TWI764646B - Electronic device and hinge module - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device includes two bodies, a flexible display panel and at least one hinge module. The flexible display panel is disposed on the two bodies. The hinge module includes a frame structure, two first brackets, at least one bendable assembly and at least one second bracket. Each of the first brackets is rotatably connected to the frame structure, the two first brackets are connected to the two bodies respectively, and the two bodies are adapted to open from or close to each other with the two first brackets rotating relatively to the frame structure. The bendable assembly is partially slidably disposed on the frame structure. The second bracket is connected to the flexible display panel, and two ends of the bendable assembly are connected to the second bracket and one of the first brackets. When the two first brackets rotate relatively to the frame structure, the bendable assembly drives the second bracket to move relatively to the two first brackets.

Description

Electronic Devices and Pivot Modules

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a pivot module, and more particularly, to an electronic device including a plurality of bodies and a pivot module thereof.

As the technology of flexible display panels matures and develops, many foldable portable electronic devices are equipped with flexible display panels, which are flexed or flattened when two bodies of the portable electronic devices are turned relative to each other. When the two bodies are relatively closed and the flexible display panel is bent between the two bodies, the flexible display panel is easily deformed by being squeezed or pulled between the two bodies.

The invention provides an electronic device whose pivot module can be linked with the flexible display panel to keep the flexible display panel flat.

The invention provides a pivot module, which can be linked with the flexible display panel to keep the flexible display panel flat.

The electronic device of the present invention includes two bodies, a flexible display panel and at least one pivot module. The flexible display panels are arranged on the two bodies. Pivot mod includes A frame structure, two first brackets, at least one bendable component and at least one second bracket. Each of the first brackets is rotatably connected to the frame structure, the two first brackets are respectively connected to the two bodies, and the two bodies are suitable for opening or closing relative to the rotation of the two first brackets relative to the frame structure. The bendable assembly is partially slidable on the frame structure. The second bracket is connected to the flexible display panel, and both ends of the flexible component are respectively connected to the second bracket and a first bracket. When the two first brackets rotate relative to the frame structure, the flexible component drives the second brackets to move relative to the two first brackets.

The pivot module of the present invention includes a frame structure, two first brackets, at least one bendable component and at least one second bracket. Each of the first brackets is rotatably connected to the frame structure. The bendable assembly is partially slidable on the frame structure. Two ends of the bendable component are respectively connected to the second bracket and a first bracket. When the two first brackets rotate relative to the frame structure, the bendable component drives the second bracket to move relative to the other first bracket.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned pivot module includes at least one elastic member, the elastic member is connected between the second bracket and a body, and the second bracket is adapted to resist the elastic force of the elastic member and be relatively The two first brackets move and are adapted to be reset by the elastic force of the elastic element.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the number of the at least one bendable component is two, the number of the at least one second bracket is two, and the two bendable components are respectively connected to the two first brackets and are respectively connected to Two second brackets.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned bendable component includes a plurality of pivot members, which are pivotally connected in sequence to form a chain structure, and the pivot member at one end of the bendable component is pivotally connected to the first Two brackets.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned pivot module includes at least one support frame, the support frame is connected to a first bracket, and the pivot member at the other end of the bendable component is pivotally connected to the support frame.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned frame structure includes a main frame and at least one guide member, the guide member is disposed on the main frame, and the bendable component is partially slidable on the guide member and the main frame between.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned guide member has an arc-shaped guide groove, and the bendable component is partially slid in the arc-shaped guide groove.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the above-mentioned first brackets has an arc-shaped section and is rotatably connected to the frame structure through the arc-shaped section.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned pivot module includes a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism is disposed on the frame structure and connected to the two first brackets, and the two first brackets are driven by the linkage mechanism to synchronously turn.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned electronic device includes a pivot cover, wherein the pivot cover is movably connected to the two bodies, when the two bodies are relatively closed as the two first brackets rotate relative to the frame structure When the frame structure pushes the pivot cover to the outside of the two bodies.

Based on the above, in the pivot module of the present invention, the flexible component is slidably mounted on the frame structure and its two ends are respectively connected to the body and the flexible display panel. Therefore, when the two bodies are closed relative to each other, the bendable component bends and slides along the frame structure by virtue of its bendable property, so as to pull the flexible display panel through the second bracket to keep the flexible display panel flat.

100: Electronics

110: Body

120: Flexible display panel

130: Pivot Mods

131: elastic parts

132: Frame structure

1321: Main Frame

1322: Guide

1322a: Arc guide groove

133: Linkage mechanism

1331: Gear Set

1332: Connecting rod

134: First Bracket

1341: Arc Segment

136: Bendable Components

1361:Pivot piece

1362: Pin

138: Second bracket

139: Rack

140: Pivot Cover

D1~D3: Direction

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows that the two bodies of FIG. 2 are unfolded relative to each other.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pivot module of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the pivot module of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bendable assembly, the second bracket and the carrier of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the bendable assembly, second bracket and carrier of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 shows that the two bodies of FIG. 2 are unfolded relative to each other. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , the electronic device 100 of this embodiment includes two bodies 110 , a flexible display panel 120 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and two pivot modules 130 . The two bodies 110 are pivotally connected to each other by the pivot module 130 , and can be turned relative to each other between the closed state shown in FIG. 2 and the unfolded state shown in FIG. 3 . The flexible display panel 120 is disposed on the two bodies 110 , and can be flattened as shown in FIG. 3 or flexed as shown in FIG. 2 as the two bodies 110 are turned over.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pivot module of FIG. 1 . FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the pivot module of FIG. 4 . Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the pivot module 130 of this embodiment includes a The frame body structure 132 , the two first brackets 134 , the two flexible components 136 , the two second brackets 138 and the two support brackets 139 . Each of the first brackets 134 is rotatably connected to the frame structure 132 , and the two first brackets 134 are respectively connected to the two bodies 110 , so that the two bodies 100 can follow the position of the two first brackets 134 relative to the frame structure 132 . Rotate to open or close relative to each other.

Each of the flexible components 136 is partially slidably mounted on the frame structure 132 , each of the second brackets 138 is connected to the flexible display panel 120 (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 ), and the two support frames 139 are respectively connected to the two first brackets 139 . Bracket 134 . One end of a bendable element 136 is connected to a second bracket 138 and the other end is connected to a first bracket 134 through a support bracket 139 , and one end of the other bendable element 136 is connected to another second bracket 138 and its other end is connected to another first bracket 134 through another bracket 139 . When the two first brackets 134 rotate relative to the frame structure 132 , each of the bendable components 136 drives the corresponding second bracket 138 relative to the first bracket 134 along the direction D1 or direction shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 . D2 pan.

With the above-mentioned configuration and operation method, when the two bodies 110 are relatively closed, each bendable element 136 bends and slides along the frame structure 132 by virtue of its bendable property, so as to pass through the corresponding second bracket 138 along the direction D1. Pull the flexible display panel 120 to keep the flexible display panel 120 flat.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the flexible display panel 120 of this embodiment is located inside the two bodies 110 and the two pivot modules 130 (ie, the upper sides of the two bodies 110 and the two pivot modules 130 in FIG. 3 ) ), but the present invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the flexible display panel 120 may be located on the outer sides of the two bodies 110 and the two pivot modules 130 (ie, the lower sides of the two bodies 110 and the two pivot modules 130 in FIG. 3 ), and each of the first two brackets The shape and position of the 138 can be changed accordingly to connect to the flexible display panel 120 .

Please refer to FIGS. 2 to 4 , further, the pivot module 130 of this embodiment further includes two elastic members 131 , each elastic member 131 is, for example, a spring and is connected between a second bracket 138 and a body 110 . When the two bodies 110 are turned from the unfolded state shown in FIG. 3 to the closed state shown in FIG. 2 , each of the second brackets 138 resists the elastic force of the elastic member 131 to translate relative to the first bracket 134 along the direction D1 , The flexible display panel 120 is pulled along the direction D1 as described above. When the two bodies 110 are turned from the closed state shown in FIG. 2 to the unfolded state shown in FIG. 3 , each second bracket 138 is reset along the direction D2 by the elastic force of the corresponding elastic member 131 . The elastic force of each elastic member 131 can be used as a source of torque for the pivot module 130 .

In addition, the electronic device 100 of this embodiment includes a pivot cover 140 as shown in FIG. 2 , and the pivot cover 140 is movably connected to the two bodies 110 . When the two bodies 110 are relatively closed as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 2 along with the rotation of the two first brackets 134 relative to the frame structure 132 , the frame structure 132 is displaced relative to the two bodies 110 and pivots along the direction D3 The shaft cover 140 is pushed out of the two bodies 110 so that the flexible display panel 120 has enough space to bend.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bendable assembly, the second bracket and the carrier of FIG. 4 . FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the bendable assembly, second bracket and carrier of FIG. 6 . Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the bendable component 136 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of pivotal members 1361 , and the pivotal members 1361 are pivoted in sequence by a plurality of pins 1362 to form a chain structure. The pivot member 1361 at one end of the bendable element 136 is pivotally connected to the second bracket 138 , and the pivot member 1361 at the other end of the bendable element 136 is pivotally connected to the support frame 139 . In its In other embodiments, the bendable component 136 may be any other suitable form of bendable structure, which is not limited in the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the frame structure 132 of this embodiment includes a main frame 1321 and two guide members 1322 . Each guide member 1322 is disposed on the main frame body 1321 and has an arc-shaped guide groove 1322 a , and the bendable component 136 is partially slidably disposed in the arc-shaped guide groove 1322 a between the guide member 1322 and the main frame body 1321 . In other embodiments, the bendable element 136 can be slidably mounted on the frame structure 132 by other suitable methods, which is not limited in the present invention.

In the embodiment, each of the first brackets 134 has an arc-shaped section 1341 and is rotatably connected to the frame structure 132 by the arc-shaped section 1341 . In addition, the pivot module 130 of this embodiment further includes a linkage mechanism 133 . The linkage mechanism 133 may include a gear set 1331 and two links 1332 . The gear set 1331 is disposed on the frame structure 132 and is connected to the two links 1332 respectively. Two first brackets 134 . The two first brackets 134 are driven by the linkage mechanism 133 to rotate synchronously.

To sum up, in the pivot module of the present invention, the flexible component is slidably disposed on the frame structure and its two ends are respectively connected to the body and the flexible display panel. Therefore, when the two bodies are closed relative to each other, the bendable component bends and slides along the frame structure by virtue of its bendable property, so as to pull the flexible display panel through the second bracket to keep the flexible display panel flat. In addition, when the two bodies are relatively closed, the frame structure is displaced relative to the two bodies to push the pivot cover to the outside of the two bodies, so that the flexible display panel has enough space to bend.

130: Pivot Mods

131: elastic parts

132: Frame structure

1321: Main Frame

1322: Guide

1322a: Arc guide groove

133: Linkage mechanism

1331: Gear Set

1332: Connecting rod

134: First Bracket

1341: Arc Segment

136: Bendable Components

1361:Pivot piece

1362: Pin

138: Second bracket

139: Rack

D1, D2: direction

Claims (19)

An electronic device, comprising: two bodies; a flexible display panel disposed on the two bodies; and At least one pivot module, including: a body structure; Two first brackets, each of which is rotatably connected to the frame structure, the two first brackets are respectively connected to the two bodies, and the two bodies are suitable for relative to the two first brackets The frame structure rotates to open or close relatively; At least one bendable component is partially slidably mounted on the frame structure; and At least one second bracket is connected to the flexible display panel, wherein both ends of the at least one flexible component are respectively connected to the at least one second bracket and the first bracket, when the two first brackets When the frame rotates relative to the frame structure, the at least one bendable component drives the at least one second bracket to move relative to the two first brackets. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one pivot module comprises at least one elastic element, the at least one elastic element is connected between the at least one second bracket and a body, the at least one second bracket The bracket is adapted to resist the elastic force of the at least one elastic member to move relative to the two first brackets and is adapted to be reset by the elastic force of the at least one elastic member. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one bendable component is two, the number of the at least one second bracket is two, and the two bendable components are respectively connected to the two first brackets and are respectively connected to the two second brackets. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bendable component comprises a plurality of pivotal components, the pivotal components are pivotally connected in sequence to form a chain structure, and the at least one bendable component at one end of the The pivot element is pivotally connected to the at least one second bracket. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the at least one pivot module comprises at least one bracket, the at least one bracket is connected to the first bracket, and the at least one bendable member at the other end The pivot element is pivotally connected to the at least one support frame. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the frame structure includes a main frame and at least one guide, the at least one guide is disposed on the main frame, and the at least one bendable component is partially slidable between the at least one guide piece and the main frame body. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the at least one guide member has an arc-shaped guide groove, and the at least one bendable component is partially slidably disposed in the arc-shaped guide groove. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein each of the first brackets has an arc-shaped section and is rotatably connected to the frame structure by the arc-shaped section. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one pivot module includes a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism is disposed on the frame structure and connected to the two first brackets, and the two first brackets are The linkage mechanism is driven to rotate synchronously. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pivot cover, wherein the pivot cover is movably connected to the two bodies, when the two bodies rotate with the rotation of the two first brackets relative to the frame structure When relatively closed, the frame structure pushes the pivot cover to the outside of the two bodies. A pivot module comprising: a body structure; two first brackets, each of which is rotatably connected to the frame structure; At least one bendable component is partially slidably mounted on the frame structure; and At least one second bracket, two ends of the at least one bendable component are respectively connected to the at least one second bracket and the first bracket, when the two first brackets rotate relative to the frame structure, The at least one bendable component drives the at least one second bracket to move relative to the two first brackets. The pivot module of claim 11, comprising at least one elastic member, wherein the at least one elastic member is connected between the at least one second bracket and a body, and the at least one second bracket is adapted to resist the The elastic force of the at least one elastic piece moves relative to the two first brackets and is adapted to be reset by the elastic force of the at least one elastic piece. The pivot module of claim 11, wherein the number of the at least one bendable component is two, the number of the at least one second bracket is two, and the two bendable components are respectively connected to the two first brackets The brackets are respectively connected to the two second brackets. The pivot module of claim 11, wherein the at least one bendable element comprises a plurality of pivot elements, the pivot elements are pivoted in sequence to form a chain structure, and one end of the at least one bendable element The pivoting member at the position is pivotally connected to the at least one second bracket. The pivot module of claim 14, wherein the at least one pivot module comprises at least one support frame, the at least one support frame is connected to the first bracket, the other end of the at least one bendable component The pivoting member at the position is pivotally connected to the at least one supporting frame. The pivot module of claim 11, wherein the frame structure includes a main frame and at least one guide member, the at least one guide member is disposed on the main frame, and the at least one bendable component is partially It is slidably arranged between the at least one guide piece and the main frame body. The pivot module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one guide member has an arc-shaped guide groove, and the at least one bendable component is partially slid in the arc-shaped guide groove. The pivot module of claim 11, wherein each of the first brackets has an arc-shaped section and is rotatably connected to the frame structure through the arc-shaped section. The pivot module of claim 11, comprising a linkage mechanism, wherein the linkage mechanism is disposed on the frame structure and connected to the two first brackets, and the two first brackets are driven by the linkage mechanism and rotate synchronously.

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