Positioning mechanism, flexible circuit board, assembly and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a positioning mechanism, a flexible circuit board, an assembly and electronic equipment. According to the scheme, the positioning mechanism comprises a positioning module and a positioning module, the positioning mechanism comprises at least two positioning pieces which are arranged on the base body at intervals in the length direction of the base body; the limiting piece is arranged between the two positioning pieces, the positioning pieces are provided with clamping structures, the two ends of the limiting piece extend to the clamping structures corresponding to the two positioning pieces respectively, the clamping structures are used for limiting the limiting piece to move in the thickness direction of the base body, and a flexible circuit board is arranged between the limiting piece and the base body. Compared with the prior art, according to the scheme, the flexible circuit board is arranged between the limiting piece and the base body, movement of the limiting piece in the thickness direction of the base body is limited through the clamping structure, and installation is simplified. Compared with the prior art, a cover plate does not need to be arranged, parts stacked in the Z direction are few, the occupied volume of the positioning mechanism is reduced, and the structure of the positioning mechanism is optimized.

Description

Positioning mechanism, flexible circuit board, component and electronic equipment

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on November 14, 2022, with application number 202211418193.3 and invention name “A positioning mechanism, flexible circuit board, component and electronic device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic equipment, and in particular to a positioning mechanism, a flexible circuit board, a component, and an electronic device. Background Art

[0003] At present, when flexible printed circuits (FPCs) are used in foldable screen mobile phones, the FPCs are usually fixed on the shaft cover of the foldable screen mobile phone by setting a positioning mechanism. However, since the current positioning mechanism has more Z-direction stacking structures, it occupies more space.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present application provides a positioning mechanism, a flexible circuit board, a component, and an electronic device to optimize the structure of the positioning mechanism.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] The first aspect of the present application provides a positioning mechanism for being arranged on a base; the positioning mechanism includes: at least two positioning members, which are arranged on the base at intervals along the length direction of the base; a limiting member, the limiting member is arranged between the two positioning members, the positioning member is provided with a snap-fit ​​structure, the two ends of the limiting member respectively extend to the snap-fit ​​structures corresponding to the two positioning members, the snap-fit ​​structure is used to limit the movement of the limiting member in the thickness direction of the base, and a flexible circuit board is arranged between the limiting member and the base. Compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned scheme of the example of the present application is that the flexible circuit board is arranged between the limiting member and the base, and the movement of the limiting member in the thickness direction of the base is limited by the snap-fit ​​structure, thereby simplifying the installation. Compared with the prior art, since there is no need to set a cover plate, there are fewer components stacked in the Z direction, which reduces the occupied volume of the positioning mechanism and optimizes the structure of the positioning mechanism.

[0008] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the undercut includes a slot, the engaging structure includes a slot, and both ends of the position-limiting member extend into the slots corresponding to the two positioning members. By providing the slots to position the position-limiting member, the slots have the characteristics of a simple structure, convenient processing, and easy molding.

[0009] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the slot is through-through along the width direction of the base body. As one direction of the slot, the slot is designed to be through-through for easy processing.

[0010] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the positioning member includes a positioning post, one end of which is fixed to the base, and the other end of which is provided with a protrusion extending toward the limiting member;

[0011] The protrusion, the positioning column and the base form a clamping groove.

[0012] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the slot has opposing sidewalls along the width of the base. When the slot has opposing sidewalls, when the position-limiting member is subjected to an external force in the width direction of the base, the sidewalls can abut against the position-limiting member's raised portion, thereby limiting movement in the width direction. This further acts as a position-limiting mechanism, increasing space utilization and extending the widthwise positioning length.

[0013] In some possible embodiments of the present application, notches are respectively provided at two ends of the limiting member along the length direction of the base, and the positioning member corresponding to each notch is at least partially located in the notch.

[0014] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the end of the stopper extending to the positioning member includes two spaced-apart stoppers, with a gap formed between the two stoppers; the gap includes a raised portion protruding toward the slot. The provision of the gap allows for position limiting in both the width and length directions of the base, further optimizing the structure.

[0015] In some possible embodiments of the present application, there is a positioning gap between the notch and the portion of the positioning member located within the notch. By setting the positioning gap, the positioning accuracy can be ensured when the notch is assembled on the positioning post.

[0016] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the positioning gap ranges from 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm.

[0017] In some possible embodiments of the present application, there is an avoidance gap between the protrusion and the slot in the width direction of the base body. By setting the avoidance gap, the problem of limiting the assembly of the gap due to the cooperation between the protrusion and the slot is reduced.

[0018] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the avoidance gap is larger than the positioning gap. By setting the avoidance gap larger than the positioning gap, the position limiting member can be installed in place without tilting.

[0019] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the notches at both ends of the stopper have different shapes, and the contour of the positioning member within the notch matches the contour of the notch. By providing different cross-sectional shapes of the positioning posts, error prevention can be achieved, i.e., the risk of incorrect installation of the stopper can be reduced.

[0020] In some possible embodiments of the present application, one of the two notches is a rectangular structure, and the other is a trapezoidal structure. The rectangular and trapezoidal structures facilitate machining, optimize tool paths, and reduce machining time.

[0021] Some possible embodiments of the present application further include a backing adhesive disposed between the substrate and the flexible circuit board. The backing adhesive can further position the flexible circuit board in the thickness direction while providing a certain insulating property.

[0022] In some possible embodiments of the present application, a protective member is further provided in the width direction of the substrate. The protective member can prevent burrs, sharp edges, and other processing defects on the substrate edge from scratching the FPC.

[0023] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the protective element is a sheet-like structure.

[0024] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the protective member comprises Teflon Mylar. When the protective member is made of Teflon Mylar, it can prevent burrs, sharp edges, and other processing defects on the substrate edge from scratching the FPC.

[0025] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the position-limiting member includes a reinforcing member disposed on the circuit board body of the flexible circuit board. Thus, in this embodiment, the position-limiting member includes the reinforcing member on the flexible circuit board. Therefore, the reinforcing member on the flexible circuit board itself can achieve the Z-axis position-limiting function, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the flexible circuit board during positioning and optimizing the structure.

[0026] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the reinforcement member includes a steel reinforcement sheet.

[0027] A second aspect of the present application provides a flexible circuit board assembly, comprising the positioning mechanism as described above, and further comprising a base and a flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board is arranged on the base through the positioning mechanism.

[0028] A third aspect of the present application provides a flexible circuit board, comprising a circuit board body and at least one reinforcing member as described above, wherein the reinforcing member is disposed on a surface of the circuit board body.

[0029] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides an electronic device, which includes a first shell, a second shell and a rotating shaft connecting the first shell and the second shell. The electronic device also includes a flexible circuit board assembly as described above, and the two ends of the flexible circuit board extend into the first shell and the second shell respectively.

[0030] Some possible embodiments of the present application further include a shaft cover, which is arranged on the end surface opposite to the folded area of ​​the rotating shaft.

[0031] In some possible embodiments of the present application, at least two positioning members are spaced apart along the length direction of the shaft cover and disposed on the end surface of the shaft cover close to the rotating shaft.

[0032] In some possible embodiments of the present application, the stopper is located on a surface of the flexible circuit board away from the shaft cover. By placing the stopper on the upper surface of the flexible circuit board, when the FPC is subjected to external force, the raised portion abuts against the undercut top wall, thereby reducing the risk of cracking between the stopper and the flexible circuit board.

[0033] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides an electronic device, comprising a housing, wherein the interior of the housing comprises at least one flexible circuit board assembly as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without any creative work.

[0035] FIG1a is a schematic diagram of a foldable screen mobile phone in an unfolded state provided by the prior art;

[0036] FIG1b is a schematic diagram of a foldable screen mobile phone in a folded state provided by the prior art;

[0037] FIG1c is a diagram showing an application scenario of an FPC in a foldable screen mobile phone provided by the prior art;

[0038] FIG2 is an assembly perspective view of an FPC, a positioning mechanism, and a shaft cover provided by the prior art;

[0039] FIG3 is an exploded view of an FPC, a positioning mechanism, and a shaft cover provided by the prior art;

[0040] FIG4 is a diagram showing an application scenario of an FPC in a foldable screen mobile phone provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the AA section in FIG4 ;

[0042] FIG6 is a perspective view of an FPC fixed to a shaft cover via a positioning mechanism in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG7 is an exploded view of the FPC, positioning mechanism and shaft cover in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG8 is a front view of an FPC fixed to a shaft cover by a positioning mechanism in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the BB section in FIG8 ;

[0046] FIG10 is a perspective schematic diagram of a shaft cover, a positioning mechanism, and a reinforcing member provided in an embodiment of the present application from a certain perspective;

[0047] FIG11 is a perspective schematic diagram of the shaft cover, positioning mechanism, and reinforcement member provided in an embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0048] FIG12 is a schematic front view of a shaft cover, a positioning mechanism, and a reinforcing member provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of the CC section in FIG12;

[0050] FIG14a is an enlarged schematic diagram of the installation process of part D in FIG13;

[0051] FIG14 b is an enlarged schematic diagram of portion D in FIG13 ;

[0052] FIG15 is a perspective view of an FPC in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG16 is a front view of an FPC in an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the EE cross section in FIG16 .

[0055] Among them, 1 is the first shell, 2 is the second shell, 3 is the shaft cover, 4 is the FPC, and 5 is the positioning mechanism; 41 is the first FPC, 42 is the second FPC, 43 is the first reinforcement, 44 is the second reinforcement, 43a is the first end, 43b is the second end, 43a1 is the first limiting part, 43a2 is the first protrusion, 43a3 is the second limiting part, 43b is the first end, 43b is the second end, 43b1 is the third limiting part, 43b2 is the second protrusion, 43b3 is the fourth limiting part, 44a is the first end, 44b is the second end, 51 is the first positioning column, 52 is the second positioning column, 53 is the third positioning column, 54 is the fourth positioning column, 55 is the first adhesive, 56 is the second adhesive, 57 is the first protective part, and 58 is the second protective part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The terms "first", "second" and "third" in the specification, claims and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects rather than to limit a specific order.

[0057] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be interpreted as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0058] Taking a mobile phone as an example, Figure 1a shows a foldable screen mobile phone in the unfolded state, while Figure 1b shows a foldable screen mobile phone in the folded state. The foldable screen mobile phone shown in the figure includes a first housing 01 and a second housing 02, which can be unfolded or folded around a hinge assembly 03.

[0059] As shown in Figure 1c, in foldable phones, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) is typically used to connect the main circuit board 011 and the auxiliary circuit board 021 on either side of the hinge assembly 03 to facilitate signal and energy transmission. During installation, the FPC 04 requires a positioning mechanism to secure it to the hinge assembly 03. Because positioning mechanism 05 requires space, and hinge assembly 03 itself requires space to function and maintain its strength, it is crucial to design the FPC's positioning mechanism to be as small as possible.

[0060] It should be noted that this diagram only illustrates the general positional relationship between the first housing 01, second housing 02, hinge assembly 03, FPC 04, and positioning mechanism 05 in the foldable phone. The first housing 01 and second housing 02 are located on either side of hinge assembly 03. One end of FPC 04 is connected to the main circuit board 011 inside first housing 01, and the other end is connected to the auxiliary circuit board 021 inside second housing 02. The middle of FPC 04 is fixed to the shaft cover 031 of hinge assembly 03 via positioning mechanism 05.

[0061] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the FPC 04 secured to the shaft cover 031 via a positioning mechanism 05 in the prior art; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the FPC 04, positioning mechanism 05, and shaft cover 031 in the prior art. Positioning mechanism 05 shown in the figure comprises a bracket 051, a cover plate 052, adhesive 053, and a pressure block 055. Bracket 051 is positioned below the FPC 04 and adhered to the shaft cover 03 via adhesive 053; cover plate 052 is positioned above the FPC 04 and screwed to the shaft cover 031. To enhance the connection strength between cover plate 052 and shaft cover 031, pressure blocks 055 are provided at each end of cover plate 052, further securing the cover plate to the shaft cover 031. The combined action of adhesive 053 and cover plate 052 achieves Z-axis fixation and positioning of the FPC 04. The notch 041a at the first end and the notch 041b at the second end of the reinforcing piece 041 of FPC04 cooperate with the positioning column 054 on the shaft cover 031 to achieve the fixation and positioning of FPC04 in the X and Y directions. Among them, the X, Y and Z directions are perpendicular to each other. However, when installing the positioning mechanism 05 of the above structure, both the cover plate 052 and the pressure block 055 need to be connected to the shaft cover 031 by setting screws. The connection between the pressure block 055 and the shaft cover 031 requires more installation steps and requires an additional structure for cooperating with the screws. In addition, the structures stacked in the Z direction include the adhesive 053, the FPC and the cover plate 052, or the bracket 051, the FPC and the cover plate 052, that is, there are more structures stacked in the Z direction, which occupy the Z direction space, which is inconsistent with the requirement of miniaturization design of the positioning mechanism 05.

[0062] In view of this, the present application provides an electronic device, an FPC assembly, an FPC, and a positioning mechanism to optimize the structure.

[0063] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, Figure 4 shows an application scenario of an FPC in a foldable screen mobile phone. This figure only illustrates the general positional relationship between the first housing 1, the second housing 2, the hinge assembly 3, the FPC 4, and the positioning mechanism 5 in the foldable screen mobile phone. The first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are located on either side of the hinge assembly 3; one end of the FPC 4 bypasses the main circuit board 11 located inside the first housing 1 and is electrically connected, while the other end of the FPC 4 bypasses the auxiliary circuit board 21 located inside the second housing 2 and is electrically connected. The middle part of the FPC 4 is fixed to the hinge assembly 3 via the positioning mechanism 5.

[0064] The portion of FPC 4 located in the first housing 1 is fixed to the middle frame 12 of the first housing 1, and the portion of FPC 4 located in the second housing 2 is fixed to the middle frame 22 of the second housing 2. Middle frame 12 is used to form a mounting plate or mounting groove in the first housing 1, and middle frame 22 is used to form a mounting plate or mounting groove in the second housing 1.

[0065] The rotating shaft assembly 3 includes a rotating shaft 32, wherein the rotating shaft 32 is a core component for realizing the expansion or folding of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2. One end face of the rotating shaft 32 has a folding area 32a, and the rotating shaft 32 can be folded or expanded around the folding area 32a. The rotating shaft assembly 3 also includes a shaft cover 31, and the shaft cover 31 is arranged on the end face of the rotating shaft 32 opposite to the folding area 32a. In the example of the present application, the positioning mechanism 5 can be arranged on the rotating shaft 32 of the rotating shaft assembly 3, and can also be arranged on the shaft cover 31 of the rotating shaft assembly 3, and can also be arranged on the middle frame 12, and can also be arranged on the middle frame 22. In the present application, the shaft cover 31, the rotating shaft 32 and / or the middle frame 12, 22 used to set the positioning mechanism 5 can be understood as a base, and the positioning mechanism 5 can be used to fix the FPC at a specific position. This application focuses on describing the structure in which the positioning mechanism 5 is arranged on the shaft cover 31.

[0066] It should be noted that the figure shows a case where there are two FPCs 4, including a first FPC 41 and a second FPC 42. Of course, there can also be only one FPC 4.

[0067] The foldable screen mobile phone of the present application is a type of electronic device. The above-mentioned electronic device can also be a non-foldable screen mobile phone, a tablet computer (portable Android device, PAD), a desktop, a laptop, a notebook computer, an ultra-mobile personal computer (Ultra-mobile Personal Computer, UMPC), a handheld computer, a netbook, a personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA), a wearable electronic device and a smart watch, etc., a mobile terminal device with a battery. The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the form of the electronic device.

[0068] Refer to Figure 6, which is a three-dimensional view showing the FPC secured to the shaft cover via a positioning mechanism in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the FPC, positioning mechanism, and shaft cover in an embodiment of the present application. The illustrated FPCs 4 are two in number, comprising a first FPC 41 and a second FPC 42. The first FPC 41 has a first reinforcing member 43, while the second FPC 42 has a second reinforcing member 44. The first reinforcing member 43 is a built-in structure of the first FPC 41 to enhance the mechanical strength of the local mounting area of ​​the first FPC 41. The second reinforcing member 44 is a built-in structure of the second FPC 42 to enhance the mechanical strength of the local mounting area of ​​the second FPC 42.

[0069] To reduce the risk of cracking between the FPC and the reinforcement, in some examples of the present application, the first reinforcement 43 is disposed on the surface of the first FPC 41 away from the shaft cover 31. When the first FPC 41 is subjected to an external force, the first reinforcement 43 is first subjected to the force, thereby reducing the risk of cracking between the first FPC 41 and the first reinforcement 43. Similarly, the second reinforcement 44 is disposed on the surface of the second FPC 42 away from the shaft cover 31.

[0070] The illustrated positioning mechanism 5 includes a first positioning column 51, a second positioning column 52, a third positioning column 53, a fourth positioning column 54, a first adhesive 55, a second adhesive 56, a first protective member 57, a second protective member 58, a first reinforcement member 43 and a second reinforcement member 44, wherein the first positioning column 51, the second positioning column 52, the first adhesive 55 and the first protective member 57 are used to fix the first FPC 41; the third positioning column 53, the fourth positioning column 54, the second adhesive 56 and the second protective member 58 are used to fix the second FPC 42.

[0071] Specifically, the first protective member 57 and the first adhesive 55 are arranged below the first FPC 41 and are adhered to the shaft cover 31 through the first adhesive 55; the first end 43a of the first reinforcement 43 cooperates with the first positioning column 51, and the second end 43b of the first reinforcement 43 cooperates with the second positioning column 52, and when the first reinforcement 43 is installed in place between the first positioning column 51 and the second positioning column 52, it is stuck between the first positioning column 51 and the second positioning column 52 to limit the movement of the first steel reinforcement 43 in the X, Y and Z directions.

[0072] The second protective member 58 and the second adhesive 56 are arranged below the second FPC 42 and are adhered to the shaft cover 31 through the second adhesive 56; the first end 44a of the second reinforcement member 44 cooperates with the third positioning column 53, and the second end 44b of the second reinforcement member 44 cooperates with the fourth positioning column 54, and when the second reinforcement member 44 is installed in place between the third positioning column 53 and the fourth positioning column 54, it is stuck between the third positioning column 53 and the fourth positioning column 54 to limit the movement of the second steel reinforcement 44 in the X, Y and Z directions.

[0073] It should be noted that the X, Y and Z directions are perpendicular to each other. In the figure, the X direction corresponds to the width direction of the shaft cover 31, the Y direction corresponds to the length direction of the shaft cover 31, and the Z direction corresponds to the thickness direction of the shaft cover 31.

[0074] Thus, it can be seen that the structure stacked in the Z direction in the above-mentioned solution of the example of this application includes the adhesive backing and FPC 4, or the protective member and FPC 4. Compared with the prior art, the FPC 4 can be directly clamped between the positioning posts via the reinforcement (the first FPC 41 can be directly clamped between the first positioning post 51 and the second positioning post 52 via the first reinforcement 43, and the second FPC 42 can be directly clamped between the third positioning post 53 and the fourth positioning post 54 via the second reinforcement 44), which makes installation simple. In addition, because the reinforcement is the FPC's own structure (the first reinforcement 43 is the first FPC 41's own structure, and the second reinforcement 44 is the second FPC 42's own structure), there is no need to set up an additional cover plate. The number of components stacked in the Z direction is relatively small, which reduces the occupied volume and weight of the positioning mechanism 5 and optimizes the structure of the positioning mechanism 5.

[0075] In the above example of the present application, the function of the first protective member 57 is to protect the first FPC 41 and prevent the burrs, cutting edges and other processing defects of the shaft cover 31 from scratching the first FPC 41; the function of the second protective member 58 is to protect the second FPC 42 and prevent the burrs, cutting edges and other processing defects of the shaft cover 31 from scratching the second FPC 42.

[0076] In this example, the first protective member 57 can be two pieces, with the two pieces of first protective member 57 placed near the side edges of the shaft cover 31 in the X direction, on either side of the first adhesive 55. In other examples, the first protective member 57 can be a single piece, enclosing the outer periphery of the first adhesive 55 and extending to the side edges of the shaft cover 31. Of course, in other examples, the number of first protective members 57 can be other, as long as the key parts of the first FPC 41 and the shaft cover 31 can be protected.

[0077] Similarly, the second protective member 58 can be two pieces, placed near the sides of the shaft cover 31 in the X-axis, on either side of the second adhesive tape 56. In other examples of this application, the second protective member 58 can be a single piece, surrounding the outer periphery of the second adhesive tape 56 and extending to the sides of the shaft cover 31. Of course, in other examples of this application, the number of second protective members 58 can also be other, as long as the protection performance of the key parts of the second FPC 42 and the shaft cover 31 can be achieved.

[0078] In some examples of the present application, the first and second protective members 57, 58 are independent components and are arranged in the above-described manner at corresponding locations on the shaft cover 31. In some examples of the present application, the first and second protective members 57, 58 are integrally formed, surrounding the periphery of the first and second adhesive tapes 55, 56, and extending to the side edges of the shaft cover 31.

[0079] The first protective member 57 and the second protective member 58 include a sheet structure made of insulating material. The above-mentioned insulating material can be, for example, non-metallic Mylar. Common materials of non-metallic Mylar include polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET), Teflon (PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethene), etc. Preferably, Teflon Mylar is selected. Teflon, also known as polytetrafluoroethylene, is a synthetic polymer material that uses fluorine to replace all hydrogen atoms in polyethylene. Teflon has the characteristics of acid and alkali resistance and resistance to various organic solvents, and is almost insoluble in all solvents. At the same time, polytetrafluoroethylene has the characteristics of high temperature resistance and its friction coefficient is extremely low. Therefore, in addition to being able to act as a lubricant, it has also become an ideal coating for the inner layer of easy-to-clean woks and water pipes. The first protective member 57 and the second protective member 58 including Teflon Mylar can reduce the friction noise generated when the first FPC41 and / or the second FPC42 move relative to the shaft cover 31.

[0080] In some other examples of the present application, the first protective member 57 and the second protective member 58 include a coating structure coated on the end surface of the shaft cover 31. Preferably, the coating structure is a Teflon coating.

[0081] In this example, the first adhesive 55 and the second adhesive 56 can be glue, double-sided tape, foam adhesive, etc. The first FPC 41 and the second FPC 42 are positioned in the Z direction. The first adhesive 55 and the second adhesive 56 can also be adjusted to insulating or conductive properties as needed to ensure insulation or conductivity between the first FPC 41 and the shaft cover 31 at the location where the first adhesive 55 is provided, and insulation or conductivity between the second FPC 42 and the shaft cover 31 at the location where the second adhesive 56 is provided.

[0082] In the above examples of the present application, the positioning mechanism 5 includes a first protective member 57, a second protective member 58, a first adhesive 55, and a second adhesive 56. In some other examples of the present application, the positioning mechanism 5 includes a solution of the first protective member 57 and the second protective member 58, that is, a solution without the first adhesive 55 and the second adhesive 56. The first protective member 57 is laid at the position of the shaft cover 31 corresponding to the first FPC 41, and the second protective member 58 is laid at the position of the shaft cover 31 corresponding to the second FPC 42.

[0083] The structure for positioning the first FPC 41 in the positioning mechanism 5 is similar to the structure for positioning the second FPC 42 . The following examples of this application focus on the structure for positioning the first FPC 41 :

[0084] 8 , the first positioning post 51 and the second positioning post 52 are spaced apart along the Y direction, and the first reinforcing member 43 is installed between the first positioning post 51 and the second positioning post 52 . The first end 43a of the first reinforcement piece 43 is provided with a first limiting portion 43a1 and a second limiting portion 43a3 at intervals, wherein the area between the first limiting portion 43a1 and the second limiting portion 43a3 forms a first notch for accommodating at least part of the first positioning column 51; the wall of the first notch protrudes with a first protrusion 43a2 toward the first positioning column 51; the first protrusion 43a2 is snap-fitted with the surfaces opposite to the first positioning column 51 and the second positioning column 52; the second end 43b of the first reinforcement piece 43 is provided with a third limiting portion 43b1 and a fourth limiting portion 43b3 at intervals, wherein the third limiting portion 43b1 and the fourth limiting portion 43b3 form a second notch for accommodating at least part of the second positioning column 52; the wall of the second notch protrudes with a second protrusion 43b2 toward the first positioning column 51; the second protrusion 43b2 is snap-fitted with the surfaces opposite to the second positioning column 52 and the first positioning column 51. As can be seen, the first reinforcement member 43 is positioned between the first positioning post 51 and the second positioning post 52, limiting its movement in the Y direction. At least a portion of the first positioning post 51 is located within the first notch, and at least a portion of the second positioning post 52 is located within the second notch, thereby limiting the movement of the first end 43a and the second end 43b of the first reinforcement member 43 in the X direction. The first reinforcement member 43 itself has a certain degree of elasticity. When the first protrusion 43a2 engages with the first positioning post 51 and the second protrusion 43b2 engages with the second positioning post 52, the two ends of the first reinforcement member 43 are engaged, limiting their movement in the Z direction. This demonstrates that the present application example optimizes the structure. Furthermore, the tool path and mold structure required for machining the shaft cover 31 require relatively few adjustments, thereby shortening the development cycle.

[0085] The contour of the first positioning post 51 within the first notch matches the contour of the first notch. The projection (cross-section) of the first positioning post 51 on the XY plane is generally rectangular, and the projection (cross-section) of the second positioning post 52 on the XY plane is generally trapezoidal. The first notch that matches the first positioning post 51 is generally rectangular, and the second notch that matches the second positioning post 52 is generally trapezoidal. The first end of the first reinforcement 43 can only be assembled to the first positioning post 51, and the second end of the first reinforcement 43 can only be assembled to the second positioning post 52, so that the first reinforcement 43 can be installed in place. This arrangement can achieve the purpose of error prevention (preventing installation errors). In this example of the present application, the error prevention effect can be achieved by setting different cross-sectional shapes and notch shapes. In some other examples of the present application, the cross-sectional shape of the first positioning post 51 and the cross-sectional shape of the second positioning post 52 can also be the same, and similarly, the shape of the first notch and the shape of the second notch can also be the same.

[0086] The second positioning post 52 has a profile that matches the profile of the second notch. The cross-sectional shape of the first positioning post 51 shown is generally rectangular, but can also be a relatively regular shape such as a circle, an ellipse, a trapezoid, or a less regular shape. A rectangular structure is preferably used in this application, as it is easy to manufacture and facilitates molding.

[0087] The cross-sectional shape of the second positioning post 52 shown in the figure is generally a trapezoid, such as an isosceles trapezoid or a right-angled trapezoid. It can also be a relatively regular shape such as a circle, an ellipse, or a rectangle, or a less regular shape. The present application preferably adopts a right-angled trapezoidal structure, which is easier to process and form under the premise of a rectangular structure, and requires minimal tool path modification.

[0088] Referring to Figure 9 , the surface of the first positioning post 51 opposing the second positioning post 52 is provided with a first engaging groove 51a for engaging with the first protrusion 43a2 of the first reinforcing member 43. In the Z-direction, the first engaging groove 51a comprises a top wall and a bottom wall disposed opposite the top wall. The top wall of the first engaging groove 51a is capable of abutting the first protrusion 43a2. When an external force in the Z-direction acts on the first reinforcing member 43, the top wall of the first engaging groove 51a abuts the first protrusion 43a2, preventing the first protrusion 43a2 from disengaging from the first engaging groove 51a in the Z-direction. The surface of the second positioning post 52 opposing the first positioning post 51 is provided with a second engaging groove 52a for engaging with the second protrusion 43b2 of the first reinforcing member 43. In the Z-direction, the top wall of the second engaging groove 52a abuts the second protrusion 43b2. When an external force in the Z direction acts on the first reinforcing member 43 , the top wall of the first engaging groove 51 a abuts against the second protrusion 43 b 2 to prevent the second protrusion 43 b 2 from separating from the second engaging groove 52 a in the Z direction.

[0089] Referring to Figure 10, in the X-direction, the two ends of the first slot 51a are not through, that is, the first slot 51a has a first side wall 51b and a second side wall 51c, wherein the first side wall 51b and the second side wall 51c are arranged opposite to each other, and the first side wall 51b and the second side wall 51c of the first slot 51a can abut against the first protrusion 43a2. When an external force in the X-direction acts on the first reinforcement 43, the first side wall 51b of the first slot 51a or the second side wall 51c of the first slot 51a abuts against the first protrusion 43a2, thereby limiting the movement of the first protrusion 43a2 in the X-direction.

[0090] In the examples of this application, the top wall of the first slot 51a can limit the movement of the first protrusion 43a2 in the Z direction, while the side walls of the first slot 51a can limit the movement of the first protrusion 43a2 in the X direction. As can be seen from the above examples, the first notch formed by the first limiting portion 43a1 and the second limiting portion 43a3 cooperates with the first positioning post 51 to limit the X-direction movement of the first reinforcement member 43. Therefore, in some other examples of this application, only the first slot 51a and the first protrusion 43a2 may be provided, without the first limiting portion 43a1 and the second limiting portion 43a3, to limit the X- and Y-directions movement of the first reinforcement member 43.

[0091] It should be noted that one end of the first positioning post 51 is fixed to the shaft cover 31, and the other end extends along the Z-direction. The first engaging groove 51a is directly defined on the surface of the first positioning post 51 that faces the second positioning post 52. Alternatively, the other end of the first positioning post 51 has a first protrusion that protrudes toward the second positioning post 52; the first protrusion, the first positioning post 51, and the shaft cover 31 collectively form the first engaging groove 51a.

[0092] Referring to Figure 11, in the X-direction, the two ends of the second slot 52a are not through, that is, the second slot 52a has a first side wall 52b and a second side wall 52c, wherein the first side wall 52b and the second side wall 52c are arranged opposite to each other, and the first side wall 52b and the second side wall 52c of the second slot 52a can abut against the second protrusion 43b2. When an external force in the X-direction acts on the first reinforcement 43, the first side wall 52b of the second slot 52a or the second side wall 52c of the second slot 52a abuts against the second protrusion 43b2, thereby limiting the movement of the second protrusion 43b2 in the X-direction.

[0093] In the examples of this application, the top wall of the second slot 52a can limit the movement of the second protrusion 43b2 in the Z direction, while the side walls of the second slot 52a can limit the movement of the second protrusion 43b2 in the X direction. As can be seen from the above examples, the cooperation between the second notch formed by the third limiting portion 43b1 and the fourth limiting portion 43b3 and the second positioning post 52 can limit the X-direction movement of the first reinforcing member 43. Therefore, in some other examples of this application, only the second slot 52a and the second protrusion 43b2 can be provided, without the third limiting portion 43b1 and the fourth limiting portion 43b3, to limit the X- and Y-directions movement of the first reinforcing member 43.

[0094] It should be noted that one end of the second positioning post 52 is fixed to the shaft cover 31, and the other end extends along the Z-direction. The second engaging groove 52a is directly defined on the surface of the second positioning post 52 that faces the first positioning post 51. Alternatively, the other end of the second positioning post 52 has a second protrusion that protrudes toward the first positioning post 51; the second protrusion, the second positioning post 52, and the shaft cover 31 collectively form the second engaging groove 52a.

[0095] Referring to FIG12 in conjunction with FIG10 and FIG11 , in some examples of the present application, the first end 43a of the first reinforcing member 43 cooperates with the first positioning post 51 via the first notch, thereby achieving positioning of the first end of the first reinforcing member 43 in the X and Y directions. A first positioning gap m1 exists between the first notch and the first positioning post 51, enabling the first notch to be smoothly installed on the first positioning post 51 and ensuring the positioning accuracy of the two. The second end 43b of the second reinforcing member 44 cooperates with the second positioning post 52 via the second notch, thereby achieving positioning of the second end 43b of the first reinforcing member 43 in the X and Y directions. A second positioning gap m2 exists between the second notch and the second positioning post 52, enabling the second notch to be smoothly installed on the second positioning post 52 and ensuring the positioning accuracy of the two.

[0096] It should be noted that the first positioning gap m1 is the vertical distance between the inner surface of the first notch and the corresponding portion of the outer surface of the first positioning post 51. In the figure, the cross-section of the first positioning post 51 and the shape of the first notch are both rectangular, so the first positioning gap m1 is the vertical distance between the two corresponding sides of the rectangle. The second positioning gap m2 is the vertical distance between the inner surface of the second notch and the corresponding portion of the outer surface of the second positioning post 52. In the figure, the cross-section of the second positioning post 52 and the shape of the second notch are both right-angled trapezoids, so the second positioning gap m2 is the vertical distance between the two corresponding sides of the right-angled trapezoids.

[0097] To improve the accuracy of the installation of the first reinforcing member 43, the first positioning gap m1 and the second positioning gap m2 range from 0.03mm to 0.1mm, preferably 0.05mm. This ensures the positioning accuracy between the first notch of the first reinforcing member 43 and the first positioning post 51, and between the second notch of the first reinforcing member 43 and the second positioning post 52. When the first reinforcing member 43 is installed between the first positioning post 51 and the second positioning post 52, the first notch has some play between the first positioning post 51 and the second positioning post 52, thereby ensuring a certain amount of play between the first notch and the first positioning post 51, and between the second notch and the second positioning post 52. This ensures that the first reinforcing member 43 has a certain amount of play in the X and Y directions. When external forces act on the first reinforcing member 43 in the X and / or Y directions, a certain amount of buffer space is provided, thereby reducing the force of rigid pulling.

[0098] Furthermore, in the X-direction, a first clearance gap n1 exists between the first engaging groove 51a and the first protrusion 43a2. This first clearance gap n1 allows the first notch to be mounted on the first positioning post 51. Similarly, a second clearance gap n2 exists between the second engaging groove 52a and the second protrusion 43b2. This second clearance gap n2 allows the second notch to be mounted on the second positioning post 52. It should be noted that the first clearance gap n1 is the distance in the X-direction between the first protrusion 43a2 and the first side wall 51b and the second side wall 51c of the first engaging groove 51a; and the second clearance gap n2 is the distance in the X-direction between the first protrusion 43a2 and the first side wall 52b and the second side wall 52c of the second engaging groove 52a.

[0099] The first avoidance gap n1 is larger than the first positioning gap m1, and / or the second avoidance gap n2 is larger than the second positioning gap m1, thereby avoiding the FPC from being skewed and achieving reliable XY positioning and fixation.

[0100] Referring to Figures 13, 14a, and 14b, since the first protrusion 43a2 on the first reinforcing member 43 interferes with the first positioning post 51, and the second protrusion 43b2 interferes with the second positioning post 52 in the Y direction, during assembly, the second protrusion 43b2 must be inserted obliquely into the first retaining groove 51a. The first protrusion 43a2 utilizes the entire length of the first reinforcing member 43 as an elastic arm, shortening the Y-direction length of the first reinforcing member 43 after elastic deformation, as shown in Figure 14a. This allows the first reinforcing member 43 to be assembled between the first positioning post 51 and the second positioning post 52. After assembly, the first reinforcing member 43 is released to allow its elastic deformation to recover, allowing it to be assembled into place, as shown in Figure 14b. The first reinforcing member 43 is made of highly elastic SUS-301EH material, which effectively forms an elastic arm. Other materials besides SUS-301EH can also be used for the first reinforcing member 43, such as metals, polymers, or inorganic non-metallic materials. When the metal plate is used, it can be a stainless steel reinforcement plate or an aluminum foil reinforcement plate; when the polymer plate is used, it can be a polyester reinforcement plate, a polyimide reinforcement plate, a glass fiber reinforcement plate, a polytetrafluoroethylene reinforcement plate, a polycarbonate reinforcement plate, etc. This application example does not strictly limit this.

[0101] It should be noted that, in the above assembly process, the second protrusion 43b2 is first inserted obliquely into the second slot 52a. In some other examples of the present application, the first protrusion 43a2 may also be first inserted obliquely into the first slot 51a.

[0102] In the above, the first protrusion 43a2 engages with the first positioning post 51 via the first slot 51a, and the second protrusion 43b2 engages with the second positioning post 52 via the second slot 52a. In other examples of the present application, a first protrusion protruding toward the first reinforcement 43 may be provided on the surface opposite the first protrusion 43a2 and the second protrusion 43b2 to limit Z-direction movement of the first protrusion 43a2. A second protrusion protruding toward the first reinforcement 43 may be provided on the surface opposite the second protrusion 43b2 and the first protrusion 43a2 to limit Z-direction movement of the second protrusion 43b2. Furthermore, to facilitate installation, the surface where the first protrusion first contacts the first protrusion 43a2 is an inclined surface, or the surface where the second protrusion first contacts the second protrusion 43b2 is an inclined surface.

[0103] The first and second positioning posts 51 and 52 are positioned protruding from the end surface of the shaft cover 31. In some other examples of the present application, the end surface of the shaft cover 31 may also be provided with a mounting groove. The mounting groove may have retaining grooves or protrusions on its opposite walls in the Y direction to achieve a snap-fit ​​connection with the ends of the first reinforcing member 43. The positioning posts and the walls of the mounting groove may be understood as positioning members, while the retaining grooves or protrusions may be understood as engaging structures.

[0104] The first reinforcing member 43 has two functions: first, limiting the movement of the first FPC 41 in the Z direction; second, mechanically reinforcing the local structure of the first FPC 41. In this example, the first reinforcing member 43 primarily serves as a position-limiting member to limit the movement of the first FPC 41 in the Z direction. It should be noted that the position-limiting member can be part of the structure of the first FPC 41 or exist independently of the first FPC 41, that is, the position-limiting member is not part of the structure of the first FPC 41.

[0105] Some examples of this application also disclose an FPC assembly comprising the positioning mechanism of the aforementioned structure, a base, and an FPC, with the FPC positioned on the base via the positioning mechanism. When the FPC is properly positioned within the positioning mechanism, its movement in the X, Y, and Z directions is restricted. This simplifies assembly of the FPC assembly and optimizes its structure.

[0106] Referring to Figures 15 to 17 , some examples of this application also disclose an FPC 4 comprising a circuit board body 4a and a reinforcement member 4b disposed on the surface of the circuit board body 4a. The reinforcement member 4b has a first stopper 4b1, a first protrusion 4b2, and a second stopper 4b3 disposed on its first end, wherein the first stopper 4b1 and the second stopper 4b3 form a first notch. The first protrusion 4b2 is positioned within the first notch and protrudes outward from the wall of the first notch. The reinforcement member 4b has a fourth stopper 4b4, a second protrusion 4b5, and a fifth stopper 4b6 disposed on its second end, wherein the fourth stopper 4b4 and the fifth stopper 4b6 form a second notch. The second protrusion 43b2 is positioned within the second notch and protrudes outward from the wall of the second notch. Due to the above-described structure, the FPC 4 of this application can be directly engaged between the stoppers of the positioning mechanism by virtue of its own reinforcement member. The FPC4 can be fixed without an additional structure, thereby simplifying the installation of the FPC4 and reducing the space occupied when the FPC4 is fixed.

[0107] The circuit board body 4a includes at least one substrate layer and at least one routing layer, wherein the substrate layer includes a polyimide film and / or a polyester film; the at least one routing layer forms the circuit of the FPC4, and the at least one routing layer can realize the transmission of signals and energy.

[0108] The above examples only describe the technical solution of installing the positioning mechanism on the shaft cover. It should be noted that the positioning mechanism can also be installed on the rotating shaft or the middle frame, and its specific structure is similar to the technical solution of installing it on the shaft cover. In this application, the shaft cover, rotating shaft, and middle frame, etc., which require the positioning mechanism, can be understood as the base. While the base has its own functions, it also has the function of fixing the FPC.

[0109] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited to this. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A positioning mechanism, used to be arranged on a substrate; characterized in that, The positioning mechanism comprises: At least two positioning members are spaced apart and arranged on the base along the length direction of the base; A limiting member is arranged between the two positioning members, and the positioning member is provided with a snap-fit ​​structure. Both ends of the limiting member extend to the snap-fit ​​structures corresponding to the two positioning members respectively, and the snap-fit ​​structure is used to limit the movement of the limiting member in the thickness direction of the base. A flexible circuit board is used to be arranged between the limiting member and the base.

2. The positioning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The engaging structure includes a slot, and both ends of the limiting member extend into the slots corresponding to the two positioning members respectively.

3. The positioning mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The positioning member includes a positioning column, one end of which is fixed to the base, and the other end of which is provided with a protrusion extending toward the limiting member; The protrusion, the positioning column and the base form the clamping groove.

4. The positioning mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The clamping slot has opposite side walls along the width direction of the base.

5. The positioning mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: Notches are respectively provided at two ends of the limiting member along the length direction of the base body, and the positioning member corresponding to each notch is at least partially located in the notch.

6. The positioning mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: The end portion of the limiting member extending to the positioning member includes two limiting portions spaced apart from each other, and the area between the two limiting portions forms the notch; The notch has a protrusion protruding toward the slot.

7. The positioning mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: There is a positioning gap between the notch and the portion of the positioning piece located in the notch.

8. The positioning mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The positioning gap ranges from 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm.

9. The positioning mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: There is an avoidance gap between the protrusion and the slot in the width direction of the base.

10. The positioning mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that: The avoidance gap is larger than the positioning gap.

11. The positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that: The shapes of the notches at both ends of the limiting member are different, and the contour of the positioning member located in the notch matches the contour of the notch.

12. The positioning mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that: One of the two notches is a rectangular structure, and the other is a trapezoidal structure.

13. The positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 12, characterized in that: It also includes a backing adhesive arranged between the base and the flexible circuit board.

14. The positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 12, characterized in that: The invention also includes protective members arranged on both sides of the base in the width direction.

15. The positioning mechanism according to claim 14, characterized in that: The protective element comprises Teflon Mylar.

16. The positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 12, characterized in that: The limiting component includes a reinforcing component, and the reinforcing component is arranged on the circuit board body of the flexible circuit board.

17. The positioning mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that: The reinforcing member includes a steel reinforcing sheet.

18. A flexible circuit board assembly, characterized in that: The method comprises the positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising the base and the flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board is arranged on the base through the positioning mechanism.

19. A flexible circuit board, characterized in that: The circuit board comprises a circuit board body and at least one reinforcing piece according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcing piece is arranged on a surface of the circuit board body.

20. An electronic device comprising a first housing, a second housing, and a rotating shaft connecting the first housing and the second housing, characterized in that: The electronic device further includes the flexible circuit board assembly according to claim 18 , wherein both ends of the flexible circuit board extend into the first housing and the second housing respectively.

21. The electronic device according to claim 20, characterized in that It also includes a shaft cover, which is arranged on the end surface opposite to the folding area of ​​the rotating shaft.

22. The electronic device according to claim 21, wherein: At least two positioning members are spaced apart along the length direction of the shaft cover and arranged on the end surface of the shaft cover close to the rotating shaft.

23. The electronic device according to claim 21, wherein The limiting member is located on a surface of the flexible circuit board away from the shaft cover.

24. An electronic device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a housing, wherein the flexible circuit board assembly according to claim 18 is contained in the housing.

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