CN219329876U - Folding device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The application relates to a folding device and electronic equipment, follow folding device's length direction, folding device includes two at least folding modules and at least one connection module, connection module can dismantle and connect two adjacent folding modules. In the folding device, each part is assembled into at least two folding modules after production, the volume of each part in the folding modules is smaller, the processing difficulty is lower, and the assembling difficulty of each part in each folding module is also smaller. In at least two folding modules, two adjacent folding modules are connected through the connecting module to connect two at least folding modules together through the connecting module and form folding device, this in-process makes each part modularization of folding device, and the degree of difficulty that folding device was assembled into to each folding module reduces, and folding device's cost reduces, and the volume production of being convenient for. In addition, because the folding module is detachably connected with the connecting module, the folding module can be replaced or maintained, and the cost is further reduced.

Description

Folding device and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of electronic equipment, in particular to a folding device and electronic equipment.

Background

The folding electronic equipment comprises a shell, a folding device and a flexible screen, wherein the shell comprises a left shell and a right shell which are arranged in a split mode, the folding device is located between the left shell and the right shell, and meanwhile, the flexible screen is installed on the left shell and the right shell. When the left shell and the right shell are folded under the drive of the folding device, the flexible screen can be driven to fold, so that the electronic equipment is in a folded state, and in the folded state, the electronic equipment is small in size and convenient to store; when the left shell and the right shell are unfolded under the driving of the folding device, the flexible screen is driven to be unfolded, so that the electronic equipment is in an unfolding state, and in the unfolding state, the display screen of the electronic equipment is large, and the use experience of a user can be improved.

At present, the folding device of the commonly used electronic equipment is of an integrated structure along the length direction, so that the processing difficulty of each part of the folding device is high, and the assembly difficulty of each part of the folding device is high.

Disclosure of Invention

The first aspect of the embodiment of the application provides a folding device, which is used for electronic equipment, and comprises at least two folding modules and at least one connecting module along the length direction of the folding device, wherein the connecting module can be detachably connected with two adjacent folding modules. In the folding device, each part is assembled into at least two folding modules after production, the volume of each part in the folding modules is smaller, the processing difficulty is lower, and the assembling difficulty of each part in each folding module is also smaller. In at least two folding modules, two adjacent folding modules are connected through the connecting module to connect two at least folding modules together through the connecting module and form folding device, this in-process makes each part modularization of folding device, and the degree of difficulty that folding device was assembled into to each folding module reduces, and folding device's cost reduces, and the volume production of being convenient for. In addition, because the folding module is detachably connected with the connecting module, the folding module can be replaced or maintained, and the cost is further reduced.

In one possible design, the folding module comprises a first support plate and a second support plate along the width direction of the folding device, the connecting module comprises a first connecting piece and a second connecting piece along the width direction of the folding device, the first connecting piece is connected with the first support plate of the adjacent folding module, the second connecting piece is connected with the second support plate of the adjacent folding module, and the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece can rotate relatively;

the first support plate and the second support plate, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece can rotate towards the direction close to each other so that the folding device is in a folded state, or the first support plate and the second support plate, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece can rotate towards the direction far away from each other so that the folding device is in an unfolded state.

Therefore, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece which can rotate relatively in the embodiment do not obstruct the relative rotation of the first supporting plate and the second supporting plate and the first shell and the second shell, so that the electronic equipment and the folding device can be in an unfolding state or a folding state.

In one possible design, there is a gap between the first and second connection members in the width direction of the folding device.

In one possible design, the first connecting piece has a first accommodating part, the first supporting plate has a first connecting end extending outwards along the length direction of the folding device, and the first connecting end and the first accommodating part are laminated and detachably connected along the thickness direction of the folding device; the second connecting piece is provided with a second accommodating part, the second supporting plate is provided with a second connecting end which extends outwards along the length direction of the folding device, and the second connecting end and the second accommodating part are laminated and detachably connected along the thickness direction of the folding device. In this embodiment, when first link and first accommodation portion are stacked along thickness direction, second link and second accommodation portion are stacked along thickness direction for first link and first accommodation portion, second link and second accommodation portion can be connected along thickness direction, do not occupy the space of connection module and folding module along length direction X and width direction Y, and first link and first accommodation portion, second link and second accommodation portion be convenient for dismantle and be connected, and connect the reliability higher.

In one possible design, the first accommodating part is provided with at least one first protruding part, the first connecting end is provided with at least one first concave part, and the first concave part is buckled with the first protruding part; the second accommodation part is provided with at least one second bulge, and the second connecting end is provided with at least one second concave part, and the second concave part is buckled in the second bulge. In this embodiment, the connection reliability between the first connecting piece and the first supporting plate can be improved by the first concave portion and the first convex portion which are buckled with each other, and the connection reliability between the second connecting piece and the second supporting plate can be improved by the second concave portion and the second convex portion which are buckled with each other.

In one possible design, when the folding device is in the unfolded state, the surfaces of the first support plate, the second support plate, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece, which are used for being connected with the flexible screen of the electronic equipment, are located on the same plane, when the folding device is mounted on the electronic equipment, and the electronic equipment is in the unfolded state, the flexible screen is located on the same plane, so that the flatness of the electronic equipment in the unfolded state is improved, and the display performance is improved.

In one possible design, the first connecting piece is detachably connected with the two first supporting plates located on two sides of the first connecting piece through screws, and the second connecting piece is detachably connected with the two second supporting plates located on two sides of the second connecting piece through screws.

In one possible design, the folding modules are identical in construction. Therefore, the folding device can be formed by only mass-producing the folding modules and the connecting modules and then connecting at least two folding modules through the connecting modules, and has the advantages of simple structure and convenience in assembly.

In one possible design, each folding module includes a first rotating arm and a second rotating arm along the width direction of the folding device, the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm being respectively used for being connected with a first shell and a second shell of the electronic equipment; the first support plate is rotatably connected with the first rotating arm, and the second support plate is rotatably connected with the second rotating arm. In this embodiment, the first support plate is rotationally connected with the first rotating arm, and the second support plate is rotationally connected with the second rotating arm, so that the first support plate and the first rotating arm can be prevented from being blocked and the second support plate and the second rotating arm can be prevented from being blocked in the folding or unfolding process of the folding device.

In one possible design, the folding module further comprises a synchronizing gear assembly comprising at least two gears, and the at least two gears are distributed along the width direction of the folding device and intermeshed, and the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm are respectively connected with the two gears located at the edges. The synchronous gear assembly is used for transmitting the motion between the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm, so that the first rotating arm, the second rotating arm, the first connecting piece, the second connecting piece, the first supporting plate and the second supporting plate synchronously move in the folding and unfolding process of the folding device, and the stability and the reliability of the folding device and the electronic equipment in the unfolding and folding process are improved.

In one possible design, the folding module further comprises a damping assembly, the damping assembly comprises an elastic piece and a cam abutting against the elastic piece, and the cam is positioned between the gear and the elastic piece along the length direction of the folding module; the cam is provided with a first concave-convex surface along the length direction of the folding device, and the gear is provided with a second concave-convex surface facing the cam; in the process of rotating the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm, the gear can rotate relative to the cam, so that the first concave-convex surface can be meshed with the second concave-convex surface.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides an electronic device, where the electronic device includes a first housing, a second housing, a flexible screen, and a folding apparatus thereof; the first shell and the second shell are positioned on two sides of the folding device, and the flexible screen is covered on the first shell, the second shell and the folding device and is fixedly connected with the first shell and the second shell.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the application.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a folding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the folding device is in an unfolded state;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the folding device of FIG. 1 in a folded state;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the structure of FIG. 1 with the rear cover removed;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the connection structure of the first support plate, the second support plate and the connection module in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 4 with a first support plate removed and a second support plate;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the connection module of FIG. 4;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of the first support plate and the second support plate of fig. 4.

Reference numerals:

11-a first folding module;

12-a second folding module;

13-a first support plate;

131-a first connection terminal;

132-a third mounting hole;

14-a second support plate;

141-a second connection terminal;

142-fourth mounting holes;

15-a first rotating arm;

16-a second swivel arm;

2-connecting modules;

21-a first connector;

211-first bosses;

213-a first mounting hole;

214-a first receptacle;

22-a second connector;

221-a second boss;

223-second mounting hole;

224-a second receptacle;

a 3-damping assembly;

31-an elastic member;

32-cams;

a 4-synchronizer gear assembly;

41-gear.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the application and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the application.

Detailed Description

For a better understanding of the technical solutions of the present application, embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In one embodiment, the present application is described in further detail below by way of specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present application provide an electronic device, including, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a notebook computer, a vehicle-mounted computer, a foldable display device, a foldable display screen, a wearable device, and any device having a foldable screen function. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific form of the electronic device, and for convenience of description, the electronic device is described by taking the electronic device as an example of a mobile phone, and the electronic device of the application is described by the specific embodiment.

The electronic device comprises a folding device, a screen, a first housing and a second housing, wherein the screen can be a flexible screen, and the flexible screen is used for displaying images, videos and the like. The specific type of the flexible screen is not limited, and the flexible screen may be an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display screen, which is an AMOLED display screen, without a backlight module (back light module, BLM). Accordingly, when the substrate in the AMOLED display panel is made of a flexible resin material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), the AMOLED display panel can have a bendable property. By way of example, the flexible screen may also be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, a mini light-emitting diode (mini organic lightemitting diode) display screen, a mini light-emitting diode (micro organic light-emitting diode) display screen, a mini organic light-emitting diode (micro organic light-emitting diode) display screen, a quantum dot light-emitting diode (quantum dot light emitting diodes, QLED) display screen, or the like.

The first shell and the second shell are distributed at intervals and are used for installing components such as a battery, a circuit board, a camera, an earphone, a receiver, keys, a battery and the like of the electronic equipment. The first shell comprises a first middle frame and a first rear cover, the second shell comprises a second middle frame and a second rear cover, and the first middle frame and the second middle frame are used for bearing the flexible screen, namely the flexible screen is fixedly connected (for example, stuck) to the first middle frame and the second middle frame, so that the flexible screen is kept flat as much as possible in the use process, and the non-display surface of the flexible screen is protected. The first rear cover and the second rear cover are used for protecting components in the first shell and the second shell. The folding device is positioned between the first shell and the second shell and is connected with the first shell and the second shell. In some embodiments, the first housing is provided with a first recess, the second housing is provided with a second recess, a part of the folding device is mounted in the first recess, and another part of the folding device is mounted in the second recess, and in some possible embodiments, the folding device and the first recess and the second recess can be connected by means of screws or the like.

In the using process of the electronic equipment, the folding device at least comprises an unfolding state shown in fig. 1 and a folding state shown in fig. 2, and in the unfolding state, the first shell and the second shell are approximately located on the same plane, so that the flexible screen is approximately planar, at the moment, the flexible screen is exposed, a user can operate the flexible screen, and the flexible screen can display information such as images or videos, so that large-screen display is realized, and the viewing experience of the user is improved. And when the folding device is in an unfolding state, the first shell and the second shell can rotate in opposite directions (namely, the first shell and the second shell are close to each other and rotate relatively), so that the folding device is driven to fold, in the folding process, one ends of the first shell and the second shell, which are far away from the folding device, are close to each other, so that the electronic equipment is in a folding state, and in the embodiment, the electronic equipment is in a flexible screen inward folding structure. At this folding state, the flexible screen is located the space that encloses after first center and the folding of second center, and at this moment, the flexible screen is not naked, and the user can't operate the flexible screen, and electronic equipment is convenient for accomodate and carry. And when the folding device is in a folded state, the first shell and the second shell can rotate (the rotation direction is opposite to the rotation direction during folding), so that the folding device is driven to be unfolded, and the electronic equipment is in an unfolded state. Therefore, in the present application, the folding device is used for folding and unfolding the electronic device.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the structures illustrated in the embodiments of the present application do not constitute a specific limitation on the electronic device. In other possible embodiments of the present application, an electronic device may include more components than those described above, or certain components may be combined, or certain components may be split, or different arrangements of components.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the folding device comprises at least two folding modules and at least one connecting module 2 along the length direction X of the folding device, wherein the connecting module 2 detachably connects two adjacent folding modules. In the folding device, each part is assembled into at least two folding modules after production, the volume of each part in the folding modules is smaller, the processing difficulty is lower, and the assembling difficulty of each part in each folding module is also smaller. Among the at least two folding modules, two adjacent folding modules are connected through connecting module 2 to connect two at least folding modules together through connecting module 2 and form folding device, this in-process makes each part modularization of folding device, and the degree of difficulty that each folding module assembled into folding device reduces, and folding device's cost reduces, and the volume production of being convenient for. In addition, the folding module is detachably connected with the connecting module 2, so that the folding module can be replaced or maintained, and the cost is further reduced.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the folding device comprises two folding modules, namely a first folding module 11 and a second folding module 12, and a connecting module 2, wherein the first folding module 11 and the second folding module 12 are distributed along the length direction X, and the connecting module 2 is located between the two modules and is detachably connected with the two modules.

The folding device is folded or unfolded under the driving of the shell, the extending direction of the folding device is defined as the length direction X of the folding device, the arrangement direction of the first shell and the second shell in the electronic equipment in an unfolded state is defined as the width direction Y of the folding device, and the direction perpendicular to the length direction X and the width direction Y of the folding device is defined as the height direction Z of the folding device.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in fig. 4-7, the folding module includes a first support plate 13 and a second support plate 14 along the width direction Y of the folding device, and the first support plate 13 and the second support plate 14 are used for connecting with a flexible screen of the electronic device, so that the flexible screen can be folded or unfolded under the driving of the folding device. Specifically, the first support plate 13 and the second support plate 14 are used for connection with the folded portion of the flexible screen (the connection may be adhesion).

As shown in fig. 4 to 7, along the width direction Y of the folding device, the connection module 2 includes a first connection member 21 and a second connection member 22, the first connection member 21 is connected to the first support plate 13 of an adjacent folding module, the second connection member 22 is connected to the second support plate 14 of an adjacent folding module, and when the first support plate 13 and the second support plate 14 are relatively rotated under the driving of the first housing and the second housing, the first connection member 21 and the second connection member 22 can be relatively rotated under the driving of the first support plate 13 and the second support plate 14.

When the electronic equipment works, in the process that the first shell and the second shell are operated to rotate in opposite directions by a user, the first support plate 13 and the second support plate 14 can be driven to rotate in opposite directions, so that the first connecting piece 21 and the second connecting piece 22 are driven to rotate in opposite directions by the first support plate 13 and the second support plate 14, and the folding device and the electronic equipment are folded; in the process of operating the first shell and the second shell to rotate oppositely, the user can drive the first supporting plate 13 and the second supporting plate 14 to rotate oppositely, so that the first connecting piece 21 and the second connecting piece 22 are driven to rotate oppositely through the first supporting plate 13 and the second supporting plate 14, and the folding device and the electronic equipment are unfolded. Therefore, the first and second connection members 21 and 22 capable of relative rotation in the present embodiment do not hinder the relative rotation of the first and second support plates 13 and 14 and the first and second housings, so that the electronic apparatus and the folding device can be in an unfolded state or a folded state.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, in the width direction Y of the folding device, the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22 are of a split structure, that is, there is no connection therebetween in the width direction Y, when the folding device is in the unfolded state, there is a gap between the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22, or there is a gap between the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22 when the folding device is in the folded state, and the gap is larger than the gap between the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22 when the folding device is in the unfolded state.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 4 to 6, the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22 may have a plate-like structure, and the first connecting member 21 has a first receiving portion 214, and as shown in fig. 7, the first supporting plate 13 has a first connecting end 131 extending outwardly in a length direction X of the folder, and the first connecting end 131 is disposed in a thickness direction of the folder with the first receiving portion 214 and detachably connected thereto; accordingly, as shown in fig. 4 to 6, the second connection member 22 has a second receiving portion 224, and as shown in fig. 7, the second support plate 14 has a second connection end 141 extending outwardly in the length direction X of the folder, and the second connection end 141 is detachably connected to the second receiving portion 224 in the thickness direction of the folder.

In this embodiment, when the first connection end 131 and the first accommodating portion 214 are stacked in the thickness direction and the second connection end 141 and the second accommodating portion 224 are stacked in the thickness direction, the first connection end 131 and the first accommodating portion 214, the second connection end 141 and the second accommodating portion 224 can be connected in the thickness direction, the space of the connection module 2 and the folding module in the length direction X and the width direction Y is not occupied, the first connection end 131 and the first accommodating portion 214, the second connection end 141 and the second accommodating portion 224 are convenient to be detachably connected, and the connection reliability is high.

Specifically, the first connection end 131 and the first receiving part 214 may be detachably connected by a screw, and the second connection end 141 and the second receiving part 224 may be detachably connected by a screw. Alternatively, the first connection end 131 and the first accommodating portion 214, and the second connection end 141 and the second accommodating portion 224 may be detachably connected by other manners, such as a clamping connection, a pin connection, or the like. When the first connecting end 131 is connected with the first accommodating portion 214 and the second connecting end 141 is connected with the second accommodating portion 224 through screws, connection between the first connecting end 131 and the second accommodating portion is facilitated, and disassembly is facilitated.

As shown in fig. 6, the first connecting member 21 is provided with a first mounting hole 213 at two ends along the length direction X, and the second connecting member 22 is provided with a second mounting hole 223 at two ends along the length direction X, where the first mounting hole 213 and the second mounting hole 223 may be threaded holes. Accordingly, at least one end of the first support plate 13 along the length direction X is provided with a third mounting hole, at least one end of the second support plate 14 along the length direction X is provided with a fourth mounting hole, and the third mounting hole and the fourth mounting hole may be threaded holes. When the first connecting member 21 is connected to the first support plate 13, the first connecting end 131 is placed in the first receiving portion 214 so that the two are overlapped in the thickness direction Z, and at this time, the first mounting hole 213 is aligned with the third mounting hole, and the screw passes through the first mounting hole 213 and the third mounting hole to achieve screw connection. When the second connecting member 22 is connected to the second support plate 14, the second connecting end 141 is placed in the second receiving portion 224 so that the two are overlapped in the thickness direction Z, and at this time, the second mounting hole 223 is aligned with the fourth mounting hole, and the screw passes through the second mounting hole 223 to be screwed with the fourth mounting hole.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 5, the first accommodating portion 214 is provided with at least one first protruding portion 211, the first connecting end 131 is provided with at least one first recessed portion, and when the first connecting end 131 and the first accommodating portion 214 are stacked in the thickness direction, the first recessed portion is buckled with the first protruding portion 211; accordingly, the second receiving portion 224 is provided with at least one second protrusion 221, and the second connection end 141 is provided with at least one second recess, and when the second connection end 141 and the second receiving portion 224 are stacked in the thickness direction, the second recess is fastened to the second protrusion 221.

In this embodiment, the first concave portion and the first convex portion 211 that are fastened to each other can improve the connection reliability between the first connecting piece 21 and the first supporting plate 13, and the second concave portion and the second convex portion 221 that are fastened to each other can improve the connection reliability between the second connecting piece 22 and the second supporting plate 14.

The first protrusion 211 may include a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other, or may include a rib, the second protrusion 221 may include a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other, or may include a rib.

In the above embodiments, when the folding device is in the unfolded state, the surfaces of the first support plate 13, the second support plate 14, the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22 for connecting with the flexible screen of the electronic device are located on the same plane, and when the folding device is mounted on the electronic device and the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the flexible screen is located on the same plane, so that the flatness of the electronic device in the unfolded state is improved, and the display performance is improved.

In the above embodiments, the structures of the folding modules are the same, so that the folding device can be formed by only mass-producing the folding modules and the connecting modules 2 and then connecting at least two folding modules through the connecting modules 2, and has the advantages of simple structure and convenient assembly.

As shown in fig. 3, each folding module includes a first rotating arm 15 and a second rotating arm 16 distributed along the width direction Y, and the first support plate 13 is rotatably connected to the first rotating arm 15, that is, the first support plate 13 can rotate relative to the first rotating arm 15. Accordingly, the second support plate 14 is rotatably connected to the second rotating arm 16, i.e., the second support plate 14 is rotatable relative to the second rotating arm 16.

In this embodiment, the first support plate 13 is rotatably connected to the first rotating arm 15, and the second support plate 14 is rotatably connected to the second rotating arm 16, so that the first support plate 13 and the first rotating arm 15 can be prevented from being locked during the folding or unfolding process of the folding device, and the second support plate 14 and the second rotating arm 16 can be prevented from being locked.

Specifically, the first support plate 13 is provided with a first arc-shaped groove, and accordingly, the first rotating arm 15 includes a first protrusion, at least part of which is located in the first arc-shaped groove and is rotatable with respect to the first arc-shaped groove, thereby achieving relative rotation between the first support plate 13 and the first rotating arm 15. Likewise, the second support plate 14 is provided with a second arcuate slot, and accordingly, the second rotating arm includes a second protrusion, at least a portion of which is located in the second arcuate slot and is rotatable relative to the second arcuate slot, thereby effecting relative rotation between the second support plate 14 and the second rotating arm 16.

In addition, as shown in fig. 3, each folding device includes a synchronizing gear assembly 4 and a damping assembly 3, wherein the synchronizing gear assembly 4 is used to transmit movement between the first and second rotating arms 15 and 16, so that the first and second rotating arms 15 and 16, the first and second connecting members 21 and 22, the first and second supporting plates 13 and 14 move synchronously during folding and unfolding of the folding device, and stability and reliability of the folding device and electronic equipment during unfolding and folding are improved.

Specifically, the synchronous gear assembly 4 includes four gears 41 meshed with each other, and the four gears 41 are arranged in the width direction Y, two gears 41 located at the edge are respectively connected with the first rotating arm 15 and the second rotating arm 16, two gears 41 located at the middle are respectively meshed with two gears 41 located at the edge, and when the first rotating arm 15 and the second rotating arm 16 rotate, the two gears 41 located at the edge can be driven to rotate, so that the two gears 41 located at the middle are driven to rotate.

In the above embodiments, the damper assembly 3 is capable of maintaining the folding device in the unfolded state or the folded state, and the damper assembly 3 is used to provide the first damping force to the first and second rotating arms 15 and 16. When the folded state is in the unfolded state, the damping assembly 3 provides a resistance against the opposite rotation of the first and second rotating arms 15 and 16 so that the folding device can be maintained in the unfolded state, and when the folding device needs to be switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, a user needs to apply a driving force to the first and second rotating arms 15 and 16 so that the first and second rotating arms 15 and 16 can overcome the first damping force, thereby switching the folding device to the folded state. When the folding device is in the folded state, the damping assembly 3 is capable of providing a second damping force which is capable of acting on the first and second rotating arms 15, 16, thereby providing a resistance against the opposite rotation of the first and second rotating arms 15, 16, so that the folding device can be maintained in the folded state, and when the folding device needs to be switched from the folded state to the unfolded state, a user needs to apply a driving force to the first and second rotating arms 15, 16 which is capable of overcoming the second damping force, so that the first and second rotating arms 15, 16 are capable of overcoming the second damping force, thereby enabling the folding device to be switched to the unfolded state. Meanwhile, in the folding or unfolding process of the folding device, the first rotating arm 15 and the second rotating arm 16 rotate in opposite directions or rotate in opposite directions), the damping assembly 3 can also provide a third damping force, so that torque is provided for the unfolding and folding process of the electronic equipment, and user experience in the unfolding and folding process is improved.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, the damping assembly 3 includes a cam 32 and an elastic member 31, and the cam 32 and the gear 41 are distributed along a length direction X, wherein an end portion of the cam 32 facing the gear 41 along the length direction X has a first concave-convex surface, and correspondingly, an end portion of the gear 41 facing the cam 32 along a width direction Y has a second concave-convex surface, and the first concave-convex surface and the second concave-convex surface can be engaged. The elastic deformation direction of the elastic member 31 is parallel to the length direction X of the folding device, and the elastic member 31 is located at one side of the cam 32 away from the gear 41, one end along the length direction X of the folding device is connected to the cam 32, and the other end is connected to the fixing frame of the folding device, that is, when the elastic member 31 is elastically deformed, elastic force along the length direction X can be applied to the cam 32.

It will be appreciated that the engagement of the first concave-convex surface of the cam 32 with the second concave-convex surface of the gear 41 includes at least the following three cases: first, the convex surface of the first concave-convex surface is matched with the convex surface of the second concave-convex surface, at this time, the cam 32 moves towards the direction of the corresponding elastic member 31 and compresses the elastic member 31, so that the elastic member 31 has a first deformation, and at this time, the elastic member 31 in a compressed state can apply a first elastic force to the gear 41 through the cam 32; second, the convex surface of the first concave-convex surface is matched with the concave surface of the second concave-convex surface, or the concave surface of the first concave-convex surface is matched with the convex surface of the second concave-convex surface, at this time, the elastic member 31 in a compressed state can apply a second elastic force to the gear 41 through the cam 32, wherein the elastic member 31 has a second deformation amount, the second deformation amount is smaller than the first deformation amount, and the second elastic force is smaller than the first elastic force; third, the concave surface of the first concave-convex surface is matched with the concave surface of the second concave-convex surface, at this time, the elastic member 31 in a compressed state can apply a third elastic force to the gear 41 through the cam 32, wherein the elastic member 31 has a third deformation amount, the third deformation amount is smaller than the first deformation amount and smaller than the second deformation amount, and the third elastic force is smaller than the first elastic force and smaller than the second elastic force.

In this embodiment, the magnitude of the damping force applied by the damping assembly 3 is determined by the magnitude of the elastic force of the elastic member 31, and the gear 41 can rotate along with the first rotating arm 15 and the second rotating arm 16 during the rotation, so that the matching positions of the first concave-convex surface and the second concave-convex surface are changed, and the matching positions of the two are switched in the above three cases.

In the first embodiment, the first case may be the case when the folding device is in the folded state or the unfolded state, at this time, when the folding device needs to be switched between the folded state and the unfolded state, the applied external force needs to overcome the first elastic force of the elastic member 31, and the second case or the third case may be the case when the folding device is switched between the folded state and the unfolded state, that is, the damping assembly 3 may provide the same damping force as the second elastic force or the third elastic force during the folding or the unfolding. In the second embodiment, the second case may be the case when the folding device is in the folded state or the unfolded state, and at this time, when the folding device needs to be switched between the folded state and the unfolded state, the applied external force needs to overcome the second elastic force of the elastic member 31, and the third case may be the case when the folding device is switched between the folded state and the unfolded state, that is, the damping assembly 3 may provide the same magnitude of damping force as the third elastic force during folding or unfolding.

In addition, in the process of meshing the first concave-convex surface and the second concave-convex surface, the two inclined surfaces are matched, that is, the interaction force between the first concave-convex surface and the second concave-convex surface is along the inclined surface (concave surface or convex surface) perpendicular to the two inclined surfaces, and the interaction force acting on the inclined surface (concave surface or convex surface) can generate a component force for rotating the driving gear 41, so that a driving force for driving the first rotating arm 15 and the second rotating arm 16 to rotate oppositely or reversely is generated, and the folding device can be folded or unfolded automatically.

The foregoing is merely a specific implementation of the embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the embodiments of the present application should be covered by the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims (12)

1. The folding device is used for electronic equipment and is characterized by comprising at least two folding modules and at least one connecting module along the length direction of the folding device, wherein the connecting module can be used for detachably connecting two adjacent folding modules.

2. The folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the folding module includes a first support plate and a second support plate in a width direction of the folding apparatus, and the connection module includes a first connection member connecting the first support plates adjacent to the folding module and a second connection member connecting the second support plates adjacent to the folding module in the width direction of the folding apparatus, the first connection member and the second connection member being relatively rotatable;

the first support plate and the second support plate, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece can rotate towards directions close to each other so that the folding device is in a folded state, or the first support plate and the second support plate, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece can rotate towards directions far away from each other so that the folding device is in an unfolded state.

3. The folding device of claim 2, wherein there is a gap between the first connector and the second connector in a width direction of the folding device.

4. The folding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first connection member has a first receiving portion, the first support plate has a first connection end extending outwardly in a length direction of the folding apparatus, and the first connection end is laminated with and detachably connected to the first receiving portion in a thickness direction of the folding apparatus;

the second connecting piece is provided with a second accommodating part, the second supporting plate is provided with a second connecting end which extends outwards along the length direction of the folding device, and the second connecting end and the second accommodating part are laminated along the thickness direction of the folding device and are detachably connected.

5. The folding device of claim 4, wherein the first receiving portion is provided with at least one first protruding portion, the first connecting end is provided with at least one first recessed portion, and the first recessed portion is buckled with the first protruding portion;

the second accommodating part is provided with at least one second protruding part, the second connecting end is provided with at least one second recessed part, and the second recessed part is buckled with the second protruding part.

6. The folding device of claim 5, wherein the surfaces of the first support plate, the second support plate, the first connector, and the second connector for connecting with a flexible screen of an electronic device are in a same plane when the folding device is in an unfolded state.

7. The folding device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first connecting member is detachably connected to the two first support plates located on both sides of the first connecting member by screws, and the second connecting member is detachably connected to the two second support plates located on both sides of the second connecting member by screws.

8. The folding device of any of claims 1-6, wherein each of the folding modules is identical in structure.

9. The folding apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein each of the folding modules includes a first rotating arm and a second rotating arm for connection with a first housing and a second housing of an electronic device, respectively, in a width direction of the folding apparatus;

the first support plate is rotatably connected with the first rotating arm, and the second support plate is rotatably connected with the second rotating arm.

10. The folding device of claim 9, wherein the folding module further comprises a synchronizing gear assembly including at least two gears, and at least two of the gears are distributed in a width direction of the folding device and are engaged with each other, and the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm are connected to the two gears at edges, respectively.

11. The folding device of claim 10, wherein the folding module further comprises a damping assembly comprising an elastic member and a cam abutting the elastic member, the cam being located between the gear and the elastic member along a length of the folding module;

the cam is provided with a first concave-convex surface along the length direction of the folding device, and the gear is provided with a second concave-convex surface facing the cam;

in the process of rotating the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm, the gear can rotate relative to the cam, so that the first concave-convex surface can be meshed with the second concave-convex surface.

12. An electronic device comprising a first housing, a second housing, a flexible screen, and a folding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11;

the first shell and the second shell are positioned on two sides of the folding device, and the flexible screen covers the first shell, the second shell and the folding device and is fixedly connected with the first shell and the second shell.

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