Flexible display screen folding and unfolding device and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a flexible display screen folding and unfolding device and an electronic device, and relates to the technical field of electronic equipment.The flexible display screen folding and unfolding device comprises a first support, a second support and a driving mechanism, and the first support is slidably connected with the second support; the driving mechanism is arranged on the first support and the second support and used for driving the first support and the second support to slide relatively, the driving mechanism comprises a first driving assembly and a second driving assembly, and the first driving assembly is fixedly arranged on the first support and connected with the second support; the second driving assembly is fixedly arranged on the second support and connected with the first support, so that the second driving assembly and the first support have a more stable contact state and are not prone to deviation or separation under the dynamic load, continuous transmission of force is kept, vibration and noise generated by unstable interaction force can be reduced, and the service life of the device is prolonged. And the relative movement of the first bracket and the second bracket can be ensured to be more stable and smoother.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of electronic devices, and more particularly to a flexible display screen retraction and extension device and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the mainstream flexible display screens generally have three types of unfolding methods: folding, telescopic, and rolling. Among them, folding displays are prone to creases at the fold, which affect the display effect and aesthetics. Telescopic flexible displays are more complex in terms of technology and design, requiring high-precision micro-drive systems and precise structural designs, resulting in high costs. Rolling displays, on the other hand, are similar to the unfolding and rolling up of a traditional scroll, which can better solve the problems of creases and structural complexity that lead to poor display effect and high cost.

[0003] However, rollable displays require a high degree of fit between the housings and have poor stability during the unfolding or rewinding process, which can easily lead to various malfunctions such as one end getting stuck, thus affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a flexible display screen retraction and extension device and an electronic device that can solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] In a first aspect, a flexible display screen retraction and extension device is provided, comprising:

[0007] First support;

[0008] The second support is slidably connected to the first support, so that the first support and the second support can slide relative to each other between a retracted state and an extended state.

[0009] A driving mechanism is disposed on the first bracket and the second bracket to drive the first bracket and the second bracket to slide relative to each other;

[0010] The drive mechanism includes:

[0011] A first driving component is fixedly mounted on the first bracket and connected to the second bracket. The first driving component can act on the second bracket through the first bracket to drive the second bracket to slide relative to the first bracket.

[0012] The second drive component is fixedly mounted on the second bracket and connected to the first bracket. The second drive component can act on the first bracket through the second bracket to drive the first bracket to slide relative to the second bracket.

[0013] As an optional implementation, the drive mechanism further includes:

[0014] A power unit is disposed between the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly, and is driven by the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly, so that the power unit can drive the first bracket and the second bracket to slide relative to each other through the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.

[0015] As an optional implementation, the first driving component includes:

[0016] A first lead screw is rotatably mounted on the first bracket and extends to the second bracket;

[0017] A first slider is connected to the second bracket, and the first slider is fixedly engaged with the first lead screw in the circumferential direction;

[0018] The second driving component includes:

[0019] The second lead screw is rotatably mounted on the first bracket. The rotation direction of the second lead screw is opposite to that of the first lead screw, or the thread direction of the second lead screw is opposite to that of the first lead screw.

[0020] The second slider is connected to the first bracket, and the second slider is fixedly engaged with the second lead screw in the circumferential direction.

[0021] As an optional implementation, the first lead screw and the second lead screw are connected by a gear set, which is provided with a transmission part that can provide a power unit connection.

[0022] As an optional implementation, the first bracket and the second bracket can slide relative to each other along the X-axis direction;

[0023] There are two drive mechanisms, which are spaced apart along the Y-axis.

[0024] As an optional implementation, the first bracket is provided with a first comb tooth, and the second drive assembly is connected to the first bracket through the first comb tooth;

[0025] The second bracket is provided with a second comb tooth, and the first comb tooth and the second comb tooth are movably inserted and engaged. The first drive component is connected to the second bracket through the second comb tooth.

[0026] As an optional implementation, a guide rail is also provided between the first bracket and the second bracket, and the first bracket and the second bracket are guided and engaged by the guide rail.

[0027] As an optional implementation, the guide rail includes:

[0028] A slide rail component is disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket. The slide rail component is provided with a spaced first guide rail and a second guide rail. The first guide rail and the second guide rail are parallel to each other and extend to the first bracket and the second bracket respectively at their opposite ends.

[0029] The first guide block slides with the first guide rail and is connected to the first bracket;

[0030] The second guide block slides with the second guide rail and connects to the second bracket.

[0031] As an optional implementation, it also includes:

[0032] A flexible display screen, wherein the first end of the flexible display screen is connected to the second bracket, and the second end of the flexible display screen is disposed on the first bracket via a roll assembly.

[0033] Secondly, an electronic device is provided, comprising:

[0034] The flexible display screen retraction device as described in the first aspect.

[0035] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: In the flexible display screen retraction device, the driving mechanism can drive the first support and the second support to slide relative to each other. The first driving component and the second driving component are respectively installed on the first support and the second support, and act on the second support and the first support respectively during the driving process, so that the force transmission path between the first support and the second support is widened, and the two have a more stable contact state. Under dynamic load, the two are not easy to shift or separate, thereby maintaining the continuous transmission of force. This not only helps to reduce the vibration and noise caused by the instability of the interaction force, but also ensures that the relative movement of the first support and the second support is more stable and smooth.

[0036] The relative movement between the first and second supports remains stable, preventing excessive stretching or compression of local areas of the flexible display screen and extending the screen's lifespan. Attached Figure Description

[0037] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0038] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the flexible display screen retraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of the flexible display screen retraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a portion of the flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the drive mechanism structure described in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a second schematic diagram of the drive mechanism structure described in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the guide rail structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 7 This is a front view of the guide rail described in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] In the diagram: 10, First support; 11, First comb tooth; 12, First back plate; 13, First side plate; 14, Roller assembly; 20, Second support; 21, Second comb tooth; 22, Second back plate; 23, Second side plate; 30, Drive mechanism; 31, First drive assembly; 311, First lead screw; 312, First slider; 313, First limiting rod; 32, Second drive assembly; 321, Second lead screw; 322, Second slider; 323, Second limiting rod; 33, Power unit; 34, Gear set; 341, Drive gear; 342, First driven gear; 343, Second driven gear; 35, Support frame; 40, Guide rail; 41, Rail component; 411, First guide rail; 412, Second guide rail; 42, First guide block; 43, Second guide block; 50, Flexible display screen; 60, Flexible support. Detailed Implementation

[0046] To make the technical problems solved by the present invention, the technical solutions adopted, and the technical effects achieved clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0048] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0049] Flexible displays can be deployed and retracted in various ways, depending primarily on their application and design requirements. Here are some common deployment and retraction methods for flexible displays:

[0050] With the development of technology, users have increasingly higher demands for large-screen electronic devices. Flexible screen electronic devices can switch the display size of the screen to meet the user's needs in different scenarios, becoming a new development trend.

[0051] Flexible displays are made of soft materials and are deformable, bendable, and even foldable, providing users with more diverse usage methods. Furthermore, due to the use of flexible materials, electronic devices using flexible displays are often thinner and lighter than traditional devices, making them easier to carry and store. At the same time, flexible displays can absorb some impact, giving electronic devices certain advantages in terms of drop resistance and durability.

[0052] Following the above, it should be noted that flexible displays have a wide range of applications, including but not limited to smartphones (such as foldable phones), wearable devices (such as smartwatches and smart bracelets), tablets and laptops, commercial advertising and displays (such as advertising screens and curved display screens), and stage performances and events.

[0053] As the background technology indicates, the mainstream flexible display screen deployment methods currently include folding, telescopic, and roll-up deployment. Folding displays can be folded in half or multiple times like a book, reducing their size when not in use and unfolding to provide a larger display area when needed. However, creases easily appear at the folds, affecting display quality and aesthetics. Telescopic flexible displays can extend and retract within a certain range, similar to a retractable TV or projector screen, but are more compact and portable. However, telescopic flexible displays are more complex in technology and design, requiring high-precision micro-drive systems and sophisticated structural designs, resulting in high costs. Roll-up displays, similar to the unfolding and rolling of a traditional scroll, effectively solve the problems of creases and structural complexity that lead to poor display quality and high costs.

[0054] However, rollable displays require a high degree of fit between the device housings, and their stability is poor during the unfolding or rewinding process, which can easily lead to various malfunctions such as one end getting stuck, thus affecting the user experience.

[0055] In view of this, this embodiment provides a flexible display screen retraction and extension device, which solves a series of technical problems caused by the unsmooth retraction and extension of the display screen by adjusting the structure and driving method of the driving mechanism.

[0056] Please refer to the appendix. Figures 1-3 The flexible display screen retraction device includes a first support 10 and a second support 20. One of the first support 10 and the second support 20 can serve as the fixed end or base support of the flexible screen retraction device, while the other can serve as the moving end or sliding support of the device. The first support 10 and the second support 20 are slidably connected along a preset direction so that the first support 10 and the second support 20 can slide relative to each other in a straight line between the retracted state and the unfolded state.

[0057] However, it should be understood that when the flexible display screen retraction device is applied to the corresponding electronic device, the fixing and movement of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 are not specifically and clearly defined. In most cases, the flexible display screen retraction device will use one of the brackets as a fulcrum for holding or installation, so that the other bracket can use the fulcrum as the force point of the device to achieve relative movement. Therefore, the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 are defined as a fixed bracket and a movable bracket, respectively, in order to facilitate a more complete understanding of this embodiment.

[0058] Following the above embodiments, taking the first support 10 as a movable support and the second support 20 as a fixed support as an example, the second support 20 serves as a fixed end or base support in this embodiment, providing a stable foundation for the entire electronic device. In the application scenarios of the electronic device, the second support 20 generally does not move with the unfolding or retraction of the flexible screen. However, if the first support 10 is taken as a reference target, the second support 20 actually moves with the unfolding or retraction of the flexible display screen retraction device. Therefore, in order to provide a corresponding support foundation for the electronic device, the second support 20 can be configured as a structure with good structural strength and stability to withstand the tension of the flexible screen in the unfolded state and various external impacts during daily use. The first support 10, as a movable end or sliding support, is used to connect to one end of the flexible screen in the device and can slide under the guidance of the second support 20, thereby realizing the unfolding and retraction of the flexible screen.

[0059] It is understood that, while limiting structures for restricting the contracted and extended states of the first support 10 and the second support 20 can be further provided, guiding structures for constraining the movement trajectory between the contracted and extended states can also be provided between the two, including but not limited to slide rails, guide grooves and other structures, to guide the smooth sliding between the first support 10 and the second support 20.

[0060] In addition, while the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 are connected to the opposite ends of the flexible display screen 50 in actual application scenarios, they also need to provide corresponding support for the flexible display screen 50 so that the display surface (and touch surface) of the flexible film screen can be displayed relatively flat for use, making it convenient for users to watch and use.

[0061] Please continue to refer to the appendix. Figures 3-4 Based on the above structure, the flexible display screen retraction and extension device also includes a drive mechanism 30. The drive mechanism 30 is specifically set on the first support 10 and the second support 20 to drive the first support 10 and the second support 20 to slide relative to each other, thereby realizing the switching between the retracted state and the extended state, simplifying the user's operation process and improving the convenience of the device.

[0062] It is understood that the drive mechanism 30 can be controlled by the control system of the electronic device in the application scenario of the electronic device. According to the user's usage needs or the preset program, the drive mechanism 30 can dynamically adjust the degree of unfolding of the flexible screen to meet the display needs in different scenarios, and ensure the accuracy and stability of the first support 10 and the second support 20 in the relative sliding process, so as to avoid wrinkles or damage to the flexible display screen 50 during unfolding or shrinking.

[0063] Generally, the drive mechanism 30 includes a power source and a transmission assembly. Taking an electric motor as the power source as an example, the power source can convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and transmit the corresponding power through the transmission assembly, thereby driving the relative sliding of the first support 10 and the second support 20. As can be seen from the above, the transmission assembly is mainly responsible for transmitting the power from the power source to the first support 10 and the second support 20 to achieve their sliding.

[0064] It should be noted that the transmission methods of the transmission components include, but are not limited to, gear transmission, belt transmission, and lead screw transmission. The appropriate transmission method can be selected according to the specific structure and design requirements of the electronic equipment.

[0065] Specifically, the aforementioned drive mechanism 30 includes a first drive component 31 and a second drive component 32. In this embodiment, the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 can be understood as two relatively independent drive structures. Both the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 are connected to the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 to coordinate the control of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20.

[0066] In this example, the first drive assembly 31 and the second drive assembly 32 are spaced apart while ensuring that they are both connected to the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 respectively. This avoids interference between the two drive assemblies, ensures the stability of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 during relative sliding, and also indirectly widens the force transmission path between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20. By widening the force transmission path between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 (increasing the force application range of the drive mechanism 30 between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20), the stress exerted by the drive mechanism 30 on the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 can be more effectively dispersed. This reduces the risk of fatigue and damage to the bracket or display screen materials caused by stress concentration, helps extend the service life of related components, and improves the reliability of the flexible display screen retraction device. Meanwhile, by widening the force transmission path of the drive mechanism 30, the first support 10 and the second support 20 are less likely to displace or separate in any direction other than the preset direction during dynamic processes. While driving the first support 10 and the second support 20, the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 also mutually constrain each other through the first support 10 and the second support 20, thereby maintaining the synchronization of the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32. This helps to reduce the vibration and noise generated by the first support 10 and the second support 20 during relative sliding and improves the stability of the equipment.

[0067] In addition to the above, in this embodiment, the connection methods of the first drive assembly 31 and the second drive assembly 32 between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 are somewhat different. For example, both the first drive assembly 31 and the second drive assembly 32 have a fixed part and a drive part, and the drive parts of both drive assemblies can reciprocate in a specific direction relative to their fixed ends:

[0068] The fixed end of the first drive component 31 is fixedly disposed on the first bracket 10 and connected to the second bracket 20 through its drive part. The first drive component 31 can act on the second bracket 20 by using the first bracket 10 as a fulcrum, thereby driving the second bracket 20 to slide relative to the first bracket 10.

[0069] The fixed end of the second drive component 32 is fixedly disposed on the second bracket 20 and connected to the first bracket 10 through its drive part. The second drive component 32 can act on the first bracket 10 by using the second bracket 20 as a fulcrum, thereby driving the first bracket 10 to slide relative to the second bracket 20.

[0070] Although both the first driving component 31 and the second driving component 32 act on the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 respectively through their fixed ends and driving ends during movement, due to the different specific connection methods of the first driving component 31 and the second driving component 32, they use the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 as fulcrums and act on the corresponding brackets respectively. This allows the interaction force between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 to be kept more balanced. During the unfolding and retraction of the flexible display screen 50, the first driving component 31 uses the first bracket 10 as a fulcrum to push and pull the second bracket 20, while the second driving component 32 uses the second bracket 20 as a fulcrum to push and pull the first bracket 10. This is beneficial to the smooth operation of the flexible display screen 50 during unfolding and retraction, and avoids excessive stretching or compression of local parts of the flexible display screen 50 by the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20, thus extending the service life of the screen.

[0071] In addition, by changing the connection method of the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32, the structural redundancy of the flexible display screen retraction device can be effectively improved. Even if one of the drive components fails due to damage, the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 can still maintain the transmission of force through the other drive component, thereby ensuring the continuous operation of the device. This redundancy design is of great significance for improving the reliability and safety of the device.

[0072] Please continue to refer to the appendix. Figures 3-4As can be seen from the above, in addition to the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32, the drive mechanism 30 also includes a power unit 33. Each drive mechanism 30 includes at least one power unit 33 to provide power to the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 to drive the first support 10 and the second support 20 to retract and expand.

[0073] For ease of understanding, in this embodiment, the sliding direction of the first support 10 and the second support 20 between the retracted state and the extended state is defined as the X-axis direction (e.g., Figure 3 (The arrow indicates the "X-axis direction") When the first support 10 and the second support 20 are in the retracted state, the distance between the first support 10 and the second support 20 in the X-axis direction is smaller than the distance between them in the extended state. Conversely, when the first support 10 and the second support 20 are in the extended state, the distance between the first support 10 and the second support 20 in the X-axis direction is larger than the distance between them in the retracted state. This allows for adjustment of the size of the support portion that the two supports can provide for the flexible display screen 50.

[0074] In this embodiment, the power unit 33 can adaptively adopt different power forms according to the transmission methods of the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32, including but not limited to the above-mentioned motor, as well as pneumatic devices, hydraulic devices, electromagnetic drive devices, elastic drive devices, etc.

[0075] In one embodiment, the power unit 33 is disposed between the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32, and is driven by the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32, so that the power unit 33 can drive the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 to slide relative to each other through the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32, so as to realize the expansion and contraction of the flexible display screen 50 through the relative movement of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20, and adjust the display area of ​​the flexible display screen 50 on the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20.

[0076] In specific application scenarios, the power unit 33 is connected to the power supply in the electronic device and provides driving force to the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 through the power supply. Under the drive of the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 in a specific direction, the relative movement of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 is realized.

[0077] In this embodiment, when the first support 10 and the second support 20 switch between the retracted and extended states, the power unit 33 can synchronously drive the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 to ensure that the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 can simultaneously drive the first support 10 and the second support 20 to slide relative to each other. This ensures the stability and uniformity of force during the relative movement between the supports, while also allowing the drive mechanism 30 to maintain a simple and compact structure as much as possible despite the presence of the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32.

[0078] In this embodiment, although the drive mechanism 30 is provided with at least two sets of drive components, its structural redundancy is improved, but the number of power units 33 is not increased, so it will not have too much impact on the installation space provided between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20. At the same time, by driving the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 in a unified manner through the same power unit 33, the synchronicity of the drive mechanism 30's actions is also ensured, and the accuracy during the extension and retraction process is improved.

[0079] Please continue to refer to the appendix. Figures 3-5 In one embodiment, both the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 use a lead screw drive to drive the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20. Based on the connection relationship between the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 and the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20, the structure of the first drive component 31 and the second drive component 32 will be described exemplarily below.

[0080] The first drive assembly 31 includes a first lead screw 311 and a first slider 312. The first lead screw 311 is rotatably disposed on the first bracket 10 and extends to the second bracket 20. The first slider 312 is connected to the second bracket 20 and is fixedly engaged with the first lead screw 311 in the circumferential direction.

[0081] In one embodiment, the first slider 312 can be sleeved on the first lead screw 311 to increase the contact surface between the two, thereby improving the stability during the interaction process.

[0082] Furthermore, the circumferential fixation of the first slider 312 and the first lead screw 311 can be achieved by setting a first limiting rod 313 on the first bracket 10, with the first limiting rod 313 parallel to and spaced apart from the first lead screw 311. This allows the first slider 312 to be fitted onto the first limiting rod 313 while engaging with the first lead screw 311, thus preventing the first lead screw 311 from driving the first slider 312 to rotate. Alternatively, the first slider 312 can also be fitted with the second bracket 20 with a clearance, allowing the second bracket 20 to constrain the first slider 312 in the circumferential direction. This ensures that when the first lead screw 311 rotates under the action of the power unit 33, it can drive the first slider 312 to reciprocate linearly along its axial direction through its meshing relationship with the first slider 312, thereby causing the second bracket 20 and the first bracket 10 to move closer or further apart, achieving precise displacement control between them.

[0083] The second drive assembly 32 includes a second lead screw 321 and a second slider 322. The second lead screw 321 is rotatably mounted on the first bracket 10. The rotation direction of the second lead screw 321 is opposite to the rotation direction of the first lead screw 311, or the thread direction of the second lead screw 321 is opposite to the thread direction of the first lead screw 311, so that the driving directions of the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 are opposite. It should be noted that either the rotation direction of the second lead screw 321 is opposite to the rotation direction of the first lead screw 311, or the thread direction of the second lead screw 321 is opposite to the thread direction of the first lead screw 311, should be selected and used. The second slider 322 is connected to the first bracket 10 and is fixedly engaged with the second lead screw 321 circumferentially.

[0084] Similar to one embodiment described above, the second slider 322 can be sleeved on the second lead screw 321 to increase the contact surface between the two, thereby improving the stability during the interaction process.

[0085] Furthermore, the second slider 322 and the second lead screw 321 are fixed in the circumferential direction by setting a second limiting rod 323 on the first bracket 10. The second limiting rod 323 is parallel to and spaced apart from the second lead screw 321, allowing the second slider 322 to be fitted onto the second limiting rod 323 while engaging with the second lead screw 321, thus preventing the second lead screw 321 from driving the second slider 322 to rotate. Of course, the second slider 322 can also be fitted with the first bracket 10 with a clearance, allowing the first bracket 10 to constrain the second slider 322 in the circumferential direction. This ensures that when the second lead screw 321 rotates under the action of the power unit 33, it can drive the second slider 322 to reciprocate linearly along its axial direction through its meshing relationship with the second slider 322, thereby causing the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 to move closer or further apart, achieving precise displacement control between them.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since both the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 are rotatably located on the first bracket 10, the overall structural compactness of the drive device is improved, while the drive mechanism 30 also has a high degree of integration. This allows the drive mechanism 30 to be uniformly installed on the first bracket 10, and to be installed on the first bracket 10 or the second bracket 20 according to the connection relationship of different sliders, thus simplifying the disassembly and assembly process of the drive mechanism 30.

[0087] Meanwhile, since both the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 are mounted on the first bracket 10, the distance between them is reduced, which facilitates their synchronous drive. In one embodiment, the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 are connected by a gear set 34, and they can be driven to rotate synchronously by the gear set 34. Furthermore, the gear set 34 is provided with a transmission part that can be connected to the power unit 33, so that in the embodiment where the drive mechanism 30 also includes a power unit 33, the power unit 33 can be connected to the transmission part to drive the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 synchronously, thereby ensuring the precision synchronization of the first drive assembly 31 and the second drive assembly 32.

[0088] Please continue to refer to the appendix. Figures 3-5Based on the above embodiments, the drive mechanism 30 also includes a support frame 35. The support frame 35 can provide a corresponding support foundation for the first drive assembly 31, the second drive assembly 32 and the power unit 33. That is, the fourth lead screw, the second lead screw 321 and the first limit rod 313, the second limit rod 323, the power unit 33, the gear set 34 and other components can all be set on the support frame 35 so that the drive mechanism 30 can be uniformly disassembled and assembled, ensuring the compactness of the drive mechanism 30 structure while reducing the difficulty of disassembling and assembling it on the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20.

[0089] In one embodiment, the aforementioned gear sets 34 are all housed within the support frame 35 to protect the gear sets 34 (from dust and impact, etc.) while also ensuring that the lubricating oil between the gears is maintained between each gear, thus ensuring smooth operation of the gear sets 34.

[0090] Please continue to refer to the appendix. Figure 5 As an optional implementation, the gear set 34 includes a driving gear 341, two first driven gears 342, and two second driven gears 343. The driving gear 341 has the aforementioned transmission part for connection to the power unit 33. The two first driven gears 342 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the driving gear 341 and mesh with the driving gear 341. The two second driven gears 343 are respectively disposed on the side of the two first driven gears 342 that are far apart from each other and mesh with the corresponding first driven gear 342. The first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 are coaxially connected to the two second driven gears 343, so that while the power unit 33 drives the driving gear 341 to rotate synchronously, it can sequentially drive the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 to rotate through the multiple first driven gears 342 and the second driven gears 343.

[0091] The reason for setting two driven gears in the above embodiment is to increase the distance between the first lead screw 311 and the power unit 33 and between the second lead screw 321 and the power unit 33, so as to avoid interference between the two.

[0092] Please continue to refer to the appendix. Figure 3 Based on the fact that the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 can slide along the X-axis direction, the driving mechanism 30 in this embodiment is set to two, and the two driving mechanisms 30 are spaced apart along the Y-axis direction.

[0093] It should be noted that the Y-axis direction mentioned in this embodiment refers to the direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction on the surfaces provided by the first support 10 and the second support 20 (e.g., Figure 3The "Y-axis direction" indicated by the arrow can also be understood as the height direction of electronic devices in practical applications.

[0094] According to the above-mentioned technical solution, in the embodiment where the power unit 33 is a motor, based on the electrical connection between the motor and the electronic device, the motor housing (fixed end) is installed on the support frame 35, and the motor output shaft (output end) is fixedly connected to the drive gear 341 in the gear set 34. Thus, when the output shaft of the motor, which is the power unit 33, rotates, the drive gear 341 will respectively engage in a transmission relationship with the first driven gears 342 on both sides, thereby causing the two first driven gears 342 to respectively drive the second driven gears 343 connected to the first drive assembly 31 and the second drive assembly 32. The two second driven gears 343 respectively drive the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 to rotate, causing the first lead screw 311 and the second lead screw 321 to respectively drive the first slider 312 and the second slider 322, which are meshed with them, to move in directions that are closer to or further away from each other under the limiting and guiding of the first limiting rod 313 and the second limiting rod 323.

[0095] Ultimately, the first support 10 and the second support 20 move relative to each other under the drive of the first slider 312 and the second slider 322, respectively, thereby allowing the flexible display screen 50 mounted on the first support 10 and the second support 20 to expand or contract. When the motor, which serves as the power unit 33, stops moving, the series of gear sets 34 and the first drive assembly 31 and the second drive assembly 32 connected to it also cease their transmission relationship, thus keeping the first support 10 and the second support 20 in their current relative positions. This fixes the display area of ​​the flexible display screen 50 on the first support 10 and the second support 20, providing users with different display area options and expanding the application scenarios of electronic devices.

[0096] This embodiment, by setting two drive mechanisms 30 and distributing the two drive mechanisms 30 at intervals between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 in the Y-axis direction, can further improve the stability of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 during relative sliding. This effectively avoids situations such as jamming caused by uneven force at both ends when the Y-axis dimensions of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 are large. It also prevents the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 from locally squeezing or stretching the flexible display screen 50 when such situations occur.

[0097] Based on any of the above embodiments, please refer to the appendix. Figure 3In order to provide a corresponding support structure for the flexible display screen 50 and avoid the flexible display screen 50 from being suspended and difficult to operate under the support of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20, the first bracket 10 is provided with a first comb tooth 11, and the second bracket 20 is provided with a second comb tooth 21 whose structure is adapted to the first comb tooth 11. The first comb tooth 11 and the second comb tooth 21 are respectively provided with multiple tooth-like structures extending along the X-axis direction, and the tooth-like structures of the first comb tooth 11 and the second comb tooth 21 are alternately arranged in the Y-axis direction. The first comb tooth 11 and the second comb tooth 21 can be movably inserted and engaged, thereby forming a support surface between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 that can provide support for the flexible display screen 50.

[0098] It should be noted that regardless of whether the first support 10 and the second support 20 are in a retracted or extended state, the first comb tooth 11 and the second comb tooth 21 should remain in an interlocking state to maintain the structure that provides support for the flexible display screen 50.

[0099] Furthermore, the first support 10 is also provided with a first back plate 12. The first back plate 12 and the first comb teeth 11 are spaced apart in the Z-axis direction and connected by a first side plate 13. Correspondingly, the second support 20 is also provided with a second back plate 22. The second back plate 22 and the first back plate 12 slide together in the X-axis direction. The second back plate 22 and the second comb teeth 21 are also spaced apart in the Z-axis direction. The second back plate 22 and the second comb teeth 21 are connected by a second side plate 23 to ensure the cooperation between the first comb teeth 11 and the second comb teeth 21. In the above embodiment, the first side plate 13 and the second side plate 23 are located on the side of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 that are far apart from each other in the X-axis direction. Thus, the first comb tooth 11, the second comb tooth 21, the first side plate 13, the second side plate 23, the first back plate 12, and the second back plate 22 enclose and form an installation space for the electronic device components. The drive mechanism 30 is disposed in this installation space. Based on the first drive mechanism 30 and the second drive mechanism 30 being mounted on the first bracket 10, the second drive component 32 is also connected to the first bracket 10 through the first comb tooth 11, and the first drive component 31 is connected to the second bracket 20 through the second comb tooth 21. This ensures that the force applied by the drive mechanism 30 to the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 can be transmitted through the first comb tooth 11 and the second comb tooth 21, maximizing the matching accuracy of the first comb tooth 11 and the second comb tooth 21. This prevents jamming or displacement between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 during the extension and retraction process, and provides a stable support function for the flexible display screen 50.

[0100] It should be explained that the Z-axis direction refers to the direction perpendicular to both the X-axis and Y-axis directions (which can also be understood as the direction perpendicular to the first backplate 12 and the second backplate 22, i.e., the attached...). Figure 3 , Figure 5 (The arrow points to the "Z-axis direction").

[0101] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 , Figures 6-7 As shown, a guide rail 40 is also provided between the first support 10 and the second support 20. The first support 10 and the second support 20 are guided and cooperated by the guide rail 40 to achieve relatively smooth and controlled movement between the first support 10 and the second support 20, and reduce friction and wear between the supports.

[0102] In particular, in the embodiment described above, two drive mechanisms 30 are provided, and the two drive mechanisms 30 are spaced apart along the Y-axis between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20. The guide rail 40 can be provided between the two drive mechanisms 30 to ensure stable sliding of the middle part of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20, thereby ensuring the overall stability of the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 during the relative sliding process.

[0103] Please continue to refer to the appendix. Figures 6-7 In one specific structural form of the guide rail 40, the guide rail 40 includes a rail component 41, a first guide block 42, and a second guide block 43. The rail component 41 is disposed between the first support 10 and the second support 20. The rail component 41 is provided with a first guide rail 411 and a second guide rail 412 spaced apart along the Z-axis. The first guide rail 411 and the second guide rail 412 are parallel to each other and extend to the first support 10 and the second support 20 at their respective ends. The first guide block 42 is slidably engaged with the first guide rail 411 and connected to the first support 10. The second guide block 43 is slidably engaged with the second guide rail 412 and connected to the second support 20.

[0104] In the above-described embodiment with the first comb tooth 11 and the second comb tooth 21, the first guide block 42 is connected to the first bracket 10 through the first back plate 12, and the second guide block 43 is connected to the second bracket 20 through the second comb tooth 21.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the stability of the first support 10 and the second support 20 during the relative sliding process is achieved by a slide rail component 41. The first support 10 and the second support 20 can be constrained by the cooperation between the first guide block 42 and the first guide rail 411, and between the second guide block 43 and the second guide rail 412, so as to ensure that the displacement accuracy of the first support 10 and the second support 20 between the retracted state and the extended state meets the requirements of the drive mechanism 30.

[0106] Meanwhile, the first guide rail 411 and the second guide rail 412 are spaced apart on the slide rail component 41, so that the first guide rail 411 and the second guide rail 412 can be integrally formed during the processing of the slide rail component 41, which ensures the precision of the component and saves the installation space occupied by the guide slide rail 40, making the flexible display screen retraction device more compact.

[0107] like Figures 1-3 As shown, it is worth mentioning that, as can be seen from the above, the flexible display screen retraction device also includes a flexible display screen 50. The first end of the flexible display screen 50 is connected to the second support 20, and the second end of the flexible display screen 50 is set on the first support 10 through the roller assembly 14.

[0108] In this embodiment, the flexible display screen 50 can also be connected to the first support 10 and the second support 20 through an integrated flexible support 60. The flexible support 60 can adapt to the extended and retracted state of the first support 10 and the second support 20 to ensure its stability on the first support 10 and the second support 20, and also avoid direct contact between the flexible display screen 50 and the first support 10 and the second support 20, thus providing effective protection for the flexible display screen 50.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the flexible bracket 60 can be attached to the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 to isolate the internal space of the device from the external environment, and work with the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20 to provide protection for the internal components. The flexible display screen 50 can be attached to the flexible bracket 60 so that the flexible display screen 50 can move with the movement of the flexible bracket 60 between the first bracket 10 and the second bracket 20.

[0110] This embodiment also provides an electronic device, which, as described above, may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a wearable device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, etc. By employing the flexible display screen retraction and extension device described above, it achieves the purpose of improving the stability of the flexible display screen 50 during the retraction and extension process, thereby enhancing the user experience.

[0111] In the description herein, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and other orientations or positional relationships are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, 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 the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used merely for descriptive distinction and have no special meaning.

[0112] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0113] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style of the specification is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0114] The technical principles of the present invention have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. These descriptions are merely for explaining the principles of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the invention in any way. Based on this explanation, those skilled in the art can readily conceive of other specific embodiments of the invention without inventive effort, and these embodiments will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible display screen retraction and extension device, characterized in that, include: First support (10); The second support (20) is slidably connected to the first support (10) so that the first support (10) and the second support (20) can slide relative to each other between the retracted state and the extended state; A drive mechanism (30) is disposed on the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20) for driving the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20) to slide relative to each other; The drive mechanism (30) includes: The first drive component (31) is fixedly disposed on the first bracket (10) and connected to the second bracket (20). The first drive component (31) can act on the second bracket (20) through the first bracket (10) to drive the second bracket (20) to slide relative to the first bracket (10). The second drive component (32) is fixedly disposed on the second bracket (20) and connected to the first bracket (10). The second drive component (32) can act on the first bracket (10) through the second bracket (20) to drive the first bracket (10) to slide relative to the second bracket (20).

2. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive mechanism (30) further includes: A power unit (33) is disposed between the first drive assembly (31) and the second drive assembly (32) and is driven by the first drive assembly (31) and the second drive assembly (32) so that the power unit (33) can drive the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20) to slide relative to each other through the first drive assembly (31) and the second drive assembly (32).

3. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first driving component (31) includes: The first lead screw (311) is rotatably mounted on the first bracket (10) and extends to the second bracket (20); The first slider (312) is connected to the second bracket (20), and the first slider (312) is fixedly engaged with the first lead screw (311) in the circumferential direction; The second driving component (32) includes: The second lead screw (321) is rotatably mounted on the first bracket (10). The rotation direction of the second lead screw (321) is opposite to the rotation direction of the first lead screw (311), or the thread direction of the second lead screw (321) is opposite to the thread direction of the first lead screw (311). The second slider (322) is connected to the first bracket (10), and the second slider (322) is fixedly engaged with the second lead screw (321) in the circumferential direction.

4. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first lead screw (311) and the second lead screw (321) are connected by a gear set (34), which is provided with a transmission part that can provide a connection to the power unit (33).

5. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20) can slide relative to each other along the X-axis; There are two drive mechanisms (30), and the two drive mechanisms (30) are spaced apart along the Y-axis.

6. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first bracket (10) is provided with a first comb tooth (11), and the second drive assembly (32) is connected to the first bracket (10) through the first comb tooth (11); The second bracket (20) is provided with a second comb tooth (21), and the first comb tooth (11) and the second comb tooth (21) are movably inserted and engaged. The first drive assembly (31) is connected to the second bracket (20) through the second comb tooth (21).

7. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A guide rail (40) is also provided between the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20), and the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20) are guided and engaged by the guide rail (40).

8. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The guide rail (40) includes: A slide rail component (41) is disposed between the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20). The slide rail component (41) is provided with a first guide rail (411) and a second guide rail (412) spaced apart. The first guide rail (411) and the second guide rail (412) are parallel to each other and their opposite ends extend to the first bracket (10) and the second bracket (20) respectively. The first guide block (42) slides with the first guide rail (411) and is connected to the first bracket (10); The second guide block (43) slides with the second guide rail (412) and is connected to the second bracket (20).

9. The flexible display screen retraction and extension device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A flexible display screen (50) is provided, with its first end connected to the second support (20) and its second end disposed on the first support (10) via a roll assembly (14).

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: The flexible display screen retraction device as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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