Hinge assembly and electronic device

Abstract

The present application provides a hinge assembly and an electronic device, relating to the technical field of terminal devices. The present invention is used for solving the problem of a hinge assembly of an electronic device being difficult to thin, affecting the lightness and thinness of the electronic device. The hinge assembly comprises a shaft cover, first swing arms, and door panels. The first swing arms are disposed at two sides of the shaft cover, and the first swing arms are rotatably connected to the shaft cover. The door panels are disposed at two sides of the shaft cover, the door panels can rotate relative to the shaft cover, and the edges of the door panels are provided with clearance notches. The hinge assembly can rotate between a folded state and an unfolded state. When the hinge assembly is in the folded state, a portion of each first swing arm extends into a corresponding clearance notch. When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the door panels cover the shaft cover.

Description

A hinge assembly and an electronic device Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of terminal equipment technology, and in particular to a hinge assembly and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Foldable electronic devices are highly portable and therefore popular with users. These devices fold using internal hinge components. However, due to structural limitations, the hinge components of existing electronic devices are difficult to further thin, hindering the achievement of slimmer and lighter designs.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a hinge assembly and an electronic device to solve the problem that the hinge assembly of an electronic device is difficult to thin, which affects the thinning and lightening of the electronic device.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of this application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, a hinge assembly is provided, comprising a bearing cover, a first swing arm, and a door panel. The first swing arm is disposed on both sides of the bearing cover and is rotatably connected to the bearing cover. The door panel is disposed on both sides of the bearing cover and is rotatable relative to the bearing cover, with clearance notches provided on its edges. The hinge assembly is rotatable between a folded state and an unfolded state. When the hinge assembly is in the folded state, a portion of the first swing arm extends into the corresponding clearance notch; when the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the door panel covers the bearing cover.

[0007] The hinge assembly provided in the first aspect of this application can avoid contact between the first swing arm and the door panel during rotation by using an avoidance notch, thus preventing the hinge assembly from abutting against each other and affecting normal rotation. Furthermore, by creating an avoidance notch in the door panel to allow the first swing arm to pass, the distance between the first swing arm and the door panel is reduced, which helps to reduce the thickness. When applied to electronic devices, this hinge assembly contributes to the thinning and lightening of electronic devices.

[0008] The hinge assembly can be used in mobile phones or tablets with foldable screens. When the hinge assembly is applied to a mobile phone with a foldable screen, both sides of the hinge assembly's axle cover have a first swing arm and a door panel, and the rotation axis of the first swing arm can be set along the length direction of the mobile phone or along the width direction of the mobile phone.

[0009] Furthermore, with the hinge assembly in the unfolded state, the two door panels cover the shaft cover, meaning the two door panels support the folding screen, which creates a larger support surface and helps ensure the flatness of the support surface, thus improving the support effect on the folding screen.

[0010] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the first swing arm has a protrusion that extends by bending to form a groove. When the hinge assembly is in the folded state, the protrusion extends into a clearance notch. When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the edge of the shaft cover extending along its length extends into the groove. In this structure, the first swing arm extends around the side wall edge of the shaft cover to form a protrusion. When the hinge assembly is in the folded position, the protrusion can extend into a clearance notch on the door panel, thereby making the overall structure more compact, saving space, and reducing the overall volume of the hinge assembly.

[0011] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the first swing arm further includes a rotating part and a connecting part. The rotating part is rotatably connected to the shaft cover, and the connecting part is used to connect to the housing of the electronic device. One end of the protrusion is fixedly connected to the rotating part, and the other end of the protrusion is fixedly connected to the connecting part. In this structure, the rotating part and the shaft cover are rotatably connected, for example, the rotating part and the shaft cover can be rotatably connected via a rotating shaft. The connecting part can be connected to the housing of the electronic device, for example, through a sliding connection or a fixed connection.

[0012] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the first swing arm has multiple protrusions, which are spaced apart along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the first swing arm. Multiple clearance notches are provided on the door panel, and when the hinge assembly is in the folded state, each clearance notch accommodates at least one protrusion. In this way, the multiple protrusions and clearance notches interlock to form clearance, and a support portion can be formed between adjacent clearance notches, thereby reducing the area of ​​the clearance notches on the door panel and improving the support effect of the door panel.

[0013] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the number of protrusions and clearance notches are the same, and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. This structure helps to further reduce the area of ​​the clearance notches and further improves the support effect of the door panel.

[0014] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the widths of the multiple protrusions are unequal along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the first swing arm. This structure, with protrusions of varying widths, helps to increase the connection strength between the rotating part and the connecting part of the first swing arm, thereby improving structural reliability.

[0015] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the width of the end of the protrusion near the rotating part along the length direction of the shaft cover is greater than the width of the end of the protrusion near the connecting part. In this structure, since the rotating part experiences greater force when the first rocker arm rotates relative to the shaft cover, the wider width of the end connecting the protrusion to the rotating part is beneficial for improving the connection strength, thereby reducing the risk of breakage due to excessive force.

[0016] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the hinge assembly further includes a connector connected between two rotating parts to enable the two first swing arms to rotate synchronously and in opposite directions. This allows the two first swing arms to drive each other during hinge assembly rotation, resulting in synchronous and opposite rotations. This reduces the force required for hinge assembly rotation, thus improving the user experience. Furthermore, when this hinge assembly is used in the aforementioned foldable screen mobile phone or tablet, synchronous rotation helps protect the foldable screen and reduces the risk of damage due to excessive localized stress on the foldable screen.

[0017] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the connector includes a sliding portion and two driving portions. Along the width direction of the shaft cover, the two driving portions are respectively fixed to both ends of the sliding portion. The driving portions and corresponding rotating portions are distributed along the length direction of the shaft cover. The opposing end faces of the driving portions and rotating portions abut against each other. Both opposing end faces of the driving portions and rotating portions extend spirally around the rotation axis of the first swing arm, and the spiral extension directions of the end faces of the two driving portions are opposite. In this structure, by rotating the first swing arm on one side, a force along the rotation axis can be applied to the driving portion, i.e., the connector, through the spirally extended end faces, causing the connector to move along the rotation axis. Simultaneously, when one driving portion moves along the rotation axis, it can drive the other first swing arm to rotate based on the spirally extended end faces.

[0018] Furthermore, since the end faces of the two drive units extend in opposite directions, the rotation directions of the two first swing arms are opposite, thereby achieving synchronous and opposite rotation of the two first swing arms.

[0019] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the hinge assembly further includes an elastic element disposed on the side of the drive portion away from the rotating portion, and the elastic element abuts against the inner wall of the drive portion and the shaft cover. In this structure, the elastic element ensures that the drive portion and the rotating portion abut against each other, preventing them from separating and improving structural reliability. For example, the elastic element can be a spring or a sheet spring.

[0020] Furthermore, when the first swing arm is rotatably connected to the shaft cover via a rotating shaft, the driving part and elastic element of the connecting member can be sleeved on the rotating shaft, thereby restricting the movement direction of the connecting member and further improving the reliability of the overall structure.

[0021] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, when the hinge assembly is in the folded state, the two door panels are positioned opposite each other; when the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the surfaces of the two door panels away from the hinge cover are in the same plane. This allows the two door panels to form a larger support surface, which improves the support effect. For example, the two door panels can effectively support the foldable screen to ensure its flatness.

[0022] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the clearance notches on the two door panels are staggered along the length of the cover. This structure prevents the clearance notches on the two door panels from connecting and forming a large hollow area, thereby further improving the support effect of the door panels.

[0023] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, each door panel has multiple clearance notches distributed along the length of the hinge cover, and a support portion is formed between two adjacent clearance notches. When the hinge assembly is in the deployed state, at least a portion of the end of the support portion extends into the clearance notch of the other door panel. In this way, portions of the support portions on both door panels can extend into the clearance notch of the other door panel. When the hinge assembly is in the deployed state, this helps to further reduce the area of ​​the clearance notch, meaning that a portion of the clearance notch is filled by the support portion of the other door panel, thereby further improving the support effect of the door panel.

[0024] Furthermore, the number of clearance notches on one door panel can be the same as the number of support parts on another door panel, and they are set in a one-to-one correspondence. When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the end of each support part extends into the corresponding clearance notch on the other door panel. This further enhances the support effect of the door panel.

[0025] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the hinge assembly further includes a connecting block for fixed connection with the housing of the electronic device, and the end of the first swing arm away from the axle cover is slidably connected to the connecting block. In this structure, the first swing arm can be connected to the housing of the electronic device via the connecting block, and the slidable connection between the first swing arm and the connecting block allows adjustment of the distance between the first swing arm and the housing of the electronic device during rotation relative to the axle cover, thereby improving structural reliability.

[0026] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the hinge assembly further includes a second swing arm. The second swing arm and the first swing arm are distributed along the length direction of the axle cover. One end of the second swing arm is rotatably connected to the axle cover, and the other end of the second swing arm is rotatably connected to the connecting block. In this structure, the second swing arm can serve as the main swing arm of the hinge assembly, used to realize the main driving force for the rotation of the hinge assembly, that is, the second swing arm is used to drive the housing of the electronic device to rotate between the folded state and the unfolded state.

[0027] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the door panel is fixedly connected to the second swing arm. That is, the door panel can rotate synchronously with the second swing arm, and at the same time, the avoidance notch on the door panel can avoid the first swing arm, which helps to improve the reliability of the overall structure.

[0028] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, when the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the minimum gap between the two door panels located on both sides of the hinge cover is less than or equal to 1.5 mm. By limiting the minimum gap between the two door panels to a small range, effective support can be provided for the screen when in the unfolded state.

[0029] Secondly, an electronic device is provided, comprising a housing and a hinge assembly. Two housings are provided, and the hinge assembly is as described in any of the above technical solutions, disposed between the two housings. The first swing arm of the hinge assembly, at one end away from the axle cover, is connected to the corresponding housing.

[0030] The electronic device provided in the second aspect of this application, by including the hinge assembly as described in any of the above technical solutions, is able to solve the same technical problem and achieve the same technical effect.

[0031] In one possible implementation of the second aspect of this application, when the hinge assembly is in a folded state, the two housings are positioned opposite each other; and the edges of the two housings near the bearing cover overlap with the edges of the bearing cover distributed along its width. This creates an overlapping area between the housings and the bearing cover, thereby preventing gaps between them that could expose the internal structure.

[0032] In one possible implementation of the second aspect of this application, the housing includes a first region and a second region, the thickness of the first region being less than the thickness of the second region. When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the two second regions are located on both sides of the hinge cover, and the two first regions are located on the side of the hinge cover away from the door panel, and the two first regions cover the hinge cover. In this way, when the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the first regions of the two housings cover the hinge cover, that is, the hinge cover is hidden, which helps to further improve the aesthetics of the electronic device. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 is a front view of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 is a front view of an electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 is a front view of another electronic device in a folded state provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 5 is a structural diagram showing the relative positions of the shaft cover and the two housings when the electronic device provided in the embodiment of this application is in the unfolded state;

[0038] Figure 6 is a structural diagram showing the relative positions of the shaft cover and the two housings when the electronic device provided in the embodiment of this application is in a folded state;

[0039] Figure 7 is a structural diagram of a hinge assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 8 is a front view of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 7 in the unfolded state;

[0041] Figure 9 is a front view of the hinge assembly shown in Figure 7 in a folded state;

[0042] Figure 10 is a structural diagram of a support device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 11 is an exploded view of a support device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 12 is a structural diagram of the main swing arm, shaft cover and housing in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 13 is a structural diagram of the main swing arm, shaft cover and housing in the unfolded state shown in Figure 12;

[0046] Figure 14 is a structural diagram of the auxiliary swing arm, shaft cover and housing in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 15 is a structural diagram of the secondary swing arm, shaft cover, and housing in the unfolded state shown in Figure 14.

[0048] Figure 16 is an enlarged view of the structure of region B in Figure 15;

[0049] Figure 17 is a structural diagram of the support device (including housing and hinge assembly) provided in the embodiment of this application between the unfolded state and the folded state;

[0050] Figure 18 is a structural diagram of another support device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0051] Figure 19 is an exploded view of another support device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 20 is a partial structural diagram of the support device shown in Figure 18 in its deployed state;

[0053] Figure 21 is a partial structural diagram of the support device provided in Figure 18 in a folded state;

[0054] Figure 22 is a CC cross-sectional view of Figure 20;

[0055] Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view of DD in Figure 21;

[0056] Figure 24 is a structural diagram of a first swing arm provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0057] Figure 25 is a structural diagram of another support device (including the first swing arm shown in Figure 24) provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0058] Figure 26 is a structural diagram of the support device provided in Figure 25 in a folded state;

[0059] Figure 27 is a structural diagram of the support device provided in Figure 26 in its deployed state;

[0060] Figure 28 is a structural diagram of another first swing arm provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0061] Figure 29 is a structural diagram of another first swing arm provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 30 is an exploded view of another first swing arm and door panel provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0063] Figure 31 is a structural diagram of another support device (including the first swing arm and door panel shown in Figure 30) provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figure 32 is a structural diagram of another support device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 33 is a structural diagram of another support device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 34 is a structural diagram of a hinge assembly in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 35 is a structural diagram of a hinge assembly in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 36 is an exploded view of the hinge assembly shown in Figures 34 and 35.

[0069] Reference numerals: 01-Electronic device; 10-Folding screen; 11-First part; 12-Second part; 20-Support device; 21-Housing; 21a-First region; 21b-Second region; 22-Hinge assembly; 100-Shaft cover; 110-Arc groove; 120-First surface; 130-Second surface; 140-Receiving groove; 200-Swing arm; 210-Main swing arm; 211-Threaded hole; 220-Secondary swing arm; 221-Protruding structure; 230-First swing arm; 230a-Groove; 231-Protrusion; 231a-First sub-region ; 231b - Second sub-region; 232 - Rotating part; 232a - First rotating part; 232b - Second rotating part; 233 - Connecting part; 240 - Second swing arm; 300 - Door panel; 310 - Avoidance notch; 320 - Support part; 400 - Connecting block; 410 - Arc-shaped slide groove; 420 - Sliding groove; 500 - Rotating shaft; 600 - Connecting piece; 610 - Sliding part; 620 - First driving part; 621 - First spiral surface; 630 - Second driving part; 631 - Second spiral surface; 700 - Elastic element; 800 - Floating plate; 30 - Sub-screen. Detailed Implementation

[0070] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0071] Hereinafter, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0072] Furthermore, in this application, directional terms such as "upper" and "lower" are defined relative to the orientation of the components shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts, used for relative description and clarification, and can change accordingly depending on the orientation of the components in the accompanying drawings.

[0073] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the term "connection" shall be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium.

[0074] This application provides an electronic device, which is a type of foldable electronic device. For example, the electronic device can be a mobile phone or tablet with a foldable screen. This application will describe an embodiment of the electronic device as a mobile phone with a foldable screen.

[0075] Specifically, please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a structural diagram of an electronic device 01 provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 2 is a front view of an electronic device 01 provided in an embodiment of this application. The electronic device 01 may include a folding screen 10 and a support device 20. The folding screen 10 is supported and attached to the support device 20, and the support device 20 can drive the folding screen 10 to rotate between an unfolded state and a folded state. It is understood that Figures 1 and 2 only schematically show some components of the electronic device 01, and the actual shape, size, position, and structure of these components are not limited by the structures shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0076] For ease of description in the following embodiments, an XYZ coordinate system is established. When the electronic device 01 is in the unfolded state, the width direction of the electronic device 01 is defined as the X-axis direction, the length direction of the electronic device 01 is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the thickness direction of the electronic device 01 is defined as the Z-axis direction. It should be noted that this XYZ coordinate system can be flexibly transformed according to actual needs. The embodiments of this application only provide one possible example and should not be considered as a special limitation of this application.

[0077] The aforementioned foldable screen 10 is used to display images, videos, etc. The foldable screen 10 may include two first parts 11 and one second part 12, with the second part 12 disposed between the two first parts 11. When the electronic device 01 is in the unfolded state, the first part 11, the second part 12, and the other first part 11 are sequentially distributed along the Y-axis. When the electronic device 01 is in the folded state, the second part 12 of the foldable screen 10 is bent, and the two first parts 11 are positioned opposite each other. At least the second part 12 of the foldable screen 10 is a flexible screen. The first part 11 of the foldable screen 10 may be a flexible screen, a non-flexible screen, or a combination of both. Therefore, this application does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0078] Among them, the aforementioned foldable screen 10 can be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display, a mini organic light-emitting diode (MLED) display, a micro organic light-emitting diode (MOLED) display, a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), etc.

[0079] The aforementioned support device 20 is used to support the folding screen 10. The support device 20 may include two housings 21 and a hinge assembly 22, which connects the two housings 21. The rotation axis of the hinge assembly 22 is parallel to the X-axis. The two first parts 11 of the folding screen 10 are respectively attached to the two housings 21, and the second part 12 of the folding screen 10 is attached to the hinge assembly 22. The two housings 21 are rotatably connected through the hinge assembly 22, thereby enabling the electronic device 01 to rotate between the unfolded and folded states.

[0080] With the electronic device 01 in its unfolded state, please refer to Figures 1 and 2, which show the structural diagrams of the electronic device 01 in this unfolded state. At this time, the hinge assembly 22 drives the two housings 21 to rotate, allowing the folding screen 10 to be fully unfolded. That is, the two first parts 11 and the second part 12 of the folding screen 10 are on the same plane, ensuring the flatness of the folding screen 10. In this state, the electronic device 01 can achieve a large-screen display, providing a better user experience.

[0081] When the electronic device 01 is in a folded state, please refer to Figure 3, which is a front view of an electronic device 01 in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application. At this time, the two first parts 11 of the folded screen 10 are opposite each other, the second part 12 is bent, and the support device 20 protects the folded screen 10 from the outside, that is, the folded screen 10 is located between the two housings 21 of the support device 20. In this state, the folded screen 10 is not visible to the user, preventing the folded screen 10 from being scratched or damaged, thereby effectively protecting the folded screen 10. Furthermore, it can further reduce the size of the electronic device 01 for easier carrying.

[0082] In some embodiments, please refer to FIG4, which is a front view of another electronic device 01 provided in the present application embodiment in a folded state. The electronic device 01 may also include a secondary screen 30 (also referred to as an outer screen), which is disposed on the side of any housing 21 away from the folding screen 10. When the electronic device 01 is in a folded state, the secondary screen 30 can be used to display images, such as viewing the time or information, thereby making the use scenarios of the electronic device 01 more diversified and improving the user experience.

[0083] It should be noted that the above embodiment is illustrated with the hinge assembly 22 having its rotation axis parallel to the X-axis. In other possible embodiments, the rotation axis of the hinge assembly 22 may also be parallel to the Y-axis, and the number of hinge assemblies 22 and housings 21 may not be displaced. For example, three housings 21 may be provided, and two hinge assemblies 22 may be provided, with adjacent housings 21 rotatably connected by a hinge assembly 22. Therefore, this application does not impose any special limitations on this aspect.

[0084] Based on this, please refer to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a structural diagram showing the relative positions of the hinge assembly 22 and the two housings 21 when the electronic device 01 provided in this embodiment is in the unfolded state. Figure 6 is a structural diagram showing the relative positions of the hinge assembly 22 and the two housings 21 when the electronic device 01 provided in this embodiment is in the folded state. The hinge assembly 22 may include a shaft cover 100, wherein only the shaft cover 100 of the hinge assembly 22 is shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0085] The aforementioned shaft cover 100 has two housings 21 on both sides along its length direction (i.e., the X-axis direction). The shaft cover 100 and the two housings 21 together form the exterior components of the electronic device 01 to shield and protect other components.

[0086] For ease of description below, the outer surface of the shaft cover 100 is defined as including a first surface 120 and two second surfaces 130. The first surface 120 is the surface of the shaft cover 100 that extends along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The two second surfaces 130 are two surfaces on both sides of the first surface 120. Both second surfaces 130 extend along the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and the two second surfaces 130 are distributed along the Y-axis direction.

[0087] For example, the first surface 120 and the second surface 130 can be planar or curved, and the edge where the first surface 120 and the second surface 130 meet (the edge extending along the X-axis direction) can form a right angle, an acute angle, or a circular arc structure. Therefore, this application does not impose any special limitations on this.

[0088] Furthermore, the aforementioned housing 21 may include a first region 21a and a second region 21b, which are distributed along the Y-axis direction. The first region 21a is located on the side of the second region 21b closer to the shaft cover 100. And along the Z-axis direction, the thickness of the first region 21a is less than the thickness of the second region 21b.

[0089] When the electronic device 01 is in the unfolded state, the first regions 21a of both housings 21 are located on the same side of the cover 100 and together cover the first surface 120 of the cover 100. In some examples, the two first regions 21a can abut against each other, or there can be a small gap between them, for example, a gap of 1 mm or 1.2 mm between the two first regions 21a. Since the first regions 21a of the two housings 21 together cover the first surface 120 of the cover 100 when the electronic device 01 is in the unfolded state, the width dimension of the two first regions 21a is limited by the width dimension of the first surface 120 of the cover 100, and the two first regions 21a cannot be stacked together along the Z-axis direction.

[0090] When the electronic device 01 is in a folded state, the two housings 21 are positioned opposite each other, with the first regions 21a of the two housings 21 located on either side of the shaft cover 100. In this state, to ensure that there are no exposed internal structures between the housings 21 and the shaft cover 100, the edge of the second surface 130 of the shaft cover 100 away from the first surface 120 needs to overlap with the edge of the first region 21a of the housing 21 away from the second region 21b (as shown in region A of Figure 6). This avoids exposed internal structures between the shaft cover 100 and the housings 21, thus improving the overall aesthetics. Therefore, the dimension of the shaft cover 100 along the Z-axis, i.e., the width of the second surface 130, is limited.

[0091] Therefore, it can be seen that the width of the first surface 120 of the shaft cover 100, the width of the second surface 130, and the width of the first region 21a of the housing are related to each other, and only one of the dimensions can be adjusted.

[0092] In addition, please refer to Figures 7, 8, and 9. Figure 7 is a structural diagram of a hinge assembly 22 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 8 is a front view of the hinge assembly 22 provided in Figure 7 in an unfolded state. Figure 9 is a front view of the hinge assembly 22 provided in Figure 7 in a folded state. The hinge assembly 22 also includes a float plate 800, which is disposed on the side of the shaft cover 100 away from the first surface 120. The float plate 800 is movably connected to the shaft cover 100, and the float plate 800 can provide support for a portion of the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0093] Furthermore, the hinge assembly 22 also includes a swing arm 200 and a door panel 300. The axle cover 100 has swing arms 200 and door panels 300 on both sides along its length (i.e., the X-axis direction). The swing arms 200 are rotatably connected to the axle cover 100, and the rotation axis of the swing arms 200 is parallel to the X-axis direction. The swing arms 200 on both sides of the axle cover 100 rotate in opposite directions. The swing arms 200 are connected to the door panel 300; for example, the swing arms 200 and the door panel 300 can be fixedly connected or rotatably connected, so that the swing arms 200 can drive the door panel 300 to rotate. The end of the swing arm 200 away from the axle cover 100 can be directly or indirectly connected to the housing 21. For example, the hinge assembly 22 may also include a connecting block 400, with the swing arms 200 connected to the connecting block 400. The connecting block 400 is fixedly connected to the housing 21 shown in Figure 6, so that the hinge assembly 22 can drive the two housings 21 to rotate between the unfolded and folded states.

[0094] When the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the two door panels 300 and the floating plate 800 can jointly cover the shaft cover 100. That is, the surfaces of the two door panels 300 away from the shaft cover 100 and the surface of the floating plate 800 away from the shaft cover 100 together form a support surface, thereby providing support for the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0095] During the rotation of the hinge assembly 22 from the unfolded state to the folded state, the float plate 800 can move towards the shaft cover 100, that is, move towards the shaft cover 100 along the Z-axis. When the hinge assembly 22 is rotated to the folded state, the float plate 800 can avoid contact with the bent second part 12, thereby reducing the risk of the second part 12 being squeezed and damaged.

[0096] To further enhance the support effect of the hinge assembly 22 on the second part 12 of the folding screen 10, please refer to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a structural diagram of a support device 20 provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 11 is an exploded view of a support device 20 provided in an embodiment of this application. The hinge assembly 22 may not include the aforementioned floating plate 800. That is, when the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the aforementioned shaft cover 100 is covered by two door panels 300. The surfaces of the two door panels 300 away from the shaft cover 100 together form a support surface, so that the two door panels 300 can support the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0097] In this way, compared to the embodiment with floating plate 800, there is a gap between each of the two door panels 300 and the floating plate 800, that is, there are two gaps on the support surface formed by the door panels 300 and the floating plate 800. However, this embodiment does not require the floating plate 800. The shaft cover 100 can be covered by the two door panels 300, so that there is only a gap between the two door panels 300. Compared with the embodiment with floating plate 800, the number of gaps can be reduced. Therefore, it is beneficial to increase the support surface area that supports the second part 12, reduce the hollow area on the support surface, and improve the flatness of the support surface, thereby improving the support effect on the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0098] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 10 and 11, multiple swing arms 200 may be provided on the same side of the shaft cover 100. These swing arms 200 are distributed along the X-axis, forming multiple connection points to improve the connection stability between the hinge assembly 22 and the housing 21. Furthermore, the connection methods between the multiple swing arms 200 and the shaft cover 100 and the housing 21 may be the same or different. For example, the multiple swing arms 200 may include a main swing arm 210 and a secondary swing arm 220.

[0099] Specifically, please refer to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a structural diagram of the main swing arm 210, shaft cover 100 and housing 21 in a folded state according to the embodiment of this application. Figure 13 is a structural diagram of the main swing arm 210, shaft cover 100 and housing 21 in an unfolded state according to Figure 12.

[0100] One end of the main swing arm 210 is rotatably connected to the shaft cover 100. For example, the shaft cover 100 may have an arc-shaped groove 110, the axis of which is parallel to the X-axis. The end of the main swing arm 210 has an arc surface structure that matches the shape of the arc-shaped groove 110. The end of the main swing arm 210 extends into the arc-shaped groove 110 so that the main swing arm 210 is rotatably connected to the shaft cover 100.

[0101] The end of the main swing arm 210 away from the shaft cover 100 can be connected to the housing 21. The main swing arm 210 and the housing 21 can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through other structural components. For example, the end of the main swing arm 210 away from the shaft cover 100 can be connected to the connecting block 400, so that the main swing arm 210 can drive the housing 21 to rotate.

[0102] Furthermore, the connecting block 400 may be provided with an arc-shaped groove 410, and the end of the main swing arm 210 away from the shaft cover 100 forms an arc-shaped structure that matches the arc-shaped groove 410, so as to realize the rotatable connection between the main swing arm 210 and the connecting block 400. Alternatively, the main swing arm 210 and the connecting block 400 may also be rotatably connected by a pin, so that the main swing arm 210 and the connecting block 400 (i.e., the housing 21) can rotate relative to each other during the rotation of the main swing arm 210.

[0103] The aforementioned door panel 300 can be fixedly connected to the main swing arm 210, that is, the door panel 300 rotates synchronously with the main swing arm 210. Since the main swing arm 210 and the connecting block 400 can rotate relative to each other, the door panel 300 also rotates relative to the connecting block 400 and the housing 21 during the rotation process. This facilitates the adjustment of the included angle between the door panel 300 and the connecting block 400, so that when the electronic device 01 is in the folded state, there can be a large accommodating space between the two door panels 300 to accommodate the second part 12 of the folded screen 10 that has been bent.

[0104] For example, the door panel 300 and the main swing arm 210 can be fixedly connected by screws. That is, both the door panel 300 and the main swing arm 210 are provided with threaded holes 211, and the door panel 300 and the main swing arm 210 are locked together by screws (not shown in Figures 12 and 13). Furthermore, the door panel 300 and the main swing arm 210 can be fixedly connected by multiple screws to improve the reliability of the connection between the door panel 300 and the main swing arm 210.

[0105] Please refer to Figures 14 and 15. Figure 14 is a structural diagram of the auxiliary swing arm 220, shaft cover 100, and housing 21 in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 15 is a structural diagram of the auxiliary swing arm 220, shaft cover 100, and housing 21 in an unfolded state according to Figure 14. In particular, Figure 14 only shows the auxiliary swing arm 220 and housing 21 on one side of the shaft cover 100.

[0106] One end of the auxiliary swing arm 220 is rotatably connected to the shaft cover 100. For example, a rotating shaft 500 can be fixedly installed on the shaft cover 100, and the end of the auxiliary swing arm 220 can be sleeved on the rotating shaft 500 to achieve a rotatable connection between the auxiliary swing arm 220 and the shaft cover 100. The other end of the auxiliary swing arm 220 can be slidably connected to the connecting block 400. For example, a sliding groove 420 can be provided on the connecting block 400. The sliding groove 420 can extend in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis, and the end of the auxiliary swing arm 220 away from the shaft cover 100 extends into the sliding groove 420.

[0107] Furthermore, the aforementioned secondary swing arm 220 can also be referred to as the synchronous swing arm 200. The two secondary swing arms 220 on both sides of the shaft cover 100 can drive the two housings 21 to rotate synchronously. Specifically, the hinge assembly 22 may also include a synchronization structure (not shown in the figure). For example, the synchronization structure can be a gear set, which may include an even number of gears meshing sequentially. The two gears at both ends are respectively connected to the two secondary swing arms 220, thereby transmitting rotational force through the gear set. During the rotation of the secondary swing arm 220 on one side of the shaft cover 100, the rotational force can be transmitted to the secondary swing arm 220 on the other side through the gear set, so that the two secondary swing arms 220 rotate synchronously and in opposite directions.

[0108] When the aforementioned electronic device 01 is in the unfolded state, the two door panels 300 are distributed along the Y-axis and cover the shaft cover 100. The surfaces of the two door panels 300 away from the shaft cover 100 are in the same plane, thereby providing support for the second part 12 of the folding screen 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0109] Based on this, please refer to Figures 16 and 17. Figure 16 is an enlarged view of the structure of region B in Figure 15, and Figure 17 is a structural diagram of the support device 20 (including housing 21 and hinge assembly 22) provided in the embodiment of this application between the unfolded state and the folded state.

[0110] The aforementioned secondary swing arm 220 is rotatably connected to the axle cover 100 via a pivot 500. This means the secondary swing arm 220 needs to bypass the sidewall containing the second surface 130 of the axle cover 100 (which extends along the X and Z axes) and extend away from the axle cover 100. Therefore, the portion of the secondary swing arm 220 that bypasses the sidewall of the axle cover 100 forms a protruding structure 221. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, this protruding structure 221 is located between the door panel 300 and the axle cover 100, and the dimension of the protruding structure 221 along the Z-axis is determined by the width dimension of the second surface 130 of the axle cover 100 along the Z-axis.

[0111] During the rotation of the hinge assembly 22 from the unfolded state to the folded state, the door panel 300 rotates with the main swing arm 210. There needs to be a clearance space between the door panel 300 and the protruding structure 221 of the auxiliary swing arm 220 so that the protruding structure 221 and the door panel 300 can avoid each other during the rotation, preventing them from hitting each other and affecting the normal rotation of the hinge assembly 22.

[0112] To create clearance between the door panel 300 and the auxiliary swing arm 220, the distance between them needs to be increased. For example, the door panel 300 can be moved away from the axle cover 100, or the dimension along the Z-axis of the corresponding protruding structure 221 on the axle cover 100 can be reduced (i.e., the width of the second surface 130 along the Z-axis can be reduced) so that the auxiliary swing arm 220 can move away from the door panel 300.

[0113] As a result, the moving door panel 300 will cause the hinge assembly 22 to increase in size along the Z-axis, which increases the thickness of the electronic device 01 and is not conducive to making the electronic device 01 thinner and lighter.

[0114] Furthermore, as can be seen from the above embodiments, the dimension of the shaft cover 100 along the Z-axis direction is related to the width dimension of the shaft cover along the Y-axis direction and the dimension of the housing 21. Reducing only the dimension of the shaft cover 100 along the Z-axis direction may result in a hollow area between the shaft cover 100 and the housing 21 when the electronic device 01 is in a folded state, which exposes the internal structure and is not conducive to the overall aesthetics.

[0115] To address the aforementioned issues, please refer to Figures 18 and 19. Figure 18 is a structural diagram of another support device 20 provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 19 is an exploded view of another support device 20 provided in an embodiment of this application. This hinge assembly 22 can be applied to the aforementioned electronic device 01. The hinge assembly 22 may include a shaft cover 100, a first swing arm 230, a second swing arm 240, a door panel 300, and a connecting block 400. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the shaft cover 100 is covered by two door panels 300 to achieve a better support effect.

[0116] It is understandable that when the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the two door panels 300 covering the axle cover 100 means that the opposite sidewalls of the two door panels 300 can be in contact with each other in most positions. For example, except for the clearance space, the two door panels 300 are close to each other so that the surfaces of the two door panels 300 away from the axle cover can form a complete support surface.

[0117] Alternatively, please refer to Figures 20 and 21. Figure 20 is a partial structural diagram of the support device 20 provided in Figure 18 in an unfolded state, and Figure 21 is a partial structural diagram of the support device 20 provided in Figure 18 in a folded state. In Figure 21, only the components on one side of the shaft cover 100 are shown.

[0118] In some examples, to accommodate assembly errors, when the support device 20 is in the unfolded state, there may be a minimum gap H between the two opposing sidewalls on the two door panels 300. For example, the minimum gap H between the two door panels 300 may be greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1.5 mm, so that the surfaces of the two door panels 300 away from the shaft cover 100 can be on the same plane and provide support for the second part 12 of the folding screen 10. Therefore, this application does not impose any special limitations on this.

[0119] Specifically, the first swing arm 230 and the second swing arm 240 are both rotatably connected to the shaft cover 100. For example, the first swing arm 230 can be rotatably connected to the shaft cover 100 through the aforementioned rotating shaft 500 structure, and the second swing arm 240 can be rotatably connected to the shaft cover 100 through the aforementioned arc groove 110 structure.

[0120] The door panel 300 can be rotatably connected to the second swing arm 240, or it can be fixedly connected to the second swing arm 240. For example, both the door panel 300 and the second swing arm 240 can have the aforementioned threaded holes 211, and be fixedly connected by screws. That is, the second swing arm 240 can drive the door panel 300 to rotate relative to the axle cover 100. Therefore, this application does not make any special limitations in this regard. In the following embodiments, the fixed connection between the door panel 300 and the second swing arm 240 will be used as an example for explanation.

[0121] The edge of the aforementioned door panel 300 may be provided with a clearance notch 310. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the folded state, a portion of the first swing arm 230 extends into the clearance notch 310. That is, the clearance notch 310 can provide clearance for the first swing arm 230, so as to prevent the door panel 300 and the first swing arm 230 from abutting each other during the rotation of the first swing arm 230, so that the hinge assembly 22 can rotate normally.

[0122] It is understandable that, during the rotation of the first swing arm 230, preventing the door panel 300 from contacting the first swing arm 230 means preventing interference between them. For example, if a portion of the first swing arm 230 contacts the surface of the door panel 300, the first swing arm 230 will be unable to continue rotating into the folding state. With the aforementioned clearance notch 310 provided, the two can avoid each other, thereby preventing interference between the door panel 300 and the first swing arm 230 during rotation, allowing the hinge assembly 22 to rotate normally.

[0123] Please refer to Figures 22 and 23. Figure 22 is a CC cross-sectional view of Figure 20, and Figure 23 is a DD cross-sectional view of Figure 21. Figure 23 shows the structure on both sides of the shaft cover 100. The first swing arm 230 can be bent and extended to form a groove 230a. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the edge of the shaft cover 100 extending along its own length direction, that is, the edge of the side wall extending along the X-axis and Z-axis directions, extends into the groove 230a. In other words, the edge of the side wall where the second surface 130 is located can extend into the groove 230a on the first swing arm 230.

[0124] Meanwhile, the groove 230a causes the first swing arm 230 to partially arch and form a protrusion 231. Therefore, when the hinge assembly 22 is in a folded state, the protrusion 231 formed on the first swing arm 230 can extend into the clearance notch 310 on the door panel 300, thereby preventing the door panel 300 from abutting against the first swing arm 230.

[0125] For example, the first swing arm 230 may include a rotating portion 232, a protrusion 231, and a connecting portion 233. The rotating portion 232 is rotatably connected to the shaft cover 100. The protrusion 231 extends by bending to form the aforementioned groove 230a. One end of the protrusion 231 is fixedly connected to the rotating portion 232, and the other end of the protrusion 231 is fixedly connected to the connecting portion 233. The connecting portion 233 may be connected to the housing 21. For example, the connecting portion 233 may be slidably connected to the aforementioned connecting block 400. The connecting block 400 is fixedly connected to the housing 21, that is, the connecting portion 233 is connected to the housing 21 through the connecting block 400.

[0126] Based on this, when the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the side wall of the shaft cover 100 extends into the groove 230a formed on the protrusion 231, that is, the protrusion 231 extends around the side wall of the shaft cover 100 to the outside of the shaft cover 100 and slides in connection with the connecting block 400.

[0127] When the hinge assembly 22 is rotated to the folded state, the protrusion 231 extends into the clearance notch 310 on the door panel 300, thereby preventing the protrusion 231 from abutting against the door panel 300 during the rotation of the hinge assembly 22, so that the hinge assembly 22 can rotate between the unfolded state and the folded state.

[0128] In this way, the door panel 300 and the first swing arm 230 avoid each other by avoiding the notch 310. Therefore, no clearance space needs to be left between the door panel 300 and the first swing arm 230, that is, the distance between the door panel 300 and the first swing arm 230 does not need to be increased. Thus, there is no need to move the door panel 300 away from the axle cover 100, thereby not increasing the thickness of the electronic device 01, which is beneficial for weight reduction. There is also no need to reduce the dimension of the axle cover 100 along the Z-axis, so as to reduce the risk of a gap appearing between the housing 21 and the axle cover 100 when the electronic device 01 is in the folded state, which is beneficial to the overall structural aesthetics and helps to ensure the overall strength of the axle cover 100.

[0129] Based on this, please refer to Figure 24, which is a structural diagram of a first swing arm 230 provided in an embodiment of this application. The first swing arm 230 may include a plurality of protrusions 231, which are all fixed between the rotating part 232 and the connecting part 233. The plurality of protrusions 231 are distributed at intervals along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the first swing arm 230, that is, the plurality of protrusions 231 are distributed at intervals along the X-axis direction.

[0130] Furthermore, please refer to Figures 25, 26, and 27. Figure 25 is a structural diagram of the support device 20 provided in the embodiment of this application; Figure 26 is a structural diagram of the support device 20 provided in Figure 25 in a folded state; and Figure 27 is a structural diagram of the support device 20 provided in Figure 26 in an unfolded state. Figure 25 shows only one door panel 300, including the first swing arm 230 shown in Figure 24; Figure 26 shows only the components on one side of the shaft cover 100.

[0131] The door panel 300 may have multiple clearance notches 310, which are spaced apart along the X-axis. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the folded state, each clearance notch 310 accommodates at least one protrusion 231. In this structure, a support portion 320 can be formed between two adjacent clearance notches 310 on the door panel 300. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the support portion 320 can increase the support surface area formed by the door panel 300, thereby providing more effective support for the folding screen 10 and reducing the risk of the folding screen 10 collapsing during use.

[0132] For example, the number of clearance notches 310 and protrusions 231 can be the same, and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the folded state, the protrusions 231 extend into a corresponding clearance notch 310 to prevent the door panel 300 and the first swing arm 230 from abutting against each other. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, since each clearance notch 310 accommodates only one protrusion 231, it is beneficial to reduce the width of each clearance notch 310 along the X-axis, which is beneficial to increase the width of the support portion 320 along the X-axis, thereby further increasing the support surface area formed by the door panel 300 and improving the support effect on the folding screen 10.

[0133] Furthermore, to enhance the connection strength between the protrusion 231 and the rotating part 232 and the connecting part 233, the width of the protrusion 231 along the X-axis can gradually vary along its extension direction. For example, please refer to FIG28, which is a structural diagram of another first swing arm 230 provided in an embodiment of this application. The width of the protrusion 231 of this first swing arm 230 near the rotating part 232 is greater than the width of the protrusion 231 near the connecting part 233. In this structure, it is beneficial to increase the connection strength between the protrusion 231 and the rotating part 232, thereby reducing the risk of breakage between the rotating part 232 and the protrusion 231 during the rotation of the hinge assembly 22, thus improving the reliability of the overall structure.

[0134] Furthermore, please continue to refer to Figure 28. The width of the protrusion 231 along the X-axis direction can gradually increase. That is, at least one of the two sidewalls of the protrusion 231 distributed along the X-axis direction extends obliquely between the connecting part 233 and the rotating part 232, so that the width of the end of the protrusion 231 near the rotating part 232 is greater than the width of the end of the protrusion 231 near the connecting part 233.

[0135] Alternatively, please refer to Figure 29, which is a structural diagram of another first swing arm 230 provided in an embodiment of this application. The protrusion 231 of the modified first swing arm 230 may include multiple sub-regions, which are sequentially distributed along the direction extending from the connecting portion 233 to the rotating portion 232, and the width of each sub-region increases sequentially, i.e., the sidewalls of the protrusion 231 distributed along the X-axis form a stepped structure. For example, the multiple sub-regions include a first sub-region 231a and a second sub-region 231b. The first sub-region 231a is connected to the rotating portion 232, and the second sub-region 231b is connected to the connecting portion 233. The width of the first sub-region 231a is greater than the width of the second sub-region 231b. Therefore, this application does not impose any special limitations on the specific structural form of the protrusion 231.

[0136] In the above example, the shape of the clearance notch 310 on the door panel 300 can be adapted to the shape of the protrusion 231. For example, if the width of the protrusion 231 gradually changes, the width of the clearance notch 310 along the X-axis direction also gradually changes accordingly. If the protrusion 231 forms multiple sub-regions, the clearance notch 310 can also form corresponding multiple regions.

[0137] In this way, on the one hand, the clearance notch 310 on the door panel 300 can effectively avoid the first swing arm 230, preventing mutual contact and conflict. On the other hand, it can effectively increase the size of the support part 320 on the door panel 300, thereby increasing the support surface area formed by the door panel 300, which is beneficial to ensuring the support effect on the folding screen 10.

[0138] In another example, the multiple protrusions 231 can be configured with different shapes; for example, the widths of the multiple protrusions 231 along the X-axis direction can be different. Please refer to FIG30, which is an exploded view of another first swing arm 230 and door panel 300 provided in an embodiment of this application. The first swing arm 230 has two protrusions 231, which are spaced apart along the X-axis direction, and the widths of the two protrusions 231 along the X-axis direction are different, that is, one is wider and the other is narrower.

[0139] In this way, the width of one protrusion 231 is larger, which helps to improve the connection strength between the connecting part 233 and the rotating part 232. The width of the other protrusion 231 is smaller, which helps to correspondingly reduce the width of the clearance notch 310 on the door panel 300, that is, to increase the width of the support part 320 on the door panel 300. This allows for both increased strength of the first swing arm 230 and increased area of ​​the support surface on the door panel 300.

[0140] Based on this, to further improve the support effect of the door panel 300 on the folding screen 10, please continue to refer to Figure 30 and, in conjunction with Figure 31, which is a structural diagram of another support device 20 (including the first swing arm 230 and the door panel 300 shown in Figure 30) provided in this application embodiment. The clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 on both sides of the shaft cover 100 can also be staggered along the X-axis direction. Therefore, when the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 can be separated to reduce the risk of the clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 facing each other and forming a large area of ​​hollow area.

[0141] In this way, when the electronic device 01 is in the unfolded state, it helps to improve the support effect of the door panel 300 on the second part 12 of the folding screen 10. That is, it reduces the area of ​​the hollow area below the second part 12 of the folding screen 10, thereby reducing the risk of the second part 12 of the folding screen 10 collapsing during use.

[0142] For example, when the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the clearance notch 310 on the door panel 300 can be distributed along the Y-axis direction with the support portion 320 on the other door panel 300, and the clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 are staggered along the X-axis direction, so that the two door panels 300 form multiple small hollow areas on the support surface, avoiding the clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 from forming large hollow areas, thereby improving the support effect on the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0143] In some examples, please refer to Figure 32, which is a structural diagram of another support device 20 provided in the embodiments of this application. The multiple clearance notches 310 opened on the door panel 300 of the support device 20 have the same shape and size, and the clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 are staggered along the X-axis direction, which helps to further reduce the area of ​​the hollow area on the support surface formed by the door panel 300, so as to further improve the support effect on the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0144] Furthermore, to further enhance the support effect on the foldable screen 10, please refer to Figure 33, which is a structural diagram of another support device 20 provided in this embodiment. When the support device 20 is in the unfolded state, the end of the support portion 320 on the door panel 300 can extend into the clearance notch 310 on the other door panel 300. That is, the support portions 320 on the two door panels 300 are staggered and overlapped in sequence along the X-axis direction, thereby further reducing the area of ​​the hollowed-out area on the support surface formed on the two door panels 300, which is beneficial to further enhance the support effect on the second part 12 of the foldable screen 10.

[0145] For example, the number and size of the clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 are the same, that is, the number and size of the support parts 320 on the two door panels 300 are the same. When the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the support parts 320 on the door panel 300 can extend into the clearance notches 310 on the other door panel 300, so that a part of the clearance notch 310 on the door panel 300 is filled by the support parts 320 on the other door panel 300, and the unfilled area in the clearance notch 310 forms a hollow area, thereby reducing the area of ​​the hollow area on the two door panels 300, increasing the support surface area, which is beneficial to improving the support effect on the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0146] It should be noted that the number, size, shape, and correspondence of the clearance notches 310 on the two door panels 300 are not unique, and the above structure is only a partial example. For example, in some other examples, multiple support portions 320 on the other door panel 300 can also extend into the clearance notch 310 on one door panel, that is, only some clearance notches 310 are provided with support portions 320. Moreover, the specific size and shape of the clearance notch 310 can be flexibly adjusted based on the size and shape of the protrusion 231 on the corresponding first swing arm 230. Therefore, this application does not impose any special limitations on this.

[0147] In another possible example, when the hinge assembly 22 is in the unfolded state, the support portion 320 on the door panel 300 can extend into the corresponding clearance notch 310 on the other door panel 300, and the support portion 320 completely fills the corresponding clearance notch 310. That is, the support portions 320 on the two door panels 300 are interleaved and filled with each other, so that there is no hollow area on the support surface formed by the two door panels 300, forming a complete support plane, thereby further improving the support effect on the second part 12 of the folding screen 10.

[0148] Based on the above embodiments, in order to enable the door panels 300 on both sides of the shaft cover 100 to rotate synchronously and in opposite directions during the rotation of the hinge assembly 22 provided in this application embodiment, a synchronization structure can be set between the two first swing arms 230 so that the two first swing arms 230 pass through and rotate in opposite directions, thereby driving the two door panels 300 to rotate synchronously.

[0149] As can be seen from the above example, the synchronization structure can use a gear set formed by an even number of gears meshing sequentially. The gear set transmits rotational force between the two first swing arms 230, so that the two first swing arms 230 can rotate synchronously and in opposite directions. However, the gears are limited by factors such as their own diameter and transmission ratio, which is not conducive to the overall thinning of the hinge assembly 22.

[0150] Based on this, the hinge assembly 22 provided in this application embodiment may further include a connector 600. Please refer to Figures 34, 35, and 36. Figure 34 is a structural diagram of the hinge assembly 22 in an unfolded state provided in this application embodiment, Figure 35 is a structural diagram of the hinge assembly 22 in a folded state provided in this application embodiment, and Figure 36 is an exploded view of the hinge assembly 22 provided in Figures 34 and 35. The connector 600 may include a sliding part 610, a first driving part 620, and a second driving part. Along the width direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction) of the shaft cover 100, the first driving part 620 and the second driving part 630 are respectively fixed to both ends of the sliding part 610.

[0151] The first driving part 620 and the second driving part 630 are respectively distributed along the length direction (i.e., the X-axis direction) of the shaft cover 100 with the corresponding rotating part 232 of the first swing arm 230. The end faces of the first driving part 620 and the corresponding rotating part 232, and the end faces of the second driving part 630 and the corresponding rotating part 232, abut against each other. The end faces of the first driving part 620 and the corresponding rotating part 232 form a first helical surface 621, and the end faces of the second driving part 630 and the corresponding rotating part 232 form a second helical surface 631. The first helical surface 621 and the second helical surface 631 extend in a helical shape around the rotation axis of the corresponding first swing arm 230, and the extension directions of the first helical surface 621 and the second helical surface 631 are opposite.

[0152] Since the two opposing helical surfaces generate a driving force along the axis of rotation when they rotate relative to each other, the two rotating parts 232 can rotate synchronously based on this driving force. Furthermore, since the first helical surface 621 and the second helical surface 631 extend in opposite directions, the two rotating parts 232 can rotate in opposite directions.

[0153] Specifically, the rotating part 232 corresponding to the first driving part 620 is called the first rotating part 232a, and the end faces opposite each other are the first helical surface 621. The rotating part 232 corresponding to the second driving part 630 is called the second rotating part 232b, and the end faces opposite each other are the second helical surface 631.

[0154] In this structure, during the rotation of the hinge assembly 22 from the unfolded state (as shown in Figure 34) to the folded state (as shown in Figure 35), when the first rotating part 232a rotates relative to the shaft cover 100 in the direction a shown in Figure 36, the two first helical surfaces 621 between the first rotating part 232a and the first driving part 620 rotate relative to each other. That is, while the first rotating part 232a rotates relative to the first driving part 620, it can push the first driving part 620 to slide in a direction parallel to the X-axis, as shown in direction c in Figure 36, so that the connecting member 600 slides in direction c, that is, the second driving part 630 slides in direction c.

[0155] When the second driving part 630 slides along direction c, it causes relative rotation between the two second helical surfaces 631. That is, the second driving part 630 drives the second rotating part 232b to rotate along direction b as shown in Figure 36, thereby achieving synchronous rotation of the first rotating part 232a and the second rotating part 232b. At the same time, since the helical directions of the first helical surface 621 and the second helical surface 631 are opposite, the rotation directions of the first rotating part 232a and the second rotating part 232b are opposite (i.e., directions a and b are opposite), thus enabling the first rotating part 232a and the second rotating part 232b to rotate synchronously and in opposite directions.

[0156] Furthermore, the first driving portion 620 of the connector 600 abuts against the first rotating portion 232a, and the second driving portion 630 abuts against the second rotating portion 232b. That is, the radial dimensions of the first driving portion 620 and the second driving portion 630 of the connector 600 can match the rotating portion 232 of the corresponding first swing arm 230. For example, the diameter of the first driving portion 620 is less than or equal to the diameter of the first rotating portion 232a to avoid the first driving portion 620 having a large diameter, which would lead to an increase in size along the Z-axis.

[0157] Meanwhile, the sliding part 610 is used to connect the first driving part 620 and the second driving part 630. The dimension of the sliding part 610 along the Z-axis direction can be smaller than the diameter of the driving part 620, without increasing the dimension of the connector 600 along the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the connector 600 does not increase the dimension of the hinge assembly 22 along the Z-axis direction, which is beneficial to the thinning and lightening of the electronic device 01.

[0158] It is understood that the process of the hinge assembly 22 rotating from the folded state to the unfolded state is the opposite of the rotation process described above, and its movement is far from the same as the example above. Therefore, it will not be described again.

[0159] In some embodiments, to limit the sliding direction of the connector 600, the first driving part 620 and the second driving part 630 can be respectively sleeved on the rotating shafts 500 corresponding to the two first swing arms 230. That is, two rotating shafts 500 are fixedly provided inside the shaft cover 100, both rotating shafts 500 are arranged along the X-axis direction, the rotating parts 232 of the two first swing arms 230 are respectively sleeved on the two rotating shafts 500, and the first driving part 620 and the second driving part 630 are respectively sleeved on the corresponding rotating shafts 500, so that the connector 600 can only slide along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 500, thereby improving the reliability of the overall structure.

[0160] In other embodiments, a limiting structure formed by a groove and a slider can be provided between the connector 600 and the shaft cover 100. One of the groove and the slider is provided on the connector 600, and the other is provided on the shaft cover 100. The groove extends along the X-axis direction, and the slider extends into the groove, thereby limiting the sliding direction of the connector 600. Therefore, this application does not impose any special limitations on this.

[0161] In other embodiments, to ensure that the first driving part 620 can abut against the first rotating part 232a and the second driving part 630 can abut against the second rotating part 232b, the hinge assembly 22 provided in this application embodiment may further include an elastic element 700. The elastic element 700 is provided on the side of the first driving part 620 away from the first rotating part 232a and the side of the second driving part 630 away from the second rotating part 232b, and the elastic element 700 abuts against the inner wall of the first driving part 620 and the shaft cover 100, and between the projection of the second driving part 630 onto the inner wall of the shaft cover 100.

[0162] For example, the elastic element 700 can be a spring, with two springs respectively sleeved on the two rotating shafts 500 and abutting against the first driving part 620 and the second driving part 630. Alternatively, the elastic element 700 can also be a spring sheet or other structural component capable of providing elastic force. Therefore, this application does not impose any special limitations in this regard.

[0163] Based on this, under the elastic force of the elastic element 700, the first driving part 620 and the first rotating part 232a, as well as the second driving part 630 and the second rotating part 232b, abut against each other, preventing them from separating, which helps to improve the reliability of the overall structure.

[0164] Furthermore, a receiving groove 140 can be formed on the aforementioned shaft cover 100. The aforementioned rotating part 232, connecting member 600, elastic member 700, and rotating shaft 500 are all disposed within the receiving groove 140, and the elastic member 700 abuts against the inner wall of the receiving groove 140. This facilitates further reduction of the dimensions of the hinge assembly 22 along the Z-axis, contributing to the thinner and lighter design of the electronic device 01.

[0165] In the description of this specification, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0166] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly, characterized in that, include: Shaft cover; The first swing arm is disposed on both sides of the shaft cover and is rotatably connected to the shaft cover; A door panel is disposed on both sides of the shaft cover, the door panel is rotatable relative to the shaft cover, and the edge of the door panel is provided with a clearance notch; The hinge assembly is rotatable between a folded state and an unfolded state. When the hinge assembly is in the folded state, a portion of the first swing arm extends into the corresponding clearance notch. When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the door panel covers the axle cover.

2. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first swing arm has a protrusion that extends by bending to form a groove. When the hinge assembly is in the folded state, the protrusion extends into the clearance notch. When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, one side edge of the shaft cover, which is distributed opposite to the other side in the width direction, extends into the groove.

3. The hinge assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first swing arm further includes a rotating part and a connecting part. The rotating part is rotatably connected to the shaft cover, and the connecting part is used to connect to the housing of the electronic device. One end of the protrusion is fixedly connected to the rotating part, and the other end of the protrusion is fixedly connected to the connecting part.

4. The hinge assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The first swing arm has a plurality of protrusions, which are spaced apart along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the first swing arm. The door panel has multiple clearance notches, and when the hinge assembly is in the folded state, each clearance notch accommodates at least one protrusion.

5. The hinge assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The number of protrusions is the same as the number of clearance gaps, and they are set in a one-to-one correspondence.

6. The hinge assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, Along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the first swing arm, the widths of the plurality of protrusions are not equal.

7. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that, Along the length of the shaft cover, the width of the end of the protrusion near the rotating part is greater than the width of the end of the protrusion near the connecting part.

8. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that, The hinge assembly further includes a connector that connects between the two rotating parts to enable the two first swing arms to rotate synchronously and in opposite directions.

9. The hinge assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The connector includes a sliding part and two driving parts. Along the width direction of the shaft cover, the two driving parts are respectively fixed to both ends of the sliding part. The driving part and the corresponding rotating part are distributed along the length direction of the shaft cover. The opposite end faces of the driving part and the rotating part abut against each other. The opposite end faces of the driving part and the rotating part extend in a spiral shape around the rotation axis of the first swing arm, and the spiral extension directions of the end faces of the two driving parts are opposite.

10. The hinge assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The hinge assembly further includes an elastic element disposed on the side of the drive portion away from the rotating portion, and the elastic element abuts against the inner wall of the drive portion and the shaft cover.

11. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, Along the length of the shaft cover, the clearance notches on the two door panels are staggered.

12. The hinge assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, Each of the door panels has multiple clearance notches, which are distributed along the length of the shaft cover. A support portion is formed between two adjacent clearance notches. When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, at least a portion of the end of the support portion extends into the clearance notch of another door panel.

13. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The hinge assembly further includes a connecting block for fixed connection with the housing of the electronic device, and the end of the first swing arm away from the axle cover is slidably connected to the connecting block.

14. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that, The hinge assembly further includes a second swing arm, which is distributed along the length of the shaft cover along the first swing arm. One end of the second swing arm is rotatably connected to the shaft cover, and the other end of the second swing arm is rotatably connected to the connecting block.

15. The hinge assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that, The door panel is fixedly connected to the second swing arm.

16. The hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1-15, characterized in that, When the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the minimum gap between the two door panels located on both sides of the axle cover is less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

17. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: The housing, wherein two housings are provided; The hinge assembly is the hinge assembly according to any one of claims 1-16, the hinge assembly is disposed between the two housings, and the end of the first swing arm of the hinge assembly away from the axle cover is connected to the corresponding housing.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, characterized in that, When the hinge assembly is in the folded state, the two housings are arranged opposite each other; the edges of the two housings near the side of the shaft cover overlap with the edges of the shaft cover distributed along the width direction.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, characterized in that, The housing includes a first region and a second region, the thickness of the first region being less than the thickness of the second region; when the hinge assembly is in the unfolded state, the two second regions are respectively located on both sides of the axle cover, and the two first regions are located on the side of the axle cover away from the door panel and cover the axle cover.

Images