Rotating shaft mechanism and foldable electronic device

Abstract

The application provides a rotating shaft mechanism and a foldable electronic device, and relates to the technical field of electronic products. The rotating shaft mechanism is provided with a tension film. The first end of the tension film is connected to the part of the transmission component located on the first support plate, the second end of the tension film is connected to the second support plate, and the tension film is located on the side of the transmission component facing the folding screen and covers at least part of the opening on the first support plate. In this way, the tension film separates the transmission component and the folding screen. When the rotating shaft mechanism is in an unfolded state, the tension film is stretched to provide tension support for the folding screen. In this way, the opening area of the rotating shaft mechanism can be reduced, the folding screen is supported at the opening by the tension film, and the light and shadow crease effect of the folding screen is improved. Moreover, the tension film covers the transmission component in the opening of the first support plate. In the risk scenarios of collision or falling, the tension film can absorb the impact of the transmission component on the folding screen, and the risk of screen failure is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic product technology, and in particular to a pivot mechanism and a foldable electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Foldable screens, with their bendable nature, allow electronic devices to be folded and switched between unfolded and folded states. Foldable electronic devices offer a larger display area and are easy to carry, making them increasingly popular with consumers.

[0003] The hinge mechanism, as a core component of foldable electronic devices, is used to achieve relative rotation between the two main bodies of the device, thereby unfolding or folding the screen. Current hinge mechanisms contain multiple swing arms. To prevent interference between the swing arms and the central spindle, multiple openings are often provided on the central spindle to allow for the movement of the swing arms.

[0004] However, the numerous openings on the central axis can cause unevenness when the folding screen contacts the central axis, resulting in light and shadow creases on the folding screen and potentially causing screen failure in risky scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a hinge mechanism and a foldable electronic device. The hinge mechanism can improve the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device and reduce the risk of screen failure.

[0006] One aspect of this application provides a hinge mechanism applied to a foldable electronic device, wherein the hinge mechanism is supported on a bendable portion of a foldable screen. The hinge mechanism includes: a first support plate having an opening on one side surface facing the foldable screen; a second support plate disposed on the side of the first support plate; a transmission component having a first side mounted on the first support plate and exposed to the opening, and a second side mounted on the second support plate; and a tension membrane having a first end connected to the first side of the transmission component and a second end connected to the second support plate. The tension membrane is located between the transmission component and the foldable screen and covers at least a portion of the opening, and is stretched when the hinge mechanism is in an unfolded state.

[0007] The hinge mechanism provided in this application incorporates a tension membrane. The first end of the tension membrane is connected to the portion of the transmission component located on the first support plate, and the second end is connected to the second support plate. The tension membrane is positioned on the side of the transmission component facing the folding screen and covers at least a portion of the opening on the first support plate. This configuration separates the transmission component and the folding screen. When the hinge mechanism is in the unfolded state, the tension membrane is stretched to provide tension support to the folding screen. This reduces the opening area of ​​the hinge mechanism, improves the consistency of support for the folding screen, and enhances the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, the tension membrane fills the gap between the folding screen and the transmission component. By covering the transmission component within the opening of the first support plate, the tension membrane can absorb the impact of the transmission component on the folding screen in risky scenarios such as collisions or drops, protecting the integrity of the folding screen and reducing the risk of screen failure in the foldable electronic device.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the transmission component includes a swing arm, a first side of which is mounted on a first support plate and exposed through an opening, a second side of which is mounted on a second support plate, and a tension diaphragm located between the swing arm and the folding screen.

[0009] In this way, the tension membrane can cover the opening in the first support plate at the swing arm. When the pivot mechanism is in the unfolded state, the tension membrane is stretched between the opening in the first support plate and the folding screen, providing tension support to the folding screen, improving the flatness of the folding screen, and improving the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the tension diaphragm includes a first tension diaphragm, a first end of which is connected to the swing arm, and a second end of which is connected to the second support plate.

[0011] In this way, the swing arm rotates with the movement of the rotating shaft mechanism, and the first end of the first tension diaphragm changes position with the rotation of the swing arm, thus changing the extension length between the two ends of the first tension diaphragm. By designing the orientation of the first tension diaphragm, the first tension diaphragm is stretched from its natural state to a taut state during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism changing from a folded state to an unfolded state.

[0012] In one possible implementation, when the pivot mechanism is applied to a foldable electronic device with an inward-folding architecture, the first support plate is provided with a positioning part, and the first end of the first tension membrane is reversely connected to the swing arm around the positioning part.

[0013] When the rotating shaft mechanism is used in an inward folding machine, if the first tension diaphragm is only connected to the swing arm in the forward direction, the tension diaphragm cannot be stretched into a taut state when the rotating shaft mechanism moves from folding to unfolding. By setting a positioning part on the first support plate, the first end of the first tension diaphragm is connected to the swing arm in the reverse direction after passing around the positioning part, so that the first tension diaphragm is folded in half. In this way, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism moving from folding to unfolding, the first end of the first tension diaphragm moves towards the second end, and the turning part of the first tension diaphragm is always restricted to the positioning part, so the first tension diaphragm is stretched and changes to a taut state.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first support plate includes an upper shaft plate and a lower shaft plate, with the upper shaft plate close to the folding screen and the lower shaft plate located on the side of the upper shaft plate away from the folding screen; the positioning part is a positioning groove opened in the upper shaft plate, and the first tension membrane passes through the positioning groove and is connected to the swing arm in the opposite direction.

[0015] In one possible implementation, when the first tension membrane is in its natural state, the length of the first tension membrane ranges from 5.0 mm to 9.0 mm.

[0016] In one possible implementation, when the pivot mechanism is applied to a foldable electronic device with an outward-folding architecture, the first end of the first tension diaphragm is oriented around the outer periphery of the swing arm.

[0017] When the rotating shaft mechanism is applied to an outward folding machine, the rotation direction of the swing arm is opposite to that of the swing arm in an inward folding machine when the mechanism changes from a folded state to an unfolded state. By directly connecting the first end of the first tension diaphragm to the outer surface of the swing arm, the first tension diaphragm is elongated as a whole. Thus, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism from folding to unfolding, the first end of the first tension diaphragm moves away from the second end, the path of the first tension diaphragm becomes longer and longer, and the first tension diaphragm is stretched and changes to a taut state.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first side of the swing arm includes at least two rotating parts spaced apart, at least one of which is connected to a first tension membrane.

[0019] In this way, the first tension membrane can at least cover a portion of the opening on the first support plate, providing support for the foldable screen within the opening when the hinge mechanism is in the unfolded state, thus improving the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, since the first tension membrane covers at least a portion of the swing arm within the opening, in risky scenarios such as collisions or drops, the tension membrane can absorb at least a portion of the impact from the transmission components on the foldable screen, reducing the risk of screen failure in the foldable electronic device.

[0020] In one possible implementation, at least two rotating parts are connected to a first tension membrane.

[0021] In this way, a larger area of ​​the opening in the first support plate is covered by the first tension membrane, which can significantly improve the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, the first tension membrane covers a larger area of ​​the swing arm within the opening, which can further reduce the risk of screen failure in the foldable electronic device.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the first tension membrane includes a common portion and at least two separating portions. The common portion is connected to a second support plate, and each separating portion is connected to the side of the common portion facing the first support plate, and each separating portion is connected to a corresponding rotating portion.

[0023] In this way, a first tension diaphragm is connected to each swing arm, resulting in a more uniform stress distribution on the diaphragm and a more balanced interaction with the rotating parts of the swing arm. This can extend the service life of the first tension diaphragm and help improve the smoothness of the rotating shaft mechanism's movement.

[0024] In one possible implementation, when the first tension membrane is in its natural state, the ends of each separation portion away from the common portion are aligned with each other along the length of the first tension membrane, and the ends of each separation portion away from the common portion are located at the same circumferential position of the corresponding rotating portion.

[0025] In this way, the lengths between the first ends formed by each separation section and the second ends formed by the common section are all equal, which is equivalent to the extension lengths of each separation section being equal. During the process of the rotating shaft mechanism from folding to unfolding, the lengths of each separation section after being stretched remain consistent, and the stretching rates of each separation section remain consistent. The stress generated by the first tension membrane as a whole is more balanced, resulting in higher consistency and reliability of the first tension membrane, and a longer service life.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the transmission component includes a swing arm and a synchronizing gear, the synchronizing gear being mounted on a first support plate and meshing with the side of the swing arm opposite to the second support plate.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the tension diaphragm includes a second tension diaphragm, which includes at least a first portion, a first end of which is connected to a synchronizing gear, and a second end of which is connected to a second support plate.

[0028] Thus, as the rotating shaft mechanism moves, the swing arm drives the synchronous gear to rotate, and the first segment of the first part of the second tension membrane changes position as the synchronous gear rotates. By designing the orientation of the first part of the second tension membrane, the first part of the second tension membrane is stretched from its natural state to a taut state during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism changing from a folded state to an unfolded state.

[0029] In one possible implementation, when the pivot mechanism is applied to a foldable electronic device with an inwardly folding architecture, the first end of the first part is forwardly wound around the outer periphery of the synchronizing gear.

[0030] When the rotating shaft mechanism is used in an inward folding machine, the first end of the first portion of the second tension membrane is directly connected to the synchronous gear in a forward direction. Thus, during the folding and unfolding process of the rotating shaft mechanism, the first end of the first portion of the second tension membrane rotates with the synchronous gear and moves away from the second end of the first portion of the second tension membrane, increasing the distance between the two ends of the first portion of the second tension membrane. Consequently, the second tension membrane is stretched and transitions to a taut state.

[0031] In one possible implementation, when the second tension membrane is in its natural state, the length of the first portion ranges from 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm.

[0032] In one possible implementation, when the pivot mechanism is applied to a foldable electronic device with an outward-folding architecture, the first support plate is provided with a positioning part, and the first end of the first part is reversely connected to the synchronous gear around the positioning part.

[0033] When the rotating shaft mechanism is applied to the outward folding machine, the rotation direction of the synchronous gear is opposite to that of the synchronous gear in the inward folding machine when the rotating shaft mechanism changes from the folded state to the unfolded state. By setting a positioning part on the first support plate, the first end of the first part of the second tension membrane is bypassed by the positioning part and then connected to the synchronous gear in the opposite direction, so that the first part of the second tension membrane is folded in half. In this way, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism from folding to unfolding, the first end of the first part of the second tension membrane moves towards the second end, and the turning part of the first part of the second tension membrane is always restricted to the positioning part, and the first tension membrane is stretched and changes to a taut state.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the first side of the swing arm includes a gear portion and a rotating portion, the gear portion meshing with a synchronizing gear; the second tension diaphragm also includes a second portion, the first end of the second portion being connected to the rotating portion, and the second end of the second portion being connected to the second support plate.

[0035] In this way, the second tension membrane uses its first portion to cover the area of ​​the opening in the first support plate corresponding to the gear portion of the swing arm, and its second portion to cover the area of ​​the opening in the first support plate corresponding to the rotating portion of the swing arm. The area of ​​the opening in the first support plate covered by the second tension membrane is larger, which can significantly improve the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, the second tension membrane covers more parts of the swing arm within the opening in the first support plate, which can further reduce the risk of screen failure in the foldable electronic device.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the second end of the first part and the second end of the second part are connected as one unit.

[0037] In this way, a single transmission component is covered with an integral second tension diaphragm. The stress distribution generated by the second tension diaphragm is more uniform, and the interaction between it and the transmission component is more balanced. This can extend the service life of the second tension diaphragm and help improve the smoothness of the rotation of the shaft mechanism.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the thickness of the tension membrane ranges from 0.025 mm to 1.0 mm.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the tension membrane includes at least one of PU membrane, TPU membrane, Mylar membrane, PTFE membrane, and PEEK membrane.

[0040] Another aspect of this application provides a foldable electronic device, including at least two housings, a foldable screen, and a hinge mechanism as described above, wherein the hinge mechanism is connected between adjacent housings and the foldable screen is attached to the housing.

[0041] The foldable electronic device provided in this application, since it includes the aforementioned hinge mechanism, possesses all the technical effects of a hinge mechanism, which will not be elaborated here. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device provided in the embodiment of this application when it is in the unfolded state;

[0043] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device in the folded state;

[0044] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device in a semi-expanded state;

[0045] Figure 4 An exploded view of the foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 5 A structural diagram from one perspective of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application when it is in the unfolded state;

[0047] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A structural diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism in the folded state;

[0048] Figure 7 for Figure 5 Another structural view of the rotating shaft mechanism in the deployed state;

[0049] Figure 8 An exploded view of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0050] Figure 9 for Figure 8 The structural diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism after removing the upper shaft plate of the first support plate;

[0051] Figure 10 for Figure 9 Exploded view of the rotating shaft mechanism in the diagram;

[0052] Figure 11 A front view of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application when it is in a folded state;

[0053] Figure 12 A front view of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application when it is in the unfolded state;

[0054] Figure 13 for Figure 11 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line AA;

[0055] Figure 14 for Figure 12 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line DD;

[0056] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first tension membrane provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0057] Figure 16a for Figure 11 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line BB;

[0058] Figure 16b for Figure 11 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line CC;

[0059] Figure 17a for Figure 12 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line EE;

[0060] Figure 17b for Figure 12 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line FF;

[0061] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second tension membrane provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0062] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0063] 1- Foldable electronic devices;

[0064] 10 - Display screen;

[0065] 10a - Foldable screen; 10b - Flat screen;

[0066] 11-Non-bending part; 12-Bendable part;

[0067] 11a - First non-bending portion; 11b - Second non-bending portion;

[0068] 20 - Housing assembly;

[0069] 100 - Housing;

[0070] 100a - First housing; 100b - Second housing;

[0071] 110 - Mid-frame; 120 - Back cover;

[0072] 200-Rotating shaft mechanism;

[0073] 210-Support plate; 210a-Main shaft; 210b-Door panel; 220-Transmission component; 220a-First transmission component; 220b-Second transmission component; 230-Tension diaphragm;

[0074] 211-First support plate; 212-Second support plate; 221-Swing arm; 222-Synchronous gear; 231-First tension diaphragm; 232-Second tension diaphragm;

[0075] 211a-Upper shaft plate; 211b-Lower shaft plate; 2111-Opening; 2112-Positioning part; 2112a-Positioning groove; 2211-Rotating part; 2212-Gear part; 2301-First end; 2302-Second end; 2311-Common part; 2312-Separation part; 2321-First part; 2322-Second part. Detailed Implementation

[0076] The terminology used in the implementation section of this application is for the purpose of explaining specific embodiments of this application only, and is not intended to limit this application.

[0077] This application provides a foldable electronic device, which can be a consumer electronics product. Exemplary examples include, but are not limited to, foldable electronic products such as foldable mobile phones, laptop computers, notebook computers, netbooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers, multimedia players, e-book readers, in-vehicle devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, or wearable devices. Wearable devices include, but are not limited to, smart bracelets, smartwatches, smart head-mounted displays, and smart glasses.

[0078] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device provided in the embodiment of this application when it is in the unfolded state. Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device in the picture when it is in a folded state. Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device in its semi-expanded state. (Refer to...) Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment uses a foldable mobile phone as an example for illustration.

[0079] For the foldable electronic device 1, it can have different usage states in different usage scenarios. Figure 1 The foldable electronic device 1 is shown in its unfolded state. The unfolding angle α of the foldable electronic device 1 is, for example, 180°. At this time, the foldable electronic device 1 can realize a large screen display. Figure 2 The foldable electronic device 1 is shown in a folded state, in which the foldable electronic device 1 is small in size and easy to carry. Figure 3 The diagram shows a foldable electronic device 1 in a semi-expanded state, where it hovers at an angle between the unfolded and folded states. For example, the hovering angle β of the foldable electronic device 1 can be 120°, 130°, 140°, or 150°, etc.

[0080] It should be noted that the angles illustrated in this embodiment are allowed to have slight deviations. For example, Figure 1 The unfolding angle α of the foldable electronic device 1 shown is 180°, meaning that the unfolding angle α can be 180°, or approximately 180°, such as 170°, 175°, 185°, or 190°. The angles illustrated in the following text can be understood in the same way.

[0081] in addition, Figures 1 to 3 The foldable electronic device 1 shown is an electronic device capable of folding once. The foldable electronic device 1 includes two parts that can rotate relative to each other. When the two parts rotate to be coplanar, the foldable electronic device 1 is in an unfolded state (e.g., ...). Figure 1 (As shown). When the two parts are rotated to overlap, the foldable electronic device 1 is in a folded state (as shown). Figure 2 (As shown). When the two parts are rotated to a certain angle between the unfolded and folded states, the foldable electronic device 1 is in a semi-unfolded state (as shown). Figure 3 (As shown).

[0082] In other embodiments, the foldable electronic device 1 may also be an electronic device capable of folding more than twice. In this case, the foldable electronic device 1 may include multiple parts that are rotatably connected in sequence, with adjacent parts being able to move away from each other to unfold into an unfolded state, and adjacent parts being able to move closer together to fold into a folded state.

[0083] Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of a foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 4 As shown, the foldable electronic device 1 includes a display screen 10 and a housing assembly 20. One side surface of the display screen 10 is used to display images, text, and other information; this side surface is typically defined as its front surface, and the opposite side surface is its back surface. The housing assembly 20 surrounds the periphery and back surface of the display screen 10, providing support, fixation, and protection for the display screen 10. The front surface of the display screen 10 is exposed outside the housing assembly 20, allowing the user to view the content displayed on the display screen 10 or perform input operations on the foldable electronic device 1.

[0084] The display screen 10 of the foldable electronic device 1 may include a foldable screen 10a. A housing assembly 20 supports and secures the foldable screen 10a and drives it to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. The foldable screen 10a may include two or more non-bending portions 11 and a bendable portion 12 located between two adjacent non-bending portions 11. The housing assembly 20 may include two or more housings 100 and a pivot mechanism 200 movably connected between two adjacent housings. Each non-bending portion 11 of the foldable screen 10a is correspondingly attached to each housing 100 of the housing assembly 20, and the bendable portion 12 of the foldable screen is correspondingly disposed with the pivot mechanism 200 of the housing assembly 20.

[0085] For example, the foldable screen 10a can be made of a flexible material so that the bendable portion 12 can be bent. The foldable screen 10a can be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

[0086] Reference Figure 4 As shown, taking a foldable electronic device 1 capable of folding once as an example, the foldable screen 10a may include two non-bending portions 11 and one bendable portion 12. For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the two non-bending portions 11 are defined as the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b, respectively. The first non-bending portion 11a, the bendable portion 12, and the second non-bending portion 11b are arranged sequentially along a first direction. That is, in the first direction, the bendable portion 12 is located between the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b.

[0087] The housing assembly 20 may include two housings 100 and a rotating shaft mechanism 200. For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the two housings are defined as a first housing 100a and a second housing 100b, respectively. The rotating shaft mechanism 200 connects the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b, and the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b are rotatably connected through the rotating shaft mechanism 200. Thus, relative rotation between the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b is achieved.

[0088] The first housing 100a supports and fixes the first non-bending portion 11a of the foldable screen 10a, and the second housing 100b supports and fixes the second non-bending portion 11b of the foldable screen 10a. The bendable portion 12 of the foldable screen 10a is provided corresponding to the pivot mechanism 200. The first non-bending portion 11a of the foldable screen 10a can be attached to the surface of the first housing 100a, and the second non-bending portion 11b of the foldable screen 10a can be attached to the surface connected to the second housing 100b. The bendable portion 12 of the foldable screen 10a is either not connected to the pivot mechanism 200 or partially connected to the pivot mechanism 200.

[0089] During use, the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b of the foldable screen 10a remain in a flat state, while the bendable portion 12 of the foldable screen 10a can be bent. When the pivot mechanism 200 drives the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b to rotate relative to each other, the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b of the foldable screen 10a change their orientation accordingly, and the bendable portion 12 of the foldable screen 10a bends or flattens as the orientation of the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b changes.

[0090] The first housing 100a and the second housing 100b can rotate in a direction away from each other until they are coplanar. At this time, the housing assembly 20 is in the unfolded state, and the folding screen 10a is also in the unfolded state as the housing assembly 20 unfolds (e.g., Figure 1 (As shown). The first housing 100a and the second housing 100b can also rotate towards each other until they are stacked relative to each other. At this time, the housing assembly 20 is in a folded state, and the folding screen 10a is also in a folded state as the housing assembly 20 is folded (as shown). Figure 2 (As shown).

[0091] It should be noted that the foldable electronic device 1 in this embodiment can be an inward-folding structure. When the foldable electronic device 1 is in the folded state, the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b of the foldable screen 10a are relatively close together, and the housing assembly 20 surrounds the foldable screen 10a, with the foldable screen 10a located between the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b. Thus, when the foldable electronic device 1 is in the folded state, the foldable screen 10a is not visible to the outside, and the housing assembly 20 can provide protection for the foldable screen 10a to prevent it from being scratched by hard objects.

[0092] If the foldable electronic device 1 with an inward-folding architecture needs to perform a display function in the folded state, a flat screen 10b can be added to the back of the housing assembly 20 (the side of the housing assembly 20 facing away from the folding screen 10a). In the folded state, the foldable electronic device 1 relies on this flat screen 10b to perform the display function (see...). Figure 2 or Figure 3 In other words, the display screen 10 of the foldable electronic device 1 with its inward-folding architecture can include a foldable screen 10a and a flat screen 10b. The foldable screen 10a can be attached to the front of the housing assembly 20, and as the housing assembly 20 moves, the foldable screen 10a switches between an unfolded state and a folded state. When the foldable electronic device 1 is in the folded state, the foldable screen 10a is not visible to the outside. The flat screen 10b can be attached to the back of the housing assembly 20, and the flat screen 10b displays information when the foldable electronic device 1 is in the folded state.

[0093] The foldable electronic device 1 in this embodiment can also be an outward-folding structure. When the foldable electronic device 1 is in the folded state, the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b of the foldable screen 10a face away from each other, and the housing assembly 20 is located between the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b. In other words, when the outward-folding foldable electronic device 1 is in the folded state, the foldable screen 10a surrounds the housing assembly 20 and is visible to the outside, allowing for display functionality. Therefore, it is not necessary to add an additional flat screen 10b to the back of the housing assembly 20 to achieve the display function of the foldable electronic device 1 in the folded state.

[0094] Continue to refer to Figure 4 In the housing assembly 20 of the foldable electronic device 1, both the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b may include a mid-frame 110, and the first non-bending portion 11a and the second non-bending portion 11b of the foldable screen 10a may be supported on the front side of the corresponding mid-frame 110. When the foldable electronic device 1 has an outward-folding structure or an inward-folding structure without an additional flat screen 10b, both the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b of the housing assembly 20 may also include a back cover 120, which is connected to the side surface of the mid-frame 110 facing away from the foldable screen 10a. When the foldable electronic device 1 has an inward-folding structure with an additional flat screen 10b, one of the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b may not include the back cover 120, and instead, the flat screen 10b may be mounted on the back side of the mid-frame 110.

[0095] In the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b, the middle frame 110 and the rear cover 120 (or the flat screen 10b) together form a receiving cavity, which is used to install some functional components (not shown in the figure) of the foldable electronic device 1. For example, the receiving cavity is used to install circuit boards, batteries, camera modules, microphones, speakers and other components.

[0096] Generally, the rotating shaft mechanism 200 contains multiple swing arms. In order to install the swing arms and prevent interference between the movement of parts, the intermediate main shaft (the middle beam of the rotating shaft mechanism) is usually provided with multiple opening areas. The swing arms can be accommodated in the opening areas, or the opening areas can be used to avoid the swing arms.

[0097] However, with the increase in the aperture ratio, the support of the central axis for the foldable screen 10a decreases, resulting in worse light and shadow creases on the foldable screen 10a. For example, the irregular shape of the swing arm within the aperture area, and local protrusions or teeth on the swing arm pressing against the foldable screen 10a, cause ring-shaped or string-of-pearls-like light and shadow problems on the foldable screen 10a. Furthermore, there is a gap between the foldable screen 10a and the swing arm in the aperture area. In risky scenarios such as collisions or drops (especially when the foldable electronic device is folded), the irregular areas of the swing arm may impact the foldable screen 10a, potentially causing screen failure in severe cases.

[0098] In view of this, the present application improves the hinge mechanism of the foldable electronic device. Generally, the hinge mechanism includes a first support plate and a second support plate arranged adjacent to each other, and also includes a plurality of transmission components, at least some of which are movably connected between the first support plate and the second support plate. A first side of the transmission component is mounted on the first support plate, and a second side of the transmission component is mounted on the second support plate. The transmission component can rotate on the first support plate as the hinge mechanism moves, and the transmission component is exposed in an opening on the surface of the first support plate facing the folding screen. In the present application embodiment, a tension membrane is added to the hinge mechanism. The first end of the tension membrane is connected to the portion of the transmission component located on the first support plate, and the second end of the tension membrane is connected to the second support plate. The tension membrane is located on the side of the transmission component facing the folding screen and covers at least a portion of the opening on the first support plate.

[0099] This design separates the transmission components from the foldable screen. When the hinge mechanism is in the unfolded state, the tension membrane is stretched to provide tension support to the foldable screen. This reduces the opening area of ​​the hinge mechanism, improves the consistency of the hinge mechanism's support for the foldable screen, and enhances the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, the tension membrane bridges the gap between the foldable screen and the transmission components. By covering the transmission components within the opening of the first support plate, the tension membrane can absorb the impact of the transmission components on the foldable screen in high-risk scenarios such as collisions or drops, protecting the integrity of the foldable screen and reducing the risk of screen failure in foldable electronic devices.

[0100] The rotating mechanism 200 provided in the foldable electronic device 1 of this application embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0101] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram from one perspective of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application when it is in the unfolded state. Figure 6 for Figure 5 The structural diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism in the folded state. Figure 7 for Figure 5 The diagram shows the structure of the rotating shaft mechanism in its unfolded state from another perspective. It should be noted that, in order to illustrate the structure of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 more clearly, the entire structure of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is not shown in the figure, but only a portion of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 in the length direction is shown.

[0102] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the pivot mechanism 200 includes multiple support plates 210, which are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the pivot mechanism 200. The support plates 210 are movably connected to each other via a transmission component 220. Each support plate 210 serves as the main support structure of the pivot mechanism 200. The support plate 210 located in the middle region of the pivot mechanism 200 serves as the basic support for the pivot mechanism 200 itself, while the support plates 210 located on both sides of the pivot mechanism 200 are respectively connected to their corresponding housings. The transmission component 220 is used to transmit power between adjacent support plates 210, enabling the pivot mechanism 200 to switch between an unfolded state and a folded state, and providing the required functions and tactile feedback for the pivot mechanism 200.

[0103] Multiple transmission components 220 can be connected between the support plates 210, and each transmission component 220 can be arranged sequentially along the length direction of the support plate 210. Depending on their function, the transmission components 220 can include moving components, synchronizing components, damping components, etc. The moving components are mainly used to realize the relative movement between the support plates 210, so as to switch the rotating shaft mechanism 200 between the unfolded and folded states, thereby realizing the unfolding and folding of the housing assembly. The synchronizing components are used to realize the synchronous movement of the left and right parts of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 in the width direction, so as to drive the synchronous movement of two adjacent housings through the rotating shaft mechanism 200, ensuring the reliability of the housing assembly's movement and the accuracy of its movement trajectory. The damping components are used to provide damping force to the rotating shaft mechanism 200, ensuring the stability of the housing assembly in the unfolded, folded, and moving states, and improving the operating feel of the foldable electronic device.

[0104] When designing the rotating shaft mechanism 200, components that perform different functions can be designed separately, with each transmission component 220 used to perform a single function. For example, some transmission components 220 are only used to achieve relative movement between the support plates 210, some are only used to achieve synchronous movement of the rotating shaft mechanism 200, and some are only used to provide damping force. Alternatively, components with different functions can be integrated together, with one transmission component 220 performing different functions. For example, some transmission components 220 can achieve synchronous movement in addition to driving relative movement of the support plates 210, some can achieve damping in addition to driving relative movement of the support plates 210, and some can integrate relative movement, synchronous movement, and damping functions of the support plates 210 into one unit. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0105] Among them, reference Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the rotating shaft mechanism 200 in its deployed state. In this state, the support plates 210 within the rotating shaft mechanism 200 are deployed to a coplanar arrangement, and the two side housings of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 are also deployed to a coplanar arrangement. (Refer to...) Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the folded state of the pivot mechanism 200. At this time, the support plates 210 on both sides of the pivot mechanism 200 in the width direction are folded to be opposite each other, and the housings on both sides of the pivot mechanism 200 are folded accordingly.

[0106] Furthermore, the pivot mechanism 200 shown in the figure includes three support plates 210. The support plate 210 located in the middle region of the pivot mechanism 200 is equivalent to the main shaft 210a (or center beam) of the pivot mechanism 200. The main shaft 210a can serve as the rotation axis of the housing assembly, and the housings on both sides of the pivot mechanism 200 rotate around the main shaft 210a. The support plates 210 located on the left and right sides of the main shaft 210a are equivalent to the door panels 210b (or side beams) of the pivot mechanism 200, and the two door panels 210b are respectively connected to the corresponding housings.

[0107] Additionally, the hinge mechanism 200 shown in the diagram can be applied to inward-folding devices (foldable electronic devices with an inward-folding structure). (See reference...) Figure 5 As shown in the figure, the hinge mechanism 200 is illustrated on the side facing the foldable screen, and the foldable screen can be supported on this side surface of the hinge mechanism 200. (Refer to...) Figure 7 As shown in the figure, the side of the pivot mechanism 200 facing away from the folding screen is illustrated. The surface of this side of the first support plate 211, which serves as the main shaft 210a, can constitute the exterior surface of the foldable electronic device.

[0108] In other embodiments, the rotating shaft mechanism 200 may also include four support plates 210, five support plates 210, etc. When the rotating shaft mechanism 200 includes four support plates 210, the two support plates 210 located in the middle region of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 are equivalent to the main shafts 210a, and the center line between the two main shafts 210a can serve as the rotation axis of the housing assembly; the two support plates 210 located on the outermost sides of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 are equivalent to the door panels 210b of the rotating shaft mechanism 200, and the two door panels 210b are respectively connected to the corresponding housings. When the rotating shaft mechanism 200 includes five support plates 210, the support plate 210 located in the middle of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is equivalent to the main shaft 210a of the rotating shaft mechanism 200, and the main shaft 210a serves as the rotation shaft of the housing assembly; the support plates 210 located on the outermost two sides of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 are equivalent to the door panels 210b of the rotating shaft mechanism 200, and the two door panels 210b are respectively connected to the corresponding housings; the support plate 210 located between the main shaft 210a and the door panel 210b is used to fill the gap between the main shaft 210a and the door panel 210b.

[0109] When the number of support plates 210 in the pivot mechanism 200 is four or five, the width of the pivot mechanism 200 is relatively large. The pivot mechanism 200 can be used in outward folding machines (foldable electronic devices with outward folding architecture) or inward folding machines with larger dimensions.

[0110] The following are all in the style of Figures 5 to 7 Taking the rotating shaft mechanism 200 shown as an example, the rotating shaft mechanism 200 includes three support plates 210, which will be explained below.

[0111] For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the support plate 210 in the pivot mechanism 200 is defined as including a first support plate 211 and a second support plate 212. The second support plate 212 is located to the side of the first support plate 211 in the width direction, and the first support plate 211 and the second support plate 212 are movably connected by a transmission component 220. The first support plate 211 has an opening 2111 on its surface facing the folding screen, and a portion of the transmission component 220 on the first support plate 211 is exposed within this opening 2111. The description of the transmission component 220 being exposed within the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211 here refers to the portion of the transmission component 220 facing the folding screen being exposed within the opening 2111.

[0112] In this mechanism, the support plate 210 located in the middle region of the pivot mechanism 200 typically has multiple transmission components 220 mounted on it. The support plates 210 on either side usually need to be connected to the support plate 210 via transmission components 220. Furthermore, the portion of the transmission component 220 located on the support plate 210 in the middle region is usually relatively large. For example, this portion of the transmission component 220 may be a rotatable cylindrical sleeve. Therefore, the support plate 210 located in the middle region of the pivot mechanism 200 typically has an opening 2111 on its surface facing the folding screen. This opening 2111 avoids interference between the transmission component 220 and the support plate 210, preventing interference between them.

[0113] In this regard, the first support plate 211 can be a support plate 210 located in the middle region of the pivot mechanism 200, and the first support plate 211 is, for example, the main shaft 210a of the pivot mechanism 200. The second support plate 212 can be a support plate 210 located in the two side regions of the pivot mechanism 200, and the second support plate 212 is, for example, the two side panels 210b of the pivot mechanism 200.

[0114] Of course, in some embodiments, the portion of the transmission component 220 located on the support plates 210 in the regions on both sides of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 can be relatively large. For example, this portion of the transmission component 220 can be a rotatable cylindrical sleeve. In this case, the first support plate 211 can also be a support plate 210 located in the regions on both sides of the rotating shaft mechanism 200, for example, being the side panels 210b of the rotating shaft mechanism 200. The second support plate 212 can be a support plate 210 located in the middle region of the rotating shaft mechanism 200, for example, being the main shaft 210a of the rotating shaft mechanism 200.

[0115] The following description will be based on the example of the first support plate 211 being located in the middle area of ​​the rotating shaft mechanism 200 and the second support plate 212 being located in the two side areas of the rotating shaft mechanism 200. Specifically, the first support plate 211 is the main shaft 210a of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 and the second support plate 212 is the two side door panels 210b of the rotating shaft mechanism 200.

[0116] Figure 8 This is an exploded structural diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 8As shown, to facilitate the mounting of the transmission component 220 onto the first support plate 211, in some embodiments, the first support plate 211 may consist of two parts. The first support plate 211 may include an upper shaft plate 211a and a lower shaft plate 211b, which are arranged opposite each other along the thickness direction of the first support plate 211, and the transmission component 220 is held between them to fix the transmission component 220. The opposite surfaces of the upper shaft plate 211a and the lower shaft plate 211b may be provided with some recesses, protrusions, or other positioning structures, which are used to position the transmission component 220.

[0117] The upper shaft plate 211a is located on the side of the first support plate 211 closest to the folding screen, and the portion of the folding screen corresponding to the first support plate 211 is supported on the surface of the upper shaft plate 211a. The lower shaft plate 211b is located on the side of the first support plate 211 away from the folding screen, and the lower shaft plate 211b is far from the folding screen (see...). Figure 7 As shown, when the pivot mechanism 200 is used in an inward folding mechanism, the side surface of the lower pivot plate 211b facing away from the upper pivot plate 211a is part of the exterior surface of the foldable electronic device. In this regard, an opening 2111 on the first support plate 211 can be formed on the upper pivot plate 211a, and the opening 2111 can extend through the thickness direction of the upper pivot plate 211a, exposing a portion of the transmission component 220 within the opening 2111 of the upper pivot plate 211a.

[0118] Similarly, the second support plate 212 can also be formed by joining two upper and lower plates, with the portion of the transmission component 220 on the second support plate 212 engaged between the two plates. Alternatively, the second support plate 212 can include a main plate with a pre-drilled mounting groove at the location of the transmission component 220. A mounting plate is assembled into the mounting groove, and the transmission component 220 is secured between the mounting plate and the main plate. This facilitates the installation of the transmission component 220 onto the second support plate 212 and also facilitates the machining of the movement track of the transmission component 220 on the second support plate 212. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations on this aspect.

[0119] Figure 9 for Figure 8 The structural diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism after removing the upper shaft plate of the first support plate. Figure 10 for Figure 9 The exploded structure diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0120] Reference Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, in this embodiment, a tension diaphragm 230 is also provided in the rotating shaft mechanism 200. The first end 2301 of the tension diaphragm 230 is connected to the portion of the transmission component 220 located on the first support plate 211, and the second end 2302 of the tension diaphragm 230 is connected to the second support plate 212 (see...). Figure 13 , Figure 14 , Figure 16a , Figure 16b , Figure 17a or Figure 17b Furthermore, the tension membrane 230 is located between the transmission component 220 and the folding screen, or in other words, the tension membrane 230 covers the side of the transmission component 220 closest to the folding screen. Based on this, the tension membrane 230 corresponds to the opening 2111 on the first support plate 211, and the tension membrane 230 covers at least a portion of the opening 2111 on the first support plate 211.

[0121] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity and comparison, in this embodiment, among the transmission components installed on the left and right sides of the first support plate 211, the tension membrane 230 is only shown in the transmission component 220 on one side. However, in the actual rotating shaft mechanism 200, the tension membrane 230 can be attached to the transmission components 220 on both the left and right sides of the first support plate 211.

[0122] By connecting the first end 2301 of the tension diaphragm 230 to the transmission component 220 on the first support plate 211 and the second end 2302 of the tension diaphragm 230 to the second support plate 212, the transmission component 220 rotates along with the rotation of the shaft mechanism 200 during its movement. Thus, the first end 2301 of the tension diaphragm 230 moves with the rotation of the transmission component 220, and can be considered as the movable end. The second end 2302 of the tension diaphragm 230 is fixed to the second support plate 212, and can be considered as the fixed end. As the shaft mechanism 200 moves, the position of the first end 2301 of the tension diaphragm 230 changes, thereby changing the overall length and state of the tension diaphragm 230.

[0123] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the orientation of the tension diaphragm 230 on the first support plate 211 is designed according to the motion state of the transmission component 220. Therefore, when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in the folded state, the tension diaphragm 230 can be in a non-stretched, natural state (see...). Figure 6 (As shown). When the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in the deployed state, the tension diaphragm 230 can be in a stretched, taut state (see...). Figure 5 (As shown).

[0124] Thus, when the pivot mechanism 200 is in the folded state, the tension membrane 230 is in its natural state, allowing for flexible deformation. The tension membrane 230 changes shape as the bendable portion of the folding screen bends. The section of the tension membrane 230 exposed within the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211 provides sufficient space for the bendable portion of the folding screen, preventing interference and ensuring the smoothness of the bendable portion. When the pivot mechanism 200 is in the unfolded state, the tension membrane 230 is stretched into a taut state, deforming into a smooth shape and generating tension. The section of the tension membrane 230 exposed within the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211 is attached to the back of the folding screen, providing tension support and ensuring the flatness of the folding screen at the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211.

[0125] With this configuration, the tension membrane 230 separates the transmission component 220 and the folding screen at the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211. The tension membrane 230 covers at least a portion of the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211, reducing the area of ​​the opening 2111 of the pivot mechanism 200. Furthermore, the tension membrane 230 provides tension support to the folding screen when the pivot mechanism 200 is in the unfolded state, improving the flatness of the folding screen at the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211, enhancing the consistency of the pivot mechanism 200's support for the folding screen, resulting in better flatness when the folding screen is unfolded, and improving the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Moreover, the tension membrane 230 covers the portion of the transmission component 220 within the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211, filling the gap between the folding screen and the transmission component 220, and preventing direct force contact between the folding screen and the transmission component 220. In risky scenarios such as collisions or drops, the inherent buffering capacity of the tension membrane 230 can absorb the impact of the transmission components 220 on the folding screen, protect the integrity of the folding screen, and reduce the risk of failure of foldable electronic devices.

[0126] Regarding the material selection for the tension membrane 230, this embodiment does not impose specific limitations. Any flexible film capable of meeting tension requirements can be used as the tension membrane 230. For example, the tension membrane 230 can be a PU (polyurethane) film, a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethanes) film, a Mylar film, a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) film, or a PEEK (polyetheretherketone) film. Mylar film is a polyester film, which can be formed by heating dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol under the assistance of a relevant catalyst, followed by transesterification and vacuum polycondensation, and then biaxial stretching.

[0127] The tension diaphragm 230 can be heat-sealed onto the rotating shaft mechanism 200 using heat-sealing adhesive, or the tension diaphragm 230 can be bonded onto the rotating shaft mechanism 200 using ordinary adhesive, or the tension diaphragm 230 can be mechanically fixed onto the rotating shaft mechanism 200 using locking parts, snap-fit ​​parts, or other components.

[0128] Depending on the spatial dimensions of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 and the machinability of the tension diaphragm 230, the thickness of the tension diaphragm 230 can be designed to range from 0.025 mm to 1.0 mm. Depending on the machinability of different materials, the thickness range of the tension diaphragm 230 made from different materials can vary.

[0129] For example, the thickness of the tension membrane 230 made of PU and TPU materials can be between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm. The PU membrane has an elongation of approximately 300%, an elastic modulus between 0.1 GPa and 0.5 GPa, generates a supporting force of approximately 5 N under tension, and has a fatigue resistance of approximately 100,000 cycles. The TPU membrane has an elongation of approximately 800%, an elastic modulus between 0.1 GPa and 0.3 GPa, generates a supporting force of approximately 3 N under tension, and has a fatigue resistance of approximately 100,000 cycles.

[0130] Mylar membranes can be 0.025mm to 0.5mm thick, with an elongation of approximately 200% and an elastic modulus between 2.5GPa and 4.0GPa. Under tension, Mylar membranes generate approximately 40N of support force and have a fatigue resistance greater than 100,000 cycles. PTFE membranes can be 0.1mm to 1.0mm thick, with an elongation of approximately 300% and an elastic modulus of approximately 0.5GPa. Under tension, PTFE membranes generate approximately 6N of support force and have a fatigue resistance of approximately 100,000 cycles. PEEK membranes can be 0.01mm to 0.5mm thick, with an elongation of approximately 130% and an elastic modulus of approximately 0.12GPa. Under tension, PEEK membranes generate approximately 2.4N of support force and have a fatigue resistance greater than 100,000 cycles.

[0131] It should be noted that the supporting force F of the tension membrane 230 made of various materials is calculated using the formula F=T*L=E*δ*L. Where, T is the tension of the tension membrane 230, L is the length of the tension membrane 230 in its natural state (calculated with a length of 5mm), E is the elastic modulus of the tension membrane 230, and δ is the elongation of the tension membrane 230 (calculated with an elongation of 200%).

[0132] Continue to refer to Figure 10The transmission component 220 in the rotating shaft mechanism 200 includes swing arms 221, which are the most numerous and widely distributed. The first side of the swing arm 221 is mounted on the first support plate 211, and the second side is mounted on the second support plate 212, allowing the swing arm 221 to move with the relative movement between the first and second support plates 211 and 212. The swing arm 221 can function as a single-function moving component, driving the second support plate 212 relative to the first support plate 211 independently, without needing to cooperate with other components. Alternatively, the swing arm 221 can cooperate with other components to achieve synchronization, damping, or other functions. In this case, the swing arm 221 and its cooperating components together form a moving component, such as the aforementioned synchronization component, damping component, or a moving component combining synchronization and damping functions.

[0133] An opening 2111 is typically provided on the surface of the first support plate 211 facing the folding screen, at the location of the swing arm 221, to allow the swing arm 221 to pass through the opening 2111 (see...). Figure 5 (As shown). For example, the swing arm 221 can be rotatably connected to the first support plate 211. The swing arm 221 includes a rotating sleeve (the rotating sleeve may include the rotating part 2211 and the gear part 2212 described below), which is used to connect with the first support plate 211. Since the rotating sleeve occupies a large space, an opening 2111 is made in the first support plate 211 so that the top of the rotating sleeve is located inside the opening 2111, thus avoiding obstruction of the rotating sleeve. For this purpose, a tension membrane 230 can be provided corresponding to the swing arm 221. The tension membrane 230 can be provided between the swing arm 221 and the folding screen so that the tension membrane 230 covers the opening 2111 on the first support plate 211 at the swing arm 221.

[0134] In some embodiments, the circumference of the swing arm 221 has no mating parts in the width direction of the first support plate 211, and the outer periphery of the swing arm 221 has a large space. For example, the swing arm 221 only mates with a damping element (e.g., including a spring) at its axial end to achieve a damping function (e.g., Figure 10 (As shown). Alternatively, neither the circumferential outer wall nor the axial end of the swing arm 221 is provided with any matching parts, and the swing arm 221 serves only as a moving part to achieve a single motion function.

[0135] At this time, the first end 2301 of the tension membrane 230 can be connected to the swing arm 221, and the second end 2302 of the tension membrane 230 is connected to the surface of the second support plate 212 facing the folding screen. The swing arm 221 rotates with the movement of the rotating shaft mechanism 200, and the first end 2301 of the tension membrane 230 changes position with the rotation of the swing arm 221, thus changing the extension length between the two ends of the tension membrane 230. By designing the orientation of the tension membrane 230, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 changing from a folded state to an unfolded state, the tension membrane 230 is stretched from its natural state to a taut state.

[0136] In other embodiments, in the width direction of the first support plate 211, a cooperating component is provided on the periphery of the swing arm 221, and the outer peripheral wall of the swing arm 221 needs to contact this component. For example, the transmission component 220 may also include a synchronizing gear 222, which may be disposed on the first support plate 211 and located on the side of the swing arm 221 facing away from the second support plate 212. The synchronizing gear 222 and the swing arm 221 mesh with each other to form a synchronizing structure. In the synchronizing structures located on both sides of the first support plate 211 in the width direction, the synchronizing gears 222 of both mesh with each other to realize the synchronizing function of the rotating shaft mechanism 200.

[0137] At this time, since the swing arm 221 needs to mesh with the synchronous gear 222, there is not enough space on the outer periphery of the swing arm 221 to connect the tension diaphragm 230. Therefore, the first end 2301 of the tension diaphragm 230 can be connected to the synchronous gear 222, while the second end 2302 of the tension diaphragm 230 remains connected to the side surface of the second support plate 212 facing the folding screen. As the rotating shaft mechanism 200 moves, the swing arm 221 transmits power to the synchronous gear 222, causing the synchronous gear 222 to rotate. The first end 2301 of the tension diaphragm 230 changes position with the rotation of the synchronous gear 222, and the extension length between the two ends of the tension diaphragm 230 changes. By designing the orientation of the tension diaphragm 230, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 changing from a folded state to an unfolded state, the tension diaphragm 230 is stretched from its natural state to a taut state.

[0138] As mentioned earlier, the connection position and orientation of the tension diaphragm 230 on the transmission component 220 need to be designed according to the motion state of the transmission component 220. Since the swing arm 221 and the synchronous gear 222 mesh with each other, their rotation directions are opposite. Therefore, the tension diaphragm 230 connected to the swing arm 221 and the tension diaphragm 230 connected to the synchronous gear 222 need to be designed differently. For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the tension diaphragm 230 connected only to the swing arm 221 is defined as the first tension diaphragm 231, and the tension diaphragm 230 at least partially connected to the synchronous gear 222 is defined as the second tension diaphragm 232.

[0139] Figure 11 This is a front view of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application when it is in a folded state. Figure 12 A front view of the rotating shaft mechanism provided in the embodiment of this application in its unfolded state. (Refer to...) Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown,

[0140] Figure 11 Location of the middle AA line and Figure 12 The component corresponding to the location of the DD line is Figure 10 For ease of explanation, the transmission component 220 at point A is referred to as the first transmission component 220a in this embodiment. Similarly, Figure 11 Middle BB line, CC line and Figure 12 The components corresponding to the locations of the EE and FF lines are Figure 10 For ease of explanation, the transmission component 220 at point B is defined as the second transmission component 220b in this embodiment.

[0141] Figure 13 for Figure 11 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line AA. Figure 14 for Figure 12 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line DD. (Refer to...) Figure 13 As shown and Figure 14 As shown, the swing arm 221 of the first transmission component 220a has no component that cooperates with it in the width direction of the first support plate 211. The tension diaphragm 230 provided for the first transmission component 220a is the first tension diaphragm 231. The first end 2301 of the first tension diaphragm 231 is connected to the swing arm 221, and the second end 2302 of the first tension diaphragm 231 is connected to the second support plate 212. Figure 13 The diagram illustrates that when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in a folded state, the first tension membrane 231 is in a natural state. Figure 14 The diagram illustrates that when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in the unfolded state, the first tension membrane 231 is in the tensioned state.

[0142] Combination Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, when the pivot mechanism 200 is applied to the inward folding mechanism, as the foldable electronic device changes from a folded state to an unfolded state, the swing arm 221 swings away from the folding screen (the folding screen is not shown in the figure; it is located on the side where the upper shaft plate 211a of the first support plate 211 is located). The portion of the swing arm 221 on the first support plate 211 moves along... Figure 14The rotation is counterclockwise as indicated by the dashed arrow. At this time, if the tension diaphragm 230 is simply connected to the outer surface of the swing arm 221 along its overall extension direction (forward), the tension diaphragm 230 cannot be stretched into a taut state during the unfolding process of the rotating shaft mechanism 200. Conversely, during this process, due to the reduced gap between the second support plate 212 and the first support plate 211, the distance between the two ends of the tension diaphragm 230 is smaller, and the tension diaphragm 230 remains in a natural state or may even change from having some tension to having no tension at all.

[0143] In this regard, during the transition of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 from a folded state to an unfolded state, in order to allow the tension membrane 230 to stretch from its natural state to a taut state, a positioning part 2112 is provided on the first support plate 211 in this embodiment. The positioning part 2112 is located near the side of the swing arm 221 that is away from the second support plate 212. After the first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 passes around the positioning part 2112, it is connected to the outer surface of the swing arm 221 in the opposite direction (reverse direction) of the overall extension direction of the tension membrane 230.

[0144] With this configuration, the first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 is connected to the swing arm 221 in the reverse direction, and the first tension membrane 231 is folded in half. Furthermore, the first tension membrane 231 bypasses the positioning part 2112 fixed on the first support plate 211. As the first tension membrane 231 deforms with the rotation of the swing arm 221, the positioning part 2112 exerts a pulling force on the first tension membrane 231. Thus, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 from folding to unfolding, the first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 moves towards the side where the folding screen is located as the swing arm 221 rotates, and the distance between the two ends of the first tension membrane 231 gradually decreases. However, due to the restriction of the positioning part 2112 on the first support plate 211, the turning part of the first tension membrane 231 is always fixed to the positioning part 2112, and the first tension membrane 231 is stretched and becomes taut, gradually increasing the supporting force of the first tension membrane 231 on the folding screen.

[0145] When the first support plate 211 is formed by the upper shaft plate 211a and the lower shaft plate 211b at the location of the swing arm 221, the positioning part 2112 on the first support plate 211 can be the positioning groove 2112a opened on the upper shaft plate 211a. The first tension membrane 231 passes through the positioning groove 2112a from the side where the upper shaft plate 211a is located and is then connected to the outer surface of the swing arm 221 in the opposite direction.

[0146] If the pivot mechanism 200 is applied to an outward folding mechanism, when the pivot mechanism 200 changes from a folded state to an unfolded state with the foldable electronic device, the swing arm 221 swings towards the direction of the folding screen, and the rotation direction of the swing arm 221 is opposite to that of the swing arm 221 in an inward folding mechanism. At this time, the first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 can be directly connected to the outer surface of the swing arm 221 in the forward direction, and the first tension membrane 231 is generally elongated. During the process of the pivot mechanism 200 from folding to unfolding, the first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 moves away from the side where the folding screen is located as the swing arm 221 rotates. The first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 moves away from the second end 2302, the path of the first tension membrane 231 becomes longer and longer, and the first tension membrane 231 is stretched and changes to a taut state.

[0147] The length of the first tension membrane 231 in its natural state can be set according to the dimensions of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 and the tensile properties of the first tension membrane 231 itself. Specifically, when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is used in an inward folding machine, the first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 needs to bypass the positioning part 2112 on the first support plate 211 to connect to the swing arm 221; therefore, the path of the first tension membrane 231 is longer, and its length in its natural state is greater. However, when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is used in an outward folding machine, the first end 2301 of the first tension membrane 231 is directly connected to the swing arm 221, and its length in its natural state can be smaller.

[0148] For example, when the hinge mechanism 200 is applied to an inward-folding device, the length of the first tension membrane 231 in its natural state can range from 5.0 mm to 9.0 mm. For instance, the length of the first tension membrane 231 in its natural state in a folding phone can be between 5.5 mm and 7.5 mm. In this embodiment, taking a conventional double-folding phone as an example, the length of the first tension membrane 231 in its natural state is designed to be 6.5 mm. Actual testing shows that after the hinge mechanism 200 is unfolded, the length of the first tension membrane 231 in its tensioned state is 7.5 mm, which meets the stretching requirements of the first tension membrane 231.

[0149] Based on this, the structure of the first tension membrane 231 can be designed to match the structure of the swing arm 221. In some embodiments, for the swing arm 221 that is independent in the width direction of the first support plate 211, the first side of the swing arm 221 located on the first support plate 211 may include at least two rotating parts 2211 spaced apart. For example Figure 10As shown in the figure, the swing arm 221 at point A has two rotating parts 2211 spaced apart. At this time, at least one rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221 can be connected to a first tension membrane 231. Thus, the first tension membrane 231 can at least cover a portion of the opening 2111 on the first support plate 211, supporting the portion of the folding screen within the opening 2111 when the pivot mechanism 200 is in the unfolded state, thereby improving the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, since the first tension membrane 231 covers at least a portion of the swing arm 221 within the opening 2111, in risky scenarios such as collisions or drops, the tension membrane 230 can absorb at least part of the impact of the transmission component 220 on the folding screen, reducing the risk of screen failure in the foldable electronic device.

[0150] For example, both rotating parts 2211 in the swing arm 221 can be connected to the first tension membrane 231. This way, a larger area of ​​the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211 is covered by the first tension membrane 231, significantly improving the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, the first tension membrane 231 covering a larger portion of the swing arm 221 within the opening 2111 further reduces the risk of screen failure in the foldable electronic device.

[0151] When the swing arm 221, located on the first side of the first support plate 211, includes at least two spaced-apart rotating parts 2211, and these rotating parts 2211 are covered by a first tension membrane 231, an independent first tension membrane 231 can be provided for each of the different rotating parts 2211 of the swing arm 221, with each first tension membrane 231 connected to a different rotating part 2211. This simplifies the design of the first tension membrane 231 and improves the independence of the different first tension membranes 231 on a single swing arm 221. Alternatively, a single, integral first tension membrane 231 can be provided for the swing arm 221, connecting the at least two rotating parts 2211 on the swing arm 221. This results in a more uniform stress distribution on the first tension membrane 231, a more balanced interaction with the rotating parts 2211 of the swing arm 221, extends the service life of the first tension membrane 231, and helps improve the smoothness of the rotation of the shaft mechanism 200.

[0152] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first tension membrane provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 15As shown, when a first tension diaphragm 231 is simultaneously connected to at least two rotating portions 2211 on a swing arm 221, the first tension diaphragm 231 may include a common portion 2311 and at least two separating portions 2312. The common portion 2311 is connected to the second support plate 212, and each separating portion 2312 is connected to the side of the common portion 2311 facing the first support plate 211, and each separating portion 2312 is connected to each rotating portion 2211 of the swing arm 221. The end of each separating portion 2312 away from the common portion 2311 serves as the first end 2301 of the first tension diaphragm 231, and the end of the common portion 2311 away from the separating portions 2312 serves as the second end 2302 of the first tension diaphragm 231.

[0153] For example, when the first tension membrane 231 is in its natural state, the ends of each separation portion 2312 away from the common portion 2311 are flush with each other along the length of the first tension membrane 2311. The ends of each separation portion 2312 away from the common portion 2311 can be connected to the corresponding rotating portion 2211 at the same circumferential position. In this way, the lengths between the first ends 2301 formed by each separation portion 2312 and the second ends 2302 formed by the common portion 2311 are all equal, which is equivalent to the extension lengths of each separation portion 2312 being equal. Furthermore, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 from folding to unfolding, the lengths of each separation portion 2312 after being stretched remain consistent, and the stretching rate of each separation portion 2312 remains consistent. The stress generated by the first tension membrane 231 as a whole is more balanced, the consistency and reliability of the first tension membrane 231 are higher, and the service life is longer.

[0154] Figure 16a for Figure 11 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line BB. Figure 16b for Figure 11 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line CC. Figure 17a for Figure 12 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line EE. Figure 17b for Figure 12 A partial sectional view of the rotating shaft mechanism along line FF.

[0155] Reference Figure 16a and Figure 17a As shown, the swing arm 221 of the second transmission component 220b cooperates with the synchronous gear 222 in the width direction of the first support plate 211, and the tension diaphragm 230 provided in the second transmission component 220b is the second tension diaphragm 232.

[0156] The second transmission component 220b includes a rocker arm 221 and a synchronizing gear 222, with at least a portion of the rocker arm 221 meshing with the synchronizing gear 222. Specifically, the rocker arm 221 includes at least a gear portion 2212 (see...). Figure 10As shown, the gear portion 2212 has teeth arranged on its outer periphery. The size and tooth spacing of the teeth of the gear portion 2212 match those of the teeth of the synchronous gear 222. The gear portion 2212 of the swing arm 221 meshes with the synchronous gear 222. Correspondingly, the second tension diaphragm 232 includes at least a first portion 2321. The first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 is connected to the synchronous gear 222, and the second end 2302 of the first portion 2321 is connected to the second support plate 212.

[0157] Figure 16a This illustrates that when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in a folded state, the first part 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 is in a natural state. Figure 17a This illustration shows that when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in the deployed state, the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 is in the tensioned state. (Combined with...) Figure 16a and Figure 17a As shown, when the pivot mechanism 200 is applied to the inward folding mechanism, as the foldable electronic device changes from a folded state to an unfolded state, the swing arm 221 swings away from the folding screen. The portion of the swing arm 221 on the first support plate 211... Figure 17a The synchronous gear 222, which meshes with the counterclockwise gear shown in Figure 17a, rotates clockwise.

[0158] At this point, the first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 can be directly connected to the synchronous gear 222 in a forward direction. During the process of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 unfolding from folding, the first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 rotates with the synchronous gear 222 and moves away from the second end 2302 of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232, increasing the distance between the two ends of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232. Consequently, the second tension membrane 232 is stretched and becomes taut, and the supporting force of the second tension membrane 232 on the folding screen gradually increases.

[0159] If the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is applied to an outward folding machine, when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 changes from a folded state to an unfolded state with the foldable electronic device, the rotation direction of the swing arm 221 is opposite to that of the swing arm 221 in the inward folding machine, while the rotation direction of the synchronous gear 222 is the same as that of the swing arm 221 in the inward folding machine. In this case, similar to connecting the first tension membrane 231 to the swing arm 221 in the inward folding machine, a positioning part 2112 can be provided on the first support plate 211. The first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 can then be bypassed by the positioning part 2112 and connected in reverse to the synchronous gear 222. For example, a positioning groove 2112a can be provided on the upper shaft plate 211a of the first support plate 211 as the positioning part 2112. The first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 passes through the positioning groove 2112a from the side where the upper shaft plate 211a is located and is then connected in reverse to the synchronous gear 222. Thus, during the process of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 from folding to unfolding, the first end 2301 of the first part 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 moves toward the second end 2302, and the turning part of the first part 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 is always restricted on the positioning part 2112, and the first tension membrane 231 is stretched and changes to a tensioned state.

[0160] Similar to the length design of the first tension membrane 231, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state can also be set according to the dimensions of the rotating shaft mechanism 200 and the tensile properties of the second tension membrane 232 itself. Specifically, when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is used in an inward folding machine, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state can be slightly shorter than that of the first tension membrane 231. However, when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is used in an outward folding machine, since the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 needs to bypass the positioning part 2112 on the first support plate 211 and connect to the synchronous gear 222, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state can be larger.

[0161] For example, when the pivot mechanism 200 is applied to an inward-folding device, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state can be between 3.0 mm and 6.0 mm. For instance, in a folding phone, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state can be between 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm. This embodiment uses a conventional double-folding folding phone as an example, designing the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state to be 4.9 mm. Actual testing shows that after the pivot mechanism 200 is unfolded, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its tensioned state is 5.6 mm, meeting the stretching requirements of the second tension membrane 232.

[0162] In some embodiments, the swing arm 221 of the second transmission component 220b may include a rotating part 2211 in addition to the gear part 2212 (see...). Figure 10 (As shown). In the axial direction of the swing arm 221, the rotating part 2211 is adjacent to the gear part 2212, or the rotating part 2211 and the gear part 2212 are spaced apart. In the width direction of the first support member, there is no component that mates with the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221. For this, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 16b and Figure 17b As shown, the second tension membrane 232 may also include a second part 2322. The second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 is connected in a similar way to the first tension membrane 231. The first end 2301 of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 is connected to the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221, and the second end 2302 of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 is connected to the second support plate 212.

[0163] By providing a first portion 2321 and a second portion 2322 to the second tension membrane 232, the first portion 2321 covers the area of ​​the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211 corresponding to the gear portion 2212 of the swing arm 221, and the second portion 2322 covers the area of ​​the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211 corresponding to the rotating portion 2211 of the swing arm 221. This results in a larger area of ​​the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211 being covered by the second tension membrane 232, significantly improving the light and shadow crease effect of the foldable electronic device. Furthermore, the second tension membrane 232 covers a larger portion of the swing arm 221 within the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211, further reducing the risk of screen failure in the foldable electronic device.

[0164] Figure 16b This illustrates that when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in a folded state, the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 is in a natural state. Figure 17b This illustration shows that when the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is in the deployed state, the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 is in the tensioned state. (Combined with...) Figure 16b and Figure 17b As shown, when the pivot mechanism 200 is applied to the inward folding device, as the pivot mechanism 200 changes from a folded state to an unfolded state along with the foldable electronic device, the portion of the swing arm 221 on the first support plate 211 moves along... Figure 17b Rotate in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the dashed arrow.

[0165] Similar to the application scenario of the first tension membrane 231, a positioning part 2112 can be provided on the first support plate 211. The first end 2301 of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 can then be bypassed by the positioning part 2112 and connected in reverse to the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221. For example, a positioning groove 2112a can be provided on the upper shaft plate 211a of the first support plate 211 as the positioning part 2112. The first end 2301 of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 can then pass through the positioning groove 2112a from the side where the upper shaft plate 211a is located and be connected in reverse to the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221. Further details are omitted here.

[0166] If the pivot mechanism 200 is applied to an outward folding device, when the pivot mechanism 200 changes from a folded state to an unfolded state with the foldable electronic device, the rotation direction of the swing arm 221 is opposite to that of the swing arm 221 in an inward folding device. Therefore, the first end 2301 of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 can be directly connected in the forward direction to the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221, and the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 is generally elongated. Further details are omitted here.

[0167] Since the first end 2301 of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 is also connected to the swing arm 221, the length of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state can be approximately designed to be the same as the length of the first tension membrane 231 in its natural state, which will not be elaborated here.

[0168] When the second tension diaphragm 232 includes a first part 2321 and a second part 2322, the first part 2321 and the second part 2322 can be set separately, that is, no common part for connecting the first part 2321 and the second part 2322 is provided. The first part 2321 and the second part 2322 are independent of each other and can be connected to the rotating shaft mechanism 200 respectively. The second part 2322 of the second tension diaphragm 232 can adopt the same structural dimensions as the first tension diaphragm 231. In this way, the design and manufacturing of the second tension diaphragm 232 are simpler, and the independence of the different parts of the second tension diaphragm 232 is better. Alternatively, the first part 2321 and the second part 2322 of the second tension diaphragm 232 can also be integrated into a single design, relying on the second tension diaphragm 232 to cover the gear part 2212 and the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221. In this way, a single second tension diaphragm 232 is covered on a single second transmission component 220b. The stress distribution generated by the second tension diaphragm 232 is more uniform, and the interaction between it and the second transmission component 220b is more balanced. This can extend the service life of the second tension diaphragm 232 and help improve the smoothness of the movement of the rotating shaft mechanism 200.

[0169] Figure 18This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second tension membrane provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 18 As shown, when the second tension membrane 232 includes a first part 2321 and a second part 2322, and the second tension membrane 232 is an integral structure, the second end 2302 of the first part 2321 and the second end 2302 of the second part 2322 can be connected to an integral common end, and the second tension membrane 232 is connected to the second support plate 212 by the integral common end.

[0170] Since the first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 of the second tension diaphragm 232 is connected to the synchronous gear 222, and the first end 2301 of the second portion 2322 of the second tension diaphragm 232 is connected to the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221, the lengths of the first portion 2321 and the second portion 2322 in their natural states can be different. Furthermore, there can be a step difference between the first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 and the first end 2301 of the second portion 2322.

[0171] When the rotating shaft mechanism 200 is used in an inward folding machine, the first end 2301 of the first portion 2321 of the second tension diaphragm 232 is directly connected in the forward direction to the synchronous gear 222, while the first end 2301 of the second portion 2322 of the second tension diaphragm 232 bypasses the positioning part 2112 on the first support plate 211 and is connected in the reverse direction to the rotating part 2211 of the swing arm 221. Therefore, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension diaphragm 232 can be relatively small, and the length of the second portion 2322 of the second tension diaphragm 232 can be relatively large. As mentioned above, the length of the first portion 2321 of the second tension diaphragm 232 in its natural state can be between 3.0 mm and 6.0 mm, and the length of the second portion 2322 of the second tension diaphragm 232 in its natural state can be designed similarly to that of the first tension diaphragm 231, and its length can be between 5.0 mm and 9.0 mm.

[0172] Specifically, the ratio of the length of the first part 2321 in its natural state to the length of the second part 2322 in its natural state can be designed based on the tensile properties of the second tension membrane 232. This ensures that the stretching rates of the first part 2321 and the second part 2322 are similar, guaranteeing the overall reliability and consistency of the second tension membrane 232. This avoids asymmetrical stretching of the first part 2321 and the second part 2322, which could lead to connection failure or breakage of either part.

[0173] This embodiment takes a conventional double-folding folding phone as an example. The length of the first part 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state is designed to be 4.9 mm, and the length of the second part 2322 of the second tension membrane 232 in its natural state is designed to be 6.5 mm. Actual testing shows that after the pivot mechanism 200 is unfolded, the length of the first part 2321 of the second tension membrane 232 in its tensioned state is 5.6 mm, and the length of the second tension membrane 232 in its tensioned state is 7.5 mm. The overall tensile strength of the second tension membrane 232 is close, meeting the usage requirements of the second tension membrane 232.

[0174] In some embodiments, the swing arm 221 in the second transmission component 220b may also include at least two gear portions 2212 spaced apart. Correspondingly, the second transmission component 220b includes at least two synchronous gears 222, each synchronous gear 222 meshing with each gear portion 2212 of the swing arm 221. In this case, in order for the second tension diaphragm 232 to cover more area of ​​the opening 2111 of the first support plate 211, the second tension diaphragm 232 may include at least two first portions 2321, with the first end 2301 of each first portion 2321 connected to the corresponding synchronous gear 222.

[0175] For example, each first portion 2321 of the second tension diaphragm 232 can be separately configured, and each first portion 2321 can be connected to a corresponding synchronous gear 222. Alternatively, each first portion 2321 of the second tension diaphragm 232 can be integrated into a single design, with the second ends 2302 of each first portion 2321 connected to a single common end, and a single second transmission component 220b connected to one second tension diaphragm 232. When the second ends 2302 of each first portion 2321 of the second tension diaphragm 232 are connected to a single common end, the first ends 2301 of each first portion 2321 can be flush with each other, and the first ends 2301 of each first portion 2321 can be connected to the same circumferential position of the corresponding synchronous gear 222. Further details are omitted here.

[0176] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or 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 the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0177] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc. (if present) in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

Claims

1. A hinge mechanism applied to a foldable electronic device, wherein the hinge mechanism is supported on a bendable portion of a foldable screen, characterized in that, The rotating shaft mechanism includes: The first support plate has an opening on the side of its surface facing the foldable screen; The second support plate is disposed to the side of the first support plate; A transmission component, wherein a first side of the transmission component is mounted on the first support plate and exposed through the opening, and a second side of the transmission component is mounted on the second support plate; A tension membrane, the first end of which is connected to the first side of the transmission component, and the second end of which is connected to the second support plate; the tension membrane is located between the transmission component and the folding screen and covers at least a portion of the opening, and the tension membrane is stretched when the rotating shaft mechanism is in the unfolded state.

2. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission component includes a swing arm, and the tension diaphragm includes a first tension diaphragm, with a first end of the first tension diaphragm connected to the swing arm and a second end of the tension diaphragm connected to the second support plate.

3. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the pivot mechanism is applied in a foldable electronic device with an inward-folding structure, the first support plate is provided with a positioning part, and the first end of the first tension membrane is reversely connected to the swing arm, bypassing the positioning part.

4. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first support plate includes an upper shaft plate and a lower shaft plate. The upper shaft plate is close to the folding screen, and the lower shaft plate is located on the side of the upper shaft plate away from the folding screen. The positioning part is a positioning groove opened in the upper shaft plate, and the first tension diaphragm passes through the positioning groove and is connected to the swing arm in the reverse direction.

5. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the first tension diaphragm is in its natural state, the length of the first tension diaphragm ranges from 5.0 mm to 9.0 mm.

6. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the pivot mechanism is applied in a foldable electronic device with an outward-folding structure, the first end of the first tension membrane is arranged in the forward direction around the outer periphery of the swing arm.

7. The rotating shaft mechanism according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that, The first side of the swing arm includes at least two rotating parts spaced apart, and at least one of the rotating parts is connected to the first tension membrane.

8. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that, At least two of the rotating parts are connected to the first tension diaphragm.

9. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first tension membrane includes a common portion and at least two separation portions. The common portion is connected to the second support plate, and each of the separation portions is connected to the side of the common portion facing the first support plate. Each of the separation portions is also connected to the corresponding rotating portion.

10. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission component includes a swing arm and a synchronizing gear. The synchronizing gear is mounted on the first support plate and meshes with the side of the swing arm opposite to the second support plate. The tension diaphragm includes a second tension diaphragm, the second tension diaphragm including at least a first part, a first end of the first part being connected to the synchronous gear, and a second end of the first part being connected to the second support plate.

11. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that, When the pivot mechanism is applied in a foldable electronic device with an inward-folding architecture, the first end of the first part is forward-oriented around the outer periphery of the synchronizing gear.

12. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that, When the second tension membrane is in its natural state, the length of the first portion ranges from 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm.

13. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that, When the pivot mechanism is applied in a foldable electronic device with an outward-folding structure, the first support plate is provided with a positioning part, and the first end of the first part is reversely connected to the synchronous gear by bypassing the positioning part.

14. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first side of the swing arm includes a gear section and a rotating section, wherein the gear section meshes with the synchronous gear. The second tension membrane further includes a second part, the first end of which is connected to the rotating part, and the second end of which is connected to the second support plate.

15. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 14, characterized in that, The second end of the first part and the second end of the second part are connected as one unit.

16. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the tension diaphragm ranges from 0.025 mm to 1.0 mm.

17. The rotating shaft mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tension membrane includes at least one of PU membrane, TPU membrane, Mylar membrane, PTFE membrane, and PEEK membrane.

18. A foldable electronic device, characterized in that, It includes at least two housings, a foldable screen, and a pivot mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-17, wherein the pivot mechanism is connected between adjacent housings and the foldable screen is attached to the housing.

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