Hinge assembly and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a hinge assembly and electronic equipment. The hinge assembly comprises a base, a first swing arm, a second swing arm, a connecting block and a damping mechanism. The first swing arm is located on the side of the base and rotationally connected with the base. The second swing arm and the first swing arm are arranged on the same side of the base, and the second swing arm is rotationally connected with the base. The connecting block is movably connected with the first swing arm and the second swing arm. The damping mechanism is arranged on the base and acts on the first swing arm or the second swing arm. The second swing arm is provided with a linkage structure, the first swing arm is provided with a driving block connected with the linkage structure in a sliding mode, and when the first swing arm or the second swing arm rotates relative to the base, the first swing arm and the second swing arm can be directly linked through the linkage structure and the driving block. According to the hinge assembly, the first swing arm and the second swing arm can be directly linked through the linkage structure and the driving block, so that the twisting force borne by the connecting block is reduced, the situation of twisting deformation of the connecting block is avoided, and the matching precision between parts is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of hinge assemblies, and more specifically, to a hinge assembly for foldable electronic devices. Background Technology

[0002] Foldable phones have a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly typically includes a main hinge arm, a secondary hinge arm, and a connecting block. The main hinge arm is rotatably connected to the base via a virtual pivot, while the secondary hinge arm is rotatably connected to the base via a real pivot. The phone housing is mounted on the connecting block, which supports the phone housing. The connecting block is also connected to both the main and secondary hinge arms, allowing it to rotate relative to the base via the main and secondary hinge arms. This, in turn, allows the phone housing to rotate relative to the base via the connecting block, enabling the folding and unfolding of the foldable phone.

[0003] To increase the damping feel of foldable phones when folded and to achieve a hovering effect after folding, the hinge assembly also needs to be equipped with a damping component, which is usually compressed by the secondary swing arm.

[0004] In related technologies, the torque transmitted from the main swing arm to the secondary swing arm is transmitted through a connecting block. When the distance between the main swing arm and the secondary swing arm is large, the connecting block is prone to twisting and deformation, which will affect the fitting accuracy between the parts on the hinge assembly, and thus affect the user's feel when using the foldable phone. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a hinge assembly and an electronic device. In the hinge assembly, the first swing arm and the second swing arm can be directly linked through a linkage structure and a drive block, thereby reducing the torsional force borne by the connecting block and avoiding the torsion and deformation of the connecting block, so as to ensure the fitting accuracy between the components on the hinge assembly.

[0006] In one aspect, this application provides a hinge assembly, including a base, a first swing arm, a second swing arm, a connecting block, and a damping mechanism.

[0007] The first swing arm is located on the side of the base and is rotatably connected to the base. The second swing arm is located on the same side of the base as the first swing arm and is rotatably connected to the base. Connecting blocks are movably connected to the first and second swing arms respectively. A damping mechanism is located on the base and acts on either the first or second swing arm.

[0008] The second swing arm is equipped with a linkage structure, and the first swing arm is equipped with a drive block that is slidably connected to the linkage structure. When the first swing arm or the second swing arm rotates relative to the base, the first swing arm and the second swing arm can be directly linked through the linkage structure and the drive block.

[0009] Depending on the object on which the damping mechanism acts, the torque transmission methods of the first and second swing arms differ. When the damping mechanism acts on the second swing arm, the rotation of the first swing arm drives the linkage structure, thus achieving direct linkage of the second swing arm. When the damping mechanism acts on the first swing arm, the rotation of the second swing arm, and the linkage structure drives the drive block, thus achieving direct linkage of the first swing arm. In either case, the presence of the linkage structure and the drive block adds a layer of direct linkage to the design, building upon the indirect linkage between the first and second swing arms via the connecting block.

[0010] In this application, the hinge assembly, in addition to the connecting block acting as an intermediate component to transmit the torque of the first and second swing arms, also transmits torque to the drive block of the first swing arm through the linkage structure of the second swing arm. This allows the first and second swing arms to be directly linked, thereby distributing some of the torsional force exerted on the connecting block by the first and second swing arms. This reduces the torsional force on the connecting block and prevents it from twisting or deforming, thus ensuring the fitting accuracy between the components of the hinge assembly, ensuring the smoothness of the hinge assembly when bending or unfolding, and ultimately ensuring the user's folding feel.

[0011] In one possible design, the base is provided with an arc-shaped groove, and the first swing arm is provided with an arc-shaped slider that is slidably connected to the arc-shaped groove; the first swing arm is rotatably connected to the connecting block by a pin; the base is provided with a connecting shaft, and the second swing arm is provided with a shaft hole that is rotatably connected to the connecting shaft; the second swing arm is slidably connected to the connecting block.

[0012] The specific rotational structure of the first and second swing arms relative to the base is defined.

[0013] In one possible design, the second swing arm is provided with a first support arm and a second support arm extending toward the direction of the first swing arm. The first support arm and the second support arm are spaced apart to form a linkage structure, and the drive block is plate-shaped and located between the first support arm and the second support arm.

[0014] The first and second support arms, spaced apart, form a linkage structure. Compared to a guide groove type linkage structure, it eliminates the need to increase the size and volume of the second swing arm to provide the slotted surface, thus ensuring a compact external structure for the second swing arm. Furthermore, the drive block is plate-shaped, ensuring sufficient contact between the drive block and the first and second support arms when the first and second swing arms rotate to any angle.

[0015] In one possible design, when the second swing arm rotates to the flattened state, the first support arm and the second support arm are staggered in the thickness direction of the hinge assembly, with the second support arm located at the bottom of the drive block and closer to the base than the first support arm.

[0016] It can avoid the drive block, so there is no need to modify the size of the drive block. This allows the drive block to always be in contact with the first and second support arms, so that the first and second swing arms can be directly linked throughout the folding or flattening process, without any blind spots in the linkage at a specific angle.

[0017] In one possible design, the drive block includes a first component and a second component that are integrally formed. The second component is bent away from the second support arm and has a thickness greater than that of the first component. When the second swing arm rotates to a flattened state, the first component contacts the first and second support arms. When the second swing arm rotates to a folded state, the second component contacts the first and second support arms.

[0018] The above design of the drive block ensures that the drive block can make full contact with the first and second support arms when the first and second swing arms are rotating, whether they are transitioning from a folded state to a flattened state or vice versa. This avoids the first and second swing arms from being unable to directly link together under a specific rotation direction or rotation angle.

[0019] In one possible design, the connecting block is provided with two strip grooves with opposite openings, the end of the second swing arm away from the base is U-shaped and provided with two opposing slide bars, the slide bars being slidably connected in the strip grooves; the first support arm and the second support arm are provided on the slide bars near the first swing arm.

[0020] The first and second support arms are set on the slide bar of the second swing arm. Since it is not necessary to go around the strip groove, the first and second support arms do not need to protrude too high, thus ensuring that the overall thickness of the second swing arm is small, which is conducive to the thinning of the hinge assembly.

[0021] In one possible design, on the side away from the second swing arm, the arc-shaped slider is provided with a first protrusion extending along a first direction, the first direction being the axial direction of the hinge assembly; the damping mechanism includes an elastic element and a cam support, the cam support being slidable relative to the base along the first direction, the cam support being provided with a first protrusion that engages with the first protrusion, and as the second swing arm rotates, the first protrusion drives the cam support to press against the elastic element through the first protrusion.

[0022] Since the first swing arm is rotatably connected to the base via a virtual pivot, there is no need for a connecting shaft. Therefore, the first protrusion does not need to avoid the connecting shaft, and the first protrusion on the cam bracket does not need to have a hole to avoid the connecting shaft. This ensures the integrity of the first protrusion and the first protrusion, each with a large base size. When the first protrusion and the first protrusion squeeze and rub against each other, the strength of the first protrusion and the first protrusion is reliable. In addition, since the first protrusion and the first protrusion have a large base size, the contact area between the first protrusion and the first protrusion is also relatively large. When the first protrusion and the first protrusion slide and rub against each other, the frictional resistance is also large, thereby improving the damping feel of the hinge assembly. Furthermore, the larger the contact area between the first protrusion and the first bulge, the better the relative sliding stability, which can prevent jamming and shaking, thus ensuring the user's folding feel; in addition, the elastic element is far away from the connecting shaft. When a cylindrical spring is used for the elastic element, the concentricity of the elastic element with the connecting shaft does not need to be considered, which makes the layout design of the elastic element more flexible and can reduce the difficulty of structural design.

[0023] In one possible design, there are two arc-shaped sliders, namely a first arc-shaped slider and a second arc-shaped slider disposed on both sides of the first swing arm; there are two arc-shaped grooves, namely a first arc-shaped groove for sliding connection of the first arc-shaped slider and a second arc-shaped groove for sliding connection of the second arc-shaped slider; the first arc-shaped slider is located on the side away from the second swing arm, and a first protrusion is disposed on the first arc-shaped slider.

[0024] Two curved sliders are used to make it easier for the first swing arm to maintain balance during rotation.

[0025] In one possible design, the second arc-shaped slider is provided with a second protrusion extending along the first direction, and the second arc-shaped groove is provided with a second protrusion that cooperates with the second protrusion; the first swing arm can slide relative to the base along the first direction, and as the first swing arm rotates, the second protrusion drives the first swing arm to move along the first direction through the second protrusion, thereby squeezing the elastic element through the cam support.

[0026] As the first swing arm rotates, in addition to driving the cam bracket to compress the elastic element through the first protrusion, the second protrusion also drives the first swing arm to shift along the first direction, further compressing the elastic element through the cam bracket. This increases the amount of compression deformation of the elastic element, correspondingly increasing the elastic restoring force fed back by the elastic element, thereby enhancing the damping effect of the hinge assembly. This allows the user to experience better damping feel, and the enhanced damping effect also makes the phone casing more stable when hovering, less prone to closing due to shaking.

[0027] In one possible design, the base is provided with a insertion hole that communicates with the first arc-shaped groove and is similar in shape to the first protrusion. The first protrusion extends into the insertion hole and abuts against the first protrusion in the first arc-shaped groove.

[0028] The base is provided with a insertion hole that is similar in shape to the first protrusion. The first protrusion extends into the insertion hole, thereby constraining the sliding direction of the first protrusion and guiding the sliding direction of the cam support, so that the cam support slides more stably along the first direction.

[0029] In one possible design, the first protrusion is in the shape of an arc-shaped plate.

[0030] The first protrusion, which is in the shape of an arc plate, can be similar in shape to the first protrusion on the first arc-shaped slider, thereby improving the stability of the sliding friction between the two.

[0031] In one possible design, the base is provided with a receiving groove, the elastic element and the cam support are placed in the receiving groove, and the cam support is also slidably connected to the receiving groove by a guide mechanism.

[0032] By further adding a guiding mechanism, the sliding stability of the cam support can be further improved, preventing it from deviating or getting stuck during sliding. At the same time, the guiding mechanism also constrains the cam support in the receiving groove, preventing the cam support from popping out of the receiving groove under the elastic force of the elastic element.

[0033] In one possible design, the guide mechanism includes a first groove with a T-shaped cross-section and a first slider with a similar shape to the first groove. One of the cam support and the groove wall of the receiving groove is provided with the first groove, and the other is provided with the first slider.

[0034] In one possible design, a first slide is provided on the cam support, a first slider is provided on the groove wall of the receiving groove, and the first slider has a clearance opening for installing the cam support.

[0035] In one possible design, the guide mechanism includes two sets of strip-shaped second slides and second sliders, with the two sets of second slides and second sliders located on both sides of the receiving groove, and one of the cam support and the base being provided with the second slide and the other with the second slider.

[0036] In one possible design, the guiding mechanism includes a guide shaft and a guide hole, with one of the cam support and the base having the guide shaft and the other having the guide hole.

[0037] In one possible design, the first arc-shaped groove and / or the second arc-shaped groove are integrally formed from the base.

[0038] Secondly, this application also provides an electronic device including the hinge assembly of any of the above.

[0039] The electronic device of this application includes the aforementioned hinge assembly. In addition to the connecting block acting as an intermediate component to transmit the torque of the first and second swing arms, the hinge assembly also transmits torque to the drive block of the first swing arm through the linkage structure of the second swing arm. This allows the first and second swing arms to be directly linked, thereby distributing some of the torsional force exerted on the connecting block by the first and second swing arms. This reduces the torsional force borne by the connecting block and prevents it from twisting or deforming. This ensures the fitting accuracy between the components of the hinge assembly, the smoothness of the hinge assembly when bending or unfolding, and ultimately the folding feel when using the foldable electronic device.

[0040] In one possible design, the system also includes a first housing, a second housing, and a screen, with a hinge assembly connecting the first housing and the second housing, and the screen stacked on one side of the first housing, the hinge assembly, and the second housing.

[0041] In one possible design, when the first and second swing arms are rotated to the folded state, the screen is located inside the first and second housings. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the screen and casing of the foldable phone provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the foldable phone provided in the embodiment of this application in its flattened state;

[0044] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the foldable phone in the folded state provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0045] Figure 4 This is a partial schematic diagram of a hinge assembly in related technologies;

[0046] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A partial schematic diagram of the hinge assembly after the door panel and pivot cover have been concealed.

[0048] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An exploded view of an example of a hinge assembly;

[0049] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly provided in the embodiment of this application in the flattened state;

[0050] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly provided in the embodiment of this application during the folding process;

[0051] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly provided in the embodiment of this application in the folded state;

[0052] Figure 11 yes Figure 8 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0053] Figure 12 yes Figure 9 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0054] Figure 13 yes Figure 10 Enlarged view of point C in the middle;

[0055] Figure 14 yes Figure 6 An exploded view of another example of a hinge assembly in the diagram;

[0056] Figure 15 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an example of a hinge assembly hidden behind a base;

[0057] Figure 16 yes Figure 7 A partial schematic diagram of the base;

[0058] Figure 17 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another example of a hinge assembly hidden behind a base;

[0059] Figure 18 yes Figure 6 Rear view of an example of a hinge component;

[0060] Figure 19 yes Figure 18 Exploded view of the elastic element and cam support in the middle;

[0061] Figure 20 yes Figure 6 A partial sectional view of an example of a hinge assembly in a device;

[0062] Figure 21 This is a cross-sectional view of an example of the guiding mechanism provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0063] Figure 22 yes Figure 6 Rear view of an example of a hinge component;

[0064] Figure 23 yes Figure 22 Exploded view of the elastic element and cam support in the middle;

[0065] Figure 24 This is a cross-sectional view of another example of the guiding mechanism provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0066] Figure 25 yes Figure 6 Rear view of an example of a hinge component;

[0067] Figure 26 yes Figure 25 Exploded view of the elastic element and cam support in the middle;

[0068] Figure 27 This is a cross-sectional view of another example of the guiding mechanism provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0069] Figure label:

[0070] 01. Main swing arm; 02. Secondary swing arm; 03. Connecting block; 04. Elastic element; 05. Cam support; 06. Slide groove; 07. Slider;

[0071] 10. Base; 111. First arc-shaped groove; 112. Second arc-shaped groove; 112a. Second protrusion; 112b. Base; 12. Connecting shaft; 13. Insertion hole; 14. Receiving groove;

[0072] 20. First swing arm; 21. Drive block; 211. First component; 212. Second component; 221. First arc-shaped slider; 221a. First protrusion; 222. Second arc-shaped slider; 222a. Second protrusion; 23. Pin;

[0073] 30. Second swing arm; 31. Linkage structure; 32. Shaft hole; 33. First support arm; 34. Second support arm; 35. Slide bar;

[0074] 40. Connecting block; 41. Strip groove; 50. Elastic element; 60. Cam support; 61. First protrusion;

[0075] 70. Guide mechanism; 71. First slide groove; 72. First slider; 721. Clearance opening; 73. Second slide groove; 74. Second slider; 75. Guide shaft; 76. Guide hole;

[0076] 80. Door panel; 81. Axle cover;

[0077] 100, Hinge assembly; 200, First housing; 300, Second housing; 400, Screen. Detailed Implementation

[0078] The following are exemplary descriptions of relevant content that may be involved in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0079] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0080] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "side", "inner", "outer", "top", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the installation orientation or positional relationship, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0081] It should also be noted that in the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals are used to represent the same component or part. For the same part in the embodiments of this application, the reference numerals may only be used to mark one part or part as an example in the figure. It should be understood that the reference numerals are also applicable to other identical parts or parts.

[0082] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone.

[0083] Flexible screens, with their bendable properties, are currently used in foldable electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, game consoles, and wearable devices. These devices can increase display size without increasing overall volume, while also maintaining a high screen-to-body ratio and high resolution. For example, a foldable phone can be folded to the size of a traditional phone, making it easy to carry and store, while unfolding it can have the display size of a tablet, providing a larger display area and improving the user's viewing and operating experience. These features make foldable electronic devices very popular with consumers.

[0084] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the screen 400 and the casing of the foldable mobile phone provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the foldable mobile phone provided in the embodiment of this application in its flattened state. Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the foldable phone in its folded state according to an embodiment of this application. Furthermore, for the convenience of the description of the embodiments below, an XYZ coordinate system is established for the foldable phone. Specifically, the extension direction of the rotation axis of the foldable phone is defined as the Y direction, the thickness direction of the foldable phone is defined as the Z direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the Y and Z directions is defined as the X direction.

[0085] like Figures 1-3 As shown in the embodiment of this application, the electronic device is a foldable mobile phone. The foldable mobile phone includes a first housing 200, a second housing 300, a screen 400, and a hinge assembly 100. The hinge assembly 100 is connected between the first housing 200 and the second housing 300, and the screen 400 is disposed above the first housing 200, the hinge assembly 100, and the second housing 300.

[0086] The first housing 200 and the second housing 300 are used to support the screen 400 and protect the internal components of the foldable phone. The portions of the screen 400 at both ends are fixedly connected to the first housing 200 and the second housing 300, respectively. The first housing 200 can be a rigid housing, and the second housing 300 can also be a rigid housing, so that the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 can provide stable support for both ends of the screen 400.

[0087] The hinge assembly 100 can deform as the second housing 300 folds or flattens relative to the first housing 200, and prevents the second housing 300 from detaching from the first housing 200. Specifically, the two opposite sides of the hinge assembly 100 are respectively connected to the first housing 200 and the second housing 300. The hinge assembly 100 utilizes its own rotatable characteristics to allow the first housing 200 to flip relative to the second housing 300, so that the first housing 200 is folded, flattened, or in a state between folding and flattening relative to the second housing 300.

[0088] The first housing 200 and the second housing 300 can be folded or unfolded relative to each other, enabling the foldable phone provided in this embodiment to have multiple modes and meet the user's needs in different scenarios. For example, Figure 3 As shown, the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 can be folded together so that the screen 400 can fit together, allowing the foldable phone to switch to a closed mode. At this time, the foldable phone has a smaller volume, making it easier for users to store and carry it.

[0089] The first housing 200 and the second housing 300 are respectively provided with magnets at the location away from the hinge assembly 100. When the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 are in the folded state, the magnets on the two housings attract each other, which can prevent the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 from opening accidentally and ensure that the foldable phone remains closed during storage and carrying.

[0090] The first housing 200 and the second housing 300 can be in a state between folding and unfolding. For example, the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 form an angle of 90 to 120 degrees, so that the foldable phone can be switched to a usage mode that allows it to be placed on a table. At this time, the first housing 200 and the screen 400 on it can face the user, and the second housing 300 is placed on a shelf, desk, or other surface. The second housing 300 also acts like a counterweight base to ensure the stability of the foldable phone.

[0091] The first housing 200 and the second housing 300 can also be relatively flattened, for example, as Figure 2 As shown, the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 form a 180-degree angle, which enables large-screen display, provides users with richer information, and brings users a better user experience.

[0092] It is understandable that when a user holds a foldable phone, the position of the earpiece module can be defined as the top of the foldable phone, the position of the microphone module can be defined as the bottom of the foldable phone, and the two sides of the foldable phone held by the user's left and right hands can be defined as the left and right sides of the foldable phone.

[0093] In some embodiments provided in this application, the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 are arranged vertically, enabling the foldable phone to fold vertically. In other embodiments provided in this application, the first housing 200 and the second housing 300 are arranged horizontally, enabling the foldable phone to fold horizontally, for example, as... Figure 3 The situation is shown below.

[0094] The screen 400 can be a flexible screen that is foldable as a whole, or the screen 400 can be a combination of a foldable flexible screen in the middle area and rigid screens at both ends. This application does not limit the scope of the application.

[0095] The foldable phone may also include multiple modules, which can be housed inside the first housing 200 and the second housing 300. These modules may include, but are not limited to, a motherboard, processor, memory, battery, camera module, earpiece module, speaker module, microphone module, antenna module, and sensor module. This application does not specifically limit the number, type, or location of the modules in the foldable phone.

[0096] In the foldable phone provided in this application embodiment, taking a two-fold structure as an example, the foldable phone includes two shell parts (a first shell 200 and a second shell 300) and a hinge assembly 100 connecting the two shell parts; the two shell parts can rotate towards each other and stack on top of each other with the screen 400 touching each other, so that the foldable phone presents a two-layer shape, i.e. Figure 3 In the illustrated case, the foldable phone is an inward-folding foldable phone, meaning the screen 400 is located inside the first housing 200 and the second housing 300. In other embodiments, the foldable phone in this application is an outward-folding foldable phone, meaning that in the folded state, the screen 400 is located outside the first housing 200 and the second housing 300.

[0097] In another embodiment of this application, the foldable phone may also have a structure of three or more folds, that is, the foldable phone includes three or more shell parts, and two adjacent shell parts are connected by a hinge assembly 100. The two adjacent shell parts can rotate relative to each other to stack on top of each other or rotate back to back to flatten out. When the foldable phone has a structure of three or more folds, the hinge assembly 100 used in the foldable phone can be adapted to the description of the two-fold structure in this embodiment, and will not be described again in this application.

[0098] In other embodiments of this application, the electronic device includes, but is not limited to, foldable tablet computers, foldable handheld game consoles, foldable e-readers, foldable wearable devices, etc., and may also be other electronic devices with foldable functions that require improvement in folding feel.

[0099] In other embodiments of this application, the electronic device includes, but is not limited to, a foldable tablet computer, a foldable handheld game console, a foldable e-reader, a foldable wearable device, etc., and may also be other electronic devices with foldable functionality that need to provide stable support for the screen 400.

[0100] As described above, the foldable phone includes a hinge assembly 100. This hinge assembly 100 not only connects the two side shells but also supports the central position of the screen 400. Furthermore, to increase the damping feel when the foldable phone is folded and to achieve a hovering effect after folding, the hinge assembly 100 needs to be equipped with a damping mechanism. This damping mechanism typically consists of an elastic element and a cam support. The action involves a swing arm pushing the cam support to compress the elastic element.

[0101] In current hinge assemblies, the torque transmitted from the main hinge arm to the secondary hinge arm is transmitted through a connecting block. When the distance between the main and secondary hinge arms is large, the connecting block is prone to twisting and deformation. This affects the fitting accuracy between components in the hinge assembly, and consequently, the user's feel when using a foldable phone. The following section will describe in detail the defects of the hinge assembly in the relevant technology, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0102] Figure 4 This is a partial schematic diagram of a hinge assembly in related technologies, such as... Figure 4 As shown, in related technologies, the hinge assembly on a foldable phone mainly consists of a base ( Figure 4 The device (not shown) consists of a main swing arm 01, a secondary swing arm 02, an elastic element 04, a cam support 05, and a connecting block 03. The main swing arm 01 is rotatably connected to the base via a virtual pivot, while the secondary swing arm 02 is rotatably connected to the base via a real pivot. The phone casing is mounted on the connecting block 03, which supports the phone casing. The connecting block 03 is also rotatably connected to the main swing arm 01 via a pin and slidably connected to the secondary swing arm 02 via a slide groove 06. This allows the connecting block 03 to rotate relative to the base via the main swing arm 01 and the secondary swing arm 02, thereby enabling the phone casing to rotate relative to the base, thus facilitating the unfolding and folding of the foldable phone.

[0103] When a user uses a foldable phone and bends or unfolds the phone case, the force applied by the user to the phone case causes the connecting block 03 to rotate around the pivot point between the main swing arm 01 and the base. Due to the presence of the elastic element 04, a force against rotation is generated on the connecting block 03 through the secondary swing arm 02 (i.e., the damping felt by the user's hand). Therefore, from a microscopic perspective, the connecting block 03 actually bears the torsional force applied by the main swing arm 01 and the secondary swing arm 02. This torsional force will cause the connecting block 03 to deform, especially when the distance d between the main swing arm 01 and the secondary swing arm 02 is large, and the connecting block 03... When the structural strength is weak, the connecting block 03 will exhibit obvious torsional deformation, which will affect the fitting accuracy between the parts on the hinge assembly. For example, the secondary swing arm 02 is usually slidably connected to the slide groove 06 on the connecting block 03 through the slider 07. Since the deformation of the connecting block 03 will cause the slide groove 06 to deform, it will affect the sliding fitting accuracy of the slider 07 and the slide groove 06. This will cause the secondary swing arm 02 to jam or vibrate when sliding relative to the connecting block 03, which will affect the rotation of the secondary swing arm 02. As a result, the hinge assembly will not be smooth when bending or unfolding, affecting the user's folding feel.

[0104] In view of this, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a hinge assembly 100 and an electronic device. The hinge assembly 100 enables the first swing arm and the second swing arm to be directly linked through a linkage structure and a drive block, thereby reducing the torsional force borne by the connecting block and avoiding the torsion deformation of the connecting block, so as to ensure the fitting accuracy between the components on the hinge assembly 100.

[0105] The technical solution of the hinge component 100 used in the foldable mobile phone in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0106] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A partial schematic diagram of the hinge assembly 100 after concealing the door panel 80 and the axle cover 81. Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An exploded view of an example of the hinge assembly 100.

[0107] like Figures 5-7 As shown in the figure, an embodiment of this application provides a hinge assembly 100, which includes a base 10, a first swing arm 20, a second swing arm 30, and a connecting block 40. In addition, the hinge assembly 100 also includes a door panel 80, a shaft cover 81, a damping mechanism, etc.

[0108] Door panels 80 are mainly used to support the screen 400. There are two door panels 80, which are axially symmetrically arranged with respect to the hinge assembly 100. Each door panel 80 is connected to one or more connecting blocks 40. The connecting blocks 40, as intermediate components, are mainly used to connect the door panels 80, the first swing arm 20, the second swing arm 30, etc., and are also used to install the mobile phone casing. The hinge cover 81 is the outermost component of the hinge assembly 100, which can protect and decorate the internal components of the hinge assembly 100.

[0109] The base 10 is located between the two door panels 80 and works with the door panels 80 to support the screen 400. The base 10 provides support and mounting positions for components such as the first swing arm 20, the second swing arm 30, and the damping mechanism. The base 10 can be composed of two parts joined together. For example, the base 10 includes an upper base and a lower base joined together, with the upper base near the screen 400 and the lower base near the shaft cover 81. The lower base and the lower base are fastened together with screws, forming structures such as the arc-shaped groove that will be described later. Figures 6-7 As shown, the base 10 can also be a one-piece structure, without the need for the upper and lower bases to be spliced ​​together.

[0110] The first swing arm 20 is located on the side of the base 10 and is rotatably connected to the base 10. The rotatable connection between the first swing arm 20 and the base 10 can be achieved using a real shaft or a virtual shaft. The second swing arm 30 is located on the same side of the base 10 as the first swing arm 20 and is rotatably connected to the base 10. The rotatable connection between the second swing arm 30 and the base 10 can also be achieved using a real shaft or a virtual shaft. There can be multiple first swing arms 20 and second swing arms 30, and they are arranged in pairs on the side of the base 10, such as... Figure 6 As shown, on the other side of the base 10, a pair of first swing arms 20 and second swing arms 30 can also be symmetrically arranged.

[0111] Depending on the installation position of the damping mechanism, it can apply damping to the first swing arm 20, in which case the torque is transmitted to the first swing arm 20 through the second swing arm 30 when folding the phone case; alternatively, it can apply damping to the second swing arm 30, in which case the torque is transmitted to the second swing arm 30 when folding the phone case. For a detailed description of the damping mechanism, please refer to the embodiments below.

[0112] The connecting block 40 is movably connected to the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30, respectively. The movable connection between the connecting block 40 and the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 can be either a rotational connection or a sliding connection, depending on the rotational design of the first swing arm 20, the second swing arm 30, and the base 10. Specific designs are described in the embodiments below. The connecting block 40, acting as an intermediate component, can transmit torque between the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30, thus achieving indirect linkage between the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 through the connecting block 40.

[0113] Based on the indirect linkage between the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 via the connecting block 40, this embodiment adds another layer of linkage design. Specifically, the second swing arm 30 is provided with a linkage structure 31, which can be a guide groove or two support arms. The first swing arm 20 is provided with a drive block 21 that is slidably connected to the linkage structure 31. When the first swing arm 20 or the second swing arm 30 rotates relative to the base 10, the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 can be directly linked through the linkage structure 31 and the drive block 21.

[0114] As mentioned earlier, the torque transmission methods of the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 differ depending on the object on which the damping mechanism acts. When the damping mechanism acts on the second swing arm 30, the rotation of the first swing arm 20 causes the drive block 21 to drive the linkage structure 31, thereby achieving direct linkage of the second swing arm 30. When the damping mechanism acts on the first swing arm 20, the rotation of the second swing arm 30 causes the linkage structure 31 to drive the drive block 21, thereby achieving direct linkage of the first swing arm 20. In either case, the presence of the linkage structure 31 and the drive block 21 adds a layer of direct linkage to the design, building upon the indirect linkage between the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 via the connecting block 40.

[0115] As can be seen, in the hinge assembly 100 of this application embodiment, in addition to the connecting block 40 acting as an intermediate component to transmit the torque of the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30, the hinge assembly 100 also transmits torque to the driving block 21 of the first swing arm 20 through the linkage structure 31 of the second swing arm 30, so that the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 can be directly linked. This can distribute part of the torsional force applied to the connecting block 40 by the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30, thereby reducing the torsional force borne by the connecting block 40 to avoid the connecting block 40 from twisting and deforming. This ensures the fitting accuracy between the components of the hinge assembly 100, ensures the smoothness of the hinge assembly 100 when bending or unfolding, and thus ensures the user's folding feel.

[0116] For example Figures 6-7 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the base 10 is provided with an arc-shaped groove, the first swing arm 20 is provided with an arc-shaped slider that is slidably connected to the arc-shaped groove, and the first swing arm 20 and the connecting block 40 are rotatably connected by a pin 23. The base 10 is provided with a connecting shaft 12, the second swing arm 30 is provided with a shaft hole 32 that is rotatably connected to the connecting shaft 12, and the second swing arm 30 is slidably connected to the connecting block 40.

[0117] In this embodiment, the arc-shaped groove and the arc-shaped slider constitute a virtual rotating shaft, which enables the first swing arm 20 and the base 10 to be rotatably connected. The first swing arm 20 and the connecting block 40 are rotatably connected by a pin 23. The pin 23 can be set in the first swing arm 20, in which case the connecting block 40 is provided with a rotating hole or bushing that rotatably engages with the pin 23; or the pin 23 can also be set in the connecting block 40, in which case the first swing arm 20 is provided with a rotating hole or bushing that rotatably engages with the pin 23; or the pin 23 can also be a separate component, similar to the connecting shaft 12, with both the first swing arm 20 and the connecting block 40 provided with rotating holes or bushings that rotatably engage with the pin 23.

[0118] The connecting shaft 12 is the real shaft, through which the second swing arm 30 and the base 10 are rotatably connected. The second swing arm 30 and the connecting block 40 are slidably connected; the specific design of the slidable connection can be found in the embodiments described later. The second swing arm 30 and the connecting block 40 are slidably connected because the rotation axes of the virtual shaft and the real shaft are not collinear. When the second swing arm 30 rotates relative to the base 10, it will also slide relative to the connecting block 40.

[0119] In this embodiment, the specific rotational structure of the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 relative to the base 10 is defined. Of course, in other embodiments, the first swing arm 20 can also be rotatably connected to the base 10 via a real shaft, that is, the first swing arm 20 and... Figure 4 Similar to the secondary swing arm 02, the second swing arm 30 can also be connected to the base 10 via a virtual pivot, that is, the second swing arm 30 and... Figure 4 It is similar to the main swing arm 01 in the middle.

[0120] The number of arc-shaped sliders in the first swing arm 20 can be one, that is, the arc-shaped slider is a complete arc-shaped plate structure formed at the end of the first swing arm 20. Correspondingly, the arc-shaped groove on the base 10 is also a complete arc-shaped groove structure. Figure 7 As shown, the number of arc-shaped sliders of the first swing arm 20 and the number of arc-shaped grooves of the base 10 can each be two, as detailed in the embodiments below.

[0121] The linkage structure 31 of the second swing arm 30 can be a guide groove cut and formed on the side of the second swing arm 30. However, this requires ensuring that the side of the second swing arm 30 has a sufficiently large slotted surface. To ensure a sufficient slotted surface, the size and volume of the second swing arm 30 must be increased, which will affect the overall thickness of the hinge assembly 100. Therefore, to ensure the compact structure of the second swing arm 30 and the miniaturization requirements of the hinge assembly 100, such as... Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the second swing arm 30 is provided with a first support arm 33 and a second support arm 34 extending toward the first swing arm 20. The first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 are spaced apart to form a linkage structure 31. The drive block 21 is plate-shaped and located between the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34.

[0122] In this embodiment, the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34, which are spaced apart, constitute a linkage structure 31. Compared with the guide groove type linkage structure 31, it is not necessary to increase the size and volume of the second swing arm 30 to provide a slotted surface, thereby ensuring that the external structure of the second swing arm 30 is compact. In addition, the drive block 21 is plate-shaped, so that the drive block 21 can fully contact the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 when the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 are rotated to any angle.

[0123] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly 100 provided in the embodiments of this application in the flattened state. Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly 100 provided in this application embodiment during the folding process. Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly 100 provided in the embodiment of this application in the folded state.

[0124] like Figures 8-10 As shown, when the second swing arm 30 transmits torque to the first swing arm 20, the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 slide along the upper and lower surfaces of the drive block 21 respectively and push the drive block 21 to rotate, thereby causing the first swing arm 20 to rotate; when the first swing arm 20 transmits torque to the second swing arm 30, the drive block 21 slides in the gap between the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 and pushes the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 to rotate, thereby causing the second swing arm 30 to rotate.

[0125] For example Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, when the second swing arm 30 rotates to a flattened state, the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 are staggered in the thickness direction of the hinge assembly 100. The second support arm 34 is located at the bottom of the drive block 21 and is closer to the base 10 than the first support arm 33. The thickness direction of the hinge assembly 100 can be understood as... Figure 8 The first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 are staggered, which can be understood as: when projected in the Z direction, the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 have no overlapping area. The bottom of the drive block 21 can be understood as the space on the side of the drive block 21 facing the shaft cover 81.

[0126] The above design of the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 in this embodiment is mainly to enable the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 to be directly linked throughout the entire process of folding or flattening. The specific reason is as follows: As mentioned above, the rotation axes of the virtual axis and the real axis are not collinear, that is, the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 do not rotate around the same axis. When the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 rotate, the relative position between them will change. In this application, this is reflected in the change of the relative position between the drive block 21 and the first support arm 33 or the second support arm 34 when the first swing arm 20 transitions to the folded state. If the positional relationship between the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 is not adjusted, the drive block 21 is prone to interference and obstruction. To avoid interference, the size of the drive block 21 must be modified to avoid this problem. This results in the drive block 21 not contacting the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 when the first swing arm 20 is in the folded or near-folded state. Consequently, the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 cannot directly transmit torque, resulting in a linkage blind spot at a specific angle. In this embodiment, the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 are staggered, and the second support arm 34 is located at the bottom of the drive block 21 and closer to the base 10 than the first support arm 33. This avoids the drive block 21, eliminating the need to modify its size. This ensures that the drive block 21 can always contact the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34, allowing the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 to directly link during the entire folding or unfolding process, without any linkage blind spot at a specific angle.

[0127] Figure 11 yes Figure 8 Enlarged view of point A in the middle. Figure 12 yes Figure 9 Enlarged view of point B in the middle. Figure 13 yes Figure 10 Enlarged view of point C in the middle.

[0128] like Figures 11-13 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the drive block 21 includes a first component 211 and a second component 212 integrally formed. The second component 212 is bent away from the second support arm 34, and the thickness of the second component 212 is greater than the thickness of the first component 211. When the second swing arm 30 rotates to the flattened state, the first component 211 contacts the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34. When the second swing arm 30 rotates to the folded state, the second component 212 contacts the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34.

[0129] In this embodiment, the above design of the drive block 21 ensures that the drive block 21 can fully contact the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 when the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 are rotating, whether they are transitioning from a folded state to a flattened state or from a flattened state to a folded state. This avoids the first swing arm 20 and the second swing arm 30 from being unable to directly link together under a specific rotation direction or rotation angle.

[0130] To ensure that the drive block 21 slides smoothly and smoothly relative to the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34, for example... Figure 11 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the upper and lower surfaces of the connection between the first component 211 and the second component 212 are provided with rounded chamfers, and the parts of the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 that abut against the drive block 21 are also provided with rounded chamfers.

[0131] For example Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the connecting block 40 is provided with two strip-shaped grooves 41 with opposite openings. The end of the second swing arm 30 away from the base 10 is U-shaped and is provided with two opposing slide bars 35, which are slidably connected in the strip-shaped grooves 41. The first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 are disposed on the slide bars 35 near the first swing arm 20.

[0132] In this embodiment, the groove 41 on the connecting block 40 faces outward, making it easier to design the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 on the slide bar 35 of the second swing arm 30, thereby ensuring a smaller overall thickness of the second swing arm 30. To understand this advantage, please refer back to... Figure 4 In the related technology shown, the sliding connection design between the secondary swing arm 02 and the connecting block 03 shows that the grooves 06 of the connecting block 03 are opposite each other, i.e., the grooves face inwards. The secondary swing arm 02 is placed between the two grooves 06. Assuming that a first support arm 33 and a second support arm 34 are designed on the secondary swing arm 02, they need to be designed to extend upwards around the groove base used to form the grooves 06. This results in a large upward protrusion of the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34, thereby increasing the overall thickness of the secondary swing arm 02, which is detrimental to achieving a thinner hinge assembly 100. In contrast, in this embodiment, as... Figure 7 As shown, a first support arm 33 and a second support arm 34 are provided on the slide bar 35 of the second swing arm 30. Since it is not necessary to go around the strip groove 41, the first support arm 33 and the second support arm 34 do not need to protrude too high, thereby ensuring that the overall thickness of the second swing arm 30 is small, which is conducive to the thinning of the hinge assembly 100.

[0133] Figure 14 yes Figure 6 An exploded view of another example of the hinge assembly 100. Figure 15 yes Figure 6A schematic diagram of an example of a hinge assembly 100 hidden behind a base 10.

[0134] like Figure 14 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, there are two arc-shaped sliders, namely a first arc-shaped slider 221 and a second arc-shaped slider 222 disposed on both sides of the first swing arm 20. There are also two arc-shaped grooves, namely a first arc-shaped groove 111 for slidingly connecting the first arc-shaped slider 221 and a second arc-shaped groove 112 for slidingly connecting the second arc-shaped slider 222. The first arc-shaped slider 221 is located on the side away from the second swing arm 30, and a first protrusion 221a is disposed on the first arc-shaped slider 221.

[0135] like Figure 15 As shown, the damping mechanism includes an elastic element 50 and a cam support 60, with the elastic element 50 pressed between the cam support 60 and the base 10. The cam support 60 can slide relative to the base 10 along a first direction, which is the axial direction of the hinge assembly 100, and can also be understood as... Figure 15 In the Y direction. The cam support 60 is provided with a first protrusion 61 that cooperates with the first protrusion 221a. As the second swing arm 30 rotates, the first protrusion 221a drives the cam support 60 to compress the elastic member 50 through the first protrusion 61.

[0136] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows: when the user folds the phone case, the first swing arm 20 drives the first arc-shaped slider 221 and the first protrusion 221a to rotate. The first protrusion 221a presses the first protrusion 61 of the cam bracket 60. When the cam bracket 60 is pressed, the cam bracket 60 slides relative to the base 10 along the first direction. At this time, the cam bracket 60 presses the elastic member 50. The elastic restoring force of the elastic member 50 forms an effect of resisting the sliding of the cam bracket 60. Through the transmission of components such as the first swing arm 20, the user's hand feels the damping effect. At the same time, the damping effect can also make the phone case hover.

[0137] In this embodiment, the first swing arm 20 forms a first protrusion 221a for pressing the cam support 60. Since the first swing arm 20 is rotatably connected to the base 10 through a virtual pivot, it does not need to pass through the connecting shaft 12. Therefore, the first protrusion 221a does not need to avoid the connecting shaft 12, and the first protrusion 61 on the cam support 60 does not need to have a hole for avoiding the connecting shaft 12. This ensures the integrity of the first protrusion 221a and the first protrusion 61, each with a large base size. When the first protrusion 221a and the first protrusion 61 are pressed and rubbed against each other, the strength of the first protrusion 221a and the first protrusion 61 can be guaranteed to be reliable.

[0138] Furthermore, since the first protrusion 221a and the first protrusion 61 have relatively large base dimensions, the corresponding contact area between them is also relatively large. When the first protrusion 221a and the first protrusion 61 slide and rub against each other, the frictional resistance is also relatively large, thereby improving the damping feel of the hinge assembly 100. Moreover, the larger the contact area between the first protrusion 221a and the first protrusion 61, the better the relative sliding stability, preventing jamming and shaking, and thus ensuring a good folding feel for the user.

[0139] In addition, compared with related technologies, since the first swing arm 20 is rotatably connected to the base 10 through a virtual rotating shaft, the elastic element 50 is far away from the connecting shaft 12. When the elastic element 50 is a cylindrical spring, the elastic element 50 does not need to consider the concentricity with the connecting shaft 12, which makes the layout design of the elastic element 50 more flexible and can reduce the difficulty of structural design.

[0140] In one embodiment of this application, the first arc-shaped groove 111 and / or the second arc-shaped groove 112 are integrally formed from the base 10.

[0141] Specifically, as mentioned above, the base 10 can be designed as an upper base and a lower base that are spliced ​​together. Therefore, the first arc-shaped slide 111 or the second arc-shaped slide 112 is integrally formed from the upper base, while the second arc-shaped slide 112 or the first arc-shaped slide 111 is formed by splicing the upper base and the lower base together. That is, the first arc-shaped slide 111 or the second arc-shaped slide 112 is integrally formed from the base 10. Alternatively, the base 10 is an integral structure, and the first arc-shaped slide 111 and the second arc-shaped slide 112 are directly integrally formed during the processing and manufacturing stage. The processing technology used can be injection molding, 3D printing, laser engraving, CNC machine tool cutting, etc.

[0142] In other embodiments, the first arc-shaped groove 111 and the second arc-shaped groove 112 can both be formed by splicing an upper base and a lower base together.

[0143] As mentioned earlier, the number of arc-shaped sliders in the first swing arm 20 can be one, that is, the arc-shaped slider is a complete arc-shaped plate structure formed at the end of the first swing arm 20. Therefore, in another embodiment provided in this application, the first protrusion 221a can be provided on the side of the arc-shaped slider away from the second swing arm 30.

[0144] Figure 16 yes Figure 7 A partial schematic diagram of the base 10. Figure 17 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another example where the hinge assembly 100 is concealed behind the base 10. In this case, Figure 16In order to display the second protrusion 112a in the second arc-shaped groove 112, the base 112b used to form the second arc-shaped groove 112 is partially hidden, so that the second protrusion 112a can be exposed. Figure 16 The dotted line portion in the figure represents the base 112b used to form the second arc-shaped groove 112.

[0145] like Figures 16-17 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the second arc-shaped slider 222 is provided with a second protrusion 222a extending along a first direction, and the second arc-shaped groove 112 is provided with a second protrusion 112a that cooperates with the second protrusion 222a. The first swing arm 20 can slide relative to the base 10 along the first direction. As the first swing arm 20 rotates, the second protrusion 112a drives the first swing arm 20 to shift along the first direction through the second protrusion 222a, thereby squeezing the elastic member 50 through the cam bracket 60.

[0146] The first swing arm 20 can slide relative to the base 10 along a first direction, requiring the following design: In the first direction, there is a gap between the groove wall of the first arc-shaped groove 111 and the first arc-shaped slider 221; a gap between the groove wall of the second arc-shaped groove 112 and the second arc-shaped slider 222; a gap between the driving block 21 and the second swing arm 30; and a gap between the pin 23 of the first swing arm 20 and the connecting block 40. This design allows the first swing arm 20 a certain sliding margin in the first direction.

[0147] In this embodiment, as the first swing arm 20 rotates, in addition to driving the cam bracket 60 to compress the elastic element 50 through the first protrusion 61, the second protrusion 112a also drives the first swing arm 20 to move along the first direction, further compressing the elastic element 50 through the cam bracket 60. This increases the amount of compression deformation of the elastic element 50, and correspondingly increases the elastic restoring force fed back by the elastic element 50, thereby enhancing the damping effect of the hinge assembly 100. This allows the user to experience better damping feel, and the enhanced damping effect also makes the phone casing more stable when hovering, less prone to closing after shaking.

[0148] Figure 18 yes Figure 6 Rear view of an example of hinge assembly 100. Figure 19 yes Figure 18 Exploded view of elastic element 50 and cam support 60. Figure 20 yes Figure 6 A partial sectional view of an example of the hinge assembly 100.

[0149] like Figures 18-20As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the base 10 is provided with a plug hole 13 that communicates with the first arc-shaped groove 111 and is similar in shape to the first protrusion 61. The first protrusion 61 extends into the plug hole 13 and abuts against the first protrusion 221a in the first arc-shaped groove 111.

[0150] In this embodiment, the base 10 is provided with a plug hole 13 that is similar in shape to the first protrusion 61. The first protrusion 61 extends into the plug hole 13, so that the plug hole 13 can constrain the sliding direction of the first protrusion 61, thereby guiding the sliding direction of the cam support 60, so that the cam support 60 slides more stably along the first direction.

[0151] The first protrusion 61 can be cylindrical, block-shaped, or similar. For example... Figure 20 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the first protrusion 61 is in the shape of an arc-shaped plate.

[0152] In this embodiment, the first protrusion 61, which is in the shape of an arc plate, can be similar in shape to the first protrusion 221a on the first arc-shaped slider 221, thereby improving the stability of their mutual sliding friction.

[0153] The above embodiments describe a method for slidingly guiding the cam support 60 through the first protrusion 61 and the insertion hole 13. To further increase the sliding stability of the cam support 60, for example... Figure 19 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the base 10 is provided with a receiving groove 14, the elastic member 50 and the cam support 60 are placed in the receiving groove 14, and the cam support 60 is also slidably connected to the receiving groove 14 through a guide mechanism 70, which includes, but is not limited to, a slider and a groove, a guide shaft 75 and a guide hole 76.

[0154] In this embodiment, by further adding the guide mechanism 70, the sliding stability of the cam support 60 can be further improved, avoiding it from deviating or getting stuck during sliding. At the same time, the guide mechanism 70 also constrains the cam support 60 in the receiving groove 14, preventing the cam support 60 from popping out of the receiving groove 14 under the elastic force of the elastic member 50.

[0155] The guide mechanism 70 used in the cam support 60 will be described in detail below.

[0156] Figure 21 This is a cross-sectional view of an example of the guide mechanism 70 provided in an embodiment of this application. It should be noted that... Figure 21 perspective and Figure 19 The perspective is reversed, both vertically and horizontally.

[0157] like Figure 21 As shown, and in combination Figures 18-19As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the guide mechanism 70 includes a first slide groove 71 with a T-shaped cross section and a first slider 72 with a similar shape to the first slide groove 71. The cam support 60 is provided with the first slide groove 71, and the groove wall of the receiving groove 14 is provided with the first slider 72.

[0158] In this embodiment, the T-shaped first groove 71 and the first slider 72 can not only constrain the sliding direction of the cam support 60, but also prevent the cam support 60 from popping out of the receiving groove 14.

[0159] To facilitate the installation of the cam bracket 60, for example... Figure 19 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the first slider 72 has a clearance opening 721 for mounting the cam bracket 60.

[0160] In this embodiment, by opening a clearance opening 721 in the first slider 72, the cam bracket 60 can be easily installed onto the first slider 72. Under the elastic force of the elastic member 50, the cam bracket 60 can be offset from the clearance opening 721 to avoid popping out.

[0161] In another embodiment of this application, the base 10 can also be designed as a split component that splits along a first direction, with the split point in the receiving groove 14, so that the cam bracket 60 can be easily fitted onto the first slider 72.

[0162] The first slider 72 and the first groove 71 can also be interchangeably provided with bases. In another embodiment of this application, the groove wall of the receiving groove 14 is provided with the first groove 71, and the cam bracket 60 is provided with the first slider 72.

[0163] Figure 22 yes Figure 6 Rear view of an example of hinge assembly 100. Figure 23 yes Figure 22 Exploded view of elastic element 50 and cam support 60. Figure 24 This is a cross-sectional view of another example of the guide mechanism 70 provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0164] like Figures 22-24 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the guide mechanism 70 includes two sets of strip-shaped second slide grooves 73 and second sliders 74. The two sets of second slide grooves 73 and second sliders 74 are respectively located on both sides of the receiving groove 14. The cam bracket 60 is provided with the second slide grooves 73, and the base 10 is provided with the second sliders 74.

[0165] In this embodiment, the second sliding groove 73 and the second slider 74 can not only constrain the sliding direction of the cam support 60, but also prevent the cam support 60 from popping out of the receiving groove 14.

[0166] To facilitate the installation of the cam bracket 60, in one embodiment of this application, the second slider 74 has a clearance opening for installing the cam bracket 60.

[0167] The second slider 74 and the second slide groove 73 can also be interchangeably set in the base. In another embodiment of this application, the base 10 is provided with the second slide groove 73 and the cam bracket 60 is provided with the second slider 74.

[0168] Figure 25 yes Figure 6 Rear view of an example of hinge assembly 100. Figure 26 yes Figure 25 Exploded view of elastic element 50 and cam support 60. Figure 27 This is a cross-sectional view of another example of the guide mechanism 70 provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0169] like Figures 25-27 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the guide mechanism 70 includes a guide shaft 75 and a guide hole 76, the base 10 is provided with the guide shaft 75, and the cam support 60 is provided with the guide hole 76.

[0170] In this embodiment, the guide shaft 75 and guide hole 76 can not only constrain the sliding direction of the cam support 60, but also prevent the cam support 60 from popping out of the receiving groove 14.

[0171] The guide shaft 75 and the guide hole 76 can also be interchangeably set in the base. In another embodiment of this application, the cam bracket 60 is provided with a guide shaft 75 and the base 10 is provided with a guide hole 76.

[0172] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly, characterized in that, include: Base (10); The first swing arm (20) is located on the side of the base (10) and is rotatably connected to the base (10); The second swing arm (30) is disposed on the same side of the base (10) as the first swing arm (20), and the second swing arm (30) is rotatably connected to the base (10); The connecting block (40) is movably connected to the first swing arm (20) and the second swing arm (30) respectively; A damping mechanism is provided on the base (10) and acts on the first swing arm (20) or the second swing arm (30); The second swing arm (30) is provided with a linkage structure (31), and the first swing arm (20) is provided with a drive block (21) that is slidably connected to the linkage structure (31). When the first swing arm (20) or the second swing arm (30) rotates relative to the base (10), the first swing arm (20) and the second swing arm (30) can be directly linked through the linkage structure (31) and the drive block (21).

2. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (10) is provided with an arc-shaped sliding groove, and the first swing arm (20) is provided with an arc-shaped slider that is slidably connected to the arc-shaped sliding groove; the first swing arm (20) is rotatably connected to the connecting block (40) through a pin (23); The base (10) is provided with a connecting shaft (12), and the second swing arm (30) is provided with a shaft hole (32) that is rotatably connected to the connecting shaft (12); the second swing arm (30) is slidably connected to the connecting block (40).

3. The hinge assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second swing arm (30) is provided with a first support arm (33) and a second support arm (34) extending toward the first swing arm (20). The first support arm (33) and the second support arm (34) are spaced apart to form the linkage structure (31). The drive block (21) is plate-shaped and located between the first support arm (33) and the second support arm (34).

4. The hinge assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the second swing arm (30) rotates to the flattened state, the first support arm (33) and the second support arm (34) are staggered in the thickness direction of the hinge assembly (100), and the second support arm (34) is located at the bottom of the drive block (21) and is closer to the base (10) than the first support arm (33).

5. The hinge assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drive block (21) includes a first component (211) and a second component (212) that are integrally formed. The second component (212) is bent away from the second support arm (34), and the thickness of the second component (212) is greater than the thickness of the first component (211). When the second swing arm (30) rotates to the flattened state, the first component (211) contacts the first support arm (33) and the second support arm (34); when the second swing arm (30) rotates to the folded state, the second component (212) contacts the first support arm (33) and the second support arm (34).

6. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, The connecting block (40) is provided with two strip-shaped grooves (41) with opposite openings. The end of the second swing arm (30) away from the base (10) is U-shaped and is provided with two opposing slide bars (35). The slide bars (35) are slidably connected in the strip-shaped grooves (41). The first support arm (33) and the second support arm (34) are disposed on the slide bar (35) near the first swing arm (20).

7. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that, On the side away from the second swing arm (30), the arc-shaped slider is provided with a first protrusion (221a) extending in a first direction, the first direction being the axial direction of the hinge assembly (100); The damping mechanism includes an elastic element (50) and a cam support (60). The cam support (60) can slide relative to the base (10) along the first direction. The cam support (60) is provided with a first protrusion (61) that cooperates with the first protrusion (221a). As the second swing arm (30) rotates, the first protrusion (221a) drives the cam support (60) to squeeze the elastic element (50) through the first protrusion (61).

8. The hinge assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The number of arc-shaped sliders is two, namely a first arc-shaped slider (221) and a second arc-shaped slider (222) disposed on both sides of the first swing arm (20); the number of arc-shaped grooves is two, namely a first arc-shaped groove (111) for slidingly connecting the first arc-shaped slider (221) and a second arc-shaped groove (112) for slidingly connecting the second arc-shaped slider (222); The first arc-shaped slider (221) is located on the side away from the second swing arm (30), and the first protrusion (221a) is disposed on the first arc-shaped slider (221).

9. The hinge assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second arc-shaped slider (222) is provided with a second protrusion (222a) extending along the first direction, and the second arc-shaped groove (112) is provided with a second protrusion (112a) that cooperates with the second protrusion (222a); The first swing arm (20) can slide relative to the base (10) along the first direction. As the first swing arm (20) rotates, the second protrusion (112a) drives the first swing arm (20) to shift along the first direction through the second protrusion (222a), thereby squeezing the elastic member (50) through the cam bracket (60).

10. The hinge assembly according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The base (10) is provided with a insertion hole (13) that communicates with the first arc-shaped groove (111) and is similar in shape to the first protrusion (61). The first protrusion (61) extends into the insertion hole (13) and abuts against the first protrusion (221a) in the first arc-shaped groove (111).

11. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 7-10, characterized in that, The first protrusion (61) is in the shape of an arc plate.

12. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 7-11, characterized in that, The base (10) is provided with a receiving groove (14), the elastic element (50) and the cam bracket (60) are placed in the receiving groove (14), and the cam bracket (60) is also slidably connected to the receiving groove (14) through a guide mechanism (70).

13. The hinge assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that, The guide mechanism (70) includes a first slide groove (71) with a T-shaped cross section and a first slider (72) with a similar shape to the first slide groove (71). The first slide groove (71) is provided on one of the groove walls of the cam support (60) and the receiving groove (14), and the first slider (72) is provided on the other.

14. The hinge assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that, The first slide groove (71) is provided on the cam bracket (60), the first slider (72) is provided on the groove wall of the receiving groove (14), and the first slider (72) has an clearance opening (721) for installing the cam bracket (60).

15. The hinge assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that, The guide mechanism (70) includes two sets of strip-shaped second slide grooves (73) and second sliders (74). The two sets of second slide grooves (73) and second sliders (74) are located on both sides of the receiving groove (14). One of the cam support (60) and the base (10) is provided with the second slide groove (73), and the other is provided with the second slider (74).

16. The hinge assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that, The guiding mechanism (70) includes a guide shaft (75) and a guide hole (76). One of the cam support (60) and the base (10) is provided with the guide shaft (75), and the other is provided with the guide hole (76).

17. The hinge assembly according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The first arc-shaped groove (111) and / or the second arc-shaped groove (112) are integrally formed from the base (10).

18. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes the hinge assembly (100) as described in any one of claims 1-17.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, characterized in that, It also includes a first housing (200), a second housing (300), and a screen (400), wherein the hinge assembly (100) is connected between the first housing (200) and the second housing (300), and the screen (400) is stacked on one side of the first housing (200), the hinge assembly (100), and the second housing (300).

20. The electronic device according to claim 19, characterized in that, When the first swing arm (20) and the second swing arm (30) are rotated to the folded state, the screen (400) is located inside the first housing (200) and the second housing (300).

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