Foldable electronic device

Abstract

A foldable electronic device, comprising a folding assembly (110) and a flexible display screen (120) laid on the folding assembly (110), the folding assembly (110) comprising a first housing (111), a folding mechanism (113), and a second housing (112) which are connected in sequence, and the folding mechanism (113) comprising a rotating shaft (113a). The foldable electronic device further comprises: a flexible buffer layer (140) provided between the flexible display screen (120) and the rotating shaft (113a), the flexible buffer layer (140) comprising a hollow portion (149), and the hollow portion (149) being adjacent to an end portion of the rotating shaft (113a). Therefore, the impact resistance of the flexible display screen can be improved, and the drop reliability of the flexible display screen is improved.

Description

Foldable electronic devices

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on January 25, 2024, with application number 202420191388.7 and application name “Foldable Electronic Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of terminal devices, and in particular to a foldable electronic device. Background Art

[0003] With the advancement of terminal technology, users are increasingly demanding large, portable electronic devices. Consequently, foldable electronic devices with flexible displays, such as foldable phones, have garnered widespread attention. Foldable electronic devices can unfold when in use to provide a larger display and enhance visual quality, and fold when not in use for easy storage and portability.

[0004] According to the folding method, foldable electronic devices can be divided into types such as top and bottom inward (small) folding, left and right inward folding, and left and right outward folding. Figure 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a left and right outward folding type foldable electronic device. As shown in Figure 1, a left and right outward folding type foldable electronic device means that the body 10 of the device can be folded toward the back side of the body. After folding, the flexible display 20 wraps around the outside of the body 10 to form a wrap-around screen structure. When the body 10 is in the unfolded state, the flexible display 20 presents a normal straight screen display effect.

[0005] When the foldable electronic device is in the unfolded state as shown in Figure 1, the display area of ​​the flexible display screen 20 located in the axis area is in a relatively loose state. At this time, if an accidental fall occurs, the display area at the edge of the axis area is prone to form wave patterns under the impact of external force. This part of the display area may be damaged and fail due to the small bending radius of the wave pattern, affecting the user experience.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] An embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device that can improve the impact resistance of a flexible display screen and improve the drop reliability of the flexible display screen.

[0008] In a first aspect, a foldable electronic device is provided, comprising a folding assembly and a flexible display screen laid on the folding assembly, wherein the folding assembly comprises a first shell, a folding mechanism and a second shell connected in sequence, the folding mechanism comprises a rotating shaft, and the foldable electronic device further comprises: a flexible buffer layer arranged between the flexible display screen and the rotating shaft, the flexible buffer layer comprising a hollow portion, and the hollow portion is adjacent to the end of the rotating shaft.

[0009] According to the foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application, a hollow portion is provided on the flexible buffer layer between the flexible display and the rotating shaft, and the hollow portion is provided adjacent to the end of the rotating shaft, that is, the hollow portion is provided adjacent to the edge or frame of the foldable electronic device. The provision of the hollow portion can increase the height (thickness) space, so that when the foldable electronic device accidentally falls, the ripples formed by external force impact can be accommodated within the hollow portion. That is, the provision of the hollow portion can avoid the ripples, so that the bending radius of the ripples is not too small, thereby protecting the bent display portion of the flexible display, improving the impact resistance and drop reliability of the flexible display, and thus improving the user experience.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the hollow portion includes a hole structure and / or a notch structure.

[0011] Optionally, the hole structure can be, for example, a through hole, a blind hole or a buried hole arranged inside the flexible buffer layer, and the notch structure can be, for example, any regular or irregular notch-shaped structure such as a U-shaped, V-shaped, C-shaped or wavy shape arranged at the edge of the flexible buffer layer.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the flexible buffer layer includes a first supporting layer and a first buffer layer that are stacked, and the elastic modulus of the first supporting layer is greater than the elastic modulus of the first buffer layer.

[0013] The flexible buffer layer provided in the present application is formed by stacking multiple layers of sheets including a first support layer and a first buffer layer, and the elastic modulus of the first support layer is greater than that of the first buffer layer. In this way, since the first support layer has a larger elastic modulus, it is beneficial to provide support for the flexible display screen and reduce the possibility of the flexible display screen sinking towards the inside of the device under the action of impact. In addition, since the elastic modulus of the first support layer is relatively large, the overall deformation of the first support layer is relatively small under the action of the shock wave, and the first support layer is not prone to local stress concentration, and the shock wave is relatively easy to disperse on the first support layer. The first buffer layer has a smaller elastic modulus and can absorb the shock wave through larger elastic deformation, which is beneficial to absorb the shock wave from the flexible display screen and achieve reliable protection for the flexible display screen. The present application forms a flexible buffer layer by combining the first support layer and the first buffer layer, so that the flexible buffer layer can have both a buffering protection effect and a supporting effect on the flexible display screen, while also having better bending performance, which is beneficial to improving the performance of the foldable electronic device.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the flexible buffer layer includes a stacked under-screen buffer layer and an on-axis buffer layer, wherein the under-screen buffer layer includes a first adhesive layer and the first supporting layer, and the first supporting layer is fixedly connected to the flexible display screen through the first adhesive layer; the on-axis buffer layer includes the first buffer layer, the second adhesive layer and the second supporting layer stacked in sequence, and the second supporting layer is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft.

[0015] The present application divides the flexible buffer layer into two parts, one part (i.e., the under-screen buffer layer) is fixedly bonded to the flexible display screen, and the other part (i.e., the on-axis buffer layer) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft. In this way, when assembling the flexible buffer layer, the under-screen buffer layer can be reliably bonded to the back of the flexible display screen first, and the on-axis buffer layer can be fixedly connected (e.g., welded) to the rotating shaft. After that, the flexible buffer layer can be assembled by assembling the flexible display screen. That is, after the flexible display screen is assembled on the folding assembly, the under-screen buffer layer is automatically attached to the on-axis buffer layer. This simplifies the assembly steps and helps to improve the assembly reliability of the flexible buffer layer.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the under-screen buffer layer also includes a third adhesive layer and a second buffer layer, and the first adhesive layer, the first supporting layer, the third adhesive layer and the second buffer layer are stacked in sequence; or, the first adhesive layer, the second buffer layer, the third adhesive layer and the first supporting layer are stacked in sequence.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the on-axis buffer layer further includes: a lubricating layer located between the under-screen buffer layer and the first buffer layer.

[0018] The lubricating layer can play a lubricating role. By setting the lubricating layer, the friction between the under-screen buffer layer and the on-axis buffer layer can be reduced, making it easier for the under-screen buffer layer and the on-axis buffer layer to shift relative to each other during the folding process, thereby improving the folding feel of the foldable electronic device.

[0019] Optionally, the lubricating layer may be a lubricating coating composed of lubricating oil or lubricating grease.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the lubricating layer includes Mylar sheet.

[0021] The Mylar sheet can be coated on the surface of the first buffer layer. The Mylar sheet has self-lubricating properties, which can reduce friction between the under-screen buffer layer and the Mylar sheet, facilitating sliding between the under-screen buffer layer and the shaft buffer layer when folded. For example, the Mylar sheet can be a PET Mylar sheet or a Teflon Mylar sheet.

[0022] In a possible implementation, a through hole is opened in the middle of the on-shaft buffer layer, and the under-screen buffer layer is bonded to the rotating shaft through glue in the through hole.

[0023] Through the above setting, the buffer layer under the screen can be directly fixedly connected to the rotating shaft without passing through the buffer layer on the shaft, thereby improving the connection reliability between the bent display part and the rotating shaft, and effectively preventing the risk of warping of the bent display part, which is conducive to keeping the bent display part flat.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the through hole includes a first hole provided in the second adhesive layer, and a second hole provided in the second supporting layer, the first hole is opposite to the second hole, and a cross-sectional area of ​​the second hole is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the first hole.

[0025] Since the width of the rotating shaft is small, by setting the second hole with a smaller cross-sectional area, it can not only prevent the glue from overflowing from the hole, but also allow the hole to accommodate more glue and expose part of the wall surface of the second supporting layer. In this way, the buffer layer under the screen can be bonded to the rotating shaft and the second supporting layer at the same time, thereby improving the reliability of the connection.

[0026] In a possible implementation manner, the second supporting layer includes a metal layer, and the metal layer is welded to the rotating shaft.

[0027] Compared to bonding, welding offers greater connection reliability, which can improve the connection reliability between the buffer layer on the shaft and the rotating shaft. For example, the second supporting layer is a steel sheet with multiple weld areas on the steel sheet for welding and fixing the connection with the rotating shaft.

[0028] In one possible implementation, a welding avoidance hole is opened in the middle of the on-shaft buffer layer, and the welding avoidance hole penetrates from the side surface of the on-shaft buffer layer away from the metal layer to the metal layer, so that the metal layer is exposed to facilitate the welding operation of the metal layer and the rotating shaft by the welding head.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the under-screen buffer layer includes a plurality of functional film layers stacked in sequence, and the hollow portion is provided on one or more film layers among the plurality of functional film layers.

[0030] That is to say, the hollow portion can be arranged on one or more functional film layers of the under-screen buffer layer, rather than on all the functional film layers, that is, some functional film layers of the under-screen buffer layer may not be hollowed out. Through the above arrangement, the setting of the hollow portion can be made more flexible. While the hollow portion can reliably avoid the wave pattern, it is also beneficial to ensure that the flexible buffer layer has a good supporting effect on the flexible display screen.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the first shell includes a first middle frame, the second shell includes a second middle frame, and the foldable electronic device also includes: a screen supporting plate, including a first supporting part, a bent supporting part and a second supporting part connected in sequence, the first supporting part is located between the flexible display screen and the first middle frame, the bent supporting part is located between the flexible display screen and the flexible buffer layer, and the second supporting part is located between the flexible display screen and the second middle frame.

[0032] In some examples, in the width direction perpendicular to the rotation axis (ie, the radial direction of the rotation axis), the width of the under-screen buffer layer is greater than the width of the bent supporting portion.

[0033] The under-screen buffer layer and the bent supporting part are both rectangular structures, the long side of the rectangular structure is arranged along the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and the short side of the rectangular structure is arranged along the direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft (i.e., the width direction). This application sets the width of the under-screen buffer layer to be greater than the width of the bent supporting part, that is, the length of the short side of the under-screen buffer layer is greater than the length of the short side of the bent supporting part, which can provide better support and protection for the flexible display screen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a foldable electronic device of the left and right outward folding type.

[0035] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application before and after folding.

[0036] FIG3 is an exploded view of a foldable electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0037] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible buffer layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0038] FIG5 is an enlarged view of the end portion of the flexible buffer layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0039] FIG6 is an enlarged view of the end portion of another example of the flexible buffer layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0040] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of various implementation methods of the hollow portion provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0041] FIG8 is an exploded view of the flexible buffer layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0042] FIG9 is an exploded view of another example of the under-screen buffer layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0043] FIG10 is a partial schematic diagram of an on-axis buffer layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0044] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of another example of an on-axis buffer layer provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0045] FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of a portion A of the on-axis buffer layer shown in FIG. 11 .

[0046] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the on-shaft buffer layer shown in FIG. 11 .

[0047] Figure numerals: 10, fuselage; 20, flexible display; 100, foldable electronic device; 110, folding assembly; 111, first shell; 111a, first middle frame; 111b, first frame; 112, second shell; 112a, second middle frame; 112b, second frame; 113, folding mechanism; 113a, hinge; 120, flexible display; 121, first display portion; 122, second display portion; 123, bending display portion; 130, screen supporting plate; 131, first supporting portion; 132, second supporting portion; 133, bending supporting portion; 140, flexible buffer layer; 141, first adhesive layer; 142, first supporting layer; 143, lubricating layer; 143a, first lubricating portion; 143b, Second lubricating part; 143c, third lubricating part; 144, first buffer layer; 145, second adhesive layer; 146, second supporting layer; 147, third adhesive layer; 148, second buffer layer; 149, hollow part; 140a, under-screen buffer layer; 140b, on-axis buffer layer; 140c, through hole; 140c1, first hole; 140c2, second hole; 140c3, third hole; 140c4, fourth hole; 140d, welding avoidance hole; 150, adhesive backing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present application, and should not be understood as limiting the present application.

[0049] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installed" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections, electrical connections, or mutual communication; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; they can refer to internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0050] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "side", "front", "rear", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the installation, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0051] In the following, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0052] The term "and / or" in this document simply describes a relationship between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0053] Based on the problems existing in the prior art, an embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device that can improve the impact resistance of a flexible display screen and improve the drop reliability of the flexible display screen.

[0054] The foldable electronic device provided in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, an e-reader, a television, a smart wearable product (e.g., a smart watch, a smart bracelet), a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, or other terminal products. The following description will only take a foldable mobile phone as an example of a foldable electronic device.

[0055] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application before and after folding, wherein part (a) in Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device 100 in an open state, and part (b) in Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device 100 in a closed state.

[0056] As shown in FIG2 , the foldable electronic device 100 has a flexible display screen 120. The flexible display screen 120 has foldable characteristics so that the foldable electronic device 100 can be folded, for example, it can be folded outward in the left and right directions. The folded flexible display screen 120 is divided into multiple parts, for example, including a front display part facing the user, and a back display part opposite to the front display part and located on the back. When the foldable electronic device 100 is in the unfolded state, the user can perform human-computer interaction through the complete flexible display screen 120, and the user has a better visual effect at this time; when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the folded state, the user can perform human-computer interaction through the front display part of the flexible display screen 120, which can meet the user's basic usage needs and facilitate the user to store and carry the foldable electronic device 100.

[0057] As shown in Figure 2, the foldable electronic device 100 includes a foldable component 110 and a flexible display screen 120. Among them, the foldable component 110 constructs the appearance of the foldable electronic device 100, and the foldable component 110 can be a metal shell, such as magnesium alloy, aluminum alloy, stainless steel and other metals. In addition, it can also be a plastic shell, a glass shell, a ceramic shell, etc., but not limited to this. The foldable component 110 usually includes structures such as a frame, a middle frame, and a back cover. The interior of the foldable component 110 has an installation cavity, and various electronic components are installed in the installation cavity, such as a circuit board, a processor provided on the circuit board, a battery, and various functional components such as a camera, a flash, a microphone, and a speaker, but not limited to this.

[0058] The foldable electronic device 100 also includes a flexible display screen 120 disposed on the foldable component 110. The flexible display screen 120 serves as the front panel of the device and forms the aforementioned mounting cavity with the foldable component 110. The flexible display screen 120 constitutes the display surface of the foldable electronic device 100, and is used to display images, text, and other information, and provide information interaction. The flexible display screen 120 has flexible and bendable characteristics. Exemplarily, the flexible display screen 120 can be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display screen, a mini organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display screen, a micro organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display screen, a micro organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display screen, a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) display screen, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0059] As shown in Figure 2, the folding assembly 110 is composed of multiple parts, including a first housing 111, a folding mechanism 113, and a second housing 112, which are connected in sequence. The folding mechanism 113 can deform to allow the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 to be relatively unfolded or folded. The flexible display 120 includes a first display portion 121, a bendable display portion 123, and a second display portion 122, which are connected in sequence. The first housing 111 is fixedly connected to the first display portion 121, the second housing 112 is fixedly connected to the second display portion 122, and the folding mechanism 113 is directly opposite the bendable display portion 123.

[0060] As shown in part (a) of Figure 2 , the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 can be unfolded relative to each other until they are fully opened, placing the foldable electronic device 100 in an open state. When the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 are fully opened, the angle α between them can be approximately 180° (slight deviations are permitted, such as 165°, 177°, or 185°).

[0061] As shown in part (b) of Figure 2 , the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 can be folded relative to each other until they are closed, so that the foldable electronic device 100 is in a closed state. At this point, the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 are parallel to each other (slight deviation is also allowed). That is, the foldable electronic device 100 can switch between an open state and a closed state by deforming the folding mechanism 113. In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device 100 can also deform the folding mechanism 113 so that the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 are relatively unfolded / folded until the foldable electronic device 100 is in a partially open state, that is, the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 are in an intermediate state between the fully open state and the closed state. For example, when the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 are partially opened, the angle α between them can also be approximately 60°, 120°, 135°, 150°, etc., and this application does not impose strict limitations on this.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present application, the flexible display screen 120 can be bent along with the folding component 110. When the foldable electronic device 100 is in the open state shown in part (a) of Figure 2, the flexible display screen 120 is flattened and can display full screen, so that the foldable electronic device 100 has a larger display area to improve the user's viewing experience; when the foldable electronic device 100 is in the closed state shown in part (b) of Figure 2, the flexible display screen 120 is folded on the outside of the folding component 110, and the planar size of the foldable electronic device 100 is reduced, making it easier for users to carry and store.

[0063] The folding mechanism 113 includes but is not limited to one or more of a rotating shaft, a gear, a hinge, a slider, a slide groove, a pin, a connecting rod, a slide rod, a rocker, etc. In addition, the folding mechanism 113 can also be made of elastic material, memory alloy material, etc.

[0064] Figure 3 is an exploded view of a foldable electronic device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, in this embodiment of the present application, the folding mechanism 113 includes a rotating shaft 113a, and the first housing 111 is hingedly connected to the second housing 112 via the rotating shaft 113a. That is, the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 can rotate relative to each other via the rotating shaft 113a, thereby enabling the foldable electronic device 100 to switch between a fully open state and a closed state.

[0065] As shown in FIG3 , the foldable electronic device 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application further includes a screen support plate 130, which is located between the flexible display screen 120 and the foldable assembly 110. One side of the screen support plate 130 is fixedly bonded to the flexible display screen 120, and the other side is fixedly bonded to the foldable assembly 110. The flexible display screen 120 is fixedly laid on the foldable assembly 110 via the screen support plate 130. In some cases, the screen support plate 130 can be considered as part of the flexible display screen 120.

[0066] The screen support plate 130 is used to support and secure the flexible display screen 120. The screen support plate 130 can provide support for the flexible display screen 120, allowing it to be maintained in at least a flattened or folded state as needed. In other words, the screen support plate 130 must not only have sufficient bending properties to bend to a desired position (angle) when needed, but also be able to maintain the desired position to provide support for the flexible display screen 120. Exemplary materials for the screen support plate 130 include, but are not limited to, at least one of carbon fiber, aramid fiber, glass fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) high modulus fiber, stainless steel, titanium alloy, copper alloy, and aluminum alloy.

[0067] As shown in Figure 3, the screen supporting plate 130 includes a first supporting portion 131, a bending supporting portion 133, and a second supporting portion 132, which are connected in sequence. The first supporting portion 131 is fixedly disposed between the first housing 111 and the first display portion 121, i.e., the first display portion 121 is fixedly connected to the first housing 111 via the first supporting portion 131; the bending supporting portion 133 is disposed between the folding mechanism 113 and the bending display portion 123; and the second supporting portion 132 is fixedly disposed between the second housing 112 and the second display portion 122, i.e., the second display portion 122 is fixedly connected to the second housing 112 via the second supporting portion 132.

[0068] Exemplarily, the first housing 111 includes a first middle frame 111a having a flat plate structure, and a first frame 111b having a U-shaped opening that surrounds the periphery of the first middle frame 111a. The second housing 112 includes a second middle frame 112a having a flat plate structure, and a second frame 112b having a U-shaped opening that surrounds the periphery of the second middle frame 112a. The openings of the first frame 111b and the second frame 112b are opposite each other. The surfaces of the first and second middle frames 111a, 112a are substantially parallel and have substantially the same height. The first middle frame 111a is rotatably connected to the second middle frame 112a via a folding mechanism 113 (e.g., a rotating shaft 113a).

[0069] The upper surface (outer surface) of the first supporting portion 131 can be fixedly bonded to the back surface of the first display portion 121, and the lower surface (inner surface) of the first supporting portion 131 can be fixedly bonded to the first middle frame 111a through the adhesive backing 150; the upper surface of the second supporting portion 132 can be fixedly bonded to the back surface of the second display portion 122, and the lower surface of the second supporting portion 132 can be fixedly bonded to the second middle frame 112a through the adhesive backing 150; the upper surface of the bent supporting portion 133 can be fixedly bonded to the bent display portion 123.

[0070] When the screen support plate 130 bends, the bending support portion 133 generates internal stress due to deformation. If the internal stress is too great, the user will have difficulty folding the foldable electronic device 100, and the screen support plate 130 may be damaged. As shown in FIG3 , to reduce the internal stress generated when the screen support plate 130 bends, the bending support portion 133 of the screen support plate 130 may include a mesh structure. The mesh structure may include an array of multiple spaced-apart hole structures. The mesh structure provides the screen support plate 130 with greater deformation space, which helps reduce the rigidity of the screen support plate 130, reduces the internal stress generated when the screen support plate 130 bends, improves the bending performance of the support plate, and thus improves the folding feel of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0071] In some examples, the mesh structure may include through holes and / or blind holes. For example, the mesh structure may include a plurality of strip-shaped through holes, with at least some of the strip-shaped through holes having lengths perpendicular to the axis of the rotating shaft 113 a, or at least some of the strip-shaped through holes having lengths parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft 113 a.

[0072] In some examples, the bent supporting portion 133 may be a bamboo book, or in other words, the bent supporting portion 133 may also be called a bamboo book.

[0073] As shown in FIG3 , the foldable electronic device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes a flexible buffer layer 140 capable of being bent. The flexible buffer layer 140 is generally rectangular (long strip) in shape, and its long side is arranged along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 113a. For example, the long side can be parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 113a. The flexible buffer layer 140 is arranged between the bending support portion 133 and the rotating shaft 113a, that is, the flexible buffer layer 140 is arranged between the flexible display 120 and the rotating shaft 113a. The flexible buffer layer 140 is used to provide a buffering effect for the flexible display 120, reducing the impact of the flexible display 120 when it is subjected to external force, that is, it can provide a certain degree of protection for the flexible display 120.

[0074] In some examples, the flexible buffer layer 140 can be made of a material with a certain degree of elasticity, such as foam, foam rubber, sponge rubber, plastic, rubber, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc.

[0075] In some examples, the flexible buffer layer 140 can be formed by cutting sheets made of the same material. For example, the flexible buffer layer 140 can be a TPU sheet. Alternatively, the flexible buffer layer 140 can be formed by laminating multiple layers of sheets, where at least two layers of the multilayer sheet are made of different materials.

[0076] In some examples, the upper surface of the flexible buffer layer 140 is fixedly bonded to the bending support portion 133, and the lower surface is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 113a (for example, bonded or welded), so that the bending display portion 123 of the flexible display screen 120 can be fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 113a in sequence through the bending support portion 133, the flexible buffer layer 140, and the rotating shaft 113a. This can prevent the risk of the bending display portion 123 warping, and is conducive to keeping the bending display portion 123 flat.

[0077] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible buffer layer 140 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the flexible buffer layer 140 further includes a hollow portion 149, which is located adjacent to the end of the rotating shaft 113a. For example, the hollow portion 149 can be provided on a short side of the rectangular flexible buffer layer 140, for example, on one of the two short sides, or on both short sides.

[0078] In some examples, the hollow portion 149 may include one or more hollow portions, for example, the hollow portion 149 may include at least one hole structure and / or at least one notch structure. The hole structure may be, for example, a through hole, a blind hole, or a buried hole disposed inside the flexible buffer layer 140, and the notch structure may be, for example, a U-shaped, V-shaped, C-shaped, or wavy-shaped notch structure disposed at the edge of the flexible buffer layer 140, in any regular or irregular shape.

[0079] According to the foldable electronic device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application, a hollow portion 149 is provided on the flexible buffer layer between the flexible display 120 and the rotating shaft 113a, and the hollow portion 149 is provided adjacent to the end of the rotating shaft 113a, that is, the hollow portion 149 is provided adjacent to the edge or frame of the foldable electronic device 100. By providing the hollow portion 149, the height (thickness) space can be increased. In this way, when the foldable electronic device 100 accidentally falls, the ripples formed by external force impact can be accommodated in the hollow portion 149. That is, by providing the hollow portion 149, the ripples can be avoided, so that the bending radius of the ripples is not too small, thereby protecting the bent display portion 123 of the flexible display 120, improving the impact resistance and drop reliability of the flexible display 120, and thus improving the user experience.

[0080] In some examples, multiple hollow portions 149 are provided, with one or more of them being located adjacent to one end of the rotation axis 113a, and the remaining one or more hollow portions 149 being located adjacent to the other end of the rotation axis 113a. With this arrangement, regardless of which end of the foldable electronic device 100 lands first, the bending radius of the wave pattern is minimized, thereby reliably protecting the flexible display 120 and further improving the impact resistance and drop reliability of the flexible display 120.

[0081] For example, as shown in FIG4 , a hollow portion 149 is provided on each of the two short sides of the flexible buffer layer 140 , that is, a notch structure is provided on each side, so that no matter which axis end touches the ground first, the flexible display screen 120 can be reliably protected.

[0082] FIG5 is an enlarged view of the end of the flexible buffer layer 140 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5 , the hollow portion 149 can be a U-shaped notch structure. The hollow portion 149 is opened on the short side of the flexible buffer layer 140 and overlaps with the end of the rotating shaft 113a. The hollow portion 149 is adjacent to the first frame 111b and the second frame 112b. In this way, when the foldable electronic device 100 accidentally falls, the ripples formed by the external force impact can be accommodated in the hollow portion 149, so that the bending radius of the ripples is not too small, thereby achieving drop protection for the flexible display screen 120. Exemplarily, the width w of the hollow portion 149 is greater than or equal to (≥) 3.0 millimeters (mm), and the depth d of the hollow portion 149 is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm and less than or equal to (≤) 3.0 mm. For example, the width w of the hollow portion 149 may be 3.5 mm, 4.0 mm, 4.5 mm, or 5.0 mm, and the depth d of the hollow portion 149 may be 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.5 mm, or 2.0 mm.

[0083] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of another end portion of the flexible buffer layer 140 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As a special example, as shown in Figure 6, the hollow portion 149 can also be a gap provided between the edge of the flexible buffer layer 140 and the inner wall of the frame. In this case, the short side of the flexible buffer layer 140 remains straight, for example, parallel or approximately parallel to the inner wall of the frame. The gap can be considered as part of the flexible buffer layer 140, and can also accommodate ripples, thereby providing drop protection for the flexible display 120.

[0084] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of various implementations of the hollow portion 149 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in part (a) of FIG7 , the hollow portion 149 can be a hole structure opened inside the flexible buffer layer 140, and the hole structure is arranged adjacent to the edge of the shaft end, for example, it can be a through hole, a blind hole or a buried hole. The cross-sectional shape of the hole structure can be, for example, an elliptical, rectangular, runway-shaped or circular shape or any other shape. As shown in part (b) of FIG7 , the hollow portion 149 can be a notch structure formed on the edge of the flexible buffer layer 140, and the notch structure is arranged adjacent to the edge of the shaft end, for example, it can be any regular or irregular notch-shaped structure such as a wavy, sawtooth, U-shaped, V-shaped, or C-shaped shape. As shown in part (c) of FIG7 , the hollow portion 149 can be a notch structure formed on the edge of the flexible buffer layer 140, and the notch structure is arranged adjacent to the edge of the shaft end and has a plurality of them, for example, two, three or four, etc. As shown in part (d) of FIG7 , the hollow portion 149 may be a notch structure formed at the edge of the flexible buffer layer 140, the notch structure being located adjacent to the axial end edge and not penetrating the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible buffer layer 140. For example, the flexible buffer layer 140 may be formed by stacking multiple layers of sheet materials, the notch structure may be formed on one or more of the middle sheets, and the top or bottom sheet may be a complete structure without a notch.

[0085] The following further describes the structural details of the flexible buffer layer 140 with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG8 is an exploded view of the flexible buffer layer 140 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG8 , the flexible buffer layer 140 is formed by stacking multiple layers of sheet materials. The flexible buffer layer 140 includes a first support layer 142 and a first buffer layer 144, which are stacked together. The elastic modulus of the first support layer 142 is greater than that of the first buffer layer 144.

[0086] The flexible buffer layer 140 provided herein is formed by stacking multiple layers of sheet material, including a first support layer 142 and a first buffer layer 144. The first support layer 142 has a greater elastic modulus than the first buffer layer 144. Thus, the higher elastic modulus of the first support layer 142 helps provide support for the flexible display 120, reducing the likelihood of the flexible display 120 sag toward the interior of the device under impact. Furthermore, because the first support layer 142 has a relatively higher elastic modulus, the overall deformation of the first support layer 142 is relatively small under the impact of a shock wave, and the first support layer 142 is less susceptible to localized stress concentration, allowing the shock wave to be dispersed relatively easily across the first support layer 142. The first buffer layer 144, on the other hand, has a lower elastic modulus and can absorb shock waves through greater elastic deformation, thus facilitating absorption of shock waves from the flexible display 120 and providing reliable protection for the flexible display 120. In the present application, a flexible buffer layer 140 is formed by combining a first support layer 142 and a first buffer layer 144, so that the flexible buffer layer 140 can have both a buffering protection effect and a supporting effect on the flexible display screen 120, and at the same time has better bending performance, which is beneficial to improving the performance of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0087] In some examples, the elastic modulus of the first support layer 142 may be 50 GPa to 300 GPa. For example, the first support layer 142 may be a metal sheet, such as a steel sheet, an aluminum alloy sheet, a copper alloy sheet, a magnesium alloy sheet, or a titanium alloy sheet.

[0088] In some examples, the elastic modulus of the first buffer layer 144 may be 10 MPa to 10 GPa. For example, the first buffer layer 144 may be a non-metallic sheet material such as elastic rubber, elastic plastic, or a polymer material. For example, the first buffer layer 144 may be a TPU sheet, a PET sheet, a PC sheet, or a PI sheet.

[0089] In some examples, the first support layer 142 and the first buffer layer 144 can be directly attached to each other, or another sheet material can be placed between them. This application does not limit the stacking order of the first support layer 142 and the first buffer layer 144. For example, the first buffer layer 144 can be located between the first support layer 142 and the rotating shaft 113a, or the first support layer 142 can be located between the first buffer layer 144 and the rotating shaft 113a.

[0090] In some examples, in addition to the first support layer 142 and the first buffer layer 144, the flexible buffer layer 140 may also include other functional film layers or sheets, for example, may include at least one adhesive layer to achieve a fixed connection between the flexible buffer layer 140 and the screen support plate 130, or to achieve a fixed connection between the first support layer 142 and the first buffer layer 144.

[0091] As shown in FIG8 , in the embodiment of the present application, the flexible buffer layer 140 includes a stacked under-screen buffer layer 140a and an on-axis buffer layer 140b. The under-screen buffer layer 140a includes a first adhesive layer 141 and a first support layer 142. The first support layer 142 is fixedly connected to the screen support plate 130 via the first adhesive layer 141. That is, the first support layer 142 is fixedly connected to the flexible display screen 120 via the first adhesive layer 141. The on-axis buffer layer 140b includes a first buffer layer 144, a second adhesive layer 145, and a second support layer 146, which are stacked in sequence. The second support layer 146 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 113a.

[0092] The present application divides the flexible buffer layer 140 into two parts, one part (i.e., the under-screen buffer layer 140a) is fixedly bonded to the flexible display screen 120, and the other part (i.e., the on-axis buffer layer 140b) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 113a. In this way, when assembling the flexible buffer layer 140, the under-screen buffer layer 140a can be reliably bonded to the back of the flexible display screen 120 first, and the on-axis buffer layer 140b can be fixedly connected (for example, welded) to the rotating shaft 113a. After that, the flexible buffer layer 140 can be assembled by assembling the flexible display screen 120. That is, after the flexible display screen 120 is assembled on the folding component 110, the under-screen buffer layer 140a is automatically attached to the on-axis buffer layer 140b. This simplifies the assembly steps and helps to improve the assembly reliability of the flexible buffer layer 140.

[0093] In some examples, the adhesive material of the adhesive layer (e.g., the first adhesive layer 141 and / or the second adhesive layer 145) may include, but is not limited to, pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA), optically clear adhesives, photosensitive adhesives, heat sensitive adhesives, or ultraviolet (UV) adhesives. The adhesive materials of the first adhesive layer 141 and the second adhesive layer 145 may be the same or different.

[0094] In some examples, the hollow portion 149 may be located on the under-screen buffer layer 140 a and / or the on-axis buffer layer 140 b .

[0095] In some examples, first support layer 142 is a steel sheet with a thickness of 0.02 mm to 0.05 mm. First buffer layer 144 is a TPU sheet with a thickness of 0.03 mm to 0.3 mm. Second support layer 146 is a steel sheet with a thickness of 0.02 mm to 0.05 mm. Second support layer 146 is welded to shaft 113 a to securely connect on-shaft buffer layer 140 b to shaft 113 a.

[0096] In some examples, the materials of the first supporting layer 142 and the second supporting layer 146 may be the same or different. For example, both may be steel sheets.

[0097] As shown in Figure 8 , the under-screen buffer layer 140a is a two-layer sheet structure including a first adhesive layer 141 and a first support layer 142. In other implementations, the under-screen buffer layer 140a can also be composed of more layers (e.g., three, four, five, or more layers). Figure 9 is an exploded view of another example of the under-screen buffer layer 140a provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0098] As shown in Figure 9, the under-screen buffer layer 140a has a four-layer structure. In addition to the aforementioned first adhesive layer 141 and the first support layer 142, the under-screen buffer layer 140a also includes a third adhesive layer 147 and a second buffer layer 148. The first adhesive layer 141, the first support layer 142, the third adhesive layer 147 and the second buffer layer 148 are stacked in sequence.

[0099] In some examples, the hollow portion 149 may be located above the first adhesive layer 141 and the first support layer 142, in which case the third adhesive layer 147 and the second buffer layer 148 may not be hollowed out (e.g., without notches). Alternatively, the hollow portion 149 may be located above the third adhesive layer 147 and the second buffer layer 148, in which case the first adhesive layer 141 and the first support layer 142 may not be hollowed out (e.g., without notches).

[0100] In some examples, the stacking order of the first support layer 142 and the second buffer layer 148 can also be changed, that is, the first viscose layer 141, the second buffer layer 148, the third viscose layer 147 and the first support layer 142 are stacked in sequence. In some examples, the hollow portion 149 can be located above the first viscose layer 141 and the second buffer layer 148, in which case the third viscose layer 147 and the first support layer 142 can be non-hollowed (e.g., without notches). Alternatively, the hollow portion 149 can be located above the third viscose layer 147 and the first support layer 142, in which case the first viscose layer 141 and the second buffer layer 148 can be non-hollowed (e.g., without notches). In some examples, the materials of the first buffer layer 144 and the second buffer layer 148 can be the same or different, for example, both can be TPU sheets.

[0101] In some examples, the under-screen buffer layer 140a includes multiple functional film layers stacked in sequence, which may be, for example, the aforementioned adhesive layer, support layer, or buffer layer, etc. The hollow portion 149 is disposed on one or more of the multiple functional film layers.

[0102] That is to say, the hollow portion 149 can be arranged on one or more functional film layers of the under-screen buffer layer 140a, rather than on all functional film layers, that is, some functional film layers of the under-screen buffer layer 140a may not be hollowed out. Through the above arrangement, the arrangement of the hollow portion 149 can be made more flexible. While the hollow portion 149 reliably avoids the wave pattern, it is also beneficial to ensure that the flexible buffer layer 140 has a good supporting effect on the flexible display screen 120.

[0103] Exemplarily, the under-screen buffer layer 140a includes a plurality of functional film layers stacked in sequence, and the hollow portion 149 may be located on one or more functional film layers among the plurality of functional film layers adjacent to the flexible display screen 120, that is, the hollow portion 149 may be formed on the upper surface of the under-screen buffer layer 140a and does not penetrate the lower surface of the under-screen buffer layer 140a; or, the hollow portion 149 may be located on one or more functional film layers among the plurality of functional film layers away from the flexible display screen 120, that is, the hollow portion 149 may be formed on the lower surface of the under-screen buffer layer 140a and does not penetrate the upper surface of the under-screen buffer layer 140a; or, the hollow portion 149 may be located on one or more functional film layers inside the plurality of functional film layers, that is, the hollow portion 149 may be formed inside the under-screen buffer layer 140a and does not penetrate the upper and lower surfaces of the under-screen buffer layer 140a.

[0104] Exemplarily, the multiple functional film layers may include at least one support layer (e.g., a steel sheet layer), at least one buffer layer (e.g., a TPU layer), and at least one adhesive layer. The at least one support layer and the at least one buffer layer are alternately arranged in sequence, and adjacent support layers and buffer layers may be bonded together by the adhesive layer. The hollow portion 149 may be formed on any support layer, buffer layer, or adhesive layer.

[0105] In some examples, in a width direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 113 a (ie, a radial direction of the rotation axis 113 a ), the width of the under-screen buffer layer 140 a is greater than the width of the bent supporting portion 133 .

[0106] The under-screen buffer layer 140a and the bending support part 133 are both rectangular structures, the long side of the rectangular structure is arranged along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 113a, and the short side of the rectangular structure is arranged along the direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 113a (i.e., the width direction). This application sets the width of the under-screen buffer layer 140a to be greater than the width of the bending support part 133, that is, the length of the short side of the under-screen buffer layer 140a is greater than the length of the short side of the bending support part 133, which can provide better support and protection for the flexible display screen 120.

[0107] Illustratively, the orthographic projections of the two long sides of the bent supporting portion 133 on the under-screen buffer layer 140 a are located inside the under-screen buffer layer 140 a .

[0108] Figure 10 is a partial schematic diagram of the on-axis buffer layer 140b provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein part (a) in Figure 10 is a front view of the on-axis buffer layer 140b, and part (b) in Figure 10 is a back view of the on-axis buffer layer 140b. As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the on-axis buffer layer 140b also includes a lubricating layer 143, which is located between the under-screen buffer layer 140a and the first buffer layer 144. The lubricating layer 143 can play a lubricating role. By providing the lubricating layer 143, the friction between the under-screen buffer layer 140a and the on-axis buffer layer 140b can be reduced, making it easier for the under-screen buffer layer 140a and the on-axis buffer layer 140b to shift relative to each other during the folding process, thereby improving the folding feel of the foldable electronic device 100.

[0109] In some examples, the lubricating layer 143 may be a lubricating coating composed of lubricating oil or grease.

[0110] In some examples, the middle part of the under-screen buffer layer 140a and the on-axis buffer layer 140b are fixedly connected, for example, fixedly bonded, so that the positions of the two can be positioned. At this time, the lubricating layer 143 can be located at the edge of the under-screen buffer layer 140a and the on-axis buffer layer 140b. During the folding process, the edge positions of the under-screen buffer layer 140a and the on-axis buffer layer 140b can be shifted relative to each other, thereby making the folding of the foldable electronic device 100 easier to achieve, that is, folding is more labor-saving.

[0111] In this embodiment of the present application, lubricating layer 143 comprises a Mylar sheet. The Mylar sheet can be coated on the surface of first buffer layer 144. The Mylar sheet has self-lubricating properties, which can reduce friction between the sub-screen buffer layer 140a and the Mylar sheet, facilitating sliding movement between the sub-screen buffer layer 140a and the on-axis buffer layer 140b during folding. For example, the Mylar sheet can be a PET Mylar sheet or a Teflon Mylar sheet.

[0112] In some examples, the lubricating layer 143 includes a Teflon Mylar sheet. Teflon has good sliding properties and wear resistance, and Teflon does not easily adhere to other substances. Teflon can be called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or can be called "non-stick coating", "easy-to-clean material", "plastic king" or "Hara". This material has the characteristics of acid and alkali resistance and resistance to various organic solvents. At the same time, polytetrafluoroethylene has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, its friction coefficient is extremely low, and it has lubricating effect. Therefore, by arranging a Teflon Mylar sheet on the surface of the first buffer layer 144, the on-shaft buffer layer 140b can have good smoothness.

[0113] In some examples, the lubricating layer 143 may also be provided on the lower (inner) surface of the first supporting layer 142. In this case, the lubricating layer 143 can be considered as part of the under-screen buffer layer 140a. This configuration can provide a lubricating effect, facilitating the sliding of the under-screen buffer layer 140a and the on-axis buffer layer 140b against each other during folding.

[0114] As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the first buffer layer 144, the second viscose layer 145, and the second support layer 146 are stacked in sequence. The first buffer layer 144 and the second viscose layer 145 have the same area and are smaller than the area of ​​the second support layer 146. The lubricating layer 143 includes a first lubricating portion 143a, a second lubricating portion 143b, and a third lubricating portion 143c. The first lubricating portion 143a has approximately the same area as the first buffer layer 144, and the first lubricating portion 143a covers the first buffer layer 144. The second lubricating portion 143b and the third lubricating portion 143c respectively cover the two edges of the second support layer 146, that is, the areas of the second support layer 146 not covered by the first buffer layer 144. In addition, the second lubrication portion 143b and the third lubrication portion 143c are roughly U-shaped structures, extending (wrapping) from the side of the second support layer 146 away from the rotating shaft 113a to the side adjacent to (facing) the rotating shaft 113a, so that a lubrication effect can also be achieved on the adjacent side, which can reduce the friction between the on-axis buffer layer 140b and the folding mechanism 113, and facilitate the on-axis buffer layer 140b and the folding mechanism 113 to slide against each other when folding.

[0115] Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another example of an on-shaft buffer layer 140b provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 12 is a partial enlarged view of part A of the on-shaft buffer layer 140b shown in Figure 11. Figure 13 is an exploded view of the on-shaft buffer layer 140b shown in Figure 11. As shown in Figures 11 to 13, in this embodiment, the areas of the first buffer layer 144, the second viscose layer 145 and the second support layer 146 are substantially the same, for example, the widths of the first buffer layer 144, the second viscose layer 145 and the second support layer 146 are equal or approximately equal, and the lubricating layer 143 is a whole-piece structure (single part), with the front surface covering the first buffer layer 144 and the back surface slightly wrapping the edge area of ​​the second support layer 146.

[0116] As shown in Figures 10-13, a through hole 140c is defined in the center of the on-axis buffer layer 140b. This through hole 140c allows for glue to be placed inside, and the under-screen buffer layer 140a is bonded to the hinge 113a via this hole. This arrangement allows the under-screen buffer layer 140a to be directly fixed to the hinge 113a without requiring the on-axis buffer layer 140b. This improves the reliability of the connection between the curved display portion 123 and the hinge 113a, effectively preventing risks such as warping of the curved display portion 123 and helping to keep the curved display portion 123 flat.

[0117] As shown in part (a) of Figure 10 and Figures 11 to 13, the aperture of the through hole 140c located in the second supporting layer 146 is smaller than that of the first buffer layer 144, or in other words, the portion of the through hole 140c located in the first buffer layer 144 has a larger aperture than the portion located in the second supporting layer 146, so that part of the wall surface of the second supporting layer 146 is exposed. At this time, the first buffer layer 144 can effectively stop the glue, not only can it accommodate more glue, but the under-screen buffer layer 140a can also be bonded to the rotating shaft 113a and the second supporting layer 146 at the same time, thereby improving the connection reliability.

[0118] In some examples, as shown in FIG13 , the through hole 140c includes a first hole 140c1 disposed in the second adhesive layer 145 and a second hole 140c2 disposed in the second supporting layer 146 , the first hole 140c1 being opposite to the second hole 140c2 , and a cross-sectional area of ​​the second hole 140c2 being smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the first hole 140c1 .

[0119] Since the width of the rotating shaft 113a is small, by setting the second hole 140c2 with a smaller cross-sectional area, it can not only prevent the glue from overflowing from the hole, but also allow the hole to accommodate more glue and expose part of the wall surface of the second supporting layer 146. In this way, the under-screen buffer layer 140a can be bonded to the rotating shaft 113a and the second supporting layer 146 at the same time, thereby improving the reliability of the connection.

[0120] As shown in Figure 13, the first hole 140c1 and the second hole 140c2 are both rectangular structures with rounded corners. The width of the first hole 140c1 (i.e., the length of the short side) is greater than the width of the second hole 140c2, and the length of the first hole 140c1 is equal to the length of the second hole 140c2, thereby making the cross-sectional area of ​​the first hole 140c1 greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second hole 140c2.

[0121] As shown in FIG13 , the through-hole 140c further includes a third hole 140c3 located on the lubricating layer 143 and a fourth hole 140c4 located on the first buffer layer 144. The third hole 140c3, the fourth hole 140c4, the first hole 140c1, and the second hole 140c2 are arranged in sequence opposite to each other, and the hole walls of the third hole 140c3, the fourth hole 140c4, and the first hole 140c1 remain flush, thereby allowing the three holes to be formed simultaneously through a single cutting process. In other words, the third hole 140c3, the fourth hole 140c4, and the first hole 140c1 are directly opposite to each other and have equal cross-sectional areas. The cross-sectional areas of these three holes are all larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second hole 140c2.

[0122] In some examples, second support layer 146 comprises a metal layer, which is welded to rotating shaft 113a. Compared to bonding, welding provides greater connection reliability, specifically, it can improve the connection reliability between on-shaft buffer layer 140b and rotating shaft 113a. For example, second support layer 146 may be a steel sheet with multiple weld areas for securely welding to rotating shaft 113a.

[0123] In some examples, one or more through holes 140c may be provided. For example, along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 113a, a plurality of through holes 140c are spaced apart in the middle of the on-shaft buffer layer 140b to improve bonding reliability.

[0124] In some examples, as shown in Figures 11-13, a welding avoidance hole 140d is opened in the middle of the on-shaft buffer layer 140b. The welding avoidance hole 140d penetrates from the side surface of the on-shaft buffer layer 140b away from the second support layer 146 (i.e., the metal layer) to the metal layer, for example, sequentially penetrating the lubricating layer 143, the first buffer layer 144, and the second adhesive layer 145, so that the second support layer 146 is exposed to facilitate the welding operation of the welding head on the metal layer and the rotating shaft. For example, a strip-shaped through hole can be opened in the area where the second support layer 146 is exposed to facilitate the welding and fixing of the second support layer 146 to the rotating shaft 113a.

[0125] In some examples, one or more welding avoidance holes 140d may be provided. For example, along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 113a, a plurality of welding avoidance holes 140d are spaced apart in the middle of the on-shaft buffer layer 140b to improve welding reliability.

[0126] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, characterized in that, It includes a folding component (110) and a flexible display screen (120) laid on the folding component (110). The folding component (110) includes a first housing (111), a folding mechanism (113), and a second housing (112) connected in sequence. The folding mechanism (113) includes a rotating shaft (113a). The foldable electronic device further includes: A flexible buffer layer (140) is disposed between the flexible display screen (120) and the rotating shaft (113a). The flexible buffer layer (140) includes a hollow portion (149), and the end of the hollow portion (149) is adjacent to the rotating shaft (113a).

2. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The hollow portion (149) includes a hole structure and / or a notch structure.

3. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The flexible buffer layer (140) includes a first support layer (142) and a first buffer layer (144) stacked. The elastic modulus of the first support layer (142) is greater than that of the first buffer layer (144).

4. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3, wherein The flexible buffer layer (140) includes an under-screen buffer layer (140a) and an on-axis buffer layer (140b) stacked, where The under-screen buffer layer (140a) includes a first adhesive layer (141) and the first support layer (142). The first support layer (142) is fixedly connected to the flexible display screen (120) through the first adhesive layer (141); The on-axis buffer layer (140b) includes the first buffer layer (144), a second adhesive layer (145), and a second support layer (146) stacked in sequence. The second support layer (146) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (113a).

5. The foldable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein The under-screen buffer layer (140a) further includes a third adhesive layer (147) and a second buffer layer (148). The first adhesive layer (141), the first support layer (142), the third adhesive layer (147), and the second buffer layer (148) are stacked in sequence; or, The first adhesive layer (141), the second buffer layer (148), the third adhesive layer (147), and the first support layer (142) are stacked in sequence.

6. The foldable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein, The on-axis buffer layer (140b) further includes: A lubricating layer (143) is located between the under-screen buffer layer (140a) and the first buffer layer (144).

7. The foldable electronic device according to claim 6, wherein, The lubricating layer (143) includes a mylar sheet.

8. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 4-7, wherein A through hole (140c) is formed in the middle of the on-axis buffer layer (140b). The under-screen buffer layer (140a) is bonded to the rotating shaft (113a) through the glue in the through hole (140c).

9. The foldable electronic device according to claim 8, wherein The through hole (140c) includes a first hole (140c1) provided in the second adhesive layer (145) and a second hole (140c2) provided in the second support layer (146). The first hole (140c1) and the second hole (140c2) are opposite to each other, and the cross-sectional area of the second hole (140c2) is smaller than that of the first hole (140c1).

10. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that, The second support layer (146) includes a metal layer, and the metal layer is welded to the rotating shaft (113a).

11. The foldable electronic device according to claim 10, wherein, A welding avoidance hole (140d) is formed in the middle of the buffer layer (140b) on the shaft. The welding avoidance hole (140d) penetrates from the surface of the buffer layer (140b) on the shaft away from the metal layer to the metal layer, so that the metal layer is exposed.

12. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 4-7, wherein The under-screen buffer layer (140a) includes a plurality of functional film layers stacked in sequence, and the hollowed-out portion (149) is disposed on one or more of the plurality of functional film layers.

13. The foldable electronic device according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that, The first housing (111) includes a first middle frame (111a), the second housing (112) includes a second middle frame (112a), and the foldable electronic device further includes: A screen support plate (130), including a first support portion (131), a bent support portion (133), and a second support portion (132) connected in sequence. The first support portion (131) is located between the flexible display screen (120) and the first middle frame (111a), and the bent support portion (133) is located between the flexible display screen (120) and the flexible buffer layer (140). The second support portion (132) is located between the flexible display screen (120) and the second middle frame (112a).

14. The foldable electronic device according to claim 13, wherein, In the width direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft (113a), the width of the under-screen buffer layer (140a) is greater than the width of the bent support portion (133).

Images