CN117189761A

CN117189761A - Folding device, folding shell and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN117189761A
Application number: CN202210611621.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 彭翊
Original assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2022-05-31
Filing date: 2022-05-31
Publication date: 2023-12-08
Also published as: WO2023231371A1

Abstract

The invention provides a folding device, a folding housing and an electronic device. The folding device comprises a supporting component and a rotating component; the support assembly comprises a first support piece and a second support piece; the rotating assembly comprises a main body, a first rotating mechanism and a second rotating mechanism which are arranged side by side, wherein the first rotating mechanism and the second rotating mechanism comprise a first rotating piece, a second rotating piece, a third rotating piece and a connecting piece; one end of a first rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the first rotating piece is connected with the first supporting piece in a sliding way; one end of a first rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the first rotating piece is connected with the second supporting piece in a sliding way; one end of the second rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the second rotating piece is rotationally connected with the connecting piece; one end of the third rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the third rotating piece is connected with the connecting piece in a sliding way; the connecting piece of the first rotating mechanism is rotationally connected with the first supporting piece; the connecting piece of the second rotating mechanism is rotationally connected with the second supporting piece; the folding devices can be mutually unfolded or folded.

Description

Folding device, folding shell and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of folding technologies, and in particular, to a folding device, a folding housing, and an electronic apparatus.

Background

With the development of display devices, flexible display screens capable of being bent have been developed, and electronic devices with flexible display screens are increasingly popular. The rigidity of the foldable flexible display screen folding device driven by the electronic equipment in the related technology is insufficient, so that the reliability is poor when the electronic equipment falls.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a folding device, including:

the support assembly comprises a first support piece and a second support piece; and

The rotating assembly comprises a main body, a first rotating mechanism and a second rotating mechanism which are arranged side by side, wherein the first rotating mechanism and the second rotating mechanism comprise a first rotating piece, a second rotating piece, a third rotating piece and a connecting piece;

in the first rotation mechanism: one end of the first rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the first rotating piece is slidably connected with the first supporting piece; one end of the second rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the second rotating piece is rotationally connected with the connecting piece; one end of the third rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the third rotating piece is slidingly connected with the connecting piece;

At the second rotation mechanism shaft: one end of the first rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the first rotating piece is slidably connected with the second supporting piece; one end of the second rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the second rotating piece is rotationally connected with the connecting piece; one end of the third rotating piece is rotationally connected with the main body, and the other end of the third rotating piece is slidingly connected with the connecting piece;

when the folding device is folded, the first rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism slides relative to the first supporting piece, the first rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism slides relative to the second supporting piece, the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the third rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism and the second rotating mechanism rotate, the third rotating piece slides relative to the connecting piece, and the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are mutually folded; when the folding device is unfolded, the first rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism slides relative to the first supporting piece, the first rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism slides relative to the second supporting piece, the first rotating mechanism and the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the third rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism rotate, the third rotating piece slides relative to the connecting piece, and the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are mutually unfolded.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a folding housing, the folding housing including a folding device as described in the first aspect or the first aspect, and two housings, the folding device being located between the two housings, the two housings being connected to a connection member of the first rotating mechanism and a connection member of the second rotating mechanism of the folding device, respectively, the two housings rotating to switch between an unfolded state and a folded state when the connection member of the first rotating mechanism rotates and the connection member of the second rotating mechanism rotates.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, where the electronic device includes a foldable screen and a folding apparatus according to the first aspect or any one of the first aspects; when the folding device is folded, the first rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism slides relative to the first supporting piece, the first rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism slides relative to the second supporting piece, the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the third rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism and the second rotating mechanism rotate, the third rotating piece slides relative to the connecting piece, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are mutually folded, and the screen is folded; when the folding device is unfolded, the first rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism slides relative to the first supporting piece, the first rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism slides relative to the second supporting piece, the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the third rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism and the second rotating mechanism rotate, the third rotating piece slides relative to the connecting piece, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are mutually unfolded, and the screen is unfolded;

Or,

the electronic equipment comprises a foldable screen and the folding shell according to the second aspect, wherein the screen is borne on a first supporting piece and a second supporting piece of a folding device in the folding shell, when the electronic equipment is folded, the two shells are mutually folded, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are mutually folded, and the screen is mutually folded; when the electronic equipment is unfolded, the two shells are unfolded, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are unfolded, and the screen is unfolded.

In the folding device provided by the embodiment of the application, the sliding connection relationship is formed among the first rotating member and the main body, among the first rotating member and the first supporting member of the first rotating mechanism, among the first rotating member and the second supporting member of the second rotating mechanism, among the second rotating member and the main body, among the second rotating member and the connecting member, among the third rotating member and the main body, among the connecting member and the first supporting member of the first rotating mechanism, among the connecting member and the second supporting member of the second rotating mechanism, among the first rotating member and the first supporting member of the first rotating mechanism, among the first rotating member and the second supporting member of the second rotating mechanism, and among the third rotating member and the connecting member, so that the first rotating mechanism can better support the first supporting member, the second rotating mechanism can better support the second supporting member, and the first supporting member can not easily shake relatively. When the electronic equipment applied by the folding device falls, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are relatively not easy to shake, and the folding device has good reliability.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are needed in the embodiments will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application in a flattened state;

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

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a folding device according to an embodiment of the application;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the folding device of FIG. 4 from another perspective;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the folding device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in FIG. 4 along line I-I;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the folding device shown in FIG. 7 from another perspective;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism in the folding device shown in FIG. 4 in cooperation with the main body and the first supporting member;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in FIG. 7 in a folded state;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism in the folding device in the folded state provided in FIG. 12 in cooperation with the main body and the first supporting member;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in FIG. 4 along line IV-IV;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the folding device shown in FIG. 16 from another perspective;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing the engagement of the second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism with the main body and the connecting member in the folding device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in FIG. 16 in a folded state;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view illustrating the engaging relationship between a second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the main body and the connecting member in the folding device in the folded state as shown in FIG. 21;

fig. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in fig. 22;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in FIG. 4, taken along line VII-VII;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the folding device of FIG. 25 from another perspective;

FIG. 27 is a schematic view showing the engagement of the third rotating member of the second rotating mechanism with the main body and the connecting member in the folding device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device implemented in FIG. 25 in a folded state;

FIG. 31 is a schematic view illustrating the engagement relationship between a third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the main body and the connecting member in the folding device in the folded state as shown in FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIV-VIV in FIG. 31;

FIG. 34 is a schematic view of the folding device of FIG. 4 from a point of view when the first folding mechanism is engaged with the first support;

FIG. 35 is a schematic view of the folding apparatus of FIG. 4 from another perspective with the first support engaged with the connector of the first rotating mechanism;

FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting member and the first support member of the first rotating mechanism of FIG. 34;

FIG. 37 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in FIG. 34;

FIG. 38 is a schematic view of the folding mechanism of FIG. 4 illustrating a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation;

FIG. 39 is a schematic view of the second and third axes of rotation of the folding mechanism of FIG. 4;

FIG. 40 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 2 along line A-A;

FIG. 41 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 2 along line B-B;

FIG. 42 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 2 along line C-C;

FIG. 43 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 2 along line D-D.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present application will be made clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is apparent that the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the application without any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the application.

Furthermore, the following description of the embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the application may be practiced. Directional terms, such as "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "side", etc., in the present application are merely referring to the directions of the attached drawings, and thus, directional terms are used for better, more clear explanation and understanding of the present application, rather than indicating or implying that the apparatus or element being referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus, 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 "disposed on … …" are to be construed broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; may be a mechanical connection; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be communication between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present application will be understood in specific cases by those of ordinary skill in the art.

"connected" in the description of the embodiments of the present application is intended to include both direct connection and indirect connection, such as where the a and B connections include direct connection of a and B or other connection through a third element C or more. The connection also comprises two cases of integrated connection and non-integrated connection, wherein the integrated connection means that A and B are integrally formed and connected, and the non-integrated connection means that A and B are non-integrally formed and connected.

The application provides a folding device 100, a folding housing 10 and an electronic apparatus 1. The electronic device 1 may be, but is not limited to, a foldable mobile phone, tablet computer, notebook computer, palm top computer, personal computer (Personal Computer, PC), personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA), portable media player (Portable Media Player, PMP), navigation device, wearable device, smart bracelet, pedometer, etc. In the schematic diagram of the present embodiment, the electronic device 1 is illustrated as a foldable mobile phone, and it should be understood that the electronic device 1 provided in the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 2, and fig. 3 together, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in a flattened state according to an embodiment of the application; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 in a folded state; fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in fig. 1. The electronic apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a flattened state and a folded state, and is switchable from the flattened state to the folded state and from the folded state to the flattened state. In the present embodiment, the flattened state means that two opposing portions of the electronic apparatus 1 are in a flattened or approximately flattened state. The folded state refers to a state in which two opposing portions of the electronic apparatus 1 are folded and disposed opposite each other. The flattened state and the folded state of the electronic device 1 will be described later in connection with the flattened state and the folded state of the folding apparatus 100.

The electronic device 1 comprises a folding housing 10 and a screen 30 carried by the folding housing 10. The screen 30 may be, but is not limited to, a foldable display screen, a foldable touch display screen, or other foldable components having corresponding functions, or a component to which a flexible support member is fixedly attached, such as a foldable display screen attached with a flexible steel plate, a foldable touch screen, a foldable touch display screen, or the like.

When the folding housing 10 is in a folded state, the screen 30 is also in a folded state; when the folding housing 10 is in the flattened state, the screen 30 is also in the flattened state. In one embodiment, the screen 30 may be folded or flattened with the folding housing 10. In particular, the screen 30 may be folded as the folding housing 10 is folded and may be flattened as the folding housing 10 is flattened. In another embodiment, the folding housing 10 may be folded or flattened with the screen 30. In particular, the folding housing 10 may fold as the screen 30 is folded and may flatten as the screen 30 flattens. The application does not limit whether the folding housing 10 brings the screen 30 to fold or flatten, and does not limit whether the screen 30 brings the folding housing 10 to fold or flatten, as long as the folding housing 10 is in a folded state, the screen 30 is also in a folded state; when the folding housing 10 is in the flattened state, the screen 30 is also in the flattened state.

The folding housing 10 includes two housings 500 (also referred to as a center frame) and a folding device 100 connected between the two housings 500. The two housings 500 have a folded state and a flattened state. When the folding apparatus 100 is in a folded state, two of the housings 500 are in a folded state; when the folding apparatus 100 is in the flattened state, the two housings 500 are also in the flattened state. The relationship of the housing 500 and the folding apparatus 100 will be described in detail later in connection with the specific structure of the folding apparatus 100. The screen 30 includes a bendable portion 310 and two non-bendable portions 320 connected to opposite sides of the bendable portion 310. One non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 is fixed to one of the two housings 500, the other non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 is fixed to the other of the two housings 500, the bendable portion 310 is disposed corresponding to the foldable device 100, and the bendable portion 310 is disposed at one side of the foldable device 100. The non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 may be fixed to one of the two housings 500 by, but not limited to, a connecting member such as glue or double-sided tape. The other non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 may be fixed to the other of the two housings 500 by, but not limited to, a connecting member such as glue or double-sided tape.

In the present embodiment, the electronic apparatus 1 is illustrated as an example of the foldable electronic apparatus 1, that is, when the electronic apparatus 1 is in a folded state, the screen 30 is located inside the folding device 100. The foldable electronic device 1 can effectively reduce the possibility of the screen 30 being impacted, which is beneficial to prolonging the service life of the screen 30. It should be noted that the main inventive concept provided by the present application is also applicable to the fold-out electronic device 1.

When the electronic device 1 is in the flattened state, the screen 30 is also in the flattened state, and the screen 30 can be exposed, which is beneficial to realizing large-screen display or large-screen operation. When the electronic apparatus 1 is in the folded state, the screen 30 is also in the folded state, and thus, the electronic apparatus 1 is portable. It should be understood that the above description of the electronic device 1 is merely an introduction of one application of the folding apparatus 100 and the folding housing 10, and should not be construed as limiting the folding apparatus 100 and the folding housing 10 provided by the present application. The folding apparatus 100 is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 5 and fig. 6 together, fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a folding device according to an embodiment of the application; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the folding device of FIG. 4 from another perspective; fig. 6 is an exploded view of the folding device of fig. 4. The folding device 100 includes a support assembly 1100 and a rotating assembly 1200. The support assembly 1100 includes two supports, which are designated as a first support 111 and a second support 111', respectively, for convenience of description. The rotating assembly 1200 includes a main body 120 and two rotating mechanisms disposed side by side, which are designated as a first rotating mechanism 130 and a second rotating mechanism 130', respectively, for the sake of description. The first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130' each include a first rotation member 131, a second rotation member 132, a third rotation member 133, and a connecting member 134.

In the first rotation mechanism 130: one end of the first rotating member 131 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the first supporting member 111; one end of the second rotating member 132 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is rotatably connected to the connecting member 134; one end of the third rotating member 133 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the connecting member 134; the connecting piece 134 is rotatably connected to the first support 111.

In the second rotation mechanism 130': one end of the first rotating member 131 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the second supporting member 111'; one end of the second rotating member 132 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is rotatably connected to the connecting member 134; one end of the third rotating member 133 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the connecting member 134; the connecting piece 134 is rotatably connected to the second support 111'.

The first supporting member 111, also referred to as a sloping plate, is disposed corresponding to a bendable portion 310 of the screen 30. The second supporting member 111', also referred to as a tilt plate, is disposed corresponding to the other bendable portion 310 of the screen 30. In one embodiment, the first support 111 is fixed to one end of the bendable portion 310 by an adhesive or a double sided tape, and the second support 111' is fixed to the other end of the bendable portion 310 by an adhesive or a double sided tape. In another embodiment, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are not fixed to the bendable portion 310. When the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are bent, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are used for limiting the position of the bendable portion 310, so as to prevent the bendable portion 310 from moving.

The first support 111 and the and second supports 111' are flattened when the folding apparatus 100 is in a flattened state, and can support the screen 30 in a flattened state when applied to the electronic device 1. When the first support 111 and the and second supports 111 'are folded in the folded state of the folding apparatus 100, and one end of the first support 111 near the main body 120 is inclined compared to the other end facing away from the main body 120, and one end of the second support 111' near the main body 120 is inclined compared to the other end facing away from the main body 120, such that a distance d1 between one ends of the first support 111 and the second support 111 'near the main body 120 is greater than a distance d2 between the other ends of the first support 111 and the second support 111' facing away from the main body 120 when the folding apparatus 100 is in the folded state (refer to fig. 2). Therefore, when the folding device 100 is in the folded state, the cross section of the folding device 100 presents a water droplet-shaped accommodation space. When the folding device 100 is applied to the folding housing 10 and the electronic apparatus 1, it is advantageous to reduce the folding gap between the folding housing 10 and the electronic apparatus 1, improve the appearance expressive force, and increase the bending control of the screen 30 in the electronic apparatus 1, and reduce the crease of the screen 30.

The body 120 is also referred to as a carrier, or cradle. The rotating assembly 1200 includes a main body 120 and two rotating mechanisms arranged side by side. For the purposes of this description, one of the rotary mechanisms is designated as a first rotary mechanism 130 and the other rotary mechanism is designated as a second rotary mechanism 130'. The first support 111 is connected to the main body 120 through a first rotation mechanism 130, and the second support 111 'is connected to the main body 120 through a second rotation mechanism 130'. When the folding device 100 is in a flattened state, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are respectively disposed at both sides of the main body 120. The first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130' are symmetrically disposed or asymmetrically disposed with respect to the main body 120. When the first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130 'are symmetrically disposed about the main body 120, the first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130' may be symmetrically disposed along the axis of the main body 120. In the present embodiment and the schematic diagrams of the present embodiment, the first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130' are symmetrically disposed along the axis of the main body 120, and should not be construed as limiting the folding device 100 provided by the present application.

The mating relationship of the second rotation mechanism 130' with the main body 120 is the same as the mating relationship of the first rotation mechanism 130 with the main body 120. The mating relationship of the second rotation mechanism 130 'with the second support 111' is the same as the mating relationship of the first rotation mechanism 130 with the first support 111. The following description will mainly take the example that the first rotating mechanism 130 is respectively engaged with the main body 120 and the first supporting member 111. On the premise that the matching relationship between each component (the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, the third rotating member 133 and the connecting member 134) in the first rotating mechanism 130 and the main body 120 and the first supporting member 111 is known, the same component of the second rotating mechanism 130' can be replaced by each component of the first rotating mechanism 130, and the matching relationship between each component (the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, the third rotating member 133 and the connecting member 134) in the second rotating mechanism 130 and the main body 120 and the second supporting member 111' can be obtained by replacing the first supporting member 111 with the second supporting member 111 '.

The connection relationship between the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, the third rotating member 133, and the connecting member 134 in the first rotating mechanism 130 and the main body 120 and the first supporting member 111 will be described below.

The folding device 100 is located between the two housings 500, the two housings 500 are respectively connected to the connecting piece 134 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the connecting piece 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'of the folding device 100, and when the connecting piece 134 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the connecting piece 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130' rotate, the two housings 500 rotate to switch between an unfolded state and a folded state. It should be noted that the present application does not rotate the two housings 500, and the driving and driven relationships of the rotation of the connecting member 134 of the first rotation mechanism 130 and the connecting member 134 of the second rotation mechanism 130' are limited in terms of time sequence.

In one embodiment, the connector 134 may be secured to the housing 500 such that rotation of the connector 134 is achieved when the housing 500 is rotated. The connector 134 and the housing 500 may be in a unitary structure or a split structure. When the connection 134 and the housing 500 are integrally formed, the connection 134 and the housing 500 may be manufactured through one process, but for convenience of understanding, the connection 134 and the housing 500 are named differently. When the connector 134 and the housing 500 are in a split structure, the connector 134 and the housing 500 are two independent components, and the connector 134 is fixed on the housing 500 by various methods, such as adhesion, screw connection, snap connection, and the like. In this embodiment, the connector 134 and the housing 500 are only schematically described as separate structures. It can be appreciated that the connection manner of the connection piece 134 in the first rotation mechanism 130 and the one housing 500 may be the same as or different from the connection manner of the connection piece 134 in the second rotation mechanism 130' and the other housing 500.

One end of the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the first supporting member 111. Accordingly, one end of the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the second supporting member 111'. Thus, when the folding apparatus 100 is in a flattened state, the first support 111 and the second support 111' can provide better support for the screen 30; when the folding device 100 is in a folded state, the cross section of the folding device 100 presents a water drop-shaped accommodating space, and when the folding device 100 is applied to the folding housing 10 and the electronic equipment 1, the folding gap between the folding housing 10 and the electronic equipment 1 is reduced, the appearance expressive force is improved, the bending control of the screen 30 in the electronic equipment 1 is increased, and the crease of the screen 30 is reduced.

In the first rotation mechanism 130: one end of the second rotating member 132 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is rotatably connected to the connecting member 134. One end of the third rotating member 133 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the connecting member 134. The connecting piece 134 is rotatably connected to the first supporting piece 111, and the connecting piece 134 rotates relative to the main body 120 to drive the first rotating piece 131, the second rotating piece 132, and the third rotating piece 133 to rotate.

In the second rotation mechanism 130' 130: one end of the second rotating member 132 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is rotatably connected to the connecting member 134. One end of the third rotating member 133 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the connecting member 134. The connecting piece 134 is rotatably connected to the second supporting piece 111', and the connecting piece 134 rotates relative to the main body 120 to drive the first rotating piece 131, the second rotating piece 132, and the third rotating piece 133 to rotate.

In this embodiment, one end of the first rotating member 131 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the first supporting member 111, wherein the one end of the first rotating member 131 is disposed opposite to the other end of the first rotating member 131. One end of the second rotating member 132 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is rotatably connected to the connecting member 134, wherein the one end of the second rotating member 132 is opposite to the other end of the second rotating member 132. One end of the third rotating member 133 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, and the other end is slidably connected to the connecting member 134, where the one end of the third rotating member 133 is opposite to the other end of the third rotating member 133.

When the folding device 100 is folded, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 slides relative to the first supporting member 111, the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'slides relative to the second supporting member 111', the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132 and the third rotating member 133 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the second rotating mechanism 130 'rotate, the third rotating member 133 slides relative to the connecting member 134, and the first supporting member 111 and the second supporting member 111' fold; when the folding device 100 is unfolded, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 slides relative to the first supporting member 111, the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'slides relative to the second supporting member 111', the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132 and the third rotating member 133 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the second rotating mechanism 130 'rotate, and the third rotating member 133 slides relative to the connecting member 134, so that the first supporting member 111 and the second supporting member 111' are mutually unfolded.

The term "rotation" means that two moving members can perform a circular motion about a rotation axis. When the two moving parts rotate, part or all of the circumference can move around the rotation axis. For example, one end of the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 is rotatably connected to the first supporting member 111, and thus the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the first supporting member 111 can perform a circular motion about a rotation axis. The sliding means that two moving parts move in parallel, only displacement changes between the two moving parts, and no angle changes exist. For example, in the present embodiment, the other end of the first rotating member 131 is slidably connected to the main body 120, which means that there is a displacement between the other end of the first rotating member 131 and the main body 120 without an angle change. The following description will be referred to herein for rotation or sliding between the respective components, and will not be repeated. Rolling means both displacement and angular changes between two moving parts.

As can be seen from the above description, the first support 111 and the second support 111' can be folded or unfolded with respect to each other, and thus, the folding device 100 has a folded state and a flattened state, and can be switched from the flattened state to the folded state and vice versa. It will be appreciated that the folding apparatus 100 also has a hover state (also referred to as an intermediate state) between a folded state and a flattened state. When the folding device 100 is in a folded state, the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are both located on the same side of the main body 120, and the first support 111 and the second support 111' cannot be folded any more. When the folding device 100 is in the flattened state, the first supporting member 111 and the second supporting member 111 'are located on two opposite sides of the main body 120, and the first supporting member 111 and the second supporting member 111' are in a flattened or approximately flattened state. When the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are in a flat state, the surfaces of the first support 111 and the second support 111' disposed adjacent to the screen 30 are coplanar. When the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are in an approximately flat state, the surfaces of the first support 111 and the second support 111' disposed adjacent to the screen 30 are approximately coplanar. The state of the folding device 100 is related to the state of the electronic apparatus 1. When the first support 111 and the second support 111' in the folding device 100 are bent, the screen 30 is driven to bend relatively; when the first support 111 and the second support 111' in the folding device 100 are mutually flattened, the screen 30 is driven to be mutually flattened. Therefore, when the folding apparatus 100 is in the folded state, the electronic device 1 is also in the folded state; when the folding apparatus 100 is in the flattened state, the electronic device 1 is also in the flattened state.

In an embodiment, the connecting piece 134 rotates relative to the main body 120 to drive the first rotating piece 131, the second rotating piece 132, and the third rotating piece 133 to rotate, so as to drive the first supporting piece 111 and the second supporting piece 111' to bend or spread each other, which will be described in detail below.

Specifically, when the two connection members 134 of the first and second rotation mechanisms 130 and 130' are moved toward each other, the two second rotation members 132 are moved toward each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120 and the connection members 134, the two first rotation members 131 are moved toward each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120, the two third rotation members 133 are moved toward each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120, the first rotation members 131 slide with respect to the first support members 111, and the third rotation members 133 slide with respect to the connection members 134, so that the two first support members 111 are folded toward each other. When each of the connection members 134 of the first and second rotation mechanisms 130 and 130 'is moved away from each other, the two second rotation members 132 are moved away from each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120 as compared to the main body 120 and the connection members 134, the two first rotation members 131 are moved away from each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120, the two third rotation members 133 are moved away from each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120, the first rotation member 131 of the first rotation mechanism 130 slides with respect to the first support member 111, the first rotation member 131 of the second rotation mechanism 130' slides with respect to the second support member 111', and the third rotation member 133 slides with respect to the connection members 134, so that the first and second support members 111 and 111' are spread apart from each other. In other embodiments, the first support 111 and the second support 111 'may be moved close to each other to drive the respective components of the first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130'. In the embodiment of the present application, the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are moved relatively, and the movement sequence and the driving and driven movement relationship of the respective components (the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, the third rotating member 133 and the connecting member 134) in the first rotating mechanism 130 and the second rotating mechanism 130' are not limited.

In summary, in the folding device 100 provided in the embodiment of the application, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the main body 120, the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130' and the main body 120, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the first supporting member 111, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130' and the second supporting member 111', the second rotating member 132 and the main body 120, the second rotating member 132 and the connecting member 134, the third rotating member 133 and the main body 120, the connecting member 134 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the first supporting member 111, and the connecting member 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130' and the second supporting member 111' are all in a rotational connection relationship, and the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the first supporting member 111, the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130' and the second supporting member 131 ' are all in a sliding connection relationship, and a sliding connection relationship is better than the connection relationship. When the folding device 100 is in the unfolded state, better support can be provided for the screen 30 carried by the folding device 100. When the electronic device 1 applied to the folding apparatus 100 falls, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are relatively not easy to shake, and have better reliability.

In addition, in the related art, the rolling connection is usually realized by matching the pin with the sliding groove, the machining precision of the special-shaped groove is not high, and the movement precision control when the first support 111 and the second support 111' are matched with other components in a rolling connection mode is difficult. In contrast, in the folding device 100 according to the embodiment of the present application, because of the rotational connection and the sliding connection, the processing precision is higher than that of the rolling connection, so that the motion precision control of the first support 111 and the second support 111' is easier.

Referring to fig. 7 to 11, fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in fig. 4 along line I-I; FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the folding device shown in FIG. 7 from another perspective; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism 130 in the folding device shown in FIG. 4 in cooperation with the main body and the first supporting member; FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 9; fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in fig. 9. Referring to fig. 12 to 15, fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the folding device shown in fig. 7 in a folded state; FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism in the folding device in the folded state provided in FIG. 12 in cooperation with the main body and the first supporting member; FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 13; fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in fig. 13. The first rotating member 131 is connected with the main body 120 in a matching manner through a first connecting shaft 1111 and a first connecting hole 1312. In the present embodiment, the engagement relationship between the first rotary member 131 of the first rotary mechanism 130 and the main body 120 is the same as the engagement relationship between the first rotary member 131 of the second rotary mechanism 130' and the main body 120, and the engagement relationship between the first rotary member 131 of the first rotary mechanism 130 and the first support 111 is the same as the engagement relationship between the first rotary member 131 of the second rotary mechanism 130' and the second support 111', and therefore, only the first rotary member 131 and the first support 111 of the first rotary mechanism 130 are illustrated in some drawings.

The following describes an example of the mating relationship between the first rotary member 131 and the first support member 111 of the first rotary mechanism 130. The mating relationship between the first rotary member 131 and the second support member 111 'of the second rotary mechanism 130' is the same as the mating relationship between the first rotary member 131 and the first support member 111 of the first rotary mechanism 130. On the premise of knowing the matching relationship between the first rotating member 131 and the first supporting member 111 of the first rotating mechanism 130, the first rotating mechanism 130 is replaced by the second rotating mechanism 130', and the first supporting member 111 is replaced by the second supporting member 111', so that the matching relationship between the first rotating member 131 and the second supporting member 111 'of the second rotating mechanism 130' can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 is cooperatively connected with the first connecting hole 1312 through the first connecting shaft 1111, that is, the first rotating member 131 is rotatably connected with the main body 120 through a physical connecting shaft. Correspondingly, the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'is cooperatively connected with the first connecting hole 1312 through the first connecting shaft 1111 and the second supporting member 111', that is, the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'can be rotatably connected with the second supporting member 111' through a physical connecting shaft.

The physical connection shaft can make the space required for the rotational connection between the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the first supporting member 111 smaller, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the mating parts of the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the first supporting member 111. In addition, the fit clearance between the first connecting shaft 1111 and the first connecting hole 1312 is relatively easy to control, and is not easy to shake. The physical connection shaft can make the space required for the rotation connection between the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'and the second supporting member 111' smaller, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the matching parts of the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'and the second supporting member 111'. In addition, the fit clearance between the first connecting shaft 1111 and the first connecting hole 1312 is relatively easy to control, and is not easy to shake.

The main body 120 has a first accommodating space 120a, the first accommodating space 120a is configured to accommodate the one end of the first rotating member 131, the one end of the first rotating member 131 has the first connecting hole 1312, and the first rotating shaft is disposed through the first connecting hole 1312 and connected to two opposite first sidewalls 1211 of the main body 120 to form the first accommodating space 120 a.

In this embodiment, the first connecting shaft 1111 is disposed through the first connecting hole 1312 and connected to two opposite first sidewalls 1211 of the main body 120 forming the first accommodating space 120a, so that the first rotating member 131 has better stability when rotating compared to the main body 120.

The first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 is cooperatively connected with the first supporting member 111 by means of a first sliding portion 1313 and a first chute 111c, the first sliding portion 1313 is disposed on one of the first rotating member 131 and the first supporting member 111 of the first rotating mechanism 130, and the first chute 111c is disposed on the other of the first rotating member 131 and the first supporting member 111 of the first rotating mechanism 130.

In the schematic view of the present embodiment, the first sliding portion 1313 is provided on the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130, and the first chute 111c is provided on the first supporting member 111. Since the first supporting member 111 has a large size, it is easy to manufacture the first sliding groove 111c on the first supporting member 111, and the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 has a relatively small size, so that the first sliding portion 1313 is formed. In other embodiments, the first sliding portion 1313 is disposed on the first support 111, and the first chute 111c is disposed on the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130.

Specifically, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 includes a first rotating portion 1311 and a first sliding portion 1313 connected to each other. In the present embodiment, the first rotating portion 1311 has the first connecting hole 1312, and the first sliding portion 1313 is slidable in the first chute 111 c.

In this embodiment, the first supporting member 111 has a first supporting surface 111f and a first side surface 111g (see fig. 10) that are connected to each other. The first support surface 111f is a surface adjacent to the screen 30. The first side 111g is disposed adjacent to the body 120. The opening of the first chute 111c is disposed on the first side 111g, so as to facilitate assembly between the first rotating member 131 and the first supporting member 111. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the opening of the first chute 111c is disposed on the first side 111g and the surface of the first support 111 facing away from the first support surface 111 f. So long as the first rotating member 131 is slidably movable with respect to the first supporting member 111.

When the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 is slidably engaged with the first supporting member 111 via the first sliding portion 1313 and the first sliding groove 111c, the first sliding portion 1313 moves linearly in the first sliding groove 111 c.

Referring to fig. 10 and 11, the first supporting member 111 includes a supporting body 1113 and a first connecting portion 1114 connected to the supporting body 1113. The first connecting portion 1114 is disposed adjacent to the connecting member 134 compared to the supporting body portion 1113, the first connecting portion 1114 has the first sliding groove 111c, the other end of the first rotating member 131 has the first sliding portion 1313, and the first sliding portion 1313 is disposed in the first sliding groove 111c and is slidable relative to the first sliding groove 111 c.

Specifically, the first support 111 includes a support body portion 1113, wherein the support body portion 1113 has the first support surface 111f. The first connecting portion 1114 is disposed on a surface of the supporting body portion 1113 facing away from the first supporting surface 111f. In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 1114 protrudes from the surface of the supporting body portion 1113 facing away from the first supporting surface 111f, so the thickness of the supporting body portion 1113 can be made thinner, so that the first supporting member 111 is lighter and thinner.

With further reference to fig. 35 and 36, the connecting member 134 has a first avoiding space 1344, and the first avoiding space 1344 is configured to receive the first connecting portion 1114.

Since the first supporting member 111 has the first connecting portion 1114, the connecting member 134 has a first avoiding space 1344, and the first avoiding space 1344 is disposed corresponding to the first connecting portion 1114, so as to accommodate the first connecting portion 1114, thereby facilitating the fitting and assembly between the connecting member 134 and the first supporting member 111.

With continued reference to fig. 7 to 15, the first sliding chute 111c has a first sliding section 111d and a second sliding section 111e at opposite ends, wherein the first sliding section 111d faces away from the main body 120 compared to the second sliding section 111e, the first sliding portion 1313 is located at the second sliding section 111e when the folding device 100 is in the flattened state, and the first sliding portion 1313 is located at the first sliding section 111d when the folding device 100 is in the folded state.

When the folding device 100 is in the flattened state, the first sliding portion 1313 is located on the second sliding section 111e, so as to prevent the folding device 100 from being further unfolded to damage the screen 30 carried by the folding device 100. When the folding device 100 is in the folded state, the first sliding portion 1313 is located on the first sliding section 111d, so as to prevent the folding device 100 from being further folded to damage the screen 30 carried by the folding device 100.

In order to understand the position of the first receiving space 120a, the structure of the main body 120 will be described. The main body 120 has end surfaces adjacent to the first support 111 and the second support 111 'when the first support 111 and the second support 111' are in a folded state. Specifically, referring to fig. 12 to 14, the end surfaces of the two supports adjacent to the first support 111 and the second support 111' when the two supports are in the folded state are designated as first end surfaces 123, and the surface opposite to the first end surfaces 123 is designated as second end surfaces 124. The main body 120 further has two connection surfaces 125, and the two connection surfaces 125 are respectively connected to the first end surface 123 and the second end surface 124. In other words, the main body 120 has a first end face 123, a second end face 124, and two connection faces 125. The first end face 123 and the second end face 124 are disposed opposite to each other, the connection face 125 connects the first end face 123 and the second end face 124, and the two connection faces 125 are disposed opposite to each other. When the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are in the folded state, one of the first support 111 is located at one side of one connection surface 125, and the second support 111' is located at one side of the other connection surface 125; when the first support 111 and the second support 111' are in the folded state, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are located at one side of the first end face 123, and the first end face 123 is adjacent to the first support 111 and the second support 111' compared to the second end face 124.

In this embodiment, the width of the first end face 123 is greater than the width of the second end face 124. Since the first end face 123 needs to be provided with openings for mounting the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, the third rotating member 133, the screen 30, and other components, the first end face 123 has a relatively large width, which facilitates the mounting of the components. The second end surface 124 may be smaller in size and may reduce the size of the body 120. In addition, the connection surface 125 is arc-shaped or approximately arc-shaped, so that structural members such as the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, the third rotating member 133, the housing 500, etc. can be avoided when the folding device 100 is folded, and interference between the structural members and the connection surface 125 during folding of the folding device 100 can be prevented.

The opening of the first accommodating space 120a is located at the first end face 123 and penetrates through one of the connection faces 125. Since the number of the supporting members is two, that is, the supporting members include the first supporting member 111 and the second supporting member 111', the main body 120 has two first receiving spaces 120a disposed at intervals. In the schematic view of the present embodiment, two first receiving spaces 120a are illustrated as being arranged along the broadband direction of the main body 120.

The opening of the first accommodating space 120a is located on the first end face 123 and penetrates through one of the connecting faces 125, so that the first rotating member 131 can be conveniently installed in the first accommodating space 120a, and the first rotating member 131 and the main body 120 can be conveniently connected in a matching manner.

Referring to fig. 16 to 24, fig. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in fig. 4 along line IV-IV; FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the folding device shown in FIG. 16 from another perspective; FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the coupling relationship between the second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the main body and the connecting member in the folding device shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 18; FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 18; FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in FIG. 16 in a folded state; FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the main body and the connecting member in the folding device in the folded state as shown in FIG. 21; fig. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in fig. 22; fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in fig. 22. The second rotating member 132 is connected with the main body 120 in a matching manner through a first circular arc groove 1321 and a first circular arc rail 122, the first circular arc groove 1321 is disposed in one of the second rotating member 132 and the main body 120, and the first circular arc rail 122 is disposed in the other of the second rotating member 132 and the main body 120.

Specifically, the main body 120 further has a second accommodating space 120b, two second side walls 1221 of the main body 120 opposite to the second accommodating space 120b are respectively provided with one of the first circular arc grooves 1321 and the first circular arc rails 122, and two opposite sides of the second rotating member 132 are respectively provided with the other of the first circular arc grooves 1321 and the first circular arc rails 122.

In the schematic view of the present embodiment, the second rotating member 132 is illustrated as having a first circular arc groove 1321, and the main body 120 is illustrated as having a first circular arc rail 122. It will be appreciated that the definition of the rotational connection between the second rotational member 132 and the body 120 of the present application should not be construed as limiting. In other embodiments, the second rotating member 132 may further be provided with a first circular arc rail 122, and accordingly, the main body 120 has a first circular arc slot 1321. In other embodiments, the second rotating member 132 has a first circular arc rail 122 and a first circular arc slot 1321 thereon; correspondingly, the main body 120 has a first circular arc slot 1321 and a first circular arc rail 122 thereon; the first circular arc groove 1321 of the main body 120 is matched with the first circular arc rail 122 on the second rotating member 132, and accordingly, the first circular arc rail 122 of the second main body 120 is matched with the first circular arc groove 1321 on the second rotating member 132.

The main body 120 further has a second accommodating space 120b, two second side walls 1221 of the main body 120 opposite to the second accommodating space 120b are respectively provided with one of the first circular arc grooves 1321 and the first circular arc rails 122, and two opposite sides of the second rotating member 132 are respectively provided with the other of the first circular arc grooves 1321 and the first circular arc rails 122.

The opening of the second accommodating space 120b is located at the end surface (i.e., the first end surface 123) and penetrates through one of the connection surfaces 125. Since the support assembly 1100 includes two support members, i.e., the first support member 111 and the second support member 111', the main body 120 has two second receiving spaces 120b spaced apart from each other. In the schematic view of the present embodiment, two second accommodating spaces 120b are illustrated as being arranged along the broadband direction of the main body 120.

The opening of the second accommodating space 120b is located on the first end face 123 and penetrates through one of the connecting faces 125, so that the second rotating member 132 can be conveniently installed in the second accommodating space 120b, and the second rotating member 132 and the main body 120 can be conveniently connected in a matching manner.

In this embodiment, the second rotating member 132 is cooperatively connected with the main body 120 through the first circular arc groove 1321 and the first circular arc rail 122, so that, on one hand, the second rotating member 132 may be rotationally connected with the main body 120, and on the other hand, the first circular arc groove 1321 and the first circular arc rail 122 may be formed on the second rotating member 132 and the main body 120 by machining, and in addition, the second rotating member 132 may be conveniently assembled with the main body 120.

In addition, the rotation axis of the first circular arc groove 1321 and the first circular arc rail 122 when they rotate relatively is a virtual axis, in other words, the first circular arc groove 1321 and the first circular arc rail 122 rotate around the virtual axis when they rotate relatively. Compared with the physical rotation shaft, the virtual rotation shaft can be designed according to the requirement, and the rotation axes of the second rotation member 132 and the main body 120 are closer to the theoretically designed position, so that the second rotation member 132 has a motion track with higher precision compared with the main body 120 in rotation. In addition, the folding device 100 does not interfere with the screen 30 carried by the folding device 100 during movement or when the folding device 100 is in a flattened or folded state, and the second rotating member 132 is prevented from damaging or piercing the screen 30 when the second rotating member 132 approaches the rotation axis of the main body 120.

With continued reference to fig. 19, in the schematic view of the embodiment, two second side walls 1221 are arranged along the length direction of the main body 120. Two opposite second side walls 1221 of the main body 120 forming the second accommodating space 120b are respectively provided with one of the first circular arc groove 1321 and the first circular arc rail 122, and two opposite sides of the second rotating member 132 are respectively provided with the other of the first circular arc groove 1321 and the first circular arc rail 122. Therefore, when the second rotating member 132 is engaged with the main body 120, the stability of the second rotating member 132 when rotating with respect to the main body 120 can be improved by engaging the two first circular arc grooves 1321 and the two first circular arc rails 122.

In the schematic view of the present embodiment, the first circular arc rails 122 are disposed on two opposite second side walls 1221 of the main body 120 forming the second accommodating space 120b, and the first circular arc grooves 1321 are disposed on two opposite sides of the second rotating member 132, which are illustrated in the schematic view, and the folding device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application should not be construed as being limited. In other embodiments, the two opposite second side walls 1221 of the main body 120 forming the second accommodating space 120b are each provided with a first circular arc slot 1321, and two opposite sides of the second rotating member 132 are each provided with a first circular arc rail 122. In further embodiments, one of two opposite second side walls 1221 of the main body 120 forming the second accommodating space 120b is provided with a first circular arc rail 122, and the other of the two second side walls 1221 is provided with a first circular arc groove 1321; correspondingly, a first circular arc groove 1321 and a first circular arc rail 122 are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the second rotating member 132, the first circular arc groove 1321 of the second rotating member 132 is matched with the first circular arc rail 122 of the main body 120, and the first circular arc rail 122 of the second rotating member 132 is matched with the first circular arc groove 1321 of the main body 120.

With continued reference to fig. 16 to 24, the second rotating member 132 is cooperatively connected with the connecting member 134 through a second connecting shaft 1341 and a second connecting hole 1322, the second connecting shaft 1341 is disposed on one of the second rotating member 132 and the connecting member 134, and the second connecting hole 1322 is disposed on the other of the second rotating member 132 and the connecting member 134.

In the schematic view of the present embodiment, the second rotating member 132 and the connecting member 134 have second connecting holes 1322, the connecting member 134 has two second connecting holes 1322, and the second connecting shaft 1341 is disposed through three second connecting holes 1322. In other embodiments, the second rotating member 132 has a second connecting shaft 1341 thereon, and the connecting member 134 has a second connecting hole 1322 thereon. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the second connecting member 134 has a second connecting hole 1322, and the connecting member 134 has a second connecting shaft 1341.

Specifically, the connector 134 has an accommodation space 134c. The accommodating space 134c is for accommodating the other end of the second rotating member 132. The two opposite side walls of the connecting member 134 forming the accommodating space 134c are respectively provided with a second connecting hole 1322, the other end of the second rotating member 132 is also provided with a second connecting hole 1322, and a second connecting shaft 1341 is arranged through the second connecting hole 1322 of the second rotating member 132 and the second connecting hole 1322 of the two opposite side walls of the accommodating space 134c.

The second connecting shaft 1341 may also be a pin, and correspondingly, the second connecting hole 1322 is a pin hole.

In this embodiment, the second rotating member 132 is connected to the connecting member 134 through a second connecting shaft 1341 and the second connecting hole 1322, i.e. the second rotating member 132 and the connecting member 134 can be made to be connected by a solid connecting shaft. The physical connection shaft can make the space required for the rotational connection between the second rotating member 132 and the connecting member 134 smaller, which is beneficial for the miniaturization of the mating parts of the second rotating member 132 and the connecting member 134. In addition, the fit clearance between the second connecting shaft 1341 and the second connecting hole 1322 is relatively easy to control, and is not easy to shake.

Referring to fig. 25 to 33, fig. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device shown in fig. 4 along line VII-VII; FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the folding device of FIG. 25 from another perspective; FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the matching relationship between the third rotating member and the main body and the connecting member of the second rotating mechanism 130 in the folding device shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 27; FIG. 29 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 27; FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the folding device implemented in FIG. 25 in a folded state; FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism 130 and a main body and a connecting member in the folding device in a folded state as shown in FIG. 30; FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 31; FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIV-VIV in FIG. 31. The third rotating member 133 and the main body 120 are cooperatively connected with a third connecting hole 1331 through a third connecting shaft 1361, the third connecting shaft 1361 is disposed on one of the third rotating member 133 and the main body 120, and the third connecting hole 1331 is disposed on the other of the third rotating member 133 and the main body 120.

In the present embodiment, the third rotating member 133 has the third connecting hole 1331, and a third connecting shaft 1361 is provided on the main body 120 and penetrates through the third connecting hole 1331. In other embodiments, the third connecting member 134 has the third connecting shaft 1361, the main body 120 has the third connecting hole 1331, and the third connecting shaft 1361 is sleeved in the third connecting hole 1331.

Specifically, the third rotating member 133 has a second rotating portion 1333, a second connecting portion 1334, and a limiting portion 1332 connected in sequence. The second rotating portion 1333 and the main body 120 are coupled to the third coupling hole 1331 through the third coupling shaft 1361. In this embodiment, the second rotating portion 1333 has the third connecting hole 1331, and the third connecting shaft 1361 is inserted through the third connecting hole 1331 and fixed to the main body 120. In other embodiments, the second rotating portion 1333 has the third connecting shaft 1361, the main body 120 has the third connecting hole 1331, and the third connecting shaft 1361 is sleeved in the third connecting hole 1331.

Referring to fig. 26, the second connecting portion 1334 has a second avoiding space 133a, so that the third rotating member 133 is prevented from interfering with the second decoration portion 142 of the decoration 1400 when the third rotating member 133 rotates relative to the main body 120. In other embodiments, the second connecting portion 1334 does not have the second avoiding space 133a, and accordingly, the decorative member 1400 has an avoiding notch, so as to avoid interference between the third rotating member 133 and the decorative member 1400 when the third rotating member 133 rotates relative to the main body 120.

The main body 120 and the connecting piece 134 are cooperatively connected with the third connecting hole 1331 through a third connecting shaft 1361, that is, the main body 120 and the connecting piece 134 can be rotatably connected through a solid connecting shaft, and the space required for the rotational connection between the third rotating piece 133 and the connecting piece 134 is smaller through the solid connecting shaft, which is beneficial to realizing miniaturization of the matched parts of the main body 120 and the connecting piece 134. In addition, the fit clearance between the third connecting shaft 1361 and the third connecting hole 1331 is relatively easy to control, and is not easy to shake.

With continued reference to fig. 4 and 6, and fig. 26 to 29, the third rotating member 133 is disposed on one side of the main body 120, and the folding device 100 further includes a limiting member 1300. The limiting member 1300 is disposed on a side of the main body 120 away from the third rotating member 133, so as to limit the direction of the third rotating member 133, in which the main body 120 points to the third rotating member 133.

The folding device 100 further includes a limiting member 1300, which can prevent the third rotating member 133 from falling off the main body 120; on the other hand, the positioning of the limiting member 1300 on the side of the main body 120 away from the third rotating member 133 may also facilitate the assembly among the limiting member 1300, the third rotating member 133 and the main body 120.

The limiting member 1300 is disposed on a side of the main body 120 away from the third rotating member 133, so as to limit the third rotating member 133 in a direction in which the main body 120 points to the third rotating member 133, thereby facilitating assembly among the main body 120, the third rotating member 133, and the limiting member 1300.

The stopper 1300 has a stopper hole 1310, and the third coupling shaft 1361 passes through the stopper hole 1310 and the third coupling hole 1331 and is fixed to the body 120.

In this embodiment, the limiting member 1300 has a limiting hole 1310, and the third connecting shaft 1361 is fixed to the main body 120 through the limiting hole 1310 and the third connecting hole 1331, so that the third connecting shaft 1361 is rotatably connected with the main body 120, which is simple and easy to implement.

With continued reference to fig. 25 to 33, the third rotating member 133 and the connecting member 134 are cooperatively connected by a limiting groove 1342 and a limiting portion 1332, the limiting groove 1342 is disposed on one of the third rotating member 133 and the connecting member 134, and the limiting portion 1332 is disposed on the other of the third rotating member 133 and the connecting member 134.

In the schematic view of the present embodiment, the connector 134 has the stopper groove 1342, and the third rotator 133 has the stopper 1332 is illustrated as an example. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the connector 134 has the stopper 1332, and the third rotating member 133 has the stopper 1342.

The stopper 1332 slides in the stopper 1342 when the connector 134 is folded or unfolded with respect to the main body 120.

Referring to fig. 26 and 30, in the present embodiment, the limiting groove 1342 has a first limiting section 134a and a second limiting section 134b at opposite ends. The first spacing section 134a is further away from the body 120 than the second spacing section 134b. When the first supporting members 111 and the second supporting members 111' are in the folded state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the second limiting section 134b, and when the two first supporting members 111 are in the flattened state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the first limiting section 134a.

When the first support 111 and the second support 111' are in the folded state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the second limiting section 134b, so as to prevent the first support 111 from being further folded to damage the screen 30. When the first support 111 and the second support 111' are in the flattened state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the first limiting section 134a, so as to prevent the first support 111 from being folded back to damage the screen 30. Accordingly, the second support 111' is also prevented from being folded back to damage the screen 30.

Referring to fig. 26 and 30, in the present embodiment, the limiting groove 1342 has a first limiting section 134a and a second limiting section 134b at opposite ends. The first spacing section 134a is further away from the body 120 than the second spacing section 134b. When the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are in a folded state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the second limiting section 134b, and when the first support 111 and the second support 111' are in a flattened state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the first limiting section 134a.

When the first support 111 and the second support 111 'are in the folded state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the second limiting portion 134b, so as to prevent the first support 111 and the second support 111' from being further folded to damage the screen 30. When the first support 111 and the second support 111' are in the flattened state, one end of the first limiting portion 1332 is located at the first limiting section 134a, so as to prevent the first support 111 from being folded back to damage the screen 30. Accordingly, the second support 111' can be prevented from being folded back to damage the screen 30.

Referring to fig. 34 to 37 together, fig. 34 is a schematic view illustrating a coupling member of a first folding mechanism and a first supporting member of the folding device shown in fig. 4 in a next view; FIG. 35 is a schematic view of the folding apparatus of FIG. 4 from another perspective with the first support engaged with the connector of the first rotating mechanism; FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting member and the first support member of the first rotating mechanism of FIG. 34; fig. 37 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in fig. 34. The connecting piece 134 is connected with the first supporting piece 111 in a matching manner through a second circular arc groove 1112 and a second circular arc rail 1343, the second circular arc groove 1112 is arranged on one of the connecting piece 134 and the first supporting piece 111, and the second circular arc rail 1343 is arranged on the other of the connecting piece 134 and the first supporting piece 111.

In the schematic view of the present embodiment, the second circular arc groove 1112 is provided in the first support 111, and the second circular arc rail 1343 is provided in the connector 134. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the second circular arc rail 1343 is disposed on the first support 111, and the second circular arc groove 1112 is disposed on the connecting piece 134.

In the present embodiment, the connecting piece 134 and the first supporting piece 111 have two pairs of second circular arc grooves 1112 and second circular arc rails 1343. One pair of second circular arc grooves 1112 and second circular arc rails 1343 are spaced from the other pair of second circular arc grooves 1112 and second circular arc rails 1343, so as to improve the stability of the first support 111 when rotating relative to the connecting piece 134.

In the present embodiment, the connecting member 134 has two first surfaces 1347 and a second surface 1348 that are disposed opposite to each other. The second surface 1348 connects the two first surfaces 1347, and the second surface 1348 is a surface of the connecting piece 134 facing the first support 111. The two first surfaces 1347 are provided with the second circular arc rails 1343, and correspondingly, the first support 111 is provided with two second circular arc grooves 1112, one second circular arc groove 1112 is matched with one second circular arc rail 1343, and different second circular arc grooves 1112 are matched with different second circular arc rails 1343.

In other embodiments, the connecting piece 134 and the first supporting piece 111 have two pairs of second circular arc grooves 1112 and second circular arc rails 1343, and further include the following forms: two second circular arc grooves 1112 are formed on the connecting piece 134, and correspondingly, two second circular arc rails 1343 are formed on the first supporting piece 111; or, the connecting piece 134 is provided with a second circular arc rail 1343 and a second circular arc groove 1112, and correspondingly, the first supporting piece 111 is provided with a second circular arc groove 1112 and a second circular arc rail 1343, the second circular arc groove 1112 on the first supporting piece 111 is matched with the second circular arc rail 1343 on the connecting piece 134, and the second circular arc rail 1343 on the first supporting piece 111 is matched with the second circular arc groove 1112 on the connecting piece 134. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the connector 134 and the first support 111 have three or more pairs of second circular grooves 1112 and second circular rails 1343. Each pair of second circular arc grooves 1112 and second circular arc rails 1343 are spaced from the other pairs of second circular arc grooves 1112 and second circular arc rails 1343, so as to improve the stability of the first support 111 when rotating relative to the connecting piece 134.

In this embodiment, the connecting piece 134 is cooperatively connected with the first supporting piece 111 through the second circular arc groove 1112 and the second circular arc rail 1343, so that, on one hand, the connecting piece 134 may be rotatably connected with the first supporting piece 111, and on the other hand, the second circular arc groove 1112 and the second circular arc rail 1343 may be inconvenient to be formed on the connecting piece 134 and the first supporting piece 111, so that the assembled folding device 100 is compact.

In addition, the rotation axis of the second circular arc groove 1112 and the second circular arc rail 1343 when they are rotated relatively is a virtual axis, in other words, the second circular arc groove 1112 and the second circular arc rail 1343 rotate around the virtual axis when they are rotated relatively. Compared with the physical rotating shaft, the virtual shaft can be designed according to the requirement, and the rotation axes of the connecting piece 134 and the first supporting piece 111 are closer to the theoretically designed position, so that the connecting piece 134 and the first supporting piece 111 have a motion track with higher precision when rotating. In addition, the folding apparatus 100 does not interfere with the screen 30 carried by the folding apparatus 100 during movement or when the folding apparatus 100 is in a flattened state or a folded state.

Referring further to fig. 4-6, the folding device 100 further includes a decorative piece 1400. The decoration 1400 is disposed at one side of the main body 120, and is used for decorating the main body 120.

The decoration 1400 (also referred to as a back cover) decorates the main body 120 such that at least one of the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, and the third rotating member 133 is exposed when the folding device 100 is folded or unfolded. As can be appreciated, since the decoration 1400 is provided at one side of the main body 120, the decoration 1400 can also protect the main body 120. In other embodiments, the decorative member 1400 may further have a decorative pattern or the like provided thereon so that the decorative member 1400 has a more striking decorative effect.

The decoration 1400 of the folding device 100 includes a first decoration portion 141 and a second decoration portion 142. The second decoration portion 142 is bent and connected with the first decoration portion 141 to form a receiving space 140a. The accommodating space 140a is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the main body 120. In this embodiment, the number of the second decoration portions 142 is two, the two second decoration portions 142 are each connected to the first decoration portion 141 in a bending manner, the two second decoration portions 142 are both located on the same side of the first decoration portion 141, and the two second decoration portions 142 are disposed opposite to each other. When the folding device 100 is in a flattened state, the first supporting member 111 and the second supporting member 111' are respectively located outside the two second decoration portions 142. In other words, when the folding device 100 is in the flattened state, the first supporting member 111 is located outside one of the second decoration portions 142, and the second supporting member 111' is located outside the other second decoration portion 142.

When the first support 111 and the second support 111' are in the flattened state, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are respectively located at the outer sides of the second decoration portion 142, that is, the second decoration portion 142 is located at a gap between the first support 111 and the main body 120, and the second decoration portion 142 is located at a gap between the second support 111' and the main body 120, so that the decoration 1400 can shield the gap between the assembly formed by the first support 111 and the connecting piece 134 and the main body 120, and further reduce or prevent dust, moisture, etc. from entering the main body 120 and the first rotation piece 131, the second rotation piece 132, and the third rotation piece 133 of the first rotation mechanism 130 connected with the main body 120. Accordingly, the decoration 1400 can also cover the gap between the assembly formed by the second support 111 'and the connecting piece 134 and the main body 120, so as to reduce or prevent dust, moisture, etc. from entering the first rotating piece 131, the second rotating piece 132, and the third rotating piece 133 of the main body 120 and the second rotating mechanism 130' connected to the main body 120.

In addition, the decorative member 1400 can also protect the main body 120. In other embodiments, the decorative member 1400 may further have a decorative pattern or the like provided thereon so that the decorative member 1400 has a more striking decorative effect.

In one embodiment, the main body 120 is disposed in the accommodating space 140a, and the main body 120 is connected to the decoration 1400. Alternatively, the main body 120 may be connected to the state member by, but not limited to, screwing, clamping, or bonding.

The following describes the movement of the folding device 100 in several embodiments. It should be understood that the following description of the movement process of the folding device 100 in several embodiments should not be construed as limiting the movement process of the folding device 100 in accordance with the embodiments of the present application. The application is not limited to the driving and driven relationships of the various components and the timing of the movement.

The movement of the folding device 100 from the flattened state to the folded state will be described. In one embodiment, when the folding apparatus 100 is folded from the flattened state, one of the connecting members 134 (one of the connecting members 134 of the first rotation mechanism 130 and the connecting members 134 of the second rotation mechanism 130 ') is folded toward the other connecting member 134 (the other of the connecting members 134 of the first rotation mechanism 130 and the connecting members 134 of the second rotation mechanism 130') with respect to the main body 120, so that the two connecting members 134 are closed. In another embodiment, when the folding device 100 is folded from the flattened state, both the connecting members 134 are folded such that the two connecting members 134 are close together. When the two connecting members 134 are close together, the two second rotating members 132 are rotated to close together with respect to the main body 120 and the connecting members 134, the two first rotating members 131 are rotated to close together with respect to the main body 120, the two third rotating members 133 are rotated to close together with respect to the main body 120, the first rotating member 131 of the first rotating mechanism 130 slides with respect to the first supporting member 111, the first rotating member 131 of the second rotating mechanism 130' slides with respect to the second supporting member 111', and the third rotating member 133 slides with respect to the connecting members 134, so that the first supporting member 111 and the second supporting member 111' are folded with each other. In addition, the connecting piece 134 of the first rotating mechanism 130 is rotatably connected with the first supporting piece 111, so that an end of the first supporting piece 111 away from the main body 120 may be further close to the other first supporting piece 111 than the connecting piece 134; the connecting piece 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'is rotatably connected with the second supporting piece 111', so that one end of the second supporting piece 111 'away from the main body 120 may be further close to the second supporting piece 111' than the connecting piece 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'until the folding device 100 is in a folded state, and when the folding device 100 is in a folded state, the first supporting piece 111 and the second supporting piece 111' and the main body 120 enclose a cross section to be in a water drop shape.

The movement of the folding device 100 from the folded position to the unfolded position will be described. In one embodiment, when the folding device 100 is unfolded from the fully folded state, one of the connectors 134 is moved away from the other connector 134 to unfold the folding device 100. In another embodiment, when the folding device 100 is unfolded from the folded state, both of the connectors 134 are unfolded in a direction away from the other connector 134. When the two connection members 134 are separated from each other, the two second rotation members 132 are separated from each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120 and the connection members 134, the two first rotation members 131 are separated from each other by rotating with respect to the main body 120, the two third rotation members 133 are separated from each other by actively rotating, the first rotation member 131 of the first rotation mechanism 130 slides with respect to the first support member 111, the first rotation member 131 of the second rotation mechanism 130' slides with respect to the second support member 111', and the third rotation member 133 slides with respect to the connection members 134, so that the first support member 111 and the second support member 111' are unfolded from each other. In addition, the connecting piece 134 of the first rotation mechanism 130 is rotatably connected to the first support 111, and the connecting piece 134 of the second rotation mechanism 130' is rotatably connected to the second support 111', so that an end of the first support 111 facing away from the main body 120 may be further adjacent to the second support 111' than the connecting piece 134 until the folding device 100 is in a flattened state.

The present application also provides a folding housing 10, where the folding housing 10 includes the folding device 100 and two housings 500 according to any of the foregoing embodiments. The folding device 100 is described above, and will not be described herein. The folding device 100 is located between the two housings 500, and the two housings 500 are respectively connected to the connecting piece 134 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the connecting piece 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130' of the folding device 100.

The folding device 100 is disposed between the two housings 500, and the two connectors 134 are respectively received in the receiving slots 111a of the two housings 500, and fixedly connect the two connectors 134 to the two housings 500.

Optionally, referring to fig. 3, the second supporting surface 500a of the housing 500 (i.e., the surface of the housing 500 facing away from the trim piece 1400 when the folded housing 10 is in the flattened state), the first supporting surface 111f of the first supporting member 111 (i.e., the surface of the first supporting member 111 facing away from the connecting member 134), and the first end surface 123 of the main body 120 are coplanar.

When the second supporting surface 500a of the housing 500, the first supporting surface 111f of the first supporting member 111, and the first end surface 123 of the main body 120 are coplanar, the second supporting surface 500a of the housing 500, the first supporting surface 111f of the first supporting member 111, and the first end surface 123 of the main body 120 have no step, and when the folding housing 10 is used for supporting the screen 30, when the folding device 100 is in the completely flattened state, the screen 30 is not impacted by the step, and the screen 30 does not have the adverse problems of color dots, bright spots, and the like, thereby ensuring the reliability of the screen 30, and simultaneously, improving the touch feeling of the screen 30 and the use experience of a user.

Referring to fig. 38, fig. 38 is a schematic view of a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis in the folding mechanism shown in fig. 4. The first rotation axis L1 of the first rotation member 131 with respect to the main body 120 is parallel to the second rotation axis L2 of the third rotation member 133 with respect to the main body 120.

The first rotation axis L1 is parallel to the second rotation axis L2, which means that the extending direction of the first rotation axis L1 is the same as the extending direction of the second rotation axis L2, and a certain distance is provided between the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2. In other words, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are parallel to each other and do not coincide with each other. In this embodiment, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are parallel and offset, which will be described in detail later.

The first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are parallel to the central axis of the folding device 100. The central axis of the folding device 100 may be referred to as M line in the drawing. The first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are parallel to each other so as to facilitate the co-rotation of the first rotation member 131 and the third rotation member 133. In the present embodiment, the direction of the central axis M of the folding apparatus 100 may be understood as the width direction of the electronic device 1.

The first rotation axis L1 is parallel to the second rotation axis L2, so that the first rotation member 131 and the third rotation member 133 may rotate in the same direction, which may reduce the fit clearance between the first rotation mechanism 130, the main body 120, the first support member 111 and the connecting member 134, and reduce the rotation deficiency and shake of the folding device 100, so that the accuracy of the rotation of the first support member 111 and the first rotation member 131 compared with the main body 120, and the synchronous rotation of the connecting member 134 and the third rotation member 133 compared with the main body 120 may be improved, so that the movement control of the folding device 100 on the housing 500 carried by the folding device 100 when applied to the folding housing 10 may be more accurate.

With continued reference to fig. 38, the first rotating member 131 and the third rotating member 133 are arranged along the first direction D1, and the first rotating axis L1 and the second rotating axis L2 are offset along the second direction D2; and/or, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are arranged in a staggered manner along a third direction D3, wherein the first direction D1, the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 are perpendicular to each other.

In the present embodiment, in the same rotation mechanism: the first rotating member 131 and the third rotating member 133 are arranged along the central axis M of the folding device 100. The first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are arranged in a staggered manner along the second direction D2, and/or the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are arranged in a staggered manner along the third direction D3. That is, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are offset along at least one of the second direction D2 and the third direction D3. The second direction D2 may be a length direction of the electronic device 1, and the third direction D3 may be a thickness direction of the electronic device 1.

In the present embodiment, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are offset from each other in the second direction D2 and the third direction D3. In other embodiments, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are offset from each other along one of the second direction D2 and the third direction D3.

The first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are parallel and offset, that is, in this embodiment, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are offset in at least one of the second direction D2 and the third direction D3, so that the first supporting member 111 is limited to be unable to move relative to the first rotating member 131 when the folding device 100 is in a stationary state (that is, when the folding device 100 is not rotated), and the connecting member 134 is limited to be unable to move relative to the third rotating member 133. In other words, the first supporting member 111 is stationary with respect to the first rotating member 131, and the connecting member 134 is stationary with respect to the third rotating member 133, thereby improving the structural stability of the folding apparatus 100. It should be noted that, when the folding device 100 moves, the rotation of the connecting member 134 may still directly or indirectly drive the first rotating member 131 and the third rotating member 133 to rotate.

In addition, when the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are parallel to the central axis M of the folding device 100, the first rotation member 131 rotates around the first rotation axis L1, and the third rotation member 133 rotates around the second rotation axis L2, so that one side of the folding device 100 can be flattened and folded. When the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are aligned along the direction of the central axis M of the folding device 100, and the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are arranged in a staggered manner along the second direction D2, a constraint can be formed in the second direction D2, so that a fit clearance of the folding device 100 in the second direction D2 is reduced; when the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are arranged in a dislocation manner along the third direction D3, a constraint can be formed in the third direction D3, a fit clearance of the folding device 100 in the third direction D3 is reduced, and when the folding device 100 is switched between the flattened state and the folded state, shaking of the first rotation member 131 and the third rotation member 133 can be reduced, so that movement of the first rotation member 131 and the third rotation member 133 can be controlled better.

During movement of the connector 134 from the first position to the second position as compared to the body 120: the first rotating member 131 rotates with respect to the main body 120 and slides a first distance with respect to the first supporting member 111; the second rotating member 132 rotates relative to the main body 120 and slides relative to the connecting member 134 by a second distance, which is different from the first distance, where the first position corresponds to the folding device 100 being in a flattened state, and the second position corresponds to the folding device 100 being in a folded state.

As can be appreciated, the first position, that is, the first rotating member 131, the third rotating member 133, the first supporting member 111, and the connecting member 134 are all in a flattened state relative to the main body 120; the second position is a position when the first rotating member 131, the third rotating member 133, the first supporting member 111, and the connecting member 134 are folded with respect to the main body 120.

The main body 120 has an end surface (i.e., a first end surface 123) adjacent to the first support 111 when the folding device 100 is in a folded state. The end face is a surface facing the screen 30 when the folding apparatus 100 is applied to the electronic device 1. In the present embodiment, when the folding device 100 is in the flattened state, the first rotation axis L1 is closer to the end face than the second rotation axis L2. During the movement of the first support 111 from the first position to the second position as compared to the main body 120, the first rotation member 131 slides a first distance with respect to the first support 111. During the movement of the connecting member 134 from the first position to the second position relative to the main body 120, the second rotating member 132 slides a second distance relative to the connecting member 134. The first distance is less than the second distance.

In other embodiments, the first axis of rotation L1 is further from the end face than the second axis of rotation L2 when the folding device 100 is in the flattened state. During the movement of the first support 111 from the first position to the second position as compared to the main body 120, the first rotation member 131 slides a first distance with respect to the first support 111. During the movement of the connecting member 134 from the first position to the second position relative to the main body 120, the second rotating member 132 slides a second distance relative to the connecting member 134. The first distance is greater than the second distance.

The main body 120 is rotatably connected to one end of the first rotating member 131, the other end of the first rotating member 131 is slidably connected to the first supporting member 111, one end of the third rotating member 133 is rotatably connected to the main body 120, the other end of the third rotating member 133 is slidably connected to the connecting member 134, and the connecting member 134 slides relative to the first supporting member 111 during the process of moving from the first position to the second position relative to the main body 120, and the third rotating member 133 slides relative to the exercise-stage encyclopedia, so that the rotational axes (different from the first rotational axis L1 and the second rotational axis L2) of the connecting member 134 and the first supporting member 111 can be designed so as to realize that the movement track of the connecting member 134 during the process of moving from the first position to the second position relative to the main body 120 is an arc or approximately an arc, and the pulling of the connecting member 134 on the screen 30 during the movement can be reduced.

Referring to fig. 39, fig. 39 is a schematic view of the second rotation axis and the third rotation axis in the folding mechanism shown in fig. 4. The second rotation axis L2 of the third rotation member 133 with respect to the main body 120 is parallel to the third rotation axis L3 of the second rotation member 132 with respect to the main body 120.

The second rotation axis L2 is parallel to the third rotation axis L3, which means that the extending direction of the second rotation axis L2 is the same as the extending direction of the third rotation axis L3, and a certain distance is provided between the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3. In other words, the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are parallel to each other and do not coincide. In this embodiment, the second rotation axis L2 is parallel to and offset from the third rotation axis L3, which will be described in detail later.

The second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are parallel to the central axis of the folding device 100. The second rotation axis L2 is parallel to the third rotation axis L3, so as to facilitate the co-rotation of the first rotating member 131 and the second rotating member 132.

The second rotation axis L2 is parallel to the third rotation axis L3, so that the first rotation member 131 and the second rotation member 132 rotate in the same direction, the coordination among the first rotation mechanism 130, the main body 120, the first support member 111 and the connection member 134 can be reduced, and the rotation deficiency and shake of the folding device 100 can be reduced, so that the accuracy of the rotation of the connection member 134 and the third rotation member 133 compared with the main body 120 and the synchronous rotation of the connection member 134 and the second rotation member 132 compared with the main body 120 can be improved, and the motion control of the folding device 100 on the housing 500 carried by the folding device 100 when the folding device is applied to the folding housing 10 can be more accurate.

The second rotating member 132 and the third rotating member 133 are arranged along a first direction D1, and the second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are arranged in a staggered manner in at least one direction of a second direction D2 and a third direction D3, wherein the first direction D1, the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 are perpendicular to each other.

In the present embodiment, the second rotating member 132 and the third rotating member 133 are arranged along the central axis of the folding mechanism. The second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are arranged in a staggered manner along the second direction D2, and/or the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are arranged in a staggered manner along at least one of the second direction D2 and the third direction D3. The second direction D2 may be a length direction of the electronic device 1, and the third direction D3 may be a thickness direction of the electronic device 1.

In the present embodiment, the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are offset along the second direction D2 and the third direction D3, for example. In other embodiments, the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are offset from each other along one of the second direction D2 and the third direction D3.

The second rotation axis L2 is parallel to the third rotation axis L3 and is offset from the third rotation axis L3, that is, in this embodiment, the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are offset from each other in at least one of the second direction D2 and the third direction D3, so that the connecting member 134 is restricted from moving relative to the second rotation member 132 and the third rotation member 133 when the folding device 100 is in a stationary state (that is, when the folding device 100 is not rotated). In other words, the connecting member 134 is stationary with respect to the second rotating member 132, and the connecting member 134 is stationary with respect to the third rotating member 133, thereby improving the structural stability of the folding apparatus 100. It should be noted that, when the folding device 100 moves, the rotation of the connecting member 134 still drives the second rotating member 132 and the third rotating member 133 to rotate.

In addition, when the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are parallel to the central axis of the folding device 100, the third rotation member 133 rotates around the second rotation axis L2, and the second rotation member 132 rotates around the third rotation axis L3, so that one side of the folding device 100 can be flattened and folded. When the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are arranged along the central axis of the folding device 100, and the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are arranged in a staggered manner along the second direction D2, a constraint can be formed in the second direction D2, so that a fit clearance of the folding device 100 in the second direction D2 is reduced; when the second rotation axis L2 and the third rotation axis L3 are arranged in a dislocation manner along the third direction D3, a constraint can be formed in the third direction D3, so that a fit clearance of the folding device 100 in the third direction D3 is reduced, and therefore, when the folding device 100 is switched between the flattened state and the folded state, the shake of the second rotation member 132 and the third rotation member 133 can be reduced, and the movement of the second rotation member 132 and the third rotation member 133 can be better controlled.

In the above embodiment, the first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130' are described as an example with respect to the main body 120. In other embodiments, the first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130' may be asymmetric with respect to the main body 120. In one embodiment, the first rotation mechanism 130 and the second rotation mechanism 130 are not aligned in a direction perpendicular to the central axis M of the main body 120, but are offset. In another embodiment, the relative positional relationship among the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, and the third rotating member 133 in the first rotating mechanism 130 and the relative positional relationship of the second rotating mechanism 130' are different. For example, in the first rotating mechanism 130, the second rotating member 132, the first rotating member 131, and the third rotating member 133 are sequentially arranged in this order; in the second rotating mechanism 130', the third rotating member 133, the second rotating member 132, and the first rotating member 131 may be sequentially arranged in this order; alternatively, in the second rotating mechanism 130', the first rotating member 131, the second rotating member 132, and the third rotating member 133 are arranged in this order.

The present application also provides a folding housing 10, where the folding housing 10 includes the folding device 100 and two housings 500 according to any of the foregoing embodiments. The folding device 100 is described above, and will not be described herein. The folding device 100 is located between the two housings 500, and the two housings 500 are respectively connected to the connector 134 of the first rotating mechanism 130 and the connector 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130 'of the folding device 100, and when the connector 134 of the first rotating mechanism 130 rotates and the connector 134 of the second rotating mechanism 130' rotates, the two housings 500 rotate to switch between the unfolded state and the folded state.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3 again and to fig. 40 to 43 together, fig. 41 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in fig. 2 along line B-B; FIG. 42 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 2 along line C-C; FIG. 43 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 2 along line D-D. The second rotary member 132 is schematically shown in fig. 41, and can be seen in conjunction with fig. 21, and fig. 41 corresponds to the screen 30 and the housing 500 added to fig. 21. The third rotary member 133 is schematically shown in fig. 42, and fig. 42 can be seen in combination with fig. 30, and fig. 42 corresponds to the screen 30 and the housing 500 added to fig. 30. The first supporting member 111 and the connecting member 134 are schematically shown in fig. 43, and fig. 43 can be seen in combination with fig. 34, and fig. 43 corresponds to the screen 30 and the housing 500 added to fig. 34. The application also provides the electronic equipment 1, the electronic equipment 1 comprises a screen 30 and the folding shell 10, and the screen 30 is arranged on the folding shell 10. Specifically, the electronic device 1 includes a foldable screen 30 and a folding housing 10, wherein the screen 30 is carried in the folding housing 10 by a first support 111 and a second support 111' of the folding apparatus 100. When the electronic device 1 is folded, the two housings 500 are folded with each other, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are folded with each other, and the screen 30 is folded with each other; when the electronic device 1 is unfolded, the two housings 500 are unfolded, the first support 111 and the second support 111' are unfolded, and the screen 30 is unfolded.

Specifically, the screen 30 includes a bendable portion 310, and two non-bending portions 320 connected to opposite sides of the bendable portion 310. The bendable portion 310 of the screen 30 corresponds to the folding device 100, and two non-bending portions 320 are respectively disposed corresponding to the two housings 500. One non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 is fixed to one of the two housings 500, the other non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 is fixed to the other of the two housings 500, and the bendable portion 310 is disposed at one side of the folding device 100. The non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 may be fixed to one of the two housings 500 by, but not limited to, a connecting member such as glue or double-sided tape. The other non-bending portion 320 of the screen 30 may be fixed to the other of the two housings 500 by, but not limited to, a connecting member such as glue or double-sided tape. The foldable portion 310 of the screen 30 may be folded or flattened with the folding device 100.

In an embodiment, when the folding device 100 is in the flattened state, the second supporting surface 500a of the housing 500, the first supporting surface 111f of the first supporting member 111, and the first end surface 123 of the main body 120 are coplanar, so that when the screen 30 is in the flattened state, the screen 30 is not impacted by the step, and no adverse problems such as color spots and bright spots occur on the screen 30, so that the reliability of the screen 30 is ensured, and meanwhile, the touch feeling of the screen 30 is also improved, and the user experience is improved.

The course of movement of the electronic device 1 is described below. The movement process of the electronic device 1 from the flattened state to the folded state is described first, and then the movement process of the electronic device 1 from the folded state to the flattened state is described. It should be understood that the movement process of the electronic device 1 described in the following several embodiments should not be construed as limiting the movement process of the electronic device 1 described in the embodiments of the present application. The application is not limited to the driving and driven relationships of the various components and the timing of the movement.

In the following, the movement process of the electronic device 1 from the flattened state to the folded state will be described. In an embodiment, when the electronic device 1 is folded, a folding force is applied to at least one housing 500 of the two housings 500 of the electronic device 1, so that the two rotating assemblies 1200 connected to the two housings 500 rotate in directions adjacent to each other, and further the two rotating assemblies 1200 are folded, and the bendable portion 310 of the screen 30 can be folded along with the folding of the rotating assemblies 1200 until the electronic device 1 is in a fully folded state. The folding process of the rotating assembly 1200 in the folding device 100 can be referred to the above description, and will not be repeated here.

The movement of the electronic device 1 from the folded state to the flattened state will be described below. In an embodiment, at least one of the housings 500 is pulled outwards, so that the two rotating assemblies 1200 connected to the two housings 500 move away from each other, and the two rotating assemblies 1200 are gradually unfolded, and the bendable portion 310 of the screen 30 can be unfolded along with the unfolding of the rotating assemblies 1200 until the electronic device 1 reaches the fully unfolded state. The unfolding process of the rotating assembly 1200 in the folding device 100 can be referred to the above description, and will not be repeated here.

The foregoing is a description of embodiments of the present invention, and it should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, modifications and variations can be made without departing from the principles of the embodiments of the present invention, and such modifications and variations are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A folding device, the folding device comprising:

2. The folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism is coupled to the main body by a first coupling shaft and a first coupling hole.

3. The folding device according to claim 2, wherein the main body has a first accommodating space for accommodating the one end of the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism, the one end of the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism has the first connecting hole, and the first rotating shaft is inserted into the first connecting hole and connected to two oppositely disposed first side walls of the main body forming the first accommodating space.

4. The folding device according to claim 2, wherein the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism is cooperatively connected with the first supporting member by means of a first sliding portion and a first sliding groove, the first sliding portion is disposed on one of the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the first supporting member, and the first sliding groove is disposed on the other of the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the first supporting member.

5. The folding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first supporting member includes a supporting body portion and a first connecting portion connected to the supporting body portion, the first connecting portion is disposed adjacent to the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism compared to the supporting body portion, the first connecting portion has the first sliding groove, the other end of the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism has the first sliding portion, and the first sliding portion is disposed in the first sliding groove and is slidable relative to the first sliding groove.

6. The folding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the connector of the first rotating mechanism has a relief space for receiving the first connector.

7. The folding device of claim 5, wherein the first chute has a first sliding section and a second sliding section at opposite ends, wherein the first sliding section faces away from the main body as compared to the second sliding section, the first sliding portion is located at the second sliding section when the folding device is in the flattened state, and the first sliding portion is located at the first sliding section when the folding device is in the folded state.

8. The folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first rotation axis of the first rotation member of the first rotation mechanism with respect to the main body is parallel to a second rotation axis of the third rotation member of the first rotation mechanism with respect to the main body.

9. The folding apparatus of claim 8, wherein a first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism is aligned with a third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism along a first direction, and wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are offset along a second direction; and/or the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are arranged in a staggered manner along a third direction, wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are mutually perpendicular.

10. The folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein during movement of the connector of the first rotational mechanism from the first position to the second position as compared to the body: the first rotating member of the first rotating mechanism rotates relative to the main body and slides a first distance relative to the first supporting member; the second rotating part of the first rotating mechanism rotates relative to the main body and slides a second distance relative to the connecting part of the first rotating mechanism, wherein the second distance is not equal to the first distance, the first position corresponds to the folding device being in a flattened state, and the second position corresponds to the folding device being in a folded state.

11. The folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second axis of rotation of the third rotational member of the first rotational mechanism relative to the main body is parallel to the third axis of rotation of the second rotational member of the first rotational mechanism relative to the main body.

12. The folding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism are arranged along a first direction, and the second rotating axis and the third rotating axis are arranged in a staggered manner in at least one of a second direction and a third direction, wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

13. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism is connected with the main body in a matching manner through a first circular arc groove and a first circular arc rail, the main body further has a second accommodating space, one of the first circular arc groove and the first circular arc rail is disposed on two opposite second side walls of the main body forming the second accommodating space, and the other of the first circular arc groove and the first circular arc rail is disposed on two opposite sides of the second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism.

14. The folding apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second rotating member of the first rotating mechanism is coupled to the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism by a second coupling shaft coupled to the second coupling hole.

15. The folding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the main body are cooperatively connected with a third connecting hole through a third connecting shaft, the third connecting shaft being provided to one of the third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the main body, and the third connecting hole being provided to the other of the third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the main body.

16. The folding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism are cooperatively connected by a limit groove provided in one of the third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism and a limit portion provided in the other of the third rotating member of the first rotating mechanism and the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism.

17. The folding device of claim 16, wherein the limit slot has a first limit section and a second limit section at opposite ends, the first limit section being farther from the main body than the second limit section, when the first support and the second support are in a folded state, one end of the first limit section being located at the second limit section, and when the first support and the second support are in a flattened state, one end of the first limit section being located at the first limit section.

18. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism is connected with the first supporting member in a mating manner through a second circular arc groove provided in one of the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism and the first supporting member and a second circular arc rail provided in the other of the connecting member of the first rotating mechanism and the first supporting member.

19. The folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second rotation mechanism and the first rotation mechanism are symmetrically disposed about the body.

20. The folding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first rotating member of the second rotating mechanism is coupled to the main body by a first coupling shaft and a first coupling hole.

21. The folding device of claim 20, wherein the first rotating member of the second rotating mechanism is cooperatively connected with the second supporting member by means of a first sliding portion and a first sliding groove, the first sliding portion is disposed on one of the first rotating member and the second supporting member of the second rotating mechanism, and the first sliding groove is disposed on the other of the first rotating member and the second supporting member of the second rotating mechanism.

22. A folding housing comprising a folding device according to any one of claims 1-21 and two housings, said folding device being located between two of said housings, said two housings being connected to a connection piece of said first rotating mechanism and a connection piece of said second rotating mechanism of said folding device, respectively, said two housings rotating to switch between an unfolded state and a folded state when said connection piece of said first rotating mechanism rotates and said connection piece of said second rotating mechanism rotates.

23. An electronic device comprising a foldable screen and a folding apparatus according to any one of claims 1-21; when the folding device is folded, the first rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism slides relative to the first supporting piece, the first rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism slides relative to the second supporting piece, the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the third rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism and the second rotating mechanism rotate, the third rotating piece slides relative to the connecting piece, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are mutually folded, and the screen is folded; when the folding device is unfolded, the first rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism slides relative to the first supporting piece, the first rotating piece of the second rotating mechanism slides relative to the second supporting piece, the first rotating piece, the second rotating piece and the third rotating piece of the first rotating mechanism and the second rotating mechanism rotate, the third rotating piece slides relative to the connecting piece, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are mutually unfolded, and the screen is unfolded;

or,

the electronic equipment comprises a foldable screen and the folding shell as claimed in claim 22, wherein the screen is borne on a first support piece and a second support piece of a folding device in the folding shell, when the electronic equipment is folded, the two shells are mutually folded, the first support piece and the second support piece are mutually folded, and the screen is mutually folded; when the electronic equipment is unfolded, the two shells are unfolded, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are unfolded, and the screen is unfolded.