, etc. The embodiment of the present application is illustrated by taking a mobile phone as an example. The structure of the mobile terminal device 900 can generally include an RF circuit 910, a memory 920, an input unit 930, a display unit 940 (i.e., the flexible screen 11 in the above embodiment), a sensor 950, an audio circuit 960, a wifi module 970, a processor 980, and a power supply 990. Among them, the RF circuit 910, the memory 920, the input unit 930, the display unit 940, the sensor 950, the audio circuit 960, and the wifi module 970 are respectively connected to the processor 980; the power supply 990 is used to provide power to the entire mobile terminal device 900.

[0080] Specifically, the RF circuit 910 is used to receive and send signals; the memory 920 is used to store data instruction information; the input unit 930 is used to input information, which may specifically include a touch panel 931 and other input devices 932 such as operation buttons; the display unit 940 may include a display panel 941 (i.e., the flexible screen 11 in the above embodiment); the sensor 950 includes an infrared sensor, a laser sensor, a pressure sensor and a position sensor in the above embodiment, etc., for detecting user approach signals, distance signals, pressure signals and position signals; the speaker 961 and the microphone (or microphone) 962 are connected to the processor 980 through the audio circuit 960 for receiving and sending sound signals; the wifi module 970 is used to receive and transmit wifi signals, and the processor 980 (which can be understood as the processor 85 in the above embodiment) is used to process data information of the mobile terminal device. It can be understood that the technical features not fully described in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the specific description in the above embodiments, so the embodiments of the present application will not be repeated.

[0081] The foldable electronic device provided in the embodiment of the present application, by setting a strain gauge on the bending part of the flexible circuit board, the detection circuit can obtain a changing electrical signal when the strain gauge is deformed, so as to obtain the folding angle of the electronic device through the electrical signal. The structure is simple, and no electromagnetic or other interference will be generated to the circuit of the electronic device, and it is not easily affected by external interference, so the accuracy of its measurement results can be guaranteed. In addition, the change in resistance value based on the above strain gauge can be used to characterize the degree of plastic deformation of the bending part of the flexible circuit board, and then the internal stress of the bending part of the flexible circuit board can be obtained according to the resistance value of the obtained strain gauge, so as to facilitate monitoring the change in internal stress of the bending part during the production process of the electronic device.

[0082] It should be noted that the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0083] The above descriptions are only some embodiments of the present application, and do not limit the protection scope of the present application. Any equivalent device or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the present application specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly used in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises: a first shell; a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing; A flexible circuit board having a bending portion, wherein a strain gauge is provided on the bending portion; and A detection circuit, electrically connected to the strain gauge; The bending portion bends synchronously with the folding of the first shell and the second shell, and the strain gauge is deformed with the bending of the bending portion; when the strain gauge is deformed, the detection circuit can obtain a changed electrical signal.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrical signal is configured to characterize a folding angle between the first shell and the second shell, and / or the electrical signal is configured to characterize an internal stress of the bending portion.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first shell and the second shell can rotate relative to each other so that the electronic device can be switched between a folded state and an unfolded state; in the folded state, the strain gauge has a first curvature; in the unfolded state, the strain gauge has a second curvature; wherein the first curvature is smaller than the second curvature.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bending portion includes a connecting portion, and a first bending portion and a second bending portion connected at opposite ends of the connecting portion; in the folded state, the first bending portion and the second bending portion are arranged opposite to each other; wherein the strain gauge is arranged on the first bending portion and / or the second bending portion.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that: In the folded state, the first bending portion and the second bending portion are in an extended state; in the unfolded state, the first bending portion and the second bending portion are in a bent state.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electronic device further includes a circuit board disposed in the first housing or the second housing, and the detection circuit is disposed on the circuit board and is electrically connected to the strain gauge.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The detection circuit includes a sampling circuit and a processing circuit. The sampling circuit is connected to the strain gauge and the processing circuit respectively to collect the changing electrical signal. The processing circuit is configured to receive the changing electrical signal and obtain the folding angle of the first shell and the second shell and / or obtain the internal stress of the bending portion according to the electrical signal.

8. A method for detecting an electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises a first housing, a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing, a flexible circuit board and a detection circuit, wherein the flexible circuit board has a bending portion, a strain gauge is provided on the bending portion, and the detection circuit is electrically connected to the strain gauge; wherein the bending portion is synchronously bent with the folding of the first housing and the second housing, and the strain gauge is deformed with the bending of the bending portion; when the strain gauge is deformed, the detection circuit can obtain a changed electrical signal; Wherein, the detection method comprises: obtaining the folding angle of the first shell and the second shell of the letter according to the electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit.

9. A method for detecting an electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises a first housing, a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing, a flexible circuit board and a detection circuit, wherein the flexible circuit board has a bending portion, a strain gauge is provided on the bending portion, and the detection circuit is electrically connected to the strain gauge; wherein the bending portion is synchronously bent with the folding of the first housing and the second housing, and the strain gauge is deformed with the bending of the bending portion; when the strain gauge is deformed, the detection circuit can obtain a changed electrical signal; The detection method includes: obtaining the internal stress of the bending portion of the flexible circuit board according to the electrical signal obtained by the detection circuit.

10. A foldable electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device includes a processor and a memory coupled to each other, wherein: The processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the detection method according to claim 8 or 9.

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