Hinge device and electronic equipment using same

Abstract

In order to provide a hinge device capable of coping with slack or tension applied to a flexible display sheet when the electronic device is set to a folded state or an unfolded state, and to provide an electronic device using the hinge device, the hinge device is used in an electronic device in which the flexible display sheet is mounted across both surfaces of a pair of housings, the shell is connected with the pair of shells in an openable and closable manner; the hinge device is provided with a base frame which extends to two end parts of the pair of shells in the width direction; the base frame is composed of a fixed cam component and a rotating cam component, and the fixed cam component is provided with a rotating sliding mechanism, a rotating control mechanism and a synchronous rotating mechanism which are arranged on a pair of hinge shafts arranged on the base frame. Bent guide protrusions are provided on the inner sides of fixed cam members, which respectively provide the rotary sliding mechanisms at predetermined intervals on the front side and the rear side of both end portions of the base frame, and the rotary cam members have bent guide recesses that engage with the fixed cam members. The housing is provided with a plurality of side frames, and is installed on each housing or a side frame on each housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge device and an electronic device using the hinge device. The hinge device is suitable for various electronic devices such as foldable notebook computers, electronic notepads, PDAs, netbooks, and even smart phones, which are formed by installing flexible display sheets made of organic EL across the two surfaces of a pair of shells. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, electronic devices such as foldable laptop computers, which feature a flexible organic EL display sheet mounted across the two surfaces of a pair of housings, have been developed and gradually come to market. Patent Document 1 below describes a hinge device that smoothly transitions the housings of such electronic devices from a folded state to an unfolded state.

[0003]

Prior art literature

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-035904 Summary of the Invention

[0005] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] The hinge device disclosed in Patent Document 1 utilizes multiple hinge axes to move the housings of an electronic device from a folded state to an unfolded state. However, this conventional hinge device cannot adequately address the slack or tension caused by the thickness of the flexible display sheet when the housings of the electronic device are folded or unfolded.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device that can cope with the slack or tension applied to a flexible display sheet when the electronic device is placed in a folded state or an unfolded state, and an electronic device using the hinge device.

[0008]

Methods for solving the problem

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned problems, claim 1 of the present invention is a hinge device for an electronic device formed by mounting a flexible display sheet across both surfaces of a pair of shells, and connecting the pair of shells in an openable and closable manner. The hinge device is characterized in that it is provided with a base frame extending to both ends of the width direction of the pair of shells; the base frame is composed of a fixed cam component and a rotating cam component, wherein the fixed cam component has a rotary sliding mechanism, a rotary control mechanism and a synchronous rotation mechanism provided on a pair of hinge shafts provided on the base frame, and a bending guide protrusion is provided on the inner side of the fixed cam component that respectively provides the rotary sliding mechanism on the front side and the rear side of the two end sides of the base frame at predetermined intervals, and the rotating cam component has a curved guide recess that engages with each fixed cam component and is installed on each shell or a side frame installed on each shell.

[0010] Furthermore, claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that the rotation control mechanism is composed of the following components: a synchronous sliding cam component slidably installed on each hinge shaft opposite to the synchronous first rotating cam component on one side; a fixed component installed on the base frame at a predetermined interval relative to the synchronous sliding cam component and holding the end of each hinge shaft; a pair of rotating brackets that are in contact with the fixed component, rotatable toward each hinge shaft, and slidable relative to the side frame through a guide component; a friction plate that is in contact with the pair of rotating brackets and passes through each hinge shaft; and an elastic component composed of a pair of compression springs that pass through each hinge shaft and are elastically arranged between the friction plate and the synchronous sliding cam component.

[0011] Furthermore, claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the synchronous rotation mechanism is composed of the following components: four synchronous first rotating cam components and synchronous second rotating cam components, one end side of which is rotatably connected at a predetermined interval on a pair of hinge shafts installed on a base frame at a predetermined interval, and the other end side of which is slidably installed on a double guide component on each cover component; and a synchronous sliding cam component slidably installed on a pair of hinge shafts between each synchronous first rotating cam component and the synchronous second rotating cam component.

[0012] Furthermore, claim 4 of the present invention is an electronic device characterized by using the hinge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 above.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] Furthermore, the structure according to claim 1 can reduce the relaxation or tension of the flexible display sheet when the pair of shells transition from a closed state to an unfolded state and then to an open state.

[0015] Furthermore, according to the structure described in claim 2, when each housing is opened and closed, it can be stably stopped and maintained at any opening and closing angle, and at the same time, each housing can be kept in a stable stopped state in the fully closed state and the fully open state.

[0016] Furthermore, the structure as claimed in claim 3 can achieve stable synchronous rotation of each shell even with a simplified design.

[0017] Furthermore, the structure as claimed in claim 4 can significantly improve the practicality of an electronic device using the hinge device having the above characteristics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1(a) to Figure 1(b) An electronic device using the hinge device of the present invention is shown. FIG. 1( a ) is a perspective view of a first housing and a second housing in a folded state, and FIG. 1( b ) is a perspective view of a first housing and a second housing in an unfolded state.

[0019] Figure 2 It is from Figure 1(a) to Figure 1(b) The shown state is a perspective view of the unfolded state after the flexible display sheet is removed.

[0020] Figure 3 It is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge device of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A partially exploded perspective view of the hinge assembly is shown.

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A fully exploded perspective view of the main components of the hinge device is shown.

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A partially exploded perspective view of a portion of the rotary slide mechanism of the hinge assembly is shown.

[0024] Figure 7(a) to Figure 7(b) yes Figure 5 FIG7( a ) is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the rotation control mechanism of the hinge device, FIG7( b ) is an exploded perspective view of the portion, and FIG7( a ) is an exploded perspective view of the entire portion.

[0025] Figure 8(a) to Figure 8(b) Shown Figure 5 FIG8(a) is a partial exploded perspective view of the synchronous rotation mechanism of the hinge device, and FIG8(b) is a full exploded perspective view thereof.

[0026] Figure 9 yes Figure 5 An enlarged perspective view of a portion of the base frame of the hinge assembly is shown.

[0027] Figure 10 yes Figure 5 An enlarged perspective view of the rotating cam component of the hinge assembly is shown.

[0028] Figure 11(a) to Figure 11(b) Shown Figure 5 FIG11(a) is a perspective view of the synchronously rotating cam member on one side, and FIG11(b) is a perspective view of the synchronously rotating cam member on the other side.

[0029] Figure 12(a) to Figure 12(b) Shown Figure 5 The synchronously rotating cam member on the other side is shown, and FIG12(a) is a perspective view thereof as viewed from one side, and FIG12(b) is a perspective view thereof as viewed from the other side.

[0030] Figure 13 yes Figure 5 An enlarged perspective view of the synchronized slide cam components is shown.

[0031] Figure 14 yes Figure 5 An enlarged perspective view of the sliding cam assembly is shown.

[0032] Figure 15 yes Figure 5 An enlarged perspective view of the center stop is shown.

[0033] Figure 16 yes Figure 5 An enlarged perspective view of the center leaf spring cover is shown.

[0034] Figure 17(a) to Figure 17(b) Shown Figure 5 FIG17( a ) is a perspective view of the center plate mounting member as viewed from one side thereof, and FIG17( b ) is a perspective view of the center plate mounting member as viewed from the other side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] An embodiment of the hinge device and the electronic device using the hinge device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Example

[0037] FIG1 schematically shows a laptop computer B as an example of an electronic device using the hinge device A of the present invention. FIG1(a) is a perspective view of a pair of shells 10, 10 constituting the laptop computer B when the angle between each other is 0 degrees (hereinafter also referred to as a closed state), and FIG1(b) is a perspective view of a pair of shells 10, 10 when they are unfolded to 180 degrees (hereinafter also referred to as an open state). The hinge device A of the present invention is provided on the connecting side of the pair of shells 10, 10 so that the shells 10, 10 can be opened and closed between 0 degrees and 180 degrees. On each surface side of each shell 10, 10, a flexible display sheet C, such as an organic EL, is mounted on both sides thereof. When each shell 10, 10 is opened and closed, the flexible display sheet C produces slack or tension due to the thickness of the material. Therefore, the hinge device A needs to have a mechanism to reduce this slack or tension.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the housings 10, 10 in an open state with the flexible display sheet C separated, showing that the hinge device A of the present invention is mounted on the connecting end side of the housings 10, 10. The structure of the hinge device A of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] According to the accompanying drawings, the hinge device A of the present invention is particularly Figures 2 to 5 As shown, a base frame 1 is provided which extends to both ends of the width direction of each shell 10, 10, and side frames 2, 3 which can be removed from each shell 10, 10 are arranged on the front and rear sides of the base frame 1, and a rotating sliding mechanism D, D for rotating each side frame 2, 3, a rotation control mechanism E, a synchronous rotation mechanism F and a lifting mechanism G of the center plate 6 are arranged on the base frame 1.

[0040] In addition, the side frames 2 and 3 have the same shape, especially as Figure 5 As shown, the cross section is generally zigzag shaped and provided with mounting holes (not shown) for mounting the bracket guide 9, the first synchronous rotation cam member 13, the second synchronous rotation cam member 14, etc.

[0041] Hereinafter, these rotary slide mechanisms D, D, the rotation control mechanism E, the synchronous rotation mechanism F, and the lifting mechanism G will be described in order with reference to the drawings.

[0042] First, although the rotary sliding mechanisms D and D are provided at both ends of the base frame 1, since the two are the same mechanism, only one of them will be described, and the description of the other will be omitted. Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the rotary slide mechanism D is arranged on both sides of the base frame 1 and comprises: fixed cam members 7, 7 having curved guide protrusions 7a, 7a, ..., arranged at predetermined intervals on the inner sides of each of the fixed cam members 7, 7; rotating cam members 8, 8, ..., having first curved guide recesses 8a, 8a on the outer sides of one end side that engage with the curved guide protrusions 7a, 7a, and second curved guide recesses 8b, 8b on both sides of the other end side; and bracket guides 9, 9 having curved guide protrusions 9a, 9a that engage with the second curved guide recesses 8b, 8b of the rotating cam members 8, 8, ..., arranged at predetermined intervals. Each bracket guide 9, 9 is attached to each side frame 2, 3 attached to each housing 10, 10. Depending on the embodiment, the side frames 2, 3 may be omitted, and in this case, the bracket guides 9, 9 are attached directly to the housing 10, 10.

[0043] Therefore, when the shells 10, 10 are opened and closed, the operating force is transmitted to the bracket guides 9, 9 through the side frames 2, 3. The bracket guides 9, 9 are moved, and the rotating cam parts 8, 8... rotate to perform the opening and closing operations of the shells 10, 10.

[0044] At this time, the rotating cam parts 8, 8..., through the action of the curved guide protrusions 7a, 7a of the fixed cam parts 7, 7 and their own first curved guide recesses 8a, 8a, make each shell 10, 10 slide slightly outward when the shells 10, 10 are fully opened, thereby preventing the flexible display sheet C from generating wrinkles.

[0045] Furthermore, although the synchronous rotation mechanism F also has a gear structure, the present invention relates to a cam structure. The synchronous rotation mechanism F, in particular, Figure 4 and Figure 5 , and then as Figure 8(a) to Figure 8(b) As shown, on a pair of hinge shafts 11, 12 installed at predetermined intervals on the base frame 1, one end side thereof is rotatably connected at predetermined intervals, and the other end side is composed of four synchronous first rotating cam components 13, 13 and synchronous second rotating cam components 14, 14 slidably arranged toward the double guide components 26, 26 installed on each cover component 4, 5, and a synchronous sliding cam component 15 slidably arranged between the pair of hinge shafts 11, 12.

[0046] In addition, when the synchronous first rotating cam components 13, 13 and the synchronous second rotating cam components 14, 14 are slidably arranged on the dual guide components 26, 26, each dual guide component 26, 26 is provided with a pair of receiving recesses 26c, 26c·26c, 26c through a guide piece portion 26b, 26b arranged at the central portion, and the guide recesses 13a, 13a·14a, 14a arranged on each synchronous first rotating cam component 13, 13 and the synchronous second rotating cam component 14, 14 are engaged with the guide protrusion portions 26a, 26a·26a, 26a... arranged on the receiving recesses 26c, 26c·26c, 26c. The first and second synchronous rotating cam members 13 and 13 and 14 slide in synchronization with each other by engaging locking pins 13 c and 13 c provided on the first synchronous rotating cam members 13 and 13 with engaging holes 14 c and 14 c provided on the second synchronous rotating cam members 14 and 14 .

[0047] like Figure 5 and Figure 8(a) to Figure 8(b) As shown, the indicator symbol 20 represents a locking piece for locking one end of each hinge shaft 11, 12. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the locking member 19 is a locking piece 20, 20 for locking one end side of each hinge shaft 11, 12. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The components denoted by reference numerals 29 and 29 are contact components, but may be omitted.

[0048] Moreover, on both end sides of the synchronous sliding cam component 15, sliding screw cam portions 15a, 15a·15a, 15a are provided corresponding to each hinge shaft 11, 12, and each synchronous first rotating cam component 13, 13 and the synchronous second rotating cam component 14, 14, and on the side opposite to each sliding screw cam portion 15a, 15a·15a, 15a, a rotating screw cam portion 13b, 13b, 14b, 14b is provided.

[0049] Therefore, if one of the housings 10, 10 is placed with a hand to open or close the other housing 10, the first synchronous rotating cam components 13, 13 and the second synchronous rotating cam components 14, 14 are rotated via the side frames 2, 3, and when the synchronous sliding cam component 15 slides along the hinge shafts 11, 12, the other housing 10 obtains a rotational force through the interaction with the synchronous sliding cam component 15 and the first synchronous rotating cam components 13, 13, thereby performing the opening and closing action synchronously.

[0050] Furthermore, the rotation control mechanism E, in particular as Figure 4 and Figure 5 and Figure 7(a) to Figure 7(b) As shown, the rotation control mechanism E is composed of a synchronous sliding cam member 30 slidably mounted on each hinge shaft 11, 12 in opposition to the synchronous first rotating cam member 13, 13 on one side; a fixing member 28 mounted on the base frame 1 at a predetermined interval relative to the synchronous sliding cam member 30 and holding the end of each hinge shaft 11, 12; a pair of rotating brackets 21, 21 rotatably mounted relative to the side frames 2, 3 via guide members 17, 17 in contact with the fixing member 28; a friction plate 22 passing through each hinge shaft 11, 12 in contact with the pair of rotating brackets 21, 21; and elastic members 16, 16 consisting of a pair of compression springs elastically provided and passing through each hinge shaft 11, 12 between the friction plate 22 and the synchronous sliding cam member 30. In addition, each guide member 17, 17, in particular, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the upper component 17a and the lower component 17b are overlapped, and the rotating brackets 21, 21 are rotatably and slidably installed therebetween.

[0051] It goes without saying that lubricating oil is applied between the components that are pressed against each other. In addition, as shown in Figure 7(b), each rotating bracket 21, 21 is provided with a guide groove 21a, 21a for inserting the center stopper 18, 18 and locking the center stopper 18, 18 within a predetermined rotation angle range.

[0052] Furthermore, the center plate 6 is mounted vertically and movably relative to the base frame 1 via center plate mounting members 33, 33. The lifting mechanism G for the center plate 6 comprises torsion springs 25, 25, disposed on either side of the base frame 1, which constantly bias the center plate 6 downward, and rotating cam members 8, 8, etc., which overcome the pulling force of the torsion springs 25, 25 and move the center plate 6 upward when the housings 10, 10 are opened. When the housings 10, 10 are closed, the center plate 6 is positioned below the hinge assembly A. However, when the housings 10, 10 are opened, the center plate 6 is moved upward by the rotating cam members 8, 8, etc. When fully opened 180 degrees, the center plate 6 is flush with the surface of the housings 10, 10, without creating a recessed portion on the surface of the flexible display sheet C.

[0053] Furthermore, the center stoppers 18, 18 are inserted through the guide grooves provided in the rotating brackets 21, 21, and are rotatably mounted together with the rotating brackets 21, 21 within a predetermined angular range. When the housings 10, 10 are opened, the center plate 6 is moved upward by the rotating cam members 8, 8, ..., and when the housings 10, 10 are closed, the center plate 6 is pushed back to its original position by the pulling force of the torsion springs 25, 25 pulling the center plate 6 downward.

[0054] In addition, especially Figure 15As shown, the center stopper 18 includes an insertion hole 18a for inserting the hinge shafts 11 and 12, a stopper portion 18b, and an upward push piece 18c. The rotation angle is limited by the stopper portion 18b.

[0055] In addition, especially if Figure 16 As shown, the central leaf spring cover is indicated by the indicator symbol 24, and is provided with a torsion spring mounting pin 24a, especially as shown in FIG. Figure 17(a) to Figure 17(b) As shown, a screw mounting hole 33 a is provided in the center portion of the center plate mounting member 33 .

[0056] Furthermore, when the housings 10, 10 are in the closed state, the convex portions 31a, 31a, 31a, 31a of the first cam portion 31 of the synchronous sliding cam member 30 of the rotation control mechanism E engage with the concave portions 32b, 32b, 32b, 32b of the second cam portion 32 of the synchronous first rotating cam member 13, 13, thereby stably maintaining the closed state. When the housings 10, 10 are at an intermediate opening / closing angle relative to each other, regardless of whether they are opening or closing, the convex portions 31a, 31a and 32a, 32a of the first cam portion 31 and the second cam portion 32 are in pressure contact with each other, allowing the housings 10, 10 to open and close freely. Therefore, when each housing 10, 10 is in the fully open state, the convex portions 31a, 31a·31a, 31a of the first cam portions 31, 31 of the synchronous sliding cam components 30 fall into the concave portions 32b, 32b·32b, 32b of the second cam portions 32, 32 of the synchronous first rotating cam components 13, 13, so that the open state can be stably maintained.

[0057] Industrial Applicability

[0058] As described in detail above, the hinge device of the present invention is suitable for use as a hinge device for a foldable electronic device that is suitable for erecting a flexible display sheet structure across a pair of shells, such as a laptop computer, an electronic notepad, a PDA, a netbook, a video display device, a portable game console, a laptop computer, etc., as well as a foldable electronic device using the hinge device.

[0059]

Explanation of symbols

[0060] A Hinge device

[0061] B Laptop computer (electronic equipment)

[0062] C Flexible display sheet

[0063] D Rotary Sliding Mechanism

[0064] E Rotation Control Mechanism

[0065] F Synchronous Rotation Mechanism

[0066] G lifting mechanism

[0067] 1 base frame

[0068] 2.3 side frames

[0069] 4, 5 cover parts

[0070] 6 center plate

[0071] 7Fixed cam components

[0072] 7a curved guide protrusion

[0073] 8 Rotating cam components

[0074] 8a First curved guide recess

[0075] 8b Second curved guide recess

[0076] 9 bracket guide

[0077] 10 shell

[0078] 11, 12 hinge axis

[0079] 13 Synchronous first rotating cam component

[0080] 14 Synchronous second rotating cam component

[0081] 15 Synchronous sliding cam components

[0082] 15a Sliding screw cam

[0083] 16 elastic components

[0084] 17 guide components

[0085] 17a Upper part

[0086] 17b Lower part

[0087] 18 center stop

[0088] 19 locking parts

[0089] 20, 20 locking piece

[0090] 21 rotating bracket

[0091] 22 friction plates

[0092] 24 center leaf spring cover

[0093] 25 torsion spring

[0094] 26 double guide parts

[0095] 28 fixed parts

[0096] 30 Synchronous sliding cam components

[0097] 31 first cam portion

[0098] 31a convex part

[0099] 32 second cam portion

[0100] 32a convex part

[0101] 32b concave part

[0102] 33 Center plate mounting parts

Claims

1. A hinge device, characterized in that: The hinge device is used for an electronic device formed by installing a flexible display sheet across the two surfaces of a pair of shells, and can connect the pair of shells in an openable and closable manner; the hinge device is provided with a base frame extending to the two ends in the width direction of the pair of shells; the base frame is composed of a fixed cam component and a rotating cam component, wherein the fixed cam component has a rotating sliding mechanism, a rotating control mechanism and a synchronous rotating mechanism arranged on a pair of hinge shafts arranged on the base frame, and a bending guide protrusion is provided on the inner side of the fixed cam component on the front side and the rear side of the two end sides of the base frame respectively provided with the rotating sliding mechanism at predetermined intervals, and the rotating cam component has a bending guide recess engaged with each fixed cam component, and is installed on each shell or on a side frame installed on each shell.

2. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein: The rotation control mechanism is composed of the following components: a synchronous sliding cam component slidably mounted on each hinge shaft opposite to the synchronous first rotating cam component on one side; a fixed component mounted on the base frame at a predetermined interval relative to the synchronous sliding cam component and holding the end of each hinge shaft; a pair of rotating brackets in contact with the fixed component, rotatable toward each hinge shaft, and slidable relative to the side frame through a guide component; a friction plate in contact with the pair of rotating brackets, through which each hinge shaft is passed; and an elastic component composed of a pair of compression springs elastically arranged through each hinge shaft between the friction plate and the synchronous sliding cam component.

3. The hinge device according to claim 1, wherein: The synchronous rotation mechanism comprises the following components: four synchronous first rotating cam members and a synchronous second rotating cam member, one end of which is rotatably connected to a pair of hinge shafts mounted at predetermined intervals on the base frame, and the other end of which is slidably provided on a dual guide member mounted on each cover member; and a synchronous sliding cam member slidably mounted on a pair of hinge shafts between each of the synchronous first rotating cam member and the synchronous second rotating cam member.

4. An electronic device, characterized in that: Use of a hinge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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