Hinge structure and foldable display device

By designing a rotating mechanism, support plate, and sliding block in the hinge structure to adjust the sliding amount, the problem of mismatch in motion trajectory when the double-sided foldable display device is folded inward or outward is solved, achieving the optimal bending stress in different folding states and avoiding the arching and stretching of the flexible display panel.

WO2026051184A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-03-12WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-11-01
Publication Date
2026-03-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing foldable display devices that can be folded on both sides have different bending radii when folded inward or outward, which causes the hinge structure's movement trajectory to be mismatched, resulting in problems such as arching or pulling.

Method used

Design a hinge structure including a rotating mechanism, a support plate, a sliding plate, and a sliding block. Adjust the sliding amount of the sliding plate by adjusting the sliding amount of the sliding block, so that the motion trajectory of the hinge structure matches the bending motion of the folding display device. Use a compensation mechanism to adjust the sliding compensation amount of the sliding plate separately during inward and outward folding processes.

Benefits of technology

It effectively improves the bending stress state of foldable display devices when folded outwards and inwards, avoids the arching and stretching of flexible display panels, and ensures that the optimal bending stress can be maintained in different folding states.

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Abstract

A hinge structure (100), the hinge structure (100) comprising: a rotating mechanism (1), two support plates (2), two sliding plates (30), and a plurality of sliding blocks (21). The two support plates (2) are respectively rotatably connected to two sides of the rotating mechanism (1). The two sliding plates (30) are respectively slidably connected to the side of each of the two support plates (2) away from the rotating mechanism (1). At least one sliding block (21) is provided on each support plate (2), the sliding block (21) is slidably connected to the corresponding support plate (2), and each sliding block (21) is further movably connected between the rotating mechanism (1) and the corresponding sliding plate (30). The hinge structure (100) has a first folded state and a second folded state. The sliding amount of the sliding blocks (21) in the first folded state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding blocks (21) in the second folded state, and the sliding amount of the sliding plates (30) in the first folded state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding plates (30) in the second folded state. In this way, the sliding blocks (21) are designed to be movably connected to the sliding plates (30) on the support plates (2), and the sliding compensation amount of the sliding plates (30) is adjusted by means of the sliding amount of the sliding blocks (21). The present invention further relates to a foldable display device.
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Description

Hinge structure and folding display device TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of display, in particular to a hinge structure and a folding display device. BACKGROUND

[0002] At present, foldable display devices have become a major development direction of the display industry. The foldable display device usually adopts a hinge structure to realize the folding of a flexible display panel. The hinge structure, as an important component of the foldable display device, plays an important role in protecting the flexible display panel, folding synchronization and the like. In order to solve the problem that the surface of the hinge structure does not match the size of the flexible display panel before and after folding of the foldable display device, a support plate avoidance mechanism is usually designed in the hinge structure of the inner folding display device. The avoidance movement of the support plate leaves enough accommodation space for the flexible display panel in the folded state, and makes the flexible display panel form a "water drop type" in the bending area. In the hinge structure of the outer folding display device, the surface of the hinge structure in contact with the flexible display panel needs to be always matched to achieve the effect of neither pulling nor pressing the flexible screen.

[0003] With the development of display technology, a foldable display device capable of folding on both sides appears. The foldable display device capable of folding on both sides can be folded inward and outward. However, when the foldable display device capable of folding on both sides is folded inward or outward, since the bending radii of the flexible display panel are not the same, correspondingly, the hinge structure also needs to have different movement trajectories. In this way, when the inward folding trajectory of the foldable display device is reasonable, the flexible display panel will appear to be arched when the foldable display device is converted from the inward folding state to the outward folding state. When the outward folding trajectory of the foldable display device is reasonable, the flexible display panel will be pulled when the foldable display device is converted from the outward folding state to the inward folding state. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application provides a hinge structure and a folding display device to alleviate the technical problem of arching when folding outward and pulling when folding inward of the existing folding display device.

[0005] The technical solutions provided by the present application are as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a hinge structure, which comprises a rotating mechanism, two support plates, two sliding plates and a plurality of sliding blocks. The two support plates are respectively rotationally connected to the two sides of the rotating mechanism. The two sliding plates are respectively slidingly connected to the sides of the two support plates away from the rotating mechanism. At least one sliding block is arranged on each support plate. The sliding block is slidingly connected with the corresponding support plate. Each sliding block is further movably connected between the rotating mechanism and the corresponding sliding plate.

[0007] The hinge structure has a first bending state and a second bending state, a sliding amount of the sliding block in the first bending state is less than a sliding amount of the sliding block in the second bending state, and a sliding amount of the sliding plate in the first bending state is less than a sliding amount of the sliding plate in the second bending state.

[0008] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a folding display device, comprising:

[0009] a flexible display panel;

[0010] a hinge structure located at one side of the flexible display panel, the hinge structure comprising the hinge structure according to any one of the preceding embodiments;

[0011] two middle frames located at the one side of the flexible display panel and fixedly connected with the flexible display panel, and the two middle frames are fixedly connected to two sides of the hinge structure respectively. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative labor based on these drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a partially exploded schematic view of a folding display device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a partial detail structure of the folding display device in Fig. 1.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a partial back structure of the hinge structure in Fig. 2.

[0016] Fig. 4 is a partially exploded schematic view of the hinge structure in Fig. 3.

[0017] Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a partial detail structure of the hinge structure in Fig. 4.

[0018] Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a partial front structure of the hinge structure in Fig. 2.

[0019] Fig. 7 is a partially exploded schematic view of the hinge structure in Fig. 6.

[0020] Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a partial detail structure of the hinge structure in Fig. 7.

[0021] Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a detail structure of a compensation structure in Fig. 7.

[0022] Fig. 10 is a schematic view of a detail structure of a cover plate in Fig. 9.

[0023] Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a detailed structure of the sliding block in Fig. 9.

[0024] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of a detailed structure of another side of the sliding block in Fig. 11.

[0025] Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of a detailed structure of the support plate in Fig. 7.

[0026] Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the hinge structure in Fig. 3 in a flattened state.

[0027] Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the hinge structure in Fig. 14 in a first bent state.

[0028] Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the hinge structure in Fig. 14 in a second bent state.

[0029] Legend of reference signs:

[0030] 100, hinge structure; 200, flexible display panel; 300, middle frame;

[0031] 1, rotating mechanism; 2, support plate; 3, compensation mechanism;

[0032] 10, connecting rod mechanism; 11, sliding member; 12, first connecting member;

[0033] 20, swing rod mechanism; 21, sliding block; 22, swing rod; 23, cover plate;

[0034] 30, sliding plate;

[0035] 40, second connecting member; 41, third connecting member; 42, first rotating shaft; 43, fixed support;

[0036] 111, first connecting part; 112, limiting part;

[0037] 201, first sliding groove; 202, second sliding groove; 203, third sliding groove; 204, limiting groove;

[0038] 210, first track groove; 211, second connecting part;

[0039] 221, second track groove; 222, third connecting part;

[0040] 230, notch; 231, arc-shaped groove;

[0041] 301, third track groove;

[0042] 2101, first sub-groove; 2102, second sub-groove. Embodiments of the present application

[0043] The following description of the embodiments is provided as an example to illustrate the specific embodiments that can be used to implement the present application. The directional terms mentioned in the present application, such as [up], [down], [front], [back], [left], [right], [inward], [outward], [side] and the like, are only the directions of the attached drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are used to illustrate and understand the present application, and not to limit the present application. In the drawings, similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity of understanding and ease of description. That is, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0044] In view of the problems of folding display devices, the present application provides a hinge structure and a folding display device.

[0045] Please refer to FIGS. 1-16, FIG. 1 is a partially exploded schematic view of a folding display device provided by an embodiment of the present application, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a partial detail structure of the folding display device in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a partial back structure of the hinge structure in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a partially exploded schematic view of the hinge structure in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a partial detail structure of the hinge structure in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a partial front structure of the hinge structure in FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a partially exploded schematic view of the hinge structure in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a partial detail structure of the hinge structure in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a detail structure of a compensation structure in FIG. 7, FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a detail structure of a cover plate in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a detail structure of a sliding block in FIG. 9, FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a detail structure of another side of the sliding block in FIG. 11, FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a detail structure of a support plate in FIG. 7, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the hinge structure in FIG. 3 in a flat state, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the hinge structure in FIG. 14 in a first bending state, and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the hinge structure in FIG. 14 in a second bending state.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the folding display device includes a hinge structure 100 and a flexible display panel 200, and the hinge structure 100 is located on one side of the flexible display panel 200. The flexible display panel 200 includes an organic light emitting diode display (OLED) panel or the like, and can include a flexible substrate, a driving circuit layer, a light emitting functional layer, an encapsulation layer, and the like, which are sequentially stacked on the flexible substrate. It can be understood that the flexible display panel 200 of the present application can include each functional structure of a conventional OLED, which will not be described here.

[0047] The OLED panel has advantages of flexibility, wearability and the like, so that the flexible display panel 200 can be bent, folded and rolled along with the hinge 100, and the flexible display panel 200 can be bent, folded and rolled. The embodiment of the present application takes the flexible display panel 200 as an example for illustration. The flexible display panel 200 has a folding area, and the hinge 100 is arranged corresponding to the folding area. The folding display device can be folded by the hinge structure 100, and the hinge structure 100 is folded along the bending axis.

[0048] The folding display device further comprises two middle frames 300 fixedly connected with the flexible display panel 200, and the middle frames 300 are located on the same side of the flexible display panel 200 as the hinge structure 100. The two middle frames 300 are fixedly connected to the two sides of the hinge structure 100 respectively. The two middle frames 300 and the hinge structure 100 bear the flexible display panel 200 together. Optionally, the folding display device comprises a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wearable electronic device and the like.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, the hinge structure 100 comprises a rotating mechanism 1, two support plates 2, two sliding plates 30 and a plurality of sliding blocks 21. The two support plates 2 are respectively rotatably connected to the two sides of the rotating mechanism 1, and the two support plates 2 are respectively slidably connected with the corresponding middle frames 300. The two sliding plates 30 are respectively slidably connected to the sides of the two support plates 2 away from the rotating mechanism 1, and the two sliding plates 30 are respectively fixedly connected with the corresponding middle frames 300, and the flexible display panel 200 is also fixedly connected with the middle frames 300, so that the sliding of the sliding plates 30 can drive the middle frames 300 to slide relative to the support plates 2, and further drive the flexible display panel 200 to move to form sliding compensation, thereby ensuring that the bending stress of the flexible display panel 200 is within a safe range.

[0050] Each of the support plates 2 is provided with at least one sliding block 21, and the sliding block 21 is slidably connected with the corresponding support plate 2. Each of the sliding blocks 21 is further movably connected between the rotating mechanism 1 and the corresponding sliding plate 30, that is, each of the sliding blocks 21 is movably connected with the rotating mechanism 1 and the corresponding sliding plate 30.

[0051] The hinge structure 100 has a first bending state, a second bending state and a flat state. The first bending state is an outer bending state, and the second bending state is an inner bending state. When the hinge structure 100 is in the first bending state, the folding display device is in the outer bending state, and at this time, the flexible display panel 200 surrounds the hinge structure 100, so that the hinge structure 100 is located in the space formed by folding the flexible display panel 200. When the hinge structure 100 is in the second bending state, the folding display device is in the inner bending state, and at this time, the hinge structure 100 surrounds the bending part of the flexible display panel 200, so that the bending part of the flexible display panel 200 is located in the space formed by folding the hinge structure 100. When the hinge structure 100 is in the flat state, the folding display device is in the flat state, and the flexible display panel 200 is also in the flat state.

[0052] The sliding amount of the sliding block 21 in the first bending state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding block 21 in the second bending state, and the sliding amount of the sliding plate 30 in the first bending state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding plate 30 in the second bending state. In this way, by designing the sliding block 21 movably connected with the sliding plate 30 on the support plate 2, and adjusting the sliding compensation amount of the sliding plate 30 through the sliding amount of the sliding block 21, the motion trajectory of the hinge structure 100 matches the bending motion of the folding display device, so that the folding display device can be adjusted to the optimal bending stress state in the outer bending and inner bending, and the problem of arching in the outer bending and pulling in the inner bending of the folding display device is improved. The sliding amount of the sliding block 21 in the first bending state refers to the sliding amount of the sliding block 21 when the hinge structure 100 is converted from the flat state to the first bending state. Correspondingly, the sliding amount of the sliding block 21 in the second bending state refers to the sliding amount of the sliding block 21 when the hinge structure 100 is converted from the flat state to the second bending state.

[0053] Optionally, the hinge structure 100 further comprises two compensation mechanisms 3, each of the compensation mechanisms 3 is arranged on the corresponding support plate 2 and is in sliding connection with the corresponding sliding block 21, each of the sliding blocks 21 is movably connected between the rotating mechanism 1 and the corresponding sliding plate 30 through the corresponding compensation mechanism 3, one end of each of the compensation mechanisms 3 is rotatably connected to the rotating mechanism 1, and the other end of each of the compensation mechanisms 3 is movably connected to the corresponding sliding plate 30.

[0054] The compensation mechanism 3 slides on the sliding block 21 along a first sliding track from the unfolded state to the first folded state of the hinge structure 100, and slides on the sliding block 21 along a second sliding track from the unfolded state to the second folded state of the hinge structure 100, and the included angle between the first sliding track and the second sliding track is less than 180 degrees. In this way, when the hinge structure 100 is folded inward and outward, the sliding compensation amount of the sliding plate 30 in the folding process of the hinge structure 100 can be adjusted separately by making the compensation mechanism 3 slide on the sliding block 21 along different sliding tracks, so that the movement track of the hinge structure 100 is more matched with the folding movement of the folding display device, and the folding display device can be further adjusted to the best state of bending stress when folded inward and outward, and the problem of outward folding arching and inward pulling of the folding display device is improved.

[0055] Specifically, the two compensation mechanisms 3 are respectively rotationally connected to the two sides of the rotation mechanism 1, and each compensation mechanism 3 is arranged on the corresponding support plate 2. The two compensation mechanisms 3 are symmetrically arranged about the rotation mechanism 1, and the two support plates 2 are also symmetrically arranged about the rotation mechanism 1. The support plate 2 is used to support the flexible display panel 200, so one side surface of the support plate 2 for supporting the flexible display panel 200 is a substantially flat surface, so as to better support the flexible display panel 200. The substantially flat surface is the front surface of the hinge structure 100, as shown in FIG. 6. The surface opposite to the front surface of the hinge structure 100 is the back surface of the hinge structure 100, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, each compensation mechanism 3 includes two symmetrically arranged linkage mechanisms 10 and two symmetrically arranged swing rod mechanisms 20. Each linkage mechanism 10 includes a sliding piece 11 slidingly connected to the corresponding support plate 2 near the side of the rotation mechanism 1, one end of the sliding piece 11 is rotationally connected to the rotation mechanism 1, and the other end of the sliding piece 11 is slidingly connected to the corresponding sliding block 21. The sliding plate 30 is arranged between the two symmetrically arranged swing rod mechanisms 20. Each swing rod mechanism 20 includes a swing rod 22 located between the sliding block 21 and the sliding piece 11, the swing rod 22 is slidingly connected to the corresponding sliding piece 11, one end of the swing rod 22 is rotationally connected to the sliding block 21, and the other end of the swing rod 22 is slidingly connected to the sliding plate 30.

[0057] The first connecting portion 111 is accommodated in and slides in the first track groove 210, and the first track groove 210 is a non-linear track groove. In this way, by designing the non-linear first track groove 210 on the sliding block 21, the sliding compensation amount of the sliding plate 30 in the folding and unfolding processes of the hinge structure 100 can be adjusted separately, so that the folding display device can be adjusted to the optimal bending stress state in the folding and unfolding processes, and the problems of arching in the unfolding process and pulling in the folding process of the folding display device are improved.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, the sliding block 21 is further provided with a second connecting portion 211, the second connecting portion 211 is located on the side of the first track groove 210 away from the sliding plate 30, and one end of the swing rod 22 is sleeved on the second connecting portion 211 and rotationally connected with the second connecting portion 211. Alternatively, the second connecting portion 211 is integrally provided with the sliding block 21, and the second connecting portion 211 is formed by a lug provided on the sliding block 21 and facing the side of the support plate 2, as shown in FIG. 11. One end of the swing rod 22 is provided with a first mounting hole, the second connecting portion 211 is accommodated in the first mounting hole, and the swing rod 22 can rotate around the second connecting portion 211, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0059] The swing rod 22 is provided with a second track groove 221, and the first connecting portion 111 is further accommodated in and slides in the second track groove 221. The second track groove 221 is located on the side of the second connecting portion 211 close to the sliding plate 30, the second track groove 221 is a linear track groove, and the extension direction of the second track groove 221 is different from the extension direction of the first track groove 210.

[0060] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, the swing lever 22 is further provided with a third connecting portion 222 located on the side of the second track groove 221 away from the second connecting portion 211, and the third connecting portion 222 is fixedly connected with the swing lever 22. The slide plate 30 is provided with a third track groove 301, the third connecting portion 222 is accommodated in and slides in the third track groove 301, the third track groove 301 is a straight track groove, the extending direction of the third track groove 301 is the same as the extending direction of the second track groove 221, and the extending direction of the third track groove 301 is parallel to the bending axis of the hinge structure 100. Each slide plate 30 is provided with two third track grooves 301, the two third track grooves 301 are located on the side of the slide plate 30 close to the rotating mechanism 1, and the two third track grooves 301 are symmetrically arranged about the first center line of the slide plate 30, and the first center line is perpendicular to the bending axis of the hinge structure 100.

[0061] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 13, each swing lever mechanism 20 further comprises a cover plate 23 fixedly connected with the corresponding support plate 2, the cover plate 23 is located on the side of the swing lever 22 away from the sliding piece 11, and the cover plate 23 is configured to form a first sliding groove 201 with the support plate 2, and the sliding block 21 is accommodated in and slides in the first sliding groove 201.

[0062] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, the cover plate 23 is further provided with a notch 230 located on the side of the cover plate 23 away from the slide plate 30, and the sliding block 21 is further located in the notch 230.

[0063] With reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the side of the cover plate 23 facing the support plate 2 is provided with an arc-shaped groove 231, the swing lever 22 is accommodated in and swings in the arc-shaped groove 231, and the arc-shaped groove 231 can define the swing range of the swing lever 22.

[0064] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 13, the cover plate 23 is further configured to form a second sliding groove 202 with the support plate 2, the slide plate 30 is accommodated in and slides in the second sliding groove 202, and the second sliding groove 202 is located between two adjacent first sliding grooves 201.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 13, the one side of the support plate 2 is provided with a third sliding groove 203, and the sliding piece 11 is accommodated in and slides in the third sliding groove 203, and the third sliding groove 203 is communicated with the first sliding groove 201.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the sliding piece 11 is further provided with a limiting part 112, which is located on the side of the first connecting part 111 close to the rotating mechanism 1; the support plate 2 is further provided with a limiting groove 204, which is communicated with the first sliding groove 201 and the third sliding groove 203, and the limiting groove 204 is matched with the limiting part 112 to avoid the sliding piece 11 from sliding out of the third sliding groove 203.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, each of the connecting rod mechanisms 10 further comprises at least two first connecting pieces 12, one end of the first connecting piece 12 is rotatably connected to the sliding piece 11 along a first axis, and the other end of the first connecting piece 12 is rotatably connected to the rotating mechanism 1. The support plate 2 is further provided with a plurality of second connecting pieces 40, one end of each of the second connecting pieces 40 is fixedly connected to the support plate 2, and the other end of the second connecting piece 40 is rotatably connected to the rotating mechanism 1 along a second axis. Wherein, the first axis and the second axis can be virtual axis or entity axis, and the axis line of the first axis is parallel to but not coincident with the axis line of the second axis. The axis line of the first axis and the axis line of the second axis are both parallel to the bending axis line of the hinge structure 100.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the rotating mechanism 1 comprises a plurality of third connecting pieces 41, two first rotating shafts 42 and two fixed supports 43. Each of the third connecting pieces 41 is rotatably connected between two adjacent second connecting pieces 40. Each of the third connecting pieces 41 is sleeved on the two first rotating shafts 42. Two fixed supports 43 are located at opposite ends of the first rotating shaft 42, and the first connecting piece 12 is rotatably connected to the fixed support 43. Of course, the rotating mechanism 1 further comprises positioning pieces, elastic pieces, synchronous pieces and other mechanism pieces, wherein the elastic pieces comprise springs and the like, and the synchronous pieces comprise gears and the like. In addition, the rotating mechanism 1 in the present application is not limited to the rotating mechanism shown in the drawings, and the rotating mechanism 1 in the present application can also be other types of rotating mechanisms.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 8, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the first track groove 210 comprises a first sub-groove 2101 and a second sub-groove 2102 which are in communication with each other, and the first sub-groove 2101 is located on the side of the second sub-groove 2102 close to the rotating mechanism 1. The extension directions of the first sub-groove 2101 and the second sub-groove 2102 are different, and the included angle between the first sub-groove 2101 and the second sub-groove 2102 is less than 180 degrees. Preferably, the included angle between the first sub-groove 2101 and the second sub-groove 2102 is greater than or equal to 120 degrees and less than 180 degrees. When the hinge structure 100 is in the first bending state, the first connecting part 111 is accommodated in the first sub-groove 2101; when the hinge structure 100 is in the second bending state, the first connecting part 111 is accommodated in the second sub-groove 2102. Among them, the first sub-groove 2101 corresponds to the first sliding track, and the second sub-groove 2102 corresponds to the second sliding track. That is, when the hinge structure 100 changes from the flat state to the first bending state, the first connecting part 111 on the compensation mechanism 3 slides in the first sub-groove 2101, and the sliding track of the first connecting part 111 in the first sub-groove 2101 is the first sliding track; when the hinge structure 100 changes from the flat state to the second bending state, the first connecting part 111 on the compensation mechanism 3 slides in the second sub-groove 2102, and the sliding track of the first connecting part 111 in the second sub-groove 2102 is the second sliding track.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinge structure 100 in the flat state. FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinge structure 100 in the outer bending state, in which the cover plates 23 on the two support plates 2 are close to each other, and the cover plates 23 on the two support plates 2 are located between the two sliding plates 30. FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinge structure 100 in the inner bending state, in which the two sliding plates 30 are located between the cover plates 23 on the two support plates 2.

[0071] The compensation mechanism 3 is driven by the rotating mechanism 1 when the hinge structure 100 is folded, and the connecting rod mechanism 10 converts the rotation of the rotating mechanism 1 into sliding. The support plate 2 is provided with a sliding block 21, and the sliding block 21 is provided with a first track groove 210, so that the middle rotating pair of the swing rod 22 in the swing rod mechanism 20 can slide along the first track groove 210, thereby changing the movement amount of the swing rod 22, and the swing rod 22 is connected with the sliding plate 30 and can indirectly adjust the sliding amount. Specifically, during the rotation of the rotating mechanism 1, the first connecting piece 12 rotates with the rotating mechanism 1, the first connecting piece 12 is rotationally connected with the sliding piece 11 to form a rotating pair, and the sliding piece 11 is slidingly connected with the support plate 2; at the same time, the support plate 2 is rotationally connected with the rotating mechanism 1, and when the support plate 2 rotates around the rotating mechanism 1, due to the non-concentric design of the first connecting piece 12, a crank slider mechanism is formed between the rotating mechanism 1, the first connecting piece 12, the sliding piece 11 and the support plate 2; when the sliding piece 11 slides in the support plate 2, the first connecting part 111 pushes the swing rod 22, and the swing rod 22 swings around the second connecting part 211, wherein the first connecting part 111 slides in the first track groove 210 during this process, the first track groove 210 is arranged on the sliding block 21, and the first connecting part 111 pushes the sliding block 21 to slide when moving, and the second connecting part 211 is fixedly connected with the sliding block 21, so that the sliding block 21 drives the second connecting part 211, thereby changing the distance between the first connecting part 111 and the third connecting part 222, the swing angle speed of the swing rod 22 around the second connecting part 211 changes, and the swing rod 22 pushes the sliding plate 30 to slide through the third connecting part 222. Due to the change of the swing angle speed of the swing rod 22, the sliding distance of the sliding plate 30 changes correspondingly; by adjusting the shape and angle of the first track groove 210, the sliding amount of the sliding plate 30 can be adjusted, and because the movement direction of the hinge structure 100 is different when folding in and out, the track grooves during folding in and out can be designed separately, thereby adjusting the sliding amount of the sliding plate 30 during folding in and out, so that the movement track of the hinge structure 100 matches the bending movement of the folding display device, and the folding display device can be adjusted to the best bending stress state during folding in and out, thereby improving the problem of arching during folding out and pulling during folding in.

[0072] According to the above embodiments, it can be known that:

[0073] The application provides a hinge structure and a folding display device, the hinge structure comprising a rotating mechanism, two support plates, two sliding plates and a plurality of sliding blocks, the two support plates being respectively rotatably connected to two sides of the rotating mechanism, the two sliding plates being respectively slidably connected to sides of the two support plates away from the rotating mechanism, at least one sliding block being arranged on each of the support plates, the sliding block being slidably connected to the corresponding support plate, and each of the sliding blocks being movably connected between the rotating mechanism and the corresponding sliding plate; the hinge structure having a first bending state and a second bending state, the sliding amount of the sliding block in the first bending state being less than the sliding amount of the sliding block in the second bending state, and the sliding amount of the sliding plate in the first bending state being less than the sliding amount of the sliding plate in the second bending state; in this way, the sliding blocks movably connected to the sliding plates are designed on the support plates, and the sliding amount of the sliding plates is adjusted by the sliding amount of the sliding blocks, so that the motion track of the hinge structure matches the bending motion of the folding display device, and the folding display device can be adjusted to the optimal bending stress state when being folded outward and inward, and the problems of outward arching and inward pulling of the folding display device are improved.

[0074] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own focus, and the parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant description of other embodiments.

[0075] The above describes the embodiments of the application in detail, and the principle and implementation mode of the application are described by applying specific examples; the above embodiment descriptions are only used to help understand the technical solutions and core ideas of the application; those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions recorded in the above embodiments can be modified, or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the application.

Claims

1. A hinge structure, comprising a rotating mechanism, two support plates, two sliding plates and a plurality of sliding blocks, the two support plates are respectively rotatably connected to two sides of the rotating mechanism, the two sliding plates are respectively slidably connected to one side of the two support plates away from the rotating mechanism, at least one sliding block is arranged on each of the support plates, the sliding block is slidably connected to the corresponding support plate, and each sliding block is further movably connected between the rotating mechanism and the corresponding sliding plate; The hinge structure has a first bending state and a second bending state, the sliding amount of the sliding block in the first bending state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding block in the second bending state, and the sliding amount of the sliding plate in the first bending state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding plate in the second bending state.

2. The hinge structure of claim 1, wherein, The hinge structure further comprises two compensation mechanisms, each of the compensation mechanisms is arranged on the corresponding support plate and slidably connected to the corresponding sliding block, each of the sliding blocks is movably connected between the rotating mechanism and the corresponding sliding plate through the corresponding compensation mechanism, one end of each of the compensation mechanisms is rotatably connected to the rotating mechanism, and the other end of each of the compensation mechanisms is movably connected to the corresponding sliding plate; The hinge structure further has a flat state, the compensation mechanism slides on the sliding block along a first sliding track from the flat state to the first bending state; The hinge structure from the flat state to the second bending state, the compensation mechanism slides on the sliding block along a second sliding track, and the included angle between the first sliding track and the second sliding track is less than 180 degrees.

3. The hinge structure of claim 2, wherein, Each of the compensation mechanisms comprises: Two symmetrically arranged linkage mechanisms, each of the linkage mechanisms comprises a sliding member slidably connected to one side of the corresponding support plate close to the rotating mechanism, one end of the sliding member is rotatably connected to the rotating mechanism, and the other end of the sliding member is slidably connected to the corresponding sliding block; Two symmetrically arranged swing rod mechanisms, the sliding plate is arranged between the two symmetrically arranged swing rod mechanisms, each of the swing rod mechanisms comprises a swing rod located between the sliding block and the sliding member, the swing rod is slidably connected to the corresponding sliding member, one end of the swing rod is rotatably connected to the sliding block, and the other end of the swing rod is slidably connected to the sliding plate.

4. The hinge structure of claim 3, wherein, The sliding block is provided with a first track groove, the sliding member is provided with a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion is accommodated in the first track groove and slides in the first track groove, and the first track groove is a non-linear track groove.

5. The hinge structure of claim 4, wherein, The first track groove comprises a first sub-groove and a second sub-groove in communication with each other, the included angle between the first sub-groove and the second sub-groove is less than 180 degrees;The hinge structure has a first bending state and a second bending state, when the hinge structure is in the first bending state, the first connecting portion is accommodated in the first sub-groove;When the hinge structure is in the second bending state, the first connecting portion is accommodated in the second sub-groove.

6. The hinge structure of claim 4, wherein, The sliding block is further provided with a second connecting part, which is located on the side of the first track groove away from the sliding plate, and one end of the swing rod is sleeved on the second connecting part and rotationally connected with the second connecting part.

7. The hinge structure of claim 6, wherein, The swing rod is provided with a second track groove, the first connecting part is further accommodated in and slides in the second track groove, the second track groove is located on the side of the second connecting part close to the sliding plate, the second track groove is a straight track groove, and the extension direction of the second track groove is different from the extension direction of the first track groove.

8. The hinge structure of claim 7, wherein, The swing rod is further provided with a third connecting part, which is located on the side of the second track groove away from the second connecting part; the sliding plate is provided with a third track groove, the third connecting part is accommodated in and slides in the third track groove, the third track groove is a straight track groove, and the extension direction of the third track groove is the same as the extension direction of the second track groove.

9. The hinge structure according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein, Each of the swing rod mechanisms further comprises a cover plate fixedly connected with the corresponding support plate, the cover plate is located on the side of the swing rod away from the sliding member, and the cover plate is configured to form a first sliding groove together with the support plate, the sliding block is accommodated in and slides in the first sliding groove.

10. The hinge structure of claim 9, wherein, The cover plate is further provided with a notch, which is located on the side of the cover plate away from the sliding plate, and the sliding block is further located in the notch.

11. The hinge structure of claim 10, wherein, An arc-shaped groove is arranged on the side of the cover plate facing the support plate, and the swing rod is accommodated in and swings in the arc-shaped groove.

12. The hinge structure of claim 9, wherein, The cover plate is further configured to form a second sliding groove together with the support plate, the sliding plate is accommodated in and slides in the second sliding groove, and the second sliding groove is located between two adjacent first sliding grooves.

13. The hinge structure of claim 9, wherein, The support plate is further provided with a third sliding groove, the sliding member is accommodated in and slides in the third sliding groove, and the third sliding groove is in communication with the first sliding groove.

14. The hinge structure of claim 13, wherein, The sliding member is further provided with a limiting part, which is located on the side of the first connecting part close to the rotating mechanism; the support plate is further provided with a limiting groove, which is in communication with the first sliding groove and the third sliding groove, and the limiting groove is matched with the limiting part.

15. The hinge structure of claim 9, wherein, Each of the connecting rod mechanisms further comprises at least two first connecting members, one end of each of the first connecting members is rotationally connected to the sliding member along a first axis, and the other end of each of the first connecting members is rotationally connected to the rotating mechanism. The support plate is further provided with a plurality of second connecting members, one end of each of the second connecting members is fixedly connected with the support plate, the other end of each of the second connecting members is rotationally connected to the rotating mechanism along a second axis, and the second axis is parallel to but not coincident with the first axis.

16. The hinge structure of claim 15, wherein, The rotating mechanism comprises: a plurality of third connecting members, each of the third connecting members is rotationally connected between two adjacent second connecting members; two first rotating shafts, each of the third connecting members is sleeved on the two first rotating shafts; and two second rotating shafts, each of the second connecting members is sleeved on the two second rotating shafts. Two fixed supports are located at opposite ends of the first rotating shaft, and the first connecting member is rotatably connected to the fixed supports.

17. A foldable display device, comprising: a flexible display panel; a hinge structure located on one side of the flexible display panel; two middle frames located on the one side of the flexible display panel and fixedly connected to the flexible display panel, and the two middle frames are respectively fixedly connected to two sides of the hinge structure; wherein the hinge structure comprises a rotating mechanism, two support plates, two sliding plates, and a plurality of sliding blocks, the two support plates are respectively rotatably connected to two sides of the rotating mechanism, the two sliding plates are respectively slidably connected to one side of the two support plates away from the rotating mechanism, at least one sliding block is arranged on each support plate, the sliding block is slidably connected to the corresponding support plate, and each sliding block is movably connected between the rotating mechanism and the corresponding sliding plate; the hinge structure has a first bending state and a second bending state, the sliding amount of the sliding block in the first bending state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding block in the second bending state, and the sliding amount of the sliding plate in the first bending state is less than the sliding amount of the sliding plate in the second bending state. 18.The foldable display apparatus of claim 17, wherein, the hinge structure further comprises two compensation mechanisms, each compensation mechanism is arranged on the corresponding support plate and slidably connected to the corresponding sliding block, each sliding block is movably connected between the rotating mechanism and the corresponding sliding plate through the corresponding compensation mechanism, one end of each compensation mechanism is rotatably connected to the rotating mechanism, and the other end of each compensation mechanism is movably connected to the corresponding sliding plate; the hinge structure further has a flat state, the compensation mechanism slides on the sliding block along a first sliding track from the flat state to the first bending state; the hinge structure from the flat state to the second bending state, the compensation mechanism slides on the sliding block along a second sliding track, and the included angle between the first sliding track and the second sliding track is less than 180 degrees.

19. The folded display device of claim 18, wherein, each compensation mechanism comprises: two symmetrically arranged linkage mechanisms, each linkage mechanism comprises a sliding member slidably connected to one side of the corresponding support plate close to the rotating mechanism, one end of the sliding member is rotatably connected to the rotating mechanism, and the other end of the sliding member is slidably connected to the corresponding sliding block; two symmetrically arranged swing rod mechanisms, the sliding plate is arranged between the two symmetrically arranged swing rod mechanisms, each swing rod mechanism comprises a swing rod located between the sliding block and the sliding member, the swing rod is slidably connected to the corresponding sliding member, one end of the swing rod is rotatably connected to the sliding block, and the other end of the swing rod is slidably connected to the sliding plate.

20. The folded display device of claim 19, wherein, The sliding block is provided with a first track groove, the sliding member is provided with a first connecting part, the first connecting part is accommodated in the first track groove and slides in the first track groove, and the first track groove is a non-linear track groove; the first track groove comprises a first sub-groove and a second sub-groove which are in communication with each other, and the included angle between the first sub-groove and the second sub-groove is less than 180 degrees; the hinge structure has a first bending state and a second bending state, when the hinge structure is in the first bending state, the first connecting part is accommodated in the first sub-groove, and when the hinge structure is in the second bending state, the first connecting part is accommodated in the second sub-groove.

Citation Information

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