Folding device, shell assembly and electronic equipment

Abstract

The embodiment provides a folding device, a shell assembly and electronic equipment. The folding device comprises a base, two first rotating pieces, two connecting pieces and two supporting pieces. The two first rotating pieces are rotationally connected to the two opposite sides of the base correspondingly, and the connecting pieces located on the same side of the base are rotationally connected with the first rotating pieces. The two supporting pieces are rotationally connected to the two opposite sides of the base respectively, and the supporting pieces and the connecting pieces located on the same side of the base are movably connected with each other. In the folding process of the folding device, the supporting piece moves in the direction close to the base relative to the connecting piece, that is, the supporting piece is pulled inwards and / or the connecting piece is pushed outwards. As the follow-up flexible screen is fixed to the supporting piece, and the connecting piece is fixed to the shell, when the supporting piece is pulled inwards, the flexible screen can be pulled in the direction opposite to the dislocation, the arching problem caused by the dislocation is solved, the display performance of the flexible screen is improved, and the service life of the flexible screen is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Competition in the mobile terminal industry is increasingly trending towards larger, thinner screens. However, these larger screens make the device bulky and inconvenient to carry. Foldable electronic devices, which can adjust their size by folding, address this issue and are now popular with users. Tri-fold electronic devices can be folded twice. Due to the difference in radius between the layers of film within the flexible screen, there is a risk of misalignment after each fold. If both folds are inward, the misalignment will conflict and compound, causing the flexible screen to arch, affecting its display performance and lifespan. Summary of the Invention

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

[0004] base;

[0005] Two first rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base respectively;

[0006] two connecting members, the connecting member and the first rotating member being rotatably connected to each other on the same side of the base; and

[0007] Two supporting members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base, and the supporting members and the connecting member located on the same side of the base are movably connected to each other;

[0008] Wherein, during the folding process of the folding device, the supporting member moves relative to the connecting member in a direction approaching the base.

[0009] The folding device provided in the first aspect of the present application can first realize the unfolding function and folding function on the left and right sides of the folding device through the mutual cooperation of the base, two first rotating members, two connecting members, and two supporting members. Secondly, during the folding process of the folding device, in addition to the rotation of the supporting member and the connecting member relative to the base, the supporting member and the connecting member will also slide relative to each other, and the supporting member can move relative to the connecting member in the direction close to the base, that is, the supporting member is pulled inward and / or the connecting member is pushed outward. Since the subsequent flexible screen is fixed to the supporting member and the connecting member is fixed to the shell, when the supporting member is pulled inward, the flexible screen can be pulled in the opposite direction of the dislocation, thereby alleviating the arching problem caused by the dislocation and improving the display performance and service life of the flexible screen.

[0010] The second aspect of the present application provides a shell assembly, which includes at least three shells and at least two folding devices, each of the folding devices is connected between two adjacent shells, and at least one of the at least two folding devices is the folding device provided in the first aspect of the present application.

[0011] The shell assembly provided in the second aspect of the present application, by adopting the folding device provided in the first aspect of the present application, can increase the distance between the support member and the shell during the folding process, thereby pulling the flexible screen in the opposite direction of the dislocation, alleviating the arching problem caused by the dislocation, and improving the display performance and service life of the flexible screen.

[0012] The third aspect of the present application provides an electronic device, which includes a flexible screen and a shell assembly as provided in the second aspect of the present application, wherein the flexible screen is arranged on the same side of at least three shells and at least two folding devices in the shell assembly.

[0013] The electronic device provided in the third aspect of the present application, by adopting the shell assembly provided in the second aspect of the present application, can pull the flexible screen in the opposite direction of the dislocation, alleviate the arching problem caused by the dislocation, and improve the display performance and service life of the flexible screen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application will be described below.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in an embodiment of the present application when it is in an unfolded state.

[0016] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the folding device is shown.

[0017] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application when it is in a folded state.

[0019] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of a support member and a connecting member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0021] Figure 7This is a perspective view of the base, the first rotating member, the connecting member, and the supporting member when the folding device is in the unfolded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of an exploded view of the first rotating member, the supporting member, and the base in one embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the exploded view of the first rotating member and the connecting member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in another embodiment of the present application when it is in the unfolded state.

[0025] Figure 11 for Figure 10 An exploded view of the folding device is shown.

[0026] Figure 12 for Figure 10 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0027] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the folding device in another embodiment of the present application when it is in a folded state.

[0028] Figure 14 for Figure 13 A front view of the folding device is shown.

[0029] Figure 15 This is a perspective view of the base, the first rotating member, the second rotating member, and the connecting member when the folding device is in the unfolded state in another embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 16 This is a schematic exploded cross-sectional view of a support member and a base in another embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 17 This is an exploded schematic diagram of the first rotating member and the connecting member in another embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 18 Schematic diagram of an exploded view of a base, a first rotating member, and a second rotating member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 19 Schematic diagram of the exploded view of the second rotating member and the connecting member in one embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 20 This is a schematic exploded view of a support member and a connecting member in another embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Figure 21This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the support member, and the connecting member when the folding device is in the unfolded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Figure 22 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the base, the support member, and the connecting member when the folding device is in a folded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0037] Figure 23 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the shell assembly in an expanded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0038] Figure 24 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the shell assembly in an embodiment of the present application when it is in a folded state.

[0039] Figure 25 This is a partial schematic diagram of the shell assembly when the shell assembly is in an expanded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Figure 26 This is a partial schematic diagram of the shell assembly when the shell assembly is in a folded state in one embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Figure 27 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an electronic device in an unfolded state according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0042] Figure 28 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an electronic device in a folded state according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0043] Figure 29 Schematic diagram of the principle of flexible screen arching in related technology.

[0044] Figure 30 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of alleviating the arching of the flexible screen in one embodiment of the present application.

[0045] Figure 31 This is a partial schematic diagram of an electronic device in an unfolded state according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0046] Figure 32 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the fixed layer in one embodiment of the present application.

[0047] Figure 33 This is a partial schematic diagram of an electronic device in another embodiment of the present application when it is in an unfolded state.

[0048] Description of labels:

[0049] Folding device 1, screen space 1a, track mechanism 1b, housing assembly 2, electronic device 3, base 10, bottom surface 100, top surface 101, first rotation axis C1, second rotation axis C2, third rotation axis C3, first arc groove 102, second arc groove 103, second rotation hole 104, first rotating member 20, first arc rail 201, first rotation axis 202, connecting member 30, first slider 301, first rotation hole 302, second slide groove 303, rolling groove 31, first limit end 311, second limit end 312, connecting portion 313, support member 40, Support surface-400, first slide groove-401, support part-41, rotating part-42, second circular arc rail-420, rolling part-43, rolling axis-430, second rotating part-50, second rotating axis-501, second slider-502, shell-60, first shell-60a, second shell-60b, third shell-60c, first part-61, bearing surface-610, second part-62, flexible screen-70, display surface-700, first sub-flexible screen-701, second sub-flexible screen-702, third sub-flexible screen-703, display layer-71, middle layer-72, fixing layer-73, through hole-730, adhesive layer-74. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The following are preferred implementations of the present application. It should be noted that ordinary technicians in this technical field can make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present application. These improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0051] With the market's demand for larger display areas for mobile phones, tablets, and other terminal products, competition in the mobile terminal industry is increasingly trending towards large and ultra-thin screens. However, large screens make the entire device too large and inconvenient to carry. The smartphone industry is ushering in an experience revolution brought about by form factor innovation. The display form of mobile phone products has evolved from the original rigid screen to flexible screens, from small screens to large screens, and from static mechanisms to dynamic mechanisms. Recently, major mobile phone manufacturers have been developing foldable screens, striving to expand the form and display boundaries of mobile phone products, making them combine the functions of mobile phones, tablets, and even computers. As electronic devices with new display form factors, foldable electronic devices can be unfolded or closed due to their folding function. They have a larger display area when unfolded and a smaller overall size when folded, thus solving the above problems. They are now popular among users.

[0052] Foldable electronic devices can be categorized as having two, three, or four fold structures, depending on how many parts they are divided into after folding. A two-fold structure means the device can be divided into two parts, a three-fold structure means it can be divided into three parts, and a four-fold structure means it can be divided into four parts. Foldable electronic devices rely on a folding mechanism to achieve their folding function. A two-fold structure has only one folding mechanism, a three-fold structure has two folds, and a four-fold structure has three folding mechanisms.

[0053] For electronic devices with a three-fold structure or above, the flexible screen will have the problem of arching. The following is an example of a three-fold electronic device. The flexible screen is composed of multiple film materials arranged in a stacked manner. Since the bottom film material is fixed on the folding device and the shell, and the bending radius of each film material is different, there will be a problem of dislocation after each folding, that is, except for the bottom film material, the rest of the film materials are dislocated outward, and the more top-layered the film material is, the greater the amount of dislocation. The folding method can be divided into external folding and internal folding. If both folds are inward folding, whether it is a U-shaped inward folding or a water drop-shaped inward folding, this dislocation will conflict, and the dislocation on the left and right sides of the flexible screen will gather towards the middle, resulting in the flexible screen arching failure, and the more top-layered the film material is, the greater the amount of arching, which greatly affects the display performance and service life of the flexible screen.

[0054] In order to solve the above problems, this application provides a folding device, please refer to Figure 1-Figure 5 The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment includes a base 10, two first rotating members 20, two connecting members 30, and two supporting members 40. The two first rotating members 20 are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base 10, and the connecting members 30 and the first rotating members 20 located on the same side of the base 10 are rotatably connected to each other. The two supporting members 40 are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base 10, and the supporting members 40 and the connecting members 30 located on the same side of the base 10 are movably connected to each other. During the folding process of the folding device 1, the supporting members 40 move relative to the connecting members 30 in a direction closer to the base 10.

[0055] The folding device 1, also known as a hinge or a rotating shaft, is primarily used in electronic products such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers. It can also be used in other non-electronic products that require a torque shaft, such as various mechanical structures like doors and windows. The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment primarily comprises a base 10, two first rotating members 20, two connecting members 30, and two supporting members 40. This means that this embodiment can solve the aforementioned technical problems using only the base 10, two first rotating members 20, two connecting members 30, and two supporting members 40. However, in other embodiments, the folding device 1 may also include other components, such as a synchronization mechanism and a torque mechanism, to achieve different purposes. The synchronization mechanism ensures synchronization of the left and right shell movements during folding and unfolding, achieving symmetry between the movement of the two sides and the flexible screen, ensuring a seamless fit between the two flexible screens when folded and a flat surface when unfolded. The torque mechanism is used to provide a damping sensation during the movement of the folding device 1, ensuring a comfortable feel during product unfolding and merging. Furthermore, sufficient torque can enable the product to hover during movement, giving the product more playability and usage scenarios. Next, this embodiment will sequentially introduce the base 10 , the first rotating member 20 , the connecting member 30 , and the supporting member 40 in detail.

[0056] The base 10 is the foundational component of the folding device 1, primarily serving as a base for mounting and securing other components. Specifically, the various components of the folding device 1 can be mounted on the base 10. When the folding device 1 is in motion, the base 10 itself remains stationary, while the other components of the folding device 1 perform various movements. This embodiment does not impose any restrictions on the shape, structure, material, or other parameters of the base 10; as long as it provides a foundation for mounting the other components, any parameters are acceptable.

[0057] Optionally, the base 10 has a top surface 101 and a bottom surface 100 disposed opposite each other, and a side surface that bends and connects the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 100. When the folding device 1 is subsequently used in an electronic device, the top surface 101 is close to the flexible screen of the electronic device, while the bottom surface 100 is away from the flexible screen. The bottom surface 100 can also cooperate with a decorative element to use the decorative element to cover the base 10. In other words, the top surface 101 is the top surface, and the bottom surface 100 is the bottom surface.

[0058] Further optionally, the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 100 are both flat, which is convenient for subsequent matching with other components. The side surfaces are convex curved surfaces, which not only improve the appearance of the base 10, but also facilitate matching with decorative parts.

[0059] The two first rotating members 20 in the folding device 1 primarily achieve the folding function through their rotational ability. The rotation of the two first rotating members 20 drives and constrains the components connected to them, causing these components to move along a predetermined trajectory. The two first rotating members 20 are rotatably connected to the base 10, meaning that the two first rotating members 20 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the ends of the two first rotating members 20 closest to the base 10 are rotatably connected to the base 10. Since the base 10 is stationary, only the two first rotating members 20 rotate. Furthermore, the two first rotating members 20 are located on opposite sides of the base 10. In this embodiment, the "opposite sides" of the base 10 refer to opposite sides along the width of the base 10, which can be understood as the direction in which the two first rotating members 20 are arranged. The term "opposite sides" in this embodiment and the following text shall apply similarly. The two first rotating members 20 located on opposite sides of the base 10 control the left and right sides of the folding device 1, thereby controlling the overall unfolding and folding functions of the folding device 1. This embodiment does not limit parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the first rotating member 20 , as long as the first rotating member 20 can be rotatably connected to the base 10 .

[0060] Optionally, the two first rotating members 20 are rotatably connected to the side surfaces of the base 10. Further, in one embodiment, the two first rotating members 20 are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10. In another embodiment, the two first rotating members 20 are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the base 10. Alternatively, the two first rotating members 20 may have a partially overlapping area along the length of the folding device 1. This embodiment is merely illustrative of the two first rotating members 20 being arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10.

[0061] The rotation of the first rotating member 20 enables the folding device 1 to have a variety of different states, such as an unfolded state and a folded state. The unfolded state can be understood as the state when the first rotating member 20 is completely flattened. At this time, the other end of the first rotating member 20 is set corresponding to the side of the base 10, which can make the upper surface of the subsequent support member 40 horizontally set, thereby making the flexible screen fully unfolded. The folded state can be understood as the state when the first rotating member 20 is completely folded. At this time, the other end of the first rotating member 20 is set corresponding to the top surface 101 of the base 10, which can make the opposite ends of the subsequent flexible screen close to each other, and the flexible screen reaches a fully folded state. And the process of the first rotating member 20 from the unfolded state to the folded state can be understood as the folding process of the folding device 1, and the process of the first rotating member 20 from the folded state to the unfolded state can be understood as the unfolding process of the folding device 1.

[0062] The connecting member 30 primarily serves to connect the various components of the folding device 1. Located on the same side of the base 10, the connecting member 30 is rotatably connected to the first rotating member 20. Specifically, the end of the first rotating member 20 facing away from the base 10 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 30, allowing the connecting member 30 to rotate relative to the first rotating member 20. Furthermore, the connecting member 30 is later used to connect to the housing, securing the connecting member 30 to the housing. Rotation of the housing also drives the connecting member 30 to rotate. In other words, rotation of the connecting member 30 drives the housing to rotate as well. This embodiment does not impose any restrictions on the shape, structure, or material of the connecting member 30, as long as the connecting member 30 can achieve rotatable connection with the first rotating member 20.

[0063] The support member 40 is primarily used to securely support the flexible screen and assist in shaping the flexible screen when the folding device 1 is subsequently applied to an electronic device. It also controls the cross-sectional shape of the flexible screen when folded, ensuring better secure support of the flexible screen without damaging the various layers within the flexible screen. The support member 40 may also be referred to as a support plate or an inclined plate. Optionally, the flexible screen may be bonded to the support member 40 by dispensing glue, for example, so that the support member 40 moves while simultaneously driving the flexible screen to bend. This allows the flexible screen to have a more natural shape during bending, minimize stress after bending, and reduce damage to the flexible screen.

[0064] The two support members 40 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the base 10. Therefore, each side of the base 10 is provided with a first rotating member 20, a connecting member 30, and a support member 40. The two support members 40 are rotatably connected to the opposite sides of the base 10, that is, the end of the support member 40 close to the base 10 is rotatably connected to the base 10, so that the support member 40 can rotate relative to the base 10. In addition, the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 on the same side are movably connected to each other, such as a rotating connection, a sliding connection, or a rolling connection, that is, the end of the support member 40 away from the base 10 is movably connected to the connecting member 30, so that the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 can also move relative to each other. As for the specific connection relationship between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30, this application will be described in detail below. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, structure, and material of the support member 40, as long as the support member 40 can be rotatably connected to the base 10 and movably connected to the connecting member 30.

[0065] The folding device 1 may also include decorative elements, which are disposed on the bottom surface 100 and sides of the base 10 to protect and cover the base 10 and other components, preventing the user from viewing the interior of the folding device 1. Furthermore, the decorative elements may cooperate with the left and right housings of the base 10 to form the exterior appearance of the electronic device.

[0066] The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can regard the first rotating part 20, connecting part 30, and supporting part 40 on one side of the base 10 as the left module, and the first rotating part 20, connecting part 30, and supporting part 40 on the other side of the base 10 as the right module. The left module and the right module can be symmetrically designed or asymmetrically designed.

[0067] The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can form a track mechanism 1b with the base 10, two first rotating members 20, and two connecting members 30, wherein the track mechanism 1b ensures that the screen space 1a in the folded state is U-shaped or teardrop-shaped, ensuring better support for the flexible screen without damaging the stacking of the flexible screen. In one embodiment, the folding device 1 includes a track mechanism 1b, which is arranged on one side of the support member 40. In another embodiment, the folding device 1 includes two track mechanisms 1b, the two track mechanisms 1b are arranged on one side of the support member 40, and the two track mechanisms 1b are arranged along the length extension direction of the support member 40. In this case, one support member 40 is movably connected to two connecting members 30. In other embodiments, the folding device 1 includes three or more track mechanisms 1b, the three or more track mechanisms 1b are arranged on one side of the support member 40, and the three or more track mechanisms 1b are arranged along the length extension direction of the support member 40. In this case, one support member 40 is movably connected to three or more connecting members 30. This embodiment is only schematically illustrated by using the folding device 1 including one track mechanism 1b and two support members 40. Of course, solutions with two track mechanisms 1b and solutions with three or more track mechanisms 1b should also fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0068] Based on the above connection relationship, it can be seen that the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment is composed of four kinematic pairs on a single side. Specifically, the first rotating member 20 cooperates with the base 10 to form a rotating pair, the first rotating member 20 cooperates with the connecting member 30 to form a rotating pair, the support member 40 cooperates with the base 10 to form a rotating pair, and the support member 40 cooperates with the connecting member 30 to form a movable pair. In summary, the total degree of freedom of the various components on a single side is 3*3 (a total of three components on a single side, such as one first rotating member 20, one connecting member 30, and one support member 40) - 2*4 (a total of four low pairs on a single side, such as one movable pair and three rotating pairs) = 1.

[0069] Therefore, when the folding device 1 moves, the motion trajectory and path of each component are unique. Specifically, when the folding device 1 is folded, the first rotating member 20 and the support member 40 rotate relative to the base 10, the connecting member 30 rotates relative to the first rotating member 20, and the connecting member 30 can move relative to the support member 40, ultimately causing the two support members 40 to fold toward each other. When the folding device 1 is unfolded, the first rotating member 20 and the support member 40 rotate relative to the base 10, the connecting member 30 rotates relative to the first rotating member 20, and the connecting member 30 can move relative to the support member 40, ultimately causing the two support members 40 to unfold toward each other.

[0070] The movement process of the folding device 1 mentioned above has a variety of active and passive logical relationships, and this application only uses one specific movement process as an example. When the folding device 1 is folded, that is, when the folding device 1 is in the process of moving from the unfolded state to the folded state, in other words, when the two connecting members 30 rotate relative to the base 10 and approach each other, since the first rotating member 20 rotates to connect the base 10, the connecting member 30 can drive the first rotating member 20 to rotate relative to the base 10. During the rotation of the first rotating member 20, the connecting member 30 can also rotate relative to the first rotating member 20. And since the support member 40 is movably connected to the connecting member 30, the connecting member 30 can also drive the support member 40 to rotate relative to the base 10. During the rotation of the support member 40, the support member 40 can also move relative to the connecting member 30 so that the connecting member 30 and the support member 40 are staggered with each other, and the support member 40 moves relative to the connecting member 30 in the direction close to the base 10 (such as Figure 5 The above relative movement can be understood as the support member 40 being stationary and the connecting member 30 being pushed outward, or the support member 40 being pulled inward and the connecting member 30 being stationary, or the support member 40 being pulled inward and the connecting member 30 being pushed outward at the same time. Ultimately, the support member 40 gradually moves toward the base 10, so that the distance between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 gradually increases, and the two support members 40 fold over each other. Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, both the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 have side end surfaces. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the side end surface of the support member 40 is flush with the side end surface of the connecting member 30. When the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the support member 40 is pulled inward, resulting in a certain distance between the side end surface of the support member 40 and the side end surface of the connecting member 30 (such as Figure 5 the distance between the two dashed lines in the figure).

[0071] Similarly, when the folding device 1 is unfolded, that is, when the folding device 1 moves from the folded state to the unfolded state, when the two connecting members 30 rotate in opposite directions relative to the base 10 and move away from each other, the first rotating member 20 rotates in connection with the base 10, and thus the connecting member 30 can drive the first rotating member 20 to rotate relative to the base 10. During the rotation of the first rotating member 20, the connecting member 30 can also rotate in the opposite direction relative to the first rotating member 20. Furthermore, since the support member 40 is movably connected to the connecting member 30, the connecting member 30 can also drive the support member 40 to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the base 10. During the rotation of the support member 40, the support member 40 can also move relative to the connecting member 30, bringing the connecting member 30 and the support member 40 closer together, and the support member 40 moves relative to the connecting member 30 in a direction away from the base 10. This relative motion can be understood as the support member 40 being stationary and the connecting member 30 pulling inward, or the support member 40 being pushed outward and the connecting member 30 being stationary, or the support member 40 being pushed outward while the connecting member 30 is pulled inward. Finally, the support member 40 gradually moves away from the base 10 , so that the distance between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 gradually decreases, and the two support members 40 are spread apart from each other.

[0072] In other embodiments, the active and passive relationships of the above-mentioned components can be reversed. For example, the support member 40 can rotate relative to the base 10, thereby driving the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30 to rotate relative to the base 10. Such movement processes and principles should also fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0073] When the two support members 40 are parallel to each other and located on opposite sides of the base 10, the two support members 40 are fully unfolded relative to each other. In other words, the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state mentioned above. When both support members 40 are located on one side of the base 10 and both support members 40 are located on the top surface 101 of the base 10, the two support members 40 are fully folded relative to each other. In other words, the folding device 1 is in the folded state. When the two support members 40 are folded relative to each other, the folding device 1 is in the process of moving from the unfolded state to the folded state. When the two support members 40 are unfolded relative to each other, the folding device 1 is in the process of moving from the folded state to the unfolded state.

[0074] When the folding device 1 is in a folded state, the two support members 40 and the base 10 together enclose a screen space 1a for accommodating the flexible screen. The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can make the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a U-shaped or teardrop-shaped. When the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a is U-shaped, the distance between the two support members 40 at the end away from the base 10 is equal to the distance between the two support members 40 at the end close to the base 10. At this time, the structure of the folding device 1 is simple and the reliability of the whole machine is high. When the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a is teardrop-shaped, the distance between the two support members 40 at the end away from the base 10 is less than the distance between the two support members 40 at the end close to the base 10. At this time, after folding, the whole folding device 1 is thinner and flat. This embodiment is only schematically illustrated with the cross-sectional shape of the screen space 1a being U-shaped.

[0075] In the related art, electronic devices with three folds and double inward folds will produce dislocation each time they fold inward, and the dislocations of the two inward folds will conflict with each other, causing the flexible screen to arch. This embodiment adopts the folding device 1 mentioned above, and the flexible screen is fixed on the support member 40. When the folding device 1 folds inward, the support member 40 can be pulled down on the basis of bending and controlling the trajectory of the flexible screen, thereby driving the flexible screen on one side to be pulled outward. In other words, the flexible screen is pulled in the opposite direction of the dislocation. The above content can also be understood as the dislocations on both sides of the flexible screen converging toward the middle, causing the middle area of ​​the flexible screen to arch. This embodiment can pull the two sides of the flexible screen outward, thereby flattening the originally arched area, thereby alleviating the arching problem caused by dislocation, reducing the internal stress of the flexible screen, and improving the display performance and service life of the flexible screen.

[0076] In summary, this embodiment provides a new folding device 1, which can reduce the arching of the flexible screen caused by the bending conflict of the flexible screen and reduce the stress of the flexible screen.

[0077] It is worth noting that when the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment is in a folded state, the support surfaces 400 of the two support members 40 are arranged face to face, thereby clamping the subsequent flexible screen. Therefore, the folding device 1 can be called an inward-folding folding device 1, and the folding device 1 can form a U-shaped screen space 1a.

[0078] The following application will introduce the matching components separately in detail. Since most components are two in number and are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the base 10, this embodiment only uses the following example. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The components on the right side of the base 10 in the folding device 1 are schematically illustrated, and the same understanding can be applied to the components on the left side of the base 10 .

[0079] Please refer to Figure 6In this embodiment, the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 located on the same side of the base 10 are slidably connected to each other. In one embodiment, the support member 40 is slidably connected to the connecting member 30, so that when the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 rotate relative to the base 10, the connecting member 30 can also slide relative to the support member 40. This achieves the above-mentioned folding process, in which the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 are staggered, and the support member 40 moves in a direction closer to the base 10, thereby reducing screen arching.

[0080] In this embodiment, the support member 40 and the connector 30 are connected via a first slider 301 and a first chute 401. The first slider 301 is provided on one of the support member 40 and the connector 30, while the first chute 401 is provided on the other. When the first slider 301 is provided on the support member 40, the first chute 401 is provided on the connector 30. When the first chute 401 is provided on the support member 40, the first slider 301 is provided on the connector 30. This embodiment is merely schematically illustrated with the first chute 401 provided on the support member 40 and the first slider 301 provided on the connector 30. The interaction between the first slider 301 and the first chute 401 allows the support member 40 to slide relative to the connector 30.

[0081] Optionally, the extension direction of the first sliding groove 401 is parallel to the supporting surface 400 of the supporting member 40, so that the distance between the two supporting members 40 can be kept unchanged, thereby forming a U-shaped screen space 1a in the folded state.

[0082] Please refer to Figure 7 In this embodiment, the first rotation axis C1 between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 and the second rotation axis C2 between the support member 40 and the base 10 are parallel to each other, and the first rotation axis C1 is farther away from the top surface 101 of the base 10 than the second rotation axis C2 and closer to the connecting member 30.

[0083] The first rotating member 20 and the support member 40 are both rotatably connected to the base 10. Thus, a first rotation axis C1 is defined between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10, and the first rotating member 20 rotates relative to the base 10 about the first rotation axis C1. A second rotation axis C2 is defined between the support member 40 and the base 10, and the support member 40 rotates relative to the base 10 about the second rotation axis C2. In the vertical direction, this embodiment allows the first rotation axis C1 to be positioned farther from the top surface 101 of the base 10 than the second rotation axis C2. Specifically, the first rotation axis C1 is positioned upward, while the second rotation axis C2 is positioned downward, and both the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2 are positioned outside the base 10. Horizontally, this embodiment allows the first rotation axis C1 to be positioned closer to the connecting member 30 than the second rotation axis C2. Specifically, the first rotation axis C1 is positioned to the right, while the second rotation axis C2 is positioned to the left. Therefore, the first rotation axis C1 is located at the upper right compared to the second rotation axis C2 , and the second rotation axis C2 is located at the lower left compared to the first rotation axis C1 .

[0084] By making the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2 satisfy the above-mentioned positional relationship, during the folding process, the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 can rotate relative to the base 10, and the support member 40 can also slide relative to the connecting member 30, so that the support member 40 slides in the direction close to the base 10, that is, the support member 40 is pulled inward, thereby reducing the arching of the screen.

[0085] In summary, this embodiment does not require the addition of new components. It only needs to design the positions of the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2. By utilizing the position difference between the rotation axes of the first rotating member 20 and the support member 40 and the base 10, the displacement difference during unfolding and folding can be achieved, thereby realizing the sliding of the support member 40 relative to the connecting member 30, providing a basis for the subsequent support member 40 to control the flexible screen.

[0086] Please refer to Figure 8In this embodiment, the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 are connected via a first circular arc rail 201 and a first circular arc groove 102. The first circular arc rail 201 is provided on one of the first rotating member 20 and the base 10, and the first circular arc groove 102 is provided on the other of the first rotating member 20 and the base 10. When the first circular arc rail 201 is provided on the first rotating member 20, the first circular arc groove 102 is provided on the base 10. When the first circular arc groove 102 is provided on the first rotating member 20, the first circular arc rail 201 is provided on the base 10. This embodiment is only schematically described with the first circular arc rail 201 provided on the first rotating member 20 and the first circular arc groove 102 provided on the base 10. Specifically, arc-shaped blocks are provided on opposite sides of the first rotating member 20 near the base 10. These blocks are the first circular arc rails 201. The base 10 is provided with two opposing protrusions, each of which contains an arc-shaped groove, which is the first arc groove 102. The first arc rail 201 is provided in the first arc groove 102, and the axis of the first arc groove 102 is collinear with the axis of the first arc rail 201, so that the first rotating member 20 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 are rotatably connected together via the arc rail and the arc groove.

[0087] The size and curvature of the first circular arc groove 102 and the first circular arc track 201 can be designed based on the position of the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10. The design of the first circular arc groove 102 and the first circular arc track 201 allows the rotation axis to be located inside or outside the base 10. Adjusting the size and curvature of the first circular arc groove 102 and the first circular arc track 201 facilitates the design of the rotation axis position, thereby achieving the aforementioned positional relationship between the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2. Of course, in other embodiments, the first circular arc groove 102 can also be provided on the first rotating member 20, and the first circular arc track 201 can be provided on the base 10.

[0088] In this embodiment, the support member 40 and the base 10 are connected by the second circular arc rail 420 and the second circular arc groove 103. The second circular arc rail 420 is provided on one of the support member 40 and the base 10, and the second circular arc groove 103 is provided on the other of the support member 40 and the base 10. When the second circular arc rail 420 is provided on the support member 40, the second circular arc groove 103 is provided on the base 10. When the second circular arc groove 103 is provided on the support member 40, the second circular arc rail 420 is provided on the base 10. This embodiment is only schematically described by providing the second circular arc rail 420 on the support member 40 and the second circular arc groove 103 on the base 10. Specifically, the support member 40 includes a support portion 41 and a rotating portion 42 fixed to the side of the support portion 41 facing away from its support surface 400. Arc-shaped blocks are provided on opposite sides of the rotating portion 42, and the blocks are the second circular arc rail 420. The base 10 is provided with two opposing protrusions, each of which contains an arc-shaped groove, which is the second arc groove 103. The second arc rail 420 is provided in the second arc groove 103, and the axis of the second arc groove 103 is collinear with the axis of the second arc rail 420, so that the support member 40 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the support member 40 and the base 10 can be rotatably connected together via the arc rail and the arc groove.

[0089] The size and curvature of the second circular arc groove 103 and the second circular arc track 420 can be designed based on the position of the rotation axis between the support member 40 and the base 10. The design of the second circular arc groove 103 and the second circular arc track 420 allows the rotation axis to be located inside or outside the base 10. Adjusting the size and curvature of the second circular arc groove 103 and the second circular arc track 420 facilitates the design of the rotation axis position, thereby achieving the aforementioned positional relationship between the first rotation axis C1 and the second rotation axis C2. Of course, in other embodiments, the second circular arc groove 103 can also be provided on the support member 40, and the second circular arc track 420 can be provided on the base 10.

[0090] In summary, the first rotating member 20 is connected to the support member 40 and the base 10 through arc-shaped slide rails and arc-shaped slide grooves, so that the first rotating axis C1 and the second rotating axis C2 are located outside the base 10, so that the support member 40 moves according to the above-mentioned motion trajectory, reducing the design difficulty.

[0091] Please refer to Figure 9In this embodiment, the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30 are connected by the first rotating shaft 202 and the first rotating hole 302. The first rotating shaft 202 is provided on one of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30, and the first rotating hole 302 is provided on the other of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30. Since the first rotating member 20 is rotatably connected to the connecting member 30, this embodiment allows the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30 to be connected by the first rotating shaft 202 and the first rotating hole 302. The first rotating shaft 202 is provided on one of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30, and the first rotating hole 302 is provided on the other of the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30. For example, when the first rotating shaft 202 is provided on the first rotating member 20, the first rotating hole 302 is provided on the connecting member 30; and when the first rotating hole 302 is provided on the first rotating member 20, the first rotating shaft 202 is provided on the connecting member 30. This embodiment is only schematically described with the first rotating shaft 202 provided on the first rotating member 20 and the first rotating hole 302 provided on the connecting member 30. Optionally, the first rotating shaft 202 includes, but is not limited to, a pin.

[0092] From the above, it can be seen that when the connecting member 30 rotates relative to the base 10, driving the first rotating member 20 to rotate relative to the base 10, the connecting member 30 will also slide relative to the support member 40. This will change the distance between the connecting member 30 and the base 10, and also change the distance between the connecting member 30 and the first rotating member 20. However, since the first rotating member 20 is rotationally connected to the base 10, the first rotating member 20 cannot move. Therefore, to avoid interference during movement, the first rotating member 20 can be rotatably connected to the connecting member 30. When the connecting member 30 slides relative to the support member 40, the first rotating member 20 also rotates relative to the connecting member 30, thereby compensating for the distance of the sliding connecting member 30 and ensuring the smooth movement of the folding device 1. In addition, the use of a rotating shaft and a rotating hole can reduce the thickness of the connecting member 30, thereby reducing the thickness of the folding device 1 as a whole, achieving the purpose of miniaturization of the folding device 1.

[0093] Please refer to Figure 10-14 In this embodiment, the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 located on the same side of the base 10 are slidably and rotatably connected to each other, and the folding device 1 also includes two second rotating members 50 respectively rotatably connected to the opposite sides of the base 10. The second rotating member 50 and the connecting member 30 located on the same side of the base 10 are slidably connected to each other.

[0094] In another embodiment, the support member 40 can be slidably and rotatably connected to the connecting member 30. In this case, the support member 40 can also be said to be rollingly connected to the connecting member 30, so that the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 rotate relative to the base 10. At the same time, the connecting member 30 can slide relative to the support member 40, and the connecting member 30 can also rotate relative to the support member 40, thereby achieving the above-mentioned folding process. The support member 40 and the connecting member 30 are staggered with each other, and the support member 40 moves in a direction close to the base 10, thereby reducing the arching of the screen.

[0095] In addition, the folding device 1 further includes two second rotating members 50. The second rotating members 50 function similarly to the first rotating member 20. In the folding device 1, the folding function is primarily achieved through their rotational ability. The rotation of the two second rotating members 50 drives and constrains the components connected to the two second rotating members 50, causing these components to move along a predetermined motion trajectory. The two second rotating members 50 are rotatably connected to the base 10, meaning that the two second rotating members 50 can rotate relative to the base 10. In other words, the two second rotating members 50 are rotatably connected to the base 10 at one end near the base 10. Since the base 10 is fixed, only the two second rotating members 50 rotate. Furthermore, the two second rotating members 50 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the base 10. The "opposite sides" of the base 10 mentioned in this embodiment refer to opposite sides along the width of the base 10. The width direction can be understood as the arrangement direction of the two second rotating members 50. The same applies to the "opposite sides" in this embodiment and below. The two second rotating members 50 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the base 10 to control the unfolding and folding of the left and right sides of the folding device 1 , thereby controlling the unfolding and folding functions of the folding device 1 as a whole.

[0096] Furthermore, the second rotating member 50 is slidably connected to the connecting member 30 on the same side. Specifically, the end of the second rotating member 50 facing away from the base 10 is slidably connected to the connecting member 30, allowing the second rotating member 50 to slide relative to the connecting member 30. Therefore, in this embodiment, the motion trajectory of the connecting member 30 can be controlled by cooperating with the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 50. Specifically, the first rotating member 20 rotates relative to the connecting member 30, determining the position of the connecting member 30 during motion. The second rotating member 50 slides relative to the connecting member 30, determining the angle of the connecting member 30 during motion. The interaction between the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 50 determines the position and angle of the connecting member 30. The connecting member 30 further controls the motion trajectory of the support member 40, causing the support member 40 to move according to the aforementioned motion trajectory. This embodiment does not limit the shape, structure, material, or other parameters of the second rotating member 50; as long as the second rotating member 50 can be rotatably connected to the base 10 and slidably connected to the connecting member 30, it will suffice.

[0097] Optionally, the two second rotating members 50 and the two first rotating members 20 are spaced apart along the length direction of the base 10. This not only simplifies the structure of the folding device 1 and makes the folding device 1 more compact, but also enables the second rotating member 50 and the first rotating member 20 to be better rotatably connected to the base 10.

[0098] Optionally, the two second rotating members 50 are rotatably connected to the side surfaces of the base 10. Optionally, in one embodiment, the two second rotating members 50 are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10. In another embodiment, the two second rotating members 50 are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the base 10. Alternatively, it can be understood that the two second rotating members 50 have a partially overlapping area along the length direction of the folding device 1. This embodiment is merely schematically illustrated with the two second rotating members 50 being arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the base 10.

[0099] The aforementioned rotation can be understood as the circular motion of the two components around the axis of rotation, with only angular changes, not displacement. Sliding can be understood as the parallel motion of the two components, with only displacement changes, not angular changes. The fact that the two components can both slide and rotate means that both displacement and angular changes occur. This sliding and rotating behavior can also be referred to as rolling. Therefore, the connection between the support member 40 and the connector 30 can also be referred to as the rolling connection of the support member 40 to the connector 30.

[0100] The folding device 1 may also include decorative elements, which are disposed on the bottom surface 100 and sides of the base 10 to protect and cover the base 10 and other components, preventing the user from viewing the interior of the folding device 1. Furthermore, the decorative elements may cooperate with the left and right housings of the base 10 to form the exterior appearance of the electronic device.

[0101] The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can regard the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, the connecting member 30, and the supporting member 40 on one side of the base 10 as a left module, and the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, the connecting member 30, and the supporting member 40 on the other side of the base 10 as a right module. The left module and the right module can be symmetrically designed or asymmetrically designed.

[0102] The folding device 1 provided in this embodiment can form a track mechanism 1b with the base 10, two first rotating members 20, two second rotating members 50, and two connecting members 30, wherein the track mechanism 1b ensures that the screen space 1a in the folded state is U-shaped or teardrop-shaped, ensuring better support for the flexible screen without damaging the stacking of the flexible screen. In one embodiment, the folding device 1 includes a track mechanism 1b, which is arranged on one side of the support member 40. In another embodiment, the folding device 1 includes two track mechanisms 1b, the two track mechanisms 1b are arranged on one side of the support member 40, and the two track mechanisms 1b are arranged along the length extension direction of the support member 40. In this case, one support member 40 is rollingly connected to two connecting members 30. In other embodiments, the folding device 1 includes three or more track mechanisms 1b, the three or more track mechanisms 1b are arranged on one side of the support member 40, and the three or more track mechanisms 1b are arranged along the length extension direction of the support member 40. In this case, one support member 40 is rollingly connected to three or more connecting members 30. This embodiment is only schematically illustrated by using the folding device 1 including one track mechanism 1b and two support members 40. Of course, solutions with two track mechanisms 1b and solutions with three or more track mechanisms 1b should also fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0103] Based on the above connection relationship, it can be known that the folding device 1 provided in this embodiment is composed of 6 kinematic pairs on one side. Specifically, the first rotating member 20 cooperates with the base 10 to form a rotating pair, the first rotating member 20 cooperates with the connecting member 30 to form a rotating pair, the second rotating member 50 cooperates with the base 10 to form a rotating pair, the second rotating member 50 cooperates with the connecting member 30 to form a sliding pair, the support member 40 cooperates with the base 10 to form a rotating pair, and the support member 40 cooperates with the connecting member 30 to form a rolling pair. In summary, the total degree of freedom of the various components on one side is 3*4 (a total of 3 components on one side, such as 1 first rotating member 20, 1 second rotating member 50, 1 connecting member 30, and 1 support member 40) - 2*5 (a total of 5 low pairs on one side, such as 1 sliding pair and 4 rotating pairs) - 1*1 (a total of 1 high pair on one side, such as 1 rolling pair) = 1.

[0104] Therefore, when the folding device 1 moves, the motion trajectory and motion path of each component are unique. Specifically, when the folding device 1 is folded, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, and the support member 40 all rotate relative to the base 10. The connecting member 30 rotates relative to the first rotating member 20, slides relative to the second rotating member 50, and rolls relative to the support member 40, ultimately causing the two support members 40 to fold toward each other. When the folding device 1 is unfolded, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, and the support member 40 all rotate relative to the base 10. The connecting member 30 rotates relative to the first rotating member 20, slides relative to the second rotating member 50, and rolls relative to the support member 40, ultimately causing the two support members 40 to unfold toward each other.

[0105] The movement process of the folding device 1 mentioned above has a variety of active and passive logical relationships, and this application only uses one specific movement process as an example. When the folding device 1 is folded, that is, when the folding device 1 is in the process of moving from the unfolded state to the folded state, in other words, when the two connecting members 30 rotate relative to the base 10 and approach each other, since the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 50 are both rotated to connect the base 10, the connecting member 30 can drive the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 50 to rotate relative to the base 10. During the rotation of the first rotating member 20, the connecting member 30 can also rotate relative to the first rotating member 20, and during the rotation of the second rotating member 50, the connecting member 30 can slide relative to the second rotating member 50. And since the support member 40 is rollingly connected to the connecting member 30, the connecting member 30 can also drive the support member 40 to rotate relative to the base 10. At the same time, during the rotation of the support member 40, the connecting member 30 can also roll relative to the support member 40, so that the connecting member 30 and the support member 40 are staggered with each other, and the connecting member 30 is compared with the support member 40 in the direction away from the base 10 (such as Figure 14 The connecting member 30 moves relative to the supporting member 40 (as shown in D2), that is, the connecting member 30 pushes outward relative to the supporting member 40. This can also be understood as the supporting member 40 pulling inward relative to the connecting member 30. Finally, the distance between the supporting member 40 and the connecting member 30 gradually increases, and the two supporting members 40 fold over each other. Figure 12 and Figure 14 As shown, both the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 have side end surfaces. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the side end surface of the support member 40 is flush with the side end surface of the connecting member 30. When the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the connecting member 30 is pushed outward, resulting in a certain distance between the side end surface of the support member 40 and the side end surface of the connecting member 30 (such as Figure 14 the distance between the two dashed lines in the figure).

[0106] Similarly, when the folding device 1 is unfolded, i.e., when the folding device 1 moves from the folded state to the unfolded state, as the two connecting members 30 rotate in opposite directions relative to the base 10 and move away from each other, the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 50 are rotationally connected to the base 10, and thus the connecting member 30 can drive the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 50 to rotate relative to the base 10. During the rotation of the first rotating member 20, the connecting member 30 can also rotate in the opposite direction relative to the first rotating member 20, and during the rotation of the second rotating member 50, the connecting member 30 can slide in the opposite direction relative to the second rotating member 50. Furthermore, because the support member 40 is rollingly connected to the connecting member 30, the connecting member 30 can also drive the support member 40 to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the base 10. At the same time, during the rotation of the support member 40, the connecting member 30 can also roll relative to the support member 40, so that the connecting member 30 and the support member 40 approach each other, and the connecting member 30 moves closer to the base 10 relative to the support member 40, that is, the connecting member 30 pulls inward relative to the support member 40, which can also be understood as the support member 40 pushes outward relative to the connecting member 30. Ultimately, the distance between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 gradually decreases, and the two support members 40 spread apart from each other.

[0107] In other embodiments, the active and passive relationships of the above-mentioned components can be reversed. For example, the support member 40 can rotate relative to the base 10, thereby driving the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, and the connecting member 30 to rotate relative to the base 10. Such movement processes and principles should also fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0108] In summary, this embodiment adopts the folding device 1 mentioned above. Through the cooperation of the base 10, the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, and the connecting member 30, the support member 40 can also be controlled to move according to the above-mentioned motion trajectory, thereby alleviating the arching problem caused by the misalignment, reducing the internal stress of the flexible screen, and improving the display performance and service life of the flexible screen.

[0109] The present application will now introduce in detail the cooperating components of the folding device 1 in another embodiment. Since most of the components are two in number and are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the base 10, this embodiment will only be described as follows. Figure 11 and Figure 12 The components on the right side of the base 10 in the folding device 1 are schematically illustrated, and the same understanding can be applied to the components on the left side of the base 10 .

[0110] Please refer to Figure 15 In this embodiment, the first rotation axis C1 between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 and the third rotation axis C3 between the second rotating member 50 and the base 10 are parallel to each other, and the first rotation axis C1 is farther away from the bottom surface 100 of the base 10 and farther away from the connecting member 30 than the third rotation axis C3.

[0111] The first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 50 are both rotatably connected to the base 10. Thus, a first rotation axis C1 is defined between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10, and the first rotating member 20 rotates relative to the base 10 about the first rotation axis C1. A third rotation axis C3 is defined between the second rotating member 50 and the base 10, and the second rotating member 50 rotates relative to the base 10 about the third rotation axis C3. In the vertical direction, this embodiment allows the first rotation axis C1 to be positioned further away from the bottom surface 100 of the base 10 than the third rotation axis C3, i.e., the first rotation axis C1 is positioned upward, while the third rotation axis C3 is positioned downward. Alternatively, the first rotation axis C1 and the third rotation axis C3 are positioned on opposite sides of the top surface 101 of the base 10, such that the first rotation axis C1 is positioned outside the base 10 and the third rotation axis C3 is positioned inside the base 10. In this embodiment, the first rotation axis C1 is positioned horizontally farther from the connecting member 30 than the third rotation axis C3. Specifically, the first rotation axis C1 is positioned to the left, while the third rotation axis C3 is positioned to the right. Consequently, the first rotation axis C1 is positioned to the upper left of the third rotation axis C3, while the third rotation axis C3 is positioned to the lower right of the first rotation axis C1.

[0112] By ensuring that the first rotation axis C1 and the third rotation axis C3 meet the aforementioned positional relationship, the connecting member 30 can not only rotate relative to the base 10 during the folding process, but also slide away from the base 10. This further controls the distance between the connecting member 30 and the base 10, thereby further controlling the movement of the support member 40 and the connecting member 30. The support member 40 can also slide relative to the connecting member 30, causing the support member 40 to slide toward the base 10, i.e., the support member 40 pulls inward, thereby reducing screen arching.

[0113] In summary, this embodiment does not require the addition of new components. It only requires designing the positions of the first and third rotation axes C1 and C3. The positional difference between the rotation axes of the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, and the base 10 is utilized to achieve the displacement difference during unfolding and folding. This pushes the connector 30 outward, causing the support member 40 to rotate about the base 10. In the folded state, the support member 40 is pulled downward relative to the connector 30. In other words, by using a dual-axis linkage to push the connector 30 outward and rotate the support member 40, the flexible screen can be reduced in bending conflicts, arching, and stress.

[0114] Please refer to Figure 16-Figure 18In this embodiment, the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 are connected by the first circular arc rail 201 and the first circular arc groove 102, the support member 40 and the base 10 are connected by the second circular arc rail 420 and the second circular arc groove 103, the first rotating member 20 and the connecting member 30 are connected by the first rotating shaft 202 and the first rotating hole 302, and the second rotating member 50 and the base 10 are connected by the second rotating shaft 501 and the second rotating hole 104. The first circular arc rail 201, the first circular arc groove 102, the second circular arc rail 420, the second circular arc groove 103, the first rotating shaft 202, and the first rotating hole 302 have been described in detail above and will not be repeated here in this embodiment.

[0115] The second rotation axis 501 is provided on one of the second rotation member 50 and the base 10, and the second rotation hole 104 is provided on the other of the second rotation member 50 and the base 10. Since the second rotation member 50 is rotatably connected to the base 10, in this embodiment, the second rotation member 50 and the base 10 can be connected via the second rotation axis 501 and the second rotation hole 104. For example, when the second rotation axis 501 is provided on the second rotation member 50, the second rotation hole 104 is provided on the base 10; when the second rotation hole 104 is provided on the second rotation member 50, the second rotation axis 501 is provided on the base 10. This embodiment is merely schematically described with the second rotation axis 501 provided on the second rotation member 50 and the second rotation hole 104 provided on the base 10. Optionally, the second rotation axis 501 includes, but is not limited to, a pin.

[0116] From the above, it can be seen that since the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 can be mated via the first circular arc groove 102 and the first circular arc track 201, the position of the rotation axis between the first rotating member 20 and the base 10 can be changed by designing the curvature and dimensions of the first circular arc groove 102 and the first circular arc track 201. In this case, the position of the rotation axis between the second rotating member 50 and the base 10 does not need to be changed; only the first rotating axis 202 and the first rotating hole 302 can be used, thereby simplifying the structure of the folding device 1 and reducing its size. Furthermore, the mating of the first circular arc groove 102 and the first circular arc track 201 allows the first rotation axis C1 to be located outside the base 10, while the mating of the first rotating axis 202 and the first rotating hole 302 allows the third rotation axis C3 to be located inside the base 10.

[0117] Please refer to Figure 19In this embodiment, the second rotating member 50 and the connecting member 30 are connected via a second slider 502 and a second chute 303. The second slider 502 is provided on one of the second rotating member 50 and the connecting member 30, and the second chute 303 is provided on the other of the second rotating member 50 and the connecting member 30. When the second slider 502 is provided on the second rotating member 50, the second chute 303 is provided on the connecting member 30. When the second chute 303 is provided on the second rotating member 50, the second slider 502 is provided on the connecting member 30. This embodiment is only schematically illustrated by assuming that the second slider 502 is provided on the second rotating member 50 and the second chute 303 is provided on the connecting member 30. The cooperation between the second slider 502 and the second chute 303 allows the connecting member 30 to rotate relative to the base 10 while also sliding relative to the second rotating member 50, thereby achieving relative sliding between the connecting member 30 and the supporting member 40.

[0118] Optionally, the extension direction of the second sliding groove 303 is parallel to the back surface of the connecting member 30, so that the distance between the two supporting members 40 can be kept unchanged, thereby forming a U-shaped screen space 1a in the folded state.

[0119] Please refer to Figure 20-22 In this embodiment, the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 are connected via a rolling shaft 430 that cooperates with the rolling groove 31. The rolling groove 31 includes a first limiting end 311 and a second limiting end 312 that are oppositely disposed. The first limiting end 311 is farther away from the base 10 than the second limiting end 312. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the rolling shaft 430 is positioned at the first limiting end 311. When the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the rolling shaft 430 is positioned at the second limiting end 312.

[0120] Since the support member 40 is connected to the connecting member 30 in a rolling manner, the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 can cooperate with each other through the rolling shaft 430 and the rolling groove 31, wherein the rolling shaft 430 is provided on one of the support member 40 and the connecting member 30, and the rolling groove 31 is provided on the other of the support member 40 and the connecting member 30. When the rolling shaft 430 is provided on the support member 40, the rolling groove 31 is provided on the connecting member 30. When the rolling groove 31 is provided on the support member 40, the rolling shaft 430 is provided on the connecting member 30. This embodiment is only schematically described with the rolling shaft 430 provided on the support member 40 and the rolling groove 31 provided on the connecting member 30. Specifically, the support member 40 includes a support portion 41 and a rolling portion 43. The support portion 41 has a support surface 400 for fixedly supporting the flexible screen. The rolling portion 43 is provided on the side of the support portion 41 facing away from the support surface 400. One side of the rolling portion 43 is provided with an axial protrusion, which is the rolling shaft 430. Optionally, the rolling shaft 430 includes but is not limited to a pin. The connecting member 30 is also provided with a protrusion, which is provided with a groove or hole structure, which is the rolling groove 31. The rolling shaft 430 is inserted into the rolling groove 31 so that the support member 40 can rotate and slide relative to the connecting member 30.

[0121] The rolling groove 31 has a first limiting end 311 and a second limiting end 312 that are arranged opposite to each other. The first limiting end 311 and the second limiting end 312 are the two opposite ends of the rolling groove 31. In other words, they are the extreme positions where the rolling shaft 430 can slide when unfolding and folding. In the horizontal direction, the first limiting end 311 is farther away from the base 10 than the second limiting end 312. In other words, the first limiting end 311 is further to the right than the second limiting end 312, that is, the first limiting end 311 is located on the right side compared to the second limiting end 312, and the second limiting end 312 is located on the left side compared to the first limiting end 311. As for the relationship between the first limiting end 311 and the second limiting end 312 in the vertical direction, this embodiment does not limit it here. Optionally, the first limiting end 311 and the second limiting end 312 are at the same height in the vertical direction. During the movement of the folding device 1, when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the rolling axis 430 is positioned at the first limit end 311 to control the rolling position of the rolling axis 430 when unfolded and prevent the support member 40 from folding back and damaging the subsequent flexible screen. When the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the rolling axis 430 is positioned at the second limit end 312 to control the rolling position of the rolling axis 430 when folded and prevent the support member 40 from folding back and damaging the subsequent flexible screen. It can also be understood that when the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, the rolling axis 430 is located on the right side, and when the folding device 1 is in the folded state, the rolling axis 430 is located on the left side. In this way, when the folding device 1 moves from the unfolded state to the folded state, which can also be said to be the process of folding the folding device 1, the rolling axis 430 on the support member 40 moves from the right side to the left side of the rolling groove 31 on the connecting member 30, that is, the connecting member 30 pushes outward, which can also be understood as the support member 40 pulling inward, thereby achieving the above-mentioned movement relationship between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30. Furthermore, since the first rotating member 20 needs to rotate relative to the connecting member 30 , the supporting member 40 can also rotate relative to the connecting member 30 via the rolling shaft 430 and the rolling groove 31 , thereby avoiding interference during folding and ensuring normal folding.

[0122] The rolling groove 31 also has a connecting portion 313 that connects the first limiting end 311 and the second limiting end 312. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 313 can be parallel to the support surface 400 of the support portion 41, so that the first limiting end 311 and the second limiting end 312 are at the same height. This ensures that the rotation amount of the support member 40 remains fixed when it rotates relative to the connecting member 30, preventing the support member 40 from further squeezing or stretching the flexible screen, thereby preventing additional stress on the flexible screen and effectively protecting the flexible screen. Of course, in other embodiments, the shape of the connecting portion 313 can also be curved or other shapes, as long as the positions of the first limiting end 311 and the second limiting end 312 meet the above-mentioned positional relationship.

[0123] Please refer to Figure 23-24The shell assembly 2 provided in this embodiment includes at least three shells 60 and at least two folding devices 1, each folding device 1 is connected between two adjacent shells 60, and at least one folding device 1 of the at least two folding devices 1 is the folding device 1 provided in the above embodiment of the present application.

[0124] The shell assembly 2 is a modular component, and the shell assembly 2 includes at least two components: a shell 60 and a folding device 1, wherein the shell 60 is mainly used to install and carry components. For example, a flexible screen can be carried on the shell 60, and functional modules such as batteries, PCB components, speakers, receivers, buttons, etc. can be set inside the shell 60. Therefore, the shell 60 mainly plays the role of installation and protection. In some embodiments, the surface of the shell 60 can also serve as the appearance surface, so the surface of the shell 60 can be designed accordingly to give the shell 60 a unique external effect. This embodiment does not limit the parameters such as the shape, material, and structure of the shell 60, as long as the installation and protection functions can be achieved. For example, the material of the shell 60 can be all metal, or all plastic, or part metal and part plastic.

[0125] The connecting member 30 in the folding device 1 can be fixed to the housing 60, so that when the housing 60 rotates, the connecting member 30 rotates relative to the base 10, thereby achieving subsequent movement. For example, when the housing 60 rotates, the two connecting members 30 on either side of the base 10 can rotate relative to the base 10. The rotation of the connecting member 30 can then drive subsequent components such as the first rotating member 20, the second rotating member 50, and the support member 40 to move in the aforementioned manner. Optionally, the housing 60 and the connecting member 30 can be secured using screws, snaps, glue, welding, or other methods.

[0126] The housing assembly 2 in the related art only includes two left and right housings 60 and a folding device 1 connected between the two housings 60. The flexible screen is set on the two housings 60 and the folding device 1. When the left and right housings 60 are folded and unfolded, they can cooperate with the folding device 1 to bend the flexible screen. This type of housing assembly 2 can be called a bifold structure. The housing assembly 2 provided in this embodiment includes three or more housings 60 and two or more folding devices 1, and each folding device 1 is connected between two adjacent housings 60. In other words, when the housing assembly 2 includes three housings 60: a first housing 60a, a second housing 60b, and a third housing 60c, two folding devices 1 are provided. One folding device 1 is connected between the first housing 60a and the second housing 60b, and the other folding device 1 is connected between the second housing 60b and the third housing 60c. The second housing 60b is a housing 60 shared by both folding devices 1. This type of housing assembly 2 can be called a trifold structure. The same understanding applies to four-fold structures, five-fold structures, etc., and this embodiment will not be further described here.

[0127] In addition, the folding structure will not cause the problem of arching, and only the structure that folds three times or more will cause the problem of arching. This embodiment adopts the folding device 1 provided by the above embodiment. Since the connecting member 30 is fixed on the shell 60, the support member 40 moves relative to the connecting member 30 in the direction close to the base 10 during the folding process, which is equivalent to the support member 40 moving relative to the shell 60 in the direction close to the base 10, thereby driving the flexible screen to be pulled outward. In other words, the flexible screen is pulled in the direction opposite to the dislocation. The above content can also be understood as the dislocation on both sides of the flexible screen converging towards the middle, causing the middle area of ​​the flexible screen to be arched. This embodiment can pull the two sides of the flexible screen outward, thereby flattening the originally arched area, thereby alleviating the arching problem caused by the dislocation, reducing the internal stress of the flexible screen, and improving the display performance and service life of the flexible screen.

[0128] It is worth noting that the shell assembly 2 includes multiple folding devices 1, and only one folding device 1 may be the folding device 1 mentioned in the above embodiment. The relative movement relationship between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 in the folding device 1 can subsequently pull the flexible screen to alleviate the problem of arching. Of course, there can also be multiple folding devices 1 that are the folding devices 1 mentioned in the above embodiment, or all folding devices 1 are the folding devices 1 mentioned in the above embodiment. In this way, the relative movement relationship between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 in multiple folding devices 1 is utilized to further pull the flexible screen, thereby further alleviating the problem of arching. This embodiment and the electronic device below are only schematically illustrated with a three-fold structure, and the three-fold structure includes two folding devices 1, only one of which is the folding device 1 mentioned in this embodiment, and the other folding device 1 can be a conventional folding device 1. And the other folding device 1 can be a U-shaped folding device 1, or it can be a teardrop-shaped folding device 1.

[0129] Please refer to Figure 25-26 In this embodiment, the shell 60 includes a first part 61 and a second part 62 extending from one side of the first part 61. The connecting member 30 of the folding device 1 is fixed to the second part 62. When the shell assembly 2 is in the unfolded state, there is a first distance between the support member 40 of the folding device 1 and the first part 61. When the shell assembly 2 is in the folded state, there is a second distance between the support member 40 of the folding device 1 and the first part 61, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0130] Each housing 60 includes a first portion 61 and a second portion 62, wherein the first portion 61 is primarily used to support the flexible screen and internally houses functional modules such as a battery, PCB assembly, speaker, receiver, and buttons. Therefore, each first portion 61 has a support surface 610 for supporting the flexible screen. The second portion 62 can extend from one side of the first portion 61, and thus the second portion 62 can also be referred to as a protrusion or extension. Some components may also be disposed within the second portion 62. The second portion 62 is primarily used to secure the connector 30 in the folding device 1. The second portion 62 and the connector 30 can be secured by screws, snaps, glue, welding, or the like. Furthermore, the support member 40 is connected to the connector 30, and thus the support member 40 is located on the side of the connector 30 facing away from the second portion 62. In other words, the support member 40, the connector 30, and the second portion 62 are all located on one side of the first portion 61. When the folding device 1 is in the unfolded state, a first spacing exists between the support member 40 and the first portion 61 of the folding device 1. When the shell assembly 2 is in the folded state, due to the relative movement between the support member 40 and the connecting member 30, the support member 40 moves in the direction closer to the base 10 compared to the connecting member 30, which is equivalent to the support member 40 and the connecting member 30 being staggered. Since the connecting member 30 is fixed to the second part 62, it can also be understood that the support member 40 and the second part 62 are staggered, so that the support member 40 gradually moves in the direction away from the first part 61. Finally, in the folded state, there is a second spacing between the support member 40 and the first part 61, and the second spacing is greater than the first spacing. As for the specific size of the first spacing and the second spacing, it can be adjusted according to actual needs. In this way, when the flexible screen is subsequently driven to bend, the support member 40 can drive the flexible screen to move in the direction away from the first part 61 in the shell 60, which is equivalent to pulling the flexible screen in the opposite direction of the stagger, thereby alleviating the arching problem of the flexible screen.

[0131] Optionally, the support surface 400 of the support member 40 is flush with the bearing surface 610 of the second part 62, so as to better support the flexible screen. Optionally, the appearance surfaces of the first part 61 and the second part 62 are flush, which can improve the appearance of the shell assembly 2. Optionally, in addition to the fixed connecting member 30, the first part 61 can be further extended to the bottom of the base 10, thereby blocking the base 10 in the unfolded state, preventing the user from seeing the folding device 1, and further improving the appearance. Optionally, the first part 61 and the second part 62 are an integral structure or a split structure. When the first part 61 and the second part 62 are an integral structure, the first part 61 and the second part 62 are prepared through a process, but for the sake of convenience, different areas of the shell 60 are artificially named differently. When the first part 61 and the second part 62 are split structures, the first part 61 and the second part 62 are prepared separately, and then the first part 61 and the second part 62 are connected together by various methods (such as bonding, clamping, welding, snap connection, etc.).

[0132] Please refer to Figures 27-30 The electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment includes a flexible screen 70 and a shell assembly 2 as provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The flexible screen 70 is arranged on the same side of at least three shells 60 and at least two folding devices 1 in the shell assembly 2.

[0133] The electronic device 3 provided in this embodiment includes but is not limited to mobile terminals such as mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable media players (PMPs), navigation devices, wearable devices, smart bracelets, pedometers, and fixed terminals such as digital TVs and desktop computers. This embodiment only uses the electronic device 3 as a folding mobile phone as an example for schematic illustration.

[0134] Electronic device 3 includes a flexible screen 70 and a housing assembly 2. Flexible screen 70 is a component with a certain degree of flexibility. Compared to rigid components, flexible screen 70 can bend to a certain extent. For example, flexible screen 70 includes, but is not limited to, various flexible components with corresponding functions, such as flexible displays, flexible touch screens, and flexible touch displays. It can also be a flexible component fixedly bonded to a flexible support plate, such as a flexible display or touch screen bonded to a flexible steel plate. Flexible screen 70 is located on the same side of housing 60 in housing assembly 2 and can bend or flatten with housing assembly 2. Specifically, flexible screen 70 has a bending zone and non-bending zones located on opposite sides of the bending zone. The flexible screen 70 in the bending zone corresponds to the support member 40 of folding device 1, while the flexible screen 70 in the non-bending zone corresponds to the housing 60 fixed to housing assembly 2. Because the flexible screen 70 in the bending zone corresponds to the support member 40 of folding device 1, its shape changes during movement of folding device 1, causing the flexible screen 70 in the bending zone to bend as well, thereby bending or flattening with the movement of electronic device 3. Since the non-bending area is fixed on the shell 60, the shell 60 will only rotate relative to itself and will not change its shape. Therefore, even if the shell 60 rotates, the flexible screen 70 on the shell 60 will not bend.

[0135] like Figure 29 As shown, the flexible screen 70 is composed of a plurality of layers of film materials stacked in layers, and the bottom layer of film material is fixed on the support 40 of the folding device 1. When bending, the flexible screen 70 will be displaced due to the different bending radius of each layer, and the top layer of film material will have a greater outward displacement. In a three-fold structure, if both folds are inward, the displacement on the left and right sides will be concentrated toward the middle, causing the flexible screen 70 in the middle area to arch outward. Taking the flexible screen 70 with three layers of film material as an example, the bottom layer of film material will not arch because it is fixed on the support 40, but the middle film material and the top layer of film material will arch, and the top layer of film material will arch more than the middle film material.

[0136] like Figure 30As shown, this embodiment adopts the shell assembly 2 mentioned above. During the folding process, the flexible screen 70 will still shift, but because the support member 40 is pulled downward and inward, the flexible screen 70 on the fixed support member 40 is pulled downward and inward, that is, the flexible screen 70 is pulled outward. In other words, the flexible screen 70 is pulled in the opposite direction of the shifting, offsetting the effect of the shifting. This will cause the bottom film material to be subjected to outward tension, and the arching of the middle film material will be alleviated or even eliminated. The arching of the top film material will also be alleviated or even eliminated. The above content can also be understood as the shifting on both sides of the flexible screen 70 converging towards the middle, causing the middle area of ​​the flexible screen 70 to be arched. The present application provides a solution for a new folding device 1. When folding inward, the two sides of the flexible screen 70 can be pulled toward the folding device 1, thereby flattening the originally arched area, so that the unstressed layer of the flexible screen 70 moves upward, alleviating the arching problem caused by the shifting, achieving improvement in the arching of the top film material, reducing the internal stress of the flexible screen 70, and improving the display performance and service life of the flexible screen 70.

[0137] In this embodiment, when the electronic device 3 is in a folded state, at least three shells 60 in the shell assembly 2 are stacked so that the flexible screen 70 is in a rolled-up state, and the display surface 700 of the flexible screen 70 is blocked by at least three shells 60 .

[0138] When the electronic device 3 is in the unfolded state, at least three shells 60 and at least two folding devices 1 are flattened, so that the flexible screen 70 is flat. When the electronic device 3 is in the folded state, this embodiment allows at least three shells 60 to be stacked. For example, the shell assembly 2 includes three shells 60 and along the arrangement direction of the three shells 60, they are the first shell 60a, the second shell 60b, and the third shell 60c. The first shell 60a can be folded to the top of the second shell 60b along the first direction, and the third shell 60c can be folded to the top of the first shell 60a along the second direction opposite to the first direction, that is, the first shell 60a is away from the side of the second shell 60b. So that from the bottom to the top, there are the second shell 60b, the first shell 60a, and the third shell 60c, and the left and right sides of the electronic device 3 are two folding devices 1. The flexible screen 70 is also in a rolled-up state. For example, the flexible screen 70 is divided into a first sub-flexible screen 701, a second sub-flexible screen 702, and a third sub-flexible screen 703 corresponding to the three housings 60. The first sub-flexible screen 701 is folded along a first direction to above the second sub-flexible screen 702, and the third sub-flexible screen 703 is folded along a second direction opposite to the first direction to above the first sub-flexible screen 701, that is, the first sub-flexible screen 701 is facing away from the second sub-flexible screen 702. The tri-fold structure provided in this embodiment can reduce the size of the electronic device 3 in the folded state to nearly one-third of the size, making it easier for users to pick up or store it.

[0139] In addition, the display surface 700 of the flexible screen 70 is blocked by the shell 60, that is, the shell 60 is set on the outside and the flexible screen 70 is set on the inside. The shell 60 can effectively protect the flexible screen 70 and prevent the flexible screen 70 from being scratched or damaged.

[0140] Please refer to Figure 31 In this embodiment, the flexible screen 70 includes a stacked fixed layer 73 and a display layer 71. The fixed layer 73 is closer to the shell assembly 2 than the display layer 71. The fixed layer 73 is fixed to the support member 40 of the folding device 1 in the shell assembly 2. The fixed layer 73 can slide relative to the shell 60 of the shell assembly 2.

[0141] The top film material in the flexible screen 70 can be called the display layer 71, which is mainly used to display images and emit light for users to watch. What the user can directly see is the display layer 71 of the flexible screen 70, and the display surface 700 of the flexible screen 70 is also located on the display layer 71. The bottom film material can be called the fixing layer 73. The fixing layer 73 is close to the folding device 1 and the shell 60, and mainly plays a fixing effect to fix the flexible screen 70 on the shell assembly 2. Specifically, the fixing layer 73 can be fixed to the support 40 of the folding device 1 in the shell assembly 2 by dispensing glue, but the fixing layer 73 can slide on the shell 60 of the shell assembly 2, so that when the support 40 pulls the flexible screen 70 outward, the support 40 will pull the flexible screen 70 on the shell 60 outward together, thereby alleviating the problem of arching. Optionally, the fixing layer 73 and the surface of the shell 60 can be set with a gap, or the fixing layer 73 and the surface of the shell 60 are only in abutment relationship, or the fixing layer 73 and the surface of the shell 60 are fixed by soft glue. The soft rubber is anisotropic, with a low modulus in the lateral direction, making it easy to displace, and a high modulus in the vertical direction, which can achieve the fixation of the support member 40 and the housing 60. Of course, other sliding fixation methods can also be used in other embodiments, as long as the fixing layer 73 can slide relative to the housing 60.

[0142] Optionally, the flexible screen 70 may include other intermediate layers 72 in the middle in addition to the fixed layer 73 and the display layer 71 . This embodiment will not be described in detail here. This embodiment is only schematically illustrated with a three-layer film material structure having only one layer of film material in the middle.

[0143] Please refer to Figure 32 In this embodiment, a portion of the fixing layer 73 is provided with a plurality of through holes 730 arranged in an array, so that the opposite ends of the fixing layer 73 can be stretched in opposite directions.

[0144] The fixed layer 73 is not a flat structure, but rather an array of holes can be set in some areas. These arrayed holes can form a stretchable grid. These grids enable the support member 40 to pull the fixed layer 73 of the flexible screen 70 outward, so that the opposite ends of the fixed layer 73 can be stretched in opposite directions, avoiding the breakage of the fixed layer 73, improving the deformation effect of the fixed layer 73, and moving the unstressed film material of the flexible screen 70 upward, thereby improving the arching of the top display layer 71. This embodiment does not limit the positions of the multiple through holes 730 arranged in an array. For example, the multiple through holes 730 arranged in an array can correspond to the arched area, or the multiple through holes 730 arranged in an array can also be set corresponding to the support member 40.

[0145] Optionally, the fixing layer 73 itself may also have a certain elasticity, thereby further improving the stretching effect of the fixing layer 73 .

[0146] Optionally, the array of through holes 730 includes multiple rows and columns, and the through holes 730 in the odd-numbered columns are all arranged in a corresponding manner, and the through holes 730 in the even-numbered columns are arranged in a corresponding manner, but the through holes 730 in the odd-numbered columns and the even-numbered columns are staggered, that is, the through holes 730 in two adjacent columns are staggered, for example, a portion of the through holes 730 in the odd-numbered columns corresponds to the gap between two through holes 730 in adjacent even-numbered columns, thereby further improving the stretching effect. Further optionally, the extension direction of each through hole 730 is perpendicular to the stretching direction of the fixed layer 73, which can further improve the stretching effect.

[0147] Please refer to Figure 33 In this embodiment, the periphery of the display layer 71 protrudes from the fixing layer 73, and the protruding display layer 71 is fixed to the shell 60 of the shell assembly 2. The topmost display layer 71 is not flush with the side surfaces of the other layers of the film structure below. In this embodiment, the periphery of the display layer 71 can protrude from the fixing layer 73, that is, the size of the display layer 71 is larger, and the film structure of the lower layer can be covered on all sides. The display layer 71 protruding from the lower film material can be fixed to the shell 60 of the shell assembly 2 by the adhesive layer 74, so that the top display layer 71 slides less or even does not slide relative to the shell 60. This can improve the stability of the connection of the flexible screen 70 while alleviating the arching problem.

[0148] It is worth noting that in the flexible screen 70, only the fixed layer 73 can be connected to the shell 60 by soft glue, or only the periphery of the display layer 71 can be fixed to the shell 60 by glue, or the fixed layer 73 can be connected to the shell 60 by soft glue, and the periphery of the display layer 71 can be fixed to the shell 60 by glue, so as to achieve sliding of the bottom of the flexible screen 70 and the shell 60, and less or no sliding of the top of the flexible screen 70 and the shell 60.

[0149] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0150] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0151] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, terms such as "mounted," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to connection, detachable connection, or integration. They may refer to mechanical connection or electrical connection. They may refer to direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediary. They may refer to internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0152] The above details the contents provided in the embodiments of the present application, and illustrates and describes the principles and embodiments of the present application. These explanations are only intended to help understand the method and core concept of the present application. However, the contents of this specification should not be construed as limiting the present application. Those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A folding device, characterized in that: include: base; Two first rotating members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base respectively; Two connecting members, the connecting member and the first rotating member located on the same side of the base are rotatably connected to each other; as well as Two supporting members are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the base, and the supporting members and the connecting member located on the same side of the base are movably connected to each other; Wherein, during the folding process of the folding device, the supporting member moves relative to the connecting member in a direction approaching the base.

2. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein: The supporting member and the connecting member located on the same side of the base are slidably connected to each other.

3. The folding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A first rotation axis between the first rotating member and the base and a second rotation axis between the supporting member and the base are parallel to each other, and the first rotation axis is farther from the top surface of the base and closer to the connecting member than the second rotation axis.

4. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein: The supporting member and the connecting member located on the same side of the base are slidably and rotatably connected to each other. The folding device also includes two second rotating members rotatably connected to the opposite sides of the base. The second rotating member and the connecting member located on the same side of the base are slidably connected to each other.

5. The folding device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A first rotation axis between the first rotation member and the base and a third rotation axis between the second rotation member and the base are parallel to each other, and the first rotation axis is farther from the bottom surface of the base and the connecting member than the third rotation axis.

6. The folding device according to claim 4, wherein: The support member and the connecting member are connected through a rolling shaft and a rolling groove, and the rolling groove includes a first limit end and a second limit end arranged opposite to each other, and the first limit end is farther away from the base than the second limit end; when the folding device is in the unfolded state, the rolling shaft is positioned at the first limit end, and when the folding device is in the folded state, the rolling shaft is positioned at the second limit end.

7. A housing assembly, characterized in that: The shell assembly includes at least three shells and at least two folding devices, each of the folding devices is connected between two adjacent shells, and at least one of the at least two folding devices is the folding device according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. The housing assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The shell includes a first part and a second part extending from one side of the first part. The connecting member of the folding device is fixed to the second part. When the shell assembly is in an unfolded state, there is a first distance between the supporting member of the folding device and the first part. When the shell assembly is in a folded state, there is a second distance between the supporting member of the folding device and the first part. The second distance is greater than the first distance.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device includes a flexible screen and a shell assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the flexible screen is arranged on the same side of at least three shells and at least two folding devices in the shell assembly.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein The flexible screen includes a stacked fixing layer and a display layer. The fixing layer is closer to the shell assembly than the display layer. The fixing layer is fixed to the support of the folding device in the shell assembly. The fixing layer can slide relative to the shell of the shell assembly.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein: A portion of the fixing layer is provided with a plurality of through holes arranged in an array, so that the opposite ends of the fixing layer can be stretched in opposite directions.

12. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein: The periphery of the display layer protrudes from the fixing layer, and the protruding display layer is fixed to the shell of the shell assembly.

13. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein When the electronic device is in a folded state, at least three shells in the shell assembly are stacked so that the flexible screen is in a rolled-up state, and the display surface of the flexible screen is blocked by the at least three shells.

Images