Rotating shaft mechanism and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a rotating shaft mechanism and electronic equipment. According to the rotating shaft mechanism, a supporting piece is arranged in at least one of a main shaft and a connecting plate assembly, the supporting piece comprises a supporting body and a protection part, the protection part is arranged on the surface of the side, facing a flexible circuit board, of the supporting body, the protection part at least covers the contact portion of the supporting piece, and the surface of the side, facing the flexible circuit board, of the protection part is an insulating wear-resistant face.

Description

Rotating shaft mechanism and electronic equipment

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on March 8, 2024, with application number 202410263727.2 and application name “Hinge Mechanism and Electronic Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic products, and in particular to a rotating shaft mechanism and an electronic device. Background Art

[0003] Foldable electronic devices, such as foldable mobile phones or laptops, have advantages such as portability and large screen display, and are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.

[0004] The two main bodies of a foldable electronic device are connected by a hinge mechanism. The movement of the hinge mechanism enables relative rotation between the two bodies, enabling the foldable electronic device to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. In foldable electronic devices, a flexible circuit board (PCB) that passes through the hinge mechanism is required to achieve an electrical connection between the two bodies. When the foldable electronic device switches between the folded and unfolded states, the hinge mechanism moves relative to the main body, and the portion of the flexible PCB located within the hinge mechanism also moves and deforms, causing repeated friction between the flexible PCB and structural components within the hinge mechanism.

[0005] However, during long-term use of foldable electronic devices, the surface of the flexible circuit board is easily worn by the structural components, exposing the conductive wires in the flexible circuit board, which in turn causes a short circuit between the flexible circuit board and the structural components, resulting in damage to the flexible circuit board. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a hinge mechanism and an electronic device. The hinge mechanism is not prone to wear of a flexible circuit board, will not cause the flexible circuit board to be damaged by a short circuit, and can improve the reliability of the electronic device.

[0007] One aspect of the present application provides a rotating shaft mechanism, comprising:

[0008] spindle;

[0009] A connecting plate assembly, movably connected to both sides of the main shaft in the width direction;

[0010] At least one of the main shaft and the connecting plate assembly includes a support member configured to support the flexible circuit board; the support member has a contact portion, the contact portion is used to receive a deformed portion of the flexible circuit board;

[0011] The support member includes a support body and a protective part. The protective part is connected to the side surface of the support body facing the flexible circuit board. The protective part at least covers the contact part, and the side surface of the protective part facing the flexible circuit board is an insulating and wear-resistant surface.

[0012] The hinge mechanism provided herein comprises a support member disposed within at least one of the main shaft and the connecting plate assembly, the support member being configured to support a corresponding portion of a flexible circuit board. In other words, when the electronic device switches between an unfolded and folded state, the flexible circuit board repeatedly contacts and separates from the support member. The support member has a contact portion with the flexible circuit board, causing deformation of the flexible circuit board at the contact portion. The support member is configured to include a supporting body and a protective portion. The supporting body is the main support structure of the support member, and the protective portion is disposed on a surface of the supporting body facing the flexible circuit board. The protective portion covers at least the contact portion of the support member, and the surface of the protective portion facing the flexible circuit board is an insulating, wear-resistant surface. This allows the flexible circuit board to contact the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion, which has a low coefficient of friction and prevents surface wear of the flexible circuit board. Furthermore, the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion provides excellent insulation, preventing short circuits in the flexible circuit board, improving the reliability of the flexible circuit board, and extending the service life of the electronic device.

[0013] In a possible implementation, when the flexible circuit board contacts the protective portion, the flexible circuit board transitions smoothly at the contact portion.

[0014] When the flexible circuit board contacts the protective portion of the support member, a smooth transition is achieved at the contact point between the flexible circuit board and the protective portion. This prevents the flexible circuit board from being excessively squeezed by the hinge mechanism, thereby preventing the flexible circuit board from being cracked or broken, thereby ensuring the reliability and service life of the flexible circuit board.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the protection portion covers a surface of the support body facing the flexible circuit board.

[0016] By covering the side of the support body facing the flexible circuit board, the protective portion provides a large coverage area and minimizes installation tolerances, ensuring effective coverage of the contact area of ​​the support member and ensuring contact between the flexible circuit board and the protective portion. Furthermore, the large contact area between the protective portion and the support body enhances the connection strength between the two, improving the integrity and reliability of the support member.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the protective portion includes a metal base and an insulating lubricating coating, and the insulating lubricating coating at least covers a surface of the metal base facing the flexible circuit board.

[0018] By providing a metal substrate as the main structure of the protective portion, the metal substrate has high structural strength, meeting the structural strength requirements of the protective portion and reducing its thickness. This reduces the overall thickness of the support member and the overall thickness of the rotating shaft mechanism. By coating the metal substrate with an insulating lubricating coating on the side facing the flexible circuit board, the protective portion's surface facing the flexible circuit board forms an insulating, wear-resistant surface. This prevents surface wear of the flexible circuit board, avoids short circuits in the flexible circuit board, and reduces the risk of burnout.

[0019] In one possible embodiment, the insulating lubricating coating covers the outer surface of the metal substrate.

[0020] By covering the entire outer surface of the metal substrate with the insulating lubricating coating, spraying the insulating lubricating coating on the outer surface of the metal substrate is facilitated. Furthermore, when the metal substrate is symmetrical, positioning the metal substrate is unnecessary, which improves the efficiency and accuracy of the installation of the guard.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the insulating lubricating coating includes one of a polyimide coating, a polytetrafluoroethylene coating, a polyphenylene sulfide coating, and a polyetheretherketone coating.

[0022] By using these polymer coatings as insulating and lubricating coatings, they exhibit low friction damping and are easily plastically deformed, increasing the contact area with the metal substrate and alleviating stress concentration. Furthermore, these polymer coatings offer excellent corrosion resistance and shock absorption, preventing corrosive wear and impact wear. Furthermore, these polymer coatings offer excellent stability and reliability.

[0023] In a possible implementation manner, the thickness of the minimum thickness portion of the metal substrate is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm.

[0024] By making the thickness of the minimum portion of the metal substrate greater than or equal to 0.2 mm, the metal substrate meets the requirements of metal die-casting, ensuring that the metal substrate can be formed and the reliability of the metal substrate is guaranteed.

[0025] In a possible implementation manner, the protective portion includes a plastic base.

[0026] By using a plastic substrate as the main structure of the protective part, the plastic substrate has a low friction coefficient and excellent wear resistance. Furthermore, the plastic substrate is insulated, eliminating the need for surface coating or other surface treatments, thus reducing the production cost of the protective part. Furthermore, the plastic substrate is lightweight, which can reduce the weight of the support member.

[0027] In a possible implementation manner, the thickness of the minimum thickness portion of the plastic substrate is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.

[0028] By making the thickness of the minimum portion of the plastic matrix greater than or equal to 0.3 mm, the plastic matrix meets the injection molding requirements, ensuring that the plastic matrix can be manufactured and formed, and ensuring the reliability of the plastic matrix.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the protective portion further includes an insulating lubricating coating, and the insulating lubricating coating at least covers a surface of the plastic substrate facing the flexible circuit board.

[0030] By providing an insulating lubricating coating on the surface of the plastic substrate so that the insulating lubricating coating covers at least the surface of the plastic substrate facing the flexible circuit board, the friction coefficient of the protective part can be further reduced, the lubrication and wear resistance of the protective part can be enhanced, and the protective part can be prevented from wearing the flexible circuit board.

[0031] In one possible embodiment, the insulating lubricating coating covers the outer surface of the plastic substrate.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the insulating lubricating coating includes one of a polyimide coating, a polytetrafluoroethylene coating, a polyphenylene sulfide coating, and a polyetheretherketone coating.

[0033] Another aspect of the present application provides an electronic device, comprising a first housing, a second housing, a folding screen, and the aforementioned hinge mechanism, wherein the first housing and the second housing are respectively connected to two sides of the hinge mechanism;

[0034] The folding screen includes a first non-bending portion, a bendable portion and a second non-bending portion arranged in sequence. The first non-bending portion and the second non-bending portion are respectively attached to the first shell and the second shell, and the bendable portion is supported by the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0035] The electronic device provided herein includes a first housing, a second housing, a foldable screen, and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism is movably connected between the first and second housings. The first and second non-bending portions of the foldable screen are attached to the first and second housings, respectively, and the bendable portion of the foldable screen is supported by the hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism comprises a support member disposed in at least one of the main shaft and the connecting plate assembly, the support member being configured to support a corresponding portion of a flexible circuit board. In other words, when the electronic device switches between an unfolded state and a folded state, the flexible circuit board repeatedly contacts and separates from the support member. The support member has a contact portion with the flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board deforms at the contact portion. The support member is configured to include a support body and a guard portion. The support body is the main support structure of the support member. The guard portion is disposed on a surface of the support body facing the flexible circuit board, covering at least the contact portion of the support member. The guard portion has an insulating, wear-resistant surface on the side facing the flexible circuit board. Thus, the flexible circuit board contacts the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the guard portion, which has a low coefficient of friction and prevents wear on the surface of the flexible circuit board. In addition, the insulating wear-resistant surface of the protective part has a good insulating effect, which can prevent the flexible circuit board from short circuiting, improve the reliability of the flexible circuit board, and extend the service life of the electronic equipment.

[0036] In a possible implementation, when the electronic device is in a folded state, the first housing and the second housing are relatively stacked, and the folding screen is located between the first housing and the second housing;

[0037] The supporting member is a shaft cover of the main shaft, and the contact parts are the two ends of the supporting member in the width direction.

[0038] When the electronic device is an inward-folding device, the flexible circuit board repeatedly contacts and rubs against both ends of the spindle's shaft cover in the width direction. In this case, the support member can serve as the spindle cover, and the support body can serve as the main support structure of the shaft cover. By covering at least both ends of the support body in the width direction, the flexible circuit board contacts the insulating and wear-resistant surface of the guard. This prevents surface wear of the flexible circuit board and avoids short circuits between the flexible circuit board and the guard, thereby improving the reliability of the flexible circuit board and extending its service life.

[0039] In a possible implementation manner, the orthographic projection of the protective portion on the supporting body is located within the coverage area of ​​the supporting body;

[0040] Furthermore, a distance between an edge of the protection portion and a corresponding edge of the support body is less than or equal to a limit bending radius of the flexible circuit board.

[0041] By ensuring that the orthographic projection of the guard portion on the support body is within the support body's coverage area, the guard portion is prevented from protruding beyond the support body, preventing interference between the guard portion and the housing assembly and thus preventing the guard portion from affecting the appearance of the shaft cover. Furthermore, by ensuring that the distance between the edge of the guard portion and the corresponding edge of the support body is less than or equal to the maximum bending radius of the flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board is prevented from contacting the support body, preventing wear and tear on the flexible circuit board and preventing short circuits between the flexible circuit board and the support body, thereby ensuring the reliability and service life of the flexible circuit board.

[0042] In a possible implementation, when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the distance between the contact portion of the support member and the connecting plate assembly is a preset distance, and the difference between the preset distance and the thickness of the flexible circuit board is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.

[0043] By controlling the difference between the preset distance between the contact part of the support member and the connecting plate assembly and the thickness of the flexible circuit board to be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm, the flexible circuit board can move and deform smoothly with the movement of the rotating shaft mechanism, preventing the flexible circuit board from being stuck, worn or broken.

[0044] In a possible embodiment, when the electronic device is in a folded state, the first shell and the second shell are stacked relative to each other, and the folding screen is arranged outside the first shell and the second shell;

[0045] Wherein, the support member includes a first support member, and the first support member is located on the connecting plate assembly.

[0046] When the electronic device is foldable, the flexible circuit board repeatedly contacts and rubs against the connecting plate assembly. By providing a first support member as a structural component in the connecting plate assembly that repeatedly contacts and rubs against the flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board contacts the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion of the first support member during long-term use of the electronic device. This prevents surface wear of the flexible circuit board and prevents short circuits between the flexible circuit board and the protective portion, thereby improving the reliability of the flexible circuit board and extending its service life.

[0047] In one possible embodiment, the connecting plate assembly includes an inner connecting plate and an outer connecting plate sequentially connected to the side of the main shaft, the first support member is the inner connecting plate, and the contact portion is away from the first end of the inner connecting plate and close to the second end of the inner connecting plate;

[0048] The first end of the inner connecting plate is an end of the inner connecting plate close to the main shaft, and the second end of the inner connecting plate is an end of the inner connecting plate away from the main shaft.

[0049] By sequentially connecting the inner connecting plate and the outer connecting plate on the side of the main shaft, the plane workpiece occupied by the connecting plate assembly is large, and the bendable portion can be supported stably. In addition, the inner connecting plate and the outer connecting plate can move relative to each other, and the posture of the connecting plate assembly is more flexible, which can meet the bending requirements of the bendable portion. At this time, it is mainly the portion of the inner connecting plate away from its first end and close to its second end that is repeatedly in contact and rubbed with the flexible circuit board, and this portion is the contact portion of the inner connecting plate. Therefore, by using the first support member as the inner connecting plate, the protective portion at least covers the contact portion of the inner connecting plate, so that the flexible circuit board contacts the insulating and wear-resistant surface of the protective portion. The surface of the flexible circuit board can be prevented from being worn, and short circuit between the flexible circuit board and the protective portion can be avoided, so as to improve the reliability of the flexible circuit board and extend the service life of the flexible circuit board.

[0050] In a possible embodiment, the hinge mechanism further includes a decorative plate, which is movably connected to both sides of the main shaft in the width direction, and the decorative plate is located on the side of the main shaft away from the folding screen.

[0051] In a possible embodiment, the support member further includes a second support member, the second support member is a decorative plate, and the contact portion is close to the first end of the decorative plate and away from the second end of the decorative plate;

[0052] The first end of the decorative plate is an end of the decorative plate close to the main axis, and the second end of the decorative plate is an end of the decorative plate away from the main axis.

[0053] When the electronic device is foldable, the flexible circuit board may repeatedly contact and rub against the decorative panel. This occurs primarily in the area of ​​the decorative panel near its first end and away from its second end, where the flexible circuit board contacts the decorative panel. Therefore, by using the second support member as a decorative panel, the protective portion covers at least the contact area of ​​the decorative panel, ensuring contact between the flexible circuit board and the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion. This prevents surface wear of the flexible circuit board and prevents short circuits between the flexible circuit board and the protective portion, thereby improving the reliability and extending the service life of the flexible circuit board. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state;

[0055] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of the electronic device shown in FIG1 in a folded state;

[0056] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of the electronic device in FIG1 in a semi-expanded state;

[0057] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an electronic device;

[0059] FIG6 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device along line AA in FIG5 ;

[0060] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the movement of an electronic device;

[0061] FIG8 is a schematic diagram showing a flexible printed circuit board being burned out due to a short circuit at the rotating shaft mechanism;

[0062] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of another electronic device;

[0063] FIG10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electronic device along line BB in FIG9 ;

[0064] FIG11 is a partial structural diagram of a third electronic device in an unfolded state;

[0065] FIG12 is a partial structural diagram of the electronic device in FIG11 in a folded state;

[0066] FIG13 is a partial structural diagram of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state;

[0067] FIG14 is a partial structural diagram of the electronic device in FIG13 in a folded state;

[0068] FIG15 is a partial enlarged structural diagram of point A in FIG13;

[0069] FIG16 is a partial structural diagram of another electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state;

[0070] FIG17 is a partial structural diagram of the electronic device in FIG16 in a folded state.

[0071] Explanation of Reference Numerals: 10 - electronic device; 100 - display screen; 100a - foldable screen; 100b - straight screen; 200 - housing assembly; 300 - flexible circuit board; 101 - first non-bending portion; 102 - bendable portion; 103 - second non-bending portion; 210 - first housing; 220 - second housing; 230 - hinge mechanism; 201 - middle frame; 202 - back cover; 211 - first circuit board; 212 - first battery; 221 - second circuit board; 222 - second battery; 231 - main shaft; 232 - connecting plate assembly; 233 - decorative plate; 234 - support member; 2311 - shaft cover; 2312 - support base; 2313 - base plate; 2314 - cover plate; 2321 - connecting plate; 2322 - inner connecting plate; 2323-external connecting plate; 2341-support body; 2342-protective part; a-contact point; b-contact part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] The terms used in the implementation section of this application are only used to explain the specific embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0073] An embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, which may be a foldable electronic device. Furthermore, the electronic device may be a consumer electronic product. Exemplarily, the electronic device includes, but is not limited to, foldable electronic products such as a foldable mobile phone, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a netbook, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer, a multimedia player, an e-book reader, an in-vehicle device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, or a wearable device. Among them, wearable devices include, but are not limited to, smart bracelets, smart watches, smart head-mounted displays, smart glasses, and the like.

[0074] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device shown in Figure 1 in a folded state. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device shown in Figure 1 in a semi-expanded state.

[0075] 1 to 3 , this embodiment is described by taking the electronic device 10 as a foldable mobile phone as an example.

[0076] For the electronic device 10, in different usage scenarios, the electronic device 10 can have different usage states. FIG. 1 shows the electronic device 10 in an unfolded state, where the unfolding angle α of the electronic device 10 is, for example, 180°. In this case, the electronic device 10 can achieve a large screen display. FIG. 2 shows the electronic device 10 in a folded state. In this case, the electronic device 10 is small and easy to carry. FIG. 3 shows the electronic device 10 in a semi-expanded state. In this case, the electronic device 10 hovers at an angle between the unfolded state and the folded state. For example, the hovering angle β of the electronic device 10 can be 120°, 130°, 140°, or 150°, etc.

[0077] It should be noted that the angles illustrated in this embodiment are all allowed to have slight deviations. For example, the unfolded angle α of the electronic device 10 shown in FIG1 is 180°, which means that the unfolded angle α can be 180° or approximately 180°, such as 170°, 175°, 185°, or 190°. The angles illustrated in the following examples should be understood in the same way.

[0078] The electronic device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is a single-foldable electronic device 10, comprising two parts that can rotate relative to each other. When the two parts rotate to be coplanar, the electronic device 10 is in an unfolded state (as shown in Figure 1); when the two parts rotate to overlap each other, the electronic device 10 is in a folded state (as shown in Figure 2); and when the two parts rotate to hover at an angle between the unfolded and folded states, the electronic device 10 is in a semi-folded state (as shown in Figure 3).

[0079] In other embodiments, the electronic device 10 may also be an electronic device that can be folded more than twice. In this case, the electronic device 10 may include multiple parts that are connected by rotating in sequence. Two adjacent parts can be relatively far apart to unfold to an unfolded state, and two adjacent parts can also be relatively close to each other to fold to a folded state.

[0080] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the electronic device 10 includes a display screen 100 and a shell assembly 200. One side surface of the display screen 100 is used to display image information. This side surface of the display screen 100 is usually defined as its front side, and the other side surface opposite to its front side is its back side. The shell assembly 200 is arranged around the side and back of the display screen 100 to support, fix and protect the display screen 100. The front side of the display screen 100 is exposed outside the shell assembly 200 for the user to view the content displayed on the display screen 100 or to perform input operations on the electronic device 10.

[0081] The display screen 100 of the electronic device 10 may include a foldable screen 100a. The foldable screen 100a may include a first non-bending portion 101, a bendable portion 102, and a second non-bending portion 103 arranged in sequence along a first direction. In other words, in the first direction, the bendable portion 102 is located between the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103. The electronic device 10 may be folded horizontally as shown in Figures 1 to 3. In this case, the first direction may be the X direction shown in Figure 4. Of course, the electronic device 10 may also be folded vertically, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0082] For example, the foldable screen 100a can be made of a flexible material so that the bendable portion 102 can be bent. The foldable screen 100a can be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen.

[0083] The housing assembly 200 is used to support and secure the foldable screen 100a and to switch the foldable screen 100a between the folded and unfolded states. Referring to Figure 4 , the housing assembly 200 includes a first housing 210, a second housing 220, and a hinge mechanism 230. The hinge mechanism 230 is connected between the first and second housings 210, 220. The first and second housings 210, 220 are rotatably connected via the hinge mechanism 230, thereby enabling relative rotation between the first and second housings 210, 220.

[0084] The first shell 210 supports and fixes the first non-bending portion 101 of the folding screen 100a, and the second shell 220 supports and fixes the second non-bending portion 103 of the folding screen 100a. In other words, the first non-bending portion 101 of the folding screen 100a is fixedly connected to the first shell 210, and the second non-bending portion 103 of the folding screen 100a is fixedly connected to the second shell 220. The bendable portion 102 of the folding screen 100a is arranged corresponding to the hinge mechanism 230.

[0085] During use of the electronic device 10, the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 of the foldable screen 100a remain flat, while the bendable portion 102 of the foldable screen 100a can bend. When the hinge mechanism 230 drives the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to rotate relative to each other, the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 of the foldable screen 100a change their orientation accordingly, and the bendable portion 102 of the foldable screen 100a bends or flattens as the orientation of the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 changes.

[0086] The first housing 210 and the second housing 220 can be rotated away from each other until they are coplanar. In this case, the housing assembly 200 is in the unfolded state, and the foldable screen 100a is in the unfolded state as the housing assembly 200 unfolds, as shown in FIG1 . The first housing 210 and the second housing 220 can also be rotated toward each other until they are stacked relative to each other. In this case, the housing assembly 200 is in the folded state, and the foldable screen 100a is in the folded state as the housing assembly 200 folds, as shown in FIG2 . It should be noted that this embodiment uses the electronic device 10 as an inward-folding electronic device as an example. When the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 of the foldable screen 100a are relatively abutted, and the housing assembly 200 is disposed outside the foldable screen 100a, with the foldable screen 100a located between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. In this way, when the inward-folding electronic device is in the folded state, the housing assembly 200 provides protection for the foldable screen 100a, preventing it from being scratched by hard objects.

[0087] As shown in Figure 2 or Figure 3, if the inward-folding electronic device needs to realize the display function in the folded state, a straight screen 100b can be added to the back of the shell, and the electronic device 10 relies on the straight screen 100b to realize the display function in the folded state. In other words, the inward-folding electronic device may include a folding screen 100a and a straight screen 100b. The folding screen 100a can be attached to the front of the shell assembly 200. As the shell assembly 200 moves, the folding screen 100a can switch between the unfolded state and the folded state. When the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the folding screen 100a is not visible to the outside. The straight screen 100b can be attached to the back of the shell assembly 200. The straight screen 100b displays when the electronic device 10 is in the folded state.

[0088] In other examples, the electronic device 10 may also be an outward-folding electronic device. When the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 of the folding screen 100a face each other, and the housing assembly 200 is located between the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103. In other words, when the outward-folding electronic device is in the folded state, the folding screen 100a is enclosed outside the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, and the folding screen 100a is visible to the user, and the folding screen 100a can be used to perform display functions. Therefore, there is no need to add a straight screen 100b to the back of the housing to realize the display function of the electronic device 10 in the folded state.

[0089] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the electronic device 10, particularly an inward-folding electronic device, can hover at an angle between the unfolded and folded states. For example, the hovering angle of the electronic device 10 can be 120°, 130°, 140°, or 150°. The housing assembly 200 can be used to provide a damping force, allowing the housing assembly 200 to hover in a semi-expanded state between the folded and unfolded states, with the foldable screen 100a remaining in the semi-expanded state along with the housing assembly 200. At this point, the bendable portion 102 of the foldable screen 100a is also bent, and the degree of bending of the bendable portion 102 is less than that in the folded state. The first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 of the foldable screen 100a are relatively inclined, with the angle between the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 being, for example, 120°, 130°, 140°, or 150°.

[0090] Continuing with reference to FIG4 , in the housing assembly 200 of the foldable electronic device, the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may both include a middle frame 201, and the first non-bending portion 101 and the second non-bending portion 103 of the foldable screen 100a may be supported on the front of the corresponding middle frame 201. Specifically, for an outward-folding electronic device or an inward-folding electronic device that is not additionally provided with a straight screen 100b, the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 of the electronic device 1 may both further include a back cover 202, which is connected to a side surface of the middle frame 201 facing away from the foldable screen 100a. For an inward-folding electronic device that is additionally provided with a straight screen 100b, one of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 may not include the back cover 202, but may instead install the straight screen 100b on the back of the middle frame 201.

[0091] Within the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, the middle frame 201 and the back cover 202 (or the bar screen 100b) together form a receiving cavity, which is used to house some functional components (not shown in the figure) of the electronic device 10. For example, the receiving cavity is used to house components such as a circuit board, a battery, a camera module, a microphone, and a speaker.

[0092] As previously mentioned, the electronic device 10 may include an inward-folding electronic device and an outward-folding electronic device. Specifically, the inward-folding electronic device may include a horizontally folding electronic device and a vertically folding electronic device. As the names imply, a horizontally folding electronic device 10 unfolds or folds horizontally, while a vertically folding electronic device 10 unfolds or folds vertically.

[0093] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an electronic device. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in Figure 5 along line AA. Referring to Figures 5 and 6 , assuming that electronic device 10 is an inward-folding electronic device, and more specifically, a horizontally folding electronic device, electronic device 10 is rotated horizontally in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5 to unfold or fold electronic device 10.

[0094] 5 or 6 , in the horizontally foldable electronic device 10, the first shell 210, the hinge mechanism 230 and the second shell 220 are sequentially arranged along the X direction shown in FIG5 . Circuit boards may be provided in both the first shell 210 and the second shell 220. The circuit board provided in the first shell 210 may include a first circuit board 211. The first circuit board 211 is, for example, the most important circuit board in the electronic device 10. The first circuit board 211 may be provided with components such as a system-on-a-chip (SOC), a memory, a radio frequency component, and a power chip. The circuit board provided in the second shell 220 may include a second circuit board 221. The second circuit board 221 may be provided with components such as a radio frequency component and a power chip. Components that cannot be integrated into the first circuit board 211 may be integrated into the second circuit board 221.

[0095] Batteries can also be installed in both the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. For example, a first battery 212 can be installed in the first housing 210, and a second battery 222 can be installed in the second housing 220. The installation of two batteries increases the total capacity of the batteries installed in the housing assembly 200, ensuring that it can meet the needs of the electronic device 10. Furthermore, by installing the two batteries in the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, the weight of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 are more balanced, thereby improving the user experience of the electronic device 10.

[0096] As for other components such as the camera module, microphone, speaker, etc., they can be centrally arranged in the first shell 210 or the second shell 220, or some components can be arranged in the first shell 210 and some components can be arranged in the second shell 220.

[0097] Continuing with Figures 5 and 6 , due to the relative motion between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, a flexible circuit board 300 is typically provided that passes through the hinge mechanism 230 to connect the components within the first housing 210 with the components within the second housing 220. For example, one end of the flexible circuit board 300 is connected to the first circuit board 211 within the first housing 210, and the other end of the flexible circuit board 300 is connected to the second circuit board 221 within the second housing 220. All other components within the first housing 210 are electrically connected to the first circuit board 211, and all other components within the second housing 220 are electrically connected to the second circuit board 221, thereby achieving electrical connection between the components.

[0098] The flexible printed circuit (FPC) 300 is a highly reliable and flexible printed circuit board made from polyimide or polyester film. It boasts high wiring density, light weight, thinness, and excellent flexibility. It is suitable for passing through the hinge mechanism 230 to connect components within the first housing 210 and components within the second housing 220. The flexible circuit 300 that passes through the hinge mechanism 230 is referred to as a through-the-hinge FPC.

[0099] 6 , the hinge mechanism 230 may include a main shaft 231 and a connecting plate assembly 232. The main shaft 231 extends along the extending direction of the side edges of the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 on the opposite sides (the Y direction shown in FIG5 ), and the connecting plate assembly 232 is movably connected to both sides of the main shaft 231. The connecting plate assemblies 232 on both sides of the main shaft 231 are respectively connected to the first shell 210 and the second shell 220. For example, the connecting plate assemblies 232 on both sides of the main shaft 231 are respectively connected to the middle frame 201 of the first shell 210 and the middle frame 201 of the second shell 220. The connecting plate assemblies 232 on both sides of the main shaft 231 move relative to the main shaft 231, driving the first shell 210 and the second shell 220 to move relative to each other, thereby realizing the switching of the electronic device 10 between the unfolded state and the folded state.

[0100] The main shaft 231 serves as the main support structure of the hinge mechanism 230 and acts as the rotation axis of the first and second housings 210, 220. The first and second housings 210, 220 rotate relative to the main shaft 231. The first and second housings 210, 220 are connected to either side of the main shaft 231 via a connecting plate assembly 232. The movement of the connecting plate assembly 232 relative to the main shaft 231 enables the hinge mechanism to switch between the deployed and folded states, thereby driving the electronic device 10 to unfold and fold.

[0101] During the movement of the hinge mechanism 230, the main shaft 231 can be considered stationary, and the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 corresponding to the main shaft 231 can be fixedly connected to the main shaft 231. As the electronic device 10 switches between the unfolded and folded states, the flexible circuit board 300 moves with the movement of the electronic device 10, causing deformation of the flexible circuit board 300. For example, the flexible circuit board 300 switches between a bent state and an unfolded state.

[0102] During long-term use of the electronic device 10, the flexible printed circuit board 300 repeatedly contacts and rubs against one or more components of the hinge mechanism 230. To ensure the structural strength of the hinge mechanism 230, many components are made of metal. When the flexible printed circuit board 300 contacts and rubs against metal components, the surface of these components is relatively rough, and the long-term and repeated contact and friction between the flexible printed circuit board 300 and the components can easily cause the flexible printed circuit board 300 to be scratched and worn.

[0103] When the surface layer (e.g., polyimide layer) of the flexible circuit board 300 is worn away, the metal conductors (e.g., copper conductors) within the flexible circuit board 300 are exposed and come into contact with structural components, potentially causing a short circuit. Given that the flexible circuit board 300 needs to carry high currents (e.g., battery charging current), a short circuit in the flexible circuit board 300 could potentially burn out.

[0104] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the movement of an electronic device. Referring to Figure 7, the diagram illustrates the partial structure of the electronic device 10 at the location of the hinge mechanism 230, and illustrates the states of the electronic device 10 moving to different positions. Specifically, the electronic device 10 can gradually transition from a folded state to an unfolded state as indicated by the arrows in the diagram.

[0105] In FIG7 , the electronic device 10 is taken as an inward-folding electronic device as an example, and specifically the electronic device 10 is taken as an example of a horizontally folding electronic device 10. The main shaft 231 of the hinge mechanism 230 may include a shaft cover 2311 and a support base 2312. The shaft cover 2311 is located on the side of the hinge mechanism 230 away from the folding screen 100a. For example, the shaft cover 2311 can be provided close to the back cover 202 of the shell assembly 200. The support base 2312 is provided on the side of the shaft cover 2311 close to the folding screen 100a. The support base 2312 can be bonded to the shaft cover 2311 or integrally formed on the shaft cover 2311 by an injection molding process. Alternatively, the support base 2312 can be locked to the shaft cover 2311 by fasteners such as screws and rivets.

[0106] Taking the connecting plate assembly 232 on one side of the main shaft 231 as an example, the connecting plate assembly 232 may include at least one connecting plate 2321, which is movably connected to the main shaft 231. The connecting plate 2321 may, for example, be movably connected to the support base 2312. Exemplarily, the connecting plate assembly 232 includes one connecting plate 2321, and both ends of the connecting plate 2321 in the length direction (the Y direction in FIG. 5 ) may extend to both ends of the length direction of the main shaft 231. Alternatively, the connecting plate assembly 232 may include multiple connecting plates 2321, and the multiple connecting plates 2321 may be spaced apart along the length direction of the main shaft 231.

[0107] When the electronic device 10 is in the unfolded state, the housing assembly 200 can be shielded outside the shaft cover 2311. For example, the back cover 202 of the first housing 210 and the back cover 202 of the second housing 220 are respectively shielded on both sides of the shaft cover 2311. When the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 move relative to each other until they are stacked. The housing assembly 200 is located on the side of the shaft cover 2311. The side surface of the shaft cover 2311 facing away from the folding screen 100a is exposed outside the housing assembly 200, forming part of the appearance of the electronic device 10. For this purpose, the shaft cover 2311 is usually made of metal material, or in other words, the shaft cover 2311 is a metal part, so that the shaft cover 2311 maintains the same texture and color as the housing assembly 200, and ensures that the main shaft 231 has sufficient structural strength to ensure that the stability and reliability requirements of the electronic device 10 are met.

[0108] When the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an inward-folding electronic device, it can be positioned between the shaft cover 2311 and the support base 2312. In other words, the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 that passes through the main shaft 231 is located between the shaft cover 2311 and the support base 2312. For example, the flexible circuit board 300 is clamped between the shaft cover 2311 and the support base 2312, and the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 that passes through the main shaft 231 can also be secured by adhesive or magnetic attraction.

[0109] Continuing with FIG7 , since the flexible circuit board 300 is fixed between the shaft cover 2311 and the support base 2312, the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 between the shaft cover 2311 and the support base 2312 does not deform during the transition between the unfolded and folded states of the electronic device 10. This is primarily due to the repeated contact and separation of the flexible circuit board 300 with the ends of the shaft cover 2311 in the width direction. Therefore, FIG8 illustrates a situation where the flexible circuit board 300 short-circuits and burns out at the hinge mechanism 230. Because the metal shaft cover 2311 has a relatively rough surface and often has sharp edges and machining burrs on its edges, the repeated contact and friction between the flexible circuit board 300 and the ends of the shaft cover 2311 over a long period of time can easily cause the surface layer of the flexible circuit board 300 at the contact point a (where it contacts the ends of the shaft cover 2311), exposing the metal conductors within the flexible circuit board 300. Consequently, the flexible printed circuit board 300 is short-circuited with the metal shaft cover 2311 at that position and burns out (indicated by a dotted circle in the figure).

[0110] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of another electronic device. Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electronic device in Figure 9 along line BB. Referring to Figures 9 and 10 , the electronic device 10 is an inward-folding electronic device, specifically a vertically folding electronic device 10. The electronic device 10 is rotated vertically in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 9 to unfold or fold the electronic device 10.

[0111] 9 or 10 , unlike the horizontally foldable electronic device 10 , in the vertically foldable electronic device 10 , the first housing 210 , the hinge mechanism 230 and the second housing 220 are sequentially arranged along the Y direction shown in FIG. 9 .

[0112] Similar to the horizontally foldable electronic device 10, in the vertically foldable electronic device 10, circuit boards may be provided in both the first shell 210 and the second shell 220. The circuit board provided in the first shell 210 may include a first circuit board 211, which is, for example, the most important circuit board in the electronic device 10. The circuit board provided in the second shell 220 may include a second circuit board 221, and devices that cannot be integrated into the first circuit board 211 may be integrated into the second circuit board 221. Batteries may also be provided in both the first shell 210 and the second shell 220, for example, a first battery 212 is provided in the first shell 210, and a second battery 222 is provided in the second shell 220. As for other components such as camera modules, microphones, and speakers, they may be centrally provided in the first shell 210 or the second shell 220, or some components may be provided in the first shell 210 and some components may be provided in the second shell 220.

[0113] The flexible circuit board 300 passes through the hinge mechanism 230 to connect the components within the first housing 210 and the components within the second housing 220. For example, one end of the flexible circuit board 300 is connected to the first circuit board 211 within the first housing 210, and the other end of the flexible circuit board 300 is connected to the second circuit board 221 within the second housing 220. This will not be further described here.

[0114] As shown in FIG10 , the hinge mechanism 230 may include a main shaft 231 and a connecting plate assembly 232. The main shaft 231 extends along the extending direction of the side edges of the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 facing each other (the X direction shown in FIG9 ), and the connecting plate assembly 232 is movably connected to both sides of the main shaft 231. The connecting plate assemblies 232 on both sides of the main shaft 231 are respectively connected to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220. For example, the connecting plate assemblies 232 on both sides of the main shaft 231 are respectively connected to the middle frame 201 of the first housing 210 and the middle frame 201 of the second housing 220. In addition, the main shaft 231 of the hinge mechanism 230 may include a shaft cover 2311 and a support seat 2312. The connecting plate assembly 232 may include at least one connecting plate 2321 arranged along the extending direction of the main shaft 231. The flexible circuit board 300 may be arranged between the shaft cover 2311 and the support seat 2312. No further details are given here.

[0115] Compared to horizontally foldable electronic devices 10, vertically foldable electronic devices 10 have lower thickness requirements; they only need to have a suitable thickness when unfolded. Therefore, the thickness of the first and second housings 210, 220 can be relatively large, and the thickness of the hinge mechanism 230 can also be relatively large. Specifically, the main shaft 231 of the hinge mechanism 230 can be relatively thick. For example, the main shaft 231 can be designed as a hollow structure similar to an inverted bowl.

[0116] Similar to the horizontally foldable electronic device 10, in the vertically foldable electronic device 10, the flexible circuit board 300 is subject to repeated contact and friction with the ends of the shaft cover 2311 over a long period of time, which can easily cause the surface of the flexible circuit board 300 at the contact point a (where it contacts the ends of the shaft cover 2311) to wear out, exposing the metal wires within the flexible circuit board 300. This can cause the flexible circuit board 300 to short-circuit with the metal shaft cover 2311 at this point, causing it to burn out.

[0117] Figure 11 is a partial structural diagram of the third electronic device in an unfolded state. Figure 12 is a partial structural diagram of the electronic device in Figure 11 in a folded state. Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the partial structure of the electronic device 10 at the location of the hinge mechanism 230 is shown, and the electronic device 10 shown in the figure is an outward-folding electronic device.

[0118] As shown in Figure 11 or Figure 12, when the electronic device 10 is an outward-folding electronic device, the main shaft 231 of the hinge mechanism 230 may include a substrate 2313, which is located on the side of the hinge mechanism 230 facing the folding screen 100a. For example, the main shaft 231 can rely on the substrate 2313 to support the bendable portion of the folding screen 100a. As shown in Figure 11, the main shaft 231 may also include a cover plate 2314, which may be located on the side of the main shaft 231 facing away from the folding screen 100a. The cover plate 2314 may serve as an appearance component of the hinge mechanism 230. When the electronic device 10 is in the unfolded state, the cover plate 2314 is exposed to the outside and constitutes part of the appearance surface of the electronic device 10. The connecting plate assembly 232 of the hinge mechanism 230 can be connected to the middle part of the thickness direction of the main shaft 231 (Z direction shown in Figure 4). For example, the connecting plate assembly 232 is connected between the substrate 2313 and the cover plate 2314.

[0119] To this end, the base plate 2313 of the main shaft 231 can be made of metal, or in other words, the base plate 2313 is a metal component. This ensures that the base plate 2313 has sufficient structural strength, ensuring that the base plate 2313 stably supports the bendable portion of the foldable screen 100a, and meeting the stability and reliability requirements of the electronic device 10. The cover plate 2314 of the main shaft 231 can also be made of metal, or in other words, the cover plate 2314 is a metal component, so that the cover plate 2314 maintains the same texture and color as the housing assembly 200, and ensures that the cover plate 2314 has sufficient structural strength.

[0120] Continuing with FIG11 or FIG12 , for an outward-folding electronic device, when the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the bendable portion of the foldable screen 100a is disposed outside the hinge mechanism 230. The bendable portion of the foldable screen 100a has a larger bending radius, and thus, a larger width (the dimension in the X direction shown in FIG4 ) of the bendable portion. Accordingly, the width (the dimension in the X direction shown in FIG4 ) of the hinge mechanism 230 supporting the bendable portion is typically also larger, and the hinge mechanism 230 typically requires more room for deformation in its width direction to accommodate the bending requirements of the bendable portion and ensure that the hinge mechanism 230 stably supports the bendable portion.

[0121] In this regard, in an outward-folding electronic device, the connecting plate assembly 232 of the hinge mechanism 230 may include an inner connecting plate 2322 and an outer connecting plate 2323, which are sequentially connected to the sides of the main shaft 231. In other words, the inner connecting plate 2322 is located between the main shaft 231 and the outer connecting plate 2323. Both the inner connecting plate 2322 and the outer connecting plate 2323 can move relative to the main shaft 231, and the outer connecting plate 2323 can move relative to the inner connecting plate 2322 to enable the hinge mechanism 230 to switch between the unfolded state and the folded state. The hinge mechanism 230 can be connected to the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 respectively via the outer connecting plates 2323 on both sides. For example, the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 are respectively mechanically connected to the outer connecting plates 2323 on the corresponding sides via screws, rivets, or other fasteners, so that the outer connecting plates 2323 on both sides drive the first housing 210 and the second housing 220 to move relative to each other.

[0122] By providing an inner connecting plate 2322 and an outer connecting plate 2323 to jointly support the bendable portion of the folding screen 100a, on the one hand, the inner connecting plate 2322 and the outer connecting plate 2323 occupy a larger plane space, which can increase the size of the hinge mechanism 230 in its width direction. The connecting plate assembly 232 can support the bendable portion stably, ensuring the flatness of the bendable portion in the flattened state, so that the bendable portion can smoothly transition to the bent state. On the other hand, when the hinge mechanism 230 switches between the unfolded state and the folded state, the inner connecting plate 2322 and the outer connecting plate 2323 sequentially and continuously change their postures, making the posture of the connecting plate assembly 232 more flexible and meeting the requirements of a large bending radius of the bendable portion. In particular, in the folded state, the bendable portion can be supported stably, improving the smoothness of the bendable portion in the bent state.

[0123] For an outward-folding electronic device, the hinge mechanism 230 may further include a decorative panel 233, which is also movably connected to both sides of the main shaft 231 in the width direction. In addition, the decorative panel 233 may be connected to the side of the main shaft 231 facing away from the folding screen 100a. For example, the decorative panel 233 is connected to both sides of the cover 2314. The decorative panel 233 may be movably connected only to the main shaft 231. For example, the decorative panel 233 is connected to the cover 2314 via a hinge or a hinge to avoid obstructing the movement of the housing assembly 200 driven by the hinge mechanism 230. The decorative panel 233 mainly serves to cover the internal structure of the hinge mechanism 230 and to block the gap between the main shaft 231 and the housing assembly 200, so as to enhance the appearance of the electronic device 10.

[0124] For example, to enhance the structural strength of the hinge mechanism 230 and ensure the reliability of the movement of the hinge mechanism 230, both the inner connecting plate 2322 and the outer connecting plate 2323 can be made of metal. In other words, both the inner connecting plate 2322 and the outer connecting plate 2323 are metal plates. Similarly, the decorative plate 233 can also be made of metal. In other words, the decorative plate 233 is a metal plate.

[0125] As shown in Figures 11 and 12 , when the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an externally foldable electronic device, the flexible circuit board 300 can be disposed between the substrate 2313 and the cover 2314, and the flexible circuit board 300 is typically fixedly connected to the substrate 2313. For example, the flexible circuit board 300 is clamped between the substrate 2313 and the cover 2314, and the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 that passes through the main shaft 231 can also be fixed by bonding or magnetic attraction.

[0126] Because the flexible circuit board 300 is fixed to the main shaft 231, the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 between the base and the cover 2314 does not deform during the transition of the electronic device 10 between the unfolded and folded states. This is primarily due to the repeated contact and separation between the flexible circuit board 300 and the connecting plate assembly 232. As the flexible circuit board 300 deforms, the portions located on either side of the main shaft 231 continuously bend and unfold. Consequently, the flexible circuit board 300 typically repeatedly contacts and separates from the inner connecting plate 2322. Furthermore, the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 between the inner connecting plate 2322 and the outer connecting plate 2323 also continuously bends and unfolds. Because this portion of the flexible circuit board 300 bends toward the decorative plate 233, the flexible circuit board 300 may also repeatedly contact and separate from the decorative plate 233.

[0127] For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the end of the inner connecting plate 2322 closest to the main shaft 231 is defined as the first end of the inner connecting plate 2322, and the end of the inner connecting plate 2322 further from the main shaft 231 is defined as the second end of the inner connecting plate 2322. Similarly, the end of the decorative plate 233 closest to the main shaft 231 is defined as the first end of the decorative plate 233, and the end of the decorative plate 233 further from the main shaft 231 is defined as the second end of the decorative plate 233. As shown in Figures 11 and 12 , during the transition of the electronic device 10 between the unfolded and folded states, the portion of the inner connecting plate 2322 that repeatedly contacts and separates from the flexible printed circuit board 300 is typically located away from the first end of the inner connecting plate 2322 and closer to the second end of the inner connecting plate 2322. Conversely, the portion of the decorative plate 233 that repeatedly contacts and separates from the flexible printed circuit board 300 is typically located closer to the first end of the decorative plate 233 and further from the second end of the decorative plate 233.

[0128] Similar to inward-folding electronic devices, in outward-folding electronic devices, repeated contact and friction between the flexible circuit board 300 and the inner connecting plate 2322 and the decorative plate 233 can easily cause the surface of the flexible circuit board 300 at the contact point a (where it contacts the inner connecting plate 2322 and the decorative plate 233) to wear away, exposing the metal conductors within the flexible circuit board 300. If the inner connecting plate 2322 and the decorative plate 233 are metal plates, this can cause the flexible circuit board 300 to short-circuit with the inner connecting plate 2322 and the decorative plate 233 at the contact point a, causing it to burn out.

[0129] To prevent wear and tear on the flexible circuit board 300, some related art solutions employ Mylar film applied to the surface of the flexible circuit board 300 where it contacts structural components, thereby improving the wear resistance of the flexible circuit board 300 in this area. However, this solution can cause the flexible circuit board 300 to become locally thicker, resulting in reduced bending performance and reliability. Furthermore, the mechanical properties, such as the tensile modulus, of the applied Mylar film differ significantly from those of the flexible circuit board 300, which is equipped with metal conductors. This leads to a mismatch in deformation during bending, shortening the bending life of the flexible circuit board 300. Especially as foldable electronic devices 10 become increasingly thinner and lighter, the bending space and bending angle of the flexible circuit board 300 in the positive electrode are very small, making thickening the flexible circuit board 300 inadequate for meeting bending life requirements.

[0130] Other solutions involve attaching Mylar film to the surface of the structural component in contact with the flexible circuit board 300 to achieve lubrication, wear protection, and insulation, thereby protecting the flexible circuit board 300. However, this solution has many limitations. For example, attaching Mylar film to a curved surface can easily cause problems such as the Mylar film falling off and warping. The Mylar film cannot provide effective protection, and the flexible circuit board 300 may still be worn and short-circuited. In addition, taking an inward-folding electronic device as an example, the edge of the shaft cover 2311 is the exterior surface (the user contact point), and Mylar film cannot be attached to this area, resulting in limited protective effect of the Mylar film. In addition, there are usually fitting tolerances when actually attaching Mylar film, which cannot effectively protect the transition surface of the shaft cover 2311, and the problem of the flexible circuit board 300 being worn and short-circuited still exists.

[0131] In light of this, this embodiment improves the hinge mechanism 230 of the electronic device 10 by providing a support member in at least one of the main shaft 231 and the connecting plate assembly 232. The support member is used to support the corresponding portion of the flexible circuit board 300. In other words, when the electronic device 10 switches between the unfolded and folded states, the flexible circuit board 300 repeatedly contacts and separates from the support member. The support member has a contact portion with the flexible circuit board 300, causing the flexible circuit board 300 to deform at this contact portion. The support member is configured to include a support body and a protective portion. The support body is the main support structure of the support member. The protective portion is provided on the side of the support body facing the flexible circuit board 300, covering at least the contact portion of the support member. The protective portion also has an insulating, wear-resistant surface on the side facing the flexible circuit board 300. This allows the flexible circuit board 300 to contact the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion, which has a low coefficient of friction and prevents wear on the surface of the flexible circuit board 300. Furthermore, the insulating wear-resistant surface of the protective portion has a good insulating effect, which can prevent the flexible circuit board 300 from short-circuiting, thereby improving the reliability of the flexible circuit board 300 and extending the service life of the electronic device 10 .

[0132] The following is a detailed description of the hinge mechanism 230 of the electronic device 10 provided in this embodiment.

[0133] Figure 13 is a partial structural diagram of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state. Figure 14 is a partial structural diagram of the electronic device in Figure 13 in a folded state.

[0134] 13 and 14 , the partial structure of the electronic device 10 of this embodiment is shown at the location of the hinge mechanism 230. FIG13 shows the hinge mechanism 230 of the electronic device 10 in an unfolded state, while FIG14 shows the hinge mechanism 230 of the electronic device 10 in a folded state.

[0135] In this embodiment, the hinge mechanism 230 includes a support member 234. In other words, the hinge mechanism 230 is provided with a support member 234. The support member 234 is used to support the corresponding portion of the flexible circuit board 300. In other words, the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 corresponding to the support member 234 can be supported on the support member 234. When the electronic device 10 switches between the unfolded state and the folded state, the flexible circuit board 300 moves and deforms accordingly, and a local area of ​​the flexible circuit board 300 repeatedly contacts the support member 234. In other words, the flexible circuit board 300 repeatedly switches between contacting and separating from the support member 234.

[0136] For ease of explanation, this embodiment defines contact portion b of support member 234 as the portion of support member 234 that repeatedly contacts flexible circuit board 300. During extended use of electronic device 10, flexible circuit board 300 repeatedly contacts and rubs against contact portion b of support member 234. When flexible circuit board 300 contacts contact portion b of support member 234, this portion exerts pressure on the flexible circuit board 300, typically causing deformation of the flexible circuit board 300. In other words, contact portion b of support member 234 serves to absorb deformation of the flexible circuit board 300.

[0137] The contact state between the other parts of the support member 234 and the flexible circuit board 300 may also vary depending on the type of electronic device 10 (whether the electronic device 10 is an inward-folding device or an outward-folding device) and the location of the support member 234 (whether the support member 234 is located on the main shaft 231 or the connecting plate assembly 232). For example, when the electronic device 10 is an inward-folding device and the support member 234 is the shaft cover 2311 of the main shaft 231, the other parts of the support member 234 may be in constant contact with the flexible circuit board 300. When the electronic device 10 is an outward-folding device and the support member 234 is the inner connecting plate 2322 of the connecting plate assembly 232, the other parts of the support member 234 may not be in constant contact with the flexible circuit board 300. When the electronic device 10 is an outward-folding device and the support member 234 is the base plate 2313 of the main shaft 231, the other parts of the support member 234 may be in constant contact with the flexible circuit board 300.

[0138] Due to repeated contact and friction between the flexible circuit board 300 and the contact portion b of the support member 234, the flexible circuit board 300 may also deform at the contact portion b of the support member 234. To prevent the flexible circuit board 300 from being abraded by the contact portion b of the support member 234 and to prevent a short circuit between the flexible circuit board 300 and the support member 234, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, in this embodiment, the support member 234 may include a support body 2341 and a protective portion 2342. The protective portion 2342 is connected to the side of the support body 2341 facing the flexible circuit board 300 and covers at least the contact portion b of the support member 234. The surface of the protective portion 2342 facing the flexible circuit board 300 is an insulating and wear-resistant surface.

[0139] In the support member 234, the support body 2341 can be a metal member to ensure the overall structural strength of the support member 234, thereby ensuring the structural strength and movement stability of the hinge mechanism 230, and thus ensuring the reliability and service life of the electronic device 10. A protective portion 2342 is provided on the side of the support body 2341 facing the flexible circuit board 300, with the protective portion 2342 covering at least the contact portion b of the support member 234. The side of the protective portion 2342 facing the flexible circuit board 300 is provided as an insulating and wear-resistant surface, so that the flexible circuit board 300 contacts the insulating and wear-resistant surface of the protective portion 2342. For example, the protective portion 2342 can be connected to the support body 2341 by welding, bonding, or the like, or can be fastened to the support body 2341 using fasteners such as screws or rivets.

[0140] With this arrangement, the flexible circuit board 300 contacts only the protective portion 2342, and the flexible circuit board 300 contacts only the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion 2342. The insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion 2342 has a low coefficient of friction and excellent wear resistance, preventing the surface of the flexible circuit board 300 from abrasion. This protects the integrity of the flexible circuit board 300 during long-term use of the electronic device 10, improving its reliability and extending its service life. This, in turn, enhances the reliability and service life of the electronic device 10.

[0141] Furthermore, the insulating, wear-resistant surface of the protective portion 2342 provides excellent insulation and high insulation performance, ensuring insulated contact between the support member 234 and the flexible circuit board 300. During long-term use of the electronic device 10, even if the surface of the flexible circuit board 300 becomes worn, exposing the internal wiring of the flexible circuit board 300, this prevents a short circuit between the flexible circuit board 300 and the protective portion 2342, thus preventing the flexible circuit board 300 from shorting. This reduces the risk of the flexible circuit board 300 burning out, improves its reliability, and extends its service life. This, in turn, improves the reliability and service life of the electronic device 10.

[0142] As shown in Figures 13 or 14 , when the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an inward-folding electronic device, the support member 234 in the hinge mechanism 230 can be a shaft cover 2311 for the main shaft 231. In other words, the shaft cover 2311 can include a support body 2341 and a protective portion 2342. The support body 2341 is the main support structure of the shaft cover 2311, and the protective portion 2342 is located on the side of the support body 2341 facing the flexible circuit board 300. As previously mentioned, the portions of the shaft cover 2311 that repeatedly contact the flexible circuit board 300 are the two ends of the shaft cover 2311 in the width direction. In other words, the contact area b of the support member 234 is the two ends of the support member 234 in the width direction. In this case, the protective portion 2342 can cover at least the two ends of the support member 234 in the width direction.

[0143] By using the support member 234 as the shaft cover 2311, the flexible circuit board 300 is protected from wear and tear during repeated contact and friction with the contact portion b of the shaft cover 2311, thereby preventing a short circuit between the flexible circuit board 300 and the shaft cover 2311. This improves the reliability of the flexible circuit board 300 and extends its service life. The details will not be elaborated here.

[0144] When the support member 234 serves as the shaft cover 2311 of the main shaft 231, the support body 2341 can be located on the side of the support member 234 close to the shell assembly 200 (the back cover 202), and the protective portion 2342 is connected to the side of the support body 2341 facing the folding screen 100a. Exemplarily, for example, the support body 2341 can be a thin plate-like structure, and there can be a gap between the protective portion 2342 and the support body 2341. In this way, the weight of the shaft cover 2311 is relatively small, which can reduce the weight of the hinge structure, help reduce the overall weight of the electronic device 10, and achieve a thin and light electronic device 10.

[0145] When the electronic device 10 is in the folded state, the side surface of the support body 2341 facing away from the protective portion 2342 is exposed, and this side surface of the support body 2341 constitutes part of the exterior appearance of the electronic device 10. Therefore, the support body 2341 is usually made of metal to meet the structural strength and reliability requirements of the main shaft 231 and to ensure that the support body 2341 maintains a consistent appearance and texture with the first shell 210 and the second shell 220. In this case, it is usually necessary to surface treat this side surface of the support body 2341 to meet the appearance requirements of the electronic device 10. Since the support body 2341 serves as part of the shaft cover 2311, the size of the support body 2341 is usually small. When surface treating the support body 2341, the entire outer surface of the support body 2341 can be surface treated. For example, the surface-treated support body 2341 has a smooth and refined surface, and the surface color can be consistent with the first shell 210 and the second shell 220.

[0146] When the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an outward-folding electronic device, the support member 234 in the hinge mechanism 230 may include a first support member, which may be located in the connecting plate assembly 232. As previously mentioned, the inner connecting plate 2322 in the connecting plate assembly 232 is the portion that repeatedly contacts the flexible circuit board 300. In other words, the first support member may be the inner connecting plate 2322, which may include a supporting body 2341 and a protective portion 2342. For example, the portion of the inner connecting plate 2322 that repeatedly contacts the flexible circuit board 300 is located away from the first end and closer to the second end. For example, contact portion b of the inner connecting plate 2322 is located away from the first end and closer to the second end. In other words, contact portion b of the first support member is located away from the first end and closer to the second end of the first support member, and the protective portion 2342 covers at least contact portion b of the first support member.

[0147] By using the first support member as the inner connecting plate 2322, the flexible circuit board 300 can be protected from wear and tear during repeated contact and friction with the contact portion b of the inner connecting plate 2322, thereby preventing a short circuit between the flexible circuit board 300 and the inner connecting plate 2322. This improves the reliability of the flexible circuit board 300 and extends its service life. This will not be further elaborated here.

[0148] Furthermore, the support member 234 in the hinge mechanism 230 may also include a second support member, which may be the aforementioned decorative plate 233. That is, the decorative plate 233 may also include a support body 2341 and a protective portion 2342. For example, the portion of the decorative plate 233 that repeatedly contacts the flexible circuit board 300, close to its first end and away from its second end, is considered the contact portion b of the decorative plate 233. In other words, the contact portion b of the second support member is the portion of the second support member close to its first end and away from its second end, and the protective portion 2342 covers at least the contact portion b of the second support member.

[0149] By using the second support member as the decorative plate 233, the flexible circuit board 300 can be protected from wear and tear during repeated contact and friction with the contact portion b of the decorative plate 233, thereby preventing a short circuit between the flexible circuit board 300 and the decorative plate 233. This improves the reliability of the flexible circuit board 300 and extends its service life. The details will not be elaborated here.

[0150] When designing the support member 234, the protective portion 2342 can be designed to completely cover the side surface of the support body 2341 facing the flexible printed circuit board 300. In other words, the protective portion 2342 can be designed based on the shape and size of this side surface of the support body 2341, completely covering this side surface of the support body 2341. This provides a large coverage area for the protective portion 2342, minimizing the impact of installation tolerances on the surface of the support body 2341 on the positioning accuracy of the protective portion 2342. This ensures that the protective portion 2342 effectively covers the contact area b of the support member 2344, ensuring contact between the flexible printed circuit board 300 and the protective portion 2342, and ensuring that the protective portion 2342 can function effectively. In addition, the contact area between the protective part 2342 and the supporting body 2341 is large, especially when the protective part 2342 is connected by welding or bonding, the connection area between the protective part 2342 and the supporting body 2341 can be increased, the connection strength between the protective part 2342 and the supporting body 2341 can be enhanced, and the integrity and reliability of the support member 234 can be improved.

[0151] It should be noted that the phrase "the guard portion 2342 completely covers the side surface of the support body 2341 facing the flexible printed circuit board 300" does not mean that the widthwise edges of the guard portion 2342 must extend beyond the widthwise edges of the support body 2341, or that the widthwise edges of the guard portion 2342 must be flush with the widthwise edges of the support body 2341. Rather, it means that the guard portion 2342 substantially covers that side surface of the support body 2341, and a slight gap may exist between the widthwise edges of the guard portion 2342 and the widthwise edges of the support body 2341. As long as the guard portion 2342 completely covers the contact portion b of the support member 234, the flexible printed circuit board 300 can be in contact with the guard portion 2342 without contacting the support body 2341.

[0152] Furthermore, when designing the dimensional relationship between the guard portion 2342 and the support body 2341, while ensuring that the flexible circuit board 300 does not contact the support body 2341, it is also important to ensure that the flexible circuit board 300 smoothly transitions when contacting the contact portion b of the support member 234. In other words, when the flexible circuit board 300 contacts the guard portion 2342, the contact portion a of the flexible circuit board 300 (where it contacts the contact portion b of the guard portion 2342) should smoothly transition, without excessive bending (or hard bending). This prevents the flexible circuit board 300 from being excessively squeezed by the hinge mechanism 230, which could lead to cracking or breaking of the flexible circuit board 300, thereby ensuring the reliability and service life of the flexible circuit board 300.

[0153] Especially when the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an inward-folding electronic device, the flexible circuit board 300 contacts both ends of the shaft cover 2311 in the width direction, which can easily cause the flexible circuit board 300 to bend excessively. In this case, using the support member 234 as the shaft cover 2311, the dimensional relationship between the protective portion 2342 and the support body 2341 should be reasonably designed to prevent excessive bending of the flexible circuit board 300 when it contacts the contact area b at both ends of the shaft cover 2311 in the width direction, ensuring a smooth transition of the flexible circuit board 300 at this location.

[0154] It should be noted that the connecting plate assembly 232 (e.g., the inner connecting plate 2322 and the outer connecting plate 2323) and the decorative plate 233 in the hinge mechanism 230 are typically thinner, and are more flat than the main shaft 231. Therefore, when the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an externally folding electronic device, a Mylar film can be applied to the side of the inner connecting plate 2322 facing the flexible circuit board 300. The Mylar film covers at least the contact portion b of the inner connecting plate 2322. This prevents the flexible circuit board 300 from being abraded by the inner connecting plate 2322 and prevents short circuits between the flexible circuit board 300 and the inner connecting plate 2322. Similarly, a Mylar film can be attached to the surface of the decorative plate 233 facing the flexible circuit board 300, and the Mylar film at least covers the contact part b of the decorative plate 233 to prevent the flexible circuit board 300 from being worn by the decorative plate 233 and to avoid short circuit between the flexible circuit board 300 and the decorative plate 233.

[0155] The following describes the structure of the support member 234 in detail by taking the flexible circuit board 300 applied to an inward-folding electronic device as an example.

[0156] In one embodiment, the protective portion 2342 can be constructed of a metal material. In this case, the protective portion 2342 can include a metal substrate and an insulating lubricating coating. The insulating lubricating coating can cover at least the side of the metal substrate facing the flexible printed circuit board 300. The flexible printed circuit board 300 contacts the insulating lubricating coating on the surface of the protective portion 2342.

[0157] By using a metal substrate as the main structure of the guard portion 2342, the metal substrate has a high structural strength. While ensuring that the guard portion 2342 meets the structural strength requirements, it is also helpful to reduce the thickness of the guard portion 2342. Furthermore, the overall thickness of the support member 234 can be reduced, which helps reduce the overall thickness of the hinge mechanism 230, achieving a lighter and thinner electronic device 10.

[0158] By providing an insulating lubricating coating on the side of the metal substrate facing the flexible circuit board 300, the side of the protective portion 2342 facing the flexible circuit board 300 forms an insulating, wear-resistant surface. The insulating lubricating coating has a low coefficient of friction and excellent lubrication and wear resistance, preventing wear on the surface of the flexible circuit board 300 and protecting the integrity of the flexible circuit board 300. Furthermore, the insulating lubricating coating's excellent insulation properties ensure insulated contact between the flexible circuit board 300 and the protective portion 2342. During long-term use of the flexible circuit board 300, short circuits between the flexible circuit board 300 and the protective portion 2342 can be prevented, preventing short circuits within the flexible circuit board 300 and reducing the risk of burnout. This improves the reliability of the flexible circuit board 300 and extends its service life.

[0159] It is understandable that when the main structure of the protective part 2342 is made of metal material, by setting up the protective part 2342 separately, it is possible to avoid the protective part 2342 affecting the appearance quality of the support body 2341. In particular, when the support member 234 serves as the appearance member of the electronic device 10, the support body 2341 can be surface treated so that the texture and color of the outer surface of the support body 2341 meet the requirements of the whole machine. And an insulating lubricating coating is sprayed on the metal substrate separately to form the protective part 2342. Since the protective part 2342 is a separate component, the protective part 2342 can be processed and manufactured separately. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the spraying of the insulating lubricating coating affecting the appearance quality of the support body 2341, avoid problems such as color cast and spots on the surface of the support body 2341, and prevent the appearance of the whole machine from being affected.

[0160] In some examples, an insulating lubricating coating may be applied only to the surface of the metal substrate facing the flexible printed circuit board 300. In this case, the surface of the protective portion 2342 facing the support body 2341 is the surface of the metal substrate. This facilitates connection of the protective portion 2342 to the support body 2341 when the support body 2341 is made of metal. For example, the protective portion 2342 and the support body 2341 may be welded or adhesively connected, or the protective portion 2342 may be fastened to the support body 2341 using fasteners such as screws or rivets.

[0161] In other examples, both sides of the metal substrate can be covered with an insulating lubricating coating. In other words, the insulating lubricating coating covers the entire outer surface of the metal substrate. This facilitates spraying the insulating lubricating coating onto the outer surface of the metal substrate. Furthermore, when the metal substrate has a symmetrical structure, since both sides of the metal substrate are covered with the insulating lubricating coating, positioning the metal substrate is unnecessary, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of installing the protective portion 2342.

[0162] Referring to Figure 13, the figure takes the horizontally folded electronic device 10 as an example, and the thickness of the shaft cover 2311 of the electronic device 10 is usually small. At this time, with the support member 234 as the shaft cover 2311, when the protective part 2342 adopts a metal substrate as the main structure, the thickness of the smallest part of the metal substrate should meet the thickness △H1 greater than or equal to 0.2mm to meet the requirements of metal die-casting. If the thickness △H1 of the smallest part of the metal substrate is less than 0.2mm, the thickness of the smallest part of the metal substrate is too small and does not meet the requirements of metal die-casting, and the metal substrate may not be formed. Moreover, even if the metal substrate can be formed, the thickness of its smallest part is too small and may not meet the reliability requirements.

[0163] For example, the thickness ΔH1 of the minimum thickness portion of the metal substrate may be 0.22 mm, 0.24 mm, 0.26 mm, 0.28 mm, 0.30 mm, 0.32 mm, 0.34 mm, 0.36 mm, 0.38 mm, etc.

[0164] The insulating lubricating coating sprayed onto the surface of the metal substrate can be a polymer coating such as polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyphenylene sulfide, or polyetheretherketone. These polymer coatings have low friction damping, are easily plastically deformed, and conform to the surface of the metal substrate, increasing the contact area with the metal substrate and alleviating stress concentration. Furthermore, these polymer coatings have excellent corrosion resistance and shock absorption properties, preventing corrosive wear and impact wear. Furthermore, these polymer coatings have excellent thermal stability, chemical stability, dimensional stability, and other properties, resulting in good stability and high reliability.

[0165] Regarding the manufacturing process of the protective portion 2342, after providing a metal substrate, an insulating lubricating coating is sprayed onto the surface of the metal substrate. The metal substrate sprayed with the insulating lubricating coating is then preheated. For example, the metal substrate is placed in a tunnel furnace and baked at a relatively low temperature (e.g., in the range of 50°C-70°C) for a short time (e.g., 4-8 minutes). The metal substrate is then hung in an oven and baked at a relatively high temperature (e.g., 200°C-300°C) for a relatively long time (e.g., 50-80 minutes) to fully cure the insulating lubricating coating, thereby forming the protective portion 2342.

[0166] When only one side of the metal substrate is coated with an insulating lubricating coating, the side of the metal substrate that is not to be coated needs to be masked before spraying the insulating lubricating coating. The masking of the metal substrate is removed after the insulating lubricating coating on the metal substrate is completely cured.

[0167] As another embodiment, the protective portion 2342 can be constructed of a plastic material. In this case, the protective portion 2342 can include a plastic substrate, which can be manufactured through an injection molding process. The plastic substrate can be bonded to the support body 2341 or secured to the support body 2341 using fasteners such as screws or rivets.

[0168] By providing a plastic substrate as the main structure of the protective portion 2342, the injection-molded plastic substrate has a smooth surface, a low coefficient of friction, and excellent wear resistance. Furthermore, the plastic substrate is insulated, eliminating the need for surface spraying or other surface treatments, thereby reducing the production cost of the protective portion 2342. Furthermore, compared to a metal substrate, the plastic substrate is lighter, which can reduce the weight of the support member 234. This, in turn, reduces the weight of the hinge mechanism 230, thereby reducing the overall weight of the electronic device 10.

[0169] In some examples, the protective portion 2342 may comprise only a plastic substrate with a smooth, fully insulated outer surface, the entire outer surface of the plastic substrate acting as an insulating, wear-resistant surface. In this case, the flexible printed circuit board 300 directly contacts the surface of the plastic substrate. This reduces the production cost of the protective portion 2342.

[0170] In other examples, the surface of the plastic substrate may be coated with an insulating lubricating coating, with the protective portion 2342 being composed of the plastic substrate and the insulating lubricating coating. The insulating lubricating coating may cover only the side of the plastic substrate facing the flexible circuit board 300, or the insulating lubricating coating may cover the entire outer surface of the plastic substrate. The insulating lubricating coating forms an insulating, wear-resistant surface, which will not be described further here. This further reduces the coefficient of friction of the protective portion 2342, enhancing its lubrication and wear resistance, and preventing it from abrading the flexible circuit board 300.

[0171] As shown in Figure 13 , when protective portion 2342 utilizes a plastic substrate as its main structure, the minimum thickness of the plastic substrate must meet the requirement that its thickness ΔH1 be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm to meet the injection molding requirements of the plastic substrate. If the thickness ΔH1 of the minimum thickness of the plastic substrate is less than 0.3 mm, the minimum thickness of the plastic substrate is too small, failing to meet the injection molding requirements, and the plastic substrate may not be formed. Furthermore, even if the plastic substrate can be molded, the minimum thickness is too small, potentially failing to meet reliability requirements.

[0172] For example, the thickness ΔH1 at the minimum thickness of the plastic substrate can be greater than or equal to 0.4 mm, and ΔH1 can be less than or equal to 0.5 mm. This allows the plastic substrate to meet injection molding requirements, enabling injection molding of the plastic substrate and ensuring a good yield rate. Furthermore, excessive thickness of the plastic substrate is avoided, which prevents excessive thickness of the hinge mechanism 230, thereby meeting the thickness requirements of the entire electronic device 10. For example, the thickness ΔH1 at the minimum thickness of the plastic substrate can be 0.42 mm, 0.44 mm, 0.46 mm, 0.48 mm, etc.

[0173] Similar to the protective portion 2342 using a metal matrix as the main structure, when the surface of the plastic matrix is ​​covered with an insulating lubricating coating, the insulating lubricating coating sprayed on the surface of the plastic matrix can be a polymer coating such as a polyimide coating, a polytetrafluoroethylene coating, a polyphenylene sulfide coating, or a polyetheretherketone coating. These polymer coatings have low friction damping, are easy to plastically deform, have a large contact area with the plastic matrix, and can alleviate stress concentration. In addition, these polymer coatings have good corrosion resistance, thermal stability, chemical stability, dimensional stability, and other properties, and have good stability and high reliability. I will not go into details here.

[0174] Continuing with FIG. 13 , when the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an inward-folding electronic device, specifically a horizontally folding electronic device 10, to ensure sufficient movement of the flexible circuit board 300 and prevent the portion of the flexible circuit board 300 extending from the widthwise sides of the main shaft 231 from becoming stuck, sufficient spacing should be provided between the ends of the shaft cover 2311 in the widthwise direction and the connecting plate assembly 232 when the electronic device 10 is in the unfolded state. In this case, the support member 234, acting as the shaft cover 2311, should have sufficient spacing between the edge of the protective portion 2342 (located at the edge of the support body 2341) and the connecting plate assembly 232. In other words, sufficient spacing should be provided between the contact portion b of the support member 234 and the connecting plate assembly 232 to ensure smooth movement and deformation of the flexible circuit board 300 with the movement of the hinge mechanism 230, preventing the flexible circuit board 300 from becoming stuck and causing wear or breakage.

[0175] For ease of explanation, for a horizontally foldable electronic device 10, this embodiment defines the distance between the edge of the guard portion 2342 (the contact portion b of the support member 234) and the connecting plate assembly 232 as a predetermined distance ΔH2. To ensure the flexibility of the flexible circuit board 300, the gap between the flexible circuit board 300 and the connecting plate assembly 232 at the edge of the guard portion 2342 should be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm to prevent the flexible circuit board 300 from becoming stuck and causing wear or breakage. Accordingly, the difference between this predetermined distance ΔH2 and the thickness of the flexible circuit board 300 should be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.

[0176] For example, if the thickness of the flexible circuit board 300 is 0.2 mm, the preset spacing ΔH2 can be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. For example, the preset spacing ΔH2 can be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 1.0 mm. For example, the preset spacing ΔH2 is 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, etc.

[0177] Figure 15 is a partially enlarged structural diagram of point A in Figure 13 . Referring to Figure 15 , when the flexible circuit board 300 is used in an inward-folding electronic device, the support member 234 serves as the shaft cover 2311 of the main shaft 231. The orthographic projection of the protective portion 2342 on the support body 2341 can be located within the coverage area of ​​the support body 2341. For example, if the protective portion 2342 covers the side of the support body 2341 facing the flexible circuit board 300, the width L1 of the support body 2341 should be greater than or equal to the width L2 of the protective portion 2342. Furthermore, the protective portion 2342 should not extend beyond the support body 2341 in the width direction of the support member 234.

[0178] This arrangement prevents the protective portion 2342 from extending beyond the support body 2341 along the width of the shaft cover 2311. This prevents interference between the protective portion 2342 and the housing assembly 200 during movement of the electronic device 10, ensuring smooth movement of the electronic device 10. Furthermore, when the electronic device 10 is folded, only the metal support body 2341 is exposed within the shaft cover 2311, preventing the protective portion 2342 from being exposed outside the support body 2341 and thereby affecting the appearance of the shaft cover 2311.

[0179] The width L2 of the guard portion 2342 can be equal to the width L1 of the support body 2341. In this case, the width edges of the guard portion 2342 are flush with the width edges of the support body 2341. Alternatively, the width L2 of the guard portion 2342 can be smaller than the width L1 of the support body 2341. In this case, the width edges of the support body 2341 extend beyond the width edges of the guard portion 2342.

[0180] When the width L2 of the guard portion 2342 is smaller than the width L1 of the support body 2341, the spacing ΔL between the edge of the guard portion 2342 and the corresponding edge of the support body 2341 should be less than or equal to the extreme bending radius R of the flexible circuit board 300. Here, ΔL = (L1-L2) / 2, meaning (L1-L2) / 2 ≤ R. This ensures that even when the flexible circuit board 300 is subjected to extreme bending, it will not contact the support body 2341. Consequently, during normal bending, the flexible circuit board 300 is prevented from contacting the support body 2341, preventing wear and tear on the flexible circuit board 300 and preventing a short circuit between the flexible circuit board 300 and the support body 2341, thereby ensuring the reliability and service life of the flexible circuit board 300.

[0181] For example, if the maximum bending radius R of the flexible circuit board 300 is 0.5 mm, the distance ΔL between the edge of the guard portion 2342 and the corresponding edge of the support body 2341 should be less than or equal to 0.5 mm. For example, if the maximum bending radius R of the flexible circuit board 300 is 0.6 mm, the distance ΔL between the edge of the guard portion 2342 and the corresponding edge of the support body 2341 should be less than or equal to 0.6 mm. This embodiment does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0182] Figure 16 is a partial structural diagram of another electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state. Figure 17 is a partial structural diagram of the electronic device in Figure 16 in a folded state.

[0183] Referring to Figures 16 and 17, taking the vertically folded electronic device 10 as an example, the thickness of the main shaft 231 of the hinge mechanism 230 can be relatively large, and the thickness of the shaft cover 2311 can also be relatively large. In this case, with the support member 234 serving as the shaft cover 2311, the overall thickness of the support member 234 can be relatively large. Therefore, the thickness of the protective portion 2342 can be reasonably designed. Regardless of whether the protective portion 2342 uses a metal matrix as the main structure or a plastic matrix as the main structure, the protective portion 2342 can meet the molding requirements. In addition, the thickness of the protective portion 2342 can meet the reliability requirements.

[0184] 16 , similar to the aforementioned horizontally folding electronic device 10, in a vertically folding electronic device 10, when the protective portion 2342 uses a metal substrate as the main structure, the minimum thickness of the metal substrate should satisfy a thickness ΔH3 greater than or equal to 0.2 mm to meet the requirements of metal die-casting. When the protective portion 2342 uses a plastic substrate as the main structure, the minimum thickness of the plastic substrate should satisfy a thickness ΔH3 greater than or equal to 0.3 mm to meet the requirements of injection molding of the plastic substrate. This will not be further elaborated here.

[0185] Furthermore, when the electronic device 10 is in the unfolded state, sufficient space should exist between the widthwise ends of the shaft cover 2311 and the connecting plate assembly 232. In other words, sufficient space should exist between the contact portion b of the support member 234 and the connecting plate assembly 232 to allow the flexible printed circuit board 300 to move and deform smoothly with the movement of the hinge mechanism 230, preventing the flexible printed circuit board 300 from becoming stuck, causing wear, or breaking.

[0186] Referring to FIG. 16 , for ease of explanation, for a vertically foldable electronic device 10, this embodiment defines a predetermined spacing ΔH4 as the distance between the edge of the protective portion 2342 (the contact portion b of the support member 234) and the connecting plate assembly 232. Similar to the horizontally foldable electronic device 10 described above, the difference between the predetermined spacing ΔH4 and the thickness of the flexible circuit board 300 can be greater than or equal to 0.3 mm. For example, the predetermined spacing ΔH4 can be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 1.0 mm. This will not be further described here.

[0187] As shown in FIG17 , similar to the aforementioned horizontally foldable electronic device 10, in the vertically foldable electronic device 10, the width L3 of the support body 2341 should be greater than or equal to the width L4 of the protective portion 2342. Furthermore, the protective portion 2342 should not extend beyond the support body 2341 in the width direction of the support member 234. When the width L4 of the protective portion 2342 is less than the width L3 of the support body 2341, the spacing ΔL between the edge of the protective portion 2342 and the corresponding edge of the support body 2341 should be less than or equal to the maximum bending radius R of the flexible circuit board 300. In other words, (L3 - L4) / 2 ≤ R, which will not be further described here.

[0188] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to a fixed connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, internal communication between two components, or an interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on specific circumstances.

[0189] The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", etc. (if any) in the description and claims of the embodiments of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

Claims

1. A rotating shaft mechanism, characterized in that: include: spindle; a connecting plate assembly, movably connected to both sides of the main shaft in the width direction; At least one of the main shaft and the connecting plate assembly includes a support member configured to support a flexible circuit board; the support member has a contact portion, the contact portion being configured to receive a deformed portion of the flexible circuit board; The support member includes a support body and a protective part, the protective part is connected to the side surface of the support body facing the flexible circuit board, the protective part at least covers the contact part, and the side surface of the protective part facing the flexible circuit board is an insulating and wear-resistant surface.

2. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protection portion covers a surface of the support body facing the flexible circuit board.

3. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The protection portion includes a metal base and an insulating lubricating coating, wherein the insulating lubricating coating at least covers a surface of the metal base facing the flexible circuit board.

4. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The insulating lubricating coating covers the outer surface of the metal substrate.

5. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The insulating lubricating coating includes one of a polyimide coating, a polytetrafluoroethylene coating, a polyphenylene sulfide coating, and a polyetheretherketone coating.

6. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The thickness of the minimum thickness portion of the metal substrate is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm.

7. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The protective part includes a plastic base.

8. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The thickness of the smallest part of the plastic matrix is ​​greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.

9. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The protection portion further includes an insulating lubricating coating, and the insulating lubricating coating at least covers a surface of the plastic substrate facing the flexible circuit board.

10. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that: The insulating lubricating coating covers the outer surface of the plastic substrate.

11. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that: The insulating lubricating coating includes one of a polyimide coating, a polytetrafluoroethylene coating, a polyphenylene sulfide coating, and a polyetheretherketone coating.

12. An electronic device, characterized in that: The device comprises a first housing, a second housing, a folding screen, and the hinge mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first housing and the second housing are respectively connected to two sides of the hinge mechanism; The folding screen includes a first non-bending portion, a bendable portion and a second non-bending portion arranged in sequence. The first non-bending portion and the second non-bending portion are respectively attached to the first shell and the second shell, and the bendable portion is supported by the rotating shaft mechanism.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein: When the electronic device is in a folded state, the first housing and the second housing are stacked relative to each other, and the folding screen is located between the first housing and the second housing; The support member is a shaft cover of the main shaft, and the contact parts are the two ends of the support member in the width direction.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein: The orthographic projection of the protective portion on the supporting body is located within the coverage area of ​​the supporting body; Furthermore, a distance between an edge of the protection portion and a corresponding edge of the support body is less than or equal to a limit bending radius of the flexible circuit board.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein: When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the distance between the contact portion of the support member and the connecting plate assembly is a preset distance, and the difference between the preset distance and the thickness of the flexible circuit board is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.

16. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein: When the electronic device is in a folded state, the first shell and the second shell are stacked relative to each other, and the folding screen is arranged outside the first shell and the second shell; Wherein, the support member includes a first support member, and the first support member is located in the connecting plate assembly.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein: The connecting plate assembly includes an inner connecting plate and an outer connecting plate sequentially connected to the side of the main shaft, the first supporting member is the inner connecting plate, and the contact portion is away from the first end of the inner connecting plate and close to the second end of the inner connecting plate; The first end of the inner connecting plate is an end of the inner connecting plate close to the main shaft, and the second end of the inner connecting plate is an end of the inner connecting plate away from the main shaft.

18. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein: The rotating shaft mechanism also includes a decorative plate, which is movably connected to both sides of the main shaft in the width direction, and the decorative plate is located on the side of the main shaft away from the folding screen.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein: The support member further includes a second support member, the second support member is the decorative plate, and the contact portion is close to the first end of the decorative plate and away from the second end of the decorative plate; The first end of the decorative plate is an end of the decorative plate close to the main shaft, and the second end of the decorative plate is an end of the decorative plate away from the main shaft.

Images