Folding device, shell assembly and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a folding device, a shell assembly and electronic equipment. The folding device comprises a base, a rotating shaft, a rotating piece and a friction piece. The rotating shaft is arranged on the base and can rotate relative to the base, the rotating piece is fixed to the rotating shaft and can rotate relative to the base, the rotating shaft is sleeved with the friction piece, and the friction piece abuts against the rotating shaft and is fixed relative to the base. When the rotating piece rotates relative to the base, the rotating shaft rotates relative to the base, and the rotating shaft rotates relative to the friction piece and rotates and rubs with the friction piece. When the rotating piece drives the rotating shaft to rotate relative to the base, the rotating shaft can also rotate relative to the friction piece, and the friction piece abuts against the rotating shaft, so that the rotating shaft can mutually rotate and rub with the friction piece in the process of rotating relative to the friction piece, and rotating friction force is generated; the rotating friction force can be transmitted to the rotating piece, so that the torsion of the rotating piece in the folding device is improved. The torsion of the folding device is improved on the premise that the size of the folding device is not increased, and the requirement for miniaturization of the folding device is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of folding devices, and in particular relates to a folding device, a housing assembly and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] Competition in the mobile terminal industry is increasingly trending towards large screens and ultra-thin devices, but large screens make the entire device too large and inconvenient to carry. Foldable electronic devices can solve the above problem by changing the size of the electronic device due to their folding function, and are now popular with a large number of users. Electronic devices rely on folding devices to achieve the folding function, but as the folding device becomes smaller, the torque of the folding device decreases. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the first aspect of the present application provides a folding device, comprising:

[0004] Pedestal;

[0005] A rotating shaft, disposed on the base and capable of rotating relative to the base;

[0006] a rotating member, fixed to the rotating shaft and capable of rotating relative to the base; and

[0007] A friction member, sleeved on the rotating shaft, the friction member abuts against the rotating shaft and is fixed relative to the base;

[0008] Wherein, when the rotating member rotates relative to the base, the rotating shaft rotates relative to the base, and the rotating shaft rotates relative to the friction member and they rotate and rub against each other.

[0009] The folding device provided in the first aspect of the present application enables the rotating shaft disposed on the base to rotate relative to the base, and enables the rotating member to be fixed on the rotating shaft and also to rotate relative to the base. Thus, when the rotating member rotates relative to the base, since the rotating member is fixed to the rotating shaft and the rotating shaft can also rotate relative to the base, the rotating member can drive the rotating shaft to rotate relative to the base.

[0010] At the same time, the present application can also add a friction member sleeved on the rotating shaft, and the friction member and the rotating shaft are in contact with each other, that is, the part of the friction member sleeved on the rotating shaft is in contact with the rotating shaft. In addition, the friction member is fixed relative to the base, that is, the friction member can rotate relative to the rotating shaft. In this way, when the rotating member drives the rotating shaft to rotate relative to the base, the rotating shaft can also rotate relative to the friction member. Since the friction member and the rotating shaft are in contact, the rotating shaft can rotate and rub against the friction member during the process of rotating relative to the friction member, thereby generating a rotational friction force, which will be transmitted to the rotating member to increase the torque of the rotating member in the folding device.

[0011] In summary, the present application can improve the torque of the folding device without increasing the size of the folding device through the mutual cooperation of the base, the rotating shaft, the rotating part, and the friction part, thereby meeting the demand for miniaturization of the folding device.

[0012] A second aspect of the present application provides a shell assembly, which includes a first shell, a second shell, and a folding device as provided in the first aspect of the present application, and the folding device is connected between the first shell and the second shell.

[0013] The shell assembly provided in the second aspect of the present application can improve the torque of the shell assembly without increasing the size of the folding device by adopting the folding device provided in the first aspect of the present application.

[0014] A third aspect of the present application provides an electronic device, comprising a flexible screen and a shell assembly as provided in the second aspect of the present application, wherein the flexible screen is arranged on the same side of the first shell, the second shell, and the folding device.

[0015] The electronic device provided in the third aspect of the present application can improve the torque of the electronic device without increasing the size of the folding device by adopting the shell assembly provided in the second aspect of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the implementation modes of the present application, the drawings required for use in the implementation modes of the present application will be described below.

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in an embodiment of the present application when it is in an unfolded state.

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the folding device is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the folding device from another perspective is shown.

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The folding device shown is a schematic cross-sectional view along the AA direction.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application when it is in a folded state.

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 5 The cross-sectional schematic diagram of the folding device along the BB direction is shown.

[0023] Figure 7It is a top view of a folding device in one embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application after the base and the friction member are removed.

[0025] Fig. 9 This is a top view of a folding device in another embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of the decomposition of the friction member and the rotating shaft in one embodiment of the present application.

[0027] Fig.11 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded view of the rotating member, the rotating shaft, and the friction member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Fig.12 It is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of a rotating shaft and a rotating member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Fig.13 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a folding device in another embodiment of the present application when it is in an unfolded state.

[0030] Fig.14 for Fig.13 An exploded view of the folding device is shown.

[0031] Fig.15 for Fig.14 An exploded view of a track mechanism in a folding device is shown.

[0032] Fig.16 for Fig.13 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0033] Fig.17 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a folding device in another embodiment of the present application when it is in a folded state.

[0034] Fig.18 for Fig.17 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0035] Fig.19 It is a schematic diagram of the coordination of the base, the first rotating member, the second rotating member and the connecting member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Fig. 20 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the base, the second rotating member, and the connecting member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0037] Fig.21 It is a schematic diagram of the exploded view of the second rotating member and part of the supporting member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0038] Fig. 22It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the second rotating member, and the supporting member when the folding device is in an unfolded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0039] Fig.23 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the second rotating member, and the supporting member when the folding device is in a folded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Fig.24 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the shell assembly in an embodiment of the present application when it is in an unfolded state.

[0041] Fig.25 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the shell assembly in one embodiment of the present application when it is in a folded state.

[0042] Fig.26 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an electronic device in an unfolded state according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0043] Fig. 27 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an electronic device in a folded state according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0044] Description of labels:

[0045] Folding device-1, screen space-1a, track mechanism-1b, housing assembly-2, electronic device-3, base-10, bottom surface-100, top surface-101, first rotation axis-C1, second rotation axis-C2, rotation axis-11, first part-111, second part-112, protrusion-113, rotating member-20', accommodating groove-200, first helical surface-201, through hole-202, groove-203, friction member-21, sleeve hole-210, circular part-211, connecting part-212, opening-213, sub-friction member-214, synchronization member-22, second helical surface-220, first Sub-synchronizing member -221, second sub-synchronizing member -222, elastic member -223, first rotating member -30, second rotating member -40, sliding block -42, first rolling axis -43, connecting member -50, back side -500, sliding groove -52, supporting member -60, supporting part -61, supporting surface -610, rolling part -62, first rolling groove -620, first limiting end -621, second limiting end -622, first connecting part -623, second connecting part -624, supporting member -70, decorative member -80, first shell -91, second shell -92, flexible screen -93, bending area -930, non-bending area -931. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The following are preferred implementations of the present application. It should be noted that, for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present application, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0047] With the market demand for the "display area" of terminal products such as mobile phones and tablets, the competition in the mobile terminal industry is increasingly tending towards large screens and ultra-thinness. However, large screens make the size of the whole machine too large and inconvenient to carry. The smartphone industry is ushering in an experience revolution brought about by form innovation. The display form of mobile phone products has developed from the initial hard screen to flexible screen, from small screen to large screen, from static mechanism to motion mechanism. Recently, major mobile phone manufacturers have been developing folding screens, striving to expand the form and display boundaries of mobile phone products, so that they have the functions of mobile phones, tablets and even computers. As an electronic device with a new display form, the foldable display terminal can be unfolded or closed due to its folding function, and has a larger display area in the unfolded state and a smaller overall size in the folded state, which can solve the above problems. It is now loved by the majority of users.

[0048] The foldable display terminal relies on the folding device inside it to achieve the folding function. The folding device usually uses a torque mechanism to provide torque to the folding device to ensure the stability of the folding device during rotation. As the size of the folding device becomes smaller and smaller, the size of the components in the torque mechanism is also getting smaller and smaller, resulting in a corresponding decrease in the friction provided by the friction surface in the torque mechanism and the extrusion force provided by structures such as springs, which reduces the torque that the folding device can provide as a whole. However, the demand for torque by electronic devices such as mobile phones remains unchanged, resulting in the folding device being unable to meet the torque demand of the mobile phone, for example, the flexible screen cannot be closed or cannot hover.

[0049] In order to solve the above technical problems, this application provides a folding device. Please refer to Figure 1-Figure 6 The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment includes a base 10, a rotating shaft 11, a rotating member 20', and a friction member 21. The rotating shaft 11 is disposed on the base 10 and can rotate relative to the base 10, the rotating member 20' is fixed to the rotating shaft 11 and can rotate relative to the base 10, and the friction member 21 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, the friction member 21 abuts against the rotating shaft 11 and is fixed relative to the base 10. When the rotating member 20' rotates relative to the base 10, the rotating shaft 11 rotates relative to the base 10, and the rotating shaft 11 rotates relative to the friction member 21 and rotates and rubs against each other.

[0050] The folding device 1 can also be called a rotating shaft or a hinge, and is mainly used in electronic products such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers. It can also be used in other non-electronic products that require a torque rotating shaft, such as doors and windows. The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment mainly includes a base 10, a rotating shaft 11, a rotating member 20', and a friction member 21, which means that this embodiment can solve the above-mentioned technical problems only by using the base 10, the rotating shaft 11, the rotating member 20', and the friction member 21, but in other embodiments, the folding device 1 may also include other components, such as connecting members, supporting members, synchronization mechanisms, torque mechanisms, etc. Next, this embodiment will introduce the base 10, the rotating shaft 11, the rotating member 20', and the friction member 21 in detail.

[0051] The base 10 is a basic component of the folding device 1, and is mainly used to provide a foundation for the installation and fixing of other components. That is, many components of the folding device 1 can be installed on the base 10. In other words, the base 10 as the main body can be assembled into a whole with other parts. When the folding device 1 moves, the base 10 itself is fixed, and it is mainly the other components of the folding device 1 that perform various movements. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the base 10, as long as it can provide an assembly foundation for other components.

[0052] Optionally, the base 10 has a top surface 101, a bottom surface 100, and a side surface that is bent and connected between the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 100. When the folding device 1 is subsequently applied to an electronic device, the top surface 101 can be close to the flexible screen of the electronic device, the bottom surface 100 is away from the flexible screen, and the bottom surface 100 can also cooperate with a decorative piece to use the decorative piece to cover the base 10. In other words, the upper surface of the base 10 is the top surface 101, and the lower surface is the bottom surface 100. Further optionally, both the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 100 are planes, which is convenient for subsequent coordination with other components. The side surface is a convexly arranged arc surface, which improves the appearance of the base 10 and is convenient for coordination with decorative pieces.

[0053] The rotating shaft 11 is arranged on the base 10 and is used to mount various components on the rotating shaft 11, thereby indirectly connecting with the base 10 and realizing various motion conditions, such as rotation, sliding, or fixed. The base 10 may include multiple parts, and the rotating shaft 11 may penetrate a part of the structure of the base 10, and the end of the rotating shaft 11 may be arranged in the structure of the remaining part of the base 10. Other components of the folding device 1 may be sleeved on the rotating shaft 11 when the end of the rotating shaft 11 is not arranged in the base 10. In addition, the rotating shaft 11 is cylindrical, and this embodiment allows the rotating shaft 11 to rotate relative to the base 10 when it is arranged on the base 10. In other words, the rotating shaft 11 is not fixed relative to the base 10, and the rotating shaft 11 can rotate relative to the base 10 actively or passively. Since the base 10 itself is fixed, only the rotating shaft 11 rotates along its own axial direction. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the rotating shaft 11, as long as it can be arranged on the base 10 and can rotate relatively.

[0054] The rotating member 20' mainly plays a role of rotation in the folding device 1, so that the folding device 1 has the ability to fold and unfold, and the rotation of the rotating member 20' drives and limits the movement of other components, so that other components move according to a predetermined trajectory. One end of the rotating member 20' is rotatably connected to the base 10 so that the rotating member 20' can rotate relative to the base 10, and the other end of the rotating member 20' can be subsequently connected to other components such as a connecting member. This embodiment does not limit the shape, structure, material and other parameters of the rotating member 20', as long as it can be rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0055] The rotation of the rotating member 20' enables the folding device 1 to have a variety of different states, such as an unfolded state and a folded state, wherein the unfolded state can be understood as the state when the rotating member 20' is completely flattened, at which point the other end of the rotating member 20' is set corresponding to the side surface of the base 10, so that the upper surface of the subsequent support member can be set horizontally, thereby allowing the flexible screen to be fully unfolded. The folded state can be understood as the state when the rotating member 20' is completely folded, at which point the other end of the rotating member 20' is set corresponding to the top surface 101 of the base 10, so that the opposite ends of the subsequent flexible screen can be close to each other, and the flexible screen reaches a fully folded state. And the process of the folding device 1 from the unfolded state to the folded state can be understood as the folding process of the folding device 1, and the process of the folding device 1 from the folded state to the unfolded state can be understood as the unfolding process of the folding device 1.

[0056] The rotating member 20' in this embodiment is not directly connected to the base 10 for rotation, but is indirectly connected to the base 10 for rotation via the rotating shaft 11. Specifically, the rotating member 20' can be sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, and the rotating member 20' can be fixed to the rotating shaft 11. In other words, the movement state of the rotating member 20' is consistent with that of the rotating shaft 11, and the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 remain relatively stationary. At this time, the rotating shaft 11 can also be called a synchronous shaft. When the rotating member 20' rotates relatively, since the rotating shaft 11 is fixed to the rotating member 20', the rotating member 20' can drive the rotating shaft 11 to rotate relative to the base 10, that is, the rotating member 20' also rotates relative to the base 10. It can also be understood that when the rotating member 20' rotates, the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 can rotate synchronously relative to the base 10.

[0057] Optionally, the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 can be an integral structure or a split structure. When the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 are an integral structure, the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 can be prepared through one process, but for the sake of ease of understanding, the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 are artificially named differently. When the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 are split structures, the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 can be prepared separately and then the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 can be connected together by various methods (such as bonding, screw connection, snap connection, etc.), and the rotating member 20' can be kept fixed relative to the rotating shaft 11. This embodiment is only schematically described as a split structure of the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11, thereby reducing the difficulty of assembling the folding device 1.

[0058] In the related art, a torque mechanism is usually provided to provide torque to the rotating member 20', so as to improve the stability of the rotating member 20', and even make the rotating member 20' have a hovering function. For example, the rotating member 20' is provided with a first cam member along the end side of its axial direction, and the second cam member and the spring are provided on the base 10 through the rotating shaft 11. The second cam member cooperates with the first cam member, and one end of the spring abuts against the second cam member, and the other end is fixed. The initial state of the spring is a compressed state, providing a certain pre-pressure so that the first cam member and the second cam member fit tightly.

[0059] The rotating shaft 11 makes the movement centers of the rotating member 20', the first cam member, the second cam member, the spring, and the base 10 coincide. In this way, when the rotating member 20' rotates around the rotating axis relative to the base 10, the cam surface of the first cam member and the cam surface of the second cam member mesh with each other to further compress the spring, thereby using the spring to provide positive pressure between the first cam member and the second cam member. The cam surfaces of the first cam member and the second cam member squeeze each other to increase the friction between the first cam member and the second cam member, thereby increasing the torsional force of the rotating member 20'.

[0060] However, as the folding device 1 continues to be miniaturized, the size of each component in the folding device 1 will be reduced to a corresponding extent, that is, the size of the first cam member, the second cam member, and the spring will also be reduced, resulting in a reduction in the positive pressure provided by the spring and the friction between the first cam member and the second cam member, thereby reducing the torque of the rotating member 20'. However, when the folding device 1 is subsequently applied to an electronic device, the torque required by the electronic device will not be reduced, and may even increase, so the existing miniaturized folding device 1 cannot meet the needs of users.

[0061] In this embodiment, a friction member 21 may be added, and the friction member 21 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, that is, a sleeve hole 210 is provided on the friction member 21, and the friction member 21 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11 through the sleeve hole 210. In addition, the friction member 21 abuts against the rotating shaft 11, that is, the hole wall of the sleeve hole 210 of the friction member 21 abuts against and contacts the outer peripheral side surface of the rotating shaft 11. In addition, the friction member 21 remains fixed relative to the base 10, that is, the friction member 21 is the same as the base 10 and remains fixed during the entire movement process of the folding device 1. Since the rotating shaft 11 can rotate relative to the base 10, the rotating shaft 11 can also rotate relative to the friction member 21.

[0062] Through the above structure, when the rotating member 20' rotates relative to the base 10, the rotating member 20' can drive the rotating shaft 11 to rotate synchronously relative to the base 10. At the same time, the rotating shaft 11 can also rotate relative to the friction member 21. Since the friction member 21 and the rotating shaft 11 are in contact with each other, the rotating shaft 11 can rotate and rub against the friction member 21 when rotating relative to the friction member 21, thereby generating a rotational friction force, which is transmitted to the rotating member 20' to increase the torsional force of the rotating member 20' in the folding device 1.

[0063] In summary, this embodiment can improve the torque of the folding device 1 without increasing the size of the folding device 1 through the mutual cooperation of the base 10, the rotating shaft 11, the rotating member 20', and the friction member 21, provide stable torque and friction input, and meet the demand for miniaturization of the folding device 1.

[0064] It is worth noting that the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can replace the torque mechanism of the cam member and the spring used in the related art, that is, the present embodiment only uses the torque mechanism of the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21, and does not use the torque mechanism of the cam member and the spring. Of course, in other embodiments, the present embodiment can add a torque mechanism of the cam member and the spring on the basis of the folding device 1 provided in the related art. In other words, the folding device 1 has both the torque mechanism of the cam member and the spring, and the torque mechanism of the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21, thereby further improving the torque of the folding device 1. This embodiment is only schematically described by using the torque mechanism of the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21 alone.

[0065] In this embodiment, there are two rotating shafts 11 and two rotating members 20 ′. The two rotating shafts 11 are disposed on opposite sides of the base 10 . Each rotating member 20 ′ is fixed to one rotating shaft 11 . The friction member 21 is sleeved on the two rotating shafts 11 .

[0066] There can be two rotating shafts 11 and two rotating members 20', that is, the folding device 1 includes two rotating members 20' and two rotating shafts 11. The two rotating shafts 11 are arranged on opposite sides of the base 10, that is, one rotating shaft 11 is arranged on the left side of the base 10, and the other rotating shaft 11 is arranged on the right side of the base 10. Optionally, the two rotating shafts 11 are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10. Each rotating member 20' is fixed to a rotating shaft 11, that is, one rotating member 20' is fixed to one rotating shaft 11, and the other rotating member 20' is fixed to the other rotating shaft 11, so that the two rotating shafts 11 can be used to control the components on the left and right sides of the base 10 to unfold and fold respectively. Optionally, the two rotating shafts 11 and the two rotating members 20' are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10.

[0067] In this embodiment, the friction member 21 can be simultaneously mounted on the two rotating shafts 11, so that when the two rotating shafts 11 rotate relative to the base 10 driven by the two rotating members 20', the friction member 21 cannot move relative to the two rotating shafts 11, resulting in the friction member 21 being fixed, that is, the friction member 21 remains fixed relative to the base 10, thereby causing rotational friction between the rotating shafts 11 and the friction member 21.

[0068] In summary, the present embodiment only needs to design the matching form of the friction member 21 and the rotating shaft 11 to make the friction member 21 remain fixed relative to the base 10, without adding new components and connection relationships, thereby reducing the structural difficulty of the folding device 1. Of course, in other embodiments, when the number of the rotating member 20' and the rotating shaft 11 is only one, or the number of the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20' are both two, but the friction member 21 is only sleeved on one rotating shaft 11, the present embodiment can fix the friction member 21 on the base 10, that is, the friction member 21 is fixedly connected to the base 10, so that the friction member 21 and the base 10 remain fixed, and when the rotating shaft 11 rotates, the friction member 21 will not be driven to rotate together. Optionally, the friction member 21 and the base 10 are an integrated structure or a split structure. When the friction member 21 and the base 10 are an integrated structure, the friction member 21 and the base 10 can be prepared through one process, but for the sake of ease of understanding, the friction member 21 and the base 10 are artificially named differently. When the friction member 21 and the base 10 are separate structures, the friction member 21 and the base 10 can be prepared separately and then fixedly connected to the base 10 by various methods (such as bonding, screw connection, snap connection, etc.), so that the friction member 21 can remain fixed relative to the base 10. This embodiment is only schematically described with the friction member 21 and the base 10 being separate structures.

[0069] Optionally, the base 10 can be passed across one side of the friction member 21 and between the two rotating shafts 11, so that the base 10 is an integrated structure without having to split the base 10 into several parts for separate assembly. This not only improves the consistency of the folding device 1, but also improves the structural strength of the folding device 1.

[0070] Optionally, when the folding device 1 includes two rotating members 20', a synchronization member 22 may be further provided to achieve synchronization of the rotation of the rotating members 20' on the left and right sides of the base 10. Figure 7 and Figure 8 In this embodiment, the two rotating members 20' have a receiving groove 200, and the groove wall of the receiving groove 200 at two opposite ends along the axial direction of the rotating member 20' has two first helical surfaces 201. The synchronizer 22 is sleeved on the two rotating shafts 11 and at least part of the synchronizer 22 is disposed in the receiving groove 200. The synchronizer 22 has two second helical surfaces 220 at two opposite ends along the axial direction that abut against the two first helical surfaces 201, so that the two rotating members 20' can rotate synchronously with each other in opposite directions.

[0071] In this embodiment, a receiving groove 200 can be provided at one end of the two rotating members 20' that are rotatably connected to the base 10. In other words, the rotating members 20' on the left and right sides are provided with receiving grooves 200, and along the axial direction of the rotating member 20', the groove walls at the opposite ends of the receiving groove 200 are provided with first helical surfaces 201. The synchronizer 22 is sleeved on the two rotating shafts 11 to prevent the synchronizer 22 from rotating with the rotating member 20', and at least part of the synchronizer 22 can be provided in the receiving groove 200, and the opposite ends of the synchronizer 22 in the axial direction, i.e., the surfaces corresponding to the two first helical surfaces 201, are provided with second helical surfaces 220, and the second helical surfaces 220 and the first helical surfaces 201 are in contact with each other.

[0072] When the folding device 1 moves, a rotating member 20' rotates relative to the base 10 to rotate the first helical surface 201, thereby driving the second helical surface 220 matched with the first helical surface 201 to slide, and then the synchronous member 22 slides relative to the base 10 in the axial direction. When the synchronous member 22 slides, the second helical surface 220 on the other side of the synchronous member 22 will also slide, thereby driving the first helical surface 201 matched with the second helical surface 220 to rotate, and then the other rotating member 20' rotates synchronously and in the opposite direction compared to the first rotating member 20', thereby achieving the effect of synchronous rotation of the left and right sides of the folding device 1. In summary, when a rotating member 20' rotates in a first direction, a rotating member 20', a synchronous member 22, and another rotating member 20' can make the other rotating member 20' rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the cooperation of the spiral surface, thereby achieving synchronous reverse motion.

[0073] Further optionally, the synchronizer 22 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11 to further improve the sliding precision and stability, so that the synchronizer 22 does not rotate during the movement, and can only slide along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 11. Of course, in other embodiments, the synchronizer 22 may not be sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, and only rely on the two second helical surfaces 220 of the synchronizer 22 to abut against the two first helical surfaces 201 of the rotating member 20' for fixation.

[0074] Since the present embodiment can use the synchronizer 22 to achieve the synchronization effect, the gear synchronization scheme in the related art can be omitted, and compared with the four-gear synchronization scheme in the related art, the synchronizer 22 has a smaller dimension in the thickness direction, which can effectively reduce the thickness of the entire folding device 1. The base 10 can cross the synchronizer 22 in the axial direction to achieve the integration of the base 10, that is, the base 10 can be an integrated structure, thereby improving the strength of the folding device 1 and the reliability in states such as falling.

[0075] Further optionally, the synchronizer 22 may be an integrated structure or a split structure. When the synchronizer 22 is an integrated structure, the synchronizer 22 may be prepared through a single process, and when the synchronizer 22 is a split structure, multiple sub-components of the synchronizer 22 may be connected together by welding, riveting, bonding, snapping, etc.

[0076] Please refer to Fig. 9 In this embodiment, the synchronizer 22 includes a first sub-synchronizer 221, a second sub-synchronizer 222, and an elastic member 223 that is held in a compressed state between the first sub-synchronizer 221 and the second sub-synchronizer 222. One of the second helical surfaces 220 is disposed on a side of the first sub-synchronizer 221 that is away from the second sub-synchronizer 222, and the other second helical surface 220 is disposed on a side of the second sub-synchronizer 222 that is away from the first sub-synchronizer 221. The elastic member 223 is held between the first sub-synchronizer 221 and the second sub-synchronizer 222 and is always in a compressed state. The synchronization effect can also be achieved by using the split first sub-synchronizing member 221 and the second sub-synchronizing member 222, and the elastic member 223 in a compressed state can make the second helical surfaces 220 of the first sub-synchronizing member 221 and the second sub-synchronizing member 222 always tightly abut against the first helical surface 201 of the second rotating member 40, which can not only further improve the torque of the folding device 1, but also compensate for the error caused by the gap generated during the movement between the first sub-synchronizing member 221, the second sub-synchronizing member 222, and the rotating member 20'.

[0077] Please refer to Fig.10 In this embodiment, one end of the friction member 21 has an opening 213, and the friction member 21 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11 through the opening 213. The friction member 21 includes two circular parts 211 and a connecting part 212 connecting the two circular parts 211. Each circular part 211 has a sleeve hole 210 for sleeved a rotating shaft 11, and one end of each circular part 211 has an opening connected to the sleeve hole 210, and the connecting part 212 is arranged between the two rotating shafts 11. The friction member 21 can be sleeved in the rotating shaft 11 through the opening 213 along the axial direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 11, thereby reducing the difficulty of installing the friction member 21 sleeved on the rotating shaft 11.

[0078] Optionally, the width of the opening 213 of the friction member 21 is smaller than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 11. For example, if the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 11 is 0.8 mm, the width of the opening 213 may be 0.79 mm. In this way, after the friction member 21 is assembled on the rotating shaft 11, the friction member 21 can be prevented from falling off, thereby improving the connection performance between the friction member 21 and the rotating shaft 11.

[0079] Optionally, the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 can be an integrated structure or a split structure. When the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 are an integrated structure, the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 can be prepared through a single process, but for ease of understanding, the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 are artificially named differently. When the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 are a split structure, the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 can be prepared separately and then the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 can be fixedly connected together by various methods (such as bonding, screw connection, snap connection, etc.). This embodiment is only schematically described with the circular portion 211 and the connecting portion 212 as an integrated structure.

[0080] Of course, in other embodiments, the friction member 21 may only be provided with the sleeve hole 210 without the opening 213, so that the friction member 21 can be sleeved on the rotating shaft 11 from one axial end of the rotating shaft 11, and the contact area between the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21 can be increased to increase the friction force, thereby increasing the torque of the rotating member 20'. Optionally, the end of the rotating shaft 11 has a chamfer, in other words, the end of the rotating shaft 11 is closer to the end face of the rotating shaft 11, and the outer diameter of the side is smaller, so as to facilitate the sleeve of the friction member 21.

[0081] In this embodiment, the friction member 21 includes a plurality of sub-friction members 214 arranged along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 11. The friction member 21 is not an independent component, but is composed of a plurality of sub-friction members 214. In this embodiment, the friction member 21 is schematically illustrated as including 15 sub-friction members 214. The plurality of sub-friction members 214 are all sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, and the plurality of sub-friction members 214 are arranged in a square along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 11. In this embodiment, friction forces of different force values ​​can be generated by adjusting the number of sub-friction members 214, thereby generating torques of different force values. Optionally, two adjacent sub-friction members 214 abut against each other, so that more sub-friction members 214 can be sleeved on the rotating shaft 11.

[0082] Optionally, the size, dimensions, material, structure, etc. of the plurality of friction sub-members 214 may be the same or different. This embodiment is only schematically described as the plurality of friction sub-members 214 having the same size, dimensions, material, and structure.

[0083] In this embodiment, the friction member 21 has a sleeve hole 210 , and the diameter of the sleeve hole 210 is smaller than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 11 , so that the friction member 21 and the rotating shaft 11 are interference fit.

[0084] The sleeve hole 210 of the friction member 21 has been described in detail above, and this embodiment will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the diameter of the sleeve hole 210 can be set to the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 11. For example, the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 11 is designed to be 0.8 mm, and the diameter of the sleeve hole 210 is designed to be 0.79 mm. In this way, when the friction member 21 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, not only can the friction member 21 and the rotating member 20' be interference-fitted, but the friction member 21 and the rotating shaft 11 can also be tightly fitted, so that the outer peripheral side surfaces of the rotating shaft 11 are all in contact with the hole wall of the sleeve hole 210, increasing the contact area between the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21, thereby increasing the friction force, and then increasing the torsional force of the rotating member 20'. In addition, the friction member 21 can be prevented from sliding along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 11 during use or transportation of the folding device 1, thereby ensuring the stability of the friction member 21.

[0085] Please refer to Fig.11 In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 11 includes a first portion 111 for fixing the rotating member 20', and a second portion 112 for penetrating the friction member 21, and the diameter of the second portion 112 is larger than the diameter of the first portion 111. The rotating shaft 11 must cooperate with both the rotating member 20' and the friction member 21, so in this embodiment, the portion of the rotating shaft 11 for fixing the rotating member 20' can be called the first portion 111, and the portion penetrating the friction member 21 or sleeved by the friction member 21 can be called the second portion 112. In addition, the diameter of the second portion 112 can be larger than the diameter of the first portion 111, that is, the diameter of the portion of the rotating shaft 11 sleeved by the friction member 21 is larger, and the diameter of the portion for fixing the rotating member 20' is smaller. Of course, when the diameter of the portion of the rotating shaft 11 sleeved by the friction member 21 increases, the diameter of the sleeve hole 210 correspondingly opened in the friction member 21 will also increase, thereby increasing the contact area between the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21 to increase the friction force, thereby increasing the torque of the rotating member 20'. In summary, the rotating shaft 11 provided in this embodiment is not a component with completely the same diameter, but a component with different diameters in different areas, thereby increasing friction and torque.

[0086] Optionally, the first part 111 and the second part 112 can be an integral structure or a split structure. When the first part 111 and the second part 112 are an integral structure, the first part 111 and the second part 112 can be prepared through a single process, but for ease of understanding, different areas of the rotating shaft 11 are artificially named differently. When the first part 111 and the second part 112 are a split structure, the first part 111 and the second part 112 can be prepared separately and then the first part 111 and the second part 112 can be fixedly connected together by various methods (such as bonding, screw connection, snap connection, etc.). This embodiment is only schematically described with the first part 111 and the second part 112 as an integral structure.

[0087] Optionally, the rotating shaft 11 may include a third part, a fourth part, etc. for connecting other components in addition to the first part 111 and the second part 112 .

[0088] Please refer to Fig.12 In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20' are fixedly connected by the protrusion 113 and the groove 203. The protrusion 113 is provided on one of the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20', and the groove 203 is provided on the other of the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20'.

[0089] When the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20' are split structures, the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20' can be fixedly connected by the protrusion 113 and the groove 203. Specifically, the protrusion 113 is provided on one of the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20', and the groove 203 is provided on the other of the rotating shaft 11 and the rotating member 20'. When the protrusion 113 is provided on the rotating shaft 11, the groove 203 is provided on the rotating member 20', and when the protrusion 113 is provided on the rotating member 20', the groove 203 is provided on the rotating shaft 11. This embodiment is only schematically described with the protrusion 113 provided on the rotating shaft 11 and the groove 203 provided on the rotating member 20'. For example, the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 11 may be provided with a square protrusion 113, which extends along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 11 and extends to the first part 111 of the rotating member 20'. The rotating member 20' has a through hole 202 sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, and a square groove 203 corresponding to the square protrusion 113 is opened on the inner side wall of the through hole 202. The rotating member 20' can be sleeved on the rotating shaft 11 from one end of the rotating shaft 11 through the through hole 202 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 11, and the square protrusion 113 on the rotating shaft 11 is arranged in the square groove 203 of the rotating member 20' during the sleeve process. When the rotating member 20' is sleeved on the rotating shaft 11, the rotating member 20' can drive the rotating shaft 11 to rotate relative to the base 10 due to the restriction of the protrusion 113 and the groove 203, and then the rotating member 20' and the friction member 21 are rubbed. Of course, in other embodiments, the groove 203 may be provided on the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 11, and the protrusion 113 may be provided on the hole wall of the through hole 202 of the rotating member 20', and this method should also belong to the protection scope of this application.

[0090] Optionally, in this embodiment, two square protrusions 113 are evenly arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 11, and the hole wall of the through hole 202 of the rotating member 20' is correspondingly provided with two square grooves 203, and the two square protrusions 113 can be arranged in the two square grooves 203. Of course, in other embodiments, one square protrusion 113 or multiple square protrusions 113 can also be provided, and the hole wall of the through hole 202 of the rotating member 20' can also be correspondingly provided with one square groove 203 or multiple square grooves 203.

[0091] Optionally, the present embodiment is schematically illustrated by using the protrusion 113 as a square protrusion 113 and the groove 203 as a square groove 203. In other embodiments, the protrusion 113 may be a protrusion 113 of other shapes such as an arc-shaped protrusion 113, a conical protrusion 113, etc., and the groove 203 may be a groove 203 of other shapes such as an arc-shaped groove 203, a conical groove 203, etc.

[0092] Optionally, the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' can be an integrated structure or a split structure. When the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' are an integrated structure, the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' can be prepared in one process, but for the sake of ease of understanding, the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' are artificially named differently. When the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' are split structures, the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' can be prepared separately and then fixedly connected to the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' by various methods (such as bonding, screw connection, snap connection, etc.). This embodiment is only schematically described as the protrusion 113 and the rotating member 20' are an integrated structure.

[0093] Please refer to Figure 13-Figure 18 The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment further includes two first rotating members 30, two second rotating members 40, two connecting members 50, and two supporting members 60. The two first rotating members 30 are respectively rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base 10, and the two second rotating members 40 are respectively rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base 10. One of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 located on the same side of the base 10 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 50, and the other is slidably connected to the connecting member 50. Each supporting member 60 is rotatably connected to one connecting member 50, and is slidably and rotatably connected to the other of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40. The rotating member 20' is at least one of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40.

[0094] The first rotating member 30, the second rotating member 40, and the connecting member 50 in the folding device 1 can be collectively referred to as a track mechanism 1b, which is mainly used to control the motion track of the supporting member 60, thereby controlling the cross-sectional shape of the flexible screen in the subsequent folding state, ensuring better support for the flexible screen without damaging the various layer structures in the flexible screen. Next, this embodiment will introduce the first rotating member 30, the second rotating member 40, the connecting member 50, and the supporting member 60 in detail.

[0095] The two first rotating members 30 in the folding device 1 mainly realize the folding function through their rotation ability, and through the rotation of the two first rotating members 30, the components connected with the two first rotating members 30 are driven and limited, so that these components move according to the predetermined motion trajectory. The two first rotating members 30 are rotatably connected to the base 10 and the two first rotating members 30 are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the base 10, that is, the two first rotating members 30 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the two first rotating members 30 are rotatably connected to the base 10 at one end close to the base 10. Since the base 10 is fixed, only the two first rotating members 30 rotate. The opposite sides of the base 10 mentioned in this embodiment refer to the opposite sides along the width direction of the base 10, and the width direction can be understood as the arrangement direction of the two first rotating members 30. The opposite sides in this embodiment and the following can be understood in the same way. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the first rotating member 30, as long as the first rotating member 30 can be rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0096] Optionally, the two first rotating members 30 are rotatably connected to the side of the base 10. Further optionally, in one embodiment, the two first rotating members 30 are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10. In another embodiment, the two first rotating members 30 are arranged non-axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10, in other words, the two first rotating members 30 have a partially overlapping area in the length direction of the folding device 1. This embodiment is only schematically described with the two first rotating members 30 being arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10.

[0097] The second rotating member 40 has the same function as the first rotating member 30. In the folding device 1, the folding function is mainly achieved through its ability to rotate, and the components connected to the two second rotating members 40 are driven and limited by the rotation of the two second rotating members 40, so that these components move according to a predetermined motion trajectory. The two second rotating members 40 are respectively rotatably connected to the opposite sides of the base 10, and the two second rotating members 40 and the two first rotating members 30 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the base 10. This not only simplifies the structure of the folding device 1, but also enables the second rotating member 40 and the first rotating member 30 to be better rotatably connected to the base 10. In other words, the two second rotating members 40 are rotatably connected to the base 10 at one end close to the base 10. Since the base 10 is fixed, only the two second rotating members 40 rotate. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the second rotating member 40, as long as the second rotating member 40 can be rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0098] Optionally, the two second rotating members 40 are rotatably connected to the side of the base 10. Optionally, in one embodiment, the two second rotating members 40 are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10, and in another embodiment, the two second rotating members 40 are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the base 10, in other words, the two second rotating members 40 have a partially overlapping area in the length direction of the folding device 1. This embodiment is only schematically described with the two second rotating members 40 being arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10.

[0099] The connecting member 50 mainly serves to connect various components in the folding device 1. One of each first rotating member 30 and each second rotating member 40 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 50, and the other is slidably connected to a connecting member 50. That is, each first rotating member 30 is rotatably connected to a connecting member 50, and the side of each first rotating member 30 away from the base 10 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 50. In other words, the first rotating member 30 can rotate relative to the connecting member 50. And each second rotating member 40 is slidably connected to a connecting member 50, that is, the side of each second rotating member 40 away from the base 10 is slidably connected to the connecting member 50, which can also be understood as the second rotating member 40 can slide relative to the connecting member 50. Alternatively, each first rotating member 30 is slidably connected to the connecting member 50, and each second rotating member 40 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 50. In addition, the connecting member 50 is also used to connect the shell later, so that the connecting member 50 and the shell are fixed together, so that when the shell rotates, the connecting member 50 can be driven to rotate together. This embodiment does not limit the shape, structure, material and other parameters of the connecting member 50, as long as the connecting member 50 can realize rotational connection with one rotating member 20' and sliding connection with another rotating member 20'. This embodiment is only schematically described by rotatably connecting each first rotating member 30 with one connecting member 50 and sliding connection with each second rotating member 40 with one connecting member 50.

[0100] The support member 60 is mainly used to support the flexible screen when the folding device 1 is subsequently applied to an electronic device, so as to control the folding shape of the flexible screen, so the support member 60 can also be called an inclined plate. Similarly, the bearing member 70 can also be called a middle plate, and the folding device 1 can include two inclined plates and a middle plate, so the folding device 1 can also be called a three-plate structure. Optionally, the flexible screen can be bonded to the support member 60 by means of adhesive or the like, so that the shape of the flexible screen is more natural during the bending process, the stress is small after bending, and the damage to the flexible screen is reduced. Each support member 60 is arranged on a connecting member 50. Specifically, the support member 60 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 50, that is, the support member 60 can rotate relative to the connecting member 50, and the support member 60 slides and rotates to connect the other of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40. In other words, the support member 60 can rotate relative to the other of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40, and the support member 60 can also slide relative to the other of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40. This embodiment is only schematically described by taking the support member 60 as sliding and rotatingly connected to the second rotating member 40 .

[0101] The folding device 1 may further include a decorative member 80 , which is disposed on the bottom surface 100 and the side surface of the base 10 to protect and cover the base 10 and other components so that the user cannot observe the inside of the folding device 1 .

[0102] The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can regard the first rotating member 30, the second rotating member 40, the connecting member 50, and the supporting member 60 on one side of the base 10 as a left module, and the first rotating member 30, the second rotating member 40, the connecting member 50, and the supporting member 60 on the other side of the base 10 as a right module. The left module and the right module can be symmetrically designed or asymmetrically designed. This embodiment is only schematically illustrated as a symmetrical design of the left module and the right module.

[0103] The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can form a track mechanism 1b with the base 10, two first rotating members 30, two second rotating members 40, and two connecting members 50. In one embodiment, the folding device 1 includes a track mechanism 1b, which is arranged on one side of the support member 60. In another embodiment, the folding device 1 includes two track mechanisms 1b, which are arranged on one side of the support member 60, and the two track mechanisms 1b are arranged along the extension direction of the support member 60. At this time, the support member 60 rotates to connect the two connecting members 50, and slides and rotates to connect the two second rotating members 40. In other embodiments, the folding device 1 includes three or more track mechanisms 1b, which are arranged on one side of the support member 60, and the three or more track mechanisms 1b are arranged along the extension direction of the support member 60. At this time, the support member 60 rotates to connect three or more connecting members 50, and slides and rotates to connect three or more second rotating members 40. This embodiment is only schematically described as the folding device 1 including three track mechanisms 1b and two support members 60. Of course, the solution of two track mechanisms 1b and the solution of one track mechanism 1b should also fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0104] The rotation mentioned above can be understood as the two parts being able to perform circular motion around the axis of rotation, with only a change in angle but no change in displacement. Sliding can be understood as the two parts being able to perform parallel motion, with only a change in displacement but no change in angle. The fact that the two parts can both slide and rotate means that the two parts have both a change in displacement and a change in angle, and this sliding and rotating can also be referred to as rolling. Therefore, the relationship between the support member 60 and the second rotating member 40 can also be referred to as the support member 60 rollingly connected to the second rotating member 40.

[0105] Based on the above connection relationship, it can be known that the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment is composed of 6 kinematic pairs on one side, specifically, the first rotating member 30 cooperates with the base 10 to form a rotating pair, the first rotating member 30 cooperates with the connecting member 50 to form a rotating pair, the second rotating member 40 cooperates with the base 10 to form a rotating pair, the second rotating member 40 cooperates with the connecting member 50 to form a sliding pair, the supporting member 60 cooperates with the second rotating member 40 to form a rolling pair, and the supporting member 60 cooperates with the connecting member 50 to form a rotating pair. Therefore, the total degree of freedom of the various components on one side to cooperate together is 3*4 (a total of 4 components on one side, such as 1 first rotating member 30, 1 second rotating member 40, 1 connecting member 50, and 1 supporting member 60)-2*5 (a total of 5 low pairs on one side, such as 1 sliding pair and 4 rotating pairs)-1*1 (a total of 1 high pair on one side, such as 1 rolling pair) = 1.

[0106] Therefore, when the folding device 1 moves, the movement trajectory and movement route of each component are unique. Specifically, when the folding device 1 is folded, the connecting member 50 rotates relative to the base 10, the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 also rotate relative to the base 10, the second rotating member 40 also slides relative to the connecting member 50, the second rotating member 40 also slides and rotates relative to the support member 60, and the support member 60 also rotates relative to the connecting member 50, and finally the two support members 60 are folded relative to each other. When the folding device 1 is unfolded, the connecting member 50 rotates relative to the base 10, the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 also rotate relative to the base 10, the second rotating member 40 also slides relative to the connecting member 50, the second rotating member 40 also slides and rotates relative to the support member 60, and the support member 60 also rotates relative to the connecting member 50, and finally the two support members 60 are unfolded relative to each other.

[0107] The movement process of the folding device 1 mentioned above has a variety of active and passive logical relationships, and the present application uses one specific movement process as an example to illustrate. When the folding device 1 is folded, that is, when the folding device 1 is in the process of changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, in other words, when the two connecting members 50 rotate relative to the base 10 and approach each other, since the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 are both rotated to connect the base 10, the connecting member 50 can drive the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 to rotate relative to the base 10. And in the process of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 rotating, the second rotating member 40 can also slide relative to the connecting member 50, that is, the connecting member 50 can slide along the second rotating member 40, thereby changing the distance between the connecting member 50 and the base 10. When the connecting member 50 slides, since the support member 60 is arranged on the connecting member 50, the connecting member 50 can drive the support member 60 to slide together. When the support member 60 slides, the second rotating member 40 can also slide and rotate relative to the support member 60, thereby driving the support member 60 to rotate relative to the connecting member 50. Of course, in other embodiments, the support member 60 may not rotate relative to the connecting member 50 during the sliding and rotating process of the second rotating member 40, that is, the support member 60 and the connecting member 50 remain stationary, and finally the two support members 60 can be folded with each other.

[0108] Similarly, when the folding device 1 is unfolded, that is, when the folding device 1 is in the process of changing from the folded state to the unfolded state, in other words, when the two connecting members 50 rotate in the opposite direction relative to the base 10 and move away from each other, since the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 are both rotated to connect the base 10, the connecting member 50 can drive the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 to rotate relative to the base 10. In addition, during the rotation of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40, the second rotating member 40 can also slide relative to the connecting member 50, that is, the connecting member 50 can slide along the second rotating member 40, thereby changing the distance between the connecting member 50 and the base 10. When the connecting member 50 slides, since the support member 60 is disposed on the connecting member 50, the connecting member 50 can drive the support member 60 to slide together. When the support member 60 slides, the second rotating member 40 can also slide and rotate relative to the support member 60, thereby driving the support member 60 to rotate relative to the connecting member 50. Of course, in other embodiments, the support member 60 may not rotate relative to the connecting member 50 during the sliding and rotating process of the second rotating member 40, that is, the support member 60 and the connecting member 50 remain stationary, and finally the two support members 60 can be unfolded to each other.

[0109] In other embodiments, the active and passive relationships of the above-mentioned components can be reversed, for example, the support member 60 can rotate relative to the base 10 to drive the first rotating member 30, the second rotating member 40, and the connecting member 50 to rotate relative to the base 10. Such movement processes and principles should also fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0110] like Fig.16 As shown, when the two support members 60 are parallel to each other and are located on opposite sides of the base 10, the two support members 60 are in a state of being fully unfolded relative to each other. In other words, the folding device 1 is in an unfolded state. Fig.18 As shown in FIG. 1 , when the two support members 60 are both located on one side of the base 10, it can also be understood that the two support members 60 are both located on the top surface 101 of the base 10. At this time, the two support members 60 are in a state of being completely folded with each other. In other words, the folding device 1 is in a folded state. When the two support members 60 are folded with each other, that is, the process of the folding device 1 from the unfolded state to the folded state can also be understood as the process from the unfolded state to the folded state. Figures 16 to 18 When the two support members 60 are unfolded from each other, that is, the process of the folding device 1 from the folded state to the unfolded state can also be understood as the process from Figure 18 to Figure 16 process.

[0111] like Fig.18As shown, when the folding device 1 is in a folded state, the two support members 60 and the base 10 are jointly enclosed to form a screen space 1a for accommodating the flexible screen. The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can make the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a U-shaped or teardrop-shaped. When the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a is U-shaped, the distance between the two support members 60 at the end away from the base 10 is equal to the distance between the two support members 60 at the end close to the base 10. At this time, the structure of the folding device 1 is simple and the reliability of the whole machine is high. When the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a is teardrop-shaped, the distance between the two support members 60 at the end away from the base 10 is less than the distance between the two support members 60 at the end close to the base 10. At this time, after folding, the whole folding device 1 is thinner and flat. This embodiment is only schematically illustrated with the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a being teardrop-shaped.

[0112] In addition, the rotating member 20' includes at least one of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40, that is, the first rotating member 30 can be the rotating member 20' mentioned above, so as to cooperate with the rotating shaft 11, so that the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21 rub against each other. Or the second rotating member 40 can be the rotating member 20' mentioned above and cooperate with the rotating shaft 11, so that the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21 rub against each other. Or both the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 can be the rotating member 20' mentioned above and cooperate with the sliding rotating shaft 11, so that the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21 rub against each other. In other words, the rotating member 20' mentioned above is a component of the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40, but they are artificially named differently. This embodiment only schematically illustrates the rotating member 20' as the second rotating member 40. In other embodiments, the rotating member 20' can also cooperate with the first rotating member 30. For example, the first rotating member 30 is sleeved and fixed on the rotating shaft 11 , so that when the first rotating member 30 rotates relative to the base 10 , the rotating shaft 11 is driven to rotate relative to the base 10 , thereby achieving rotational friction between the rotating shaft 11 and the friction member 21 .

[0113] The present application will now describe in detail the components that cooperate with each other. Since most components are two in number, this embodiment will only describe the components that cooperate with each other in detail. Fig.14 and Fig.15 The components on the right side of the base 10 in the folding device 1 are schematically illustrated, and the same understanding can be applied to the components on the left side of the base 10 .

[0114] Please refer to Fig.19In this embodiment, the first rotation axis C1 between the first rotating member 30 and the base 10 and the second rotation axis C2 between the second rotating member 40 and the base 10 are parallel to each other. The first rotation axis C1 is farther from the bottom surface 100 of the base 10 than the second rotation axis C2, and when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the first rotation axis C1 is farther from the connecting member 50 than the second rotation axis C2. In other words, the first rotation axis C1 is higher and further to the left than the second rotation axis C2, so Fig.19 In the figure, the first rotation axis C1 is located at the upper left, and the second rotation axis C2 is located at the lower right. The first rotating member 30 moves in the form of rotation, which determines the position of the connecting member 50 during the movement. The second rotating member 40 moves in the form of rotation and sliding, which determines the angle of the connecting member 50 during the movement. The position and angle of the connecting member 50 are determined by the mutual cooperation between the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40.

[0115] Specifically, when the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 rotate, the connecting member 50 can slide in a direction away from the base 10 when the folding device 1 is folded, based on the sliding of the connecting member 50 relative to the second rotating member 40. When the folding device 1 is unfolded, the connecting member 50 slides in a direction close to the base 10, so that the supporting member 60 can further move according to a preset trajectory, so that when the folding device 1 is in a folded state, the folding device 1 forms a water drop-shaped screen space 1a. In this way, no matter whether the folding device 1 is folded or unfolded, when the connecting member 50 rotates relative to the base 10, the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 are also driven to rotate relative to the base 10, so that the connecting member 50 slides relative to the second rotating member 40, thereby changing the distance between the connecting member 50 and the base 10, driving the supporting member 60 rotatably connected to the connecting member 50 to slide relative to the second rotating member 40, changing the distance between the supporting member 60 and the base 10, and then realizing the subsequent movement process. In summary, in this embodiment, no new components need to be added, and the sliding of the connecting member 50 relative to the second rotating member 40 can be achieved only by designing the positions of the first rotating axis C1 and the second rotating axis C2 .

[0116] In this embodiment, the first rotating member 30 and the base 10 are connected by the first arc rail and the first arc groove. The first arc rail is provided on one of the first rotating member 30 and the base 10, and the first arc groove is provided on one of the first rotating member 30 and the base 10. For example, when the first arc rail is provided on the first rotating member 30, the first arc groove is provided on the base 10. When the first arc groove is provided on the first rotating member 30, the first arc rail is provided on the base 10. In this embodiment, the first arc rail is provided on the first rotating member 30 and the first arc groove is provided on the base 10 for schematic description. Specifically, a circular arc block is provided on one side of the first rotating member 30 close to the base 10, and the block is the first arc rail. The base 10 is provided with a protrusion 113, and an arc-shaped groove body is provided in the protrusion 113, and the groove body is the first arc groove. The first arc track is provided in the first arc groove, and the axis of the first arc groove is colinear with the axis of the first arc track, so that the first rotating member 30 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the first rotating member 30 and the base 10 can be rotatably connected together through the arc slide rail and the arc slide groove.

[0117] As for the size and curvature of the first arc groove and the first arc track, they can be designed according to the position of the rotation axis between the first rotating member 30 and the base 10. The design of the first arc groove and the first arc track can make the position of the rotation axis inside the base 10 or outside the base 10. By adjusting the size and curvature of the first arc groove and the first arc track, the position of the rotation axis can be better designed, thereby achieving the above-mentioned positional relationship between the rotation axis and the rotation axis. Of course, in other embodiments, the first arc groove can also be provided on the first rotating member 30, and the first arc track can be provided on the base 10.

[0118] In summary, this embodiment can better adjust the position of the rotation axis by adopting the rotation connection scheme of the first arc groove and the first arc rail, so as to achieve the purpose of making the rotation axis parallel to each other, so that the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2 meet the above position relationship. In addition, the matching form of the first arc groove and the first arc rail makes it possible to change the distance from the end of the first rotation member 30 away from the base 10 to the base 10 when the first rotation member 30 rotates relative to the base 10, thereby adjusting the distance between the first rotation member 30 and the base 10, and further achieving the purpose of controlling the sliding of the support member 60 relative to the base 10.

[0119] In this embodiment, the second rotating member 40 and the base 10 are connected by the first rotating shaft and the first rotating hole, the first rotating shaft is provided at one of the second rotating member 40 and the base 10, and the first rotating hole is provided at the other of the second rotating member 40 and the base 10. Since the second rotating member 40 is rotatably connected to the base 10, in this embodiment, the second rotating member 40 and the base 10 can be connected by the first rotating shaft and the first rotating hole, the first rotating shaft is provided at one of the second rotating member 40 and the base 10, and the first rotating hole is provided at the other of the second rotating member 40 and the base 10. For example, when the first rotating shaft is provided at the second rotating member 40, the first rotating hole is provided at the base 10. When the first rotating hole is provided at the second rotating member 40, the first rotating shaft is provided at the base 10. In this embodiment, the first rotating shaft is provided at the base 10 and the first rotating hole is provided at the second rotating member 40 for schematic illustration. Optionally, the first rotating shaft includes but is not limited to the rotating shaft 11 mentioned above.

[0120] From the above content, it can be known that since the first rotating member 30 and the base 10 can be matched through the first arc groove and the first arc track, the position of the rotation axis between the first rotating member 30 and the base 10 can be changed by designing the curvature and size of the first arc groove and the first arc track. Therefore, there is no need to change the position of the rotation axis between the second rotating member 40 and the base 10, and only the first rotating shaft and the first rotating hole can be used to match, thereby simplifying the structure of the folding device 1.

[0121] In this embodiment, the first rotating member 30 and the connecting member 50 are connected by the second rotating shaft and the second rotating hole, the second rotating shaft is provided at one of the first rotating member 30 and the connecting member 50, and the second rotating hole is provided at the other of the first rotating member 30 and the connecting member 50. Since the first rotating member 30 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 50, the first rotating member 30 and the connecting member 50 can be connected by the second rotating shaft and the second rotating hole in this embodiment, the second rotating shaft is provided at one of the first rotating member 30 and the connecting member 50, and the second rotating hole is provided at the other of the first rotating member 30 and the connecting member 50. For example, when the second rotating shaft is provided at the first rotating member 30, the second rotating hole is provided at the connecting member 50. When the second rotating hole is provided at the first rotating member 30, the second rotating shaft is provided at the connecting member 50. This embodiment is only schematically described with the second rotating shaft provided at the connecting member 50 and the second rotating hole provided at the first rotating member 30. Optionally, the second rotating shaft includes but is not limited to a pin.

[0122] From the above content, it can be known that when the connecting member 50 rotates relative to the base 10 and drives the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40 to rotate relative to the base 10, the connecting member 50 will also slide relative to the second rotating member 40. Therefore, the distance between the connecting member 50 and the base 10 will change, and the distance between the connecting member 50 and the first rotating member 30 will also change. However, since the first rotating member 30 is rotatably connected to the base 10, the first rotating member 30 cannot move. Therefore, in order to avoid interference during movement, the first rotating member 30 can be rotatably connected to the connecting member 50. When the connecting member 50 slides relative to the second rotating member 40, the first rotating member 30 also rotates relative to the connecting member 50 to compensate for the distance when the connecting member 50 slides, ensuring the smoothness of the movement of the folding device 1.

[0123] Please refer to Fig.15 and Fig. 20 In this embodiment, the second rotating member 40 and the connecting member 50 are connected by means of a sliding block 42 and a sliding groove 52. The sliding block 42 is provided at one of the second rotating member 40 and the connecting member 50, and the sliding groove 52 is provided at the other of the second rotating member 40 and the connecting member 50. The connecting member 50 has a back surface 500 for facing away from the flexible screen, and the distance between the end of the sliding block 42 close to the base 10 and the back surface 500 is smaller than the distance between the end of the sliding block 42 away from the base 10 and the back surface 500.

[0124] The sliding block 42 is not arranged horizontally but inclined, and the farther the sliding block 42 is from the base 10, the greater the distance between the sliding block 42 and the back 500. Since the sliding block 42 is arranged inclined, the sliding groove 52 is also arranged inclined to match the sliding block 42, and the distance between the end of the sliding groove 52 close to the base 10 and the back 500 is smaller than the distance between the end of the sliding groove 52 away from the base 10 and the back 500. When the folding device 1 is changed from the unfolded state to the folded state, the connecting member 50 slides relative to the second rotating member 40 in the direction away from the base 10. By designing the shapes of the sliding block 42 and the sliding groove 52, not only can the supporting member 60 be further moved according to the preset trajectory, but also when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the folding device 1 forms a water drop-shaped screen space 1a. When the two connecting members 50 slide in the direction away from the base 10, the two connecting members 50 also approach each other, so that when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the distance between the two connecting members 50 can be reduced, and the thickness of the folding device 1 in the folded state can be reduced. The two opposite ends of the flexible screen can also be made to abut against each other, thereby eliminating the gap between the two ends of the flexible screen when in a folded state, thereby improving the safety performance of the flexible screen and improving the appearance effect.

[0125] Please refer to Figure 21-23In this embodiment, the support member 60 includes a support portion 61 and a rolling portion 62. The support portion 61 has a support surface 610 for supporting the flexible screen. The rolling portion 62 is disposed on a side of the support portion 61 away from the support surface 610. The second rotating member 40 and the rolling portion 62 are connected by a first rolling shaft 43 and a first rolling groove 620. The first rolling shaft 43 is disposed on one of the second rotating member 40 and the rolling portion 62. The first rolling groove 620 is disposed on the other of the second rotating member 40 and the rolling portion 62. The first rolling groove 620 has a first limiting end 621 and a second limiting end 622 that are disposed opposite to each other. The first limiting end 621 is further away from the base 10 than the second limiting end 622, and the first limiting end 621 is further away from the support surface 610 than the second limiting end 622. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the first rolling shaft 43 is positioned at the first limit end 621 , and when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the first rolling shaft 43 is positioned at the second limit end 622 .

[0126] Optionally, the support portion 61 and the rolling portion 62 may be an integrated structure or a split structure. When the support portion 61 and the rolling portion 62 are an integrated structure, the support portion 61 and the rolling portion 62 may be prepared through one process, but for ease of understanding, different regions of the support member 60 are artificially named differently. When the support portion 61 and the rolling portion 62 are split structures, the support portion 61 and the rolling portion 62 may be prepared separately and then fixedly connected together by various methods (such as bonding, screw connection, snap connection, etc.). This embodiment is only schematically described with the support portion 61 and the rolling portion 62 being an integrated structure.

[0127] The first limit end 621 is farther away from the base 10 than the second limit end 622, and the first limit end 621 is farther away from the support surface 610 than the second limit end 622. In other words, the first limit end 621 is further to the right and lower than the second limit end 622, that is, the first limit end 621 is located at the lower right position, and the second limit end 622 is located at the upper left position. During the movement of the folding device 1, when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the first rolling axis 43 is positioned at the first limit end 621 to prevent the support member 60 from folding back and damaging the subsequent flexible screen. When the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the first rolling axis 43 is positioned at the second limit end 622 to prevent the support member 60 from folding back and damaging the subsequent flexible screen. It can also be understood that when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the first rolling axis 43 is located at the lower right, and when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the first rolling axis 43 is located at the upper left.

[0128] The first rolling groove 620 also has a first connecting portion 623 connecting the first limiting end 621 and the second limiting end 622. The first connecting portion 623 protrudes 113 in the direction away from the support surface 610, so that the position of the first rolling shaft 43 in the first rolling groove 620 can be controlled during the entire movement process, thereby controlling the positional relationship between the rotation axis between the support member 60 and the connecting member 50 and the first rolling shaft 43, so that the support member 60 rotates to form a teardrop shape in the folded state. In addition, the arc-shaped first rolling groove 620 can also make the rolling of the first rolling shaft 43 smoother, thereby improving the smoothness and stability of the movement of the folding device 1. Of course, in other embodiments, the shape of the first connecting portion 623 can also be a straight line, or other shapes, as long as the positions of the first limiting end 621 and the second limiting end 622 meet the above-mentioned positional relationship.

[0129] The first rolling groove 620 also has a second connecting portion 624 connecting the first connecting portion 623 and the first limiting end 621, and the extension direction of the second connecting portion 624 is parallel to the support surface 610. In the process of the folding device 1 from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first rolling shaft 43 does not move directly from the first limiting end 621 to the second connecting portion 624, but first moves to the second connecting portion 624 and then moves to the first connecting portion 623. In this way, when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the horizontal second connecting portion 624 can be used to support the first rolling shaft 43, and the second connecting portion 624 can be used to achieve buffering, so as to prevent the first rolling shaft 43 from moving from the first limiting end 621 to the arc-shaped first connecting portion 623 by itself, thereby improving the stability of the folding device 1. In addition, the horizontally arranged second connecting portion 624 can also reduce the gap between the first rolling shaft 43 and the first rolling groove 620 to prevent the existence of a virtual position.

[0130] In this embodiment, the support member 60 and the connecting member 50 are connected by the third arc rail and the third arc groove, the third arc rail is provided at one of the support member 60 and the connecting member 50, and the third arc groove is provided at the other of the support member 60 and the connecting member 50. Since the support member 60 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 50, the support member 60 and the connecting member 50 can be connected by the third arc rail and the third arc groove in this embodiment, the third arc rail is provided at one of the support member 60 and the connecting member 50, and the third arc groove is provided at the other of the support member 60 and the connecting member 50. For example, when the third arc rail is provided at the support member 60, the third arc groove is provided at the connecting member 50. When the third arc groove is provided at the support member 60, the third arc rail is provided at the connecting member 50. This embodiment is only schematically described with the third arc groove provided at the support member 60 and the third arc rail provided at the connecting member 50.

[0131] Specifically, the support member 60 includes a support portion 61 and a rotating portion, wherein the support portion 61 is used to support the flexible screen when the folding device 1 is applied to an electronic device. Therefore, the support portion 61 has a support surface 610 for supporting the flexible screen, that is, the upper surface of the support portion 61 is the support surface 610. The rotating portion is arranged on the side of the support portion 61 away from the support surface 610, that is, the rotating portion is farther away from the flexible screen than the support portion 61. A circular arc groove is provided on the side of the rotating portion close to the connecting member 50, and the groove is the third circular arc groove. A circular arc block is provided on the side of the connecting member 50 close to the rotating portion, and the block is the third circular arc rail. The third circular arc rail can be arranged in the third circular arc groove, and the axis of the third circular arc groove is colinear with the axis of the third circular arc rail, so that the rotating portion of the support member 60 can rotate relative to the connecting member 50. As for the size and curvature of the third circular arc groove and the third circular arc rail, they can be designed according to the position of the rotation axis between the support member 60 and the connecting member 50. In addition, it can be known from the above content that in this embodiment, the support member 60 can be rotated relative to the connecting member 50 by changing the position between the rotation axis and the rolling axis between the support member 60 and the connecting member 50. Therefore, the design of the circular arc groove and the circular arc track can make the position of the rotation axis inside the connecting member 50 or outside the connecting member 50, and the position and shape of the rolling axis and the rolling groove can be better designed by adjusting the size and curvature of the third circular arc groove and the third circular arc track, so that the support member 60 can be rotated relative to the connecting member 50. Of course, in other embodiments, the third circular arc track can also be provided on the support member 60, and the third circular arc groove can also be provided on the connecting member 50.

[0132] Optionally, in one embodiment, the connecting member 50 may have a third circular arc track, which is disposed on one side of the connecting member 50. Correspondingly, the supporting member 60 has a rotating portion and a third circular arc groove. In another embodiment, the connecting member 50 may have two third circular arc tracks, which are disposed on opposite sides of the connecting member 50. Correspondingly, the supporting member 60 has two rotating portions and a third circular arc groove. This embodiment is only schematically described by taking the connecting member 50 having two third circular arc tracks and the supporting member 60 having two third circular arc grooves.

[0133] Optionally, the support portion 61 and the rotating portion can be an integrated structure or a split structure. When the support portion 61 and the rotating portion are an integrated structure, the support portion 61 and the rotating portion can be prepared through a single process, but for ease of understanding, different regions of the support member 60 are artificially named differently. When the support portion 61 and the rotating portion are a split structure, the support portion 61 and the rotating portion can be prepared separately and then fixedly connected to the rotating portion by various methods (such as bonding, screw connection, snap connection, etc.). This embodiment is only schematically described as the support portion 61 and the rotating portion being an integrated structure.

[0134] In this embodiment, the connection member 50 and the support member 60 are connected by a constraint shaft and a constraint hole. The constraint shaft is provided on one of the connection member 50 and the support member 60, and the constraint hole is provided on the other of the connection member 50 and the support member 60. When the constraint shaft is provided on the connection member 50, the constraint hole is provided on the support member 60. When the constraint hole is provided on the connection member 50, the constraint shaft is provided on the support member 60. In this embodiment, the constraint shaft is provided on the connection member 50 and the constraint hole is provided on the support member 60 for schematic illustration. Specifically, a cylindrical column is provided at the end of the connection member 50, and the column is the constraint shaft. The support member 60 includes a support portion 61 and a constraint portion fixed to the support portion 61 and facing away from the support surface 610. A groove is provided on the side of the constraint portion facing the constraint shaft, and the groove is the constraint groove. The constraint shaft can be inserted into the constraint groove so that the connection member 50 and the support member 60 can be constrained. Of course, in other embodiments, the constraint shaft can also be provided on the support member 60, and the constraint hole can also be provided on the connection member 50.

[0135] The constraint axis and the constraint hole can cooperate with each other to prevent the folding device 1 from having movement deviation during movement, causing the support member 60 to rotate excessively relative to the first rotating member 30 and then warp, which will affect the folding of the flexible screen. In other words, this embodiment limits the movement trajectory of the inclined plate by adding a virtual constraint between the first rotating member 30 and the second rotating member 40, but the constraint axis and the constraint hole do not affect the degree of freedom of the folding device 1.

[0136] In summary, the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can ultimately control the movement trajectory of the support member 60 through the mutual cooperation of the first rotating member 30, the second rotating member 40, and the connecting member 50 to obtain the screen space 1a of the shape required by the user.

[0137] Please refer to Figure 24-25 The shell assembly 2 provided in this embodiment includes a first shell 91, a second shell 92, and a folding device 1 provided in the above embodiment of the present application, and the folding device 1 is connected between the first shell 91 and the second shell 92.

[0138] The housing assembly 2 is a combined component, that is, the housing assembly 2 includes at least two components. In this embodiment, the housing assembly 2 mainly includes two housings and the folding device 1 provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The first housing 91 and the second housing 92 are mainly used to install and carry components. For example, a flexible screen can be carried on the first housing 91 and the second housing 92, and functional modules such as batteries, PCB components, speakers, receivers, buttons, etc. can be set in the first housing 91 and the second housing 92. Therefore, the first housing 91 and the second housing 92 mainly play the role of installation and protection. In some embodiments, the surface of the first housing 91 and the second housing 92 can also serve as an appearance surface, so the surface of the first housing 91 and the second housing 92 can be designed accordingly, so that the first housing 91 and the second housing 92 have a unique appearance effect. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, material, structure, etc. of the first housing 91 and the second housing 92, as long as the installation and protection functions can be achieved. For example, the material of the first housing 91 and the second housing 92 can be all metal, or all plastic, or partly metal and partly plastic.

[0139] One connecting member 50 of the folding device 1 is connected to the first shell 91, and the other connecting member 50 is connected to the second shell 92, so that when the first shell 91 and the second shell 92 rotate, the two connecting members 50 are driven to rotate relative to the base 10, thereby realizing the subsequent movement process. For example, the movement of the first rotating member 30, the second rotating member 40, and the supporting member 60, and the relative movement of the first moving member and the second moving member provide damping for the movement of the shell assembly 2. Optionally, the shell and the connecting member 50 can be fixed by screws, buckles, or glue.

[0140] The shell assembly 2 provided in this embodiment can improve the torsional force of the shell assembly 2 by adopting the folding device 1 provided in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application.

[0141] Please refer to Figure 26-Figure 27 The electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment includes a flexible screen 93 and a shell assembly 2 provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The flexible screen 93 is arranged on the same side of the first shell 91, the second shell 92, and the folding device 1.

[0142] The electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment includes but is not limited to mobile terminals such as mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable media players (PMPs), navigation devices, wearable devices, smart bracelets, pedometers, etc., as well as fixed terminals such as digital TVs and desktop computers. The mobile phone is used as an example for schematic illustration.

[0143] The electronic device 3 includes a flexible screen 93 and a shell assembly 2. The flexible screen 93 is a component with a certain flexibility. Compared with a rigid component, the flexible screen 93 can be bent to a certain extent. For example, the flexible screen 93 includes but is not limited to various flexible components with corresponding functions such as a flexible display screen, a flexible touch screen, and a flexible touch display screen, or a flexible component fixedly bonded with a flexible support plate, such as a flexible display screen and a flexible touch screen bonded with a flexible steel plate. The flexible screen 93 is arranged on the same side of the first shell 91 and the second shell 92 in the shell assembly 2, and can be bent or flattened with the shell assembly 2. Specifically, the flexible screen 93 has a bending area 930 and non-bending areas 931 arranged on opposite sides of the bending area 930. The bending area 930 corresponds to the middle plate setting of the bonding and folding device 1, and the non-bending area 931 is fixed to the first shell 91 and the second shell 92. Since the flexible screen 93 in the bending area 930 is correspondingly attached to the middle plate of the folding device 1, the shape of the folding device 1 changes when it moves, so it can drive the flexible screen 93 in the bending area 930 to bend as well, thereby bending or flattening with the movement of the electronic device 3. Since the non-bending area 931 is fixed on the first shell 91 and the second shell 92, the first shell 91 and the second shell 92 can only rotate relative to each other, and the shape itself will not change. Therefore, even if the first shell 91 and the second shell 92 rotate, the flexible screen 93 on the first shell 91 and the second shell 92 will not bend.

[0144] The electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment, by adopting the shell assembly 2 provided in the above embodiment of the present application, can support the flexible screen 93 in the unfolded state, and at the same time can increase the screen capacity space 1a of the flexible screen 93 in the folded state, thereby reducing the stress of the flexible screen 93 and increasing the service life of the flexible screen 93.

[0145] In the description of the present application, it is necessary to understand that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0146] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0147] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be connected, detachably connected, or integrated. It can be mechanically connected or electrically connected. It can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0148] The above describes the contents provided by the implementation methods of the present application in detail, and describes and illustrates the principles and implementation methods of the present application. These descriptions are only used to help understand the method and its core ideas of the present application. However, the contents of this specification should not be construed as limiting the present application, and those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. These modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A folding device, characterized in that: include: Pedestal; A rotating shaft, disposed on the base and capable of rotating relative to the base; A rotating member, fixed to the rotating shaft and capable of rotating relative to the base; as well as A friction member, sleeved on the rotating shaft, the friction member abuts against the rotating shaft and is fixed relative to the base; Wherein, when the rotating member rotates relative to the base, the rotating shaft rotates relative to the base, and the rotating shaft rotates relative to the friction member and they rotate and rub against each other.

2. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the rotating shafts and the rotating members are both two, the two rotating shafts are arranged on opposite sides of the base, each rotating member is fixed to one rotating shaft, and the friction member is sleeved on the two rotating shafts.

3. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the friction member has an opening, and the friction member is sleeved on the rotating shaft through the opening.

4. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The friction member includes a plurality of sub-friction members arranged along the axial direction of the rotating shaft.

5. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The friction member has a sleeve hole, and the diameter of the sleeve hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft, so that the friction member and the rotating shaft are interference-fitted.

6. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating shaft includes a first portion for fixing the rotating member and a second portion penetrating the friction member, wherein a diameter of the second portion is greater than a diameter of the first portion.

7. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating shaft and the rotating member are fixedly connected by a protrusion and a groove, wherein the protrusion is provided on one of the rotating shaft and the rotating member, and the groove is provided on the other of the rotating shaft and the rotating member.

8. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The folding device also includes: Two first rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base respectively; Two second rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base respectively; A connecting member, wherein one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member located on the same side of the base is rotatably connected to the connecting member, and the other is slidably connected to the connecting member; and Two supporting members, each of which is rotatably connected to one of the connecting members, and is slidably and rotatably connected to the other of the first rotating member and the second rotating member; Wherein, the rotating member is at least one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

9. A housing assembly, characterized in that: The shell assembly includes a first shell, a second shell, and a folding device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and the folding device is connected between the first shell and the second shell.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises a flexible screen and a housing assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexible screen is arranged on the same side of the first housing, the second housing, and the folding device.

Images