CN220325646U - Folding electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses foldable electronic equipment includes: a housing switchable between an unfolded state and a folded state; the flexible circuit board is positioned in the shell, the shell can drive the flexible circuit board to move, when the shell is in an unfolding state, the flexible circuit board is unfolded along with the shell, and when the shell is in a folding state, the flexible circuit board is bent along with the shell; the electric deformation piece is positioned in the shell and is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board, and when the flexible circuit board is bent, the electric deformation piece is electrified and deforms so as to adjust the access length of the flexible circuit board.

Description

Folding electronic equipment

Technical Field

The application belongs to the technical field of electronic equipment, and particularly relates to folding electronic equipment.

Background

With the continuous innovation of screen technology, a folding screen mobile terminal is continuously brought into the field of vision of people. The folding screen mobile terminal can be unfolded into two folds or three folds according to different manufacturer designs. Compared with the traditional intelligent terminal, the folding screen mobile terminal can bring a wider visual angle and better visual experience to the user in the display aspect. But while bringing better experience, the implementation difficulty of the folding screen in technology is also increased compared with the traditional mobile terminal. In a folding screen mobile terminal, the function of FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit, flexible circuit board) is becoming important. Unlike the FPC of a common mobile terminal, the FPC between the folding screens needs to be frequently bent, the FPC is stressed when being bent, and fatigue damage of the FPC can be caused along with the increase of bending times, so that the function of the folding screen mobile terminal is lost.

In the related art, the thickness of the FPC of the folding screen mobile terminal is reduced by arranging the double-layer FPC so as to solve the problem of fatigue damage of the FPC of the folding screen mobile terminal.

The use of double-deck FPC can reduce thickness in order to improve the fatigue damage condition of FPC folding in-process to a certain extent, nevertheless, can produce corresponding contact between the double-deck FPC to lead to producing wearing and tearing because of contacting between the FPC, reduce FPC's life.

Disclosure of Invention

The application aims to provide a folding electronic device, which solves the problems that in the related art, due to the adoption of a double-layer FPC, abrasion is easy to occur between the FPCs due to contact, and the service life of the FPC is shortened.

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

in one aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a foldable electronic device, including: a housing switchable between an unfolded state and a folded state; the flexible circuit board is positioned in the shell, the shell can drive the flexible circuit board to move, when the shell is in an unfolding state, the flexible circuit board is unfolded along with the shell, and when the shell is in a folding state, the flexible circuit board is bent along with the shell; the electric deformation piece is positioned in the shell and is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board, and when the flexible circuit board is bent, the electric deformation piece is electrified and deforms so as to adjust the access length of the flexible circuit board.

In an embodiment of the present application, a foldable electronic device includes a housing, a flexible circuit board, and an electro-deformable member.

The flexible circuit board and the electro-deformation element are both positioned in the shell. The flexible circuit board is electrically connected with the electro-deformation element.

It can be appreciated that when the foldable electronic device is switched between the unfolding state and the folding state, the shell can drive the flexible circuit board to move, so that the flexible circuit board is repeatedly stretched and stressed, the flexible circuit board can generate fatigue damage, the stretching stress can influence the size of the fatigue damage, and the folding life of the flexible circuit board is influenced. Specifically, the tensile force of the flexible circuit board is affected by the size of the flexible circuit board. For example, when the length of the flexible circuit board is short, the flexible circuit board is stretched more to achieve the same bending radian, and thus the stretching force applied to the flexible circuit board is greater.

The structure of folding electronic equipment has been rationally set up to this application for when folding electronic equipment switched to folding state by the expansion state, the electric deformation spare circular telegram, the electric deformation spare can adjust flexible circuit board's access length under the circular telegram state, for example, can drive printed circuit board for the casing motion. That is, the electrically deformable member is energized to adjust the effective working length of the flexible circuit board (e.g., increase the effective working length of the flexible circuit board) so as to effectively reduce the tensile force of the flexible circuit board when the flexible circuit board is bent, thereby reducing the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board when the flexible circuit board is bent, avoiding the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board when the stress of the flexible circuit board is too large, thereby being beneficial to prolonging the service life of the flexible circuit board and improving the usability and market competitiveness of the folding electronic equipment.

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 schematic diagram of a flexible circuit board according to one embodiment of the present application in an unfolded state;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a flexible circuit board according to one embodiment of the present application in a folded state;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a first portion of a foldable electronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a second portion of a foldable electronic device when the electro-deformable member is not energized in accordance with one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a second portion of a foldable electronic device of one embodiment of the present application when the electro-deformable member is energized;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the structure of a first base according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural view of a second base according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the structure of an electro-deformable member of an embodiment of the present application upon energization;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the structure of an electro-deformable member of an embodiment of the present application when not energized;

fig. 10 is a schematic flow chart of a control method of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Reference numerals:

the correspondence between the reference numerals and the component names in fig. 1 to 9 is:

the electronic device comprises a 10 folding electronic device, a 200 flexible circuit board, a 300 detection part, a 400 printed circuit board, a 500 electro-deformation component, a 510 elastomer, a 520 first flexible electrode, a 530 second flexible electrode, a 600 first connector, a 610 first base, a 612 first tongue piece, a 614 matching groove, a 620 second base, a 622 second tongue piece, a 700 first limiting component, a 710 convex part, a 720 avoidance notch, a 800 installation cavity, a 900 second limiting component, a 1000 second connector, a 1100 lead wire and a 20 rotating shaft.

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.

A foldable electronic device 10 according to an embodiment of the present application is described below in conjunction with fig. 1-10.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, a foldable electronic device 10 according to some embodiments of the present application includes: a housing (not shown in the drawings) that can be switched between an unfolded state and a folded state; the flexible circuit board 200 is positioned in the shell, the shell can drive the flexible circuit board 200 to move, when the shell is in a unfolding state, the flexible circuit board 200 is unfolded along with the shell, and when the shell is in a folding state, the flexible circuit board 200 is bent along with the shell; the electro-deformation member 500 is located in the housing, the electro-deformation member 500 is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board 200, and when the flexible circuit board 200 is bent, the electro-deformation member 500 is electrified and deformed so as to adjust the access length of the flexible circuit board 200.

In this embodiment, the foldable electronic device 10 includes a housing, a flexible circuit board 200, and an electro-deformable member 500.

The flexible circuit board 200 and the electro-deformable member 500 are both located within the housing. The flexible circuit board 200 is electrically connected to the electro-deformation element 500.

It can be appreciated that when the foldable electronic device 10 is switched between the unfolded state and the folded state, the housing drives the flexible circuit board 200 to move, so that the flexible circuit board 200 is repeatedly stretched and stressed, the flexible circuit board 200 will generate fatigue damage, and the stretching stress will affect the size of the fatigue damage, thereby affecting the folding life of the flexible circuit board 200. Specifically, the tensile force of the flexible circuit board 200 is affected by the size of the flexible circuit board 200. For example, when the length of the flexible circuit board 200 is short, the flexible circuit board 200 is subjected to a larger stretching force and thus a larger stretching force to achieve the same bending curvature.

The structure of the foldable electronic device 10 is reasonably set, so that when the foldable electronic device 10 is switched from an unfolding state to a folding state, the electro-deformation member 500 is electrified, and the electro-deformation member 500 can adjust the access length of the flexible circuit board 200 in the electrified state, for example, can drive the printed circuit board 400 to move relative to the shell. That is, the electro-deformation element 500 is electrified to adjust the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 (e.g., increase the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200), so as to effectively reduce the tensile force of the flexible circuit board 200 when bending, thereby reducing the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board 200 when bending, avoiding the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board 200 when the bending process of the flexible circuit board 200 is excessively stressed, thereby being beneficial to prolonging the service life of the flexible circuit board 200 and improving the usability and market competitiveness of the foldable electronic device 10.

As can be seen in fig. 4 and 5, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is B when the electro-deformable member 500 is in the energized state. When the electro-deformation element 500 is in the unpowered state, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is a. Wherein B > A.

That is, when the electro-deformation member 500 is in the energized state, the size of the electro-deformation member 500 (e.g., the shape and/or volume of the electro-deformation member 500) can be changed, and the change in the size of the electro-deformation member 500 can drive the flexible circuit board 200 to move relative to the housing, so as to adjust the access length of the flexible circuit board 200, and increase the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 (e.g., the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is B), so that the stretching force of the flexible circuit board 200 during bending can be effectively reduced, and fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board 200 during bending can be reduced. When the electro-deformation element 500 is in the non-energized state, the electro-deformation element 500 returns to its original size, and at this time, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is a.

In addition, the length of the flexible circuit board 200 is designed by considering the tolerance influence in the engineering manufacturing assembly process, the bending life of the flexible circuit board 200 can be deteriorated due to uncontrolled assembly tolerance, and in order to solve the problem of reducing the service life of the flexible circuit board 200 caused by the assembly tolerance, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is adjusted through the electro-deformation element 500, so that the flexible circuit board 200 is kept at a proper length, the service life of the flexible circuit board 200 is prolonged, the precision requirement on assembly errors is reduced, the assembly efficiency of products is improved, and the production cost of the products is reduced.

Alternatively, the foldable electronic device 10 may be a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a wearable device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a mobile computer, an augmented reality device (also referred to as an AR device), a virtual reality device (also referred to as a VR device), a vehicle-mounted device, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a palm game machine, or the like.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, 4 and 5, the foldable electronic device 10 further comprises: a printed circuit board 400 located in the housing, the printed circuit board 400 being electrically connected to the flexible circuit board 200; the detecting part 300 is located in the housing, the detecting part 300 is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board 200, and the detecting part 300 is used for detecting deformation of the flexible circuit board 200 when the flexible circuit board 200 is bent.

In this embodiment, the foldable electronic device 10 further includes a printed circuit board 400 and a detecting section 300. The flexible circuit board 200 will generate stretching deformation when bending, the detecting portion 300 is used for detecting the deformation amount of the flexible circuit board 200, and transmitting the detected data to the printed circuit board 400, so that the printed circuit board 400 can control the electro-deformation member 500 to be electrified according to the detected data of the detecting portion 300.

When the detection data of the detection member meets the preset data range, the printed circuit board 400 controls the electro-deformation member 500 to be electrified, and the electro-deformation member 500 can adjust the access length of the flexible circuit board 200 in the electrified state. That is, the electro-deformation member 500 is controlled to be electrified to adjust the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200, so as to effectively reduce the tensile force of the flexible circuit board 200 when bending, thereby reducing the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board 200 when bending, avoiding the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board 200 when the flexible circuit board 200 is stressed excessively, and being beneficial to prolonging the service life of the flexible circuit board 200.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, the foldable electronic device 10 further comprises: the first connector 600 disposed between the printed circuit board 400 and the flexible circuit board 200, the flexible circuit board 200 and the printed circuit board 400 being electrically connected through the first connector 600; the first limiting member 700 is disposed on a side of the printed circuit board 400 facing the flexible circuit board 200, a mounting cavity 800 is defined between the first limiting member 700, the first connector 600 and the flexible circuit board 200, and the electro-deformation member 500 is disposed in the mounting cavity 800.

In this embodiment, the foldable electronic device 10 further includes a first connector 600 and a first stopper 700.

The first connector 600 is located between the printed circuit board 400 and the flexible circuit board 200, the first connector 600 is electrically connected with the printed circuit board 400, and the first connector 600 is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board 200, that is, the flexible circuit board 200 and the printed circuit board 400 are electrically connected through the first connector 600.

Wherein, the first limiting member 700, the first connector 600 and the flexible circuit board 200 enclose a mounting cavity 800 therebetween, and the mounting cavity 800 is used for mounting and fixing the electro-deformation member 500. That is, the first stopper 700, the first connector 600 and the flexible circuit board 200 together define a mounting cavity 800 for receiving the electro-deformable member 500.

In some embodiments, the first connector 600 includes: the first base 610 is disposed on the printed circuit board 400; the second base 620 is disposed on the flexible circuit board 200, the first base 610 is detachably connected to the second base 620, and the second base 620 can move relative to the first base 610; the electro-deformation element 500 is abutted against the second base 620, and the electro-deformation element 500 drives the flexible circuit board 200 to move through the second base 620.

In this embodiment, the first connector 600 includes a first housing 610 and a second housing 620.

The first base 610 is disposed on the printed circuit board 400, and the second base 620 is disposed on the flexible circuit board 200.

The printed circuit board 400 is provided in a housing, and the housing serves as a mounting carrier for the printed circuit board 400, and has a function of mounting and fixing the printed circuit board 400. The first base 610 is disposed on the printed circuit board 400, and the printed circuit board 400 serves as a mounting carrier for the first base 610, and has the function of mounting and fixing the first base 610. The printed circuit board 400 cannot move with respect to the housing, and thus, the first housing 610 cannot move with respect to the housing.

The second base 620 is disposed on the flexible circuit board 200, and the flexible circuit board 200 serves as a mounting carrier for the second base 620, and has the function of mounting and fixing the second base 620. The second base 620 can move relative to the housing under the action of the electro-deformation element 500, and thus the flexible circuit board 200 can move relative to the housing under the action of the electro-deformation element 500.

It will be appreciated that the first housing 610 and the second housing 620 are removably connected, and this arrangement can meet the use requirements of the electrical connection between the printed circuit board 400 and the flexible circuit board 200.

The second seat 620 is capable of moving relative to the first seat 610, and the electro-deformation element 500 abuts against the second seat 620. When the electric power is on, the size of the electro-deformation element 500 is changed, the electro-deformation element 500 can drive the second seat 620 abutting against the electro-deformation element to move, and the second seat 620 can drive the flexible circuit board 200 to move relative to the housing, so as to achieve the purpose of adjusting the access length (i.e. the effective working length) of the flexible circuit board 200 (at this time, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is B). When the electric deformation member 500 is in the non-energized state, the second seat 620 is reset, so as to achieve the purpose of adjusting the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 (at this time, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is a).

Optionally, the electro-deformation element 500 is connected to the second housing 620. The electro-deformation element 500 increases in size and can move the second housing 620 relative to the first housing 610. The electro-deformation device 500 can reset the second seat 620 connected with the electro-deformation device.

It is understood that the second housing 620 is engaged with the first housing 610, and the second housing 620 is capable of moving relative to the first housing 610. This arrangement can satisfy the use requirements of the printed circuit board 400 and the flexible circuit board 200 for electrical connection, and also the use requirements of the flexible circuit board 200 for movement relative to the housing.

As shown in fig. 5, the flexible circuit board 200 has an effective working length a before the electro-deformation element 500 expands. When the electro-deformation element 500 expands to drive the second seat 620 to move along the-Y direction, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is B.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the first base 610 is provided with a plurality of first tongues 612, and a matching groove 614 is formed between any two adjacent first tongues 612; the second base 620 is provided with a plurality of second tongues 622, and the second tongues 622 are in contact with the first tongues 612 in a one-to-one correspondence.

In this embodiment, the mating structure of the first and second housings 610 and 620 is further defined.

The first base 610 is provided with a plurality of first tongues 612, and any two adjacent first tongues 612 enclose a matching groove 614. The second base 620 is provided with a plurality of second tongues 622. The second tongue pieces 622 are abutted against the first tongue pieces 612 in a one-to-one correspondence manner, that is, each second tongue piece 622 is abutted against one first tongue piece 612, and the arrangement can meet the use requirement of the first base 610 and the second base 620 in cooperation, and can meet the use requirement of the electrical connection between the printed circuit board 400 and the flexible circuit board 200.

In addition, in the moving direction of the flexible circuit board 200, the width of the first tongue piece 612 is denoted as t2, and the width of the second tongue piece 622 is denoted as t3, wherein 0.5 mm.ltoreq.t2.ltoreq.1 mm, and 0.5 mm.ltoreq.t3.ltoreq.1 mm. That is, the range of values of the widths of the first tab 612 and the second tab 622 in the moving direction of the flexible circuit board 200 is defined, and the widths of the first tab 612 and the second tab 622 in the moving direction of the flexible circuit board 200 are wider, which makes it possible to ensure effective contact of the first tab 612 and the second tab 622 even if the second housing 620 moves relative to the first housing 610, and to ensure effective electrical connection of the printed circuit board 400 and the flexible circuit board 200.

In this embodiment, the movement direction of the flexible circuit board 200 is the Y-direction and/or the-Y-direction.

Optionally, along the movement direction of the flexible circuit board 200, the value of the width t2 of the first tongue 612 includes: 0.6mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm, etc., not specifically recited herein.

Optionally, the value of the width t3 of the second tongue 622 along the movement direction of the flexible circuit board 200 includes: 0.6mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm, etc., not specifically recited herein.

In addition, the width of the mating groove 614 along the direction of movement of the flexible circuit board 200 is denoted as t1, where t1 > t3. In this arrangement, when the movement distance of the second base 620 relative to the first base 610 exceeds a preset value during incorrect operation or device damage, each second tongue 622 is disposed opposite to one of the matching grooves 614, and the second tongue 622 is not abutted to the first tongue 612 with other dislocation, so that the safety and reliability of the use of the foldable electronic device 10 can be ensured, and safety accidents are avoided.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, the first limiting member 700 is provided with a protrusion 710 and an avoidance notch 720, where the protrusion 710 abuts against one side of the first seat body 610, the avoidance notch 720 is opposite to the second seat body 620, and a wall of the avoidance notch 720 forms a part of a cavity wall of the mounting cavity 800.

In this embodiment, the first stop 700 is provided with a protrusion 710 and a relief notch 720. The protruding portion 710 is disposed opposite to the first base 610, and the protruding portion 710 abuts against the first base 610. The avoidance gap 720 is disposed opposite to the second seat 620, and the opening wall of the avoidance gap 720 forms a part of the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 800, that is, the avoidance gap 720 has the function of accommodating the electro-deformation element 500.

This arrangement ensures that the electro-deformation element 500 is sized to mate with the first and second housings 610, 620, providing effective and reliable structural support for the electro-deformation element 500 to drive the second housing 620 in movement relative to the first housing 610.

It will be appreciated that the mouth wall of the relief gap 720 forms a portion of the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 800, and therefore, the electro-deformation member 500 is located at the relief gap 720, and the mouth wall of the relief gap 720 has the function of defining the deformation direction of the electro-deformation member 500, so that the electro-deformation member 500 can expand in a direction away from the mouth wall of the relief gap 720. That is, the relief notch 720 has the function of accommodating the electro-deformable member 500 and also has the function of restricting the expanded shape of the electro-deformable member 500.

It will be appreciated that in the energized state, the electro-deformable member 500 extends out of the relief notch 720 through the opening of the relief notch 720.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, the foldable electronic device 10 further comprises: the second limiting member 900 is disposed on the housing, and the flexible circuit board 200 is located between the second limiting member 900 and the first connector 600.

In this embodiment, the structure of the foldable electronic device 10 is further defined, the foldable electronic device 10 further includes a second limiting member 900, the second limiting member 900 is disposed on the housing, and the housing serves as a mounting carrier of the second limiting member 900, and has the function of mounting and fixing the second limiting member 900. The second stop 900 is not movable relative to the housing.

Wherein, as shown in fig. 5, the flexible circuit board 200 is located between the second limiting member 900 and the first connector 600. The first stopper 700 can stopper the electro-deformable member 500 in the Y-direction and the Z-direction, so that the electro-deformable member 500 can be expanded and deformed in the-Y-direction and the-Z-direction. The second stopper 900 can abut against the flexible circuit board 200 to stop the electro-deformation member 500 in the-Z direction. That is, the first limiting member 700 and the second limiting member 900 cooperate to enable the electro-deformation member 500 to expand and deform only in the-Y direction, so as to achieve the purpose of driving the flexible circuit board 200 to move relative to the housing in the-Y direction.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, the foldable electronic device 10 further comprises: the second connector 1000, the detection portion 300 and the flexible circuit board 200 are electrically connected through the second connector 1000; the detection section 300 includes a piezoelectric section and/or an electromagnetic section.

In this embodiment, the structure of the folding electronic device 10 is further defined, specifically, the folding electronic device 10 further includes a second connector 1000, the second connector 1000 is electrically connected with the detecting portion 300, and the second connector 1000 is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board 200. That is, the detection portion 300 and the flexible circuit board 200 are electrically connected through the second connector 1000.

In addition, the kind of the detection portion 300 is further defined, e.g., the detection portion 300 includes a piezoelectric portion, e.g., the detection portion 300 includes an electromagnetic portion, e.g., the detection portion 300 includes a piezoelectric portion and an electromagnetic portion.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, the second connector 1000 is disposed on the flexible circuit board 200, and the second connector 1000 is disposed away from the first connector 600; the detecting portion 300 is located at the second connector 1000.

In this embodiment, the second connector 1000 is provided on the flexible circuit board 200, that is, the flexible circuit board 200 serves as a mounting carrier for the second connector 1000, having the function of mounting and fixing the second connector 1000. When the flexible circuit board 200 moves relative to the housing, the second connector 1000 can be driven to move relative to the housing.

Wherein the second connector 1000 is disposed away from the first connector 600, and the detecting portion 300 is located at the second connector 1000. This arrangement can reduce the amount of the lead 1100 for connecting the second connector 1000 and the detecting portion 300.

In the present embodiment, the detecting portion 300 is located between the first connector 600 and the second connector 1000, and the distance from the detecting portion 300 to the first connector 600 is greater than the distance from the detecting portion 300 to the second connector 1000.

Optionally, the detecting portion 300 is located between the middle portion of the flexible circuit board 200 and the second connector 1000, that is, when the flexible circuit board 200 is in a folded state, the detecting portion 300 is located at one side of the rotating shaft 20, the rotating shaft 20 does not interfere with the detecting portion 300, so that the influence on the detecting portion 300 is reduced, and damage to the detecting portion 300 is avoided.

In other embodiments, the detection portion 300 is located on a side of the second connector 1000 facing away from the first connector 600.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 8 and 9, the electro-deformable member 500 includes: an elastic body 510; a first flexible electrode 520 provided to the elastic body 510; the second flexible electrode 530 is disposed on the elastic body 510, polarities of the first flexible electrode 520 and the second flexible electrode 530 are opposite, and the first flexible electrode 520 and the second flexible electrode 530 are electrically connected with the second connector 1000.

In this embodiment, the electro-deformation element 500 includes an elastic body 510, a first flexible electrode 520 and a second flexible electrode 530, where the first flexible electrode 520 and the second flexible electrode 530 are both disposed on the elastic body 510, the first flexible electrode 520 is electrically connected to the second connector 1000, and the second flexible electrode 530 is electrically connected to the second connector 1000.

In the energized state, the size of the electro-deformable member 500 expands to d. In the de-energized state, the electro-deformable member 500 is retracted in size to d0, where d > d0.

Alternatively, the shape of either of the first flexible electrode 520 and the second flexible electrode 530 can be changed.

In some embodiments of the present application, a control method of a foldable electronic device is provided, where the control method of a foldable electronic device is applied to the foldable electronic device in any of the foregoing embodiments, and fig. 10 is a schematic flow chart of the control method of a foldable electronic device provided in the embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 10, the control method of a foldable electronic device includes:

step 1202, the detection unit acquires voltage, if yes, go to step 1204;

step 1204, if the collected voltage Vz is equal to V0, go to step 1206;

step 1206, starting and adjusting the voltage of the electro-deformation element;

step 1208, if the voltage Vz reaches V0, go to step 1210, if not, go to step 1206;

at 1210, the voltage of the electro-deformable member is fixed to Vt0.

In this embodiment, the effective working length is optimally calibrated to be L in a folded flexible circuit board, at which length the folding tension of the flexible circuit board is minimal, denoted Fo. The voltage generated by the piezoelectric part (e.g., piezoelectric film) under the action of the tensile force of Fo is Vo.

When the flexible circuit board is bent to a final bent state, the tensile force applied to the flexible circuit board is maximized, denoted as Fz. At this time, the piezoelectric film will generate a voltage having a voltage magnitude Vz. When the voltage Vz is acquired to deviate from Vo, the voltage Vt is started to be applied to the electro-deformation element, and the Vt is gradually increased, so that the Vz gradually approaches Vo. When Vz is equal to Vo, the applied voltage of the electro-deformation element is Vto, and at the moment, the flexible circuit board reaches the optimal effective working length, so that the stretching force of the flexible circuit board during bending is effectively reduced, the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board during bending is reduced, and the bending service life of the flexible circuit board is prolonged.

According to the flexible printed circuit board bending device, the piezoelectric film and the electro-deformation piece are arranged, the effective working length of the flexible printed circuit board is adjusted according to the stress in the bending process of the flexible printed circuit board, so that the situation that the flexible printed circuit board is stressed too much to aggravate fatigue damage when the folding electronic equipment is prevented from being bent is avoided, and the service life of the flexible printed circuit board is prolonged.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural view of the flexible circuit board 200 in an unfolded state, and fig. 2 is a schematic structural view of the flexible circuit board 200 in a folded state.

The flexible circuit board 200 will generate fatigue damage due to repeated stretching stress in the bending process, and the stretching stress will influence the size of the fatigue damage, thereby influencing the folding life of the flexible circuit board 200. Therefore, in order to improve the folding life of the flexible circuit board 200, it is important to reduce the tensile stress of the flexible circuit board 200 during bending.

The tensile stress of the flexible circuit board 200 is affected by the length of the flexible circuit board 200. When the length of the flexible circuit board 200 is shorter, the same bending radian is achieved, the flexible circuit board 200 is stretched more, and thus the stretching force is greater, so that a proper length is required to be set for the flexible circuit board 200 to have smaller stretching force in the bending process.

In this application, as shown in fig. 8 and 9, the stress level of the flexible circuit board 200 when stretched is detected by the piezoelectric film. When the magnitude of the force exceeds a set threshold, the electro-deformation element 500 is energized, thereby extending the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200. The electro-active deformation 500 is an electroactive polymer that is capable of changing shape or volume under the influence of an applied electric field. When no electric field is applied, the electro-deformation element 500 can be restored to the original shape or volume, and has special mechanical and electrical properties.

As shown in fig. 3, a piezoelectric film is applied to the flexible circuit board 200, and the piezoelectric film is connected to the second connector 1000 through a lead 1100 of an inner layer of the flexible circuit board 200. When the flexible circuit board 200 is bent, tensile deformation is generated, the deformation acts on the piezoelectric film to generate force, the tensile stress is converted into a voltage signal, the voltage amplitude is in direct proportion to the tensile force, and the tensile force of the flexible circuit board 200 can be detected by sampling the voltage amplitude.

As shown in fig. 3, the flexible circuit board 200 has two connectors, a first connector 600 and a second connector 1000. The second connector 1000 serves as a transmission bridge of an electric signal, the second connector 1000 is fixed to the flexible circuit board 200, and the second connector 1000 is not movable with respect to the housing. The first connector 600 includes a first housing 610 and a second housing 620, the second housing 620 is fixed on the flexible circuit board 200, and the first housing 610 is fixed on the printed circuit board 400. Movement of the second housing 620 relative to the first housing 610 can adjust the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200.

The electro-deformation element 500 includes a piezoelectric ceramic, a micro-motor, etc., which are not illustrated herein.

Since the first base 610 is attached to the printed circuit board 400, the first limiting member 700 having a 7-shape is provided therein, the first limiting member is attached to the printed circuit board 400 by a patch welding process, and the electro-deformation member 500 is limited in Y and Z directions by the first limiting member, so that expansion deformation thereof occurs in-Y and-Z directions. The second restraining member abuts the first connector 600 for-Z restraining, and eventually causes the expansion deformation of the electro-deformation member 500 to occur in-Y direction. When a voltage is applied to the Y-direction surface of the electro-deformation 500, the electro-deformation 500 expands along the-Y direction and drives the second seat 620 to move.

Before the electro-deformation element 500 expands, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is a, and when the electro-deformation element 500 expands, the second seat 620 is driven to move along the-Y direction, and at this time, the effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is B. The effective working length of the flexible circuit board 200 is increased from A to B, so that the stretching force of the flexible circuit board 200 during bending is effectively reduced, the fatigue damage of the flexible circuit board 200 during bending is reduced, and the bending service life of the flexible circuit board 200 is prolonged.

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 (10)

1. A foldable electronic device, comprising:

a housing switchable between an expanded state and a collapsed state;

the flexible circuit board is positioned in the shell, the shell can drive the flexible circuit board to move, when the shell is in the unfolding state, the flexible circuit board is unfolded along with the shell, and when the shell is in the folding state, the flexible circuit board is bent along with the shell;

the electric deformation piece is positioned in the shell, is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board, and is electrified and deformed when the flexible circuit board is bent so as to adjust the access length of the flexible circuit board.

2. The foldable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

the printed circuit board is positioned in the shell and is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board;

the detection part is positioned in the shell, the detection part is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board, and the detection part is used for detecting the deformation of the flexible circuit board when the flexible circuit board is bent.

3. The foldable electronic device of claim 2, further comprising:

the first connector is arranged between the printed circuit board and the flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board and the printed circuit board are electrically connected through the first connector;

the first limiting piece is arranged on one side, facing the flexible circuit board, of the printed circuit board, an installation cavity is formed between the first limiting piece, the first connector and the flexible circuit board in a surrounding mode, and the electro-deformation piece is arranged in the installation cavity.

4. The foldable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first connector comprises:

the first base body is arranged on the printed circuit board;

the second base is arranged on the flexible circuit board, the first base is detachably connected with the second base, and the second base can move relative to the first base;

the electro-deformation part is abutted with the second base body, and the electro-deformation part drives the flexible circuit board to move through the second base body.

5. The foldable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the first base is provided with a plurality of first tongues, and a matching groove is formed between any two adjacent first tongues;

the second seat body is provided with a plurality of second tongue pieces, and the second tongue pieces are in one-to-one corresponding abutting connection with the first tongue pieces.

6. The foldable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the first limiting member is provided with a protrusion and an avoidance notch, the protrusion abuts against one side of the first base, the avoidance notch is disposed opposite to the second base, and a wall of the avoidance notch forms a part of a wall of the mounting cavity.

7. The foldable electronic device of any one of claims 3-6, further comprising:

the second limiting piece is arranged on the shell, and the flexible circuit board is positioned between the second limiting piece and the first connector.

8. The foldable electronic device of any one of claims 3-6, further comprising:

a second connector through which the detection portion and the flexible circuit board are electrically connected;

the detection part comprises a piezoelectric part and/or an electromagnetic part.

9. The foldable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the second connector is disposed on the flexible circuit board and the second connector is disposed remotely from the first connector;

the detection portion is located at the second connector.

10. The foldable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the electro-deformable member comprises:

an elastomer;

a first flexible electrode provided to the elastic body;

the second flexible electrode is arranged on the elastic body, the polarities of the first flexible electrode and the second flexible electrode are opposite, and the first flexible electrode and the second flexible electrode are electrically connected with the second connector.