CN113055509B - Connecting mechanism, folding device and mobile terminal - Google Patents

Specific applications of the invention include: two folding

50 are arranged, the two folding

50 are respectively arranged as two shells which can be far away from or close to each other in a folding mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone), the flexible display screen covers the two shells, the two shells are mainly used for supporting the flexible display screen, and the two shells can be folded and unfolded under the matching of a connecting mechanism. For example, the maximum unfolded angle of the folded mobile terminal is 180 deg., and the relative angle adjustment range between each housing (the folding body 50) and the connecting

10 will be 0 deg. -90 deg.. The above-mentioned adjusting range is set for adapting to the folding mobile terminal, and the adjusting range of the included angle between the folding

50 and the connecting

10 can be adjusted adaptively according to the requirement.

Referring to fig. 1 to 6, an embodiment of the present invention provides a folding apparatus including a connecting mechanism and two folding

50, wherein the connecting mechanism is connected between the two folding

50, so that the two folding

50 and the connecting mechanism together form a supporting member of a flexible display screen to support the flexible display screen.

The connecting mechanism comprises a connecting

10 and a

20, wherein at least one

50 is connected with the connecting

10 by at least one

20.

In this embodiment, each

50 is connected to the connecting

10 by at least one

20, so as to realize the folding or unfolding of the two

50. The connection between the folding body and the transmission structure will be described below with reference to a folding body and the

20 connected thereto.

Wherein, the

20 is at least partially slidably connected to the connecting

10, the

20 is rotatably connected to the

50, and when the

50 rotates relative to the

20, the

20 slides relative to the connecting

10.

Therefore, by connecting the connecting mechanism between the two folding

50, and connecting the two folding

50 with the connecting

10 through the

20, the transmission structure moves relative to the connecting

10, the distance between the folding

50 and the connecting

10 can be adjusted, so that the flexible display screen can be prevented from being stretched or extruded in the folding or unfolding process, the length of the flexible display screen can be kept unchanged, the service life of the flexible display screen is prolonged, the folding or unfolding of the two folding

50 is realized, and the flexible display screen can be supported in any area after being unfolded, the touch feeling of any area is ensured, and the probability of damage of the flexible display screen is reduced.

It should be noted that, when the connection mechanism is applied to a mobile terminal having a flexible display screen, the

20 is at least partially slidably connected to the connection

10, so that an acting force applied to the flexible display screen during the rotation of the folding

50 can be resolved through the

20, the linear length of the portion of the flexible display screen between the connection

10 and the folding

50 is always kept consistent, and the service life of the flexible display screen is prolonged.

The linear length described above means: the length of a line from the connecting

10 to the

50 along the surface of the flexible display screen. For example, when the flexible display screen has a planar structure, the linear length is a linear length from the connecting

10 to the

50 along the surface of the flexible display screen, and when the flexible display screen is bent to have a curved structure, the linear length is an arc length from the connecting

10 to the

50 along the surface of the flexible display screen.

It should be noted that the sliding connection between the connecting

10 and the

20 can adopt various matching modes, such as: the cooperation mode of slide rail spout, the cooperation mode of guiding hole and guide arm, the cooperation mode of

22 and sliding chamber etc. and concrete structure carries out nimble setting according to actual demand.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the

20 includes:

a fixing part fixed on the connecting

10;

the

22 is slidably connected to the connecting

10, one side of the

22 far away from the connecting

10 is rotatably connected to the

50, and the

22 is at least partially connected with the fixing part.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing portion is configured to cooperate with the

22 to facilitate the relative sliding of the

22 and the connecting

10. The

22 is provided to allow the folding

50 to approach or separate from the connecting

10 while the folding

50 rotates relative to the connecting

10, so as to fold or unfold the flexible display screen accordingly.

It should be noted that the

20 may be configured as a rack and pinion structure, a worm gear structure, or a slide bar structure, and the fixed portion and the

22 are adaptively configured according to the structure.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing portion is configured as a

21, and the

21 is fixed on the connecting

10;

the

22 includes a

22 and a transmission gear set 23, that is, the

20 includes a

21, a

22 and a transmission gear set 23. The sliding

22 is slidably connected to the connecting

10, one side of the sliding

22, which is far away from the connecting

10, is rotatably connected to the

50, the transmission gear set 23 is installed on the sliding

22, and the transmission gear set 23 is meshed with the

21.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the

21 and the transmission gear set 23 are matched to enable the sliding of the

22 to be more stable and controllable, so as to control the

22 to slide toward the preset direction for the preset displacement. The sliding

22 is provided to make the

22 slidably connected with the connecting

10, and specifically, a sliding cavity adapted to the sliding

22 is provided in the connecting

10. Further, the

21 may be arranged inside the sliding cavity, wherein the drive gear set 23 will also be at least partly inside the sliding cavity for better engagement with the

21. The

21 and the transmission gear set 23 may be provided at other positions as required without affecting the sliding of the

22.

the fixed

231 is rotatably connected to the

22 through a

232, the fixed

231 is fixed on the folding

50, that is, the fixed

231 is fixed on the folding

50, rotating holes are respectively formed in the folding

50, the

22 and the fixed

231, and the

232 penetrates through the rotating holes in the folding

50, the

22 and the fixed

231, so that the folding

50 rotates relative to the

22, and the rotating of the folding

50 can drive the fixed

231 to rotate together.

A movable set of teeth comprising at least one gear rotatably connected to the

22, the movable set of teeth being engaged with the fixed

231 and the

21, respectively.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the movable teeth set is mounted on the sliding

22 and can rotate relative to the sliding

22. After the fixed

231 is rotatably connected to the

22 and fixedly connected to the folding

50, the folding

50 can rotate relative to the

232 to drive the fixed

231 to rotate, and then the

231 can transmit the transmission to the movable gear set, because the movable gear set is meshed with the

21, and the

21 is fixed on the connecting

10, when the movable gear set is driven by the fixed

231 to rotate, the movable gear set can move along the arrangement direction of the convex teeth on the

21 through the meshing relationship between the movable gear set and the

21, and at this time, the movable gear set can drive the

22 to slide relative to the connecting

10. Like this when folding

50 rotates around

232 and in order to fold or expand with corresponding realization,

22 also can slide towards folding direction or slide towards the direction of expanding for connecting

10, and then drive folding

50 and do corresponding removal, so that the distance between folding

50 and the connecting

10 diminishes or increases, consequently through making folding

50 remove relative connecting

10 when the pivoted, come to cooperate folding or the expansion of flexible display screen, can avoid producing the drag to the flexible display screen, reduce the damage to the flexible display screen. In addition, the flexible display screen can be folded and unfolded, and meanwhile, any area of support is provided for the flexible display screen in the unfolded state.

Alternatively, in the embodiment of the present invention, the movable gear set includes a

233 and a

234, the

233 is engaged with the fixed

231, one side of the

234 is engaged with the

233, and the other side of the

234 is engaged with the

21.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooperation of the

233 and the

234 may allow the

22 to have a greater sliding distance to better cooperate with the

21 and the fixed

231.

In the case where a single gear is engaged with both the

21 and the fixed

231, when the

22 slides in a direction away from the

50, the fixed

231 is inevitably moved in a direction of the connecting

10, and a larger gear is inevitably provided to provide a sufficient sliding margin to the

22, which inevitably increases the overall volume of the connecting mechanism. The cooperation of a plurality of gears compares and only sets up a gear and can make each gear's size littleer, reduces the occupation space of activity tooth group, and then reduces the size of coupling mechanism's whole volume, also can set up more gears simultaneously as required to make

22 have more slip allowances. The present embodiment proposes a fitting structure of the

233 and the

234.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the plurality of gears can make the arrangement of the movable gear group more flexible, for example, the transmission direction of the gears is changed by structures such as helical gears, worm gears and the like, so that the arrangement positions of the

21 and the fixed gears 231 are diversified, and different matching arrangements are performed according to different use conditions.

Alternatively, in the embodiment of the present invention, the fixed

231 is provided as an incomplete gear structure.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the incomplete gear structure can prevent the fixed

231 from interfering with the flexible display screen, thereby improving the stability of the connection mechanism.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present invention, a limiting

221 is disposed on a side of the

22 away from the fixed

231, and a limiting block adapted to the limiting

221 is disposed on the connecting

10 in the sliding direction of the

22.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the matching arrangement of the limiting

221 and the limiting block can limit the sliding distance of the

22, so that the

22 stops sliding when the

22 slides to a predetermined position.

The sliding distance of the sliding

22 is configured to enable the two folding

50 to rotate by 0 ° to 90 °, so that the included angle between the two folding

50 varies from 0 ° to 180 °, when the included angle is 0 °, the two folding

50 are folded together, and when the included angle is 180 °, the two folding

50 are unfolded.

In the embodiment of the present invention, each folding

50 may be connected to the connecting

10 through a plurality of

20, so that there is a better supporting function between the folding

50.

In other embodiments of the present application, one

50 may be fixedly connected to the connecting

10, and the

50 may be connected to the connecting

10 through a transmission structure, such that the one

50 rotates relative to the

50 to fold the one

50 toward the

50 or unfold away from the other folding body.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the foldable

50 includes a supporting surface and a back surface opposite to the supporting surface, where the supporting surface is a surface for supporting the flexible display. The folding device further comprises a shielding

40, wherein the shielding

40 is located on the back side of the folding

50 and at least partially covers the connecting

10 and the folding

50.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the shielding

40 is provided to prevent impurities such as dust from entering into a gap between the connection mechanism and the foldable

50, thereby preventing the connection mechanism from being damaged and disabled due to dust, and improving the service life of the connection mechanism.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the shielding

40 includes:

a

43, the

43 covering an area between the two folded

50 and being connected with the two folded

50. Thus, a good dust-proof function can be provided on the back surface of the folding

50 by the

43, and the

43 is configured to be a flexible structure, which can be deformed adaptively during the folding or unfolding process of the folding

50 to bend or stretch in cooperation with the action of the folding

50.

Further, the shielding

40 further includes two

41, and the two

41 are movably disposed on the two folding

50 respectively, so that the

41 can slide on the folding

50. For example, the first shielding

41 is a shielding slide plate, the folding

50 is provided with a slide groove, and the first shielding

41 is mounted on the slide groove so that the first shielding

41 slides on the slide groove. Opposite sides of the

43 are respectively connected with two

41 to be connected with the folding

50 through the

41, whereby, when the folding

50 is rotated to be folded or unfolded, a telescopic space can be provided for the

43 when folded or unfolded with the folding

50 by the movement of the

41.

In addition, the shielding

40 may further include a

42, the

42 is disposed on the

43 and connected to the connecting

10, for example, the

42 and the connecting

10 may be slidably connected, and a sliding slot may be disposed on the connecting

10 and inserted into the sliding slot after passing through the

43 by a connecting rod, so as to achieve the sliding connection with the connecting

10. By providing the

42, the middle region of the

43 is prevented from bulging out during deployment.

The folding device further comprises a supporting

30, the supporting

30 is located on one side of the carrying surface of the folding

50, and the supporting

30 is connected between the two folding

50.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the

30 is configured to support the flexible display, so as to ensure that the outer surface of the flexible display is smoother before and after being folded.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the supporting

30 includes a first supporting

31 and a second supporting

32, two first supporting

31 are provided and are respectively connected to the two

50 through a

232, and the second supporting

32 is fixedly connected to the connecting

10.

The edge of the second supporting

32 is provided with a slide rail, and the two first supporting

31 are respectively connected with the slide rail in a sliding manner.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first supporting

31 is configured such that when the connecting

10 and the

50 rotate relatively, the first supporting

31 always supports the flexible display screen. The second supporting

32 is disposed on the connecting

10 and always abuts against the flexible display screen to support the flexible display screen.

It should be noted that, the above-mentioned supporting

30 may be integrated with the connecting mechanism, for example, the first supporting

31 and the

22 are integrated, the first supporting

31 will also move along with the

22 during the movement of the

22, preferably, the first supporting

31 is set as a first supporting arc surface on the

22, the first supporting arc surface is set on one side of the

22 close to the flexible display screen, and multiple groups of connecting mechanisms will have multiple first supporting arc surfaces, so that the multiple first supporting arc surfaces are matched to form a first supporting surface.

32 sets up to set up and supports the circular arc at the second that connecting

10 is close to flexible display screen, and a plurality of coupling mechanism will have a plurality of second and support the circular arc, and a plurality of circular arcs of supporting cooperate and form the second holding surface, and the cooperation of first holding surface and second holding surface can support flexible display screen better.

It should be noted that, after the fixed

231 is set as an incomplete gear, one side close to the flexible display screen is a smooth arc surface, so that the fixed

231 can be prevented from interfering the flexible display screen, and meanwhile, the arc surface can be abutted against the flexible display screen to support the flexible display screen. The supporting surface can be connected with the first supporting surface into a whole so as to further improve the supporting stability of the flexible display screen.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present invention, the shielding

40 further includes a

44, the

44 is disposed on the side surface between the carrying surface and the back surface of the folding

50, and the

44 may also be disposed on two sides of the connecting mechanism along the rotation axis.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the

44 are provided to shield both sides of the connecting mechanism along the rotational axis from dust entering a position between the connecting

10 and the

50 from both sides of the connecting mechanism along the rotational axis.

Further, the shielding

40 further includes a fifth shielding member covering a rear surface of the folding

50, and the coupling mechanism and the folding

50 can be shielded in all directions by the cooperative disposition of the first shielding

41, the

42, the

43, the fourth shielding

44, and the fifth shielding member.

1. A connecting mechanism for enabling folding of a folding body (50), characterized in that it comprises a connecting body (10) and a transmission structure (20);

the transmission structure (20) is at least partially slidably connected to the connecting body (10), the transmission structure (20) is rotatably connected to the folding body (50), and when the folding body (50) rotates relative to the transmission structure (20), the transmission structure (20) slides relative to the connecting body (10);

the transmission structure (20) comprises:

a rack (21), said rack (21) being fixed on said connecting body (10);

the sliding block (22), the sliding block (22) is connected to the connecting main body (10) in a sliding mode, and one side, far away from the connecting main body (10), of the sliding block (22) is connected to the folding main body (50) in a rotating mode;

the transmission gear set (23) is mounted on the sliding block (22), and the transmission gear set (23) is meshed with the rack (21);

the transmission gear set (23) includes:

a fixed gear (231), the fixed gear (231) being fixed on the folding body (50);

a movable set of teeth comprising at least one transmission gear mounted on the slider (22) to mesh with the fixed gear (231) and the rack (21) through the at least one transmission gear.

2. The connecting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movable set of teeth comprises a first gear (233) and a second gear (234), the first gear (233) being engaged with the fixed gear (231), one side of the second gear (234) being engaged with the first gear (233), the other side of the second gear (234) being engaged with the rack (21).

3. The connecting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a limiting groove (221) is provided on a side of the slider (22) away from the folding main body (50), and the connecting main body (10) is provided with a limiting block adapted to the limiting groove (221) in a sliding direction of the slider (22).

4. A folding device, characterized in that it comprises two folding bodies (50) and a connecting mechanism, said connecting mechanism being connected between the two folding bodies (50);

the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting main body (10) and a transmission structure (20), and at least one folding main body (50) is connected with the connecting main body (10) through at least one transmission structure (20);

wherein the transmission structure (20) is at least partially slidably connected to the connecting body (10), the transmission structure (20) is rotatably connected to the folding body (50), and when the folding body (50) rotates relative to the transmission structure (20), the transmission structure (20) slides relative to the connecting body (10);

the transmission structure includes:

a rack (21), said rack (21) being fixed on said connecting body (10);

the sliding block (22), the sliding block (22) is connected to the connecting main body (10) in a sliding mode, and one side, far away from the connecting main body (10), of the sliding block (22) is connected to the folding main body (50) in a rotating mode;

the transmission gear set (23) is mounted on the sliding block (22), and the transmission gear set (23) is meshed with the rack (21);

the transmission gear set (23) includes:

a fixed gear (231), the fixed gear (231) being fixed on the folding body (50);

a movable set of teeth comprising at least one transmission gear mounted on the slider (22) to mesh with the fixed gear (231) and the rack (21) through the at least one transmission gear.

5. The folding device according to claim 4, characterized in that said folding body (50) comprises a bearing surface and a rear surface opposite to said bearing surface, said folding device further comprising a shelter (40), said shelter (40) being located on said rear side of said folding body (50) and at least partially covering said connecting body (10) and said folding body (50).

6. The folding device according to claim 5, characterized in that said shielding structure (40) comprises:

a flexible shield (43), the flexible shield (43) covering the area between the two folded bodies (50) and being connected to the two folded bodies (50).

7. The folding device according to claim 6, characterized in that said shielding structure (40) further comprises two first shields (41) movably arranged on said two folding bodies (50), respectively, opposite sides of said flexible shield (43) being connected to said two first shields (41), respectively, to be connected to said folding bodies (50) through said first shields (41).

8. The folding device of claim 7, characterized in that said folding bodies (50) comprise a bearing surface and a rear surface opposite to said bearing surface, each folding body (50) being connected to said connecting body by at least one of said transmission structures;

the folding device further comprises a supporting structure (30), wherein the supporting structure (30) is positioned on one side of the carrying surface of the folding main body (50), and the supporting structure (30) is connected between the two folding main bodies (50).

9. The folding device of claim 8, characterized in that said supporting structure (30) comprises a first supporting element (31) and a second supporting element (32), said first supporting element (31) being provided in two and being respectively connected to said two folding bodies (50) by means of a rotating shaft (232), said second supporting element (32) being fixedly connected to said connecting body (10);

the edge position of the second supporting piece (32) is provided with a sliding rail, and the two first supporting pieces (31) are respectively connected with the sliding rail in a sliding manner.

10. The folding device according to claim 8, characterized in that said shielding structure (40) further comprises a fourth shield (44), said fourth shield (44) being provided on the side of said folding body (50) between said carrying face and the rear face.

11. The folding device according to claim 4, characterized in that said connecting body (10) is a cavity structure with a hollow interior, said transmission structure (20) being located inside said connecting body.

12. A mobile terminal, characterized in that it comprises a flexible display and a folding device according to any one of claims 4-11.