Hinge mechanism

Abstract

A hinge mechanism is provided for use in electronic devices with foldable flexible display screens (or flexible screens), thereby reducing structural thickness and / or volume. The hinge mechanism includes a base frame, a linkage member assembling the base frame, a linkage module, and a link module pivotally connecting the linkage member. The base frame is provided with a virtual axis linkage corresponding to a secondary linkage member of the linkage member. Furthermore, the link module allows the linkage member to move relative to (reciprocate) along the virtual axis linkage member of the base frame in response to human operation. This controls the corresponding positions of a guide member assembled on a guided connector, two switching members, and an assembly, collectively establishing the opening and closing mechanism of the hinge mechanism for different types of electronic devices. This improves upon conventional techniques that require specific component mating structures and have large movement spaces.

Claims

1. A hinge mechanism, comprising: A base frame (10) has a first side (11), a second side (12), and a virtual axis linkage (14) disposed on the base frame (10); the base frame (10) is equipped with a linkage module (30); at least the first side (11) of the base frame (10) is provided with a linkage member (20) and a linkage module (40), which together constitute a hinge mechanism (100); the linkage member (20) has a combination part (22) and a pivot part (23), the combination part (22) is provided with a secondary linkage part (24) combined with the virtual axis linkage (14), so that the linkage member (20) can be flipped relative to the base frame (10) along the virtual axis; the linkage module (40) includes a guide linkage member (50), a first switching member (60) and a second switching member (65) that combine the guide linkage member (50), and a combination member (70); The guiding linkage (50) has a pivot area (52) and a secondary pivot portion (53). The pivot area (52) integrates a first switching member (60) and a second switching member (65). The secondary pivot portion (53) pivotally connects to the pivot portion (23) of the linkage (20), so that the guiding linkage (50) and the linkage (20) form a linkage configuration. The guiding linkage (50) integrates a guided connector (55), which has a pivot end (56), a guiding end (57), and a connecting segment (58) connecting the pivot end (56) and the guiding end (57). The pivot end (56) pivotally connects to the linkage module (30), and the guiding end (57) integrates a guide member (59), allowing the guide member (59) to be formed between the first switching member (60) and the second switching member (65). The guide linkage (50) moves in the guide path; when the linkage (20) bends relative to the base frame (10), the guide linkage (50) can move relative to the guided connector (55), thereby changing the relative position of the guide (59) to the first switching member (60) and the second switching member (65), so that the hinge mechanism (100) can move between an unfolded position and a first retracted position, and switch between the first retracted position and a second retracted position.

2. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the guide linkage (50) is provided with a slide (51); the slide (51) is combined with the connecting section (58) of the guided connector (55); the pivot end (56) of the guided connector (55) is pivotally connected to one of the secondary pivot ends (36) of the linkage module (30).

3. The hinge mechanism of claim 1 or 2, wherein a pivot area (52) of the guide linkage (50) is provided with a first pivot hole (52a) and a second pivot hole (52b) for pivotally connecting the first switching member (60) and the second switching member (65) respectively; the first switching member (60) is assembled above the second switching member (65), the first switching member (60) is provided with a secondary pivot area (62) and a combination area (63), the secondary pivot area (62) is pivotally connected to the first pivot hole (52a) of the guide linkage (50), and the combination area (63) is assembled into the combination member (70); The second switching member (65) is provided with an auxiliary pivot area (66), a sub-assembly area (67), a groove (68) located in a Z-axis direction, a switching groove (69) located in a Y-axis direction, and a limiting part (64) located in the area outside the groove (68) and the switching groove (69); the Y-axis and the Z-axis are perpendicular to each other; the auxiliary pivot area (66) is pivotally connected to the second pivot hole (52b) of the guide linkage (50), and the sub-assembly area (67) is assembled into the assembly (70); The assembly (70) is further provided with a first assembly part (73), a second assembly part (77) and an extension guide part (78) located in the Z-axis direction; the first assembly part (73) is pivotally connected to the assembly area (63) of the first switching member (60), and the second assembly part (77) is pivotally connected to the sub-assembly area (67) of the second switching member (65), so that the extension guide part (78) is located in a form that can penetrate into the groove (68).

4. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the extension guide (78) is configured as a plate that can penetrate into the groove (68).

5. The hinge mechanism of claim 1 or 2, wherein the assembly (70) can assemble a housing (90) of an electronic device and moves as the person operates the housing (90) to perform unfolding and retraction operations; the first switching member (60) has the function of supporting a flexible display screen (95).

6. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the assembly (70) can assemble a housing (90) of an electronic device and moves as the person operates the housing (90) to perform unfolding and retraction operations; the first switching member (60) has the function of supporting a flexible display screen (95).

7. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the hinge mechanism (100) in the first closed position is such that the guide (59) corresponds to the outer side of the switching groove (69) of the second switch (65), and is also away from the position where the extension guide (78) can block the guide (59).

8. The hinge mechanism of claim 6, wherein the hinge mechanism (100) in the first closed position is such that the guide (59) corresponds to the outer side of the switching groove (69) of the second switch (65), and is also away from the position where the extension guide (78) can block the guide (59).

9. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the hinge mechanism (100) in the second closed position is such that the guide (59) moves into the switching groove (69) relative to each other, and the assembly (70) is moved at the same closing angle toward the guide linkage (50) assembled on the second side (12) at a position translation.

10. The hinge mechanism of claim 6, wherein the hinge mechanism (100) in the second closed position is such that the guide (59) moves into the switching groove (69) relative to each other, and the assembly (70) is moved at the same closing angle toward the guide linkage (50) assembled on the second side (12) at a position translation.

11. The hinge mechanism of claim 7, wherein the hinge mechanism (100) in the second closed position is such that the guide (59) moves into the switching groove (69) relative to each other, and the assembly (70) is moved at the same closing angle toward the guide linkage (50) assembled on the second side (12) at a position translation.

12. The hinge mechanism of claim 8, wherein the hinge mechanism (100) in the second closed position is such that the guide (59) moves into the switching groove (69) relative to each other, and the assembly (70) is moved at the same closing angle toward the guide linkage (50) assembled on the second side (12) at a position translation.

13. The hinge mechanism of claim 1 or 2, wherein the base frame (10) is configured with a torque module (35) that links the linkage module (30) to form a transmission module having a bending torque value.

14. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the base frame (10) is provided with a torque module (35) that links the linkage module (30) to form a transmission module having a bending torque value.

15. The hinge mechanism of claim 1 or 2, wherein the virtual axis linkage (14) is an arc-shaped track, and the secondary linkage (24) is configured as a secondary arc-shaped slide rail that can be combined with the arc-shaped track.

16. The hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the virtual axis linkage (14) is an arc-shaped track, and the secondary linkage (24) is configured as a secondary arc-shaped slide rail that can be combined with the arc-shaped track.

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