Hinge mechanism and electronic device

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of electronic devices and provides a hinge mechanism and an electronic device, which solve the problem of a shaft cover being prone to deformation when the hinge mechanism is dropped or impacted. The hinge mechanism comprises a shaft cover, a hinge base and a connector. The shaft cover comprises a bottom plate and a side plate arranged at the edge of the bottom plate. A mounting cavity is defined between the bottom plate and the side plate, and the side plate comprises a first side wall surface facing the mounting cavity. The hinge base is at least partially arranged in the mounting cavity, and comprises a first end surface. The first end surface is arranged opposite the first side wall surface, and there is a first gap between the first end surface and the first side wall surface. The connector comprises a first part. The first part is arranged in the first gap, and two ends of the first part are connected to the first side wall surface and the first end surface, respectively.

Description

Rotating shaft mechanism and electronic device

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202410651400.2, filed on May 23, 2024, and entitled "Rotating shaft mechanism and electronic device", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic devices, and in particular, to a rotating shaft mechanism and an electronic device. BACKGROUND

[0003] At present, in order to solve the problems of large size and inconvenience of carrying of traditional terminals, foldable electronic devices have emerged as the times require. The foldable electronic device includes two side housings and a rotating shaft mechanism connected between the two side housings. In the rotating shaft mechanism, the shaft cover serves as an appearance part and covers the back side of the rotating shaft base in the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0004] However, when the electronic device falls or collides, the shaft cover as an appearance part is usually deformed due to stress impact, affecting the appearance and size precision of the rotating shaft mechanism. Moreover, the structural parts adjacent or connected to the shaft cover will also affect their own stability due to the deformation of the shaft cover, thereby affecting the overall stability of the rotating shaft mechanism. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a rotating shaft mechanism and an electronic device to solve the problem that the shaft cover is easily deformed when the rotating shaft mechanism falls or collides.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, a rotating shaft mechanism is provided, which includes a shaft cover, a rotating shaft base and a connecting piece. The shaft cover includes a bottom plate and a side plate arranged at the edge of the bottom plate, and an installation cavity is defined between the bottom plate and the side plate. The side plate includes a first side wall surface facing the installation cavity. The rotating shaft base is at least partially arranged in the installation cavity, and the rotating shaft base includes a first end surface. The first end surface is arranged opposite to the first side wall surface, and a first gap is formed between the first end surface and the first side wall surface. The connecting piece includes a first part, and the first part is arranged in the first gap. The two ends of the first part are connected to the first side wall surface and the first end surface, respectively.

[0008] In this way, at least part of the gap between the shaft cover and the shaft base is filled by the connecting piece, and at least part of the assembly gap between the shaft cover and the shaft base is eliminated. One side of the connecting piece is connected to the shaft cover, and the connecting piece provides certain support for the shaft cover. When the shaft mechanism falls or collides, the shaft cover is subjected to stress impact, and the shaft cover can resist the stress impact together with the connecting piece, thereby reducing the risk of deformation of the shaft cover due to stress, in particular, reducing the risk of deformation of the side plate region, and further ensuring the dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the shaft cover.

[0009] In addition, after the risk of stress impact on the shaft cover is reduced, the cooperation accuracy between the shaft cover and other structural members can also be ensured, for example, the cooperation accuracy between the shaft cover and the shaft base, and further, the positional accuracy of other structural members provided on the shaft base in the shaft mechanism can be ensured. Further, based on the shaft mechanism having high dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy, the movement of the shaft mechanism is more accurate.

[0010] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the Young's modulus of the connecting piece is greater than or equal to 100 MPa. In this way, when the Young's modulus of the connecting piece is in the above range, the connecting piece has high rigidity, and the connecting piece can provide more effective support for the shaft cover. When the shaft mechanism is subjected to stress impact, the shaft cover is more difficult to deform under the support of the connecting piece, further ensuring the dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the shaft cover, and also ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the shaft cover.

[0011] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the bottom plate has a first top surface facing into the mounting cavity, the shaft base has a first bottom surface facing the bottom plate, and the first top surface and the first bottom surface have a fifth gap therebetween. The connecting piece further comprises a fifth part, and the fifth part is arranged in the fifth gap and connected to the first top surface and the first bottom surface at two ends thereof.

[0012] In this way, the gap between the bottom plate of the shaft cover and the shaft base is filled by the fifth part, and the assembly gap between the bottom plate and the shaft base is also eliminated. One side of the fifth part is connected to the shaft cover, and the fifth part provides certain support for the shaft cover. When the shaft mechanism falls or collides, the shaft cover is subjected to stress impact, and the shaft cover can resist the stress impact together with the fifth part, thereby reducing the risk of deformation of the shaft cover due to stress, in particular, reducing the risk of deformation of the bottom plate region, and further ensuring the dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the shaft cover.

[0013] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first part and the fifth part are an integral structure. In this way, the overall structural strength of the connecting piece is improved, and different parts of the connecting piece can be machined in the same process, thereby facilitating the manufacturing and processing efficiency of the shaft mechanism.

[0014] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the rotating shaft mechanism further includes a first limiting piece, the first limiting piece is connected to the side plate, the side plate has a second top surface facing away from the bottom plate, and at least part of the first limiting piece protrudes from the second top surface. In this way, a containing space is formed between the first limiting piece and the rotating shaft base, and other structural members can be installed in the containing space. Therefore, the first limiting piece supports and protects the other structural members, thereby improving the stability of the other structural members.

[0015] In addition, the first limiting piece is connected to the first side plate. As described above, the connecting piece is arranged between the first side plate and the rotating shaft base. When the electronic device falls or collides, the first side plate has high structural strength, and the risk of deformation of the first side plate due to stress impact is reduced. The first limiting piece is connected to the first side plate, and the risk of deformation of the first limiting piece due to stress impact is further reduced, thereby ensuring the overall stability of the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0016] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first limiting piece includes a limiting part and an extension part. The limiting part is connected to the side plate, and at least part of the limiting part protrudes from the second top surface. The extension part is connected to an end of the limiting part away from the second top surface, and the extension part is arranged away from the second top surface. In this way, the limiting part can be used to support and protect the outer edge of the other structural member, and the extension part is arranged on the side of the other structural member away from the rotating shaft base. The extension part limits the other structural member to improve the connection strength between the other structural member and the rotating shaft mechanism, and avoids the risk of arching of the other structural member.

[0017] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the arrangement direction of the first side wall surface and the first end surface is the first direction, and the extension direction of the limiting part is perpendicular to the first direction. In this way, the limiting part is convenient to be attached to the other structural member, and the limiting part provides better support and protection for the other structural member.

[0018] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the side plate has a groove recessed from the second top surface to the bottom plate, and at least part of the limiting part is arranged in the groove. In this way, without increasing the thickness of the first side plate, the connection area between the limiting part and the first side plate is increased, thereby improving the connection strength between the first limiting piece and the first side plate and improving the stability of the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0019] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the groove comprises a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface opposite to each other in the first direction, and the limiting portion comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in the first direction. The first surface faces the first inner wall surface, the first surface is provided with a first protruding portion, the first protruding portion is in contact with the first inner wall surface, and / or the second surface is provided with a second protruding portion, the second protruding portion is in contact with the second inner wall surface. The first limiting member is limited in the first direction by the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the first limiting member and the first side plate.

[0020] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the limiting portion further comprises a fixing segment, a connecting segment and a limiting segment, the connecting segment is connected between the fixing segment and the limiting segment, and the limiting segment is located on a side of the fixing segment away from the mounting cavity. The fixing segment is accommodated in the groove, and the connecting segment is supported on the second top surface. The first limiting member is limited in the thickness direction of the rotating shaft mechanism by the connecting segment, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the first limiting member and the first side plate.

[0021] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the limiting portion further comprises a reinforcing portion embedded in the body and / or the surface of the body, and the rigidity of the reinforcing portion is greater than that of the body. In this way, the structural strength of the limiting portion is improved by the reinforcing degree, thereby improving the overall stability of the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0022] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the arrangement direction of the side wall surface and the first end surface is the length direction of the shaft cover. When the rotating shaft mechanism falls or collides, the stress impact on the shaft cover is more likely to occur at the two ends in the length direction, and therefore the connecting member is mainly arranged at the end of the shaft cover in the length direction. In this way, the shaft cover can resist the impact of stress together with the connecting member, thereby reducing the risk of deformation of the shaft cover due to stress, especially reducing the risk of deformation of the side plate region, thereby ensuring the dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the shaft cover.

[0023] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the material of the connecting member comprises one of glue, foam and metal. The material of the connecting member includes multiple types, and according to different materials of the connecting member, the connecting member can be arranged between the shaft cover and the rotating shaft base by different process flows. In actual application, different materials and processing technologies can be selected according to different application scenarios and processing conditions, and the selectivity of the material and processing technology of the connecting member is high, thereby facilitating production and processing.

[0024] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the rotating shaft mechanism further includes a first swing arm, the first swing arm includes a sliding part, and the sliding part has a stopper. The rotating shaft base includes a sliding rail, the sliding part is slidingly connected to the sliding rail, the sliding rail includes a first end and a second end in a sliding direction of the sliding part, an end of the sliding part is in contact with the first end when the rotating shaft mechanism is in the folded state, and an end of the sliding part is in contact with the second end when the rotating shaft mechanism is in the unfolded state. The sliding rail has a stopper part, and the stopper part is arranged on at least one of the first end and the second end. The first swing arm is switched between the unfolded state and the folded state relative to the rotating shaft base, and the stopper cooperates with the stopper part when the first swing arm is in the unfolded state and / or the folded state.

[0025] The stopper and the stopper part are in abutment to avoid the first swing arm from being pulled out of the sliding rail, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the rotation of the rotating shaft mechanism. In addition, when the electronic device falls or collides, the first swing arm is also not easy to be pulled out of the sliding rail when the rotating shaft mechanism is subjected to an external force, and the support and protection of the rotating shaft mechanism on the folding screen can also be ensured.

[0026] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the sliding part includes a first sliding part and a second sliding part, and the first sliding part and the second sliding part are arranged at two ends in a length direction of the rotating shaft mechanism. The sliding rail includes a first sliding rail and a second sliding rail, the first sliding part is slidingly connected to the first sliding rail, and the second sliding part is slidingly connected to the second sliding rail.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present application also provides an electronic device, which includes a first shell, a second shell, a folding screen, and the rotating shaft mechanism described above. The first shell and the second shell are rotationally connected to opposite sides of the rotating shaft base. The folding screen includes a first display part, a second display part, and a third display part, the third display part is connected between the first display part and the second display part, the first display part is supported on the first shell, the second display part is supported on the second shell, and the third display part is supported on the rotating shaft mechanism.

[0028] Since the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application includes the rotating shaft mechanism of the above technical solutions, both of them can solve the same technical problems and achieve the same effects, and thus no further description is given here.

[0029] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the rotating shaft mechanism further includes a first limiting piece, the side plate has a second top surface facing away from the bottom plate, the rotating shaft mechanism further includes a first limiting piece, the first limiting piece includes a limiting part and an extension part, the limiting part is connected to the side plate, at least part of the limiting part protrudes from the second top surface, and the limiting part is in contact with at least part of the peripheral surface of the third display part. The extension part is connected to an end of the limiting part away from the second top surface, and the extension part is spaced apart from the second top surface, and the extension part is in contact with at least part of the light emitting surface of the third display part.

[0030] Since the electronic device provided by the embodiment of the present application comprises the rotating shaft mechanism of the technical solution above, both of them can solve the same technical problem and achieve the same effect, and thus no further description is made here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic device provided by some embodiments of the present application in an unfolded state;

[0032] Fig. 2 is a partially exploded structural schematic view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 1;

[0033] Fig. 3 is a structural schematic view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 1 in a folded state;

[0034] Fig. 4 is a structural schematic view of the electronic device provided by some embodiments of the present application;

[0035] Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 4;

[0036] Fig. 6 is a structural schematic view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 4 along the section A-A;

[0037] Fig. 7 is a structural schematic view of the shaft cover in the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

[0038] Fig. 8 is a structural schematic view of the rotating shaft base in the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

[0039] Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of B in the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

[0040] Fig. 10 is a structural schematic view of the shaft cover in the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 9 deformed under stress impact;

[0041] Fig. 11 is a simulation diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism provided by some embodiments of the present application before stress;

[0042] Fig. 12 is a simulation diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 11 under stress impact;

[0043] Fig. 13 is a simplified view of the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 4 from the perspective of S1;

[0044] Fig. 14 is a structural schematic view of the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 13 provided with a connecting piece;

[0045] Fig. 15 is another enlarged view of B in the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

[0046] Fig. 16 is still another enlarged view of B in the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

[0047] Fig. 17 is a structural simplified view of the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 2 from the perspective of S2;

[0048] Fig. 18 is a partial schematic view of the rotating shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

[0049] Fig. 19 is a partial view of a shaft cover in the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

[0050] Fig. 20 is a structural view of a first limiting member in the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 18;

[0051] Fig. 21 is a side view of the first limiting member shown in Fig. 20;

[0052] Fig. 22 is a partial view of the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 4 from another perspective;

[0053] Fig. 23 is a structural view of a first limiting member according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0054] Fig. 24 is a structural view of the first limiting member shown in Fig. 23 in an unfolded state;

[0055] Fig. 25 is a structural view of the first limiting member shown in Fig. 23 in a folded state;

[0056] Fig. 26 is a partial view of the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

[0057] Fig. 27 is a structural view of a first swing arm in the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 26;

[0058] Fig. 28 is a structural view of a shaft base in the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 26;

[0059] Fig. 29 is a structural view of a lower base in the shaft base shown in Fig. 28;

[0060] Fig. 30 is a structural view of the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 26 along a C-C line;

[0061] Fig. 31 is a structural view of the shaft mechanism shown in Fig. 26 in an unfolded state.

[0062] 100, electronic device; 10, folding screen; 11, first display part; 12, second display part; 13, third display part; 20, supporting device; 21, first housing; 211, first middle frame; 212, first back cover; 22, second housing; 221, second middle frame; 222, second back cover; 23, rotating shaft mechanism; 231, rotating shaft base; 2311, limiting hole; 2312, second threaded hole; M21, first end face; M22, second end face; M23, third end face; M24, fourth end face; M25, first bottom face; 2313, sliding rail; 2313a, first end; 2313b, second end; 2313c, stop part; 2314, upper base; 2315, lower base; 2315a, first sliding rail; 2315b, second sliding rail; 232, shaft cover; 2321, bottom plate; M31, first top face; M32, second top face; 2322, side plate; 2322a, first side plate; 2322a1, groove; 2322a2, notch; M11, first side wall face; 2322b, second side plate; M12, second side wall face; 2322c, third side plate; M13, third side wall face; 2322d, fourth side plate; M14, fourth side wall face; 2323, limiting column; 2324, first threaded hole; 2325, boss; 232a, opening; 232b, mounting cavity; M41, first inner wall face; M42, second inner wall face; 233, threaded part; 234, glue layer; 235, gap space; 2351, first gap; 2352, second gap; 2353, third gap; 2354, fourth gap; 2355, fifth gap; 236, connecting part; 2361, first part; 2362, second part; 2363, third part; 2364, fourth part; 2365, fifth part; 237, first limiting part; 2371, limiting part; 2372, extension part; M51, first surface; M52, second surface; 2373, second protruding part; 2374, fixing section; 2375, connecting section; 2376, limiting section; 238, second limiting part; 239, swing arm; 239a, first swing arm; 2390, body; 2391, sliding part; 2391a, first sliding part; 2391b, second sliding part; 2392, stop block; 2392a, first stop block; 2392b, second stop block; 239b, second swing arm; 240, flexible connecting part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features.

[0064] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "comprising", "containing" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements not only includes those elements, but can also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without more limitations, the element defined by the phrase "comprising a" does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0065] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "transmission connection" refers to the connection between two components, one of which can transmit motion to the other. The connection between the two components includes at least one of the following: rotary connection, sliding connection, gear mesh transmission connection, chain wheel transmission connection, cam mechanism transmission connection, etc.

[0066] The present application provides an electronic device, which can be a user equipment (UE) or a terminal device, etc. For example, the electronic device can be a portable android device (PAD), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, etc. The form of the electronic device is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0067] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device 100 in an unfolded state according to some embodiments of the present application, and FIG. 2 is a partially exploded structural schematic view of the electronic device 100 shown in FIG. 1. The present embodiment and each of the following embodiments are exemplarily described by taking the electronic device 100 as a handheld device with wireless communication function, which can be a mobile phone for example. The electronic device 100 in the unfolded state is approximately rectangular and flat.

[0068] For the convenience of the description of the following embodiments, an XYZ coordinate system is established for the electronic device 100 in the unfolded state, and the length direction of the electronic device 100 is defined as the X-axis direction, the width direction of the electronic device 100 is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the thickness direction of the electronic device 100 is defined as the Z-axis direction. It can be understood that the coordinate system of the electronic device 100 can be flexibly set according to actual needs, which is not specifically limited here. In some other embodiments, the shape of the electronic device 100 can also be a square flat plate, a circular flat plate, an elliptical flat plate, etc.

[0069] The electronic device 100 includes a folding screen 10 and a supporting device 20.

[0070] The folding screen 10 is used to display image, video and other information. The folding screen 10 has a display area for displaying image information, and the display area of the folding screen 10 is exposed to facilitate the presentation of image, video and other information to the user. The folding screen 10 includes a first display part 11, a second display part 12 and a third display part 13, and the third display part 13 is connected between the first display part 11 and the second display part 12.

[0071] In the electronic device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the folding screen 10 is in an unfolded state, and the first display part 11, the third display part 13 and the second display part 12 are arranged in sequence along the X-axis direction, so that the electronic device 100 is folded in a horizontal direction. In some other embodiments, when the folding screen 10 is in an unfolded state, the first display part 11, the third display part 13 and the second display part 12 can also be arranged in sequence along the Y-axis direction. In this way, the electronic device 100 is folded in a vertical direction. When the folding screen 10 is in an unfolded state, large-screen display can be achieved to provide users with more information and a better user experience.

[0072] At least the third display part 13 of the folding screen 10 is a flexible screen structure. In this way, the third display part 13 can be bent and deformed under the action of external force, so that the folding screen 10 is folded from the unfolded state shown in FIG. 1 to the folded state. The first display part 11 and the second display part 12 of the folding screen 10 can be a flexible screen structure, or a hard screen structure, or a partial flexible screen structure and a partial hard screen structure, which is not specifically limited here.

[0073] Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a structural schematic diagram of the electronic device 100 in the folded state, and the folding screen 10 in the electronic device 100 is also in the folded state. Specifically, when the folding screen 10 is in the folded state, the first display part 11 and the second display part 12 of the folding screen 10 are approximately parallel and opposite. It should be noted that the included angle between the first display part 11 and the second display part 12 is within 30°, and both can be considered as approximately parallel. The first display part 11 and the second display part 12 are opposite, which means that the display surface of the first display part 11 faces the display surface of the second display part 12.

[0074] When the electronic device 100 is in the folded state, please continue to refer to FIG. 3, the support device 20 is protected outside the folding screen 10, and the folding screen 10 is invisible to the user, which can prevent the folding screen 10 from being scratched by a hard object. The electronic device is an inner folding electronic device, and the size of the electronic device 100 is reduced, which is convenient for carrying.

[0075] The support device 20 is used to carry the folding screen 10. The support device 20 includes a first housing (which can also be referred to as a main housing) 21, a second housing (which can also be referred to as a secondary housing) 22, and a rotating shaft mechanism 23. The first housing 21 carries the first display part 11, and the second housing 22 carries the second display part 12. The rotating shaft mechanism 23 is connected between the first housing 21 and the second housing 22 and carries the third display part 13. The rotating shaft mechanism 23 is used to realize the rotation between the second housing 22 and the first housing 21 to support the folding screen 10 to fold between the unfolded state and the folded state.

[0076] Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, FIG. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic device provided by some embodiments of the present application; and FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the electronic device 100 shown in FIG. 4, which is illustrated by taking the rotating shaft mechanism in the folded state as an example. The rotating shaft mechanism 23 includes a rotating shaft base 231, a shaft cover 232, and a swing arm 239.

[0077] The rotating shaft base 231 provides a position reference datum in the rotating shaft mechanism 23. The first housing 21 and the second housing 22 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are rotatably connected to the rotating shaft base 231, and the first housing 21 and the second housing 22 can rotate relative to the rotating shaft base 231 to move the electronic device 100 between the unfolded state and the folded state. Meanwhile, the rotating shaft base 231 is also used to support part of the folding screen. Specifically, the rotating shaft base 231 is used to support the third display part 13 of the folding screen 10 in the electronic device shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0078] The shaft cover 232 is located at the back side of the shaft base 231. It should be noted that the back side of the shaft base 231 refers to the side of the shaft base 231 that faces away from the folding screen 10. In the following embodiments, the "back side" used in the description of other components in the shaft mechanism 23 refers to the side of the described component that faces away from the folding screen 10. In the following embodiments, this will not be repeated.

[0079] The shaft cover 232 is an appearance part (i.e., an externally visible component) of the shaft mechanism 23, and is used to cover the shaft base 231 in the shaft mechanism 23 and the moving components (not shown in FIG. 4) connected to the shaft base 231, so as to ensure the appearance of the electronic device 100 and avoid external interference with the relative movement between the moving components in the shaft mechanism 23 and the shaft base 231.

[0080] Specifically, please refer to FIG. 5, the shaft cover 232 includes a bottom plate 2321 and side plates 2322 arranged at the edges of the bottom plate 2321. In some embodiments, the side plates 2322 are arranged only at part of the edges of the bottom plate 2321. In other embodiments, the side plates 2322 can also be arranged at all edges of the bottom plate 2321, that is, the side plates 2322 are arranged around the entire periphery of the bottom plate 2321. Here, the side plates 2322 arranged around the entire periphery of the bottom plate 2321 are taken as an example for description.

[0081] The bottom plate 2321 and the side plates 2322 enclose an installation cavity 232b, and the opening 232a of the installation cavity 232b faces the shaft base 231. The shaft base 231 is installed in the installation cavity 232b through the opening 232a. That is, the shaft base 231 is fixedly connected to the shaft cover 232, and the relative position between the shaft cover 232 and the shaft base 231 is fixed. During the folding of the electronic device 100, the shaft cover 232 always covers the back side of the shaft base 231 and the moving components connected to the shaft base 231, and thus can effectively avoid external interference with the relative movement between the moving components in the shaft mechanism 23 and the shaft base 231.

[0082] The connection mode between the shaft cover 232 and the shaft base 231 will be described in detail below. Please refer to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 6 is a structure schematic diagram of the shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 4 along the A-A section; FIG. 7 is a structure schematic diagram of the shaft cover 232 in the shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 4; and FIG. 8 is a structure schematic diagram of the shaft base 231 in the shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 6, the middle part of the shaft mechanism 23 is not involved in the description herein, and thus is marked with a dotted line. In addition, the section lines are omitted in the shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 6, and part of the section lines is omitted in the sectional views involved in the following description, which will not be repeated herein.

[0083] The shaft cover 232 is provided with a limiting post 2323 on one of the shaft base 231, and the shaft cover 232 is provided with a limiting hole 2311 on the other of the shaft base 231, and the limiting post 2323 cooperates with the limiting hole 2311. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the shaft cover 232 is provided with the limiting post 2323, and the shaft base 231 is provided with the limiting hole 2311, which will be described below.

[0084] The shaft cover 232 is further provided with a first threaded hole 2324, and the shaft base 231 is provided with a second threaded hole 2312 opposite to the first threaded hole 2324. Here, the "opposite" means that the orthographic projection of the first threaded hole 2324 on the shaft base 231 overlaps the second threaded hole 2312 in the arrangement direction of the shaft cover 232 and the shaft base 231, and the first threaded hole 2324 and the second threaded hole 2312 will be described below.

[0085] It is worth noting that, as to the arrangement of the first threaded hole 2324 on the shaft cover 232, in some embodiments, the first threaded hole 2324 is in the form of a groove, that is, the first threaded hole 2324 is a blind hole, the first threaded hole 2324 is arranged on the bottom plate 2321, and the first threaded hole 2324 is recessed in the direction away from the mounting cavity 232b. In this way, the structure of the first threaded hole 2324 is simple, and the shaft cover 232 is easy to manufacture.

[0086] Please continue to refer to FIG. 7, in other embodiments, the shaft cover 232 can further include a boss 2325, the boss 2325 is arranged protruding from the bottom plate 2321, and the first threaded hole 2324 is arranged in the boss 2325. In this way, in the arrangement direction of the shaft cover 232 and the shaft base 231, the connection length of the threaded member 233 and the first threaded hole 2324 is increased, thereby improving the connection strength of the shaft cover 232 and the shaft base 231, and avoiding the groove on the bottom plate 2321, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the shaft cover 232.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of position B in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 6. The rotating shaft mechanism 23 can further include a glue layer 234 arranged between the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231, one side surface of the glue layer 234 being bonded to the shaft cover 232, and the other side surface of the glue layer 234 being bonded to the rotating shaft base 231, the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231 being fixedly bonded through the glue layer 234. In some embodiments, the rotating shaft mechanism 23 can include the first threaded hole 2324, the second threaded hole 2312, the threaded member 233, and the glue layer 234, so as to improve the stability and reliability of the connection between the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231.

[0088] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft mechanism 23 can include only the first threaded hole 2324, the second threaded hole 2312, and the threaded member 233, so as to adopt a detachable connection mode between the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231, facilitating the inspection and maintenance of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 in subsequent use.

[0089] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft mechanism 23 can also include only the glue layer 234, so as to occupy a smaller inner space of the shaft with the connection structure between the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft mechanism 23, facilitating the utilization of the inner space of the rotating shaft mechanism 23.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 9, in order to facilitate the installation of the rotating shaft base 231, the rotating shaft base 231 and the shaft cover 232 are usually in a clearance fit mode, so as to facilitate the fixation of at least part of the rotating shaft base 231 in the installation cavity 232b. After the rotating shaft base 231 is fixed to the shaft cover 232, the rotating shaft base 231 and the shaft cover 232 usually have a clearance space 235 therebetween. When the rotating shaft mechanism 23 is subjected to stress impact, the region of the shaft cover 232 opposite to the clearance space 235 is prone to displacement and deformation under the action of stress, because the region of the shaft cover 232 opposite to the clearance space 235 is not attached to other structural members, and the region of the shaft cover 232 opposite to the clearance space 235 cannot resist the impact of stress by means of other structural members. Therefore, the region of the shaft cover 232 opposite to the clearance space 235 is prone to deformation and has poor stability.

[0091] It should be explained that the "region of the shaft cover 232 opposite to the clearance space 235" refers to the region of the shaft cover 232 on which the clearance space 235 is orthogonally projected in the arrangement direction of the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12, FIG. 10 is a structural schematic view of the shaft cover 232 in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 9 being deformed under stress impact; FIG. 11 is a simulation diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 before being subjected to stress, provided by some embodiments of the present application; and FIG. 12 is a simulation diagram of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 being subjected to stress impact, shown in FIG. 11.

[0093] In use, the electronic device 100 will inevitably drop and collide. As the appearance part of the rotation shaft mechanism 23, the drop and collision of the electronic device 100 usually also occur in the area of the shaft cover 232, for example, when the rotation shaft mechanism 23 is subjected to the force F as shown in FIG. 10. When the shaft cover 232 is subjected to stress, it will be deformed and displaced to the gap space 235, that is, the shaft cover 232 will be deformed and displaced to the direction of the rotation shaft base 231 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0094] In this way, the appearance of the shaft cover 232 presents a skewed or uneven surface, affecting the aesthetics of the shaft cover 232. Moreover, the deformation of the shaft cover 232 also causes the problems of low shape accuracy and low position accuracy of the shaft cover 232. The "shape accuracy" here refers to the degree of difference between the shape of the shaft cover 232 and the theoretical value. The "position accuracy" here refers to the degree of difference between the relative positional relationship of various features on the shaft cover 232 and the theoretical value.

[0095] To solve the above problems, the rotation shaft mechanism 23 also includes a connecting piece 236, which is arranged in the gap between the shaft cover 232 and the rotation shaft base 231, so as to reduce the risk of deformation of the shaft cover 232 when subjected to stress. The rotation shaft mechanism 23 of the present embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0096] Referring back to FIG. 7, the bottom plate 2321 and the side plate 2322 define a mounting cavity 232b therebetween, and the side plate 2322 can include a first side plate 2322a, a second side plate 2322b, a third side plate 2322c and a fourth side plate 2322d connected in sequence, wherein the first side plate 2322a and the second side plate 2322b are arranged opposite to each other along the length direction of the shaft cover 232, that is, the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 7. In other embodiments, the first side plate 2322a and the second side plate 2322b can also be arranged opposite to each other along the width direction of the shaft cover 232, that is, the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 7.

[0097] The arrangement direction of the third side plate 2322c and the fourth side plate 2322d is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first side plate 2322a and the second side plate 2322b, specifically, the third side plate 2322c and the fourth side plate 2322d are arranged opposite to each other along the width direction of the shaft cover 232, that is, the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 7. The third side plate 2322c and the fourth side plate 2322d can also be arranged opposite to each other along the width direction of the shaft cover 232, that is, the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 7.

[0098] Please continue to refer to FIG. 7, the first side plate 2322a includes a first side wall surface M11 facing the mounting cavity 232b, the second side plate 2322b includes a second side wall surface M12 facing the mounting cavity 232b, the third side plate 2322c includes a third side wall surface M13 facing the mounting cavity 232b, and the fourth side plate 2322d includes a fourth side wall surface M14 facing the mounting cavity 232b.

[0099] Please refer to FIG. 8, at least part of the rotating shaft base 231 is arranged in the mounting cavity 232b, the rotating shaft base 231 can be completely arranged in the mounting cavity 232b, or only part of the rotating shaft base 231 is arranged in the mounting cavity 232b and the other part is arranged outside the mounting cavity 232b. The connection mode between the rotating shaft base 231 and the shaft cover 232 can refer to the above description, which will not be repeated here.

[0100] The rotating shaft base 231 has an outer wall surface facing the side plate 2322, which includes a first end surface M21, a second end surface M22, a third end surface M23 and a fourth end surface M24, wherein the first end surface M21 is arranged opposite to the first side wall surface M11, the second end surface M22 is arranged opposite to the second side wall surface M12, the third end surface M23 is arranged opposite to the third side wall surface M13, and the fourth end surface M24 is arranged opposite to the fourth side wall surface M14.

[0101] Please refer to FIG. 13, which is a simplified view of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 4 from the S1 perspective, which is the top view of FIG. 4. As known from the above description, in order to facilitate the installation of the rotating shaft base 231 on the shaft cover 232, the rotating shaft base 231 and the shaft cover 232 have a gap space 235, and based on the relative position relationship between the rotating shaft base 231 and the shaft cover 232, the gap space 235 can include a first gap 2351 and a second gap 2352. Among them, the first end surface M21 and the first side wall surface M11 have the first gap 2351, and the second end surface M22 and the second side wall surface M12 have the second gap 2352.

[0102] In other embodiments, the gap space 235 can also include a third gap 2353 and a fourth gap 2354, wherein the third end surface M23 and the third side wall surface M13 have the third gap 2353, and the fourth end surface M24 and the fourth side wall surface M14 have the fourth gap 2354.

[0103] Please refer to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, FIG. 14 is a structure diagram of the connecting piece 236 in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is another enlarged view of the position B in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 6. The connecting piece 236 includes a first part 2361, the first part 2361 is arranged in the first gap 2351, and two ends of the first part 2361 are connected to the first side wall surface M11 and the first end surface M21 respectively. That is, the first part 2361 fills the first gap 2351. The connecting piece 236 can also include a second part 2362, a third part 2363 and a fourth part 2364, wherein the second part 2362 is arranged in the second gap 2352, the third part 2363 is arranged in the third gap 2353, and the fourth part 2364 is arranged in the fourth gap 2354.

[0104] In some embodiments, the connecting piece 236 can only include the first part 2361, in some embodiments, the connecting piece 236 can also only include two of the first part 2361, the second part 2362, the third part 2363 and the fourth part 2364, in some embodiments, the connecting piece 236 can also include three of the first part 2361, the second part 2362, the third part 2363 and the fourth part 2364, and in some embodiments, the connecting piece 236 can also include all of the first part 2361, the second part 2362, the third part 2363 and the fourth part 2364.

[0105] In this way, at least part of the gap between the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231 is filled by the connecting piece 236, and at least part of the assembly gap between the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231 is eliminated. One side of the connecting piece 236 is connected to the shaft cover 232, and the connecting piece 236 provides support for the shaft cover 232. When the rotating shaft mechanism 23 falls or collides, the shaft cover 232 is subjected to stress impact, and the shaft cover 232 can resist the impact of stress together with the connecting piece 236. Since the connecting piece 236 fills the gap space, when the shaft cover 232 is subjected to stress impact, the connecting piece 236 can prevent the shaft cover 232 from deforming, thereby reducing the risk of deformation of the shaft cover 232 due to stress, especially reducing the risk of deformation of the side plate 2322 region, and thus ensuring the dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the shaft cover 232.

[0106] To further reduce the risk of deformation of the shaft cover 232 when subjected to stress impact, the elastic modulus of the connecting piece 236 can be increased, thereby increasing the supporting effect of the connecting piece 236 on the shaft cover 232. In some embodiments, the Young's modulus of the connecting piece 236 is greater than or equal to 100 MPa, for example, the Young's modulus of the connecting piece 236 can be 100 MPa, 120 MPa, 180 MPa, 200 MPa, 230 MPa, 280 MPa, 500 MPa, 550 MPa, 800 MPa, 1000 MPa. The Young's modulus is used to describe the proportional relationship between stress and strain of a material in the elastic deformation stage. The greater the Young's modulus, the smaller the deformation of the material under the same stress, that is, the greater the stiffness of the material.

[0107] In this way, when the Young's modulus of the connecting piece 236 is in the above range, the connecting piece 236 has high stiffness, and the connecting piece 236 can provide more effective support to the shaft cover 232. When the shaft mechanism 23 is subjected to stress impact, the shaft cover 232 is more difficult to deform under the support of the connecting piece 236, further ensuring the dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the shaft cover 232, and also ensuring the aesthetic appearance of the shaft cover 232.

[0108] Please continue to refer to FIG. 15. In some embodiments, the bottom plate 2321 has a first top surface M31 facing into the mounting cavity 232b, and the shaft base 231 has a first bottom surface M25 facing the bottom plate 2321, and the first top surface M31 and the first bottom surface M25 have a fifth gap 2355 therebetween. Please refer to FIG. 14, which is a structural schematic diagram of the shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 13 with the fifth part 2365. The connecting piece 236 further comprises a fifth part 2365, which is arranged in the fifth gap 2355, and the two ends of the fifth part 2365 are connected to the first top surface M31 and the first bottom surface M25, respectively.

[0109] In this way, the gap between the bottom plate 2321 of the shaft cover 232 and the shaft base 231 is also filled by the fifth part 2365, eliminating the assembly gap between the bottom plate 2321 and the shaft base 231. One side of the fifth part 2365 is connected to the shaft cover 232, and the fifth part 2365 provides certain support to the shaft cover 232. When the shaft mechanism 23 falls or collides, the shaft cover 232 is subjected to stress impact, and the shaft cover 232 can resist the impact of stress together with the fifth part 2365, reducing the risk of deformation of the shaft cover 232 under stress, especially reducing the risk of deformation in the area of the bottom plate 2321, thereby ensuring the dimensional accuracy and positional accuracy of the shaft cover 232.

[0110] In some embodiments, the first portion 2361 and the fifth portion 2365 are an integral structure. Further, the entirety of the connecting member 236 can also be an integral structure. In this way, the overall structural strength of the connecting member 236 is improved, and different portions of the connecting member 236 can be machined in the same process, facilitating improved manufacturing efficiency of the rotating shaft mechanism 23.

[0111] In some embodiments, the material of the connecting member 236 includes at least one of glue, foam, and metal. The process of disposing the connecting member 236 in the gap space 235 can include the following forms. First, after the rotating shaft base 231 is fixedly installed in the shaft cover 232, the connecting member 236 is disposed in the gap space 235. Second, after the connecting member 236 is disposed in the shaft cover 232, the rotating shaft base 231 is then installed in the shaft cover 232.

[0112] For example, the glue can be glue, which can be disposed in the gap space 235 by a dispensing process. Specifically, after the rotating shaft base 231 is fixedly installed in the shaft cover 232, glue is dispensed into the gap space 235 between the rotating shaft base 231 and the shaft cover 232, and the glue fills the gap space 235 after solidification. The glue can be hard glue, which provides strong support for the shaft cover 232.

[0113] The glue can also be double-sided tape, which is disposed in the gap space 235. One side surface of the double-sided tape is bonded to the rotating shaft base 231, and the other side surface of the double-sided tape is bonded to the shaft cover 232, thereby filling the first gap 2351 with the double-sided tape and providing strong support for the shaft cover 232.

[0114] When the material of the connecting member 236 is metal, the connecting member 236 can be machined by 3D printing to be shaped to fit the gap space 235. 3D printing (3DP) is a rapid prototyping technology that uses a 3D model file as a basis and uses a powder-like metal bondable material to construct an object by layer-by-layer printing. After the connecting member 236 is machined to be shaped to fit the gap space 235, the connecting member 236 is disposed in the gap space 235.

[0115] When the connecting member 236 is made of a material other than glue, after the connecting member 236 is disposed in the gap space 235, in some embodiments, the connecting member 236 is connected to the shaft cover 232 and the rotating shaft base 231 by interference fit to fix the connecting member 236 in the gap space 235. In other embodiments, the connecting member 236 can also be fixed in the gap space 235 by bonding.

[0116] From the above, the material of the connecting piece 236 includes multiple types, and the connecting piece 236 can be arranged between the shaft cover 232 and the shaft base 231 through different process flows according to different materials of the connecting piece 236. In actual application, different materials and processing technologies can be selected according to different application scenarios and processing conditions, and the selectivity of the material and processing technology of the connecting piece 236 is high, which is convenient for production and processing.

[0117] Referring back to FIG. 3, the third side plate 2322c of the shaft cover 232 is close to the first housing 21, and the fourth side plate 2322d of the shaft cover 232 is close to the second housing 22. When the electronic device 100 is in the folded state, at least part of the third side plate 2322c is wrapped by the first housing 21, and at least part of the fourth side plate 2322d is wrapped by the second housing 22. The first side plate 2322a and the second side plate 2322b of the shaft cover 232 are usually exposed outside the first housing 21 and the second housing 22. When the electronic device 100 falls or collides, the first side plate 2322a and the second side plate 2322b of the shaft cover 232 are at greater risk of stress deformation.

[0118] Therefore, in order to improve the processing efficiency of the shaft mechanism 23, the connecting piece 236 can be arranged only in the first gap 2351 and the second gap 2352, that is, between the first side plate 2322a and the first end surface M21, and between the second side plate 2322b and the second end surface M22. The connecting piece 236 is arranged only in the gap space 235 where the shaft cover 232 is at greater risk of deformation, and the connecting piece 236 is not arranged in the gap space 235 where the shaft cover 232 is at less risk of deformation. In this way, the risk of deformation of the shaft cover 232 can be reduced, and the processing efficiency of the shaft cover 232 can be improved.

[0119] Referring back to FIG. 2, in any of the above embodiments, the first housing 21 can include a first middle frame 211 and a first back cover 212 connected together. The first display part 11 of the folding screen 10 is carried on the first middle frame 211, and the first middle frame 211 is arranged around the outer edge of the first display part 11 to protect and support the first display part 11.

[0120] The first back cover 212 is located on the side of the first middle frame 211 away from the first display part 11, and the first back cover 212 can be replaced by a folding screen (such as an LCD folding screen).

[0121] The first middle frame 211 and the first back cover 212 form a receiving cavity for accommodating electronic components such as a main board, a camera module, a battery, and the like. On this basis, the first shell 21 can be connected to the hinge mechanism 23 by means of the first middle frame 211, or can be connected to the hinge mechanism 23 by means of the first back cover 212. The following embodiments are described by taking the first shell 21 connected to the hinge mechanism 23 by means of the first middle frame 211 as an example.

[0122] Similarly, the second shell 22 can also include a second middle frame 221 and a second back cover 222 connected together, and the second display part 12 of the foldable screen 10 is carried on the second middle frame 221, and the second middle frame 211 is arranged around the outer edge of the second display part 11 to play a protective supporting role for the second display part 11.

[0123] The second back cover 222 is located on the side of the second middle frame 221 away from the second display part 12, and the second back cover 222 can also be replaced by a foldable screen (such as an LCD foldable screen). The second middle frame 221 and the second back cover 222 form a receiving cavity for accommodating electronic components such as a sub-board, a speaker module, an array, a battery, and the like. On this basis, the second shell 22 can be connected to the hinge mechanism 23 by means of the second middle frame 221, or can be connected to the hinge mechanism 23 by means of the second back cover 222. The following embodiments are described by taking the second shell 22 connected to the hinge mechanism 23 by means of the second middle frame 221 as an example.

[0124] From the above, it can be seen that the edges of the first display part 11 are supported and protected by the first middle frame 211, and the edges of the second display part 12 are supported and protected by the second middle frame 221. Please refer to FIG. 17, which is a structural diagram of the hinge mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 2 viewed from an S2 perspective, which is the top view in FIG. 2. In order to facilitate the installation of the hinge base 231, the thickness of the first side plate 2322a and the second side plate 2322b of the shaft cover 232 along the length direction is usually smaller than the thickness of the first shell 21, and smaller than the thickness of the second shell 22. As shown in FIG. 17, in the thickness direction of the hinge mechanism 23, the thickness difference between the shaft cover 232 and the first shell 21 is L1. In this way, when the electronic device 100 is in an unfolded state, the first side plate 2322a and the second side plate 2322b cannot support the edges of the third display part 13.

[0125] Please refer back to FIG. 4. In order to improve the stability of the foldable screen 10, the hinge mechanism 23 further includes a first limiting piece 237 connected to the side plate 2322. Specifically, the first limiting piece 237 can be connected to the first side plate 2322a, that is, the first limiting piece 237 is connected to one end of the shaft cover 232 along the length direction.

[0126] Please refer to FIG. 16, which is another enlarged view of position B in the hinge mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 6. The first side plate 2322a has a second top surface M32 facing away from the bottom plate 2321, and at least part of the first limiting member 237 protrudes from the second top surface M32. In some embodiments, in the unfolded state of the electronic device 100, the surface of the first limiting member 237 facing away from the second top surface M32 can be flush with the surface of the first middle frame 211 facing away from the first back cover 212, or in other words, the surface of the first limiting member 237 facing away from the second top surface M32 can be flush with the surface of the second middle frame 221 facing away from the second back cover 222.

[0127] In this way, the first limiting member 237 is arranged at the outer edge of the third display part 13 in the length direction, and plays a supporting and protecting role for the third display part 13 of the foldable screen 10, thereby improving the stability of the display screen. Moreover, the first limiting member 237 is connected to the first side plate 2322a, and as mentioned above, the first side plate 2322a is connected to the hinge base 231 through the connecting member 236. When the electronic device 100 falls or collides, the first side plate 2322a has high structural strength, reducing the risk of deformation of the first side plate 2322a due to stress impact. The first limiting member 237 is connected to the first side plate 2322a, further reducing the risk of deformation of the first limiting member 237 due to stress impact, thereby ensuring the overall stability of the hinge mechanism 23.

[0128] Please refer back to FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the hinge mechanism 23 further comprises a second limiting member 238 connected to the side plate 2322. Specifically, the second limiting member 238 can be connected to the second side plate 2322b, that is, the second limiting member 238 is connected to one end of the shaft cover 232 in the length direction. The second side plate 2322b has a third top surface facing away from the bottom plate 2321, and at least part of the second limiting member 238 protrudes from the third top surface.

[0129] In some embodiments, in the unfolded state of the electronic device 100, the surface of the second limiting member 238 facing away from the third top surface can be flush with the surface of the first middle frame 211 facing away from the first back cover 212, or in other words, the surface of the second limiting member 238 facing away from the third top surface can be flush with the surface of the second middle frame 221 facing away from the second back cover 222.

[0130] In this way, the first housing 21, the hinge mechanism 23, the first limiting member 237, the second limiting member 238, and the second housing 22 are arranged around the outer edge of the foldable screen 10, forming a full range of supporting and protecting effect for the foldable screen 10, further improving the stability of the foldable screen 10.

[0131] The structure of the first limiting member 237 is the same as that of the second limiting member 238. The structure of the first limiting member 237 is taken as an example for description below.

[0132] When the electronic device 100 switches between the unfolded state and the folded state, the third display part 13 is the part of the folding screen 10 that is bent, and thus, the third display part 13 is at risk of warping, i.e., the third display part 13 is separated from the hinge mechanism 23, under repeated bending of the folding screen 10. To avoid the risk of warping of the third display part 13 after repeated bending, the connection strength of the third display part 13 and the hinge mechanism 23 can be improved.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 18, which is a partial schematic view of the hinge mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the first limiting member 237 can include a limiting part 2371 and an extension part 2372. The limiting part 2371 is connected to the side plate 2322, and at least part of the limiting part 2371 protrudes from the second top surface M32. The extension part 2372 is connected to one end of the limiting part 2371 that is away from the second top surface M32, and the extension part 2372 is arranged spaced apart from the second top surface M32. The extension part 2372 and the second top surface M32 define a receiving space Q1, and at least part of the third display part 13 can be arranged in the receiving space.

[0134] In this way, the limiting part 2371 is used to support and protect the outer edge of the third display part 13, and the extension part 2372 is arranged on the light-emitting surface of the third display part 13, which limits the light-emitting side of the third display part 13 to improve the connection strength of the third display part 13 and the hinge mechanism 23, and avoid the risk of warping of the third display part 13 after repeated bending of the folding screen 10.

[0135] It is worth noting that the folding screen 10 includes a display area and a non-display area arranged at the edge of the display area, and the non-display area is usually used to realize the wire-out electrical connection function of the folding screen 10. Therefore, in order to avoid the influence of the extension part 2372 on the display area of the folding screen 10, the extension part 2372 can be arranged in the non-display area of the folding screen 10. In this way, the first limiting member 237 can not only play a supporting and protecting role for the third display part 13, but also does not affect the display function of the third display part 13.

[0136] In some embodiments, the arrangement direction of the first side wall surface M11 and the first end surface M21 is the first direction, i.e., the Y-axis direction in FIG. 16, and the extension direction of the limiting part 2371 is perpendicular to the first direction. That is, the limiting part 2371 is arranged perpendicular to the bottom plate 2321. In this way, the limiting part 2371 is convenient to adhere to the third display part 13, and the limiting part 2371 provides better support and protection for the third display part 13.

[0137] Referring to FIG. 19, FIG. 19 is a partial schematic view of the shaft cover 232 in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, in order to improve the connection strength between the first limiting member 237 and the first side plate 2322a, the connection area between the first limiting member 237 and the first side plate 2322a can be increased. Specifically, the first side plate 2322a has a groove 2322a1 recessed from the second top surface M32 to the bottom plate 2321, and at least part of the limiting portion 2371 is arranged in the groove 2322a1. In this way, without increasing the thickness of the first side plate 2322a, the connection area between the limiting portion 2371 and the first side plate 2322a is increased, thereby improving the connection strength between the first limiting member 237 and the first side plate 2322a and improving the stability of the rotating shaft mechanism 23.

[0138] Referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, FIG. 20 is a structural schematic view of the first limiting member 237 in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 18. In some embodiments, the groove 2322a1 includes a first inner wall surface M41 and a second inner wall surface M42 opposite in the first direction, and the limiting portion 2371 includes a first surface M51 and a second surface M52 opposite in the first direction. In some embodiments, the first surface M51 faces the first inner wall surface M41, the first surface M51 is provided with a first protruding portion (not shown in the figure), the first protruding portion is in contact with the first inner wall surface M41, and the second surface M52 is in contact with the second inner wall surface M42.

[0139] The first protruding portion can limit the installation of the first limiting member 237, that is, the limiting of the first limiting member 237 in the first direction. The first protruding portion is in contact with the first inner wall surface M41 to limit one end of the first limiting member 237 in the first direction, and the second surface M52 can be in contact with the second inner wall surface M42 to limit the other end of the first limiting member 237 in the first direction.

[0140] In other embodiments, the second surface M52 is provided with a second protruding portion 2373, the second protruding portion 2373 is in contact with the second inner wall surface M42, and the first surface M51 is in contact with the first inner wall surface M41.

[0141] The second protruding portion 2373 can limit the installation of the first limiting member 237, that is, the limiting of the first limiting member 237 in the first direction. The second protruding portion 2373 is in contact with the second inner wall surface M42 to limit one end of the first limiting member 237 in the first direction, and the second surface M52 can be in contact with the first inner wall surface M41 to limit the other end of the first limiting member 237 in the first direction.

[0142] In some other embodiments, the first surface M51 faces the first inner wall surface M41, the first surface M51 is provided with a first protruding portion, the first protruding portion is in contact with the first inner wall surface M41, and the second surface M52 is provided with a second protruding portion 2373, the second protruding portion 2373 is in contact with the second inner wall surface M42. The first protruding portion and the second protruding portion 2373 jointly limit the installation of the first limiting piece 237, that is, the limiting of the first limiting piece 237 in the first direction. The first protruding portion is in contact with the first inner wall surface M41 to limit one end of the first limiting piece 237 in the first direction, and the second protruding portion 2373 is in contact with the second inner wall surface M42 to limit the other end of the first limiting piece 237 in the first direction.

[0143] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion 2373 limit the first limiting piece 237 in the first direction, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the first limiting piece 237 and the first side plate 2322a.

[0144] The first limiting piece 237 can be bonded in the groove 2322a1, the first surface M51 and the first inner wall surface M41 have a first glue space, the second surface M52 and the second inner wall surface M42 have a second glue space, and the glue material can be arranged in the first glue space and the second glue space. The first limiting piece 237 is bonded in the groove 2322a1 by the glue material.

[0145] Please refer to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, FIG. 21 is a side view of the first limiting piece 237 shown in FIG. 20. In some embodiments, the limiting portion 2371 further includes a fixed segment 2374, a connecting segment 2375 and a limiting segment 2376, the connecting segment 2375 is connected between the fixed segment 2374 and the limiting segment 2376, the fixed segment 2374 is accommodated in the groove 2322a1, and the first limiting piece 237 is connected in the groove 2322a1 by the fixed segment 2374. The above-mentioned glue material can be arranged between the fixed segment 2374 and the inner wall of the groove 2322a1 to bond the first limiting piece 237 to the first side plate 2322a.

[0146] Please refer to FIG. 22, FIG. 22 is another partial view of the rotation shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 4. The limiting segment 2376 is located on the side of the fixed segment 2374 away from the groove 2322a1, that is, the limiting segment 2376 is located outside the groove 2322a1, and the limiting segment 2376 supports the third display portion 13. The connecting segment 2375 is connected between the fixed segment 2374 and the limiting segment 2376, and the connecting segment 2375 is supported on the second top surface M32. The first limiting piece 237 is limited in the thickness direction of the rotation shaft mechanism 23 by the connecting segment 2375, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the first limiting piece 237 and the first side plate 2322a.

[0147] Please refer back to FIG. 19, the first side plate 2322a has a notch 2322a2, the notch 2322a2 is recessed from the second top surface M32 to the bottom plate 2321, and the notch 2322a2 penetrates the inner wall surface of the groove 2322a1. The connecting section 2375 can be arranged in the notch 2322a2 to reduce the overall thickness of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 and ensure the thinness of the electronic device 100.

[0148] Please refer to FIG. 23, which is a structural schematic diagram of the first limiting piece 237 provided in some embodiments of the present application. In order to increase the area of the first limiting piece 237 for supporting the third display part 13 and improve the stability of the first limiting piece 237 supporting the third display part 13, the first limiting piece 237 further includes a flexible connecting piece 240 connected to the extension part 2372. The flexible connecting piece 240, the extension part 2372, and the limiting part 2371 can be an integral structure, and the first limiting piece 237 can be made by an injection molding process.

[0149] Please refer to FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, FIG. 24 is a structural schematic diagram of the first limiting piece 237 in an unfolded state, and FIG. 25 is a structural schematic diagram of the first limiting piece 237 in a folded state. When the electronic device 100 is in an unfolded state, the surface of the flexible connecting piece 240 facing the third display part 13 is a flat surface to support the third display part 13. When the electronic device 100 is in a folded state, the flexible connecting piece 240 is in a U shape, also known as a water drop shape, to adapt to the deformation of the third display part 13 in the folded state.

[0150] In some embodiments, the limiting part 2371 further includes a reinforcing part embedded in the limiting part 2371 and / or the surface of the body. The rigidity of the reinforcing part is greater than that of the limiting part 2371. In this way, the structural strength of the limiting part 2371 is improved by the reinforcing degree, and the overall stability of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 is further improved.

[0151] The rotating shaft mechanism 23 can further include some transmission mechanisms connected to the rotating shaft base 231, such as a gear mechanism for realizing rotation, a swing arm 239 mechanism for realizing swing, etc. The rotating shaft base 231 can be provided with a groove 2322a1 or a connecting hole, a connecting slot, etc. structure for mounting the above-mentioned transmission mechanism. In addition, the above-mentioned rotating shaft base 231 can include a plurality of sub-components, and the above-mentioned plurality of sub-components are buckled to each other in different directions to splice into the rotating shaft base 231. Alternatively, the rotating shaft base 231 can be a separate component. The present application does not limit the structure of the rotating shaft base 231 and the above-mentioned transmission mechanism, and the connection mode of the rotating shaft base 231 and the transmission mechanism.

[0152] Based on the above design idea, how to improve the stability of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 when the rotating shaft mechanism 23 falls or collides. Some embodiments of the application also have a structure on the swing arm 239 to improve the stability of the rotating shaft mechanism 23. Please refer to Figure 26, which is a partial view of the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in Figure 4. Specifically, the rotating shaft mechanism 23 further includes a first swing arm 239a and a second swing arm 239b, which are rotatably connected to the two sides of the rotating shaft base 231. Since the first swing arm 239a and the second swing arm 239b have the same structure, and the connection mode of the first swing arm 239a and the rotating shaft base 231 and the connection mode of the second swing arm 239b and the rotating shaft base 231 are the same, the application will take the structure of the first swing arm 239a and the connection mode of the first swing arm 239a and the rotating shaft base 231 as an example for description.

[0153] Please refer to Figure 26 and Figure 27, which is a structure diagram of the first swing arm 239a in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in Figure 26. The first swing arm 239a includes a body 2390, a sliding part 2391 and a stop block 2392. The body 2390 is used to connect with the first shell 21, and the body 2390 can be directly connected to the first shell 21, or can be connected to the first shell 21 by means of other structural members, such as door panels, wedge-shaped blocks, etc. In some embodiments, the sliding part 2391 is provided at both ends of the body 2390 along the length direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 23, and in other embodiments, the sliding part 2391 can also be provided at the central region of the body 2390, where the "central region of the body" refers to the position between the two ends of the body 2390 along the length direction of the rotating shaft mechanism 23.

[0154] The stop block 2392 is provided at the end of the sliding part 2391 close to the rotating shaft base 231, and the stop block 2392 protrudes from the surface of the sliding part 2391 facing the rotating shaft base 231. In some embodiments, the sliding part 2391 includes a first sliding part 2391a and a second sliding part 2391b, and the first sliding part 2391a and the second sliding part 2391b are respectively located at both ends of the body 2390 along the length direction. Similarly, the stop block 2392 includes a first stop block 2392a and a second stop block 2392b, and the first stop block 2392a is provided on the first sliding part 2391a, and the second stop block 2392a is provided on the second sliding part 2391b.

[0155] Please refer to FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, FIG. 28 is a structural schematic diagram of the rotating shaft base 231 in the rotating shaft mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 26; FIG. 29 is a structural schematic diagram of the lower base 2315 in the rotating shaft base 231 shown in FIG. 28. The rotating shaft base 231 includes the upper base 2314 and the lower base 2315, and the sliding rail 2313 for cooperating with the swing arm 239 is formed between the upper base 2314 and the lower base 2315. Hereinafter, the sliding rail 2313 will be introduced by taking the lower base 2315 as an example. The sliding rail 2313 extends in an arc shape in the rotating shaft base 231 to adapt to the rotating track of the swing arm 239.

[0156] The sliding rail 2313 includes the first end 2313a and the second end 2313b in the sliding direction of the sliding part 2391. When the rotating shaft mechanism 23 is in the folded state, the end of the sliding part 2391 is in contact with the first end 2313a. When the rotating shaft mechanism 23 is in the unfolded state, the end of the sliding part 2391 is in contact with the second end 2313b.

[0157] The sliding rail 2313 has the stop part 2313c which is arranged on at least one of the first end 2313a and the second end 2313b. In some embodiments, the stop part 2313c is arranged only on the first end 2313a. In some embodiments, the stop part 2313c is arranged only on the second end 2313b. In some embodiments, the number of the stop part 2313c is two, and the two stop parts 2313c are arranged on the first end 2313a and the second end 2313b respectively. The present embodiment will be described by taking the example that the stop part 2313c is arranged only on the first end 2313a.

[0158] Please continue to refer to FIG. 29. The stop part 2313c is a structure which protrudes from the end of the sliding rail 2313 to the upper base 2314, and plays a stop role for the rotation of the swing arm 239 to avoid the swing arm 239 from continuing to rotate after rotating to the limit position. The area of the lower base 2315 opposite to the stop part 2313c can be a through hole structure or a groove structure. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 29, the sliding rail 2313 includes the first sliding rail 2315a and the second sliding rail 2315b, the first sliding part 2391a is arranged at the first sliding rail 2315a, and the second sliding part 2391b is arranged at the second sliding rail 2315b. One end of the first sliding rail 2315a adjacent to the stop part 2313c can be provided with a through hole, and one end of the second sliding rail 2315b adjacent to the stop part 2313c can be provided with a groove.

[0159] Please refer to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, FIG. 30 is a structure schematic diagram of the hinge mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 26 along the line C-C; FIG. 31 is a structure schematic diagram of the hinge mechanism 23 shown in FIG. 26 in the unfolded state. The sliding part 2391 is slidingly connected to the slide rail 2313, when the first swing arm 239a is in the folded state, the stop block 2391a cooperates with the stop part 2313c, here "cooperates" means that the stop block 2391a abuts against the stop part 2313c, so as to avoid the first swing arm 239a from being pulled out of the slide rail 2313, and further ensure the accuracy of the rotation of the hinge mechanism 23. Moreover, when the electronic device 100 falls or collides, the first swing arm 239a is not easy to be pulled out of the slide rail 2313 when the hinge mechanism 23 is subjected to external force, and the support and protection effect of the hinge mechanism 23 on the folding screen 10 can also be ensured.

[0160] In the description of the present specification, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0161] Finally, it should be noted that: the above examples are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and not to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing examples, those skilled in the art should understand: it can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent replacement for part of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A rotation shaft mechanism characterized by comprising: The shaft cover comprises a bottom plate and a side plate arranged at the edge of the bottom plate, and a mounting cavity is defined between the bottom plate and the side plate, the side plate comprises a first side wall surface facing the mounting cavity; The shaft base is arranged at least partially in the mounting cavity, the shaft base comprises a first end surface, the first end surface is arranged opposite to the first side wall surface, and the first end surface and the first side wall surface have a first gap therebetween; The connecting piece comprises a first part, the first part is arranged in the first gap, and two ends of the first part are connected to the first side wall surface and the first end surface respectively. The Young's modulus of the connecting piece is greater than or equal to 100 MPa.

2. The rotation shaft mechanism according to claim 1, wherein The bottom plate has a first top surface facing into the mounting cavity, the shaft base has a first bottom surface facing the bottom plate, and the first top surface and the first bottom surface have a fifth gap therebetween; 3. A pivot mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that The connecting piece further comprises a fifth part, the fifth part is arranged in the fifth gap, and two ends of the fifth part are connected to the first top surface and the first bottom surface respectively. The first part and the fifth part are an integral structure.

4. The rotation shaft mechanism according to claim 3, wherein The shaft mechanism further comprises a first limiting piece, the first limiting piece is connected to the side plate, the side plate has a second top surface facing away from the bottom plate, and at least part of the first limiting piece protrudes from the second top surface.

5. A pivot mechanism according to claim 3 or 4, wherein The first limiting piece comprises:

6. The rotation shaft mechanism according to claim 5, wherein A limiting part connected to the side plate, and at least part of the limiting part protrudes from the second top surface; An extension part connected to one end of the limiting part away from the second top surface, and the extension part is arranged spaced apart from the second top surface. The arrangement direction of the first side wall surface and the first end surface is a first direction, and the extension direction of the limiting part is perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The rotation axis mechanism according to claim 6, wherein The side plate has a groove recessed from the second top surface to the bottom plate, and at least part of the limiting part is arranged in the groove.

8. A pivot mechanism according to claim 6 or 7, wherein The groove comprises a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface opposite in the first direction, and the limiting part comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite in the first direction; 9. The rotation shaft mechanism according to claim 8, wherein The first surface faces the first inner wall surface, the first surface is provided with a first protruding part in contact with the first inner wall surface, and / or the second surface is provided with a second protruding part in contact with the second inner wall surface. The limiting part further comprises a fixed segment, a connecting segment and a limiting segment, the connecting segment is connected between the fixed segment and the limiting segment, the fixed segment is accommodated in the groove, the limiting segment is located on one side of the fixed segment away from the mounting cavity, and the connecting segment is supported on the second top surface.

10. The rotation shaft mechanism according to claim 9, wherein The limiting part further comprises a reinforcing part embedded in the body and / or the surface of the body, and the rigidity of the reinforcing part is greater than the rigidity of the body.

11. A pivot mechanism according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein, The arrangement direction of the first side wall surface and the first end surface is the length direction of the shaft cover.

12. The revolute mechanism according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein The material of the connecting piece comprises one of glue material, foam and metal.

13. The revolute mechanism according to any one of claims 1-12, wherein The shaft mechanism further comprises a first swing arm, the first swing arm comprises a sliding part having a stop block; 14. The revolute mechanism according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein, ​ The rotating shaft base comprises a sliding rail, the sliding part is slidingly connected to the sliding rail, the sliding rail comprises a first end and a second end along the sliding direction of the sliding part, the sliding rail has a stop part, the stop part is arranged on at least one of the first end and the second end; The first swing arm switches between the unfolded state and the folded state relative to the rotating shaft base, and the stop block cooperates with the stop part when the first swing arm is in the unfolded state and / or the folded state.

15. The rotation mechanism according to claim 14, wherein The sliding part comprises a first sliding part and a second sliding part, the first sliding part and the second sliding part are arranged at two ends along the length direction of the rotating shaft mechanism; The sliding rail comprises a first sliding rail and a second sliding rail, the first sliding part is slidingly connected to the first sliding rail, and the second sliding part is slidingly connected to the second sliding rail.

16. An electronic device, comprising: Comprise: A first housing and a second housing; A rotating shaft mechanism, the rotating shaft mechanism is described in any one of claims 1-15, the first housing and the second housing are rotatably connected to opposite sides of the rotating shaft base; A folding screen, comprising a first display part, a second display part and a third display part, the third display part is connected between the first display part and the second display part; the first display part is supported on the first housing, the second display part is supported on the second housing, and the third display part is supported on the rotating shaft mechanism.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein, The rotating shaft mechanism further comprises a first limiting piece, the side plate has a second top surface facing away from the bottom plate, the rotating shaft mechanism further comprises a first limiting piece, the first limiting piece comprises: A limiting part, the limiting part is connected to the side plate, and at least part of the limiting part protrudes from the second top surface, the limiting part contacts at least part of the peripheral surface of the third display part; An extension part, the extension part is connected to one end of the limiting part away from the second top surface, and the extension part is arranged in a spaced manner with the second top surface, the extension part contacts at least part of the light emitting surface of the third display part.

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