Hinge and foldable intelligent terminal

Abstract

The invention provides a hinge and a foldable intelligent terminal, and relates to the technical field of communication, the hinge comprises two transmission plates and a synchronizing mechanism, the synchronizing mechanism comprises a base, two rotating parts and a moving part, the two rotating parts are rotationally connected to the two opposite sides of the base respectively, and the rotating parts are provided with guide grooves; the moving part abuts against the base and can slide relative to the base, sliding parts are arranged on the two opposite sides of the moving part, the sliding parts abut against the guide grooves in a sliding mode, and one of the two rotating parts rotates to enable the sliding parts to slide along the guide grooves so that the moving part can slide relative to the base. And the other rotating piece is driven to rotate synchronously. The synchronizing mechanism can realize high-efficiency synchronous rotation of the rotating parts on two sides of the base without gear transmission, and does not protrude outwards relative to the equipment to form a mechanical weak point and influence the attractiveness of the equipment when being used for the foldable intelligent terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a hinge and a foldable smart terminal. Background Art

[0002] Foldable smartphones are currently in a rapid development stage. With the advancement of technology and the reduction of manufacturing costs, such devices are gradually moving from concept products to the mainstream market. The main function of foldable smartphones is to provide a larger display area to enhance the user experience through a foldable screen design while maintaining portability. Foldable phones provide a tablet-like experience when unfolded, suitable for multitasking, watching videos and playing games, and are easy to carry when folded.

[0003] At present, foldable screen mobile phones achieve the folding function through a hinge structure, and decorative parts are arranged on the hinge structure. However, the decorative parts protrude relative to the contour surface of the mobile phone, affecting the aesthetics of the mobile phone. Moreover, when the foldable screen mobile phone is in a closed state, the protruding decorative parts are easy to become the main impact point, and then transmit the impact force to the screen, causing screen damage. Summary of the invention

[0004] In response to the above technical problems, the present application provides a hinge and a foldable smart terminal. The hinge can achieve efficient and synchronous rotation of the rotating parts located on both sides of the base without gear transmission. When used in a foldable smart terminal, it will not bulge relative to the device and become a mechanical weak point and affect the appearance of the device.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a hinge, including two transmission plates and a synchronization mechanism, wherein the synchronization mechanism includes:

[0006] Base;

[0007] Two rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base, and the two rotating members are respectively transmission-connected to the two transmission plates, and the rotating members have guide grooves;

[0008] A moving member is abutted against the base and can slide relative to the base. Sliding parts are provided on opposite sides of the moving member. The sliding parts slide and abut against the guide groove. Rotation of one of the two rotating members can cause the sliding part to slide along the guide groove, so that the moving member slides relative to the base and drives the other rotating member to rotate synchronously.

[0009] Optionally, the synchronization mechanism further includes two first fixed shafts, the two first fixed shafts are fixed to the base at intervals, the moving member has a through hole, and the moving member is rotatably connected to the first fixed shafts through the through hole.

[0010] Optionally, the rotating member comprises a rotating column, the rotating column is provided with the through hole, the side wall of the rotating column is provided with the guide groove, and the guide groove extends circumferentially and axially along the side wall of the rotating column.

[0011] Optionally, the sliding portion of the moving member has an arc surface, and the inner wall surface of the guide groove is an arc surface.

[0012] Optionally, at least two sliding parts are provided on one side of the moving part, the two sliding parts are arranged at an interval, and one rotating part has at least two guide grooves.

[0013] Optionally, the synchronization mechanism further includes at least two limiting rods, the moving member is provided with at least two limiting holes, and the two limiting rods respectively penetrate the two limiting holes and are fixed on the base.

[0014] Optionally, the hinge further comprises: two second fixed shafts fixed to the base at intervals;

[0015] The two transmission plates are rotatably connected to the two second fixed shafts respectively, and the two transmission plates are used to be fixedly connected to the two shells of the foldable smart terminal respectively.

[0016] Optionally, the rotating member further includes a rotating sub-plate connected to the rotating column, the transmission plate has a limiting groove, the rotating sub-plate is clamped in the limiting groove, and the rotating sub-plate can slide relative to the limiting groove.

[0017] Optionally, the base includes a bottom plate and a rib plate, a protrusion is provided at the end of the bottom plate, the rib plate is fixedly connected to the bottom plate and spaced apart from the protrusion, and the second fixed shaft is fixed between the protrusion and the rib plate.

[0018] The hinge provided by the present application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0019] Through the coordinated design of the base, two rotating parts and the moving part, the efficient synchronization function of gearless transmission is realized. Specifically, the two rotating parts are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the base, and the guide grooves thereof form a geometric constraint match with the sliding part of the moving part. When the rotating part on one side is rotated by an external force, the sliding part slides along the oblique or spiral path of the guide groove, driving the moving part to move linearly along the base, and then through the interaction between the sliding part on the other side and the guide groove, the other rotating part is forced to rotate synchronously in the opposite direction. This design abandons the traditional gear transmission, significantly reduces the number of parts, reduces the manufacturing cost, and avoids the wear, noise and transmission clearance problems caused by gear meshing, thereby improving the synchronization accuracy and long-term reliability. In addition, the sliding stroke of the moving part matches the path of the guide groove, making the overall structure of the synchronization mechanism compact, reserving a larger screen space for the screen of the foldable device, and solving the risk of falling impact caused by the convex decorative parts. Through the rigid abutment between the sliding part and the guide groove, the synchronization mechanism can achieve complete retraction of the decorative parts in the closed state, eliminate the gap problem of the traditional hinge, reduce the intrusion path of dust or liquid, and indirectly improve the protection performance of the device and the degree of integration of the appearance. In summary, the synchronization mechanism achieves highly reliable synchronous motion with a simple mechanical structure, combining functionality with process economy.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present application further provides a foldable smart terminal, which includes the hinge provided by any solution of the first aspect.

[0021] The foldable smart terminal provided in the second aspect includes all the beneficial effects of the hinge provided in the first aspect, which will not be described in detail here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The drawings herein are incorporated into the specification and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application, and are used together with the specification to explain the principles of the present application. In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below. Obviously, for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative labor.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a smart terminal for implementing each embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 A communication network system architecture diagram provided for an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a foldable terminal device in an unfolded state provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 3Schematic diagram of the explosion structure;

[0027] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure after the cover is hidden;

[0028] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the enlarged structure of the A area in the middle;

[0029] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure from another perspective;

[0030] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the enlarged structure of the middle B area;

[0031] Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a moving part in a hinge provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Fig.10 is a structural schematic diagram of a moving part in a hinge provided in an embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0033] Fig.11 is a schematic structural diagram of a rotating member in a hinge provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Fig.12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a foldable terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application when it is folded 90 degrees;

[0035] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present application in a fully folded state.

[0036] Description of reference numerals:

[0037] 10. Base; 111. First arc groove; 112. Second arc groove; 113. Third arc groove; 114. Fourth sub-groove; 115. Fifth sub-groove; 12. Bottom plate; 121. Raised portion; 13. Rib plate; 131. Second axial hole; 14. Fixed rib; 15. Fixed plate; 20. Second fixed axis; 30. Transmission plate; 31. Third fixed axis; 32. Limiting groove; 40. Transmission mechanism; 41. First fixed axis; 42. Rotating member; 421. Guide groove; 422. Rotating sub-plate; 423. Rotating column; 4231. Through hole; 43. Moving member; 431. Sliding portion; 432. Through hole; 44. Limiting rod; 50. Shell; 60. Cover plate; 70. Support plate; 80. Torsion spring; 90. Connecting plate.

[0038] The purpose of this application, the functional features and advantages will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The above drawings have shown clear embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail later. These drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept of this application in any way, but to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present application. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0040] It should be noted that, in this article, the terms "include", "comprises" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "includes a ..." does not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the element. In addition, components, features, and elements with the same name in different embodiments of the present application may have the same meaning or different meanings, and their specific meanings need to be determined by their explanation in the specific embodiment or further combined with the context of the specific embodiment.

[0041] It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various information in this article, these information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the same type of information from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of this article, the first information may also be referred to as the second information, and similarly, the second information may also be referred to as the first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein can be interpreted as "at the time of" or "when" or "in response to determination". Furthermore, as used in this article, the singular forms "one", "one" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms, unless there is an opposite indication in the context. It should be further understood that the terms "comprising" and "including" indicate that there are the described features, steps, operations, elements, components, projects, kinds, and / or groups, but do not exclude the existence, occurrence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, projects, kinds, and / or groups. The terms "or", "and / or", "including at least one of the following" etc. used in this application can be interpreted as inclusive, or mean any one or any combination. For example, “comprising at least one of the following: A, B, C” means “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A and B and C”, and for another example, “A, B or C” or “A, B and / or C” means “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A and B and C”. An exception to this definition will only occur when a combination of elements, functions, steps or operations are inherently mutually exclusive in some manner.

[0042] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0043] In the subsequent description, the suffixes such as "module", "component" or "unit" used to represent elements are only used to facilitate the description of the present application, and have no specific meanings. Therefore, "module", "component" or "unit" can be used in a mixed manner.

[0044] The smart terminal may be implemented in various forms. For example, the smart terminal described in this application may include smart terminals such as mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, 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.

[0045] The subsequent description will be made by taking a smart terminal as an example, and those skilled in the art will understand that, in addition to components specifically used for mobile purposes, the construction according to the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to fixed-type terminals.

[0046] See also Figure 1 , which is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a smart terminal for implementing various embodiments of the present application, the smart terminal 100 may include: RF (Radio Frequency) unit 101, WiFi module 102, audio output unit 103, A / V (audio / video) input unit 104, sensor 105, display unit 106, user input unit 107, interface unit 108, memory 109, processor 110, and power supply 111 and other components. Those skilled in the art can understand that Figure 1 The structure of the smart terminal shown in the figure does not constitute a limitation on the smart terminal. The smart terminal may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0047] Combine the following Figure 1 A detailed introduction to each component of the smart terminal:

[0048] The radio frequency unit 101 can be used for receiving and sending signals during information transmission or communication. Specifically, after receiving the downlink information of the base station, it is sent to the processor 110 for processing; in addition, the uplink data is sent to the base station. Generally, the radio frequency unit 101 includes but is not limited to an antenna, at least one amplifier, a transceiver, a coupler, a low noise amplifier, a duplexer, etc. In addition, the radio frequency unit 101 can also communicate with the network and other devices through wireless communication. The above-mentioned wireless communications can use any communication standard or protocol, including but not limited to GSM (Global System of Mobile communication), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), CDMA2000 (Code Division Multiple Access 2000), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), FDD-LTE (Frequency Division Duplexing-Long Term Evolution), TDD-LTE (Time Division Duplexing-Long Term Evolution) and 5G, etc.

[0049] WiFi is a short-range wireless transmission technology. The smart terminal can help users send and receive emails, browse web pages, and access streaming media through the WiFi module 102. It provides users with wireless broadband Internet access. Figure 1 The WiFi module 102 is shown, but it is understandable that it is not a necessary component of the smart terminal and can be omitted as needed without changing the essence of the application.

[0050] The audio output unit 103 can convert the audio data received by the RF unit 101 or the WiFi module 102 or stored in the memory 109 into an audio signal and output it as sound when the smart terminal 100 is in a call signal receiving mode, a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast receiving mode, etc. Moreover, the audio output unit 103 can also provide audio output related to a specific function performed by the smart terminal 100 (for example, a call signal receiving sound, a message receiving sound, etc.). The audio output unit 103 may include a speaker, a buzzer, etc.

[0051] The A / V input unit 104 is used to receive audio or video signals. The A / V input unit 104 may include a graphics processor (GPU) 1041 and a microphone 1042, and the graphics processor 1041 processes the image data of a static picture or video obtained by an image capture device (such as a camera) in a video capture mode or an image capture mode. The processed image frame can be displayed on the display unit 106. The image frame processed by the graphics processor 1041 can be stored in the memory 109 (or other storage medium) or sent via the radio frequency unit 101 or the WiFi module 102. The microphone 1042 can receive sound (audio data) via the microphone 1042 in a telephone call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, and other operating modes, and can process such sound into audio data. The processed audio (voice) data can be converted into a format output that can be sent to a mobile communication base station via the radio frequency unit 101 in the case of a telephone call mode. The microphone 1042 can implement various types of noise elimination (or suppression) algorithms to eliminate (or suppress) noise or interference generated in the process of receiving and sending audio signals.

[0052] The smart terminal 100 also includes at least one sensor 105, such as a light sensor, a motion sensor, and other sensors. Optionally, the light sensor includes an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor. Optionally, the ambient light sensor can adjust the brightness of the display panel 1061 according to the brightness of the ambient light, and the proximity sensor can turn off the display panel 1061 and / or the backlight when the smart terminal 100 is moved to the ear. As a type of motion sensor, the accelerometer sensor can detect the magnitude of acceleration in all directions (generally three axes), and can detect the magnitude and direction of gravity when stationary. It can be used for applications that identify the posture of the mobile phone (such as horizontal and vertical screen switching, related games, magnetometer posture calibration), vibration recognition related functions (such as pedometer, tapping), etc.; as for other sensors that can also be configured on the mobile phone, such as fingerprint sensors, pressure sensors, iris sensors, molecular sensors, gyroscopes, barometers, hygrometers, thermometers, infrared sensors, etc., they will not be repeated here.

[0053] The display unit 106 is used to display information input by the user or information provided to the user. The display unit 106 may include a display panel 1061, which may be configured in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or the like.

[0054] The user input unit 107 can be used to receive input digital or character information, and to generate key signal input related to the user settings and function control of the intelligent terminal. Optionally, the user input unit 107 may include a touch panel 1071 and other input devices 1072. The touch panel 1071, also known as a touch screen, can collect the user's touch operation on or near it (such as the user's operation on the touch panel 1071 or near the touch panel 1071 using any suitable object or accessory such as a finger, stylus, etc.), and drive the corresponding connection device according to a pre-set program. The touch panel 1071 may include two parts: a touch detection device and a touch controller. Optionally, the touch detection device detects the user's touch orientation, detects the signal brought by the touch operation, and transmits the signal to the touch controller; the touch controller receives the touch information from the touch detection device, converts it into the touch point coordinates, and then sends it to the processor 110, and can receive and execute commands sent by the processor 110. In addition, the touch panel 1071 can be implemented in various types such as resistive, capacitive, infrared, and surface acoustic waves. In addition to the touch panel 1071, the user input unit 107 may further include other input devices 1072. Optionally, the other input devices 1072 may include, but are not limited to, one or more of a physical keyboard, a function key (such as a volume control key, a switch key, etc.), a trackball, a mouse, a joystick, etc., which are not specifically limited here.

[0055] Optionally, the touch panel 1071 may cover the display panel 1061. When the touch panel 1071 detects a touch operation on or near it, it transmits the information to the processor 110 to determine the type of touch event. Then, the processor 110 provides corresponding visual output on the display panel 1061 according to the type of touch event. Figure 1 In the figure, the touch panel 1071 and the display panel 1061 are used as two independent components to realize the input and output functions of the smart terminal. However, in some embodiments, the touch panel 1071 and the display panel 1061 can be integrated to realize the input and output functions of the smart terminal, which is not limited here.

[0056] The interface unit 108 is used as an interface through which at least one external device can be connected to the smart terminal 100. For example, the external device may include a wired or wireless headset port, an external power supply (or battery charger) port, a wired or wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device with an identification module, an audio input / output (I / O) port, a video I / O port, a headphone port, etc. The interface unit 108 may be used to receive input (e.g., data information, power, etc.) from an external device and transmit the received input to one or more elements within the smart terminal 100 or may be used to transmit data between the smart terminal 100 and an external device.

[0057] The memory 109 can be used to store software programs and various data. The memory 109 can mainly include a program storage area and a data storage area. Optionally, the program storage area can store an operating system, an application required for at least one function (such as a sound playback function, an image playback function, etc.), etc.; the data storage area can store data created according to the use of the mobile phone (such as audio data, a phone book, etc.), etc. In addition, the memory 109 can include a high-speed random access memory, and can also include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, a flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state storage devices.

[0058] The processor 110 is the control center of the smart terminal. It uses various interfaces and lines to connect various parts of the entire smart terminal. It executes various functions of the smart terminal and processes data by running or executing software programs and / or modules stored in the memory 109, and calling data stored in the memory 109, so as to monitor the smart terminal as a whole. The processor 110 may include one or more processing units; preferably, the processor 110 may integrate an application processor and a modem processor. Optionally, the application processor mainly processes the operating system, user interface, and application programs, and the modem processor mainly processes wireless communications. It is understandable that the above-mentioned modem processor may not be integrated into the processor 110.

[0059] The intelligent terminal 100 may also include a power supply 111 (such as a battery) for supplying power to various components. Preferably, the power supply 111 may be logically connected to the processor 110 through a power management system, thereby managing functions such as charging, discharging, and power consumption through the power management system.

[0060] although Figure 1 Not shown, the smart terminal 100 may also include a Bluetooth module, etc., which will not be described in detail here.

[0061] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the communication network system on which the smart terminal of the present application is based is described below.

[0062] See also Figure 2 , Figure 2 A communication network system architecture diagram is provided for an embodiment of the present application, wherein the communication network system is an LTE system of universal mobile communication technology, and the LTE system includes a UE (User Equipment) 201, an E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) 202, an EPC (Evolved Packet Core) 203 and an operator's IP service 204, which are connected in sequence for communication.

[0063] Optionally, UE201 may be the above-mentioned terminal 100, which will not be described in detail here.

[0064] E-UTRAN 202 includes eNodeB 2021 and other eNodeBs 2022 , etc. Optionally, eNodeB 2021 may be connected to other eNodeBs 2022 via a backhaul (eg, an X2 interface), and eNodeB 2021 is connected to EPC 203 , and eNodeB 2021 may provide UE 201 with access to EPC 203 .

[0065] EPC203 may include MME (Mobility Management Entity) 2031, HSS (Home Subscriber Server) 2032, other MMEs 2033, SGW (Serving Gate Way) 2034, PGW (PDN Gate Way) 2035 and PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) 2036, etc. Optionally, MME 2031 is a control node that processes signaling between UE 201 and EPC 203, and provides bearer and connection management. HSS 2032 is used to provide some registers to manage functions such as home location register (not shown in the figure), and store some user-specific information such as service features and data rates. All user data can be sent through SGW2034, PGW2035 can provide IP address allocation and other functions for UE 201, PCRF2036 is the policy and charging control policy decision point for service data flow and IP bearer resources, which selects and provides available policy and charging control decisions for the policy and charging execution function unit (not shown in the figure).

[0066] The IP service 204 may include the Internet, an intranet, an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) or other IP services.

[0067] Although the above introduction takes the LTE system as an example, those skilled in the art should know that the present application is not only applicable to the LTE system, but also to other wireless communication systems, such as GSM, CDMA2000, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA and future new network systems (such as 5G), etc., without limitation here.

[0068] Based on the above-mentioned smart terminal hardware structure and communication network system, various embodiments of the present application are proposed.

[0069] As mentioned in the background technology, foldable screen smartphones are currently in a rapid development stage. With the advancement of technology and the reduction of manufacturing costs, such devices are gradually moving from concept products to the mainstream market. Its main function is to provide a larger display area to enhance the user experience through a foldable screen design while maintaining portability. Foldable screen phones can provide a tablet-like experience when unfolded, suitable for multitasking, watching videos and playing games, and are easy to carry when folded.

[0070] At present, foldable screen mobile phones achieve the folding function through a hinge structure, and decorative parts are arranged on the hinge structure. However, the decorative parts protrude relative to the contour surface of the mobile phone, affecting the aesthetics of the mobile phone. Moreover, when the foldable mobile phone is in a closed state, the protruding decorative parts can easily become the main impact point, thereby transmitting the impact force to the screen, causing screen damage.

[0071] refer to Figures 1 to 13 In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a hinge, including two transmission plates and a synchronization mechanism, the synchronization mechanism including: a base 10, two rotating members 42 and a moving member 43, the two rotating members 42 are respectively rotatably connected to the opposite sides of the base 10, the rotating member 42 has a guide groove 421; the moving member 43 abuts against the base 10 and can slide relative to the base 10, the moving member 43 is provided with sliding parts 431 on the opposite sides of the moving member 43, the sliding part 431 is slidably abutted against the guide groove 421, and the rotation of one of the two rotating members 42 can make the sliding part 431 slide along the guide groove 421, so that the moving member 43 slides relative to the base 10 and drives the other rotating member 42 to rotate synchronously.

[0072] In this way, through the coordinated design of the base 10, the two rotating members 42 and the moving member 43, the efficient synchronization function of the gearless transmission is realized. Specifically, the two rotating members 42 are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the base 10, and the guide groove 421 thereof forms a geometric constraint match with the sliding portion 431 of the moving member 43. When the rotating member 42 on one side is rotated by an external force, the sliding portion 431 slides along the oblique or spiral path of the guide groove 421, driving the moving member 43 to move linearly along the base 10, and then through the interaction between the sliding portion 431 on the other side and the guide groove 421, the other rotating member 42 is forced to rotate synchronously in the opposite direction. This design abandons the traditional gear transmission, significantly reduces the number of parts, reduces the manufacturing cost, and avoids the wear, noise and transmission clearance problems caused by the gear meshing, thereby improving the synchronization accuracy and long-term reliability. In addition, the sliding stroke of the moving member 43 matches the path of the guide groove 421, so that the overall structure of the synchronization mechanism is compact, and a larger screen space is reserved for the screen of the foldable device, which solves the risk of falling impact caused by the convex decorative parts. Through the rigid contact between the sliding part 431 and the guide groove 421, the synchronous mechanism can achieve complete retraction of the decorative part in the closed state, eliminate the gap problem of the traditional hinge, reduce the intrusion path of dust or liquid, and indirectly improve the protection performance and appearance integration of the equipment. In summary, the synchronous mechanism achieves high-reliability synchronous movement with a simple mechanical structure, and has both functionality and process economy.

[0073] In some embodiments, the synchronization mechanism further includes two first fixed shafts 41 , which are fixed to the base 10 at intervals, and the moving member 43 has a through hole 4231 , through which the moving member 43 is rotatably connected to the first fixed shafts 41 .

[0074] For example, Figure 4 As shown, two first fixed shafts 41 are fixed in parallel on the base 10, and the through hole 4231 of the moving member 43 is sleeved on the first fixed shaft 41 so that it can only slide along the axial direction. This structure realizes the linear guidance of the moving member 43 through the cooperation between the fixed shaft and the through hole 4231, thereby improving the synchronization accuracy.

[0075] In this way, the moving track of the moving member 43 is limited by the first fixed shaft 41 to ensure sliding stability and avoid synchronization failure caused by deviation.

[0076] In some embodiments, the rotating member 42 includes a rotating column 423 , the rotating column 423 is provided with a through hole 4231 , a side wall of the rotating column 423 is provided with a guide groove 421 , and the guide groove 421 extends along the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the side wall of the rotating column 423 .

[0077] Exemplarily, the rotating column 423 is a cylindrical structure, and the guide groove 421 extends spirally along its outer wall. The sliding portion 431 of the moving member 43 is embedded in the guide groove 421. When the rotating member 42 rotates, the sliding portion 431 slides along the spiral track to convert the rotational motion into the linear motion of the moving member 43.

[0078] In this way, the spirally extending guide groove 421 provides a continuous sliding path to ensure smooth cooperation between the rotating member 42 and the moving member 43 and reduce friction loss.

[0079] In some embodiments, along the radial direction of the rotating column 423 , the orthographic projection of the line connecting the two ends of the guide groove 421 intersects with the orthographic projection of the central axis of the rotating column 423 .

[0080] For example, Figure 6 and Fig.10 As shown, the guide groove 421 is an oblique groove, and the extension line of the line connecting the two ends thereof intersects at one point with the central axis of the rotating column 423. This design enables the sliding part 431 to always maintain tangential contact with the guide groove 421 during the rotation process to avoid jamming.

[0081] In this way, the sliding path can be optimized, the synchronization efficiency can be improved, and the sliding resistance can be reduced through the inclined groove geometry design.

[0082] In some embodiments, the sliding portion 431 of the moving member 43 has an arc surface, and the inner wall surface of the guide groove 421 is an arc surface.

[0083] Furthermore, the arc surface of the sliding portion 431 is closely fitted with the arc-shaped inner wall of the guide groove 421, so that the contact area is increased and the load is dispersed.

[0084] In this way, the arc contact surface of the sliding portion 431 can reduce local stress concentration, extend the life of the parts, and reduce friction noise.

[0085] In some embodiments, at least two sliding parts 431 are disposed on one side of the moving member 43 , and the two sliding parts 431 are spaced apart from each other. A rotating member 42 has at least two guide grooves 421 .

[0086] That is to say, two sliding parts 431 are arranged on both sides of the moving part 43, which are respectively embedded in the two parallel guide grooves 421 of the rotating part 42. In this way, the four-contact point design makes the moving part 43 evenly stressed, and the multi-point sliding support improves the torsional stiffness of the synchronization mechanism to prevent overall instability caused by single point failure.

[0087] In some embodiments, the synchronization mechanism also includes at least two limit rods 44, and at least two limit holes are provided on the moving part 43. The two limit rods 44 are respectively passed through the two limit holes and fixed on the base 10. In this way, the limit rods 44 can limit the sliding stroke of the moving part 43 to prevent mechanical interference caused by overtravel.

[0088] Exemplarily, the limiting rod 44 is fixed on the base 10 and passes through the limiting hole of the moving member 43. When the moving member 43 slides to the limit position, the edge of the limiting hole contacts the limiting rod 44, preventing further movement and protecting the integrity of the mechanism.

[0089] Combination Figure 6 , the hinge integrates a synchronization mechanism, the base 10 is fixed to the device middle frame, and the rotating member 42 is connected to the shell 50. When folded, the shell 50 drives the rotating member 42 to rotate, and the double shells 50 are precisely aligned through the synchronous movement of the moving member 43.

[0090] In this way, the hinge adopts a gearless synchronous design with a compact structure and high reliability, which is suitable for the high-frequency opening and closing needs of foldable devices.

[0091] In some embodiments, the hinge also includes two second fixed shafts 20 and two transmission plates 30, the two second fixed shafts 20 are fixed to the base 10 at intervals, the two transmission plates 30 are respectively rotatably connected to the two second fixed shafts 20, and the two transmission plates 30 are respectively transmission-connected to the two rotating members 42, and the two transmission plates 30 are respectively used to be fixedly connected to the two shells 50 of the foldable smart terminal.

[0092] Exemplarily, one end of the transmission plate 30 is hinged to the base 10 through the second fixed shaft 20, and the other end is fixed to the housing 50. When the housing 50 rotates, the transmission plate 30 pushes the rotating member 42 to rotate, reducing the force required for the user to open and close through the lever principle.

[0093] With this arrangement, the movement of the housing 50 is transmitted to the synchronization mechanism through the transmission plate 30, thereby amplifying the lever arm and reducing the operating torque.

[0094] In some embodiments, the rotating member 42 also includes a rotating sub-plate 422, which is connected to the rotating column 423. The transmission plate 30 has a limiting groove 32. The rotating sub-plate 422 is clamped in the limiting groove 32, and the rotating sub-plate 422 can slide relative to the limiting groove 32. In this way, the sliding fit between the rotating sub-plate 422 and the limiting groove 32 allows a certain degree of freedom, compensates for assembly errors, and improves the hinge tolerance capability.

[0095] Exemplarily, the rotating sub-plate 422 is an L-shaped structure, and its end is embedded in the limiting groove 32 of the transmission plate 30. During the folding process, the rotating sub-plate 422 can fine-tune its position along the limiting groove 32 to avoid the mechanism being stuck due to tolerance.

[0096] In some embodiments, the hinge further includes a connecting plate 90, which is rotatably connected between the second fixed shaft 20 and the transmission plate 30, that is, the two ends of the connecting plate are respectively hinged to the second fixed shaft 20 and the transmission plate 30. When folded, the connecting plate evenly transfers the torsional load of the transmission plate 30 to the base 10 to prevent local deformation.

[0097] In this way, the connecting plate disperses the force of the transmission plate 30, reduces stress concentration, and prolongs the life of the hinge.

[0098] In some embodiments, the base 10 includes a bottom plate 12 and a rib plate 13, a protrusion 121 is provided at the end of the bottom plate 12, the rib plate 13 is fixedly connected to the bottom plate 12 and is spaced apart from the protrusion 121, and the second fixed shaft 20 is fixed between the protrusion 121 and the rib plate 13.

[0099] In this way, the protrusion 121 and the rib plate 13 form a reinforcement structure to improve the bending strength of the base 10 .

[0100] Combination Figure 6 The raised portion 121 is a thickened area at the end of the base 10, and the rib plate 13 is vertically welded to the surface of the base 10. The second fixed shaft 20 passes through the raised portion 121 and the rib plate 13, and the shaft body stability is enhanced by double fixation.

[0101] In some embodiments, the raised portion 121 has a first arc-shaped groove 111, the rib plate 13 has a second arc-shaped groove 112, and the movable member 43 has a third arc-shaped groove 113. The first arc-shaped groove 111, the second arc-shaped groove 112 and the third arc-shaped groove 113 have the same recessed depth, so that when the two shells 50 are in a folded state, the first arc-shaped groove 111, the second arc-shaped groove 112 and the third arc-shaped groove 113 are used to accommodate part of the screen of the smart terminal so that the outer wall of the base 10 is flush with the shell 50.

[0102] Furthermore, the curvature of the first arc groove 111, the second arc groove 112 and the third arc groove 113 matches the bending radius of the screen. In the folded state, the screen is embedded in the arc groove, and the outer surface of the hinge is seamlessly connected with the housing 50, realizing a hidden design.

[0103] In this way, the arc groove design provides a space for the screen to avoid damage to the screen during folding, while making the outer wall of the hinge flush with the shell 50 to improve the aesthetics.

[0104] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a foldable smart terminal, which includes two shells 50 and a hinge provided by any embodiment of the first aspect, and the two shells 50 are folded by synchronously rotating toward each other or rotating away from each other through the hinge.

[0105] Combination Fig.12 and Fig.13 The two housings 50 are connected by a hinge, and when folded, the decorative part is retracted into the middle frame to avoid being exposed. The liquid silicone sealing ring fills the gap between the decorative part and the middle frame to achieve IP68 waterproof grade.

[0106] This design reduces the overall thickness of the smart terminal, improves its waterproof performance, and prevents the hinge from being directly stressed when it falls, significantly improving reliability.

[0107] In some embodiments, there are at least two hinges, and the two hinges are spaced apart along the length direction of the housing 50 .

[0108] For example, three hinges are evenly spaced along the long side of the device. When unfolded, multiple hinges work together to support the screen to ensure flatness; when folded, the synchronization mechanism works together to avoid screen wrinkles.

[0109] In this way, multiple hinges share the load, reducing the stress of a single hinge, which is suitable for large-size folding devices.

[0110] In some embodiments, the foldable smart terminal further includes a cover plate 60 , and two ends of the cover plate 60 are respectively fixedly connected to the two transmission plates 30 to cover the rotating member 42 .

[0111] Exemplarily, the cover plate 60 is made of metal, and both ends are fixed to the transmission plate 30 by screws. A guide groove is provided on its inner surface to guide the impact force of the fall to be dispersed to the housing 50, further reducing the risk of screen damage.

[0112] With this arrangement, the cover 60 hides the internal structure of the hinge, improving the appearance integration of the device while preventing dust from entering.

[0113] In the embodiment of the foldable smart terminal provided in the present application, all technical features of any of the above-mentioned hinge embodiments may be included, and the expansion and explanation content of the specification are basically the same as those of the embodiments of the above-mentioned method, and will not be repeated here.

[0114] It is understood that the above scenarios are only examples and do not constitute a limitation on the application scenarios of the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. The technical solutions of the present application can also be applied to other scenarios. For example, it is known to those skilled in the art that with the evolution of the system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0115] The serial numbers of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application are for description only and do not represent the advantages or disadvantages of the embodiments.

[0116] The steps in the method of the embodiment of the present application can be adjusted in order, combined and deleted according to actual needs.

[0117] The units in the device of the embodiment of the present application can be merged, divided and deleted according to actual needs.

[0118] In the present application, the same or similar terminology concepts, technical solutions and / or application scenario descriptions are generally described in detail only the first time they appear. When they appear again later, they are generally not repeated for the sake of brevity. When understanding the technical solutions and other contents of the present application, for the same or similar terminology concepts, technical solutions and / or application scenario descriptions that are not described in detail later, reference can be made to the previous related detailed descriptions.

[0119] In the present application, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described or recorded in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0120] The various technical features of the technical solution of the present application can be arbitrarily combined. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the various technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of the present application.

[0121] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the present application specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising two transmission plates and a synchronization mechanism, characterized in that: The synchronization mechanism comprises: Base; Two rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base, and the two rotating members are respectively transmission-connected to the two transmission plates, and the rotating members have guide grooves; A moving member is abutted against the base and can slide relative to the base. Sliding parts are provided on opposite sides of the moving member. The sliding parts slide and abut against the guide groove. Rotation of one of the two rotating members can cause the sliding part to slide along the guide groove, so that the moving member slides relative to the base and drives the other rotating member to rotate synchronously.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The synchronization mechanism further includes two first fixed shafts, the two first fixed shafts are fixed to the base at intervals, the moving member has a through hole, and the moving member is rotatably connected to the first fixed shafts through the through hole.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rotating member comprises a rotating column, the rotating column is provided with the through hole, the side wall of the rotating column is provided with the guide groove, and the guide groove extends along the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the side wall of the rotating column.

4. The hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The sliding portion of the moving member has an arc surface, and the inner wall surface of the guide groove is an arc surface.

5. The hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: At least two sliding parts are provided on one side of the moving part, and the two sliding parts are arranged at intervals. One of the rotating parts has at least two guide grooves.

6. The hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The synchronization mechanism further comprises at least two limiting rods, the moving member is provided with at least two limiting holes, the two limiting rods respectively penetrate the two limiting holes and are fixed on the base.

7. The hinge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The hinge also includes: Two second fixed shafts, fixed to the base at intervals; The two transmission plates are rotatably connected to the two second fixed shafts respectively, and the two transmission plates are used to be fixedly connected to the two shells of the foldable smart terminal respectively.

8. The hinge according to claim 7, characterized in that: The rotating member further comprises a rotating sub-plate connected to the rotating column. The transmission plate has a limiting groove. The rotating sub-plate is clamped in the limiting groove and can slide relative to the limiting groove.

9. The hinge according to claim 7, characterized in that: The base includes a bottom plate and a rib plate, a protrusion is provided at the end of the bottom plate, the rib plate is fixedly connected to the bottom plate and spaced apart from the protrusion, and the second fixed shaft is fixed between the protrusion and the rib plate.

10. A foldable intelligent terminal, characterized in that: The invention comprises two shells and a hinge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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