CN112392853A

CN112392853A - Folding electronic device

Info

Publication number: CN112392853A
Application number: CN201910757387.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 孙惠平; 王纬誌; 温峻宏; 施宥呈; 阙延洲; 何吉泰; 陈冠霖; 陈俊贤; 邹治恒
Original assignee: Acer Inc
Current assignee: Acer Inc
Priority date: 2019-08-16
Filing date: 2019-08-16
Publication date: 2021-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-16
Also published as: CN112392853B

Abstract

The invention provides a folding electronic device, which comprises a first shell, a second shell, a hinge structure and a folding screen. The hinge structure connects the first housing and the second housing. The hinge structure comprises a plurality of supporting blocks, a plurality of first hinge blocks and a plurality of second hinge blocks. The support blocks are juxtaposed between the first housing and the second housing. The first hinge blocks and the second hinge blocks are respectively arranged at two sides of the supporting blocks. Two adjacent support blocks are connected to each other by a first hinge block. Two adjacent support blocks are connected to each other by a second hinge block. The folding screen comprises a first combination part fixed on the first shell, a second combination part fixed on the second shell and a bending part positioned on the hinge structure.

Description

Folding electronic device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to a foldable electronic device.

Background

With the development of display technology, the technology of the foldable screen is mature day by day, and in recent years, the electronic industry has no more active investment in the development and application of the foldable screen. Taking the foldable screen integrated in a smart phone, a tablet computer or a notebook computer as an example, the foldable screen mostly adopts an outward folding design and an inward folding design, wherein the outward folding design refers to a design in which the display surface of the folded foldable screen faces outward, and the inward folding design refers to a design in which the display surface of the folded foldable screen faces inward. However, the unfolded foldable screen mostly has a problem of poor flatness, and thus how to improve the flatness of the unfolded foldable screen is a problem to be overcome at present.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a folding electronic device, and a folding screen after being unfolded has good flatness.

The folding electronic device comprises a first shell, a second shell, a hinge structure and a folding screen. The hinge structure is arranged between the first casing and the second casing and is connected with the first casing and the second casing. The hinge structure comprises a plurality of supporting blocks, a plurality of first hinge blocks and a plurality of second hinge blocks. The support blocks are juxtaposed between the first housing and the second housing. The first hinge blocks are arranged at one side of the support blocks, wherein two adjacent support blocks are connected with each other through one first hinge block, and the first hinge blocks are rotatably and slidably connected with the support blocks. The second hinge blocks are arranged at the other side of the support blocks, wherein two adjacent support blocks are connected with each other through one second hinge block, and the second hinge blocks are rotatably and slidably connected with the support blocks. The foldable screen comprises a first combination part fixed on the first casing, a second combination part fixed on the second casing and a bending part positioned between the first combination part and the second combination part, wherein the bending part is opposite to the hinge structure.

Based on the above, the hinge structure of the foldable electronic device of the present invention can be switched between the folded state and the unfolded state, and the foldable screen can be driven by the hinge structure to be folded or unfolded. Specifically, in the process of converting the hinge structure from the bending state to the unfolding state, the hinge structure generates a moving stroke in the horizontal direction, and accordingly the foldable screen is driven to be unfolded, so that the foldable screen converted to the unfolding state has good flatness.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a schematic partial side view of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 1B is a schematic partial side view of the foldable electronic device in fig. 1A converted to an unfolded state;

FIG. 2A is a partial schematic view of the hinge structure of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2B is a schematic partially exploded view of the hinge structure of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a partial bottom schematic view of the hinge structure of FIG. 2A;

fig. 3A is a schematic partial side view of a foldable electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention in a folded state; fig. 3B is a partial side view of the foldable electronic device of fig. 3A converted to an unfolded state;

FIG. 4A is a partial schematic view of the hinge structure of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 4B is a schematic partially exploded view of the hinge structure of FIG. 4A;

fig. 4C is a partial bottom schematic view of the hinge structure of fig. 4A.

The reference numbers illustrate:

10. 10A: folding electronic device

11: first housing

12: second casing

13: folding screen

13 a: a first combining part

13 b: second joint part

13 c: a bent part

13 d: display surface

100. 200: hinge structure

101: sliding chute

110. 210: supporting block

111: supporting convex arc surface

112. 212, and (3): first inclined plane

113. 213: second inclined plane

114a, 214 a: first connecting part

114b, 214 b: second connecting part

120. 220, and (2) a step of: first hinge block

130. 230: second hinge block

140: shaft lever

141: first end

142: second end

150: first shaft sleeve

160: second shaft sleeve

170: reinforcement piece

171: the first fixed end

172: second fixed end

180: first positioning pin

181: second positioning pin

182: first elastic member

183: second elastic member

184: third positioning pin

185: fourth positioning pin

201: first chute

202: second chute

203: synchronous gear part

210 a: shaft part

211: support plane

215: gear part

240: positioning plate

241: first positioning chute

242: second positioning chute

250: shaft sleeve

HD: in the horizontal direction

Detailed Description

Fig. 1A is a partial side view of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1B is a partial side view of the foldable electronic device of fig. 1A converted to an unfolded state. Fig. 2A is a partial schematic view of the hinge structure of fig. 1B. Fig. 2B is a partially exploded schematic view of the hinge structure of fig. 2A. Fig. 2C is a partial bottom schematic view of the hinge structure of fig. 2A. For the sake of illustration, the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are shown in dashed lines in the drawings.

First, referring to fig. 1A and fig. 1B, in the present embodiment, the foldable electronic device 10 may be integrated into a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer or a display, wherein the foldable electronic device 10 includes a first housing 11, a second housing 12, a foldable screen 13 and a hinge structure 100, and the hinge structure 100 is disposed between the first housing 11 and the second housing 12. The hinge structure 100 is configured to connect the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, wherein the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 can not only rotate relatively through the hinge structure 100, but also move in the horizontal direction HD under the driving of the hinge structure 100.

Specifically, the foldable screen 13 includes a first coupling portion 13a, a second coupling portion 13b, and a bending portion 13c, the first coupling portion 13a is fixed to the first housing 11, and the second coupling portion 13b is fixed to the second housing 12. The bending portion 13c is located between the first combining portion 13a and the second combining portion 13b, and is aligned to the hinge structure 100. For example, the foldable screen 13 is folded outward, so the bent portion 13c is located right above the hinge structure 100, and the display surface 13d of the foldable screen 13 faces outward no matter the foldable screen 13 is in the folded state or the unfolded state.

As shown in fig. 1A, the hinge structure 100 is in a bent state and has a generally arch-shaped structure. Since the bent portion 13c is supported by the hinge structure 100, the bent portion 13c is bent to conform to the geometric contour of the hinge structure 100. As shown in fig. 1B, the hinge structure 100 is in an unfolded state and is substantially a beam-shaped structure. Since the bent portion 13c is supported by the hinge structure 100, the bent portion 13c is flattened along the geometric contour of the hinge structure 100.

Further, while the hinge structure 100 is switched from the folded state to the unfolded state, the distance between the two ends of the hinge structure 100 gradually increases in the horizontal direction HD, and the distance between the first housing 11 fixed to one of the two ends and the second housing 12 fixed to the other of the two ends also gradually increases. Accordingly, the bent portion 13c is pulled by the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 to be unfolded, so that the unfolded foldable screen 13 has good flatness. Conversely, during the transition of the hinge structure 100 from the unfolded state to the folded state, the distance between the two ends of the hinge structure 100 gradually decreases in the horizontal direction HD, and the distance between the first housing 11 fixed to one of the two ends and the second housing 12 fixed to the other of the two ends also gradually decreases. Accordingly, the bent portion 13c is pressed by the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 and pushed by the hinge structure 100 to be bent.

Referring to fig. 1A to 2C, in the present embodiment, the hinge structure 100 includes a plurality of supporting blocks 110, a plurality of first hinge blocks 120, and a plurality of second hinge blocks 130, wherein the supporting blocks 110 are juxtaposed between the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, and the first hinge blocks 120 and the second hinge blocks 130 are respectively arranged at two sides of the supporting blocks 110. Specifically, the number of the first hinge blocks 120 is equal to the number of the second hinge blocks 130, and the structural design of the first hinge blocks 120 is the same as that of the second hinge blocks 130. The first hinge blocks 120 and the second hinge blocks 130 are arranged in a one-to-one configuration, and one first hinge block 120 and one second hinge block 130 are arranged in a pair to connect two adjacent support blocks 110.

Each first hinge block 120 may be generally divided into two halves, wherein the two halves are respectively overlapped with the two adjacent support blocks 110, and the two halves are respectively rotatably and slidably connected with the two adjacent support blocks 110. On the other hand, each of the second hinge blocks 130 may be roughly divided into two halves, wherein the two halves are respectively overlapped with the two adjacent support blocks 110, and the two halves are respectively rotatably and slidably connected with the two adjacent support blocks 110. That is, the adjacent two support blocks 110 can be moved close to and apart from each other by rotating and sliding a first hinge block 120 and a second hinge block 130, which are provided in pair, relative to each other.

Each of the supporting blocks 110 has supporting convex arc surfaces 111, and the bent portions 13c of the folding screen 13 contact the supporting convex arc surfaces 111 of the supporting blocks 110. As shown in fig. 1A, the hinge structure 100 is in a bent state, and the supporting convex arc surfaces 111 of the supporting blocks 110 are connected to form an arc surface. Since the bent portion 13c is supported by the supporting convex arc surfaces 111 of the supporting blocks 110, the bent portion 13c is bent in conformity with the arc surfaces formed by joining the supporting convex arc surfaces 111.

The supporting block 110 of one of the adjacent two supporting blocks 110 has a first inclined surface 112, and the other of the adjacent two supporting blocks 110 has a second inclined surface 113 facing the first inclined surface 112. On the other hand, the first inclined surface 112 and the second inclined surface 113 of each supporting block 110 are respectively connected to both sides of the supporting convex arc surface 111. In the unfolded state shown in fig. 1B, the first inclined surface 112 of one of the two adjacent supporting blocks 110 is separated from the second inclined surface 113 of the other of the two adjacent supporting blocks 110, and a normal vector of the first inclined surface 112 intersects a normal vector of the second inclined surface 113. In the bent state shown in fig. 1A, the first inclined surface 112 of one of the two adjacent support blocks 110 completely abuts against the second inclined surface 113 of the other of the two adjacent support blocks 110, and a normal vector of the first inclined surface 112 is parallel to a normal vector of the second inclined surface 113.

That is, in a geometrical outline, the first inclined surface 112 of one of the adjacent two supporting blocks 110 is fitted with the second inclined surface 113 of the other of the adjacent two supporting blocks 110. Accordingly, after the hinge structure 100 is converted to the bending state, the supporting convex curved surfaces 111 can be connected to form an arc-shaped surface, so that the bent portion 13c has a smooth curvature.

In the present embodiment, each of the first hinge blocks 120 and each of the second hinge blocks 130 have two sliding slots 101 symmetrically disposed, and the moving stroke and the rotating stroke of the supporting blocks 110 are determined by the sliding slots 101 of the first hinge blocks 120 and the second hinge blocks 130. Specifically, the hinge structure 100 further includes a plurality of shafts 140, wherein the shafts 140 pass through the supporting blocks 110, and two adjacent shafts 140 arranged in pairs respectively pass through two adjacent supporting blocks 110. More specifically, each shaft 140 has a first end 141 and a second end 142 opposite to each other, wherein the first end 141 is configured to be inserted into one sliding slot 101 of the first hinge block 120, and the second end 142 is configured to be inserted into one sliding slot 101 of the second hinge block 130.

The two adjacent supporting blocks 110 are located between a first hinge block 120 and a second hinge block 130 which are arranged in pair, and the first hinge block 120 and the second hinge block 130 which are arranged in pair are used for sleeving two adjacent shaft rods 140 which are arranged in pair. In the two adjacent supporting blocks 110, the two first ends 141 of the two shaft rods 140 are inserted into the two sliding slots 101 of the first hinge block 120, and the two second ends 142 of the two shaft rods 140 are inserted into the two sliding slots 101 of the second hinge block 130. Specifically, two adjacent supporting blocks 110 are connected to each other by two shaft rods 140 disposed in pair and a first hinge block 120 and a second hinge block 130 disposed in pair, and the supporting blocks 110 can relatively rotate and slide by the engagement of the shaft rods 140 and the sliding grooves 101.

Taking any one of the first hinge blocks 120 or any one of the second hinge blocks 130 as an example, in the bent state shown in fig. 1A, the two shaft rods 140 are respectively located at the inner ends of the two sliding grooves 101. On the contrary, in the unfolded state shown in fig. 1B, the two shafts 140 are respectively located at the outer ends of the two sliding grooves 101. Specifically, one end of each sliding groove 101 near the geometric center of the corresponding first hinge block 120 or the corresponding second hinge block 130 is regarded as an inner end, and the other end of each sliding groove 101 away from the geometric center of the corresponding first hinge block 120 or the corresponding second hinge block 130 is regarded as an outer end.

The hinge structure 100 further includes a plurality of first bushings 150 and a plurality of second bushings 160, wherein two ends of each shaft 140 are respectively sleeved with one first bushing 150 and one second bushing 160, and the first bushings 150 and the second bushings 160 can be used for providing positioning torsion for the shafts 140, so that the hinge structure 100 is temporarily fixed in a bending state, an unfolding state or a transition state between the bending state and the unfolding state. For example, a portion of the first bushings 150 is located between a portion of the first hinge blocks 120 and the support blocks 110, and another portion of the first hinge blocks 120 is located between another portion of the first bushings 150 and the support blocks 110. A portion of the second bushings 160 is located between a portion of the second hinge blocks 130 and the support blocks 110, and another portion of the second hinge blocks 130 is located between another portion of the second bushings 160 and the support blocks 110.

Specifically, one of the adjacent second hinge blocks 130 contacts the adjacent two support blocks 110 through the two first bushings 150, and the other of the adjacent second hinge blocks 130 directly contacts the adjacent other two support blocks 110. That is, the two adjacent second hinge blocks 130 are offset from each other, and thus, the two adjacent second hinge blocks 130 do not collide with each other due to rotation and sliding.

Referring to fig. 1A to 2C, in the present embodiment, two of the supporting blocks 110 are respectively connected to the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, wherein the supporting block 110 connected to the first housing 11 has a first connecting portion 114a, and the other supporting block 110 connected to the second housing 12 has a second connecting portion 114 b. The hinge structure 100 further comprises a reinforcing member 170, wherein the reinforcing member 170 may comprise two ropes, and the ropes may be made of metal, alloy, memory alloy or other high-strength and high-toughness materials. The reinforcing member 170 passes through the supporting blocks 110, and the extending direction of the reinforcing member 170 may be perpendicular to the extending direction of the shafts 140. The reinforcing member 170 has a first fixed end 171 and a second fixed end 172 opposite to each other, wherein the first fixed end 171 is connected to the first connecting portion 114a, and the second fixed end 172 is connected to the second connecting portion 114 b. The reinforcing member 170 may be used to connect and support the supporting blocks 110 to prevent the supporting blocks 110 in the bent state or the unfolded state from collapsing.

The hinge structure 100 further includes a first positioning pin 180, a second positioning pin 181, a first elastic member 182, a second elastic member 183, a third positioning pin 184, and a fourth positioning pin 185, wherein the first positioning pin 180 and the second positioning pin 181 respectively penetrate through the first connecting portion 114a and the second connecting portion 114b, the first fixing end 171 is fixed to the first positioning pin 180 in a winding manner, and the second fixing end 172 is fixed to the second positioning pin 181 in a winding manner. Specifically, the third positioning pin 184 is inserted into the first fixing end 171 and the first positioning pin 180 to fix the first fixing end 171 to the first positioning pin 180. The fourth positioning pin 185 is inserted into the second fixing end 172 and the second positioning pin 181 to fix the second fixing end 172 to the second positioning pin 181.

On the other hand, the first elastic element 182 is clamped between the first connecting portion 114a and the first positioning pin 180, and the second elastic element 183 is clamped between the second connecting portion 114b and the second positioning pin 181. During the period when the hinge structure 100 is converted from the bending state to the unfolding state or from the unfolding state to the bending state, in the horizontal direction HD, the distance between the two ends (i.e., the first connecting portion 114a and the second connecting portion 114b) of the hinge structure 100 is increased or decreased, so as to drive the reinforcing member 170 to generate elastic deformation, so that the length of the reinforcing member 170 is changed. During the period when the reinforcing member 170 is elastically deformed (or the length of the reinforcing member 170 is changed), the first fixing end 171 drives the first positioning pin 180 to rotate relative to the first connecting portion 114a, and the second fixing end 172 drives the second positioning pin 181 to rotate relative to the second connecting portion 114 b. The first positioning pin 180 during rotation drives the first elastic member 182 to generate elastic deformation, and the second positioning pin 181 during rotation drives the second elastic member 183 to generate elastic deformation. Accordingly, the elastic restoring force of the first elastic member 182 can provide the kinetic energy of the first positioning pin 180 rotating (return), and the second elastic member 183 can provide the kinetic energy of the second positioning pin 181 rotating (return), so as to compensate the length difference between the bending state and the unfolding state of the reinforcing member 170.

Fig. 3A is a partial side view of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3B is a partial side view of the foldable electronic device of fig. 3A converted to an unfolded state. Fig. 4A is a partial schematic view of the hinge structure of fig. 3B. Fig. 4B is a partially exploded schematic view of the hinge structure of fig. 4A. Fig. 4C is a partial bottom schematic view of the hinge structure of fig. 4A. For the sake of illustration, the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are shown in dashed lines in the drawings.

First, referring to fig. 3A and fig. 3B, in the present embodiment, the foldable electronic device 10A may be integrated into a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer or a display, wherein the foldable electronic device 10A includes a first housing 11, a second housing 12, a foldable screen 13 and a hinge structure 200, and the hinge structure 200 is disposed between the first housing 11 and the second housing 12. The hinge structure 200 is configured to connect the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, wherein the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 can not only rotate relatively through the hinge structure 200, but also move in the horizontal direction HD under the driving of the hinge structure 200.

Specifically, the foldable screen 13 includes a first coupling portion 13a, a second coupling portion 13b, and a bending portion 13c, the first coupling portion 13a is fixed to the first housing 11, and the second coupling portion 13b is fixed to the second housing 12. The bending portion 13c is located between the first combining portion 13a and the second combining portion 13b, and is aligned with the hinge structure 200. For example, the foldable screen 13 is folded outward, so the bent portion 13c is located right above the hinge structure 200, and the display surface 13d of the foldable screen 13 faces outward no matter the foldable screen 13 is in the folded state or the unfolded state.

As shown in fig. 3A, the hinge structure 200 is in a bent state and has a generally arch-shaped structure. Since the bent portion 13c is supported by the hinge structure 200, the bent portion 13c is bent to conform to the geometric contour of the hinge structure 200. As shown in fig. 3B, the hinge structure 200 is in a deployed state and is substantially a beam-shaped structure. Since the bent portion 13c is supported by the hinge structure 200, the bent portion 13c is flattened along the geometric contour of the hinge structure 200.

Further, while the hinge structure 200 is converted from the folded state to the unfolded state, the distance between the two ends of the hinge structure 200 gradually increases in the horizontal direction HD, and the distance between the first housing 11 fixed to one of the two ends and the second housing 12 fixed to the other of the two ends also gradually increases. Accordingly, the bent portion 13c is pulled by the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 to be unfolded, so that the unfolded foldable screen 13 has good flatness. Conversely, during the transition of the hinge structure 200 from the unfolded state to the folded state, the distance between the two ends of the hinge structure 200 gradually decreases in the horizontal direction HD, and the distance between the first housing 11 fixed to one of the two ends and the second housing 12 fixed to the other of the two ends also gradually decreases. Accordingly, the bent portion 13c is pressed by the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 and pushed by the hinge structure 200 to be bent.

Referring to fig. 3A to 4C, in the present embodiment, the hinge structure 200 includes a plurality of supporting blocks 210, a plurality of first hinge blocks 220, and a plurality of second hinge blocks 230, wherein the supporting blocks 210 are juxtaposed between the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, and the first hinge blocks 220 and the second hinge blocks 230 are respectively arranged at two sides of the supporting blocks 210. Specifically, the number of the first hinge blocks 220 may be greater than the number of the second hinge blocks 230, and the structural design of the first hinge blocks 220 is the same as that of the second hinge blocks 230. The first hinge blocks 220 and the second hinge blocks 230 are disposed in a staggered manner, and if two adjacent support blocks 210 are regarded as a group, the first hinge block 220 connects the two support blocks 210 in the previous group, and the second hinge block 230 connects the two support blocks 210 in the next group.

Each first hinge block 220 may be generally divided into two halves, wherein the two halves are respectively overlapped with the two adjacent support blocks 210, and the two halves are respectively rotatably and slidably connected with the two adjacent support blocks 210. On the other hand, each of the second hinge blocks 230 may be generally divided into two halves, wherein the two halves overlap with the two adjacent support blocks 210 respectively, and the two halves are rotatably and slidably connected with the two adjacent support blocks 210 respectively. That is, the adjacent two support blocks 210 may be relatively rotated and slid by a first hinge block 220 or a second hinge block 230 to move close to and apart from each other.

Each of the supporting blocks 210 has supporting planes 211, and the bending part 13c of the folding screen 13 contacts the supporting planes 211 of the supporting blocks 210. As shown in fig. 3A, the hinge structure 200 is in a bent state, and any two adjacent supporting blocks 210 abut against each other, so that the supporting planes 211 are approximately arc-shaped. Since the bent portion 13c is supported by the supporting planes 211 of the supporting blocks 210, the bent portion 13c is bent in conformity with the arc-shaped planes approximated to the supporting planes 211.

The support block 210 of one of the adjacent two support blocks 210 has a first inclined surface 212, and the other of the adjacent two support blocks 210 has a second inclined surface 213 facing the first inclined surface 212. On the other hand, the first inclined surface 212 and the second inclined surface 213 of each supporting block 210 are respectively connected to both sides of the supporting plane 211. In the unfolded state shown in fig. 3B, the first inclined surface 212 of one of the two adjacent support blocks 210 is separated from the second inclined surface 213 of the other of the two adjacent support blocks 210, and the normal vector of the first inclined surface 212 intersects the normal vector of the second inclined surface 213. In the bent state shown in fig. 3A, the first inclined surface 212 of one of the two adjacent support blocks 210 completely abuts against the second inclined surface 213 of the other of the two adjacent support blocks 210, and a normal vector of the first inclined surface 212 is parallel to a normal vector of the second inclined surface 213.

That is, in a geometrical outline, the first inclined surface 212 of one of the two adjacent supporting blocks 210 is fitted with the second inclined surface 213 of the other of the two adjacent supporting blocks 210. Accordingly, after the hinge structure 200 is converted to the bending state, the supporting planes 211 can be approximately arc-shaped, so that the bent portion 13c has a smooth curvature.

In this embodiment, each of the first hinge blocks 220 and each of the second hinge blocks 230 has two first sliding slots 201 symmetrically disposed and two second sliding slots 202 symmetrically disposed between the two first sliding slots 201, and the moving stroke and the rotating stroke of the support blocks 210 are determined by the first sliding slots 201 and the second sliding slots 202 of the first hinge blocks 220 and the second hinge blocks 230. Specifically, each support block 210 includes a plurality of shaft portions 210 a. In each supporting block 210, two of the shaft portions 210a are arranged in groups and protrude from one side of the supporting block 210, and the other two of the shaft portions 210a are arranged in groups and protrude from the other side of the supporting block 210. The two shaft portions 210a arranged in a group are arranged side by side.

If two adjacent support blocks 210 are considered as one group, the two support blocks 210 in the previous group are connected by a first hinge block 220, and the two support blocks 210 in the next group are connected by a second hinge block 230. For the two support blocks 210 in the previous group, two of the four shaft portions 210a pass through the two second slide slots 202 of one first hinge block 220, respectively, and the other two of the four shaft portions 210a pass through the two first slide slots 201 of one first hinge block 220, respectively. For the two support blocks 210 in the next group, two of the four shaft portions 210a pass through the two second slide grooves 202 of one second hinge block 230, respectively, and the other two of the four shaft portions 210a pass through the two first slide grooves 201 of one second hinge block 230, respectively. Accordingly, two adjacent supporting blocks 210 can rotate and slide relatively through the cooperation of two shaft portions 210a and two first sliding grooves 201 and the cooperation of the other two shaft portions 210a and two second sliding grooves 202.

On the other hand, in two adjacent supporting blocks 210, the two second sliding grooves 202 are closer to the rotation reference of the two supporting blocks 210 than the two first sliding grooves 201, so the length of each first sliding groove 201 is designed to be larger than the length of each second sliding groove 202, thereby compensating the difference between the rotation and sliding strokes of the two shaft portions 210a in the same group.

Taking any one of the first hinge blocks 220 or any one of the second hinge blocks 230 as an example, in the bent state shown in fig. 3A, two shaft portions 210a are respectively located at the inner ends of the two first sliding slots 201, and the other two shaft portions 210a are respectively located at the inner ends of the two second sliding slots 202. On the contrary, in the unfolded state shown in fig. 3B, two shaft portions 210a are respectively located at the outer ends of the two first sliding grooves 201, and the other two shaft portions 210a are respectively located at the outer ends of the two second sliding grooves 202. Specifically, one end of each first sliding slot 201 near the geometric center of the corresponding first hinge block 220 or the corresponding second hinge block 230 is regarded as an inner end, and the other end of each second sliding slot 202 far from the geometric center of the corresponding first hinge block 220 or the corresponding second hinge block 230 is regarded as an outer end.

In this embodiment, the hinge structure 200 further includes a plurality of positioning plates 240, wherein a portion of the positioning plates 240 is located at one side of the first hinge blocks 220, and the first hinge blocks 220 are located between a portion of the positioning plates 240 and the supporting blocks 210. Another portion of the positioning plates 240 is located at one side of the second hinge blocks 230, and the second hinge blocks 230 are located between another portion of the positioning plates 240 and the supporting blocks 210. Specifically, the positioning plates 240 may be used to position the first hinge blocks 220 and the second hinge blocks 230 and ensure that the first hinge blocks 220 and the second hinge blocks 230 contact the support blocks 210.

Each positioning plate 240 has two first positioning sliding slots 241 symmetrically disposed and two second positioning sliding slots 242 symmetrically disposed between the two first positioning sliding slots 241, wherein each positioning plate 240 can be roughly divided into two halves, and each half is provided with one first positioning sliding slot 241 and one second positioning sliding slot 242. For at least one of the positioning plates 240, a half of the positioning plate 240 overlaps a first hinge block 220 or a second hinge block 230. For at least one of the positioning plates 240, two halves of the positioning plate 240 are respectively overlapped with two adjacent first hinge blocks 220 or two adjacent second hinge blocks 230. In the two adjacent supporting blocks 210, two of the four shaft portions 210a respectively pass through the two first positioning sliding slots 241 of one positioning plate 240, and the other two of the four shaft portions 210a respectively pass through the two second positioning sliding slots 242 of one positioning plate 240.

Regarding the overlapped positioning plates 240 and the first hinge blocks 220 or the overlapped positioning plates 240 and the second hinge blocks 230, the first positioning sliding slots 241 are overlapped with the second sliding slots 202, and the second positioning sliding slots 242 are overlapped with the first sliding slots 201. Further, the shaft portions 210a passing through the second sliding slots 202 further pass through the first positioning sliding slots 241, and the shaft portions 210a passing through the first sliding slots 201 further pass through the second positioning sliding slots 242.

In two adjacent first hinge blocks 220, the two second positioning sliding slots 242 are closer to the rotation reference of the two first hinge blocks 220 than the two first positioning sliding slots 241, so the length of each first positioning sliding slot 241 is designed to be larger than the length of each second positioning sliding slot 242, thereby compensating the difference between the rotation and sliding strokes of the two shaft parts 210a in the same group. In two adjacent second hinge blocks 230, the two second positioning sliding slots 242 are closer to the rotation reference of the two second hinge blocks 230 than the two first positioning sliding slots 241, so the length of each first positioning sliding slot 241 is designed to be larger than the length of each second positioning sliding slot 242, thereby compensating the difference between the rotation and sliding strokes of the two shaft portions 210a in the same group.

In this embodiment, the hinge structure 200 further includes a plurality of bushings 250, wherein one bushing 250 is sleeved at the end of each shaft portion 210a, and the bushings 250 are used for positioning the first hinge blocks 220, the second hinge blocks 230 and the positioning plates 240. Further, a portion of the positioning plates 240 is positioned between a portion of the bushings 250 and the first hinge blocks 220, and another portion of the positioning plates 240 is positioned between another portion of the bushings 250 and the second hinge blocks 230. On the other hand, a portion of the positioning plates 240 and the first hinge blocks 220 are positioned between a portion of the shaft sleeves 250 and the supporting blocks 210, and another portion of the positioning plates 240 and the second hinge blocks 230 are positioned between another portion of the shaft sleeves 250 and the supporting blocks 210.

For example, the bushings 250 can be used to provide positioning torsion to the shaft portions 210a so as to temporarily fix the hinge structure 200 in the bent state, the unfolded state, or a transition state between the bent state and the unfolded state.

In the embodiment, two of the supporting blocks 210 are respectively connected to the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, wherein the supporting block 210 connected to the first housing 11 has a first connecting portion 214a, and the other supporting block 210 connected to the second housing 12 has a second connecting portion 214 b. On the other hand, each of the support blocks 210 includes two gear portions 215, wherein the two gear portions 215 protrude from both sides of the support block 210, respectively. Each of the first hinge blocks 220 and each of the second hinge blocks 230 includes two timing gear portions 203 symmetrically disposed to be engaged with the gear portions 215 of the support blocks 210.

In the two adjacent support blocks 210, the gear portion 215 of one support block 210 is adjacent to the gear portion 215 of the other support block 210, and the two synchronizing gear portions 203 of one first hinge block 220 are respectively engaged with the two gear portions 215. Based on the design that the two synchronous gear portions 203 of the first hinge block 220 are respectively engaged with the two gear portions 215 of the two adjacent support blocks 210, the two adjacent support blocks 210 can rotate and move along two different directions, and the rotation and the movement of the two adjacent support blocks 210 are synchronous, so that the rotation amount and the movement amount of the two support blocks 210 can be ensured to be consistent.

In the two adjacent support blocks 210, the gear portion 215 of one support block 210 is adjacent to the gear portion 215 of the other support block 210, and the two synchronizing gear portions 203 of one second hinge block 230 are respectively engaged with the two gear portions 215. Based on the design that the two synchronous gear portions 203 of the second hinge block 230 respectively engage with the two gear portions 215 of the two adjacent support blocks 210, the two adjacent support blocks 210 can rotate and move along two different directions, and the rotation and movement of the two adjacent support blocks 210 are synchronous, so that the rotation amount and the movement amount of the two support blocks 210 can be ensured to be consistent.

In summary, the hinge structure of the foldable electronic device of the present invention can be switched between the folded state and the unfolded state, and the foldable screen can be driven by the hinge structure to be folded or unfolded. Specifically, the hinge structure comprises a plurality of supporting blocks and a plurality of hinge blocks, wherein each hinge block is configured to connect two adjacent supporting blocks, and one hinge block and one supporting block which are connected with each other have freedom of movement of relative rotation and sliding. Therefore, in the process of converting the hinge structure from the bending state to the unfolding state, the hinge structure can generate a moving stroke in the horizontal direction, and accordingly the foldable screen is driven to be unfolded, so that the foldable screen converted to the unfolding state has good flatness.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing;

a hinge structure disposed between the first housing and the second housing and connecting the first housing and the second housing, wherein the hinge structure includes:

a plurality of support blocks juxtaposed between the first housing and the second housing;

a plurality of first hinge blocks arranged at one side of the plurality of support blocks, wherein two adjacent support blocks are connected with each other by one first hinge block, and the plurality of first hinge blocks are rotatably and slidably connected with the plurality of support blocks; and

a plurality of second hinge blocks arranged at the other side of the plurality of support blocks, wherein two adjacent support blocks are connected to each other by one second hinge block, and the plurality of second hinge blocks rotatably and slidably connect the plurality of support blocks; and

the foldable screen comprises a first combination part fixed on the first shell, a second combination part fixed on the second shell and a bending part positioned between the first combination part and the second combination part, wherein the bending part is oppositely positioned on the hinge structure.

2. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge structure further comprises a plurality of shafts, and the plurality of shafts pass through the plurality of support blocks, each of the first hinge block and the second hinge block has two symmetrically disposed sliding slots, and two adjacent shafts respectively pass through two adjacent support blocks and are inserted into the two sliding slots of one of the first hinge block and the two sliding slots of one of the second hinge block.

3. The folding electronic device of claim 2, wherein the hinge structure further comprises:

a plurality of first shaft sleeves sleeved on the plurality of shaft rods, wherein one part of the plurality of first shaft sleeves is positioned between one part of the plurality of first hinge blocks and the plurality of support blocks, and the other part of the plurality of first hinge blocks is positioned between the other part of the plurality of first shaft sleeves and the plurality of support blocks; and

and the second shaft sleeves are sleeved on the shaft rods, wherein one part of the second shaft sleeves is positioned between one part of the second hinge blocks and the support blocks, and the other part of the second hinge blocks is positioned between the other part of the second shaft sleeves and the support blocks.

4. The folding electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the support blocks has a support convex arc, and the bent portion of the folding screen contacts the plurality of support convex arcs of the plurality of support blocks.

5. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, wherein each of the support blocks has a support plane, and the bends of the foldable screen contact the plurality of support planes of the plurality of support blocks.

6. The folding electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of the support blocks has a first inclined surface and the other support block has a second inclined surface facing the first inclined surface, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface being separated or abutting each other, among adjacent two of the support blocks.

7. The folding electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of the support blocks has a first inclined surface and the other of the support blocks has a second inclined surface facing the first inclined surface, a normal vector of the first inclined surface intersecting with or being parallel to a normal vector of the second inclined surface, in adjacent two of the support blocks.

8. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein two of the plurality of support blocks connect the first housing and the second housing, respectively, wherein one of the support blocks connecting the first housing has a first connection portion, and another of the support blocks connecting the second housing has a second connection portion.

9. The folding electronic device of claim 8, wherein the hinge structure further comprises:

the reinforcing piece penetrates through the supporting blocks, the reinforcing piece is provided with a first fixed end and a second fixed end, the first fixed end is connected with the first connecting portion, and the second fixed end is connected with the second connecting portion.

10. The folding electronic device of claim 9, wherein the hinge structure further comprises:

the first positioning pin penetrates through the first connecting part, and the first fixed end is wound and fixed on the first positioning pin;

the second positioning pin penetrates through the second connecting part, and the second fixed end is wound and fixed on the second positioning pin;

the first elastic piece is clamped between the first connecting part and the first positioning pin; and

and the second elastic piece is clamped between the second connecting part and the second positioning pin.

11. The foldable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge structure further comprises:

a third positioning pin inserted into the first fixing end and the first positioning pin; and

and the fourth positioning pin is inserted into the second fixing end and the second positioning pin.

12. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the supporting blocks comprises two shaft portions arranged side by side, and each of the first hinge blocks and each of the second hinge blocks has two first sliding slots symmetrically arranged and two second sliding slots symmetrically arranged between the two first sliding slots,

in two adjacent support blocks, two of the four-shaft rod parts respectively penetrate through the two first sliding grooves of one first hinge block, and the other two of the four-shaft rod parts respectively penetrate through the two second sliding grooves of one first hinge block,

in another two adjacent support blocks, two of the four-axis rod portions respectively penetrate through the two first sliding grooves of one second hinge block, and the other two of the four-axis rod portions respectively penetrate through the two second sliding grooves of one second hinge block.

13. The foldable electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the hinge structure further comprises a plurality of positioning plates, the plurality of first hinge blocks are located between a portion of the plurality of positioning plates and the plurality of support blocks, and the plurality of second hinge blocks are located between another portion of the plurality of positioning plates and the plurality of support blocks, each of the positioning plates has two first positioning chutes symmetrically disposed and two second positioning chutes symmetrically disposed between the two first positioning chutes,

in two adjacent supporting blocks, two of the four shaft rod parts respectively penetrate through the two first positioning chutes of one positioning plate, and the other two of the four shaft rod parts respectively penetrate through the two second positioning chutes of the other positioning plate.

14. The foldable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the hinge structure further comprises a plurality of bosses disposed on the plurality of shaft portions, and the plurality of bosses are used for positioning the plurality of first hinge blocks, the plurality of second hinge blocks and the plurality of positioning plates.

15. The folding electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of said support blocks includes a gear portion, and each of said first hinge blocks and each of said second hinge blocks includes two synchronizing gear portions symmetrically disposed,

in two adjacent support blocks, the gear portion of one support block is adjacent to the gear portion of the other support block, and the two synchronizing gear portions of the first hinge block or the two synchronizing gear portions of the second hinge block are respectively engaged with the two gear portions.