Mobile terminal with inwardly-folding flexible screen, and hinge thereof

Abstract

Provided in the present invention are a mobile terminal with an inwardly-folding flexible screen, and a hinge thereof. The hinge is provided with axial sliding structures, wherein the axial sliding structure is rotationally connected to a middle keel by means of a solid shaft, the axial sliding structure rotates synchronously with a rotary connecting arm, the axial sliding structure can also slide in the axial direction of the solid shaft, and a reversing structure is connected between the axial sliding structure and a casing connector; and a synchronous reverse motion connecting structure in the hinge is slidably connected to the middle keel and is provided with a left-side connecting structure and a right-side connecting structure, and the left-side connecting structure and the right-side connecting structure are respectively connected to the axial sliding structure on the left side and the axial sliding structure on the right side. In the present invention, a virtual rotating shaft mechanism can be omitted in the middle structure of the hinge, and in conjunction with a sliding synchronous structure, the space requirements of the middle structure of the mobile terminal with an inwardly-folding flexible screen in a horizontal direction and a height direction can be reduced, thus meeting the bending requirement of the flexible screen during folding, and also obtaining a better effect in the aspect of thinning.

Description

Inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal and hinge thereof Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal and a hinge thereof. The flexible screen mobile terminal may be a mobile phone, a notebook computer, etc. Background Art

[0002] For an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal, it includes a flexible screen arranged on the inside of the mobile terminal, a left shell and a right shell, and a hinge connecting the left shell and the right shell. In order to cope with the bending characteristics of the flexible screen when the mobile terminal is folded, one solution is to enable the left shell and the right shell to slide left and right. In order to achieve the sliding of the left shell and the right shell, for each side of the motion structure, in addition to the rotation axis of the casing, another rotation axis is added, and the rotation axis is set above the support surface of the flexible screen. It is realized by a virtual shaft structure composed of an arc slide rail and an arc guide groove. However, since it itself needs to adopt an arc-shaped structure, its thinning degree will still have great limitations. The size occupied by the arc in the left and right directions will be close to the arc diameter, which limits the reduction in thickness of the mobile terminal when folded, which in turn limits the thinning of the left and right shells. At the same time, a gear structure is often used as a synchronization structure in the hinge. This also requires a considerable size in the height direction at the location where the synchronization mechanism is set. In order to adapt to the characteristics of the flexible screen when bending, the middle structure of the mobile terminal also has to have a certain thickness. This places more restrictions on the degree of thinning, and when folded, the overlap between the left and right shells and the middle shell is also large, affecting the appearance.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] The first object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal that can achieve better results in terms of thinning. To this end, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] A hinge for an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal, comprising a left-side motion mechanism, a right-side motion mechanism, and a central keel, wherein the left-side motion mechanism and the right-side motion mechanism are connected to a synchronous reverse motion connection structure, wherein a rotating connecting arm and a housing connecting member slidably connected to the rotating connecting arm are provided in the motion mechanism, and the central keel is provided with a real axis for each of the left-side motion mechanism and the right-side motion mechanism, wherein the rotating connecting arm is rotatably connected to the central keel via the real axis, and the sliding direction of the sliding connection is perpendicular to the real axis; and characterized in that:

[0006] The motion mechanism is further provided with an axial sliding structure, which is rotatably connected to the middle keel via a real axis. The axial sliding structure and the rotating connecting arm rotate synchronously, and the axial sliding structure can also slide axially along the real axis. A reversing structure is connected between the axial sliding structure and the casing connector.

[0007] The synchronous reverse motion connection structure is slidably connected to the middle keel, and the sliding direction is along the axial direction of the real axis; the synchronous reverse motion connection structure is provided with a left connection structure and a right connection structure, and the left connection structure and the right connection structure are respectively connected to the axial sliding structure in the left motion mechanism and the axial sliding structure in the right motion mechanism.

[0008] On the basis of adopting the above technical solutions, the present invention may also adopt the following further technical solutions at the same time, or use these further technical solutions in combination:

[0009] A control mechanism is provided for the left and right motion mechanisms in the middle keel, so that the axial sliding structure generates axial sliding when rotating.

[0010] The control mechanism adopts a cam structure, and the cam structure is arranged around the axis of the axial sliding structure.

[0011] The cam structure on the left side of the middle keel and the cam structure on the right side are arranged oppositely, so that in the first axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure generate a driving force through the cam structure on the left side when rotating, and generate a clearance distance through the cam structure on the right side. In the second axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure generate a driving force through the cam structure on the right side, and generate a clearance space through the cam structure on the left side; the first direction and the second direction are opposite.

[0012] The left connecting structure and the right connecting structure are respectively sleeved on the real shaft and are respectively connected to the end where the axial sliding structure is connected to the real shaft.

[0013] The axial sliding structure includes an axial sliding member, and the reversing structure includes a connecting rod. Both ends of the connecting rod are rotatably connected to the casing connecting member and the axial sliding member respectively.

[0014] The reversing structure further includes a track groove provided on the axial sliding member, and the connecting rod is provided with a pin that cooperates with the track groove.

[0015] The hinge is also provided with a rotation resistance mechanism, which includes an axially moving clamping sleeve and a shaft, a diameter-changing section is provided on the shaft, and the clamping sleeve rotates synchronously with the rotating connecting arm; the diameter-changing section includes a small-diameter section that cooperates with the clamping sleeve in the stage when the flexible screen mobile terminal is close to the folded state and the stage when it is close to being opened and flattened, and a high-torque output section that cooperates with the clamping sleeve between the starting stage and the stage when it is close to being flattened, the diameter of the diameter-changing section in the high-torque output section is larger than the diameter of the small-diameter section, and there is a smooth transition between the high-torque output section and the small-diameter section, and a control mechanism is provided in the middle keel to generate axial sliding when the axial sliding structure rotates.

[0016] The axis on which the variable diameter section is provided and the real axis on the same side are coaxial axes.

[0017] The control mechanism adopts a cam structure; the cam structure is arranged around the axis of the axial sliding structure.

[0018] The control mechanism simultaneously controls the axial sliding generated when the axial sliding structure rotates, and the motion mechanism on the left and the motion mechanism on the right are respectively provided with the rotation resistance mechanism; the clamping sleeve is connected to the axial sliding structure on the same side; the cam structure on the left side of the middle keel and the cam structure on the right are arranged oppositely, so that in the first axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure generate a driving force through the cam structure on the left when rotating, and generate a clearance distance through the cam structure on the right; in the second axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure generate a driving force through the cam structure on the right, and generate a clearance distance through the cam structure on the left; the first direction and the second direction are opposite.

[0019] The second object of the present invention is to provide an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal, which includes a flexible screen arranged on the inner side of the mobile terminal, a left shell and a right shell, and a hinge connecting the left shell and the right shell, and the hinge adopts any of the above-mentioned hinges.

[0020] Due to the adoption of the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention can omit the virtual hinge mechanism in the middle structure of the hinge and combine it with a sliding synchronization structure, which can reduce the space requirements of the middle structure of the inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal in the left and right and height directions, and can achieve better results in thinning while meeting the bending requirements when the flexible screen is folded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a hinge of the present invention viewed from top to bottom when a mobile terminal is in a flat state.

[0022] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG1 viewed from bottom to top when the mobile terminal is in a flat state.

[0023] FIG3 is an exploded view of the structure of a module in the embodiment shown in FIG1 .

[0024] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the module shown in FIG3 .

[0025] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of the hovering module in the embodiment shown in FIG1 .

[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the hovering module shown in FIG. 5 .

[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the hinge of the present invention.

[0028] FIG8 is an exploded view of a portion of the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG7 .

[0029] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the rotation resistance mechanism in the embodiment shown in FIG7 during the opening process (or closing process) of the mobile terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Refer to the accompanying drawings. The hinge of an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal provided by the present invention includes a motion mechanism on the left and a motion mechanism on the right, and a middle keel 300. The motion mechanism on the left and the motion mechanism on the right are connected with a synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4. A rotating connecting arm 1 and a housing connector 2 slidably connected to the rotating connecting arm 1 are provided in the motion mechanism. The middle keel 300 is provided with a real axis 301 for the motion mechanism on the left and the motion mechanism on the right, respectively. The rotating connecting arm 1 is rotatably connected to the middle keel 300 through the real axis 301. The sliding direction of the sliding connection, that is, the sliding direction of the housing connector 2 is perpendicular to the real axis 301. The middle keel 300 can be a whole structure, or it can be composed of several sections connected together by connectors.

[0031] The axial positioning of the rotating connecting arm 1 can be achieved by limiting the portion 11 of the rotating connecting arm 1 inserted into the groove 304 formed in the bracket portion of the middle keel 300 for the real shaft 301 to pass through.

[0032] The motion mechanism also includes an axial sliding structure, which can be implemented as an axial sliding member 3 (e.g., a block-shaped or plate-shaped body). The axial sliding member 3 is rotatably connected to the central keel via a solid shaft. The solid shaft can be integral with the solid shaft 301 (in this embodiment, it is integral and labeled 301), or divided into two sections. The axial sliding member 3 rotates synchronously with the rotating connecting arm 1 and can also slide axially along the solid shaft 301. A reversing structure is connected between the axial sliding member 3 and the housing connector 2.

[0033] The central keel 300 is provided with a control mechanism for the left and right motion mechanisms, so that the axial sliding structure generates axial sliding during rotation. The control mechanism adopts a cam structure, which is arranged around the axis of the axial sliding structure. The cam structure 61 on the left side of the central keel and the cam structure 62 on the right side are arranged oppositely. Not only are the cam surfaces oriented in opposite directions, but the engagement is also opposite. When the cam structure 61 on the left side engages in an ascending engagement, the cam structure 62 on the right side engages in a descending engagement with the same amplitude. Therefore, in the first axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4 and the axial sliding member 3 generate a driving force through the cam structure 61 on the left side and a clearance distance through the cam structure 62 on the right side when rotating. In the second axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4 and the axial sliding member 3 generate a driving force through the cam structure 62 on the right side and a clearance distance through the cam structure 61 on the left side. The first direction and the second direction are opposite. It is preferred to provide a corresponding matching structure 34 at the end of the sleeve of the axial sliding member 3 to match the cam structure 61 or cam structure 62 on the side. Alternatively, a synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4 can be used to match the cam structure, or a connecting component can be provided for matching.

[0034] The synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4 (which can be a slider with a connection part) is slidably connected to the middle keel 300, and the sliding direction is along the axial direction of the real axis 301. The preferred embodiment is that the synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4 is simultaneously sleeved on the real axis 301 of the left motion mechanism and the real axis 301 of the right motion mechanism, or is sleeved on another real axis coaxial with the real axis 301. The synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4 is provided with a left connection structure 41 and a right connection structure 42. The left connection structure 41 and the right connection structure 42 are respectively connected to the axial sliding member 3 in the left motion mechanism and the axial sliding member 3 in the right motion mechanism. This can be that the axial sliding member 3 is provided with a groove 31, and the left connection structure 41 and the right connection structure 42 are stuck in the groove 31. In addition, other forms of abutment connection or connection with the aid of connecting parts can also be adopted.

[0035] One embodiment of the reversing structure can employ the following structure: it includes a connecting rod 5, whose ends are rotatably connected to the housing connector 2 and the axial slide 3, respectively. As shown in the figure, portion 33 is the portion on the axial slide 3 where the connecting rod 5 connects, and portion 21 is the portion on the housing connector 2 where the connecting rod 5 connects. Furthermore, the reversing structure can also include a track groove 32 on the axial slide 3, and the connecting rod 5 is provided with a pin that engages with the track groove 32.

[0036] If the hinge needs to have a hovering function that allows it to stop rotating at any time within a certain angle range and to locate the current angle at any time, a rotation resistance mechanism that plays the main role of friction resistance during the hovering stage can also be provided. This is a separate module 103 in the hinge, which is installed on the middle keel. The middle keel can be an integral part of the aforementioned middle keel 300, or it can be two separate parts connected together by a connecting component. The module 103 includes two shafts 721 that are on the same axis as the two real shafts 301 on the left and right sides, respectively. A plurality of disc springs are respectively provided on the two shafts 721 as the elastic components 72. The rotation resistance mechanism also provides a plurality of friction connecting plates 722 and friction pads 723, which provide rotation resistance through the friction between them. The separate module also provides connecting arms 724 on the left and right sides and correspondingly provides housing connectors 2A. The housing connector 2A can be an integral part of the aforementioned housing connector 2, or it can be The housing connector 2A on the same side is slidably connected to the connecting arm 724 on the same side. The left and right connecting arms 724 rotate synchronously with the left and right rotating connecting arms 1, respectively. The friction connecting plate 722 includes a left friction connecting plate and a right friction connecting plate, which are respectively mounted on the left and right shafts 721 and connected to the left and right connecting arms 724, respectively. The friction pad 723 is mounted on both the left and right shafts 721. The state of the elastic component 72 is controlled by a cam structure, which can be composed of a cam 725 and a cam mating mechanism located on the shaft sleeve 726 of the connecting arm 724.

[0037] The rotation resistance mechanism can also be implemented by combining a coil and a real shaft.

[0038] The inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal provided by the present invention is provided with a flexible screen arranged on the inner side of the mobile terminal, a left shell and a right shell, and a hinge connecting the left shell and the right shell, and the hinge adopts the above-mentioned hinge. The hinge can be composed of multiple modules, including a connection and synchronization module and a hovering module (i.e., the module 103 that plays the above-mentioned role). The connection and synchronization modules can be provided in a group at each end, respectively labeled 101 and 102, and the hovering module is provided between the two modules. The connection and synchronization modules are both provided with the above-mentioned rotating connecting arm 1, the housing connecting member 2, the axial sliding member 3, the reversing structure and the synchronous reverse motion connecting structure 4.

[0039] 7, 8, and 9, the rotational resistance mechanism may also employ the following embodiment: comprising an axially movable clamping sleeve 73 and a shaft, the shaft being provided with a reducing section, wherein the clamping sleeve 73 rotates synchronously with the rotating connecting arm 1; the reducing section comprising a small diameter section 302 that cooperates with the clamping sleeve at a certain angle when the flexible screen mobile terminal is folded and flattened, and a high torque output section 303 that cooperates with the clamping sleeve between the certain angles when the flexible screen mobile terminal is folded and flattened. The diameter of the reducing section in the high torque output section 303 is larger than the diameter of the small diameter section 302. In the small diameter section, the clamping sleeve 73 may have a clearance fit with the shaft, substantially maintaining no deformation. In the high torque output section 303, the clamping sleeve 73 has an interference fit, undergoing significant elastic deformation, and a smooth transition between the high torque output section 303 and the small diameter section 302. The shaft provided with the reducing section may be the real shaft 301B on the same side. The hinge corresponds to the rotation angle of the small diameter section, and other rotation torque mechanisms can be set up to output different rotation resistances in stages.

[0040] The clamping sleeve 73 can be combined with the axial sliding structure 3B and serve as a sleeve connecting the axial sliding structure to the real shaft. The aforementioned control mechanism can simultaneously control the axial sliding generated by the rotation of the axial sliding structure and the axial sliding of the clamping sleeve 73. In the aforementioned embodiment, the mating structure 34 provided at the end of the sleeve of the axial sliding member 3 can also be provided at the end of the clamping sleeve 73.

[0041] In this embodiment, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure 4, the rotating connection arm 1, the rotating connection arm 1, the housing connection part 2, the axial sliding structure, the reversing structure and the coordination therebetween can all adopt the methods of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0042] In the present invention, the real shaft 301 and the middle keel 300 can be fixedly connected so that the shaft cannot rotate or rotatably connected, and fixed connection is preferred.

[0043] The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the structural features of the present invention are not limited thereto. Any changes or modifications made by any technician in this field within the field of the present invention are included in the protection scope of the present invention.

[0044] It should be noted that the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of the present invention and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "installed", "set", "provided with", "connected", "connected", and "socketed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be an internal connection between two devices, elements or components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as "one end," "the other end," "outer side," "inner side," "horizontal," "end," "length," "outer end," "left," and "right" indicate positions or locations based on those shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are intended solely to facilitate and simplify the description of the present invention and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. The terms "first" and "second" are used solely for brevity and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance.

Claims

1. A hinge of an inward folding flexible screen mobile terminal, comprising a left-side motion mechanism, a right-side motion mechanism, and a middle keel, wherein the left-side motion mechanism and the right-side motion mechanism are connected with a synchronous reverse motion connection structure, wherein a rotating connecting arm and a housing connecting member slidably connected to the rotating connecting arm are provided in the motion mechanism, and the middle keel is provided with a real axis for the left-side motion mechanism and the right-side motion mechanism respectively, wherein the rotating connecting arm is rotatably connected to the middle keel through the real axis, and the sliding direction of the sliding connection is perpendicular to the real axis; characterized in that: The motion mechanism is also provided with an axial sliding structure, which is rotatably connected to the middle keel through a real axis, the axial sliding structure and the rotating connecting arm rotate synchronously, and the axial sliding structure can also slide axially along the real axis, and a reversing structure is connected between the axial sliding structure and the casing connecting piece; The synchronous reverse motion connection structure is slidably connected to the middle keel, and the sliding direction is along the axial direction of the real axis; the synchronous reverse motion connection structure is provided with a left connection structure and a right connection structure, and the left connection structure and the right connection structure are respectively connected to the axial sliding structure in the left motion mechanism and the axial sliding structure in the right motion mechanism.

2. The hinge of an inward folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: A control mechanism is provided for the left movement mechanism and the right movement mechanism in the middle keel, so that the axial sliding structure generates axial sliding when rotating.

3. The hinge of an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control mechanism adopts a cam structure, and the cam structure is arranged around the axis of the axial sliding structure.

4. The hinge of an inward folding flexible screen mobile terminal as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The cam structure on the left side of the middle keel and the cam structure on the right side are arranged oppositely, so that in the first axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure generate a driving force through the cam structure on the left side when rotating, and generate a clearance distance through the cam structure on the right side; in the second axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure generate a driving force through the cam structure on the right side, and generate a clearance space through the cam structure on the left side; the first direction and the second direction are opposite.

5. The hinge of an inward folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The left connecting structure and the right connecting structure are respectively sleeved on the real shaft and are respectively connected to the end where the axial sliding structure and the real shaft are connected.

6. The hinge of an inward folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The axial sliding structure comprises an axial sliding member, and the reversing structure comprises a connecting rod, and two ends of the connecting rod are rotatably connected to the casing connecting member and the axial sliding member respectively.

7. The hinge of an inward folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 6, characterized in that: The reversing structure further comprises a track groove arranged on the axial sliding member, and the connecting rod is provided with a pin which cooperates with the track groove.

8. The hinge of an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hinge is also provided with a rotation resistance mechanism, which includes an axially moving clamping sleeve and a shaft, a diameter-changing section is provided on the shaft, and the clamping sleeve rotates synchronously with the rotating connecting arm; the diameter-changing section includes a small diameter section that cooperates with the clamping sleeve when the flexible screen mobile terminal is close to the folded state stage and close to the unfolded flat stage, and a high torque output section that cooperates with the clamping sleeve between the initial stage and the close to the flat stage, the diameter of the diameter-changing section in the high torque output section is larger than the diameter of the small diameter section, and the high torque output section and the small diameter section have a smooth transition; A control mechanism is arranged in the middle keel to enable the axial sliding structure to generate axial sliding when it rotates.

9. The hinge of an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that: The axis of the variable diameter section and the real axis on the same side are set to be coaxial.

10. The hinge of an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that: The control mechanism adopts a cam structure; the cam structure is arranged around the axis of the axial sliding structure.

11. The hinge of an inward-folding flexible screen mobile terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that: The control mechanism simultaneously controls the axial sliding generated when the axial sliding structure rotates, and the left motion mechanism and the right motion mechanism are respectively provided with the rotation resistance mechanism; the clamping sleeve is connected with the axial sliding structure on the same side; The cam structure on the left side of the middle keel is arranged opposite to the cam structure on the right side, so that in the first axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure rotate through the cam structure on the left side. A driving force is generated, and a clearance distance is generated through the cam structure on the right. In the second axial direction, the synchronous reverse motion connection structure and the axial sliding structure generate a driving force through the cam structure on the right, and a clearance distance is generated through the cam structure on the left; the first direction and the second direction are opposite.

12. An inward folding flexible screen mobile terminal, comprising a flexible screen arranged inside the mobile terminal, a left shell and a right shell, and a hinge connecting the left shell and the right shell, characterized in that: The hinge is the hinge described in any one of claims 1-11.

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