Flexible circuit board and electronic device

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a flexible circuit board and an electronic device. The electronic device comprises: a first housing and a second housing; a rotating shaft assembly, comprising a first member and a second member which are rotationally connected, the second member being connected to the second housing, the first member being connected to the first housing, and the first member being provided with a channel for communicating a first accommodating space provided in the first housing with a second accommodating space provided in the second housing; and a flexible circuit board, comprising a first end, a second end, and a first section and a second section which are located between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is connected to a first electronic element accommodated in the first accommodating space, the second end is connected to a second electronic element accommodated in the second accommodating space, the first section is located in the channel and is fixed to the first member, the second section is located in the second accommodating space, and the minimum bending radius of the second section is greater than or equal to a preset value. The technical solution can improve the appearance refinement of a rotating shaft while ensuring reliable electrical connection by means of the rotating shaft.

Description

Flexible circuit boards and electronic devices

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on January 31, 2024, with application number 202410142592.4 and invention name “Flexible circuit board and 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 electronic equipment, and more particularly, to a flexible circuit board and electronic equipment. Background Art

[0003] Many electronic devices have hinges that allow them to be opened and closed. Electrical signals also need to be transmitted between the two parts of the electronic device connected by the hinge. Currently, cables (such as round or flat cables) are often used to electrically connect the two parts connected by the hinge, passing through channels provided on the hinge. However, due to the large size of the cables, the hinge must be made larger to allow the cables to pass through, resulting in a lack of aesthetic refinement.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a flexible circuit board and an electronic device, which can improve the appearance refinement of the rotating shaft while ensuring reliable electrical connection using the rotating shaft.

[0006] In a first aspect, an electronic device is provided, comprising: a first body assembly, comprising a first shell and a first electronic component, the first shell forming a first accommodating space, the first electronic component being accommodated in the first accommodating space; a second body assembly, comprising a second shell and a second electronic component, the second shell forming a second accommodating space, the second electronic component being accommodated in the second accommodating space; a hinge assembly, comprising a first member and a second member rotatably connected, the second member being connected to the second shell, the first member being connected to the first shell, and the first member being provided with a channel connecting the first accommodating space and the second accommodating space; a flexible circuit board, comprising a first end, a second end, a first section and a second section located between the first end and the second end, the first end being connected to the first electronic component, the second end being connected to the second electronic component, the first section being located in the channel and fixed to the first member, the second section being located in the second accommodating space, and the minimum bending radius of the second section being greater than or equal to a preset value.

[0007] In this embodiment, the use of a flexible printed circuit board as a signal line saves space, thereby reducing the size of the hinge assembly and enhancing its aesthetic refinement. The second section of the flexible printed circuit board, located within the second accommodation space, is free and has a bending radius greater than or equal to a predetermined value. This reduces the risk of creases or breakage during the opening and closing of the electronic device, extending the life of the flexible printed circuit board and ensuring a reliable electrical connection.

[0008] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the rebound force of the flexible circuit board is greater than or equal to 40 mN / mm and less than or equal to 100 mN / mm.

[0009] The second section has a suitable rebound force, which can ensure that the second section maintains a certain bending radius during the opening and closing of the electronic device, and will not easily produce creases due to too low a rebound force, or affect the smoothness of the movement of the hinge assembly or easily cause breakage due to too high a rebound force.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the preset value is greater than or equal to 5 times the thickness of the flexible circuit board.

[0011] The second section has a larger bending radius, which avoids stress concentration. The flexible circuit board is less likely to be creased, the risk of metal wire breakage is reduced, and the life of the flexible circuit board is extended.

[0012] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second section performs a crawler-like motion as the electronic device opens and closes.

[0013] The crawler-type motion makes it difficult for the second section to produce creases and can maintain the consistency of the motion trajectory of the second section, thereby achieving the purpose of increasing the service life of the flexible circuit board and thus improving the reliability of the flexible circuit board.

[0014] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, other portions of the flexible printed circuit board except the second section are relatively fixed.

[0015] In this way, only the second section is the movable part, which is conducive to ensuring the movement reliability of the flexible circuit board.

[0016] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the flexible circuit board includes a first covering film, a metal conductive layer, a substrate layer, and a second covering film that are stacked together, the metal conductive layer is located between the first covering film and the substrate layer, and the substrate layer is located between the metal conductive layer and the second covering film.

[0017] The flexible circuit board has a single-layer wiring, which can not only meet the needs of signal transmission, but also has good bending resistance, which can extend the service life of the flexible circuit board.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the material of the metal conductive layer is rolled copper.

[0019] Using rolled copper as the conductive layer of the flexible circuit board can meet the needs of dynamic bending of the flexible circuit board.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the metal conductive layer is located on an inner side of the bend of the second section relative to the substrate layer.

[0021] The metal conductive layer is placed on the inside of the bend, which can ensure the long-term dynamic bending requirements of the flexible circuit board and improve the reliability of the flexible circuit board.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the rotating shaft assembly further includes: a wedge-shaped member, which is arranged at the end of the channel located in the second accommodating space and is located between the first section and the inner wall of the channel away from the pivot axis of the rotating shaft assembly.

[0023] The provision of the wedge-shaped piece enables the first section, near the channel outlet, to be in close contact with the inner wall of the channel near the axis of the rotating shaft, which is conducive to forming a larger bending radius for the second section.

[0024] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the wedge-shaped member is wedgedly connected to the first component; or the wedge-shaped member is fixedly connected to the first component.

[0025] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first component includes a main body and a cover, the main body and the cover are buckled together to form the channel, and the wedge is located between the first section and the first cover.

[0026] The channel is formed by snapping together a split structure, which facilitates the assembly of the flexible circuit board.

[0027] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, when the electronic device is in the open state, the second section is U-shaped.

[0028] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, a protective film is provided on an area on the second section that contacts the inner wall of the second shell and / or an area on the second shell that contacts the second section.

[0029] The protective film has good wear resistance and can protect the surface of the flexible circuit board from scratches and damage.

[0030] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first component includes: a first fixing portion, connected to the first shell; a spindle, the axis of which is the pivot axis of the rotating shaft assembly; a connecting portion, connecting the first fixing portion and the spindle, and the channel is arranged on the connecting portion; the second component includes: a second fixing portion, connected to the second shell; and a sleeve, sleeved on the spindle, for supporting the spindle to rotate around the pivot axis.

[0031] The setting of the connecting portion can enable the hinge assembly to form a protruding structure, so that the first body assembly is lifted up compared to the second body assembly when the electronic device is opened.

[0032] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the connecting portion includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment is connected to the first fixing portion, the second segment is connected to the central shaft, and a preset angle is formed between the first segment and the second segment.

[0033] The signal line will not affect the rotation of the spindle when passing through the channel.

[0034] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first section is an arc-shaped structure.

[0035] The curved structure can soften the space, improve the aesthetics, and move smoothly, facilitating the push-pull movement of the flexible circuit board.

[0036] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the central angle corresponding to the first segment is greater than or equal to 90° and less than or equal to 180°.

[0037] In this way, the opening and closing angle of the electronic device can reach 90° to 180°.

[0038] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the electronic device includes one or more layers of the flexible circuit board, wherein the second sections of adjacent flexible circuit boards in the multiple layers of the flexible circuit board can be separated from each other as the electronic device opens and closes.

[0039] In this way, when the electronic device is opened or closed, the multiple flexible circuit boards do not interfere with each other during movement, which will not affect the bending radius of the second section and the stress on the metal wire, thereby enabling the flexible circuit boards to meet the bending reliability requirements.

[0040] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, other portions except the second section on adjacent flexible circuit boards in the multiple layers of the flexible circuit boards are fixedly stacked correspondingly.

[0041] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the number of layers of the flexible circuit board is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 5.

[0042] The use of multi-layer flexible circuit boards can further narrow the width of the hinge assembly and increase the number of transmission signals.

[0043] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the shaft assembly is a protruding shaft.

[0044] This facilitates the placement of various ports and cooling vents on the rear of the second body assembly.

[0045] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first electronic component is any one of a display driver board, a camera, or a microphone; and the second electronic component is a mainboard.

[0046] In a second aspect, a hinge assembly is provided for use in an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a first shell and a second shell, the hinge assembly comprising: a first member and a second member rotatably connected, the second member being used to connect to the second shell, the first member being used to connect to the first shell, and the first member being provided with a channel connecting a first accommodating space formed by the first shell and a second accommodating space formed by the second shell; a wedge member being provided at an end of the channel located in the second accommodating space, and being located between a flexible circuit board passing through the channel and an inner wall of the channel away from the pivot axis of the hinge assembly.

[0047] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the wedge is used to be wedged tightly connected to the first component; or the wedge is fixedly connected to the first component.

[0048] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the wedge is fixed to an inner wall of the channel away from the pivot axis of the rotating shaft assembly.

[0049] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first component includes a main body and a cover body, the main body and the cover body are buckled together to form the channel, and the wedge is located between the cover body and the flexible circuit board passing through the channel.

[0050] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first component includes: a first fixing portion, used to be connected to the first shell; a spindle, the axis of which is the pivot axis of the rotating shaft assembly; a connecting portion, connecting the first fixing portion and the spindle, and the channel is arranged on the connecting portion; the second component includes: a second fixing portion, used to be connected to the second shell; a sleeve, sleeved on the spindle, used to support the spindle to rotate around the pivot axis.

[0051] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the connecting portion includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment is connected to the first fixing portion, the second segment is connected to the central shaft, and a preset angle is formed between the first segment and the second segment.

[0052] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first section is an arc-shaped structure.

[0053] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the central angle corresponding to the first segment is greater than or equal to 90° and less than or equal to 180°.

[0054] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the shaft assembly is a protruding shaft.

[0055] In a third aspect, a flexible circuit board is provided. The flexible circuit board is the flexible circuit board as in the aforementioned first aspect and any one of the implementations of the first aspect, or the flexible circuit board as in the aforementioned second aspect and any one of the implementations of the second aspect.

[0056] The beneficial effects of the devices involved in the second and third aspects mentioned above can be referred to the relevant description of the first aspect, and for the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0058] FIG2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic device in a folded state provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] FIG3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic device in an open state provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a method for measuring the rebound force of a flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a flexible circuit board provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0062] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a rotating shaft assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0063] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a first component in a rotating shaft assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the open and closed states of the rotating shaft assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0065] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a stack of flexible circuit boards provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0067] It should be noted that, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, “ / ” means or, for example, A / B can mean A or B; “and / or” in this article is merely a way to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone.

[0068] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", etc. may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, "multiple" refers to two or more than two, and "at least one" and "one or more" refer to one, two or more. The singular expressions "a", "a", "said", "above", "the", and "this" are intended to also include expressions such as "one or more", unless there is a clear indication to the contrary in the context.

[0069] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" in this specification mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment is included in one or more embodiments of the present application. Thus, phrases such as "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," and "in yet other embodiments" appearing in various places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more but not all embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "including," "comprising," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0070] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside", "vertical", "horizontal", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships that are defined relative to the orientations or positions of the components schematically placed in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts. They are used for description and clarification relative to the actual orientation, rather than indicating or implying that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They may change accordingly according to changes in the orientation of the components placed in the accompanying drawings, and therefore cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. In addition, the "vertical" involved in this application is not vertical in the strict sense, but is within the allowable error range. "Parallel" is not parallel in the strict sense, but is within the allowable error range.

[0071] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals are used to represent the same components. For identical components in the embodiments of this application, only one component may be labeled with a reference numeral in the figure as an example. It should be understood that the same reference numerals apply to other identical components. Furthermore, for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of identical components in different embodiments are omitted. In addition, the various components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and the sizes and dimensions of the components shown in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0072] FIG1 shows a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device 100 applicable to an embodiment of the present application, wherein (a) and (b) in FIG1 are schematic structural diagrams of the electronic device 100 at different viewing angles.

[0073] In the embodiment of the present application, the electronic device 100 can be a handheld device, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a computing device, or a portable device. For example, the electronic device 100 includes, but is not limited to, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a two-in-one computer, a cellular phone, a television (or smart screen), a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, a digital camera, a smart watch, a smart wristband, an in-vehicle computer, a desktop computer, a portable computer, a calculator, and other electronic devices having multiple hinged housing portions. The embodiment of the present application does not impose any particular limitation on the specific form of the electronic device 100. For ease of explanation and understanding, the following description is based on the example of the electronic device 100 being a portable computer.

[0074] 1 , the electronic device 100 may include a first body assembly 110 , a second body assembly 120 , and a hinge assembly 130 .

[0075] For ease of description, the following defines the direction parallel to the pivot axis of the hinge assembly (i.e., the axis of the hinge) as the Z direction, the direction parallel to the principal plane of the second body assembly 120 (i.e., the surface with the largest area of ​​the second body assembly 120) and perpendicular to the Z direction as the X direction, and the direction perpendicular to the principal plane of the second body assembly 120 and perpendicular to the Z direction as the Y direction. The definitions of the X, Y, and Z directions herein apply equally to the various figures described below. It should be noted that the above definitions of the X, Y, and Z directions are merely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the positional and connection relationships between the various components in the embodiments of this application and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application.

[0076] As shown in FIG1( a ), the first body assembly 110 includes a first housing 111. The first housing 111 defines a first storage space for accommodating electronic components disposed on one side of the first body assembly 110. The first housing 111 also serves to protect the electronic equipment and dissipate heat.

[0077] The material of the first shell 111 can be a metal material, such as aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy, austenitic stainless steel, etc.; or, the material of the first shell 111 can also be a non-metallic material, such as carbon fiber, polycarbonate (PC), engineering plastics, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, sapphire, composite materials, etc.

[0078] The electronic components housed within the first housing 111 include, but are not limited to, a display screen, camera, antenna, speaker, processor, memory, and sensors. For ease of description, in this embodiment, the components located on one side of the first body assembly 110 and requiring electrical connection are referred to as first electronic components. First electronic components can also be understood as components located on the first housing 111.

[0079] 1( a ), the first electronic component disposed on one side of the first body assembly 110 includes a display screen 112 . The display screen 112 is received in a first receiving space formed by the first housing 111 and is connected to the first housing 111 .

[0080] The display screen 112 is used to display images. The display screen 112 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display screen, etc., wherein the OLED display screen can be a flexible display screen or a rigid display screen. Exemplarily, the display screen 112 includes but is not limited to an active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display screen, a flexible light emitting diode (FLED) display screen, a mini light emitting diode (Mini-LED) display screen, a micro light emitting diode (Micro-LED) display screen, a micro organic light emitting diode (Micro-OLED) display screen, a quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED) display screen, etc.

[0081] The display screen 112 can be an ordinary regular screen, or a special-shaped screen, a folding screen, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The display screen 112 can be a touch screen (touch panel) that can realize touch input, or it can be a non-touch screen, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The display screen 112 has a light-emitting surface that can display images. In the embodiments of the present application, the side surface of the display screen 112 that is arranged opposite to the above-mentioned light-emitting surface is referred to as the back of the display screen 112. The back of the display screen 112 is accommodated in the first storage space and is not visible to the user.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first body assembly 110 provided with the display screen 112 may also be referred to as a display end, a display portion, or a screen side.

[0083] As shown in FIG1( a ), the second body assembly 120 includes a second housing 121. The second housing 121 defines a second storage space for accommodating electronic components disposed on one side of the second body assembly 120. The second housing 121 also serves to protect the electronic devices and dissipate heat.

[0084] The second housing 121 can be made of a metal material, such as an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, an aluminum-magnesium alloy, a titanium alloy, or austenitic stainless steel. Alternatively, the second housing 121 can be made of a non-metallic material, such as carbon fiber, polycarbonate (PC), engineering plastics, glass, ceramic, wood, leather, sapphire, or a composite material. The second housing 121 can be made of the same or different materials as the first housing 111, and this is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0085] The electronic components housed within the second housing 121 include, but are not limited to, antennas, processors, memory, exhaust fans, keyboards, touchpads, batteries, and motherboards. For ease of description, in this embodiment, components located on one side of the second body assembly 120 and requiring electrical connection are referred to as second electronic components. Second electronic components can also be understood as components located on the second housing 121.

[0086] For example, as shown in FIG1( a ), the second electronic component provided on one side of the second body assembly 120 includes an input device, such as a keyboard 122 and a touchpad 123 . The input device is housed in the second accommodation space formed by the second housing 121 and is connected to the second housing 121 for human-computer interaction.

[0087] In some embodiments, the electronic device 100 may also include other input devices, such as a mouse, a handwriting input device, a voice input device, a scanner, a light pen, a joystick, etc., which will not be described in detail here. It should be noted that the camera provided on the electronic device and the display screen 112 with a touch function are also input devices.

[0088] In some embodiments, the second body assembly 120 provided with the keyboard 122 may also be referred to as a keyboard end, a keyboard portion, or a system side.

[0089] The hinge assembly 130 is hinged between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120. The hinge assembly 130 includes a pivot axis 1301 (also referred to as a hinge axis). The hinge assembly 130 can enable the first body assembly 110 to rotate relative to the second body assembly 120 about the pivot axis 1301, or the second body assembly 120 to rotate relative to the first body assembly 110 about the pivot axis 1301, thereby achieving the folding (or closing) and opening of the electronic device 100.

[0090] That is, the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 are respectively attached to the hinge assembly 130, and the hinge assembly 130 allows the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 to rotate relative to each other about their pivot axis 1301. For example, by using the hinge assembly 130 to rotate the first body assembly 110 relative to the second body assembly 120 about the pivot axis 1301, the electronic device 100 can be converted between a folded state and an open state.

[0091] In the embodiment of the present application, an edge of the first housing 111 and an edge of the second housing 121 are respectively attached to the hinge assembly 130. The first housing 111 and the second housing 121 can rotate relative to each other around a pivot axis 1301, thereby enabling the first electronic component disposed on the first housing 111 and the second electronic component disposed on the second housing 121 to rotate relative to each other around the pivot axis 1301. In the embodiment of the present application, the motion state of the first housing 111 can be equated with the motion state of the first body assembly 110, and the motion state of the second housing 121 can be equated with the motion state of the second body assembly 120. Because the edges of the first housing 111 and the second housing 121 are hingedly connected via the hinge assembly 130, the first housing 111 and the second housing 121 can be in a stacked state or in an unfolded state with an angle.

[0092] For example, when the electronic device 100 is folded, the angle between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 can approach 0°, and the two surfaces of the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 that form the angle (e.g., the light-emitting surface of the display screen 112 and the keyboard 122) are brought closer together. When the electronic device 100 is in the folded state, the display screen 112 and the keyboard 122 can be accommodated in the storage space formed by the first housing 111 and the second housing 121.

[0093] For example, when the electronic device 100 is opened, the angle between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 can be close to 90° to 180°, or a larger angle such as 270° or 360°, and the two surfaces of the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 that form the angle (e.g., the light-emitting surface of the display screen 112 and the keyboard 122) are spaced apart from each other. When the electronic device 100 is in the open state, the display screen 112 and input devices (e.g., the keyboard 122 and the touchpad 123) can be exposed for user use.

[0094] In some embodiments, when the angle between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 is greater than a predetermined angle, the first body assembly 110 can remain at any position during the rotation of the first body assembly 110 relative to the second body assembly 120 around the pivot axis 1301 .

[0095] In some embodiments, when the angle between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 is less than or equal to the preset angle, the first body assembly 110 will be in an unbalanced state and can automatically move closer to the second body assembly 120, ultimately placing the electronic device 100 in a folded state.

[0096] It should be understood that the angle between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 can be understood as the opening and closing angle of the hinge assembly 130 .

[0097] Of course, in some embodiments, the angle between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 can be considered as the angle between the plane where the light emitting surface of the display screen 112 is located and the plane where the striking surface of the keyboard 122 is located.

[0098] In some embodiments, the angle between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 can also be considered as the angle between the first shell 111 and the second shell 121. Specifically, the angle can be the angle between the plane on which the first shell 111 is located and the plane on which the second shell 121 is located. In this embodiment of the present application, the plane on which the first shell 111 is located can be considered as the plane on which the largest area of ​​the first shell 111 is located (also referred to as the main plane of the first shell 111). Similarly, the plane on which the second shell 121 is located can be considered as the plane on which the largest area of ​​the second shell 121 is located (also referred to as the main plane of the second shell 121).

[0099] In the embodiment of the present application, the hinge assembly 130 is a protruding hinge, also known as a bullhorn hinge. Its characteristic is that when the electronic device 100 is opened, the first body assembly 110 is raised relative to the second body assembly 120, and the first body assembly 110 does not block the rear of the second body assembly 120. This facilitates the placement of various ports and heat dissipation holes on the rear of the second body assembly 120. Furthermore, the protruding hinge is less likely to be obstructed during rotation, allowing the screen to open to a wider angle, generally reaching at least 150° to 180°.

[0100] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1( b ), a heat dissipation hole 124 may be provided on the rear portion of the second body assembly 120. The heat dissipation hole 124 may improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the electronic device 100, thereby creating a more stable performance output environment. The heat dissipation hole 124 may include an air inlet hole and / or an air outlet hole, wherein the air inlet hole is used to draw in cool air, and the air outlet hole is used to exhaust hot air from the electronic device 100.

[0101] In some embodiments, as shown in (b) of Figure 1, at least one interface can be set on the rear of the second body assembly 120, such as a power interface 125, a network interface 126, a universal serial bus (USB) interface 127, a display interface, an audio interface (such as a headphone interface), a memory card interface, etc.

[0102] The USB interface 127 is used to connect various external digital devices such as a mouse, a USB flash drive, a keyboard, a printer, a scanner, etc. The USB interface 127 includes but is not limited to a type A interface (Type-A or USB-A), a type B interface (Type-B or USB-B), and a type C interface (Type-C or USB-C). The power interface 125 is used to power or charge the electronic device 100. Its appearance can be a round hole, a square hole or USB-C. The display interface is used to connect external displays, projectors and other devices. When the screen of the electronic device 100 is not enough to meet the usage requirements, another screen can be expanded through the display interface. The memory card interface is used to read information from a memory card (such as a secure digital card (SD), a multimedia memory card (MMC), or a memory stick (MS)).

[0103] It can be understood that the electronic components provided on one side of the first body assembly 110 and the electronic components provided on one side of the second body assembly 120 can be completely the same, partially the same, or completely different. The above description is merely an example.

[0104] For example, the first body assembly 110 may include a first display screen, and the second body assembly 120 may include a second display screen. When the electronic device is folded, the light emitting surface of the first display screen and the light emitting surface of the second display screen face each other. In this way, the electronic device 100 is a dual-screen device.

[0105] It should be understood that FIG1 merely schematically illustrates some of the components included in the electronic device 100, and the shapes, sizes, and configurations of these components are not limited by FIG1 . In other embodiments, the electronic device 100 may include more or fewer components than those shown, and this is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. In other embodiments, the type of electronic device 100 varies, and the components included in the electronic device 100 vary. The electronic device structure provided in this embodiment of the present application is merely an example.

[0106] In the embodiment of the present application, in addition to achieving a mechanical connection between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 via the hinge assembly 130, in some embodiments, the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120 also need to be electrically connected to transmit signals between the first body assembly 110 and the second body assembly 120. Generally, electrical signal connection in the hinge upward scenario is more difficult than in the hinge non-elevation scenario because it requires higher electrical connection reliability.

[0107] The existing solution uses cables to pass through channels provided on the hinge assembly to connect the system side and the screen side, wherein the cables are round cables (i.e., a dozen or dozens of coaxial cables are bundled together) or flat cables (i.e., a dozen or dozens of coaxial cables are arranged flatly), which can be pulled at will. However, due to the large size of the cables, in order to allow the cables to pass through the hinge assembly, the size of the hinge assembly needs to be made very large, which results in the hinge assembly not being refined enough in appearance. For example, the round cables are thicker, resulting in a larger thickness of the hinge assembly (the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the hinge assembly). For another example, the flat cables are wider, resulting in a larger width of the hinge assembly (the dimension in the direction of the axis of the hinge assembly); limited by the diameter of a single coaxial cable, the thickness of the entire flat cable will also limit the thickness of the hinge assembly. Moreover, with the improvement of screen specifications and the integration of cameras, microphones, etc. on the screen side, the signals that need to be transmitted between the system side and the screen side gradually increase, resulting in the need to further increase the size of the hinge assembly.

[0108] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a hinge assembly and an electronic device, which can improve the appearance refinement of the hinge while ensuring reliable electrical connection using the hinge.

[0109] Figures 2 and 3 show schematic cross-sectional views of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic view of an electronic device 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application in a folded state, and Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional schematic view of an electronic device 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state. The electronic device 200 shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be an example of the electronic device 100 shown in Figure 1.

[0110] 2 and 3 , the electronic device 200 may include a first body assembly 201 , a second body assembly 202 , a hinge assembly 203 and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 204 .

[0111] The first body assembly 201 includes a first housing 111 and a first electronic component 113. The first housing 111 defines a first storage space, within which the first electronic component 113 is housed. The first electronic component 113 is any component that requires electrical connection to the electronic components in the second body assembly 202, such as a display driver board, microphone, camera, or circuit board. For a detailed description of the first housing 111, please refer to the description in Figure 1; for the sake of brevity, this description will not be repeated here.

[0112] The second housing assembly 202 includes a second housing 121 and a second electronic component 128. The second housing 121 defines a second storage space, within which the second electronic component 128 is housed. The second electronic component 128 is any component electrically connected to the first electronic component 113, such as a motherboard or circuit board. For a description of the second housing 121, please refer to the description in Figure 1 and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0113] The hinge assembly 203 is hinged between the first body assembly 201 and the second body assembly 202. The first body assembly 201 can rotate relative to the second body assembly 202 about the hinge axis via the hinge assembly 203. More specifically, the hinge assembly 203 is hinged between the first housing 111 and the second housing 121. The first housing 111 and the second housing 121 can rotate relative to each other about the hinge axis of the hinge assembly 203.

[0114] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the hinge assembly 203 includes a first member 20 and a second member 30, which are rotatably connected to each other. Furthermore, the first member 20 is connected to the first housing 111, and the second member 30 is connected to the second housing 121. The first member 20 is provided with a channel 242 that connects the first and second accommodating spaces. This channel 242 is used for the flexible circuit board 204 to pass through. One end of the channel 242 is located in the first accommodating space formed by the first housing 111, and the other end is located in the second accommodating space formed by the second housing 121.

[0115] The flexible circuit board 204 passes through the channel 242 to electrically connect the first electronic component and the second electronic component, thereby realizing electrical signal transmission between the first body assembly 201 and the second body assembly 202 .

[0116] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the flexible circuit board 204 may include a first end 41, a second end 42, and a first section 43 and a second section 44 located between the first end 41 and the second end 42. The first end 41 is connected to the first electronic component 113, and the second end 42 is connected to the second electronic component 128. The first section 43 is located in the channel 242 and is fixed to the first member 20. The second section 44 is located in the second accommodation space, and the minimum bending radius of the second section 44 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

[0117] For ease of understanding, FIG2 and FIG3 schematically illustrate the segmentation of the flexible circuit board 204 with dashed lines. For example, dashed line P2 represents the boundary between the first segment 43 and the second segment 44. Dashed line P1 represents the boundary between the first segment 43 and the portion of the flexible circuit board located between the first end 41 and the first segment 43, or the boundary between the first segment 43 and the first end 41. Dashed line P3 represents the boundary between the second segment 44 and the portion of the flexible circuit board located between the second end 42 and the second segment 44, or the boundary between the second segment 44 and the second end 42. It should be understood that the segmentation boundaries shown in the figures are merely exemplary and do not constitute any limitation on the present application.

[0118] In the embodiment of the present application, a flexible printed circuit board 204 is used as a signal line. Compared to a bundled round cable or a flat cable, the thickness of the flexible printed circuit board 204 is much thinner, which saves space and thus reduces the size of the hinge assembly 203, thereby improving the appearance of the hinge assembly 203. Specifically, the thickness of the flexible printed circuit board 204 is generally thin, so the size of the channel 242 provided in the hinge assembly 203 for the flexible printed circuit board 204 to pass through does not need to be large. For example, the thickness of the channel 242 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the hinge and / or the width along the axis of the hinge can be reduced. Accordingly, the size of the hinge assembly 203 is reduced, thereby improving the appearance of the hinge assembly 203.

[0119] A flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is a type of circuit board made of thin film material that is highly bendable and foldable. However, during the bending process of a FPC, creases often occur, increasing the probability of breakage and affecting the performance and reliability of the circuit board. In the embodiment of the present application, the portion of the FPC 204 that passes through the hinge assembly 203 and the portion connected to the housing of the electronic device 200 (such as the first housing 111 and the second housing 121) are relatively fixed. The second section 44 of the FPC 204 located in the second accommodating space is a free portion and has a bending radius greater than or equal to a preset value. In this way, the second section 44 can meet the signal line length requirements for electrical signal transmission without an excessively small bending radius. Accordingly, the FPC 204 is less likely to crease or break during the opening and closing of the electronic device 200, thereby extending the service life of the FPC 204 and ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0120] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the minimum bending radius of the second section 44 refers to the minimum bending radius of the second section 44 in all states. That is to say, the second section 44 has a certain bending radius in both the static state and the moving state, and the minimum bending radius is greater than or equal to the preset value. For example, as shown in FIG2 , when the electronic device 200 is closed, the second section 44 may include a portion with a bending radius R1 and a portion with a bending radius R2; or, as shown in FIG3 , when the electronic device 200 is opened, the second section 44 may include a portion with a bending radius R3 and a portion with a bending radius R4. It will be understood that the bending radii indicated in FIG2 and FIG3 are merely exemplary and do not constitute any limitation to the present application.

[0121] In some embodiments, other portions of the flexible circuit board 204 except the second section 44 are relatively fixed, for example, fixed to at least one of the first housing 111 , the second housing 121 , and the first component 20 .

[0122] In some embodiments, the relative motion degrees of freedom of the second segment 44 include a first translational degree of freedom and a second translational degree of freedom within a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rotation axis (e.g., the XY plane shown in FIG3 ), and a bending degree of freedom about the axis of the rotation axis, wherein the first translational degree of freedom is perpendicular to the second translational degree of freedom. For example, the first translational degree of freedom may be the degree of freedom for translation along the X-direction, the second translational degree of freedom may be the degree of freedom for translation along the Y-direction, and the bending degree of freedom may be the degree of freedom for bending about the Z-axis.

[0123] It can be understood that the bending freedom involved in the embodiment of the present application means that the second section 44 can bend under the action of bending moment.

[0124] In some embodiments, the second section 44 moves in a crawler-like manner under the action of traction as the electronic device 200 opens and closes.

[0125] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 , when the electronic device 200 transitions from the open state shown in Figure 3 to the closed state shown in Figure 2 , the first member 20 and the first housing 111 connected to the first member 20 rotate about the axis of rotation (e.g., the Z-axis). Accordingly, the first section 43 of the flexible circuit board 204, which is fixed to the first member 20, also rotates about the axis of rotation. During the movement of the first section 43, the portion of the first section 43 connected to the second section 44 exerts a force on the second section 44, namely, the aforementioned traction force. The second section 44 is relatively free to move and is connected to the second housing 121. The second section 44 exhibits a certain degree of rebound force. Under the action of this traction force, the portion of the second housing 121 connected to the second section 44 exerts a force on the second section 44 in the opposite direction of the traction force. Thus, under the action of this traction force and this reaction force, the second section 44 can achieve a crawler-like motion, wherein the area of ​​contact between the second section 44 and the inner wall of the second housing 121 gradually increases. Conversely, when the electronic device 200 is transformed from the closed state shown in FIG. 2 to the open state shown in FIG. 3 , the contact area between the second section 44 and the inner wall of the second housing 121 gradually decreases.

[0126] In the embodiment of the present application, the second section 44 has a certain degree of resilience, so that the second section 44 can always maintain a certain bending radius during the opening and closing of the electronic device 200. The second section 44 maintains a certain bending radius during movement for two purposes: first, it prevents the second section 44 from forming creases, and second, it maintains the consistency of the movement trajectory (or movement path) of the second section 44. This can achieve the purpose of extending the service life of the flexible circuit board 204 and thus improving the reliability of the flexible circuit board 204.

[0127] In some embodiments, the rebound force of the second section 44 is greater than or equal to 40 millinewtons per millimeter (unit: mN / mm) and less than or equal to 100 mN / mm.

[0128] In some embodiments, the rebound force of the flexible circuit board 204 is greater than or equal to 40 mN / mm and less than or equal to 100 mN / mm.

[0129] It can be understood that rebound force refers to the force generated by an object when it is subjected to an external force, which is opposite to the external force and causes the object to return to its original state. The rebound force of the flexible circuit board 204 is related to its laminated structure and the elastic modulus of the materials of each film layer. The rebound force can be considered a material property of the flexible circuit board. Once the laminated structure and film material of the flexible circuit board are determined, the rebound force of the flexible circuit board is determined. The unit of rebound force is the force per unit length, for example, millinewton / mm. In the embodiment of the present application, the second section 44 has an appropriate rebound force, which can ensure that the second section 44 maintains a certain bending radius during the opening and closing process of the electronic device 200. It does not easily generate creases or cannot ensure the movement shape of the second section 44 due to too low rebound force (which can be understood as relatively soft), or affect the smoothness of the movement of the hinge assembly 203 or easily cause breakage due to too high rebound force (which can be understood as relatively hard), thereby affecting the life of the flexible circuit board.

[0130] In some embodiments, the rebound force test method of the flexible circuit board 204 (or the second section 44) can adopt the U-shaped method. Exemplarily, referring to FIG4 , the rebound force test steps are as follows: 1) fold the two ends of the flexible circuit board 204 in half into a U-shape and place it (i.e., lying down) between the upper fixture 101 and the lower fixture 102, wherein the distance between the upper fixture 101 and the lower fixture 102 is 12 mm; 2) press the upper fixture 101 down at a speed of 5 mm / min and stop at a position 2 mm away from the lower fixture 102; 3) obtain the characteristic value (instantaneous maximum value), i.e., the rebound force, in mN / mm.

[0131] Of course, in some other embodiments, other rebound force testing methods may also be used to determine the rebound force of the flexible circuit board 204, such as a rebound hammer testing method, which will not be described in detail here.

[0132] In some embodiments, the minimum bending radius of the second section 44 is greater than or equal to five times the thickness of the flexible circuit board 204 (or the second section 44). Accordingly, the predetermined value can be greater than or equal to five times the thickness of the flexible circuit board 204 (or the second section 44). The larger bending radius of the second section 44 avoids stress concentration, making the flexible circuit board less susceptible to creases. Consequently, the metal wires are subjected to less force, reducing the risk of wire breakage and extending the life of the flexible circuit board.

[0133] FIG5 shows a schematic structural diagram of a flexible circuit board 204 provided in an embodiment of the present application, the rebound force of which can meet the above conditions.

[0134] As shown in FIG5 , the flexible circuit board 204 may include a first cover film 401, a metal conductive layer 402, a substrate layer 403, and a second cover film 404, which are stacked. The metal conductive layer 402 is located on the substrate layer 403. The first cover film 401 is located on the side of the metal conductive layer 402 away from the substrate layer 403. The second cover film 404 is located on the side of the substrate layer 403 away from the metal conductive layer 402. In other words, the metal conductive layer 402 is disposed between the first cover film 401 and the substrate layer 403, and the substrate layer 403 is disposed between the metal conductive layer 402 and the second cover film 404.

[0135] The first cover film 401 and the second cover film 404 are used to isolate the metal conductive layer 402, preventing short circuits and interference, and providing electrical insulation for the flexible circuit board 204. The metal conductive layer 402 is used to provide the conductive path required by the circuit board. The substrate layer 403 is used to provide support for the metal conductive layer 402.

[0136] In some embodiments, the material of the first cover film 401 and / or the second cover film 404 is polyimide (PI) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PI has good high-temperature resistance and can operate normally at higher temperatures. PET is inexpensive and has low cost.

[0137] In some embodiments, the metal conductive layer 402 is made of copper (eg, copper foil), which has good electrical conductivity and processability.

[0138] Exemplarily, the metal conductive layer 402 is made of rolled copper. Rolled copper is a product (typically 4-100 microns thick and less than 800 mm wide) produced by repeated rolling and annealing of high-precision copper strip (typically less than 150 microns thick) using the principles of plastic working. Its crystal structure is lamellar and exhibits excellent ductility, bending resistance, and electrical conductivity. Using rolled copper as the conductive layer of the flexible circuit board 204 can meet the dynamic bending requirements of the flexible circuit board.

[0139] It can be understood that the structure of the flexible circuit board shown in Figure 5 is merely exemplary. In some other embodiments, the flexible circuit board 204 may also include other film layers, such as adhesive layers, reinforcing materials, protective films, etc.; or reduce some film layers, for example, using the second covering film 404 to assume the role of the substrate layer 403 and omitting the substrate layer 403.

[0140] Generally, the resilient force of the flexible circuit board 204 can be adjusted by adjusting the elastic modulus of each film material of the flexible circuit board 204. For example, the elastic modulus of the film layer can be changed by changing the ratio of each component included in the film layer material.

[0141] The flexible circuit board 204 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes a metal conductive layer, that is, the flexible circuit board 204 has a single-layer wiring, which can not only meet the needs of signal transmission, but also has good bending resistance, which can extend the service life of the flexible circuit board.

[0142] In some embodiments, when the flexible circuit board 204 shown in FIG. 5 is used in the electronic device 200, the metal conductive layer 402 is located on the inside of the bend relative to the substrate layer 403. Generally speaking, metal can withstand compression but not tension. Placing the metal conductive layer 402 on the inside of the bend can ensure the long-term dynamic bending requirements of the flexible circuit board 204 and improve the reliability of the flexible circuit board 204.

[0143] It should be noted that the inner side of the bend referred to in this application can be understood as the side where the center of curvature of the second segment 44 is located during the dynamic bending process. In practice, the center of curvature of the second segment 44 remains on the same side of the second segment 44 for most of its length during the dynamic bending process. This ensures the reliability of at least the majority of the length of the second segment 44. In some cases, the center of curvature of the end of the second segment 44 near the first segment 43 may shift from one side of the second segment 44 to the other during the dynamic bending process. However, due to the short length and large bending radius of this portion, the tensile force on the metal conductive layer 402 has a negligible impact on the service life.

[0144] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 , the shaft assembly 203 may further include a wedge 50, which is disposed at the end of the channel 242 located in the second accommodation space and is located between the inner wall of the channel 242 away from the axis of the shaft (hereinafter referred to as the first inner wall for ease of description) and the first section 43. The size of the portion of the wedge 50 near the outlet of the channel 242 is larger than the size of the portion away from the outlet of the channel 242, so that the portion of the first section 43 near the outlet of the channel 242 is in close contact with the inner wall of the channel 242 near the axis of the shaft (hereinafter referred to as the second inner wall for ease of understanding). This helps to form a larger bending radius for the second section 44 (particularly the portion where the second section 44 connects to the first section 43), such as the bending radius R2 shown in FIG.

[0145] In some embodiments, the wedge 50 is wedgedly connected to the first member 20. Accordingly, the end of the channel 242 located in the second receiving space includes a wedge-shaped opening that cooperates with the wedge 50. In this embodiment, the wedge 50 and the first member 20 are detachably connected.

[0146] In other embodiments, the wedge 50 is fixedly connected to the first member 20, for example, the wedge 50 and the first member 20 are welded, riveted, screwed, bonded, clamped, etc. In this embodiment, the wedge 50 and the first member 20 are detachably connected or non-detachably connected.

[0147] In some embodiments, the wedge 50 may be made of rubber, plastic, metal, etc.

[0148] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 2 and 3, the second housing 121 may include a bottom wall 1211 and a rear wall 1212. The bottom wall 1211 is connected to the rear wall 1212, and the second section 44 is accommodated in the accommodation space formed between the bottom wall 1211 and the rear wall 1212. The accommodation space is a subspace of the second accommodation space. Here, the rear wall 1212 is the wall located at the rear of the electronic device 200 when in use. For example, the rear wall 1212 is parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft.

[0149] As shown in Figure 2 , the end of the second section 44 connected to the first section 43 (i.e., the starting point of the movement of the second section 44) is a first distance L1 from the rear wall 1212. As shown in Figure 3 , the end of the second section 44 connected to the first section 43 (i.e., the starting point of the movement of the second section 44) is a second distance L2 from the end of the second section 44 connected to the second housing 121 (i.e., the end point of the movement of the second section 44). By controlling the minimum value of the first distance L1 and the minimum value of the second distance L2, the movement range of the second section 44 can be controlled. In other words, the movement range of the second section 44 can be determined based on the first distance L1 and the second distance L2. For example, when the electronic device 200 is closed, the value of the first distance L1 is minimum. Under the same conditions, the larger the minimum value of the first distance L1, the larger the movement range of the second section 44. Accordingly, the larger the minimum bending radius of the second section 44, the longer the life of the flexible circuit board 204. For another example, when the electronic device 200 is opened to a certain angle, the value of the second distance L2 is the smallest. When other conditions remain constant, the larger the minimum value of the second distance L2, the larger the movement space of the second section 44. Correspondingly, the larger the minimum bending radius of the second section 44, the longer the life of the flexible circuit board 204.

[0150] In some embodiments, when the electronic device 200 is in the open state, the second section 44 is substantially U-shaped, that is, folded 180 degrees.

[0151] In this embodiment, by constraining the movable portion of the flexible circuit board 204 (i.e., the second section 44) between the exit of the rear end of the shaft assembly 203 (i.e., the exit end of the channel 242 received in the second accommodation space) and the fixed point of the second housing 121, the second section 44 is assembled to be folded 180 degrees, allowing the second section 44 to perform a U-shaped, track-like motion between the two fixed points. By adjusting the distance between the two fixed points (i.e., the second distance L2) and the gap between the rear end of the shaft assembly 203 and the rear wall 1212 (i.e., the first distance L1), the bending radius of the second section 44 can be maintained throughout its entire motion.

[0152] In some embodiments, the rear wall 1212 can be provided with heat dissipation holes (such as air inlets and / or air outlets) and / or at least one interface, where the interface includes but is not limited to a power interface, a network interface, a display interface, an audio interface, a USB interface, a memory card interface, etc.

[0153] In some embodiments, the second section 44 includes a redundant length. The redundant length ensures that the second section 44 always has a certain bending radius when the electronic device 200 is in the open state, the closed state, and during the opening and closing process, and prevents the second section 44 from being straightened or the second section 44 from being insufficiently long, resulting in the electronic device being unable to open to the preset maximum angle.

[0154] In some embodiments, the contact areas between the flexible printed circuit board 204 and other components are subjected to anti-friction treatment, such as providing a protective film.

[0155] By way of example and not limitation, a Mylar film is provided in the area where the flexible circuit board 204 contacts the inner wall of the second housing 121 and / or in the area where the second housing 121 contacts the flexible circuit board 204. Mylar film has excellent wear resistance and can protect the surface of the flexible circuit board 204 from scratches and damage.

[0156] For example, a Mylar film is provided on a side of the rear wall 1212 and / or the second section 44 facing the inner wall of the second shell 121 .

[0157] As mentioned above, the first section 43 is located in the channel 242 and fixed to the first member 20, which prevents the flexible circuit board 204 from moving inside the channel 242. There are many ways to fix the first section 43 to the first member 20.

[0158] For example, the first section 43 may be bonded to the first component 20 . Specifically, the first section 43 may be bonded to the inner wall of the channel 242 .

[0159] For another example, the first section 43 can be secured to the first member 20 via fasteners. For example, referring to FIG3 , the first member 20 can include a main body 23a and a cover 23b, which snap together to form a channel 242. When the first section 43 is placed in the channel 242, an interference fit is achieved between the first section 43 and the main body 23a, and between the first section 43 and the cover 23b, thereby securing the first section 43. The channel 242 is formed by snapping together a split structure, facilitating assembly of the flexible circuit board 204.

[0160] In some embodiments, at least a portion between the first end 41 and the first section 43 of the flexible circuit board 204 may be fixed to the first housing 111 , for example, by bonding, clamping, or the like.

[0161] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the flexible circuit board 204 between the second end 42 and the second section 44 can be fixed to the second housing 121 , for example, by bonding, clamping, or the like.

[0162] In some embodiments, the first end 41 of the flexible circuit board 204 may be fixed to the first electronic component 113 by connecting to the first electronic component 113 . The second end 42 of the flexible circuit board 204 may be fixed to the second electronic component 128 by connecting to the second electronic component 128 .

[0163] In some embodiments, when the shaft assembly 203 includes a wedge 50 , the wedge 50 may be fixedly connected to the cover 23 b .

[0164] Figure 6 shows a schematic structural diagram of a hinge assembly provided by an embodiment of the present application. The hinge assembly 203 shown in Figure 6 can be applied to the electronic device 100 shown in Figure 1 or the electronic device 200 shown in Figure 2. The hinge assembly 203 can be an example of the hinge assembly 130 shown in Figure 1.

[0165] As shown in Figure 6, the hinge assembly 203 may include a first member 20 and a second member 30. The first member 20 is used to connect to the first body assembly 201 (specifically, the first housing 111), and the second member 30 is used to connect to the second body assembly 202 (specifically, the second housing 121). The first member 20 and the second member 30 are rotatably connected. Specifically, the first member 20 and the second member 30 can rotate relative to each other about a pivot axis 241 (i.e., the aforementioned axis of the hinge).

[0166] In an embodiment of the present application, a channel 242 is further provided on the first component 20, and the channel 242 connects the first accommodating space on the first fuselage component 201 side and the second accommodating space on the second fuselage component 202 side. The channel 242 is used for the signal line to pass through it, thereby realizing the transmission of electrical signals between the first fuselage component 201 side and the second fuselage component 202 side.

[0167] In some embodiments, referring to FIG6 , the first member 20 may include a first fixing portion 21, a spindle 22, and a connecting portion 23. The first fixing portion 21 is fixedly connected to the first housing 111. The axis 241 (the centerline of the spindle) of the spindle 22 serves as the pivot axis of the hinge assembly. The connecting portion 23 connects the first fixing portion 21 and the spindle 22. When the spindle 22 rotates about the pivot axis 241 under the action of an external force, the connecting portion 23 drives the first fixing portion 21 to rotate about the pivot axis 241, wherein the connecting portion 23 also rotates about the pivot axis 241. Conversely, when the first fixing portion 21 rotates about the pivot axis 241 under the action of an external force, the connecting portion 23 drives the spindle 22 to rotate about the pivot axis 241, wherein the connecting portion 23 also rotates about the pivot axis 241. The provision of the connecting portion 23 enables the hinge assembly 203 to form a protruding structure, facilitating the first body assembly 201 to be lifted relative to the second body assembly 202 when the electronic device is opened.

[0168] In the embodiment of the present application, when the hinge assembly 203 is used in an electronic device, the first fixing portion 21 is disposed in the first accommodation space, and the spindle 22 is disposed in the second accommodation space. The first fixing portion 21 and the spindle 22 are not visible to the user. At least a portion of the connecting portion 23 can be accommodated in the second accommodation space when the electronic device is folded, or can be exposed to the outside and visible to the user when the electronic device is unfolded.

[0169] In some embodiments, the channel 242 is disposed on the connecting portion 23 . The signal line passing through the channel 242 does not affect the rotation of the spindle 22 .

[0170] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG7 , the connecting portion 23 may include a first segment 231 and a second segment 232, wherein the first segment 231 is configured to connect to the first fixing portion 21, and the second segment 232 is configured to connect to the mandrel 22. Specifically, the first segment 231 is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the first fixing portion 21, and the second segment 232 is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the mandrel 22. To put it another way, the first segment 231 has its two ends along the circumference of the pivot axis 241 connected to the first fixing portion 21 and the second segment 232, respectively. For example, the first segment 231 includes a third end 231a and a fourth end 231b disposed along the circumference of the pivot axis 241, wherein the third end 231a is connected to the first fixing portion 21, and the fourth end 231b is connected to the second segment 232.

[0171] In some embodiments, the first segment 231 has a curved structure. Specifically, the first segment 231 extends along a curve within a cross section perpendicular to the pivot axis 241. Accordingly, the first segment 231 includes at least one radius of curvature along the circumference of the pivot axis 241. When the first segment 231 includes multiple radii of curvature, the radius of curvature of the first segment 231 can be considered to be variable.

[0172] For example, the first section 231 can be an arc-shaped structure. Specifically, the first section 231 is arc-shaped in a cross-section perpendicular to the pivot axis 241. Accordingly, the first section 231 has a fixed radius of curvature along the circumference of the pivot axis 241. The first section 231 is the portion visible to the user when the electronic device is opened. Its arc-shaped structure can soften the space, enhance the aesthetics, and provide smooth movement, facilitating the push-pull movement of the flexible circuit board.

[0173] It should be noted that the curvature radius of the first section 231 involved in the present application may refer to the curvature radius of the surface of the first section 231 facing the core shaft 22, or the curvature radius of the surface of the first section 231 away from the core shaft 22, or the curvature radius of a surface between the surface of the first section 231 facing the core shaft 22 and the surface of the first section 231 away from the core shaft 22. This application does not limit this.

[0174] In some embodiments, the angle of the first section 231 (the angle α shown in Figure 7, i.e., the central angle corresponding to the arc) is greater than or equal to 90° and less than or equal to 180°. Correspondingly, the arc of the first section 231 is greater than or equal to π / 2 and less than or equal to π. The opening and closing angle of the electronic device is equal to the angle of the first section 231, so that the opening and closing angle of the electronic device can reach 90° to 180°, such as 120°, 135°, etc., thereby meeting the screen opening and closing angle. The larger the angle at which the screen can be opened and closed, the more usage forms can be brought about by superimposing the touch-operated function of the screen.

[0175] It can be understood that the angle α involved in the present application may refer to the angle between the two ends of the first segment 231 (ie, the first end 231 a and the second end 231 b ) and the line connecting the pivot axis 241 .

[0176] In some embodiments, a preset angle (angle β as shown in FIG7 ) is formed between the first segment 231 and the second segment 232. In this embodiment, it can be understood that the second segment 232 bends toward the mandrel 22 relative to the first segment 231 to form the preset angle.

[0177] It can be understood that the angle β involved in this application refers to the angle between two connected parts (such as the first segment 231 and the second segment 232) at the connection point (such as the ends of the first segment 231 and the second segment 232 used to connect each other).

[0178] For example, the preset angle may be less than or equal to 120°. Further, the preset angle may be less than or equal to 90°.

[0179] In some embodiments, the first section 231 and the second section 232 are fixedly connected or integrally formed.

[0180] 7 , the channel 242 may be provided in the first section 231 of the connecting portion 23 . Due to the angle β formed between the first section 231 and the second section 232 , the signal line passing through the channel 242 will not interfere with the movement of the mandrel 22 .

[0181] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG7 , the spindle 22 may include a main shaft portion 221 and an extension portion 222 extending from an outer wall of the main shaft portion 221 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pivot axis 241. The main shaft portion 221 is configured to cooperate with the second member 30 to achieve rotation of the spindle 22, and the extension portion 222 is configured to be connected to the connecting portion 23. Exemplarily, the extension portion 222 is configured to be fixedly connected to the second segment 232.

[0182] By way of example and not limitation, the principal plane of the extension 222 is parallel to the principal plane of the second segment 232. As used herein, the principal plane is understood to be the surface with the largest area on the corresponding component. For example, the surface of the extension 222 facing the second segment 232 is parallel to the surface of the second segment 232 facing the extension 222. This allows the extension 222 and the second segment 232 to be stacked and secured together, enhancing connection reliability.

[0183] Referring back to FIG. 6 , the second component 30 may include a second fixing portion 31 and a sleeve 32 . The second fixing portion 31 is used to be fixedly connected to the second shell 121 . The sleeve 32 is sleeved on the spindle 22 to support the spindle 22 and allow the spindle 22 to rotate around the pivot axis 241 .

[0184] In some embodiments, the second fixing portion 31 is fixedly connected to the shaft sleeve 32 or formed integrally therewith.

[0185] In some embodiments, the shaft assembly 203 may include two second members 30, each located on either side of the first member 20 (specifically, the connecting portion 23) along the axis of the pivot axis 241. Thus, the spindle 22 is supported by the bushings 32 in the two second members 30, which helps ensure the reliability of the rotation of the spindle 22.

[0186] In the embodiments of the present application, the specific method of fixed connection involved can be a detachable connection, such as a threaded connection, a snap connection, etc.; or a non-detachable connection, such as welding, riveting, bonding, etc., which is not limited in the present application.

[0187] For further understanding, Figure 8 shows schematic diagrams of the hinge assembly 203 in its open and closed state when assembled. As shown in Figure 8(a), the hinge assembly 203 is in the open state. Accordingly, the electronic device incorporating the hinge assembly 203 is in the open state, with at least a portion of the connector 23 visible. As shown in Figure 8(b), the hinge assembly 203 is in the closed state. Accordingly, the electronic device incorporating the hinge assembly 203 is in the closed state, with the connector 23 housed in the second storage space and hidden from the user. The flexible printed circuit board 204 passes through a channel 242 provided in the connector 23. One end of the flexible printed circuit board connects to signals on the first body assembly 201 side (e.g., screen-side signals) and the other end connects to signals on the second body assembly 202 side (e.g., system-side signals), thereby completing the signal connection between the first body assembly 201 and the second body assembly 202.

[0188] In some embodiments, the first electronic component 113 includes at least one of a display screen, a display screen driving board, a camera, and a microphone.

[0189] In some embodiments, the second electronic component 128 includes at least one of a motherboard and a central processing unit (CPU).

[0190] As described above, the electrical signal transmission solution provided by this application connects the two body components of the electronic device 200 via a flexible circuit board 204, significantly reducing the size of the hinge assembly 203. For example, the thickness of the flexible circuit board 204 can be as thin as 0.1 mm, enabling the hinge assembly 203 to be controlled to a width of less than or equal to 15 mm and a thickness of less than or equal to 2 mm. This significantly enhances the aesthetic refinement of the hinge assembly 203 and achieves a refined hinge size. Furthermore, because the metal wires in the flexible circuit board 204 are very fine, reaching micron levels, the number of signals that can be transmitted by the flexible circuit board 204 is significantly expanded without compromising the aesthetic refinement of the hinge assembly 203. Furthermore, the movable portion of the flexible circuit board 204 has a certain bending radius in both the moving and stationary states, meeting the reliability requirements of the electronic device during long-term opening and closing.

[0191] In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may include one or more layers of flexible circuit board 204. For example, the number of layers of the flexible circuit board 204 included in the electronic device 200 is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 5.

[0192] In some embodiments, referring to FIG9 , when the electronic device 200 includes a multilayer flexible circuit board 204, the multilayer flexible circuit boards 204 are isolated and stacked in the motion region. Specifically, each layer of the multilayer flexible circuit board 204 includes a second section 44, which serves as the motion region. The multiple second sections 44 included in the multilayer flexible circuit board 204 are isolated and freely stacked, i.e., they are not pressed together. In other words, the multiple second sections 44 can separate from each other as the electronic device 200 opens and closes (or as the hinge assembly 203 moves).

[0193] Exemplarily, the electronic device 200 may include a first flexible circuit board 2041, a second flexible circuit board 2042, and a third flexible circuit board 2043, wherein the second section 44 of the first flexible circuit board 2041, the second section 44 of the second flexible circuit board 2042, and the second section 44 of the third flexible circuit board 2043 can be separated from each other during the movement of the hinge assembly 203.

[0194] As a result, when the electronic device 200 is opened or closed, the movement of the multiple flexible circuit boards 204 does not interfere with each other, nor does it affect the bending radius of the second section 44 or the stress on the metal wires, thereby ensuring that the flexible circuit boards meet bending reliability requirements. Furthermore, under the condition of a certain amount of transmitted signal, the use of multiple layers of flexible circuit boards can further reduce the width of the hinge assembly 203. Furthermore, the use of multiple layers of flexible circuit boards 204 can also increase the amount of transmitted signal.

[0195] In some embodiments, the multi-layer flexible circuit board 204 is fixed together in the non-moving area. Specifically, the other parts of each layer of flexible circuit board 204 except the second section 44 are fixed together with the corresponding parts of other flexible circuit boards 204, such as by mutual adhesion, force pressing, etc.

[0196] Exemplarily, the first section 43 of the first flexible circuit board 2041, the first section 43 of the second flexible circuit board 2042, and the first section 43 of the third flexible circuit board 2043 are fixedly stacked. The first end 41 of the first flexible circuit board 2041, the first end 41 of the second flexible circuit board 2042, and the first end 41 of the third flexible circuit board 2043 are fixedly stacked. The second end 42 of the first flexible circuit board 2041, the second end 42 of the second flexible circuit board 2042, and the second end 42 of the third flexible circuit board 2043 are fixedly stacked.

[0197] In some embodiments, the signals transmitted between two layers of flexible circuit boards 204 in the multi-layer flexible circuit board 204 can be the same or different. For example, taking the first flexible circuit board 2041 and the second flexible circuit board 2042 as an example, the signals transmitted by the first flexible circuit board 2041 and the signals transmitted by the second flexible circuit board 2042 can be the same or different, and this application is not limited to this.

[0198] The embodiment of the present application further provides a hinge assembly, which may include the relevant structures of the aforementioned hinge assembly 203 and a flexible circuit board 204 .

[0199] The embodiment of the present application further provides a flexible circuit board, which may be the flexible circuit board 204 described in the above embodiment.

[0200] In summary, the embodiment of the present application reduces the width and thickness space required for traditional cables to pass through the interior of the shaft by passing a thin flexible circuit board through the interior of the shaft, thereby making the shaft narrower and thinner, achieving a more refined appearance experience.

[0201] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integrated connections; they may refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they may refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they may refer to internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application in specific contexts.

[0202] 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. An electronic device, characterized in that: include: The first body assembly includes a first housing and a first electronic component, wherein the first housing forms a first accommodating space, and the first electronic component is accommodated in the first accommodating space; The second body assembly includes a second housing and a second electronic component, wherein the second housing forms a second accommodating space, and the second electronic component is accommodated in the second accommodating space; a shaft assembly comprising a first member and a second member rotatably connected, wherein the second member is connected to the second housing, the first member is connected to the first housing, and the first member is provided with a passage connecting the first accommodation space and the second accommodation space; A flexible circuit board includes a first end, a second end, a first section and a second section located between the first end and the second end, the first end is connected to the first electronic component, the second end is connected to the second electronic component, the first section is located in the channel and fixed to the first member, the second section is located in the second accommodating space and the minimum bending radius of the second section is greater than or equal to a preset value.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The rebound force of the flexible circuit board is greater than or equal to 40 mN / mm and less than or equal to 100 mN / mm.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The preset value is greater than or equal to 5 times the thickness of the flexible circuit board.

4. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The second section performs track-like movement as the electronic device opens and closes.

5. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The other parts of the flexible circuit board except the second section are relatively fixed.

6. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The flexible circuit board includes a first cover film, a metal conductive layer, a base material layer, and a second cover film that are stacked. The metal conductive layer is located between the first cover film and the base material layer, and the base material layer is located between the metal conductive layer and the second cover film.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein: The material of the metal conductive layer is rolled copper.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The metal conductive layer is located on an inner side of the bend of the second section relative to the substrate layer.

9. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The rotating shaft assembly further includes: A wedge-shaped member is provided at the end of the channel located in the second accommodating space and is located between the first section and the inner wall of the channel away from the pivot axis of the rotating shaft assembly.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, characterized in that The wedge-shaped member is wedgedly connected to the first member; or The wedge-shaped member is fixedly connected to the first component.

11. The electronic device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The first component includes a main body and a cover, the main body and the cover are buckled together to form the channel, and the wedge is located between the first section and the first cover.

12. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: When the electronic device is in an open state, the second section is U-shaped.

13. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: A protective film is provided on an area of the second section that contacts the inner wall of the second shell and / or an area of the second shell that contacts the second section.

14. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: The first component includes: a first fixing portion connected to the first shell; A spindle, the axis of which is the pivot axis of the rotating shaft assembly; a connecting portion connecting the first fixing portion and the spindle, wherein the channel is provided in the connecting portion; The second component includes: a second fixing portion connected to the second shell; A shaft sleeve is sleeved on the spindle and is used to support the spindle to rotate around the pivot axis.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14, characterized in that The connecting portion includes a first section and a second section, the first section is connected to the first fixing portion, the second section is connected to the core shaft, and a preset angle is formed between the first section and the second section.

16. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises one or more layers of the flexible circuit board, wherein the second sections of adjacent flexible circuit boards in the multiple layers of the flexible circuit board can be separated from each other as the electronic device is opened and closed.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein: The other parts of the adjacent flexible circuit boards in the multi-layer flexible circuit boards except the second sections are fixedly stacked correspondingly.

18. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that: The first electronic component is any one of a display screen driver board, a camera or a microphone; the second electronic component is a mainboard.

19. A flexible circuit board, characterized in that: The flexible circuit board is the flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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