CN113114814B

CN113114814B - Electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113114814B
Application number: CN202110391409.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金铭; 林建堂
Original assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Current assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-09
Filing date: 2021-04-09
Publication date: 2023-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-09
Also published as: WO2022214061A1; CN113114814A

Abstract

The application discloses electronic equipment, which comprises a flexible screen, a flexible rear cover, a flexible hinge and a transmission piece; the flexible screen cover is arranged on the flexible rear cover, and a containing space is formed between the flexible screen and the flexible rear cover; the flexible hinge is arranged in the accommodating space and comprises a plurality of chain links which are hinged in sequence, and each chain link is connected with the flexible screen and the flexible rear cover; the transmission piece sequentially passes through all the chain links; the transmission piece is in a tensioning state and a loosening state, and under the condition of the tensioning state, all the chain links on the flexible hinge rotate to a straight state so as to drive the flexible screen to stretch; under the condition that the transmission piece is in a loose state, the plurality of chain links positioned at the two ends on the flexible hinge rotate to a bending state so as to drive the two sides of the flexible screen to bend. In the application, the flexible hinge drives the flexible screen to stretch or bend, so that the bending radius of the bending position of the flexible screen is increased.

Description

Electronic equipment

Technical Field

The application belongs to the technical field of intelligent terminal products, and particularly relates to electronic equipment.

Background

Nowadays, with the increasing demands of people on the large-screen display function of electronic devices, various electronic devices increasingly tend to be large-screen. However, when the display screen design of the electronic device is excessively large, problems such as inconvenience in operation, inconvenience in carrying, and the like may be caused. In response to this problem, a flexible screen has been proposed in the prior art. When a large screen display is required, the flexible screen can be unfolded so as to improve the visual experience of a user in the processes of browsing web pages, watching video files, playing games and the like. When a large screen display is not needed, the flexible screen can be folded up, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems.

However, in the related art, the existing flexible screen is usually unfolded and folded by means of a rotating shaft, and the bending radius of the flexible screen at the bending position is relatively small, which results in that the surface of the flexible screen can only be protected by using a polyimide film (PI film). Polyimide film belongs to plastic film, and the radius of buckling can be less when buckling. However, in long-term application, it is found that the bending position of the flexible screen is often touched and pressed, and the bending position of the flexible screen is easily damaged due to the fact that the strength of the polyimide film is not high. Particularly, when the flexible screen is folded outwards, the screen is exposed, and the protection reliability by the polyimide film is lower. Moreover, polyimide films have poor hand feel, which can affect to some extent the tactile experience of a user when operating the flexible screen. In addition, the presence of the spindle tends to result in the upper and lower rims (e.g., black rims) of the electronic device being large in size, thereby affecting the screen duty cycle.

Disclosure of Invention

The application aims at providing electronic equipment, and at least the problem that the protection film type on the surface of the flexible screen is limited by a polyimide film (PI film) and the polyimide film (PI film) cannot play a good protection role on the flexible screen due to the fact that the bending radius of the bending position of the conventional flexible screen is small during bending is solved.

In order to solve the technical problems, the application is realized as follows:

the embodiment of the application provides electronic equipment, which comprises:

a flexible screen;

the flexible screen cover is arranged on the flexible rear cover, and a containing space is formed between the flexible screen and the flexible rear cover;

the flexible hinge is arranged in the accommodating space and comprises a plurality of chain links which are hinged in sequence, and each chain link is respectively connected with the flexible screen and the flexible rear cover; the method comprises the steps of,

the transmission piece sequentially passes through each chain link;

the transmission member has a tensioned state and a relaxed state; under the condition of the tensioning state, all chain links on the flexible hinge rotate to a flat state so as to drive the flexible screen to stretch; under the condition of the loose state, the plurality of chain links positioned at the two ends on the flexible hinge rotate to a bending state so as to drive the two sides of the flexible screen to bend.

In the embodiment of the application, the flexible hinge is configured for the flexible screen of the electronic device, and the flexible hinge can be stretched or bent and can drive the flexible screen connected with the flexible hinge to stretch or fold freely. Compared with the existing flexible screen technical scheme using a rotating shaft, the flexible hinge design in the embodiment of the application can enable the bending radius of the bending position of the flexible screen to be properly increased, so that the protective film on the surface of the flexible screen can be not limited to a polyimide film (PI film), the types of usable protective films of the surface of the flexible screen can be increased, for example, flexible glass materials can be adopted, and the defects caused by the adoption of the polyimide film (PI film) are overcome. In addition, the flexible hinge is adopted behind the flexible screen, so that the sizes of the upper frame and the lower frame of the electronic equipment are smaller, the screen occupation ratio of the flexible screen is improved, and the use experience of a user is improved.

Additional aspects and advantages of the application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the application.

Drawings

The foregoing and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 is a side view of an extended state of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial schematic view at a in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a flexible display screen of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a front view of an extended state of the electronic device of the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a bent state of the electronic device of the embodiment of the present application.

Reference numerals:

1-flexible screen, 11-flexible display layer, 12-flexible glass layer, 13-flexible supporting layer, 14-flexible buffer layer, 2-flexible back cover, 3-chain link, 31-stop structure, 32-recess, 33-first connecting piece, 34-second connecting piece, 35-pivot, 4-driver, 5-driving piece, 6-accommodating device, 61-second connecting portion, 62-button, 7-rotating piece, 8-first connecting portion.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to like or similar elements or elements having like or similar functionality throughout. The embodiments described below by referring to the drawings are exemplary only for the purpose of explaining the present application and are not to be construed as limiting the present application. All other embodiments, which can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments herein without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the present application.

The features of the terms "first", "second", and the like in the description and in the claims of this application may be used for descriptive or implicit inclusion of one or more such features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise indicated, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more. Furthermore, in the description and claims, "and/or" means at least one of the connected objects, and the character "/", generally means that the associated object is an "or" relationship.

In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships illustrated in the drawings, are merely for convenience in describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be configured and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present application.

In the description of the present application, it should be noted that, unless explicitly specified and limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may be either fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, for example; can be mechanically or electrically connected; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be communication between two elements. The specific meaning of the terms in this application will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art in a specific context.

An electronic device provided according to an embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to fig. 1 to 5.

The electronic device provided by the embodiment of the application may be, but is not limited to, a smart phone, and may also be an electronic product with a flexible screen design, such as a tablet computer, a notebook computer, an electronic book, an intelligent wearable device, etc., which is not limited in this application.

The electronic device provided in the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1 to 5, includes: a flexible screen 1, a flexible back cover 2, a flexible hinge and a transmission member 5. The flexible screen 1 is covered on the flexible rear cover 2, and a containing space is formed between the flexible screen 1 and the flexible rear cover 2. The flexible hinge is arranged in the accommodating space and comprises a plurality of chain links 3 which are hinged in sequence, and each chain link 3 is respectively connected with the flexible screen 1 and the flexible rear cover 2. The transmission member 5 passes through each of the links 3 in turn. Wherein the transmission member 5 has a tensioned state and a relaxed state; in the tensioned state, the transmission member 5 can rotate to a flat state on each chain link 3 of the flexible hinge, so as to drive the flexible screen 1 to stretch. Under the condition that the transmission piece 5 is in the loose state, the chain links 3 positioned at the two ends of the flexible hinge can rotate to a bending state so as to drive the two sides of the flexible screen 1 to bend.

That is, in the embodiment of the present application, the extension and bending/folding of the flexible screen 1 is controlled by the rotation of each link 3 on the flexible hinge. When a large screen display is needed, the whole flexible hinge can be stretched by controlling the rotation angle of each chain link 3 on the flexible hinge, so that the flexible screen 1 can be stretched, and the visual experience of a user in the processes of browsing web pages, watching video files, playing games and the like is improved. When the large screen display is not needed, the plurality of chain links 3 positioned at two ends on the flexible hinge can be bent to a certain extent by controlling the rotation angle of each chain link 3 on the flexible hinge, so that the two side parts of the flexible screen 1 can be bent outwards, and the bending/folding of the flexible screen 1 is realized.

In the embodiment of the application, a flexible hinge is provided for the flexible screen 1 of the electronic device, and the flexible hinge can be extended or bent and can drive the flexible screen 1 connected with the flexible hinge to freely extend or fold. Compared with the existing flexible screen technical scheme using the rotating shaft, the flexible hinge design in the embodiment of the application can enable the bending radius of the bending position of the flexible screen 1 to be properly increased, so that the protective film/protective layer on the surface of the flexible screen 1 can be not limited to a polyimide film (PI film), the types of usable protective films on the surface of the flexible screen 1 can be increased, for example, flexible glass materials (or ultrathin glass materials) can be adopted, and the defects caused by the adoption of the polyimide film (PI film) are overcome. In addition, the design of the flexible hinge is adopted behind the flexible screen 1, so that the sizes of the upper frame and the lower frame of the electronic equipment can be smaller, the screen occupation ratio of the flexible screen 1 can be improved, and the use experience of a user can be improved.

The drawbacks that are easily caused by using a polyimide film (PI film) on a flexible screen in the prior art include: polyimide film intensity is not high, leads to the bending part of screen to cause the damage easily, and the whole protection dynamics to the screen is also insufficient. In addition, the touch texture of the surface of the screen is poor under the protection of the polyimide film, and the touch experience of a user during use is affected.

In the embodiment of the present application, referring to fig. 3, the flexible screen 1 includes a flexible display layer 11 and a flexible glass layer 12 covering the flexible display layer 11, and a flexible support layer 13 is disposed on the back surface of the flexible display layer 11.

In the embodiment of the present application, the flexible hinge is adopted to realize the stretching and bending/folding of the flexible screen 1, so that the bending radius of the bending position of the flexible screen 1 can be appropriately increased, and under the structural design, the surface of the flexible screen 1 can use flexible glass (or ultrathin glass) as a protective layer, and compared with a polyimide film (PI film), the flexible screen has the characteristics of better protection and better surface handfeel. In addition, the surface of the flexible screen 1 is protected by flexible glass, so that a touch pen can be supported, and the damage of the pen point of the touch pen to the screen is small.

In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 3, the flexible support layer 13 is further disposed on the back surface of the flexible screen 1. The flexible supporting layer 13 may be used to play a good role in protecting the flexible screen 1 from repeated bending, so that the fatigue resistance of the flexible screen 1 in the repeated bending process is higher.

In an alternative example of the present application, the flexible supporting layer 13 may be made of a flexible metal material. That is, a flexible metal layer is provided on the back surface of the flexible display layer 11. The flexible metal layer can enable the fatigue resistance of the flexible screen 1 to be higher in the repeated bending process.

The flexible support layer 13 may be attached to the back surface of the flexible display layer 11, for example. Of course, the flexible supporting layer 13 may be disposed on the back surface of the flexible display layer 11 in other manners known to those skilled in the art, which is not limited in this application.

In the embodiment of the present application, referring to fig. 1, 2 and 5, the back surface of the flexible screen 1 is provided with a flexible buffer layer 14.

That is, a flexible support layer 13 is provided on the back surface of the flexible display layer 11, and the flexible buffer layer 14 is also provided on the back surface of the flexible support layer 13. By the combined action of the flexible supporting layer 13 and the flexible buffer layer 14, the acting force of the flexible hinge 3 on the flexible screen 1 can be well buffered and dispersed, and the flexible screen 1 is better protected.

In an alternative example of the present application, the flexible buffer layer 14 may be a soft pad. The links 3 on the flexible hinge are actually fixedly connected with the soft pad arranged on the back of the flexible screen 1, but are not directly connected with the flexible display layer 11, so that the flexible display layer 11 can be well protected.

The flexible buffer layer 14 may be attached to the back of the flexible screen 1. Of course, the flexible buffer layer 14 may be disposed on the back of the flexible screen 1 in other manners known to those skilled in the art, which is not limited in this application.

In an embodiment of the present application, the flexible hinge is arranged in the receiving space in a first direction parallel to the flexible screen 1, as shown in fig. 1 and 5.

Wherein the first direction is, for example, a width direction of the flexible screen 1. Of course, the first direction may be the longitudinal direction of the flexible screen 1.

In the embodiment of the present application, the flexible hinge comprises a plurality of links 3 hinged in sequence, wherein, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, one end of each link 3 is provided with a stop structure 31, and the stop structure 31 can be used for limiting the rotatable angle range of the other link 3 hinged with the link 3. With this structural design, the magnitude and direction of the bending of the flexible screen 1 can be controlled. When large screen display is not needed, the plurality of chain links 3 positioned at two ends of the flexible hinge can respectively generate bending in a certain direction and radian, so that two side parts of the flexible screen 1 can be outwards bent, and the flexible screen 1 can be folded.

In an alternative example of the present application, referring to fig. 2, the stop structure 31 may be, for example, arc-shaped.

In the embodiment of the present application, referring to fig. 1, 2 and 5, each of the links 3 is provided with a recess 32 through which the transmission member 5 passes. This design facilitates the sequential connection of the individual links 3 via the transmission element 5, so that the rotatable angular range of the individual links 3 can be controlled by tightening or loosening the transmission element 5.

For example, in a state that the transmission member 5 is in tension (or tense), the transmission member 5 may pull each link 3 on the flexible hinge to be in a straight state, so that the flexible screen 1 may be driven to freely realize extension. And when the transmission piece 5 is in a loose state, the transmission piece 5 can pull part of the chain links 3 on the flexible hinge to rotate to a certain angle, so that the flexible screen 1 can be driven to be bent/folded freely.

In an alternative example of the present application, referring to fig. 2, the chain link 3 includes a first connecting member 33 and a second connecting member 34, one end of the first connecting member 33 is formed with an arc-shaped stop structure 31, and the other end of the first connecting member 33 is rotatably connected with the second connecting member 34 through a rotation shaft 35, that is, a rotation shaft hinge structure is formed. The first connecting piece 33 is connected with a soft pad attached to the back of the flexible screen 1, and the second connecting piece 34 is fixed on the flexible back cover 2.

In an alternative example of the present application, the transmission member 5 may be a cable made of metal, for example. That is, the transmission member 5 is a metal cable.

The transmission member 5 is not limited to the above-described metal cable, but may be a transmission belt or the like, and the present application is not limited thereto.

For example, in the case where the transmission member 5 is a metal cable, the groove 32 of the link 3 is a wire passing groove.

The electronic device of the embodiment of the present application, referring to fig. 1 and 5, may further include a driver 4; the driver 4 is disposed near one end of the flexible hinge (the flexible hinge has two ends, for example, the first end), the driver 4 is connected to one end of the transmission member 5, and the driver 4 is configured to control the rotatable angle of each of the links 3 through the transmission member 5.

In the embodiment of the present application, by providing the driver 4, an automatic control of the tension state and the slack state of the transmission member 5 can be achieved. Therefore, the extension and bending of the flexible hinge can be realized only by controlling the operation of the driver 4, and the extension and bending of the flexible screen of the electronic equipment can be further realized.

Of course, in an alternative example of the present application, the straightening and bending of the flexible hinge may also be performed by means of manual operation by the user, on the basis of which the driver 4 may be omitted. That is, when a large screen display is required, the entire flexible hinge can be extended by controlling the rotation angle of each link 3 on the flexible hinge by a manual operation, so that the flexible screen 1 can be unfolded. When the large screen display is not needed, the rotation angle of each chain link 3 on the flexible hinge is controlled through manual operation, so that a plurality of chain links 3 positioned at two ends on the flexible hinge can be bent to a certain extent, and the two side parts of the flexible screen 1 can be bent outwards.

The electronic device of the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1 and 5, further includes a housing device 6, and the driver 4 is disposed in the housing device 6. The accommodating device 6 can be used for accommodating and protecting the driver 4, so as to prevent the driver 4 from being directly exposed.

In an alternative example of the present application, the driver 4 may be a motor.

In an alternative example of the present application, referring to fig. 1 and 5, the receiving device 6 is rotatably connected to one end of the flexible hinge (as mentioned above, the flexible hinge has two ends, for example, the first end) by a rotating member 7. With this structural design, the housing means 6 can be rotated along the rotation member 7 at one end of the flexible hinge (for example, the first end of the flexible hinge). In the different states of the flexible screen 1 (i.e. unfolded/folded), the position of the receiving device 6 will change to perform its different functionalities.

The rotating member 7 may be, for example, a rotating shaft.

In the tensioned state of the transmission element 5, the receiving means 6 can be turned to the rear side of the flexible rear cover 2, as shown in fig. 1. That is, when the large screen display is required, the flexible screen 1 may be in an unfolded state, and at this time, the accommodating device 6 may be rotated to the back of the flexible rear cover 2 and located at the lower side of the whole machine, so that when the user uses the electronic device, the accommodating device 6 may not affect the user to use the electronic device, and the position of the accommodating device 6 may enable the center of gravity of the whole electronic device to fall below the whole machine, so that the user may have the advantages of better hand feeling and good operation comfort when holding the electronic device with one hand.

In the case of the loose state, as shown in fig. 5, the accommodating device 6 may be rotated to a set position, and at least one wall surface of the accommodating device 6 may abut against a middle area of the back surface of the flexible rear cover 2, so as to make the plurality of links 3 corresponding to the position in a straight state. That is, when the large screen display is not required, the flexible screen 1 may be folded so as to be in a folded state; at this time, the accommodating device 6 can rotate to a set position by the rotating member 7 to just prop/support the middle area of the back surface of the flexible back cover 2, so that the plurality of links 3 corresponding to the position are in a straightened state, and thus when the flexible screen 1 is folded, both sides of the flexible screen 1 can be outwards bent, and the middle area of the flexible screen 1 is kept in a straight state.

In an alternative example of the present application, as shown in fig. 1 and 5, a first connection portion 8 is provided at the other end of the flexible hinge (the flexible hinge has two ends, for example, the second end); a second connecting portion 61 that matches the first connecting portion 8 is provided on the housing device 6; the first connection portion 8 may be used to form a connection with the second connection portion 61 in case the flexible screen 1 is in a bent state. Thus, the flexible screen 1 can be stably in a bending state, and the flexible screen 1 cannot be maintained in the bending state due to re-stretching caused by the release of external force.

The first connection portion 8 and the second connection portion 61 may be detachably connected, for example.

Specifically, the first connection portion 8 and the second connection portion 61 may be, for example, engaged with each other.

In an alternative example of the present application, one of the first connection portion 8 and the second connection portion 61 is a convex structure, and the other of the first connection portion 8 and the second connection portion 61 is a concave structure. In this way, when the flexible screen 1 is in the folded state, the first connection portion 8 provided on the second end of the flexible hinge 3 may be engaged with the second connection portion 61 on the accommodating device 6.

As shown in fig. 5, the second connection portion 61 of the accommodating device 6 may be released through a key 62.

Specifically, the key 62 may be connected to the second connection portion 61 through a control mechanism, and when the first connection portion 8 is connected to the second connection portion 61, the key 62 may be used to control the second connection portion 61 to release the first connection portion 8. That is, the connection relationship between the first connection portion 8 and the second connection portion 61 can be released by pressing the key 62.

In the embodiment of the present application, a circuit board and a power supply module connected with the circuit board are disposed in the accommodating device 6; the driver 4 is respectively connected with the power supply module and the circuit board, and the power supply module is used for providing electric energy for the work of the driver 4.

The circuit board may be a hard circuit board or a flexible circuit board, which is not limited in this application.

Of course, other electronic components in the electronic device are also disposed in the accommodating device 6, which will not be discussed in detail herein.

Other configurations of electronics, as well as operation, according to embodiments of the present application are known to those of ordinary skill in the art and will not be described in detail herein.

In the description of the present specification, reference to the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or examples. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

While embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: many changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a flexible screen;

the transmission piece sequentially passes through each chain link;

the transmission member has a tensioned state and a relaxed state; under the condition of the tensioning state, all chain links on the flexible hinge rotate to a flat state so as to drive the flexible screen to stretch; under the condition of the loose state, a plurality of chain links positioned at two ends on the flexible hinge rotate to a bending state so as to drive two sides of the flexible screen to bend;

the electronic equipment further comprises a containing device, wherein the containing device is rotationally connected with one end of the flexible hinge through a rotating piece;

the accommodating device can rotate to the back surface of the flexible rear cover under the condition that the transmission piece is in the tensioning state;

the transmission part is in a loose state, the accommodating device can rotate to a set position, and at least one wall surface of the accommodating device is abutted against the middle area of the back surface of the flexible rear cover so that a plurality of links corresponding to the position are in a straight state;

the electronic device further includes a driver; the driver is used for controlling the rotatable angle of each chain link through the transmission piece;

the driver is arranged in the accommodating device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible screen comprises a flexible display layer and a flexible glass layer disposed over the flexible display layer;

and a flexible supporting layer is arranged on the back surface of the flexible display layer.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a back side of the flexible screen is provided with a flexible buffer layer.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible hinge is disposed within the receiving space in a first direction parallel to the flexible screen.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that one end of the link is provided with a stop structure for limiting the rotatable angular range of the other link to which the link is hinged.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the chain links are provided with grooves through which the transmission members pass.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the transmission member is a cable of metal material.

8. The electronic device of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the actuator is disposed proximate an end of the flexible hinge, the actuator being coupled to an end of the transmission member.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the flexible hinge is provided with a first connection portion;

the accommodating device is provided with a second connecting part matched with the first connecting part;

and under the condition that the flexible screen is in a bending state, the first connecting part is used for being connected with the second connecting part.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion is a convex structure and the other of the first connection portion and the second connection portion is a concave structure.