Foldable electronic device

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides foldable electronic equipment, which comprises a flexible screen, a first main body part, a second main body part, a rotating shaft mechanism and a supporting piece, and is characterized in that the supporting piece is clamped between a display folding part and the rotating shaft mechanism and comprises a first wing part and a second wing part, the free end of the first wing part and the free end of the second wing part extend towards the first display part and the second display part respectively, and the free end of the first wing part and the free end of the second wing part abut against the two sides of the display folding part respectively. The first wing part and the second wing part apply clamping force to the display folding part so that the display folding part tends to protrude and bend towards the rotating shaft mechanism. According to the foldable electronic equipment provided by the embodiment of the invention, the problem that the part, corresponding to the rotating shaft mechanism, of the flexible screen is arched away from the rotating shaft mechanism when the foldable electronic equipment is converted from the unfolded state to the folded state can be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of electronic devices, and in particular to a foldable electronic device. Background Art

[0002] Mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices have become an integral part of our lives, significantly improving people's living standards. With the rapid development of communication technology, the display quality of electronic devices has become increasingly important. The gradual advancement of flexible screen technology has led to the emergence of foldable electronic devices, which are popular among consumers for their larger display area and excellent portability.

[0003] A foldable electronic device generally includes: a left shell, a right shell, a hinge mechanism, and a flexible screen. The flexible screen covers the left and right shells, which are respectively located on the left and right sides of the hinge mechanism. The left and right shells can both rotate relative to the hinge mechanism to fold together or unfold. Generally, the flexible screen is connected to the left and right shells, and the portion of the flexible screen corresponding to the left and right shells is a non-deformable screen. The flexible screen is either non-connected or partially connected to the hinge mechanism, and the portion of the flexible screen corresponding to the hinge mechanism is a deformable screen or a partially deformable screen. The folding of the flexible screen is achieved by deforming the portion of the flexible screen corresponding to the hinge mechanism.

[0004] However, because the flexible screen and the hinge mechanism are disconnected or partially connected, when the foldable electronic device transitions from the unfolded state to the folded state, the portion of the flexible screen corresponding to the hinge mechanism arches away from the hinge mechanism, a phenomenon known as reverse arching. This reverse arching phenomenon can cause creases in the flexible screen and even damage it. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device, which can solve the problem that when the foldable electronic device is converted from an unfolded state to a folded state, the part of the flexible screen corresponding to the hinge mechanism will arch away from the hinge mechanism.

[0006] An embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device, comprising: a flexible screen, a first main body, a second main body, a hinge mechanism and a support member, wherein the first main body and the second main body are respectively connected to both sides of the hinge mechanism, and the first main body and the second main body are relatively unfolded and folded through the hinge mechanism, and the flexible screen comprises: a display folding portion and a first display portion and a second display portion respectively located on both sides of the display folding portion, the first display portion and the second display portion are respectively adhered to the first main body and the second main body, and the flexible screen is relatively unfolded and folded along with the first main body and the second main body, the display folding portion is arranged corresponding to the hinge mechanism, and the display folding portion is used to generate deformation so that the flexible screen can be relatively unfolded. Opening and folding, the support member is clamped between the display folding part and the hinge mechanism, the support member includes: a first wing and a second wing, the first wing and the second wing both have a free end and a non-free end, the free end of the first wing and the free end of the second wing extend toward the first display part and the second display part respectively, there is a height difference between the free end and the non-free end of the first wing, and between the free end and the non-free end of the second wing, the free end of the first wing and the free end of the second wing respectively abut against both sides of the display folding part, when the foldable electronic device is in a flattened state, the first wing and the second wing give the display folding part a clamping force so that the display folding part has a tendency to convexly bend toward the hinge mechanism.

[0007] The foldable electronic device provided in the embodiments of the present application has a support member disposed between the display folding portion and the hinge mechanism. When the foldable electronic device is in a flattened state, the first and second wings of the support member generate a clamping force on both sides of the display folding portion, causing the display folding portion to have a tendency to convexly bend toward the hinge mechanism. When the foldable electronic device is folded, this tendency of the display folding portion to convexly bend toward the hinge mechanism prevents the display folding portion from arching away from the hinge mechanism due to internal stress or external forces, thereby preventing the formation of creases on the flexible screen. This can also prevent damage to the flexible screen and extend the service life of the foldable electronic device.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the orthographic projection of the support member on the display folding portion covers or discontinuously covers the length of the display folding portion, where the length of the display folding portion is the length of the display folding portion along the extension direction of the hinge mechanism.

[0009] The orthographic projection of the support member on the display folding portion covers or discontinuously covers the length of the display folding portion, so that the display folding portion is subjected to more uniform force and the display folding portion deforms more regularly.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the orthographic projection of the support member in the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism is arc-shaped.

[0011] A support member whose orthographic projection in the extension direction of the hinge mechanism is arc-shaped is more in line with the bending deformation of the display folding part, which can reduce the risk of collision with the support member when the display folding part is bent and deformed. In addition, there is no need to deliberately increase the space between the flexible screen and the bottom of the support member, which is conducive to the development of thinning of foldable electronic devices.

[0012] In a possible embodiment, a plurality of strip-shaped grooves and / or strip-shaped through holes arranged at intervals are formed on the arc-shaped support member, and an extension direction of the strip-shaped grooves and the strip-shaped through holes is along an extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0013] The provision of the strip-shaped grooves and / or strip-shaped through holes can make the support member easier to bend, thereby improving the feel of the foldable electronic device when folded and increasing user satisfaction.

[0014] In a possible embodiment, the strip groove and the strip through hole are trapezoidal, the trapezoid having a first base side and a second base side, the length of the first base side is greater than the length of the second base side, and the first base sides of the strip groove and the strip through hole are respectively directed toward the two ends in the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism with the perpendicular bisector on the length of the display folding portion as the boundary.

[0015] This allows for greater clamping force on the middle section of the display fold, resolving the problem of the middle section easily buckling. Furthermore, the upper and lower sides of the foldable electronic device (which can be understood as the sides where the hinge mechanism of the foldable electronic device is located) are more flexible and easily bent, which helps improve the feel of the foldable electronic device when opening and closing, and enhances the user experience.

[0016] In a possible embodiment, the support member is in the shape of an arched bamboo book. The arched bamboo book-shaped support member can further increase the force uniformity of the display folding portion, and is easy to bend and deform evenly.

[0017] In one possible embodiment, the orthographic projection of the support member on the display folding portion is in the shape of an "X." The "X"-shaped support member can not only make the force on the display folding portion more uniform, but also reduce the material used to make the support member and reduce the weight of the support member.

[0018] In a possible embodiment, the support member and the hinge mechanism are integrally formed, thereby reducing the assembly process of the foldable electronic device.

[0019] In a possible embodiment, the hinge mechanism includes: a bracket, a swing arm, and a connecting component. Connecting components are respectively provided on both sides of the bracket, and the connecting components are connected to the bracket through the swing arm. The connecting components located on both sides of the bracket are respectively connected to the first main body and the second main body, and the support member and the connecting component are integrally formed on a side facing the display folding part.

[0020] The support member and the connecting component are integrally formed on the side facing the display folding part. On the one hand, it can reduce the space occupied by the support member in the third direction Z. On the other hand, compared with the method of integrally forming the support member and the bamboo book layer, it can reduce the modification of the flexible screen and reduce the difficulty of molding.

[0021] In a possible implementation manner, a height difference between the top of the support member and the bottom of the support member is between 0.03 mm and 0.06 mm.

[0022] In one possible embodiment, the flexible screen includes a display assembly and a transparent cover. The display assembly is attached to the first and second main bodies, and the transparent cover is disposed on a side of the display assembly facing away from the first and second main bodies. The transparent cover protects the display assembly.

[0023] In one possible embodiment, the display assembly includes: a display module and a bamboo book layer, wherein the bamboo book layer is arranged on a side of the display module facing away from the transparent cover plate, and the bamboo book layer is provided with a plurality of hollow and / or grooved bamboo book strips arranged at intervals in an area corresponding to the display folding portion, and the extension direction of the bamboo book strips is parallel to the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0024] On the one hand, setting up the bamboo strip can make the display folding part of the flexible screen easier to bend. On the other hand, the display folding part with a width in the second direction Y will be more conducive to bending in an arc shape due to the presence of the bamboo strip, thereby preventing the formation of creases on the flexible screen.

[0025] In one possible embodiment, the support member and the bamboo book layer are integrally formed. This integral formation of the support member and the bamboo book layer can reduce the space occupied by the support member in the third direction Z while ensuring that the flexible screen does not arch, which is conducive to the development of thinner foldable electronic devices.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the bamboo book layer is a stainless steel layer, a titanium alloy layer or a carbon fiber layer.

[0027] In a possible embodiment, the support member is made of a material of memory metal or shape memory polymer, so that the support member can return to its original shape after multiple deformations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present application or the prior art, a brief introduction will be given below to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative labor.

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the folded structure of a foldable electronic device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of a foldable electronic device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 3 An example diagram of a flexible screen provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device in the related art;

[0033] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device screen inversion in the related art;

[0034] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a flexible screen provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of a foldable electronic device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a flexible screen provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a bamboo book layer provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of a support member and a bamboo book layer provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 11 A view of a support member and a bamboo book layer along a first direction X provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 12 A schematic structural diagram of a support member provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 13 for Figure 12 a top view of the middle support member;

[0042] Figure 14This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support member and the bamboo book layer integrally formed according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 15 A schematic structural diagram of a support member provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 16 A schematic diagram of a support member and a bamboo book layer provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 16a for Figure 16 Schematic diagram of the structure of the support member of the middle part A;

[0046] Figure 16b for Figure 16 Schematic diagram of the structure of the support member of the middle part B;

[0047] Figure 16c for Figure 16 Schematic diagram of the structure of the middle C part support;

[0048] Figure 17 A bottom view of the rotating shaft mechanism and the supporting member provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 18 for Figure 17 A top view of the connecting assembly and support member of the central rotating shaft mechanism.

[0050] Description of reference numerals:

[0051] 10-foldable electronic device; 11-main body; 12-rotating shaft mechanism; 13-flexible screen;

[0052] 100-foldable electronic devices;

[0053] 110-flexible screen; 111-display component; 1111-display module; 1112-bamboo book layer; 11121-bamboo book strip;

[0054] 112 - transparent cover; 113 - display folding portion; 114 - first display portion; 115 - second display portion;

[0055] 120-first main body; 130-second main body;

[0056] 140-rotating shaft mechanism; 141-bracket; 142-swing arm; 143-connecting assembly;

[0057] 150-shaft cover;

[0058] 200-support member;

[0059] 210 - first wing; 220 - second wing; 230 - strip-shaped through hole; 240 - hollow structure strip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] The terms used in the implementation section of this application are only used to explain the specific embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. The implementation of the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to encompass non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a" does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising the element.

[0062] The embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device, wherein the foldable electronic device can be a terminal product such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a television, a smart wearable product (for example, a smart watch, a smart bracelet, etc.), a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, or a professional shooting device such as a digital camera, a SLR camera, a micro single-lens camera, a sports camera, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific type of the foldable electronic device, as long as it is an electronic device with a foldable screen. For ease of understanding, the embodiment of the present application takes the foldable electronic device as an example of a foldable mobile phone.

[0063] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the folded structure of the foldable electronic device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of a foldable electronic device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the foldable electronic device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes: a flexible screen 110, a first main body 120, a second main body 130 and a hinge mechanism 140. The embodiment of the present application is described with two main bodies.

[0064] Specifically, the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 are respectively connected to the two sides of the hinge mechanism 140. The hinge mechanism 140 enables the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 to be relatively unfolded and folded. For a mobile phone, the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 can be the middle frame. It is understandable that the specific structure of the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 can be determined according to the specific electronic device. This application does not limit the specific structure of the first main body 120 and the second main body 130, and is not limited to the above-mentioned example of the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 being the middle frame. In addition, the structures of the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 can be the same, not completely the same, or completely different.

[0065] It can be understood that in other embodiments of the present application, in addition to using one hinge mechanism 140 and two main bodies to form a two-layer folding structure, the foldable electronic device 100 can also use multiple hinge mechanisms 140 and more than two main bodies to form a multi-layer folding structure.

[0066] For the sake of convenience, refer to Figure 2 As shown in , a spatial coordinate system is established. When the foldable electronic device 100 is in a flattened state, the extension direction of the hinge mechanism 140 is defined as the first direction X. The second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X, and both the first direction X and the second direction Y are parallel to the plane containing the first and second main body portions 120 and 130. The third direction Z is perpendicular to the plane containing the first and second directions X and Y. This coordinate system is used in the description of the foldable electronic device 100 below and in the accompanying drawings.

[0067] The flexible screen 110 is attached to the side of the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 that are closer to or farther away from each other when they are folded. Figure 2 As shown in the figure, from the user's perspective, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in a flattened state, the user faces the flexible screen 110, and the flexible screen 110 is attached to the upper surfaces of the first and second main bodies 120, 130. During the relative unfolding and folding of the first and second main bodies 120, 130, the flexible screen 110 is also unfolded and folded simultaneously with the first and second main bodies 120, 130.

[0068] like Figure 1 As shown in , the foldable electronic device 100 can be folded into a folded state; Figure 2As shown in , the foldable electronic device 100 can be unfolded to a flattened state. Of course, the foldable electronic device 100 can also be unfolded or folded to an intermediate state, which can be any state between the flattened state and the folded state. The flexible screen 110 is a bendable structure that moves with the first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130. The first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130 can drive the flexible screen 110 to flatten or fold, so that the foldable electronic device 100 can be unfolded or folded to a flattened state, a folded state, or an intermediate state. In some embodiments of the present application, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the folded state, the flexible screen 110 is located inside the first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130, and the foldable electronic device 100 is an inward-folding screen device. In some embodiments of the present application, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the folded state, the flexible screen 110 is located outside the first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130, and the foldable electronic device 100 is an outward-folding screen device.

[0069] In the embodiment of the present application, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in a flattened state, the flexible screen 110 can display a full-screen image, so that the foldable electronic device 100 has a larger display area, thereby improving the user's viewing and operating experience. When the foldable electronic device 100 is in a folded state, the foldable electronic device 100 has a small planar size, making it easy for the user to carry and store.

[0070] It should be noted that when the foldable electronic device 100 is in a flattened state, the angle between the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 may deviate slightly from 180°, such as 165°, 178°, or 185°. In this case, the first and second main body 120, 130 are also considered to be in a flattened state. The angle between the first and second main body 120, 130 is defined as the angle between the upper sides of the first and second main body 120, 130. For example, the foldable electronic device 100 can be considered to be in a flattened state when the angle between the first and second main body 120, 130 is any value between 165° and 190°.

[0071] like Figure 1As shown, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in a folded state, the two sides of the foldable electronic device 100 are close to each other, the angle between the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 can be approximately 0°, the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 are folded to a closed state, and the flexible screen 110 is in a folded state. For example, when the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 are in a closed state, the two can contact each other to achieve positioning. In some other embodiments, when the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 are in a closed state, the two can also be close to each other, and there is a small gap between them. This application does not strictly limit this.

[0072] When there is a tiny gap between the first main body 120 and the second main body 130, some foreign objects outside the foldable electronic device 100 (such as stators, stones, glass shards, etc.) will not enter between the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 through the gap, so as to avoid foreign objects damaging the flexible screen 110 and improve the reliability of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0073] It is understood that the first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130 are the housing components of the foldable electronic device 100, used to mount and secure other components of the foldable electronic device 100, and have a variety of structures. For example, in some embodiments of the present application, the foldable electronic device 100 may further include multiple components (not shown in the figure), which may be mounted inside the first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130. The multiple components may include, for example, a processor, internal memory, an external memory interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a charging management module, a power management module, a battery, an antenna, a communication module, a camera, an audio module, a speaker, a receiver, a microphone, a headphone jack, a sensor module, a button, a motor, an indicator, and a subscriber identification module (SIM) card interface. The foldable electronic device 100 may have more or fewer components than described above, may combine two or more components, or may have different component configurations. Each component may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and / or application-specific integrated circuits. The embodiment of the present application does not impose strict restrictions on the specific structures of the first main body 120 and the second main body 130 .

[0074] It is understandable that the first main body portion 120 and the second main body portion 130 can be continuous, complete surfaces, or can be surfaces including multiple recessed areas or hollow areas, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0075] Continue to refer Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the foldable electronic device 100 may further include: a shaft cover 150, which is arranged on the side of the hinge mechanism 140 facing away from the flexible screen 110, and can serve to shield the hinge mechanism 140. On the one hand, it can improve the aesthetics of the appearance of the foldable electronic device 100, and on the other hand, it can protect the hinge mechanism 140 to prevent the hinge mechanism 140 from being damaged by external forces.

[0076] The shaft mechanism 140 can be configured according to specific needs. Figure 1 Figure 2 It is only used to illustrate the position of the hinge mechanism 140. In this application, there is no limitation on the specific structure of the hinge mechanism 140, as long as it can realize the opening and closing of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0077] Figure 3 This is an example diagram of the flexible screen 110 provided in one embodiment of the present application, refer to Figure 3 As shown, in the embodiment of the present application, the flexible screen 110 includes a display component 111, which can display images and videos, etc. The display component 111 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode or an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED), a flexible light-emitting diode (FLED), a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED), etc. In addition, in some embodiments of the present application, the flexible screen 110 may further include a transparent cover 112. The display component 111 and the transparent cover 112 are stacked in the third direction Z. The transparent cover 112 is arranged on the outside of the display component 111. It can be understood that the transparent cover 112 covers the side of the display component 111 away from the first main body 120 and the second main body 130, thereby protecting the display component 111. The transparent cover plate 112 may be a glass cover plate, or other transparent materials that can provide protection. The flexible screen 110 may also have a touch function, that is, the flexible screen 110 may be a touch screen.

[0078] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device 10 in the related art, referring to Figure 4As shown, in the related art, the foldable electronic device 10 includes: two main bodies 11, a hinge mechanism 12 and a flexible screen 13. The two main bodies 11 are respectively connected to the two sides of the hinge mechanism 12, and the flexible screen 13 is attached to the upper surfaces of the two main bodies 11. The two main bodies 11 can drive the flexible screen 13 to achieve relative expansion and folding through the hinge mechanism 12.

[0079] However, reference Figure 5 As shown ( Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the reverse arch of the screen of a foldable electronic device 10 in a related art). During the folding process of the foldable electronic device 10, the flexible screen 13 may arch away from the hinge mechanism 12 due to its own stress or external force (for example, the hinge mechanism 12 fails to avoid in time). This phenomenon is called the reverse arch phenomenon, which may cause creases on the flexible screen 13 and even damage the screen.

[0080] In order to solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device 100. By arranging a support member 200 between the flexible screen 110 and the hinge mechanism 140, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in a flattened state, the support member 200 can make the part of the flexible screen 110 corresponding to the hinge mechanism 140 have a tendency to bulge and bend toward the hinge mechanism 140. It can be understood that the support member 200 makes the part of the flexible screen 110 corresponding to the hinge mechanism 140 have an initial force to bend toward the hinge mechanism 140. When the foldable electronic device 100 is folded, the initial force will cause the part of the flexible screen 110 corresponding to the hinge mechanism 140 to bulge and bend toward the hinge mechanism 140, thereby avoiding the occurrence of the flexible screen 110 arching back.

[0081] The foldable electronic device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0082] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a flexible screen 110 provided in one embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a foldable electronic device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, with reference to Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, in the foldable electronic device 100 provided in the present application, the flexible screen 110 includes: a display folding portion 113 and a first display portion 114 and a second display portion 115 located on both sides of the display folding portion 113. The first display portion 114 and the second display portion 115 are respectively attached to the first main body portion 120 and the second main body portion 130, which is manifested as the display component 111 being attached to the first main body portion 120 and the second main body portion 130. Exemplarily, the first display portion 114 can be fixedly connected to the first main body portion 120, for example, the first display portion 114 can be adhered to the first main body portion 120 via an adhesive layer. The second display portion 115 can be fixedly connected to the second main body portion 130, for example, the second display portion 115 can be adhered to the second main body portion 130 via an adhesive layer.

[0083] In this embodiment, since the first display portion 114 is fixedly connected to the first main body portion 120 and the second display portion 115 is fixedly connected to the second main body portion 130, when the first main body portion 120 and the second main body portion 130 are relatively folded or flattened, the relative folding and unfolding movements between the first display portion 114 and the second display portion 115 can be accurately controlled, so that the deformation process and movement form of the flexible screen 110 are controllable and the reliability is relatively high.

[0084] During the use of the foldable electronic device 100, the first display portion 114 and the second display portion 115 generally do not deform, but the display folding portion 113 deforms so that the flexible screen 110 can be relatively unfolded and folded. For example, when the foldable electronic device 100 is fully folded, the display folding portion 113 can be deformed into a water drop shape, etc.

[0085] It should be noted that Figure 6 and Figure 7 The dashed line only distinguishes the first display portion 114, the display folding portion 113, and the second display portion 115. It does not indicate a structural line. The flexible screen 110 is still a complete screen. In addition, the width of the first display portion 114 and the width of the second display portion 115 can be the same or different. The width of the first display portion 114 and the width of the second display portion 115 both refer to the width along the second direction Y.

[0086] The flexible screen 110 is relatively unfolded and folded with the first main body 120 and the second main body 130. The display folding portion 113 is provided corresponding to the hinge mechanism 140 and is configured to deform to enable the flexible screen 110 to relatively unfold and fold. During relative unfolding or folding of the first and second main bodies 120, 130, the first main body 120 drives the first display portion 114, and the second main body 130 drives the second display portion 115. The display folding portion 113 deforms, thereby achieving relative unfolding or folding of the first and second display portions 114, 115.

[0087] When the flexible screen 110 is in a flattened state, the first display portion 114, the display folding portion 113, and the second display portion 115 are coplanar along the first direction X. It can be understood that the angle between the first display portion 114 and the second display portion 115 can also be coplanar with a slight deviation from 180°, such as 165°, 177°, or 187°. In this case, it is also considered that the first display portion 114, the display folding portion 113, and the second display portion 115 are flat and coplanar. The angle between the first display portion 114 and the second display portion 115 is defined as the angle between the upper sides of the first display portion 114 and the second display portion 115.

[0088] It is understandable that Figure 6 and Figure 7 The figures are not drawn according to the actual proportions of the various parts, and the same may be true for other drawings. Therefore, this application should not be limited to the proportions, sizes, etc. shown in the drawings.

[0089] Continue to refer Figure 7 As described above, the foldable electronic device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes a support member 200. The support member 200 is sandwiched between the display folding portion 113 and the hinge mechanism 140. The support member 200 includes a first wing portion 210 and a second wing portion 220. The first wing portion 210 and the second wing portion 220 both have a free end and a non-free end. For example, Figure 7 As shown in , one end of the first wing 210 is connected to one end of the second wing 220 to form a non-free end, and the other end of the first wing 210 and the other end of the second wing 220 are free ends. Alternatively, in some embodiments of the present application, the support member 200 may further include a base (not shown in the figure), and the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 are respectively inserted into the base (for example, an inverted trapezoidal support member 200), and the one end of the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 inserted into the base is a non-free end, and the other end of the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 is a free end. Alternatively, the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 are directly inserted into the rotating shaft mechanism 140, and the one end of the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 inserted into the rotating shaft mechanism 140 is a non-free end, and the other end of the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 is a free end.

[0090] Among them, the free end of the first wing 210 and the free end of the second wing 220 extend toward the first display portion 114 and the second display portion 115 respectively, and the extension direction thereof can be perpendicular to the first direction X or inclined to the first direction X. In addition, there is a height difference H between the free end and the non-free end of the first wing 210, and between the free end and the non-free end of the second wing 220. It can be understood that there is a height difference H between the top of the support member 200 and the bottom of the support member 200. The free end of the first wing 210 and the free end of the second wing 220 respectively abut against the two sides of the display folding portion 113. When the support member 200 is applied to small electronic devices such as mobile phones, the height difference between the top of the support member 200 and the bottom of the support member 200 (which can be understood as Figure 7 The height difference H) can be set between 0.03mm-0.06mm, for example, 0.03mm, 0.045mm, 0.058mm, etc.

[0091] When the foldable electronic device 100 is in the flattened state, the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 apply a clamping force to the display fold 113, causing the display fold 113 to bend convexly toward the hinge mechanism 140. The support member 200 can be made of shape memory metals or polymers, such as shape memory metals and shape memory polyurethane, so that the support member 200 can return to its original shape after multiple deformations.

[0092] In practice, the principle is that due to material memory, the display fold 113 has a slight bend toward the hinge mechanism 140. The support member 200 is sandwiched between the display fold 113 and the hinge mechanism 140. When the foldable electronic device 100 is in the flattened state, the display fold 113 and the hinge mechanism 140 can compress the support member 200. The first wing 210 and the second wing 220 then exert a clamping force on both sides of the display fold 113, causing the display fold 113 to have a tendency to bend convexly toward the hinge mechanism 140.

[0093] It is understood that the foldable electronic device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application, by disposing the support member 200 between the display folding portion 113 and the hinge mechanism 140, when the foldable electronic device 100 is in a flattened state, the first wing portion 210 and the second wing portion 220 of the support member 200 generate a clamping force on both sides of the display folding portion 113, causing the display folding portion 113 to have a tendency to convexly bend toward the hinge mechanism 140. When the foldable electronic device 100 is folded, the tendency of the display folding portion 113 to convexly bend toward the hinge mechanism 140 can prevent the display folding portion 113 from arching away from the hinge mechanism 140 due to its own stress or external forces, thereby preventing the formation of creases on the flexible screen 110. This can also prevent damage to the flexible screen 110 and extend the service life of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0094] It should be noted that the width of the support member 200 in the second direction Y can be equal to the width of the display folder 113 in the second direction Y. The width of the support member 200 in the second direction Y can also be smaller than the width of the display folder 113 in the second direction Y. Of course, the width of the support member 200 in the second direction Y can also be greater than the width of the display folder 113 in the second direction Y. For example, the free ends of the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 of the support member 200 extend into the gaps between the first display portion 114 and the first main body portion 120, and the second display portion 115 and the second main body portion 130, respectively. In this case, the free ends of the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 can also be considered to abut against the two sides of the display folder 113, respectively. It is sufficient to ensure that when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the flattened state, the first wing 210 and the second wing 220 can generate a clamping force on the display folder 113, so that the display folder 113 has a tendency to convexly bend toward the hinge mechanism 140.

[0095] Of course, this application does not stop there. Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the flexible screen 110 provided in one embodiment of the present application, refer to Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the display component 111 in the flexible screen 110 of the foldable electronic device 100 may include a display module 1111 and a bamboo book layer 1112. The bamboo book layer 1112 is provided on the side of the display module 1111 facing away from the transparent cover 112. The bamboo book layer 1112 can serve as the bottom plate of the display component 111 and protect the display module 1111, thereby preventing the internal components of the foldable electronic device 100 from damaging or damaging the display module 1111. The bamboo book layer 1112 can be a stainless steel layer, a titanium alloy layer, or a carbon fiber layer, etc.

[0096] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the bamboo book layer 1112 provided in one embodiment of the present application, refer to Figure 9 And combined Figure 6 As shown, in the embodiment of the present application, the bamboo book layer 1112 is provided with a plurality of hollow and / or grooved bamboo book strips 11121 arranged at intervals in the area corresponding to the display folding portion 113. In the drawings of the present application, the bamboo book strips 11121 are described as hollow through holes. The extending direction of the bamboo book strips 11121 is parallel to the extending direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 140. For example, Figure 9 As shown in FIG, multiple bamboo book strips 11121 are distributed in a matrix array in the area of the bamboo book layer 1112 corresponding to the display folding portion 113. The provision of the bamboo book strips 11121 not only facilitates the bending of the display folding portion 113 of the flexible screen 110, but also facilitates the bending of the display folding portion 113 having a width in the second direction Y toward an arc shape due to the presence of the bamboo book strips 11121, thereby preventing the formation of creases on the flexible screen 110.

[0097] In actual use, the foldable electronic device 100 is generally provided with a bamboo book layer 1112. For the sake of convenience, the following description is based on the case where the foldable electronic device 100 has a bamboo book layer 1112. It is understandable that the bamboo book layer 1112 is not a necessary technical feature for solving the main technical problem of this application. In the implementation of this application, the bamboo book layer 1112 may be provided, it may not be provided, or other components may be provided to replace the bamboo book layer 1112. It is only necessary that when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the flattened state, the support member 200 can apply a clamping force to the display folding portion 113 so that the display folding portion 113 has a tendency to convexly bend toward the hinge mechanism 140.

[0098] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the support member 200 and the bamboo book layer 1112 provided in an embodiment of the present application, refer to Figure 10 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the orthographic projection of the support member 200 on the display folding portion 113 covers or intermittently covers the length of the display folding portion 113. Figure 10 In the figure and the following figures, the area of the bamboo book layer 1112 where the bamboo book strips 11121 are opened can be regarded as the area of the display folding portion 113, wherein the length of the display folding portion 113 is the length of the display folding portion 113 along the extending direction of the hinge mechanism 140.

[0099] The length of the display folding portion 113 covered by the orthographic projection of the support member 200 on the display folding portion 113 means that the support member 200 is a whole member, and the length of the support member 200 is equal to the length of the display folding portion 113. The length of the display folding portion 113 covered by the orthographic projection of the support member 200 on the display folding portion 113 intermittently means that there are multiple support members 200, and the multiple support members 200 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the display folding portion 113, and the ends of the support members 200 located at both ends of the display folding portion 113 are flush with the ends of the display folding portion 113. For example, Figure 10 As shown in FIG, there are three support members 200 , and the three support members 200 are arranged at intervals in the length direction of the display folding portion 113 . Figure 10 The support member 200 includes two first wings 210 and two second wings 220 . The two first wings 210 extend obliquely to the first direction X toward the first display portion 114 , and the two second wings 220 extend obliquely to the first direction X toward the second display portion 115 .

[0100] It is understandable that the orthographic projection of the support member 200 on the display folding portion 113 covers or discontinuously covers the length of the display folding portion 113, which can make the display folding portion 113 more evenly stressed and the display folding portion 113 more regularly deformed.

[0101] Figure 11 This is a view of the support member 200 and the bamboo book layer 1112 along the first direction X provided in an embodiment of the present application, with reference to Figure 11 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the orthographic projection of the support member 200 in the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 140 is arc-shaped. Figure 7 When the cross-section shown in the figure is in a "V" shape or an inverted trapezoidal structure, the space between the flexible screen 110 and the bottom of the support member 200 needs to be increased so that the display folding portion 113 does not interfere with the support member 200 when it bends. This will increase the thickness of the foldable electronic device 100, which is not conducive to the development of thinning of the foldable electronic device 100. Compared with the above situation, the support member 200 with an arc-shaped orthographic projection in the extension direction of the hinge mechanism 140 is more in line with the bending deformation of the display folding portion 113, which can reduce the risk of collision between the display folding portion 113 and the support member 200 when it bends. In addition, there is no need to deliberately increase the space between the flexible screen 110 and the bottom of the support member 200, which is conducive to the development of thinning of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0102] Figure 12 This is a structural diagram of a support member 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 13 for Figure 12 The top view of the middle support member 200, refer to Figure 12 and Figure 13 Combined with Figure 10 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the positive projection of the support member 200 on the display folding portion 113 is in an "X" shape. On the one hand, the "X"-shaped support member 200 can make the display folding portion 113 more evenly stressed, and on the other hand, it can reduce the material used to make the support member 200 and reduce the weight of the support member 200.

[0103] Continue to refer Figure 10 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the arcuate support member 200 may further include a plurality of spaced-apart strip-shaped grooves and / or strip-shaped through holes 230. The drawings of this application illustrate the support member 200 with a plurality of spaced-apart strip-shaped through holes 230 as an example. The strip-shaped grooves and strip-shaped through holes 230 extend along the direction of extension of the hinge mechanism 140. It will be appreciated that the provision of the strip-shaped grooves and / or strip-shaped through holes 230 can make the support member 200 easier to bend, thereby improving the feel of the foldable electronic device 100 when folded and increasing user satisfaction.

[0104] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support member 200 and the bamboo book layer 1112 integrally formed in one embodiment of the present application, see Figure 14 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the support member 200 can also be integrally formed with the bamboo book layer 1112. The support member 200 replaces the area of the bamboo book layer 1112 originally provided with the bamboo book strips 11121, and can also perform a bending function. The integral formation of the support member 200 and the bamboo book layer 1112 can reduce the space occupied by the support member 200 in the third direction Z while ensuring that the flexible screen 110 does not arch, which is conducive to the development of thinner and thinner foldable electronic devices 100.

[0105] In this article, "integrated molding" means that two parts are formed into an inseparable whole through processing.

[0106] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support member 200 provided in one embodiment of the present application, refer to Figure 15 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the support member 200 can be shaped like an arched bamboo book. The arched support member 200 is provided with a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart hollow structural strips 240. The hollow structural strips 240 extend along the direction of the rotation axis, i.e., along the first direction X. The length of the hollow structural strips 240 is slightly less than the length of the support member 200 in the first direction X, giving the support member 200 a bamboo book-like shape. The arched bamboo book-like support member 200 can further increase the uniformity of force applied to the display folding portion 113, and is easy to bend and deform evenly.

[0107] In actual use, the middle section of the display folding portion 113 is prone to arching, in order to solve this problem. Figure 16This is a schematic diagram of the support member 200 and the bamboo book layer 1112 provided in one embodiment of the present application. Figure 16a for Figure 16 A schematic structural diagram of the support member 200 in the middle A section, Figure 16b for Figure 16 A schematic structural diagram of the middle B support member 200, Figure 16c for Figure 16 The structural diagram of the middle C-part support member 200 is shown in FIG. Figure 16 、 Figure 16a 、 Figure 16b as well as Figure 16c As shown, the strip groove and / or the strip through hole 230 on the support member 200 can be set to a trapezoidal shape, the trapezoid having a first bottom side and a second bottom side, the length of the first bottom side is greater than the length of the second bottom side, wherein the first bottom side of the strip groove and the strip through hole 230 is a perpendicular bisector ( Figure 16 and Figure 16b The dashed straight line in the middle is the boundary and is respectively directed toward the two ends in the extending direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 140.

[0108] For example, Figure 16 、 Figure 16a 、 Figure 16b 、 Figure 16c As shown in FIG, three support members 200 are arranged at intervals in the length direction of the display folding portion 113. Each support member 200 is provided with a plurality of strip-shaped through holes 230 arranged in a matrix array. The strip-shaped through holes 230 on each support member 200 are all trapezoidal, and the trapezoid has a first bottom side and a second bottom side. Here, it is defined that the length of the first bottom side is greater than the length of the second bottom side, that is, the first bottom side is the long bottom side and the second bottom side is the short bottom side. Figure 16 The direction shown in the figure indicates that the first bottom edge of the strip through hole 230 located above the dotted straight line (the perpendicular bisector of the length of the folding portion 113) is toward the upper end of the rotating shaft mechanism 140, and the first bottom edge of the strip through hole 230 located below the dotted straight line is toward the lower end of the rotating shaft mechanism 140.

[0109] This allows the middle section of the display foldable portion 113 to be clamped with greater force, resolving the problem of the middle section of the display foldable portion 113 being prone to buckling. Furthermore, the upper and lower sides of the foldable electronic device 100 (which can be understood as the sides where the hinge mechanism 140 of the foldable electronic device 100 is located) are more flexible and easily bent, which helps improve the feel of the foldable electronic device 100 when opening and closing, enhancing the user experience.

[0110] In some embodiments of the application, the support member 200 may also be integrally formed with the rotating shaft mechanism 140 , thereby reducing the assembly process of the support member 200 .

[0111] Figure 17This is a bottom view of the rotating shaft mechanism 140 and the support member 200 provided in one embodiment of the present application, refer to Figure 17 As shown, in some embodiments of the present application, the hinge mechanism 140 may include: a bracket 141, a swing arm 142, and a connecting assembly 143. The connecting assembly 143 is provided on both sides of the bracket 141, and the connecting assembly 143 is connected to the bracket 141 through the swing arm 142. The connecting assemblies 143 on both sides of the bracket 141 are respectively used to connect to the first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130. The structure of the hinge mechanism 140 and the connection relationship between the hinge mechanism 140 and the first body portion 120 and the second body portion 130 can be referred to the existing technology and will not be described in detail in this application.

[0112] Figure 18 for Figure 17 The top view of the connecting assembly 143 and the support member 200 of the rotating shaft mechanism 140 is shown in FIG. Figure 18 As shown, the support member 200 and the connecting component 143 are integrally formed on the side facing the display folding portion 113. It can be understood that the integral formation of the support member 200 and the connecting component 143 on the side facing the display folding portion 113 can, on the one hand, reduce the space occupied by the support member 200 in the third direction Z, and on the other hand, compared with the method of integrally forming the support member 200 and the bamboo book layer 1112, it can reduce the modification of the flexible screen 110 and reduce the difficulty of molding.

[0113] The directional terms mentioned in the embodiments of this application, such as "inside" and "outside", are only used to refer to the directions of the drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer description and understanding of the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of this application. In addition, unless otherwise specified in this application, "a plurality" in this application means two or more.

[0114] In the embodiments of this application, "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0115] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to a fixed connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, internal communication between two components, or an interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on specific circumstances.

[0116] The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", etc. (if any) in the description and claims of the embodiments of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0117] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, ordinary technicians in this field should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. These modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, comprising: Flexible screen, first main body, second main body, rotating shaft mechanism and support member; The first main body and the second main body are respectively connected to two sides of the rotating shaft mechanism, and the first main body and the second main body are relatively unfolded and folded through the rotating shaft mechanism; The flexible screen includes: a display folding portion and a first display portion and a second display portion respectively located on either side of the display folding portion, the first display portion and the second display portion respectively being attached to the first main portion and the second main portion, the flexible screen being able to relatively unfold and fold along with the first main portion and the second main portion, the display folding portion being arranged corresponding to the hinge mechanism, and being configured to generate deformation to enable the flexible screen to relatively unfold and fold; The support member is sandwiched between the display folding portion and the rotating shaft mechanism, the support member comprising: a first wing portion and a second wing portion, the first wing portion and the second wing portion each having a free end and a non-free end, the free end of the first wing portion and the free end of the second wing portion respectively extending toward the first display portion and the second display portion, a height difference being formed between the free end and the non-free end of the first wing portion and between the free end and the non-free end of the second wing portion, the free end of the first wing portion and the free end of the second wing portion respectively abutting against two sides of the display folding portion; When the foldable electronic device is in a flattened state, the first wing portion and the second wing portion apply a clamping force to the display folder so that the display folder has a tendency to bend convexly toward the hinge mechanism.

2. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The orthographic projection of the support member on the display folding portion covers or discontinuously covers the length of the display folding portion, where the length of the display folding portion is the length of the display folding portion along the extending direction of the hinge mechanism.

3. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The orthographic projection of the support member in the extending direction of the rotating shaft mechanism is arc-shaped.

4. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3, wherein: The arc-shaped support member is provided with a plurality of strip-shaped grooves and / or strip-shaped through holes which are arranged at intervals, and the extending direction of the strip-shaped grooves and the strip-shaped through holes is along the extending direction of the rotating shaft mechanism.

5. The foldable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein: The strip-shaped groove and the strip-shaped through hole are trapezoidal, the trapezoid having a first bottom side and a second bottom side, and the length of the first bottom side is greater than the length of the second bottom side; The first bottom sides of the strip-shaped groove and the strip-shaped through hole are bounded by a perpendicular bisector of the length of the display folding portion and are respectively oriented toward two ends in the extending direction of the rotating shaft mechanism.

6. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: The support member is in an arched bamboo book shape.

7. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The orthographic projection of the support member on the display folding portion is in an "X" shape.

8. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The support member and the rotating shaft mechanism are integrally formed.

9. The foldable electronic device according to claim 8, wherein: The rotating shaft mechanism includes: a bracket, a swing arm and a connecting component; Connecting components are respectively provided on both sides of the bracket, and the connecting components are connected to the bracket through swing arms. The connecting components located on both sides of the bracket are respectively connected to the first main body and the second main body; The support member and a surface of the connecting assembly facing the display folding portion are integrally formed.

10. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: A height difference between the top of the support member and the bottom of the support member is between 0.03 mm and 0.06 mm.

11. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The flexible screen includes: a display component and a transparent cover; The display assembly is attached to the first main body and the second main body, and the transparent cover is arranged on a side of the display assembly facing away from the first main body and the second main body.

12. The foldable electronic device according to claim 11, wherein: The display assembly includes: a display module and a bamboo book layer; The bamboo book layer is arranged on a side of the display module away from the transparent cover plate. The bamboo book layer is provided with a plurality of hollow and / or grooved bamboo book strips arranged at intervals in the area corresponding to the display folding portion. The extension direction of the bamboo book strips is parallel to the extension direction of the rotating shaft mechanism.

13. The foldable electronic device according to claim 12, wherein: The support member and the bamboo book layer are integrally formed.

14. The foldable electronic device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: The bamboo book layer is a stainless steel layer, a titanium alloy layer or a carbon fiber layer.

15. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that: The support member is made of a material of memory metal or shape memory polymer.

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