Supporting plate assembly and electronic equipment

Abstract

A support plate assembly and an electronic device wherein the support plate assembly comprises a support plate and a buffer medium. The supporting plate comprises a bending area, a first groove is formed in the side, facing the rotating shaft mechanism, of the supporting plate and located in the bending area, the depth of the first groove is smaller than the thickness of the supporting plate, and at least part of the first groove is used for being opposite to the protruding part on the rotating shaft mechanism in position. The buffer medium is filled in the first groove which is at least partially opposite to the protruding part in position, and the thickness of the buffer medium is smaller than the depth of the first groove, so that a buffer space is formed between the inner wall of the first groove and the buffer medium. According to the electronic equipment, the certain buffer space is formed between the inner wall of the first groove and the buffer medium, so that in the folding or flattening process of the electronic equipment, at least part of the protruding part of the rotating shaft mechanism can be contained through the buffer space, and the situation that the protruding part extrudes the supporting plate, and consequently the supporting plate is damaged is avoided. And meanwhile, the structural strength of the supporting plate at the slotting position can be enhanced through the buffer medium under the condition that normal bending of the supporting plate is guaranteed, and the problems that the supporting plate cracks after being bent for multiple times and the like are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic product technology, and more specifically to a support plate assembly and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Foldable screen devices are a relatively new product form. The display module of a foldable screen device, from top to bottom, includes a flexible display panel, a support plate, and a hinge mechanism. The support plate is located behind the flexible display panel, and the hinge mechanism is located on the side of the support plate opposite to the flexible display panel. The support plate provides support for the flexible display panel, and both the flexible display panel and the support plate can bend synchronously with the rotation of the hinge mechanism. The support plate includes a bending zone, where the display module is used to achieve bending and folding.

[0003] Currently, the bending area of ​​the support plate is usually in direct contact with the pivot mechanism, or connected to the pivot mechanism through an adhesive layer. However, the pivot mechanism has many protruding parts. If these protruding parts are connected to the bending area of ​​the support plate, when the display module is bent and folded, the protruding parts on the pivot mechanism will squeeze the support plate, resulting in excessive stress on the pressure area of ​​the support plate, which can easily cause damage to the support plate. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, this application provides a support plate assembly and an electronic device to solve the problem in the prior art that the bending area of ​​the support plate is easily damaged by the pressure of the protruding part in the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a support plate assembly, comprising: a support plate and a buffer medium. The support plate includes a bending region, and one side of the support plate along its thickness direction includes a first surface for cooperating with a pivot mechanism in an electronic device. A first groove is provided on the first surface, located in the bending region, and the depth of the first groove is less than the thickness of the support plate. The buffer medium fills at least a portion of the first groove, and the thickness of the buffer medium is less than the depth of the first groove, so that a buffer space is formed between the inner wall of the first groove and the buffer medium.

[0006] In this embodiment, a first groove is provided on the support plate, and the first groove is positioned opposite to the protrusion in the pivot mechanism. A buffer medium is filled in the first groove opposite to the protrusion, but the buffer medium does not completely fill the first groove. This creates a buffer space between the inner wall of the first groove and the buffer medium. During the folding or flattening of the electronic device, at least a portion of the protrusion of the pivot mechanism can be accommodated through this buffer space, preventing damage to the support plate caused by the protrusion pressing against it. Simultaneously, the buffer medium also enhances the structural strength of the support plate at the slotted position while ensuring normal bending, preventing cracking after repeated bending.

[0007] In one possible implementation, multiple first grooves are provided, with at least some of the first grooves having different depths. The depth of the first groove affects the bending performance of the support plate located near the first groove. For example, when the first groove depth is large, the support plate has a stronger bending ability near the first groove, but lower structural strength; when the first groove depth is small, the support plate has a weaker bending ability near the first groove, but higher structural strength. Therefore, by providing first grooves of different depths, it is easy to match the bending ability and structural strength of specific locations on the support plate within the bending zone, enabling the support plate to exhibit optimal support, cushioning, and bending effects when used with different types of hinge mechanisms and display panels.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the support plate assembly further includes a first support wall disposed in the first groove and connected to the bottom surface of the first groove. The first groove is divided into multiple first slots by the first support wall. At least a portion of the first slots are filled with the buffer medium, and the thickness of the buffer medium is less than the depth of the first slots. The first support wall can be manufactured separately and can be independently installed on the support plate. In this embodiment, the material of the first support wall can be the same as or different from the support plate. The material of the first support wall can be independently selected, specifically determined based on factors such as required support strength, structural strength, and deformation capacity. This allows for a more flexible design of the structural strength and deformation capacity of the support plate in the bending area, enabling the support plate to exhibit optimal support, buffering, and bending effects when used with different types of rotating shaft mechanisms and display panels.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the support plate includes a first support portion, a second support portion, and a third support portion. The two ends of the third support portion are respectively connected to the first support portion and the second support portion. A first groove is formed between the first support portion, the second support portion, and the third support portion. The first support wall is connected to the third support portion. The thickness of the third support portion is less than the thickness of the first and second support portions. The third support portion can be used to support the first support wall, and the first and second support portions can be used to connect to the rotating shaft mechanism and the display panel.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the first support wall is bonded to the third support portion, thereby facilitating the connection and fixation of the first support wall and the support plate.

[0011] In one possible implementation, multiple first support walls are provided, wherein the multiple first support walls have different material moduli. For example, at least a portion of the first support walls opposite the protrusion of the rotating shaft mechanism has a lower material modulus than at least a portion of the first support walls not opposite the protrusion of the rotating shaft mechanism. Therefore, when the protrusion of the rotating shaft mechanism presses against the corresponding first support wall, because the modulus of the compressed first support wall is relatively low, the first support wall is relatively easy to deform, thereby achieving a buffered release of pressure on the protrusion of the rotating shaft mechanism, which helps to avoid problems such as cracking caused by excessive local pressure on the support plate.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the material modulus of the first support wall is lower than that of the support plate. The support plate can be made of metal or carbon fiber. Using these materials allows the support plate to have a higher modulus relative to the first support wall, thus ensuring the overall structural strength of the support plate assembly and providing reliable support for the display panel. Alternatively, the first support wall can be made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), or foam. These materials allow the first support wall to have a lower modulus relative to the support plate, achieving both enhanced structural strength and cushioning while maintaining good bending performance of the support plate.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first support wall is made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, or foam. These materials allow the first support wall to have a relatively small modulus compared to the support plate, which can enhance the structural strength of the support plate while also providing a cushioning effect, and simultaneously ensuring good bending performance of the support plate. The support plate is made of metal or carbon fiber, and the support plate using these materials can have a larger modulus compared to the first support wall.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the third support portion has a uniform thickness, and the thickness of the third support portion is 1 / 6 to 1 / 2 of the total thickness of the support plate. This is beneficial to simultaneously ensure that the support plate has good bending performance in the bending area and can also guarantee the structural strength of the support plate in the bending area.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the third support is connected at the midpoint between the first support and the second support, thereby making the depths of the first groove and the second groove equal. Consequently, the heights of the first support wall and the second support wall are designed to be the same, and the end face of the first support wall away from the third support is coplanar with the first surface, and the end face of the second support wall away from the third support is coplanar with the second surface. This ensures that both sides of the support plate have similar bending effects, improving the user experience.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the support plate further includes a second surface located on the side of the support plate opposite to the first surface, the second surface being for mating with the display panel. A second groove is provided on the second surface, located in the bending area, the depth of the second groove being less than the thickness of the support plate. At least a portion of the second groove is filled with the buffer medium. By providing the second groove, the bendability of the support plate in the bending area can be improved, making it easier for the electronic device to fold or flatten. Filling the second groove with the buffer medium can improve the structural strength at the location of the second groove, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the support plate in the bending area and preventing problems such as cracking after repeated bending.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the thickness of the buffer medium is less than the depth of the second groove, so that a buffer space is formed between the inner wall of the second groove and the buffer medium. When the electronic device is subjected to a local impact on the display panel side, for example, if the impacted position of the display panel is opposite to the position of the second groove filled with the buffer medium, the impacted position of the display panel will deform towards the support plate. The buffer space formed between the inner walls of the buffer medium and the second groove can accommodate the deformed part of the display panel, thereby preventing the impacted part of the display panel from excessively compressing the support plate and causing damage such as cracking of the support plate.

[0018] In one possible implementation, multiple second grooves are provided, with at least some of the second grooves having different depths. By providing second grooves of varying depths, it is easier to match the bending capacity and structural strength of designated locations on the support plate within the bending zone, enabling the support plate to exhibit optimal support, cushioning, and bending effects when used with different types of hinge mechanisms and display panels.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the support plate assembly further includes a second support wall disposed in the second groove and connected to the bottom surface of the second groove, the second groove being divided into a plurality of second slots by the second support wall. At least a portion of the second slots are filled with the buffer medium.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the length directions of the first and second grooves are parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft mechanism, and the first and second grooves extend through both ends of the support plate along their length directions. The specific structure, material, quantity, and distribution of the second support wall can be determined according to requirements. This allows for a more flexible design of the overall structural strength and deformation capacity of the support plate in the bending area, enabling the support plate to exhibit optimal support, cushioning, and bending effects when used with different types of rotating shaft mechanisms and display panels.

[0021] Secondly, this application also provides an electronic device, comprising: a first body, a second body, a hinge mechanism, a display panel, and a support plate assembly provided in the first aspect of this application. The first body and the second body are respectively located on both sides of the hinge mechanism and are rotatably connected to the hinge mechanism. The display panel covers the first body, the second body, and the hinge mechanism, and the display panel is folded or unfolded by the movement of the first body and the second body. At least a portion of the support plate assembly is located between the display panel and the hinge mechanism, and the support plate assembly is used to support the display panel. The hinge mechanism includes a protrusion, and the first groove is positioned opposite the protrusion. The electronic device including the support plate assembly provided in the first aspect of this application has similar technical effects to the aforementioned support plate assembly, and will not be described in detail here.

[0022] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a foldable screen device in related technologies;

[0025] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 3 A partial cross-sectional view of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 4 A top view of the support plate in the support plate assembly provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a top view of the support plate in a support plate assembly provided in one embodiment of the present application, viewed from one side of the first surface.

[0030] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 13 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 14 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 15 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 16 A schematic diagram illustrating the cooperation between the support plate and the display panel in the support plate assembly provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 17A top view of the support plate in the support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application, viewed from one side of the second surface;

[0041] Figure 18 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 19 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 20 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 21 A cross-sectional view of a support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 22 A cross-sectional view of the support plate in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0046] Figure label:

[0047] 100 - Display panel;

[0048] 200-Rotating shaft mechanism;

[0049] 300-body;

[0050] 400-Support plate;

[0051] 410 - Bamboo Book Area;

[0052] 420 - Through hole;

[0053] 500 - Adhesive layer;

[0054] 600 - Protective film;

[0055] 10-First fuselage;

[0056] 20 - Second fuselage;

[0057] 30 - Rotating shaft mechanism;

[0058] 31-Protrusion;

[0059] 40 - Display panel;

[0060] 40a - Bending area;

[0061] 50 - Support plate assembly;

[0062] 1-Support plate;

[0063] 11-First surface;

[0064] 12-Second surface;

[0065] 13-Bending area;

[0066] 14-Support Zone;

[0067] 15 - First groove;

[0068] 151 - First slot;

[0069] 152 - Second slot;

[0070] 16-Buffer space;

[0071] 17-Second groove;

[0072] 1a - First support section;

[0073] 1b - Second support section;

[0074] 1c - Third support section;

[0075] 2-Buffer medium;

[0076] 3- Protective film;

[0077] 4-First supporting wall;

[0078] 41-Adhesive layer;

[0079] 5-Second support wall. Detailed Implementation

[0080] To better understand the technical solution of this application, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0081] It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments in this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0082] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0083] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0084] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; unless otherwise specified or explained, the term "multiple" refers to two or more; the terms "connected," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection, or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0085] Foldable screen devices are a new type of product that can switch between folded and unfolded states. Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a foldable screen device in related technologies, such as... Figure 1 As shown, a traditional folding screen device generally includes a display panel 100, a hinge mechanism 200, a body 300, and a support plate 400. One side of the support plate 400 can be bonded to the display panel 100 through an adhesive layer 500 to support the display panel 100. The other side of the support plate 400 can cooperate with the hinge mechanism 200 and the body 300. The support plate 400 has a bamboo-book area 410, through which the support plate 400 can be bent. To facilitate the bending of the support plate 400, multiple through holes 420 extending along the thickness direction of the support plate 400 are provided in the bamboo-book area 410. At the same time, to ensure the structural strength of the bamboo-book area 410, a protective film 600 is provided in the bamboo-book area 410.

[0086] However, since opening through holes 420 in the support plate 400 will reduce the structural strength of the support plate 400, after the support plate 400 is bent multiple times, the support plate 400 will break in the bamboo book area 410, and the protective film 600 will also crack. The axial area of ​​the folding screen device has poor impact resistance and performs poorly in tests such as ball dropping, pen dropping, and squeezing.

[0087] To enhance the structural strength of the support plate 400 in the bamboo book region 410, a buffer medium can be filled into the through-hole 420 of the bamboo book region 410. The modulus of the buffer medium is lower than that of the support plate 400, which ensures the structural strength of the support plate 400 in the bamboo book region 410 and also prevents cracks or breakage of the support plate 400 during bending. However, generally speaking, after the buffer medium is filled into the through-hole 420, the surface of the buffer medium is flush with the surface of the support plate 400 in the thickness direction. That is to say, after the buffer medium is filled into the through-hole 420, the overall surface of the support plate 400 is a flat and continuous surface. Since one side surface of the support plate 400 needs to cooperate with the pivot mechanism 200, the pivot mechanism 200 includes many uneven parts. Among them, the protruding parts of the pivot mechanism 200 can contact the surface of the support plate 400. When the folding screen device is bent or flattened, the protruding parts of the pivot mechanism 200 will exert a squeezing force on the support plate 400. This will cause deformation at the location on the support plate 400 that is squeezed by the protruding parts of the pivot mechanism 200. For example, the support plate 400 may bulge or wrinkle in some areas. Moreover, the location on the support plate 400 that is squeezed by the protruding parts of the pivot mechanism 200 will also concentrate a large amount of stress, which can easily cause cracks, breaks and other damage to the support plate 400. In turn, this can cause deformation such as local bulging or collapse of the display panel 100, or even damage.

[0088] In addition, when the foldable screen device is subjected to external impact on the display panel 100 side, it will also cause mutual pressure between a local position on the support plate 400 and the protruding part in the pivot mechanism 200, which will also cause damage to the position on the support plate 400 that is pressed by the protruding part in the pivot mechanism 200.

[0089] Therefore, the support plate in the related technology is difficult to achieve simultaneously good bending effect, reliable structural strength, and avoid damage to the support plate caused by the extrusion force applied by the protruding part on the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0090] Therefore, embodiments of this application provide a support plate assembly that can be applied to electronic devices. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 The example shown is a foldable screen phone; however, the electronic device can also be a laptop, tablet, personal digital assistant, or wearable device, etc. This embodiment does not limit the specific type of electronic device.

[0091] For ease of explanation, this embodiment uses an electronic device as an example. Figure 2 The following explanation uses a foldable screen phone as an example.

[0092] like Figure 2 As shown, a foldable phone may include a first body 10, a second body 20, and a hinge mechanism 30. The first body 10 and the second body 20 are located on both sides of the hinge mechanism 30 and are rotatably connected to it. In one embodiment, the first body 10 and the second body 20 may be a mid-frame. When the first body 10 and the second body 20 rotate toward each other, the foldable phone can be folded. When the first body 10 and the second body 20 rotate toward each other, the foldable phone can be flattened.

[0093] like Figure 2 As shown, the foldable phone also includes a display panel 40. The display panel 40 can be a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or other flexible display panels 40, such as a flexible Micro LED display panel 40 or a Mini LED display panel 40. This application embodiment does not limit the type of display panel 40. The display panel 40 can simultaneously cover the first body 10, the second body 20, and the hinge mechanism 30. The display panel 40 has a bendable region 40a, which corresponds to the position of the hinge mechanism 30. The two sides of the display panel 40 located at the bendable region 40a can be connected to the first body 10 and the second body 20, respectively. When the first body 10 and the second body 20 rotate relative to the hinge mechanism 30, the display panel 40 can bend or flatten.

[0094] Figure 3 A partial cross-sectional view of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application, wherein, Figure 3 The image shown is a partial cross-sectional view of a foldable phone in its unfolded state, as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the foldable screen phone includes a first body 10, a second body 20, and a hinge mechanism 30 disposed between the first body 10 and the second body 20. The foldable screen phone also includes a support plate assembly 50, at least a portion of which can be located between the display panel 40 and the hinge mechanism 30. The size of the support plate assembly 50 can be the same as the size of the display panel 40. The support plate assembly 50 can be attached to the side of the display panel 40 facing the hinge mechanism 30 to support the display panel 40. An optical adhesive layer, a protective layer, or other film layer can be disposed between the support plate assembly 50 and the display panel 40, and also between the support plate assembly 50 and the hinge mechanism 30. This embodiment does not impose any limitations on this. The support plate assembly 50 may include a bending area 13, which corresponds to the hinge mechanism 30.

[0095] Figure 4This is a top view of the support plate 1 in the support plate assembly provided in the embodiments of this application, as shown below. Figure 4 As shown, the support plate assembly includes a support plate 1. Figure 4 The support plate 1 shown is in a flattened state and has a length direction X and a width direction Y. The support plate 1 can be formed from titanium or carbon fiber, materials that ensure reliable support strength. The support plate 1 includes the aforementioned bending region 13 and two support regions 14, located on either side of the bending region 13. Figure 3 One support area 14 can be attached to the area on the display panel 40 opposite to the first body 10, and the other support area 14 can be attached to the area on the display panel 40 opposite to the second body 20. The bending area 13 can be positioned opposite to the rotating shaft mechanism 30, and the two support areas 14 of the support plate 1 can rotate relative to the bending area 13.

[0096] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 in a support plate assembly provided in one embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 5 As shown, the support plate 1 includes a first surface 11 on one side along the thickness direction Z, which is combined with... Figure 3 The first surface 11 is used to cooperate with the rotating shaft mechanism 30 in the electronic device. At least one first groove 15 is provided on the first surface 11. The first groove 15 is located in the bending area 13 and the depth of the first groove 15 is less than the thickness of the support plate 1.

[0097] In this embodiment, by providing the first groove 15, the portion of the support plate 1 located in the bending area 13 can be bent more easily, enabling normal folding or flattening operations of the foldable screen device. Simultaneously, the first groove 15 does not penetrate the support plate 1 in the thickness direction Z, thus allowing the bending area 13 to have more material to ensure its structural strength and prevent breakage after repeated bending. In one embodiment, the first groove 15 can be formed on the support plate 1 using an etching process.

[0098] Figure 6 This is a top view of the support plate 1 in the support plate assembly provided in one embodiment of the present application, viewed from one side of the first surface 11, as shown below. Figure 6As shown, the length direction of the first groove 15 is parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft mechanism 30, and the first groove 15 passes through both ends of the support plate 1 in the length direction of the first groove 15. The length direction of the first groove 15 is consistent with the length direction X of the support plate 1. Since the first groove 15 does not pass through the thickness direction Z of the support plate 1, it ensures that even when the first groove 15 passes through both ends of the support plate 1 in the length direction X, the support plate 1 will not break at the position of the first groove 15, thus maintaining the integrated design of the support plate 1. Simultaneously, it ensures that the bending effect of the bending area 13 at various positions in the length direction X is approximately consistent, improving the user experience.

[0099] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of support plate 1 in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 7 As shown, the support plate assembly also includes a buffer medium 2, which fills at least a portion of the first groove 15. Combined with Figure 5 and Figure 7 The rotating shaft mechanism 30 is provided with a protrusion 31, and at least part of the first groove 15 is positioned opposite to the protrusion 31 on the rotating shaft mechanism 30. For example, the protrusion 31 of the rotating shaft mechanism 30 may be a protruding part on the swing arm of the rotating shaft mechanism 30, a protruding part on the torsion spring, or a protruding part on the transmission component, etc. This embodiment does not limit the specific type of the protrusion 31.

[0100] In this embodiment, the buffer medium 2 is filled in at least a portion of the first groove 15, and the portion of the first groove 15 filled with the buffer medium 2 is positioned opposite to the protrusion 31 in the rotating shaft mechanism 30. That is, when multiple first grooves 15 are provided, some of the first grooves 15 may be filled with the buffer medium 2, while others may not be filled with the buffer medium 2. For example, some of the multiple first grooves 15 filled with the buffer medium 2 may be aligned with the protrusion 31 in the rotating shaft mechanism 30, while others may not need to be aligned with the protrusion 31 in the rotating shaft mechanism 30. For example, all the first grooves 15 filled with the buffer medium 2 may be aligned with the corresponding protrusion 31 in the rotating shaft mechanism 30.

[0101] The buffer medium 2 can enhance the structural strength of the support plate 1 in the bending zone 13 while ensuring the support plate 1 can achieve normal bending capability. It can also be used to buffer external impact forces on the display panel 40. For example, the buffer medium 2 can be a buffer adhesive or other buffer materials to suit different application requirements. The buffer adhesive has characteristics such as high bonding strength, high toughness, and high elasticity, allowing the buffer medium 2 to be stably bonded to the support plate 1 while also buffering external impact forces. The buffer adhesive can include hot melt adhesives or thermosetting adhesives. Furthermore, the buffer medium 2 can also include buffer foam or polyester film.

[0102] Among them, such as Figure 7 As shown, the thickness of the buffer medium 2 can be less than the depth of the first groove 15, so that a buffer space 16 is formed between the inner wall of the first groove 15 and the buffer medium 2. This buffer space 16 can be used to accommodate at least a portion of the protrusion 31 of the pivot mechanism 30. When the electronic device is folded or flattened, at least a portion of the protrusion 31 in the pivot mechanism 30 can be accommodated in the buffer space 16, thereby preventing the protrusion 31 from pressing against the support plate 1 and causing the support plate 1 to be damaged by excessive local pressure.

[0103] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of support plate 1 in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 8 As shown, a film layer such as an adhesive layer or a protective film can also be provided between the support plate 1 and the rotating shaft mechanism 30. Figure 8 An exemplary embodiment shows a protective film 3 disposed between the rotating shaft mechanism 30 and the support plate 1. The protrusion 31 in the rotating shaft mechanism 30 can be pressed against the protective film 3. At the position where the protrusion 31 is opposite to the first groove 15, at least a portion of the protective film 3 can be pressed into the buffer space 16 by the protrusion 31 without causing excessive local pressure on the support plate 1.

[0104] Therefore, by providing at least one first groove 15 on the support plate 1, with the first first groove 15 positioned opposite the protrusion 31 in the pivot mechanism 30, and filling the first groove 15 opposite the protrusion 31 in the pivot mechanism 30 with a buffer medium 2, but not completely filling the first groove 15, a certain buffer space 16 can be formed between the inner wall of the first groove 15 and the buffer medium 2. This allows at least a portion of the protrusion 31 of the pivot mechanism 30 to be accommodated during the folding or flattening of the electronic device, preventing the protrusion 31 from squeezing the support plate 1 and causing damage. Simultaneously, the buffer medium 2 can also enhance the structural strength of the support plate 1 at the slotted position while ensuring normal bending of the support plate 1, preventing cracking or other problems after repeated bending.

[0105] In one embodiment, the modulus of the buffer medium 2 in each of the first grooves 15 can be the same or different. Specifically, it can be determined by a combination of factors such as the degree of compression of the support plate 1 by the protrusion 31 in the rotating shaft mechanism 30, the structural strength of the support plate 1 at different positions in the bending area 13, and the bending performance.

[0106] In one embodiment, such as Figure 8 As shown, multiple first grooves 15 can be provided, for example, there can be two, three, four, five, six or more first grooves 15, and at least some of the first grooves 15 have different depths. The depth of the first groove 15 affects the bending performance of the support plate 1 located near the first groove 15. For example, when the first groove 15 is deeper, the support plate 1 has a stronger bending ability near the first groove 15, but lower structural strength; when the first groove 15 is shallower, the support plate 1 has a weaker bending ability near the first groove 15, but higher structural strength. Therefore, by providing first grooves 15 with different depths, it is easy to match the bending ability and structural strength of the designated parts of the support plate 1 located within the bending area 13, so that the support plate 1 can exhibit optimal support, cushioning, and bending effects when used with different types of rotating shaft mechanisms 30 and display panel 40.

[0107] Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of support plate 1 in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 9 As shown, the support plate assembly also includes at least one first support wall 4, which is disposed in the first groove 15 and connected to the bottom surface of the first groove 15. The first groove 15 is divided into multiple first slots 151 by the first support wall 4. The first support wall 4 can be manufactured separately and can be independently installed on the support plate 1. In this embodiment, the material of the first support wall 4 can be the same as or different from that of the support plate 1. The material of the first support wall 4 can be selected independently, specifically determined based on factors such as required support strength, structural strength, and deformation capacity. This allows for a more flexible design of the structural strength and deformation capacity of the support plate 1 in the bending area 13, enabling the support plate 1 to exhibit optimal support, buffering, and bending effects when used with different types of rotating shaft mechanisms 30 and display panel 40.

[0108] Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of support plate 1 in a support plate assembly provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 10 As shown, at least a portion of the first groove 151 may be filled with the buffer medium 2, and the thickness of the buffer medium 2 is less than the depth of the first groove 151. The aforementioned buffer space 16 may also be formed between the buffer medium 2 and the inner wall of the first groove 151 to accommodate the protrusion 31 of the rotating shaft mechanism 30, which will not be described in detail here.

[0109] Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 11 As shown, the support plate 1 includes a first support portion 1a, a second support portion 1b, and a third support portion 1c. The two ends of the third support portion 1c are respectively connected to the first support portion 1a and the second support portion 1b. At least one first groove 15 is formed between the first support portion 1a, the second support portion 1b, and the third support portion 1c. A first support wall 4 is connected to the third support portion 1c. The first support portion 1a, the second support portion 1b, and the third support portion 1c are integrally formed; that is, the first groove 15 can be formed on the support plate 1 by etching, so that the corresponding parts on the support plate 1 are formed as the first support portion 1a, the second support portion 1b, and the third support portion 1c. The thickness of the third support portion 1c is less than the thickness of the first support portion 1a and the second support portion 1b. The third support portion 1c can be used to support the first support wall 4. The first support portion 1a and the second support portion 1b can be used to connect with the rotating shaft mechanism 30 and the display panel 40. Figure 11 As shown, only one first groove 15 can be provided, which facilitates the processing and manufacturing of the first groove 15. By providing multiple first support walls 4 in the first groove 15, the structural strength of the support plate 1 in the bending area 13 can be improved.

[0110] In one embodiment, such as Figure 11 As shown, the third support portion 1c can have a uniform thickness, and the thickness h of the third support portion 1c is 1 / 6 to 1 / 2 of the total thickness H of the support plate 1. This is beneficial for simultaneously ensuring good bending performance of the support plate 1 in the bending region 13 and maintaining the structural strength of the support plate 1 in the bending region 13. For example, the thickness h of the third support portion 1c is 1 / 6, 1 / 5, 1 / 4, 1 / 3, or 1 / 2 of the total thickness H of the support plate 1.

[0111] In one embodiment, a plurality of first grooves 15 are provided, such as two, three or more, and at least one first support wall 4 may be provided in at least some or all of the first grooves 15. Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application. Figure 12 An exemplary embodiment shows that three first grooves 15 are provided, with two first support walls 4 respectively provided in two of the first grooves 15, and no first support wall 4 provided in the third first groove 15. In some other embodiments, the number of first grooves 15 and the number of first support walls 4 can be determined comprehensively based on factors such as the required support strength, structural strength, and deformation capacity of the support plate 1.

[0112] Figure 13A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 13 As shown, in order to facilitate the connection and fixation of the first support wall 4 and the support plate 1, an adhesive layer 41 can be provided on the first support wall 4, and the first support wall 4 can be bonded to the third support part 1c through the adhesive layer 41.

[0113] In one embodiment, when multiple first support walls 4 are provided, the modulus of each first support wall 4 may be the same, or at least some of the first support walls 4 may have different moduli. It is understood that the lower the modulus of a material, the lower its stiffness and the stronger its flexibility. For example, at least some of the first support walls 4 may be positioned opposite the protrusion 31 of the rotating shaft mechanism 30. The material modulus of the at least some first support walls 4 opposite the protrusion 31 of the rotating shaft mechanism 30 is lower than that of the at least some first support walls 4 not opposite the protrusion 31 of the rotating shaft mechanism 30. Therefore, when the protrusion 31 of the rotating shaft mechanism 30 presses against the corresponding first support wall 4, the first support wall 4 under pressure has a relatively low modulus and is relatively easy to deform. This allows for buffering and releasing of pressure on the protrusion 31 of the rotating shaft mechanism 30, thereby helping to avoid problems such as cracking caused by excessive local pressure on the support plate 1.

[0114] In one embodiment, the material modulus of the first support wall 4 can be lower than that of the support plate 1. The support plate 1 can be made of metal or carbon fiber. Using these materials, the support plate 1 can have a larger modulus relative to the first support wall 4, thereby ensuring the overall structural strength of the support plate assembly and facilitating reliable support for the display panel 40. Alternatively, the first support wall 4 can be made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), or foam. These materials allow the first support wall 4 to have a smaller modulus relative to the support plate 1, achieving both enhanced structural strength and cushioning while maintaining good bending performance.

[0115] Figure 14 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 14 As shown, the support plate 1 also includes a second surface 12, which is located on the side of the support plate 1 opposite to the first surface 11. The second surface 12 is used to mate with the display panel 40. At least one second groove 17 is provided on the second surface 12, located in the bending area 13. The depth of the second groove 17 is less than the thickness of the support plate 1. By providing the second groove 17, the bendability of the support plate 1 in the bending area 13 can be improved, making it easier for the electronic device to fold or flatten.

[0116] Figure 15A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 15 As shown, at least a portion of the second groove 17 can be filled with a buffer medium 2. Filling the second groove 17 with the buffer medium 2 can improve the structural strength at the location of the second groove 17, thereby enhancing the overall structural strength of the support plate 1 at the bending zone 13 and preventing cracking after repeated bending. In one embodiment, the buffer medium 2 can either completely fill the second groove 17 or not, depending on the strength requirements of the support plate 1 at the bending zone 13.

[0117] In one embodiment, such as Figure 15 As shown, the buffer medium 2 in the second groove 17 may not completely fill the second groove 17, that is, the thickness of the buffer medium 2 is less than the depth of the second groove 17, so that a buffer space 16 can also be formed between the buffer medium 2 and the inner wall of the second groove 17.

[0118] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooperation between the support plate 1 and the display panel 40 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 16 As shown, when an electronic device is subjected to a local impact on the display panel 40, for example, if the impacted position of the display panel 40 is opposite to the position of the second groove 17 filled with the buffer medium 2, the impacted position of the display panel 40 will deform towards the support plate 1. The buffer space 16 formed between the inner walls of the buffer medium 2 and the second groove 17 can accommodate the deformed part on the display panel 40, thereby preventing the impacted part on the display panel 40 from excessively squeezing the support plate 1 and causing damage such as cracking of the support plate 1.

[0119] In one embodiment, such as Figure 16 As shown, multiple second grooves 17 can be provided, for example, there can be two, three, four, five, six or more second grooves 17, and at least some of the second grooves 17 have different depths. The depth of the second groove 17 affects the bending performance of the support plate 1 located near the second groove 17. For example, when the second groove 17 is deeper, the support plate 1 has a stronger bending ability near the second groove 17, but lower structural strength; when the second groove 17 is shallower, the support plate 1 has a weaker bending ability near the second groove 17, but higher structural strength. Therefore, by providing second grooves 17 of different depths, it is easy to match the bending ability and structural strength of the designated parts of the support plate 1 located within the bending area 13, so that the support plate 1 can exhibit optimal support, cushioning, and bending effects when used with different types of rotating shaft mechanisms 30 and display panel 40.

[0120] In one embodiment, the width of each of the second grooves 17 may be the same, or some of the second grooves 17 may have different widths. Furthermore, the width of the second groove 17 may be the same as or different from the width of the first groove 15. The positions of the second groove 17 and the first groove 15 in the thickness direction Z of the support plate 1 may be aligned or misaligned. The depth of the second groove 17 may be the same as or different from the depth of the first groove 15. In other words, the width, depth, and position of the second groove 17 and the first groove 15 can have various combinations. The specific combination can be determined according to the requirements of the support plate 1 for bending performance, structural strength, etc., and will not be described in detail here.

[0121] Figure 17 A top view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, viewed from one side of the second surface 12, as shown below. Figure 17 As shown, the length direction of the second groove 17 is parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft mechanism, and the second groove 17 passes through both ends of the support plate 1 along its length direction. The length direction of the second groove 17 is consistent with the length direction X of the support plate 1. Since the second groove 17 does not pass through the thickness direction Z of the support plate 1, even when the second groove 17 passes through both ends of the support plate 1 along the length direction X, the support plate 1 will not break at the location of the second groove 17, thus maintaining the integrated design of the support plate 1. Simultaneously, it ensures that the bending effect of the bending area at various positions along the length direction X is approximately consistent, improving the user experience.

[0122] Figure 18 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 18 As shown, the support plate assembly also includes at least one second support wall 5, which is disposed in the second groove 17 and connected to the bottom surface of the second groove 17. The second groove 17 is divided into multiple second slots 152 by the second support wall 5. The structure, material, quantity, and distribution of the second support wall 5 can be the same as those of the first support wall 4, or they can be different.

[0123] For example, Figure 19 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 19 As shown, the second support wall 5 and the first support wall 4 have the same structure, material, and quantity, but different distribution patterns. Figure 19 In the embodiment shown, the second support wall 5 is staggered from the first support wall 4.

[0124] For example, Figure 20 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 20As shown, the second support wall 5 and the first support part 1a are made of the same material, in the same quantity and in the same distribution, but their structures are different. Figure 20 In the embodiment shown, the second support wall 5 is distributed correspondingly to the first support wall 4. The specific structure, material, quantity, and distribution of the second support wall 5 can be determined according to requirements. This allows for a more flexible design of the structural strength and deformation capacity of the support plate 1 in the bending area 13, enabling the support plate 1 to exhibit optimal support, buffering, and bending effects when used with different types of rotating shaft mechanisms 30 and display panel 40.

[0125] Furthermore, the depth of the first groove 15 and the depth of the second groove 17 affect the height of the first support wall 4 and the second support wall 5. The greater the depth of the groove, the greater the height of the corresponding support wall in the groove can be designed.

[0126] Figure 21 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 21 As shown above, the support plate 1 may include a first support portion 1a, a second support portion 1b, and a third support portion 1c. The third support portion 1c can be connected to the middle position of the first support portion 1a and the second support portion 1b, so that the depths of the first groove 15 and the second groove 17 are equal. This allows the heights of the first support wall 4 and the second support wall 5 to be designed to be the same. Furthermore, the end face of the first support wall 4 on the side away from the third support portion 1c is coplanar with the first surface 11, and the end face of the second support wall 5 on the side away from the third support portion 1c is coplanar with the second surface 12. This ensures that both sides of the support plate 1 have similar bending effects, improving the user experience.

[0127] Furthermore, in some other embodiments, the end face of the first support wall 4 on the side away from the third support portion 1c may not be coplanar with the first surface 11. For example, the height of the first support wall 4 may be less than the depth of the first groove 15; the end face of the second support wall 5 on the side away from the third support portion 1c may also not be coplanar with the second surface 12. For example, the height of the second support wall 5 may be less than the depth of the second groove 17. This embodiment does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0128] Figure 22 A cross-sectional view of the support plate 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 22 As shown, at least a portion of the first groove 151 is filled with buffer medium 2, and at least a portion of the second groove 152 is filled with buffer medium 2. The thickness of the buffer medium 2 in the second groove 152 can be less than or equal to the depth of the second groove 152. The second buffer medium 2 can improve the structural strength of the support plate 1 in the bending area 13 and can also play a role in mitigating external impacts, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0129] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A support plate assembly, characterized in that, include: A support plate, the support plate including a bending area, the support plate including a first surface on one side along the thickness direction, the first surface being used to cooperate with a rotating shaft mechanism in an electronic device, the first surface being provided with a first groove, the first groove being located in the bending area, the depth of the first groove being less than the thickness of the support plate; A buffer medium is provided, which fills at least a portion of the first groove, and the thickness of the buffer medium is less than the depth of the first groove, so that a buffer space is formed between the inner wall of the first groove and the buffer medium.

2. The support plate assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first groove is provided in multiple parts, and at least some of the first grooves have different depths.

3. The support plate assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support plate assembly further includes a first support wall, which is disposed in the first groove and connected to the bottom surface of the first groove. The first groove is divided into a plurality of first slots by the first support wall. At least a portion of the first groove is filled with the buffer medium, and the thickness of the buffer medium is less than the depth of the first groove.

4. The support plate assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The support plate includes a first support portion, a second support portion, and a third support portion. The two ends of the third support portion are respectively connected to the first support portion and the second support portion, and the first groove is formed between the first support portion, the second support portion, and the third support portion. The first support wall is connected to the third support portion.

5. The support plate assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first support wall is bonded to the third support portion.

6. The support plate assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first support wall is provided in multiple forms, wherein the multiple first support walls have different material moduli.

7. The support plate assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The material modulus of the first support wall is lower than that of the support plate.

8. The support plate assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The material of the first support wall is thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, or foam; The support plate is made of metal or carbon fiber.

9. The support plate assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The third support portion has a uniform thickness, and the thickness of the third support portion is 1 / 6 to 1 / 2 of the total thickness of the support plate.

10. The support plate assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The third support is located at the midpoint between the first support and the second support.

11. The support plate assembly according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The support plate also includes a second surface, which is located on the side of the support plate opposite to the first surface, and the second surface is used to cooperate with the display panel. A second groove is provided on the second surface, the second groove is located in the bending area, and the depth of the second groove is less than the thickness of the support plate; At least a portion of the second groove is filled with the buffer medium.

12. The support plate assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, The thickness of the buffer medium is less than the depth of the second groove, so that a buffer space is formed between the inner wall of the second groove and the buffer medium.

13. The support plate assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, The second groove is provided in multiple parts, and at least some of the second grooves have different depths.

14. The support plate assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, The support plate assembly further includes a second support wall, which is disposed in the second groove and connected to the bottom surface of the second groove. The second groove is divided into a plurality of second grooves by the second support wall. At least a portion of the second slot is filled with the buffer medium.

15. The support plate assembly according to any one of claims 11-14, characterized in that, The length directions of the first groove and the second groove are parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft mechanism, and the first groove and the second groove pass through both ends of the support plate in the length directions of the first groove and the second groove.

16. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: The first fuselage, the second fuselage, the pivot mechanism, the display panel, and the support plate assembly as described in any one of claims 1-15; The first fuselage and the second fuselage are located on both sides of the rotating shaft mechanism, and are rotatably connected to the rotating shaft mechanism; The display panel covers the first body, the second body, and the pivot mechanism. The display panel can be folded or unfolded by the drive of the first body and the second body. The rotating shaft mechanism includes a protrusion; At least a portion of the support plate assembly is located between the display panel and the pivot mechanism, and the support plate assembly is used to support the display panel; wherein the first groove is positioned opposite to the protrusion.

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