Center console with hidden display screen and automobile

Abstract

The center console comprises a center control bin, a bin entering and exiting mechanism, a folding mechanism and a screen assembly, the bin entering and exiting mechanism comprises a sliding rail, a sliding table and a first motor, the first motor is arranged in the space, close to the bottom, of the rear side of the center control bin, and the sliding rail is obliquely arranged relative to the opening direction of a bin exiting window; a transmission shaft of the folding mechanism is perpendicular to the sliding rail, a plurality of driving sets are arranged at intervals in a sleeving mode, and each driving assembly comprises a driving gear, a transition gear, a first gear and a second gear, a folding assembly of the screen assembly comprises a first rotating arm and a second rotating arm which are used for driving a foldable shell to be unfolded and folded, each rotating arm is provided with a gear part, and the two gear parts are meshed with each other and are respectively meshed with a first gear and a second gear in a corresponding driving assembly. The folding screen can adapt to the narrow space in the center console, it is guaranteed that the folding screen is completely opened, and the user experience feeling is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive technology, and more specifically to a center console and automobile with a hidden display screen. Background Technology

[0002] As foldable screen technology matures, its application in automotive cockpits is becoming a trend. However, cockpit space is limited, and to maintain a clean interior when not in use, the foldable screen can be hidden inside the center console. However, current technologies involve complex mechanisms for the foldable screen's entry and exit from the center console, as well as its unfolding mechanism, which takes up considerable space. The center console's interior space is extremely limited, making it difficult to accommodate these mechanisms. Furthermore, the complex unfolding mechanism makes it difficult to ensure the screen is fully open, leading to a poor user experience for drivers and passengers. Therefore, the practical application of foldable screen technology in automotive cockpits has been limited. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a center console and automobile with a hidden display screen, which can adapt to the cramped space inside the center console and ensure that the folding screen is fully opened, thereby improving the user experience.

[0004] A first aspect of the present invention provides a central control unit with a hidden display screen, including a central control compartment, an entry / exit mechanism, a folding mechanism, and a screen assembly, wherein an exit window is provided on the front panel of the central control compartment in an area near the top of the central control compartment;

[0005] The in-and-out mechanism includes a relatively movable slide rail and a slide table, and a first motor that drives the two to move relative to each other. The first motor is located in the space near the bottom of the central control compartment on the rear side of the central control compartment. The slide rail is inclined relative to the opening direction of the out-of-compartment window.

[0006] The folding mechanism includes a second motor, a transmission gear set, a transmission shaft, and multiple sets of drive components. The second motor is mounted on the slide table. The transmission shaft is perpendicular to the slide rail and is connected to the second motor through the transmission gear set. The drive components include a drive gear, a transition gear and a first gear that mesh with the drive gear, and a second gear that meshes with the transition gear. Multiple sets of drive gears from the drive components are spaced apart on the transmission shaft.

[0007] The screen assembly includes a foldable housing and multiple folding components. The folding components include a first rotating arm and a second rotating arm that drive the foldable housing to unfold and fold. The first rotating arm and the second rotating arm are respectively provided with gear parts, and the two gear parts mesh with each other.

[0008] Multiple sets of folding components are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with multiple drive components, and the gear parts of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm respectively mesh with the first gear and the second gear in the corresponding drive components.

[0009] Optionally, the front panel of the central control compartment includes a first sub-section near the top and a second sub-section near the bottom. The first sub-section protrudes outward and has the exit window thereon. The portion of the first sub-section near the second sub-section extends toward the bottom and the rear of the central control compartment to form a wedge-shaped structure and connects with the second sub-section. The slide rail extends from the space near the bottom of the rear side of the central control compartment to the wedge-shaped structure.

[0010] Optionally, the central control compartment further includes mounting supports on both sides of the slide rail, the mounting supports being arranged in the space inside the central control compartment opposite to the second sub-part, and their mounting surfaces being parallel to the slide rail;

[0011] The in-and-out mechanism also includes a mounting shell, which is mounted on the mounting surface and partially located between the two mounting supports; the slide rail and the first motor are mounted on the mounting shell.

[0012] Optionally, the loading / unloading mechanism further includes a rolling support member, which is rolled on the central control compartment around an axis parallel to the drive shaft. The rolling support member is provided on both sides of the slide rail and rolls in contact with the foldable shell in the folded state.

[0013] Optionally, the rolling support includes rollers, and a plurality of rollers are arranged along an extension direction parallel to the slide rail. The rolling support contacts the foldable housing through the rollers.

[0014] Optionally, the slide rail includes a lead screw rotatably mounted in the central control compartment, the lead screw being connected to the first motor; the slide table is threadedly engaged with the lead screw.

[0015] Optionally, the folding mechanism further includes a base mounted on the slide; the second motor, the transmission gear set, the transmission shaft, and the drive assembly are all mounted on the base; the folding screen assembly further includes a screen control board mounted on the side of the base facing the bottom.

[0016] Optionally, on a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the transmission shaft, the gear portions of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm, the first gear and the second gear, the drive gear and the transition gear are arranged side by side in height, forming two rows and three columns; in the axial direction of the transmission shaft, the first gear and the transition gear are staggered in the axial direction.

[0017] Optionally, the loading / unloading mechanism further includes a worm gear, the first motor being connected to the primary gear of the transmission gear set via the worm gear, and the final gear of the transmission gear set being sleeved on the transmission shaft; the worm gear, the transmission gear set, the transmission shaft, and the drive assembly are arranged in a double-layer structure, with the worm gear, the intermediate gear, the second gear, and the gear portion of the second rotating arm located in the upper layer near the top, and the transmission gear set, the transmission shaft, the drive gear, the first gear, and the gear portion of the first rotating arm located in the lower layer near the bottom;

[0018] Two sets of drive assemblies are respectively arranged on both sides of the final gear along the axial direction of the transmission shaft. In each drive assembly closer to the final gear, the meshing part of the first gear is located inside the meshing part of the intermediate gear and meshes with the first section of the drive gear, while the intermediate gear meshes with the second section of the drive gear. In each drive assembly located on the outermost side of the transmission shaft, the meshing part of the first gear is located outside the meshing part of the intermediate gear and meshes with the second section of the drive gear, while the intermediate gear meshes with the first section of the drive gear.

[0019] The inner side of the meshing portion of the transition gear refers to the side of the meshing portion of the transition gear facing the final gear, and the other side is the outer side; the first section of the drive gear refers to the section of its meshing portion close to the final gear, and the second section refers to the section of its meshing portion away from the final gear.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention provides an automobile including the center console described in any of the preceding claims.

[0021] This invention reduces the space occupied by the hidden display screen in the depth direction of the central control compartment by setting an inclined slide rail inside the central control compartment and placing the first motor in the space near the bottom of the rear side of the central control compartment. At the same time, by stacking the entry and exit mechanism and the folding mechanism, the space utilization rate in the height direction is improved. It also leaves sufficient space on the rear side of the central control compartment near the top, which is convenient for the arrangement of other structures. The bottom part of the front panel of the central control compartment can be recessed inward compared with the top part, thereby reserving space for other structures outside the central control compartment or providing more activity space for the driver and passengers. At the same time, this invention also makes the unfolding and folding mechanism of the entire folding screen simpler by cooperating with the transmission gear set, transmission shaft, drive gear, first gear, second gear, transition gear and the gear part on the two rotating arms of the screen assembly. This ensures the stability of the folding screen during full unfolding and movement, thereby improving the experience of the driver and passengers.

[0022] Other beneficial effects of the present invention will be explained in detail through the introduction of specific technical features and technical solutions in specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand the beneficial technical effects brought about by these technical features and technical solutions through the introduction of these technical features and technical solutions. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the central control console provided by the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 An exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the central control unit provided by the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 Another exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the central control unit provided by the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the central control console provided by the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the center console provided by the present invention, showing the foldable housing in an open state;

[0029] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the loading / unloading mechanism in a preferred embodiment of the central control console provided by the present invention;

[0030] Figure 7 An exploded view of the folding mechanism in a preferred embodiment of the central control console provided by the present invention;

[0031] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the axial section of the folding mechanism at the worm gear in a preferred embodiment of the central control console provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the axial section of the folding mechanism at the drive shaft in a preferred embodiment of the central control panel provided by the present invention.

[0033] In the picture:

[0034] 10. Central control compartment; 11. Outlet window; 12. First sub-section; 121. Wedge-shaped structure; 122. Recessed area; 13. Second sub-section; 14. Groove structure; 15. Box body; 151. Front panel; 152. Bottom plate; 153. Side panel; 154. Rear cover; 155. Top plate; 16. Top cover; 161. Cover plate section; 162. First bend section; 163. Second bend section; 17. Mounting support;

[0035] 20. Inbound / outbound mechanism; 21. Slide rail; 22. Slide table; 23. First motor; 24. Mounting housing; 241. Housing; 242. Extension plate; 243. Mounting groove; 244. Cable outlet; 25. Mounting base; 26. Rolling support; 261. Roller; 262. Support base; 2621. Support plate; 2621a. Limiting part; 2622. Mounting lug;

[0036] 30. Folding mechanism; 31. Second motor; 32. Transmission gear set; 321. Primary gear; 322. Final gear; 323. Intermediate gear; 33. Drive shaft; 34. Drive assembly; 341. Drive gear; 342. Transition gear; 343. First gear; 344. Second gear; 35. Worm gear; 36. Base; 361. Connecting part; 362. Motor mounting part; 363. Bearing part; 37. Mounting frame; 38. Protective cover;

[0037] 40. Screen assembly; 41. First rotating arm; 411. First gear; 412. Connecting structure; 413. Rotating component; 42. Second rotating arm; 421. Second gear; 43. Support shell; 44. First housing; 45. Second housing; 46. Screen control board; 47. Mounting base. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The present invention is described below based on embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the following detailed description of the present invention, some specific details are described in detail, but well-known methods, processes, procedures, and elements are not described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the essence of the present invention.

[0039] Furthermore, those skilled in the art should understand that the accompanying drawings provided herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0040] Unless the context explicitly requires it, the words "comprising," "including," and similar terms throughout the specification and claims should be interpreted as encompassing rather than being exclusive or exhaustive; that is, meaning "including but not limited to."

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more. It should be noted that directional terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," and "rear" in the text describe the orientation of the center console when it is mounted on the vehicle. "Top" and "bottom" refer to the upper and lower portions of the component, respectively; "front" refers to the side facing the driver and passengers, i.e., the side closer to the rear of the vehicle; and "rear" refers to the side away from the driver and passengers, i.e., the side closer to the front of the vehicle. "Depth direction" refers to the length direction of the vehicle body; "height direction" refers to the vertical direction of the vehicle body; and "width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle body.

[0042] This invention provides a center console with a hidden display screen, such as... Figures 1-9 As shown, the center console includes a center console compartment 10 and a hidden display screen. The hidden display screen includes an entry / exit mechanism 20, a folding mechanism 30, and a screen assembly 40. An exit window 11 is provided on the front panel of the center console compartment 10 near the top, allowing the screen assembly to be inserted into or removed from the center console compartment 10. Specifically, the center console compartment 10 has a top (the portion near the roof), a bottom, a front panel (i.e., the panel facing the driver), and a rear cover.

[0043] The loading / unloading mechanism 20 includes a relatively movable slide rail 21 and a slide table 22, and a first motor 23 that drives the relative movement of the two. That is, the loading / unloading mechanism 20 includes a slide rail 21, a slide table 22, and a first motor 23. The first motor 23 is located in the space behind the central control compartment 10 near the bottom of the central control compartment 10. Figure 3 In the lower right space of the control compartment 10, the slide rail 21 is inclined relative to the opening direction of the exit window 11. The slide rail 21 is a straight slide rail, which is equivalent to the bottom of the control compartment 10 being inclined. The end closer to the front panel of the control compartment 10 is closer to the exit window 11 than the other end. When the opening direction of the exit window 11 is basically horizontal, the slide rail 21 is arranged at an acute angle to the horizontal direction. Figure 3 As shown, one end of the slide is close to the exit window 11, and the other end is close to the bottom and rear cover of the central control compartment 10. Driven by the first motor 23, the slide 22 slides on the slide rail 21.

[0044] The folding mechanism 30 is mounted on the slide table 22, meaning that the folding mechanism 30 and the loading / unloading mechanism 20 are stacked on top of each other. The folding mechanism 30 includes a second motor 31, a transmission gear set 32, a transmission shaft 33, and a drive assembly 34. The second motor 31 is mounted on the slide table 22. The transmission shaft 33 is perpendicular to the slide rail 21 and is connected to the second motor 31 through the transmission gear set 32. Specifically, the transmission shaft 33 is rotatably mounted relative to the slide table 22, and the second motor 31 drives the transmission shaft 33 to rotate through the transmission gear set 32. The drive assembly 34 includes a drive gear 341, a transition gear 342 and a first gear 343 that mesh with the drive gear 341, and a second gear 344 that meshes with the transition gear 342. Multiple sets of drive gears 341 of the drive assembly 34 are spaced on the transmission shaft 33. In other words, the drive assembly 34 is provided with multiple sets, and the drive gears 341 of each drive assembly 34 are spaced on the transmission shaft 33. Thus, when the second motor 31 drives the transmission shaft 33 to rotate, it can drive each drive gear 341 to rotate, thereby driving the first gear 343 and the second gear 344 to rotate.

[0045] The screen assembly 40 includes a foldable housing and multiple folding components. The folding components include a first rotating arm 41 and a second rotating arm 42 that drive the foldable housing to unfold and fold. The first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 are respectively provided with gear parts, and the two gear parts mesh with each other. The gear part of the first rotating arm 41 is referred to as the first gear part 411, and the gear part of the second rotating arm 42 is referred to as the second gear part 421. The first gear part 411 and the second gear part 421 mesh with each other.

[0046] Multiple sets of folding components are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with multiple drive components 34. The gear portions of the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 mesh with the first gear 343 and the second gear 344 in the corresponding drive components 34, respectively. That is, the number of folding components and drive components 34 are the same, and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. In a corresponding set of folding components and drive components 34, the first drive gear 343 meshes with the first tooth 411, and the second drive gear 344 meshes with the second gear portion 421. The first tooth 411 and the second tooth 421 mesh with each other. Thus, when the first gear 343 and the second gear 344 rotate, they simultaneously drive the first tooth 411 and the second tooth 421 to rotate, thereby driving the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 to swing, thereby pushing the foldable shell to unfold or fold. Furthermore, through the mutual meshing of the first gear portion 411 and the second gear portion 421, sufficient driving force can be provided for the unfolding or folding of the foldable shell.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the folding mechanism 30 is disposed above the entry / exit mechanism 20, the slide rail of the entry / exit mechanism 20 is tilted, and the first motor is disposed in the rear bottom space of the central control compartment, thereby reducing the space occupied by the entire hidden display screen in the depth direction of the central control compartment 10, making full use of the space in the height direction, and leaving sufficient space for the rear side of the central control compartment near the top, which facilitates the arrangement of other structures. This allows the part of the front panel of the central control compartment near the bottom of the central control compartment to be disposed closer to the rear side of the central control compartment than the part near the top, thereby reserving space for other structures outside the central control compartment or providing more activity space for the driver and passengers. Meanwhile, the present invention also simplifies the unfolding and folding mechanism of the entire folding screen by cooperating with the transmission gear set 32, transmission shaft 33, drive gear 341, first gear 343, second gear 344, transition gear 342, and the gears on the two rotating arms of the screen assembly 40, ensuring the stability of the fully unfolded folding screen and the movement process, thereby improving the experience of drivers and passengers; furthermore, the gears on the two rotating arms also mesh with each other, so that the six gear structures form a meshing fit on the outer periphery, which can increase the driving force during the unfolding and folding process of the foldable shell, so that the unfolding and folding of the foldable shell can also be achieved using the second motor 31 with a smaller driving force.

[0048] Continue to refer to Figure 7 The foldable housing includes a support shell 43, a first shell 44, and a second shell 45, which can swing relative to the support shell 43.

[0049] The first ends of the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 are provided with the aforementioned gear portions, and the second ends are fixedly connected to the first housing 44 and the second housing 45. When the second motor 31 drives the transmission shaft 33 to rotate, the drive assembly 34 drives the first gear portion 411 and the second gear portion 421 to rotate, thereby causing the second ends of the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 to swing respectively. This causes the first housing 44 and the second housing 45 to swing towards each other or away from each other, thus opening or folding the folding screen. Specifically, the fixed connection between the first housing 44, the second housing 45 and the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 can be achieved by providing a connecting structure 412 at the end of the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 away from their respective gear portions. The connecting structure 412 connects to the first housing 44 or the second housing 45, either directly or through a transition piece. It is understood that the screen assembly 40 also includes a folding screen, which is installed inside the foldable housing. The foldable screen is installed within the first housing 44 and the second housing 45. The bendable portion of the foldable screen corresponds to the supporting housing 43. When the first housing 44 and the second housing 45 are close together, the foldable screen is also in a folded state; when the first housing 44 and the second housing are far apart, the foldable screen is also in an unfolded state. The entire foldable screen is essentially a flat screen. The correspondence and connection structure between the foldable screen and the foldable housing can be found in existing technologies and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, for ease of processing and assembly, the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 may include a rotating component 413 and a gear component. The rotating component 413 has a rod-like structure, with a connecting structure 412 at one end and meshing teeth at the other end. The gear component is disposed on the gear component, which is rotatably connected to the support shell 43 and meshes with the meshing teeth on the rotating component 413. That is, both the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 can be separate structures. This separate structure is beneficial for the manufacturing of the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42. The area of ​​the rotating component 413 with meshing teeth can be a columnar structure, with meshing teeth either partially circumferentially arranged or arranged circumferentially.

[0051] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The front panel of the central control compartment 10 includes a first sub-section 12 near the top and a second sub-section 13 near the bottom. The first sub-section 12 protrudes outward and has an exit window 11. A portion of the first sub-section 12 near the second sub-section 13 extends towards the bottom and rear of the central control compartment 10, forming a wedge-shaped structure 121, which connects to the second sub-section 13. Specifically, the portion below the exit window 11 forms a wedge-shaped structure, which connects to the second sub-section 13. Figure 2As can be seen, the front panel of the central control compartment 10 has an outwardly protruding portion, located in the upper area of ​​the front panel, which is the first sub-part 12. The portion of this protruding portion below the exit window 11 has a wedge-shaped structure, with a cross-section resembling a right triangle. The hypotenuse of the near-right triangle connects to the second sub-part 13, thus creating a recessed space between the front panel and the second sub-part on the outside of the central control compartment. In this embodiment, the slide rail 21 extends from the rear side of the central control compartment 10 near the bottom to the wedge-shaped structure 121, thereby further improving the compactness of the entire central control compartment structure and increasing the utilization rate of the entire cockpit space. Preferably, the first sub-part 12 is provided with a recessed area 122, which can be formed by the inward recess of the front panel. The exit window 11 is located in this recessed area 122, thus better protecting the folding screen when the hidden display is in a hidden state.

[0052] Continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A recessed structure 14 can be formed on the top of the center console 10 near the rear. This recessed structure 14 is formed by indenting the top of the center console 10. The recessed structure 14 can accommodate other components or serve as a storage space for items, facilitating the placement of items by drivers and passengers, thereby improving the space utilization of the center console 10. Specifically, the recessed structure can be a recess extending along the direction of the drive shaft 33 or the width direction of the vehicle, or it can be other recessed structures.

[0053] Specifically, the central control compartment 10 includes a box body 15 and a top cover 16, with an exit window 11 located on the box body 14 and a groove structure 14 located on the top cover 16. In one embodiment, the housing 15 is a cuboid structure, including the aforementioned front panel 151, bottom plate 152, side plate 153, rear cover plate 154, and top plate 155. The front panel 151 and rear cover plate 154 are arranged opposite to each other and connected by the side plate 153 to form a circumferentially closed structure. The upper and lower sides of the circumferentially closed structure are respectively connected to the bottom plate 152 and the top plate 155. The front panel 151 and the top plate 155 can be provided with a communicating hollow structure in the connection area between them. A part of the hollow structure forms an exit window 11. The area of ​​the top plate 155 near the rear cover plate 154 is provided with the aforementioned groove structure 14. By providing a communicating hollow structure between the top plate 155 and the front panel 151, the spatial arrangement of the components in the above embodiments is not affected, the space utilization rate of the central control compartment 10 is improved, and the installation of the components in the central control compartment 10 is convenient. The housing 15 can be directly integrally formed, such as by sheet metal processing, stamping, or bending. Alternatively, some parts of the front panel 151, bottom plate 152, side plate 153, rear cover plate 154, and top plate 155 can be integrally formed and then assembled together. Or, each part can be formed separately and then assembled together.

[0054] The upper cover 16 may consist only of a cover plate portion 161, which is a plate-like structure disposed on the top plate 155 and covers the perforated structure on the top plate 155. Further, the upper cover 16 may also include a first bent portion 162, which is bent and connected to the cover plate portion 161 near the front panel 151. The first bent portion 162 covers the portion of the front panel 151 near the top plate 155 and exposes the access window 11 through an opening. In embodiments with a groove structure 14, the upper cover 16 may also include a second bent portion 163, which is connected to the cover plate portion 161 near the rear cover plate 154 and extends into the groove structure 14. Regardless of the structure adopted, the upper cover 16 can be contoured to partially cover the housing 15 to increase the connection strength between the two, providing a more stable and reliable installation space for the hidden folding screen.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the central control compartment 10 further includes mounting supports 17 located on both sides of the slide rail 21. The mounting supports 17 are arranged in the space within the central control compartment 10 opposite to the second sub-part 13, and their mounting surfaces are parallel to the slide rail 21. Figure 2 As shown, the mounting bracket 17 is disposed on the base plate of the central control compartment 10 and can be fixedly installed on the base plate 152. The side of the bracket near the top plate 155 forms a mounting surface, which is inclined relative to the base plate, thereby allowing the slide rail 21 to be installed at an angle relative to the exit window 11. This structure increases the installation stability of the slide rail 21, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of the screen assembly 40 entering and exiting the central control compartment 10. Specifically, the mounting bracket 17 may include a vertically connected mounting plate and a connecting plate. One end of the mounting plate is connected to the connecting plate, and the other end forms an inclined mounting surface. Both sides of the mounting plate extend beyond the connecting plate. The portion of the connecting plate extending beyond the mounting plate is fitted into the base plate. This structure further increases the installation stability of the slide rail 21 while reducing the overall weight of the central control compartment 10. In some embodiments, the mounting bracket 17 may have other structures, such as only including a mounting plate. In another embodiment, there may be only one mounting bracket 17. In the embodiment where there is only one mounting bracket 17, the mounting bracket 17 is preferably located at the slide rail 21, that is, the slide rail 21 and the mounting bracket 17 are at the same position in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0056] The loading / unloading mechanism 20 also includes a mounting housing 24, within which a motion control board can be installed. That is, the hidden display screen also includes a motion control board, which is installed within the mounting housing 24. The slide rail 21 can be installed within the central control compartment 10 via the mounting housing 24; that is, the mounting housing 24 is installed within the central control compartment 10, and the slide rail 21 is installed within the mounting housing 24. In embodiments with mounting supports 17, the mounting housing 24 is mounted on the mounting surface, and a portion of the mounting housing 24 is located between two mounting supports 17; the slide rail 21 and the first motor 23 are mounted on the mounting housing 24 (including direct and indirect mounting), such as... Figure 2 As shown, the mounting housing 24 includes a housing 241 and extension plates 242. Extension plates 242 extend from opposite sides of the housing 241, and the extension plates 242 overlap the mounting surfaces of the mounting supports 17. The mounting housing 241 is located between the two mounting supports 17, and the control board is installed inside the housing 241. In this way, the space between the two mounting supports 17 can be fully utilized, further improving the space utilization rate of the entire central control compartment 10. Furthermore, the top surface of the mounting housing 24 can be provided with a mounting groove 243, and the slide rail 21 is installed in the mounting groove 243. By setting the mounting groove 243, the height dimension of the entire hidden display screen can be reduced, and the installation of the slide rail 21 can be positioned, improving the installation accuracy of the in-and-out mechanism 20.

[0057] The mounting housing 24 has a cable outlet on the side furthest from the exit window 11. The motion control board of the hidden display screen has a first electrical interface and a second electrical interface. The motion control board is housed within the mounting housing 24. The first and second electrical interfaces are exposed at the cable outlet 244. There can be two cable outlets, with the first and second electrical interfaces respectively exposed at these two outlets; alternatively, there can be only one cable outlet, with both the first and second electrical interfaces exposed at this outlet. The leads of the first motor 23 and the second motor 31 are connected to the first electrical interface; the second electrical interface is used to connect the power supply line to power the motion control board.

[0058] The screen assembly 40 and folding mechanism 30 are almost entirely supported by the slide table 23, resulting in a cantilevered state. In particular, the screen assembly 40 extends beyond the central control compartment 10, affecting the operational stability and reliability of the hidden display screen. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the loading / unloading mechanism 20 further includes a rolling support 26. The rolling support 26 is rolled around an axis parallel to the drive shaft 33 and mounted on the central control compartment 10. Rolling supports 26 are respectively provided on both sides of the slide rail 21, making rolling contact with the foldable housing in its folded state. Thus, the rolling support 26 can support the foldable housing, preventing the foldable housing and folding mechanism 30 from being in a cantilevered state. Especially during the process of the screen assembly 40 extending beyond the central control compartment 10, the rolling support 26 can maintain rolling contact with the foldable housing, providing support until the foldable housing extends beyond the central control compartment 10. This ensures the reliability and stability of the screen assembly 40's movement, especially preventing a decrease in the overall reliability of the device caused by the screen assembly 40 being cantilevered during vehicle operation, even in the event of a drop or other vibration.

[0059] In one embodiment, the rolling support 26 includes a roller 261, the rolling axis of which is perpendicular to the slide rail 21. The roller 261 can be directly rotatably mounted inside the central control compartment 10 (in embodiments including a mounting shell 24, it is mounted on the mounting shell 24), or it can be mounted inside the central control compartment 10 via a support base 262. That is, the rolling support 26 also includes a support base 262, the roller 261 is rotatably mounted on the support base 262, and the support base 262 is mounted inside the central control compartment 10. In each rolling support 26, only one roller 261 may be provided. Preferably, multiple rollers 261 are provided along the extension direction parallel to the slide rail 21, such as two or three. This rolling support structure reduces the resistance during the extension of the screen assembly 40 out of the central control compartment 10. The multiple rollers 261 also help to avoid cantilever structures during the extension of the screen assembly 40 out of the central control compartment 20. At the same time, the multiple rollers can also increase the support range of the foldable shell while reducing the requirements for the processing and assembly precision of the foldable shell surface and the high precision requirements for smooth operation.

[0060] The support base 262 includes a support plate 2621 and a mounting lug 2622, such as Figure 6 As shown, mounting lugs 2622 are connected to both sides of the first end of the support plate 2621. A limiting portion 2621a extends from the first end, extending towards the bottom plate of the central control compartment 10. Thus, the limiting portion 2621a, the other parts of the support plate 2621, and the mounting lugs 2622 form an open structure facing the bottom plate and rear cover of the central control compartment 10. The support plate 2621 is mounted on the top surface of the mounting shell 24 via the mounting lugs 2622; the limiting portion 2621a abuts against the end face of the mounting shell 24 near the exit window 11, meaning the mounting shell 24 is mounted on an open structure, thereby increasing the installation reliability of the support member 26. In this embodiment, a roller 261 is rotatably mounted on the second end of the support plate 2621.

[0061] In another embodiment, the rolling support 26 may include a rolling ball that is movably installed within the central control compartment 10 (or, in an embodiment including a mounting housing 24, installed within the mounting housing 24). The rolling ball may be directly movably installed within the rolling central control compartment 10 or installed via a support base 262.

[0062] Continue to refer to Figure 6In the inbound / outbound mechanism 20, the slide rail 21 can be a linear track, and the slide table 22 slides in conjunction with the linear track. In a preferred embodiment, the slide rail 22 includes a lead screw rotatably mounted on the central control compartment 10, and the lead screw is connected to the first motor 23; the slide table 22 is threadedly engaged with the lead screw. In an embodiment including a mounting housing 24, the lead screw is mounted on the mounting housing 24. Specifically, the inbound / outbound mechanism 20 also includes a mounting base 25, which can be a U-shaped structure. The bottom of the U-shaped structure is mounted on the central control compartment 10 (in an embodiment including a mounting housing 24, it is mounted on the mounting housing 24, specifically on the mounting groove 243 of the mounting housing 24). The lead screw is located between the two sides of the U-shaped structure and is rotatably mounted to the two sides; the first motor 23 is mounted on one of the sides, and its drive shaft is connected to the lead screw, specifically through a coupling or transition connector, so that the first motor 23 drives the lead screw to rotate when it is working. The slide 22 can be a block structure and is threadedly connected to the lead screw so that the slide moves along the axial direction of the lead screw during the rotation of the lead screw.

[0063] Specifically, in the depth direction of the central control compartment 10, the mounting bracket 17 and the mounting shell 24 are positioned close to the front panel and have space between them and the rear cover. The mounting base 25 is fitted to the mounting shell 24 and extends out of the mounting shell 24 to the side near the rear cover, that is, part of the mounting base 25 is suspended from the first motor 23. The folding mechanism 30 and the screen assembly are always located in the non-suspended part of the mounting base 25. In this way, the space utilization of the central control compartment can be improved, and the stability and reliability of the entire hidden display screen operation can be guaranteed.

[0064] refer to Figure 4 and Figures 7-9 The transmission gear set 32 ​​includes a primary gear 321, an intermediate gear 323, and a final gear 322. The primary gear 321, intermediate gear 323, and final gear 322 mesh sequentially. There may be only one intermediate gear 323, or there may be two, three, or more intermediate gears. It is preferred to have only one intermediate gear to reduce the overall volume of the folding mechanism 30. The multiple gears that are driven sequentially are arranged in a direction parallel to the slide rail 21 (i.e., the depth direction of the central control compartment 10).

[0065] The drive shaft of the second motor 31 can be directly connected to the primary gear 321 to drive the primary gear 321 to rotate. In one embodiment, the folding mechanism 30 also includes a worm gear 35. The drive shaft of the second motor 31 is connected to the worm gear 35, which can be connected by a coupling, a transition connection structure, or a key pin or other mating parts. The worm gear 35 meshes with the primary gear 321, and the final gear 322 is sleeved on the transmission shaft 33. Thus, when the second motor 31 is working, it drives the transmission shaft 33 to rotate, thereby driving each drive gear 341 on the transmission shaft to rotate. The slide rail 21 can be set according to its position in the cockpit. It can be parallel to the worm gear 35 or at an angle to the worm gear 35. In one embodiment, the slide rail 21 is set parallel to the worm gear 35, and the plane containing the axes of the slide rail 21 and the worm gear 35 is parallel to the stacking direction of the folding mechanism 30. That is, the worm gear 35 and the slide rail 21 can both be arranged in the middle area of ​​the mounting housing 24 in the width direction, with the slide rail 21 located directly below the worm gear 35. This further increases the reliability of the entire device and the stability of the foldable shell movement.

[0066] The folding mechanism 30 also includes a base 36, which is mounted on the slide table 22; the second motor 31, the transmission gear set 32, the transmission shaft 33, and the drive assembly 34 are all mounted on the base 36. Figure 7 As shown, the base 36 serves as the mounting base for the folding mechanism 30, including a connecting part 361, a motor mounting part 362, and a support part 363. The connecting part 361, motor mounting part 362, and support part 363 can be sequentially arranged along the extension direction of the slide rail 21. The dimensions of the support part 363, motor mounting part 362, and connecting part 361 in the direction of the drive shaft 33 can decrease sequentially. Specifically, the support part 363 can be close to the size of the screen assembly 40, or slightly recessed at both ends. The motor mounting part 362 is slightly smaller, and its size can be basically consistent with the size of the component mounted on it. For example, if only the second motor 31 is installed, its size is consistent with the second motor 31; if a screen control board is also installed, its size is basically consistent with the sum of the dimensions of the screen control board and the second motor 31 in that direction. The connecting part 361 can be consistent with the size of the slide table 21. This further reduces the weight of the entire folding and unfolding structure 30, making the power requirement for the screen assembly 40 to enter and exit the central control compartment 10 smaller.

[0067] The connecting part 361 is closer to the rear cover of the central control compartment 10 than the supporting part 363. The connecting part 362 is mounted on the slide table 22. The second motor 31 is mounted on the motor mounting part 362. The worm gear 35 and the drive shaft 33 are perpendicular to each other and are rotatably mounted on the supporting part 363. The intermediate gear 323 and the primary gear 321 of the transmission gear set 32 ​​are rotatably mounted on the supporting part 362. The gears of each drive component 34 are also rotatably mounted on the supporting part 362. Specifically, the transmission gear set 32, the drive shaft 33, the drive gear 341 and the first gear 342 are basically located on the same horizontal plane, referred to as the first plane. The worm gear 35, the drive shaft of the second motor 31, the intermediate gear 342 and the second gear are basically located on the same horizontal plane, referred to as the second plane. Preferably, the first plane is located below the second plane. In this way, the folding mechanism 30 is basically in the form of an upper and lower layer structure. After being connected to the screen assembly 40, the screen assembly 40 can basically make full use of the space of the upper and lower layers, thereby further reducing the overall height.

[0068] Furthermore, the folding screen assembly 40 also includes a screen control board 46, which is mounted on the side of the base 36 facing the bottom of the central control compartment 10. Specifically, in the base 36, the motor mounting part 362 can extend to one side to form an extension structure, and the screen control board 46 is mounted on the side of the extension structure facing the bottom of the central control compartment 10. In this way, the screen control board 46 can be installed without increasing the overall height dimension of the hidden display screen, and it is placed close to the folding screen, which facilitates wiring and control reliability, thereby further improving the space utilization rate inside the central control compartment 10.

[0069] In some embodiments, the second motor 31, the transmission gear set 32, the transmission shaft 33, and the drive assembly 34 are all mounted on the base 36, or they can be directly mounted on the slide table 22.

[0070] The motion control board is a circuit board used to control the screen assembly 40 to enter and exit the central control compartment 10 and to unfold or fold the foldable shell; the screen control board 46 is used to control the operation of the foldable screen itself, such as the display.

[0071] like Figure 4 As shown, in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the transmission shaft 33, the gear portion of the first rotating arm 41 (i.e., the first gear portion 411), the gear portion of the second rotating arm 42 (i.e., the second gear portion 421), the first gear 343 and the second gear 344, the drive gear 341 and the transition gear 342 are arranged side by side in height, forming two rows and three columns. That is, in this cross-section, the axes of the first gear portion 411, the second gear portion 421, the first gear 343, the second gear 344, the drive gear 341 and the transition gear 342, when connected, basically form a rectangle. Figure 4In the configuration, the second gear section 421, the second gear 344, and the transition gear 342 are located at the top, while the first gear section 411, the first gear 343, and the drive gear 341 are located at the bottom. The second gear section 421 and the first gear section 411 are arranged vertically, as are the second gear 344 and the first gear 343, and the transition gear 342 and the drive gear 341. In the embodiment with a worm gear 35, the worm gear 35, the transmission gear set 32, the transmission shaft 33, and the drive assembly 34 are arranged in a double-layer structure. The gear sections of the worm gear 35, the transition gear 342, the second gear 344, and the second rotating arm 42 are located in the upper layer near the top of the central control compartment 10, while the gear sections of the transmission gear set 32, the transmission shaft 33, the drive gear 341, the first gear 343, and the first rotating arm 41 are located in the lower layer near the bottom of the central control compartment 10.

[0072] In the axial direction of the transmission shaft 33, the first gear 343 and the second gear 344 are offset, as follows: Figure 7 , Figure 9 As shown, the meshing teeth of the drive gear 341 have a larger axial length, while the meshing teeth of the transition gear 342 and the first gear 342 have a smaller axial length and are misaligned in the axial direction. They mesh with different parts of the drive gear 341 in the axial direction. Correspondingly, the second gear 344 and the transition gear 342 are located on the same side of the first gear 343 in the axial direction, and the second gear 344 is also misaligned with the first gear 343.

[0073] The above-mentioned arrangement structure can increase the driving force on the foldable shell, and the meshing of the gears or gear parts can increase the stability of the drive.

[0074] In one embodiment, the meshing teeth of each drive gear 341 can extend along the entire axial direction of the gear. They can be connected to the transmission shaft 33 via key pins or locking screws. Alternatively, the transmission shaft can have a first limiting plane, and the shaft holes of each drive gear 341 can have a second limiting plane. When the drive gear 341 is fitted onto the transmission shaft 33, the first limiting plane and the second limiting plane engage, circumferentially limiting the drive gear 341 and the transmission shaft 33, thereby improving the transmission accuracy between the transmission shaft 33 and the drive gear 341. Of course, the transmission connection between each drive gear 341 and the transmission shaft 33 can be achieved using different methods or the same method.

[0075] The transition gear 342, the first gear 343, and the second gear 344 can adopt a similar structure, each including an installation section and a meshing section. The meshing section has meshing teeth on its outer periphery, and the installation section is connected to the end of the meshing section. The center of both has a through installation hole. The transition gear 342, the first gear 343, and the second gear 344 are rotatably connected to the slide table 22 through their respective installation holes. In the embodiment where the base 36 is provided, the transition gear 342 is rotatably connected to the base 36. The connection can be direct or indirect. Preferably, the folding mechanism 30 also includes multiple installation frames 37. Each installation frame 37 is installed on the base 36 to set the position of each drive component 34. The transition gear 342, the first gear 343, and the second gear 344 of each drive component 34 can be rotatably installed on the corresponding installation frame 37 through the installation shaft. Specifically, a groove can be provided on the base 36, and the mounting frame 37 includes a U-shaped base and a connecting plate. The opening of the U-shaped base faces the groove, and the outer walls of the two opposite side plates of the U-shaped base are respectively connected to the connecting plate. The mounting frame 37 is connected to the opening of the groove through the connecting plate. The transition gear 342, the first gear 343 and the second gear 344 are all set in the U-shaped base, so that the mounting frame 37 can protect the drive assembly 34.

[0076] The screen assembly 40 may include a mounting base 47, which may be fixedly connected to the support shell or simultaneously fixedly connected to the mounting shafts of the first gear 343 and the second gear 344 (specifically, it may be sleeved on the mounting shaft). In this embodiment, the gear portions of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm may be rotatably mounted on the mounting base 47 respectively. Specifically, mounting bases 47 may be provided at both ends of the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42 in the axial direction, thereby increasing the rotational stability and reliability of the first rotating arm 41 and the second rotating arm 42.

[0077] In some embodiments, the folding mechanism 30 may include a protective cover 38, which may be placed over the transmission gear set 32 ​​and connected to the base 36 to protect the transmission gear set 32.

[0078] Multiple sets of drive components 34 can be provided, and these drive components 34 can be located on the same side or different sides of the final gear 322. In a preferred embodiment, two sets of drive components 34 are respectively provided on both sides of the final gear 322 along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 33. With this arrangement, while ensuring the stable unfolding and folding of the first housing 44 and the second housing 45, the weight of the entire folding mechanism 30 can be reduced as much as possible, the high power requirement of the second motor 31 can be reduced, and thus the cost can be reduced.

[0079] Furthermore, in the two sets of drive assemblies 34 near the final gear 322, the meshing portion of the first gear 343 is located inside the meshing portion of the transition gear 342 and meshes with the first section of the drive gear 341, while the transition gear 342 meshes with the second section of the drive gear 341; in the two sets of drive assemblies 34 located on the outermost side of the drive shaft 33, the meshing portion of the first gear 411 is located outside the meshing portion of the transition gear 342 and meshes with the second section of the drive gear 341, while the transition gear 342 meshes with the first drive engagement of the drive gear 341. The two outermost sets of drive components can be designated as the outer drive components, and the two sets of drive components closest to the final gear 322 as the inner drive components. In the inner drive components, the meshing portion of the first gear 343 is located inside the meshing portion of the transition gear 342, and also inside the meshing portion of the second gear 344. In the outer drive components, the meshing portion of the first gear 343 is located both inside and outside the meshing portion of the transition gear 342, and also outside the meshing portion of the second gear 344. In other words, the four sets of drive components are symmetrically arranged about the axis of the worm gear 35, which further increases the reliability of transmission and support during the unfolding and folding processes of the first housing 44 and the second housing 45. The inner side of the meshing portion of the transition gear 342 refers to the side of the transition gear's meshing portion facing the final gear, and the other side is the outer side. The first section of the drive gear 341 refers to the section whose meshing portion is close to the final gear 322, and the second section refers to the section whose meshing portion is far from the final gear 322. This staggered arrangement fully utilizes the axial space of the drive shaft 33, making the entire device structure more compact. The first and second sections can be directly connected, or other structures can be interspersed within them. Preferably, the first and second sections are directly connected to further reduce the overall axial dimension of the device on the drive shaft.

[0080] The present invention also provides an automobile, including the center console described in the above embodiments, that is, the center console of the automobile can adopt the solution of any of the above embodiments.

[0081] Those skilled in the art will understand that, without conflict, the above-mentioned preferred solutions can be freely combined and superimposed.

[0082] It should be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary and not restrictive. Various obvious or equivalent modifications or substitutions that can be made by those skilled in the art regarding the above details without departing from the basic principles of the present invention will be included within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A center console with a hidden display screen, characterized in that, It includes a central control compartment, an inbound / outbound mechanism, a folding mechanism, and a screen assembly. The front panel of the central control compartment has an outbound window located near the top of the central control compartment. The in-and-out mechanism includes a relatively movable slide rail and a slide table, and a first motor that drives the two to move relative to each other. The first motor is located in the space near the bottom of the central control compartment on the rear side of the central control compartment. The slide rail is inclined relative to the opening direction of the out-of-compartment window. The folding mechanism includes a second motor, a transmission gear set, a transmission shaft, and multiple sets of drive components. The second motor is mounted on the slide table. The transmission shaft is perpendicular to the slide rail and is connected to the second motor through the transmission gear set. The drive components include a drive gear, a transition gear and a first gear that mesh with the drive gear, and a second gear that meshes with the transition gear. Multiple sets of drive gears from the drive components are spaced apart on the transmission shaft. The screen assembly includes a foldable housing and multiple folding components. The folding components include a first rotating arm and a second rotating arm that drive the foldable housing to unfold and fold. The first rotating arm and the second rotating arm are respectively provided with gear parts, and the two gear parts mesh with each other. Multiple sets of folding components are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with multiple drive components, and the gear parts of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm respectively mesh with the first gear and the second gear in the corresponding drive components.

2. The central control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front panel of the central control compartment includes a first sub-section near the top and a second sub-section near the bottom. The first sub-section protrudes outward and has the exit window thereon. The portion of the first sub-section near the second sub-section extends toward the bottom and the rear of the central control compartment to form a wedge-shaped structure and connects with the second sub-section. The slide rail extends from the space near the bottom of the rear side of the central control compartment to the wedge-shaped structure.

3. The central control unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The central control compartment also includes mounting supports on both sides of the slide rail. The mounting supports are arranged in the space inside the central control compartment opposite to the second sub-part, and their mounting surfaces are parallel to the slide rail. The in-and-out mechanism further includes a mounting shell, which is mounted on the mounting surface and partially located between the two mounting supports. The slide rail and the first motor are mounted on the mounting housing.

4. The central control console according to claim 1, characterized in that, The in-and-out mechanism also includes a rolling support member, which is rolled around an axis parallel to the drive shaft and mounted on the central control compartment. The rolling support member is provided on both sides of the slide rail and rolls in contact with the foldable shell in the folded state.

5. The central control unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The rolling support includes rollers, and multiple rollers are arranged along the extension direction parallel to the slide rail. The rolling support contacts the foldable housing through the rollers.

6. The central control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide rail includes a lead screw rotatably mounted in the central control compartment, the lead screw being connected to the first motor; the slide table is threadedly engaged with the lead screw.

7. The central control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The folding mechanism further includes a base, which is mounted on the slide; the second motor, the transmission gear set, the transmission shaft, and the drive assembly are all mounted on the base; the folding screen assembly further includes a screen control board, which is mounted on the side of the base facing the bottom.

8. The central control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, On a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the transmission shaft, the gear portions of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm, the first gear and the second gear, the drive gear and the transition gear are arranged side by side in height, forming two rows and three columns; in the axial direction of the transmission shaft, the first gear and the transition gear are staggered in the axial direction.

9. The central control unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The loading / unloading mechanism also includes a worm gear. The first motor is connected to the primary gear of the transmission gear set through the worm gear, and the final gear of the transmission gear set is sleeved on the transmission shaft. The worm gear, the transmission gear set, the transmission shaft, and the drive assembly are arranged in a double-layer structure. The worm gear, the intermediate gear, the second gear, and the gear portion of the second rotating arm are located in the upper layer near the top, and the transmission gear set, the transmission shaft, the drive gear, the first gear, and the gear portion of the first rotating arm are located in the lower layer near the bottom. Two sets of drive assemblies are respectively arranged on both sides of the final gear along the axial direction of the transmission shaft. In each drive assembly closer to the final gear, the meshing part of the first gear is located inside the meshing part of the intermediate gear and meshes with the first section of the drive gear, while the intermediate gear meshes with the second section of the drive gear. In each drive assembly located on the outermost side of the transmission shaft, the meshing part of the first gear is located outside the meshing part of the intermediate gear and meshes with the second section of the drive gear, while the intermediate gear meshes with the first section of the drive gear. The inner side of the meshing portion of the transition gear refers to the side of the meshing portion of the transition gear facing the final gear, and the other side is the outer side; the first section of the drive gear refers to the section of its meshing portion close to the final gear, and the second section refers to the section of its meshing portion away from the final gear.

10. A car, characterized in that, Includes the central control unit as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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