CN111911524A - Rotating shaft module and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a rotating shaft module, comprising a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft and a rack. The first rotating shaft has a first gear, and the second rotating shaft has a second gear. The first gear and the second gear are movably coupled to the rack. The first rotating shaft moves on the rack by rotating the first gear, and the second rotating shaft moves on the rack by rotating the second gear, and the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft move closer to or farther from each other by rotating. An electronic device is also disclosed.

Description

Spindle Modules and Electronics

technical field

The invention relates to a rotating shaft module and an electronic device.

Background technique

With the advancement of technology, flexible display technology is gradually developed and is considered to have strong development potential. Generally speaking, flexible display technologies include electronic paper, flexible OLED, and the like. Furthermore, in response to the demands of the portable electronic device for functions such as bending, folding, and extending on the display device, the application of the flexible display technology in the portable electronic device is very diverse. At the same time, with the application of flexible materials in the field of electronic display, the electronic display device can be displayed in a larger area when stretched, and can be folded as required to facilitate portability.

However, corresponding to the stretching and folding of the device mechanism on the flexible display device, the flexible (flexible) display panel on the flexible display device will also correspondingly change in shape and size due to its flexible characteristics, such as Due to varying degrees of bending (flattening) there may be excess or reduction in length relative to the device mechanism. If the design is still based on the mechanism characteristics of the existing electronic device, it will not only cause inconvenience in use, but also may cause the display panel to deviate from the original position, resulting in wrinkles or even falling off the mechanism. Therefore, there is an urgent need in the industry to improve the mechanism of the existing flexible display device to meet the technological development trend and market demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hinge module and an electronic device to meet the opening and closing requirements of a flexible display.

The rotating shaft module of the present invention includes a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft and a rack. The first shaft has a first gear, and the second shaft has a second gear. The first gear and the second gear are movably coupled to the rack. The first rotating shaft moves on the rack through the rotation of the first gear, the second rotating shaft moves on the rack through the rotation of the second gear, and the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft move toward or away from each other through the rotation.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a flexible display and a hinge module. The flexible display is partially connected to the hinge module, and is driven by the hinge module to switch between a bent state and a flattened state. The rotating shaft module includes a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft and a rack. The first shaft has a first gear, and the second shaft has a second gear. The first gear and the second gear are movably coupled to the rack. The first rotating shaft moves on the rack through the rotation of the first gear, the second rotating shaft moves on the rack through the rotation of the second gear, and the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft move toward or away from each other through the rotation. When the flexible display is in the bent state, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are far away from each other. During the process of the flexible display being converted from the bent state to the flat state, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft move closer to each other and support together. The flexible display is on a flat surface.

Based on the above, the electronic device is provided with a corresponding rotating shaft module corresponding to the flexible characteristic of the flexible display, so that the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft of the rotating shaft module can move closer to or away from each other during the rotation process, so as to cooperate with the flexible display. Deformation trend of torsion displays.

The rotating shaft module passes the first gear and the second gear that rotate synchronously with the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft respectively, and makes the first gear and the second gear movably coupled to the rack together, so as to complete the first rotating shaft and the second gear. There is also a relative displacement of the second rotating shaft during the rotation process. In this way, when the flexible display is in a bent state, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are away from each other, so that the bending of the flexible display can be accommodated between the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft. During the transition of the flexible display from the bent state to the flattened state, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are moved closer to each other to cope with the increased size after the aforementioned bending is flattened, so that the flexible display can be flattened again In the state, it can still be stably supported on a plane by the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the following embodiments are given and described in detail with the accompanying drawings as follows.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of FIG. 1A in another state.

2A and 2B respectively show exploded views of the rotating shaft module from different perspectives.

3A-3C show partial side views of the electronic device in different states.

FIG. 4A shows a schematic diagram of a rotating shaft module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows a schematic diagram of the hinge module of FIG. 4A in another state.

【Symbol Description】

100: Electronics

110: The first body

120: Second body

130: Flexible Display

140, 240: Rotary shaft module

141, 241: The first reel

141a, 241a: the first gear

141b, 241b: first shaft portion

141c, 241c: the first torsion piece

141d, 142d: convex part

142, 242: The second shaft

142a, 242a: the second gear

142b, 242b: second shaft portion

142c, 242c: the second torsion part

143, 243: rack

144: Connecting rod group

144a: first rod

144b: Second rod

144c: pivot shaft

145, 244: Bracket

145a, 145b: Components

145c: first track

145d, 244a: Second Orbit

145e: Stop

146, 147, 245, 246: Brackets

146a, 147a: depressions

A1, A2, A3: Sections

B1, B2, C1, C2: reaming slot

P1, P2: support columns

S1: District 1

S2: Second District

S3: Bending zone

X1: the first axis

X2: the second axis

X3: the third axis

Detailed ways

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of FIG. 1A in another state. Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B at the same time. In this embodiment, the electronic device 100 , such as a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, etc., includes a first body 110 , a second body 120 , a hinge module 140 and For the flexible display 130 , the first body 110 and the second body 120 are pivotally connected together by the hinge module 140 , so that the first body 110 and the second body 120 can be rotated relative to each other through the hinge module 140 to open and close. Furthermore, since the electronic device 100 is further provided with the flexible display 130 , as the first body 110 and the second body 120 pivot relative to each other, the flexible display 130 can also be in a bent state (eg, FIG. 1A ) and unfolded accordingly. Switching between the flat states (eg, FIG. 1B ) is like opening and closing a book, which is beneficial to improve the portability and applicability of the electronic device 100 , and also improves the convenience of operation.

As mentioned above, the flexible characteristics of the flexible display 130 may change in shape and size due to different states. In order to make the mechanism stroke of the device mechanism (eg, the first body 110 and the second body 120 ) conform to the deformation amount of the flexible display 130 , the present embodiment achieves the requirement by providing a relatively movable rotating shaft mechanism.

2A and 2B respectively show exploded views of the rotating shaft module from different perspectives. Please refer to FIG. 1A , FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B at the same time, in this embodiment, the shaft module 140 includes a first shaft 141 , a second shaft 142 , a rack 143 , a connecting rod set 144 , a bracket 145 and a pair of brackets 146 , 147, wherein the bracket 146 is assembled to the first body 110 and partially connected to the flexible display 130, and the first shaft 141 passes through the bracket 145, the connecting rod set 144 and is assembled to the bracket 146, and the bracket 147 is assembled to the second body 120 is partially connected to the flexible display 130 , and the second rotating shaft 142 passes through the bracket 145 , the connecting rod group 144 and is assembled to the bracket 147 .

In detail, the first rotating shaft 141 of this embodiment includes a first shaft portion 141b, a first gear 141a and a first torsion member 141c. The first shaft portion 141b is divided into different sections A1, A2 and A3. The first shaft portion is divided into different sections A1, A2 and A3. 141b passes through the first torsion member 141c and is assembled to the first gear 141a, wherein the segment A2 and the first gear 141a are combined and fixed through the D-shaped structure and the D-shaped hole, and the segment A3 and the recess 146a of the bracket 146 also pass through A similar D-shaped structure is fixed in combination with D-shaped holes. When the first body 110 is pivoted, the first body 110 and the bracket 146 rotate synchronously with the first shaft portion 141b and the first gear 141a, and the first shaft portion 141b rotates relative to the first torsion member 141c to make the first shaft portion 141b rotate relative to the first torsion member 141c. A torque member 141c provides the required torque.

Similarly, the second rotating shaft 142 of the present embodiment includes a second shaft portion 142b, a second gear 142a and a second torsion member 142c, which have the same configuration and action compared to the first rotating shaft 141. The segment A3 is fixed in combination with the recess 147a of the bracket 147, so that the bracket 147 can rotate synchronously with the second shaft portion 142b, and the second shaft portion 142b rotates relative to the second torsion member 142c to obtain the required torque. It should be noted that, the first torsion member 141c and the second torsion member 142c are the same as the shaft structure of the prior art, and will not be repeated here.

It is worth noting that the first gear 141a and the second gear 142a in this embodiment are movably coupled to the rack 143, wherein the first rotating shaft 141 moves on the rack 143 through the rotation of the first gear 141a, and the second rotating shaft 142 moves on the rack 143 by the rotation of the second gear 142a. Since the rotation directions of the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 are opposite to each other during the opening and closing process of the electronic device 100 , the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 can move closer to or away from each other on the rack 143 through rotation. .

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B again, the bracket 145 includes parts 145a and 145b that are butted against each other (which are combined together by the support columns P1 and P2 ), and the first shaft portion 141b and the second shaft portion 142b are movably penetrated through the The second rails 145d of the parts 145a and 145b are substantially formed by the reaming groove C1 of the part 145a and the reaming groove C2 of the part 145b, and thus limit the first shaft portion 141b and the second shaft portion 142b the movable direction. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , the first rotating shaft 141 and its first gear 141 a rotate on the first axis X1 , and the second rotating shaft 142 and its second gear 142 a rotate on the second axis X2 . The extension axis (third axis X3) is consistent with the extension axis (third axis X3) of the second rail 145d, so the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 are opposite to the rack 143 along the third axis X3 move closer or further away. Here, the first axis X1 is parallel to the second axis X2, and the third axis X3 is orthogonal to the first axis X1 and the second axis X2. In addition, the first torsion member 141c and the second torsion member 142c of the present embodiment have convex portions 141d and 142d, respectively, and the convex portions 141d and 142d are respectively coupled to the reaming groove C1, so that the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft are connected to each other. 142 can move along the second track 145d.

In this embodiment, the rack 143 and the bracket 145 are integral structures, but this embodiment is not limited.

In addition, the connecting rod group 144 is connected to the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 to move the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 synchronously. In detail, the link group 144 includes a first rod 144a, a second rod 144b and a pivot shaft 144c. The first rod 144a is connected to the first shaft portion 141b of the first rotating shaft 141, and the second rod 144b is connected to the first shaft 144b. The second shaft portion 142b of the two rotating shafts 142, the pivot shaft 144c is pivotally connected to the first rod 144a and the second rod 144b, and the pivot shaft 144c is movably coupled to the first track 145c of the bracket 145, and the stopper 145e It is used to block and limit the first rod 144a and the second rod 144b. 2A and 2B , the reaming grooves B1 and B2 of the component 145a are distributed on the component 145a due to different viewing angles, and the opposite ends of the pivot shaft 144c are respectively The first rod 144a is movably pivoted to the reaming slots B1 and B2, and the size (length) of the first rod 144a is substantially equal to the size (length) of the second rod 144b, so that the movement strokes of the two are consistent. Accordingly, the connecting rod group 144 connects and synchronizes the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 to ensure that although the pivoting direction and the moving direction are opposite, their moving strokes on the rack 143 are consistent. Here, the partial structure of the first track 145c is located on the second track 145d, that is, on the moving path of the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142, so as to provide a blocking effect.

3A-3C show partial side views of the electronic device in different states. Please refer to FIGS. 3A to 3C at the same time. In this embodiment, the transition process from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C is equivalent to transitioning the electronic device 100 from the closed state (corresponding to FIG. 1A ) to the unfolded state (corresponding to FIG. 1A ) of about 180 degrees Corresponding to Figure 1B). As shown in FIG. 1B , the display surface of the flexible display 130 is divided into a first area S1 , a second area S2 and a bending area S3 , wherein the first area S1 is connected to the first rotating shaft 141 , and the second area S2 is connected to the second rotating shaft 142, the bending area S3 is adjacent to between the first area S1 and the second area S2. When the flexible display 130 is in the bending state, as shown in FIG. 3A , the bending area S3 is located between the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 , and the first area S1 faces the second area S2 .

Next, when the flexible display 130 is switched from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B , it means that the electronic device 100 has been unfolded to an angle. At this time, the curvature of the bending area S3 has become smaller than that of FIG. 3A , so the first rotating shaft 141 and the The second rotating shafts 142 have moved closer to each other due to rotation from the position shown in FIG. 3A . Here, taking the first track 145c between the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 as a reference, during the process from FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C , the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 move relatively close to the first track 145c .

Finally, when the flexible display 130 is in the flattened state, the first area S1, the second area S2 and the bending area S3 are supported by the first rotating shaft 141, the second rotating shaft 142 and the brackets 146, 147 and are located on the same plane. When the distance between the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 reaches the minimum state. That is to say, if the rotating shaft module 140 is not configured by the above-mentioned means and adopts the prior art, that is, when the distance between the rotating shafts is fixed, the flexible display 130 will face the increase of the flexible display 130 due to the transition from the bent state to the flattened state during the unfolding process. The size cannot be completely released, and when the electronic device 100 is unfolded by 180 degrees, the flexible display 130 will protrude unexpectedly or even fall off in the bending area S3 instead of the flattened state as shown in FIG. 1B . As a result, the flexible display 130 will be wrinkled, and its structure will be damaged.

Conversely, when the electronic device 100 is converted from FIG. 3C to FIG. 3A , it corresponds to the bending area S3 for accommodating the flexible display 130 , so the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 will gradually move away during the rotation. Also based on the first track 145c between the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142, during the process from FIG. 3C to FIG. 3A, the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 are relatively far away from the first track 145c. In this way, after the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 are relatively far apart, a space sufficient to accommodate the bending area S3 can be formed, that is, in the state shown in FIG. 3A , the distance between the first rotating shaft 141 and the second rotating shaft 142 is greater than The size of the bending area S3 is to avoid interference between the flexible display 130 and the hinge module 140 during the conversion process. That is to say, once the rotating shaft module 140 is replaced with the existing technology, that is, when the distance between the rotating shafts is fixed, the bending area S3 will face the problem that the electronic device 100 cannot be accommodated during the closing process of the electronic device 100 , resulting in unexpected problems. uplift or even fall off.

FIG. 4A shows a schematic diagram of a rotating shaft module according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B shows a schematic diagram of the hinge module of FIG. 4A in another state. 4A and FIG. 4B at the same time, in this embodiment, the shaft module 240 includes a first shaft 241 , a second shaft 242 , a rack 243 , a bracket 244 , and brackets 245 and 246 , wherein the rack 243 and the bracket 244 are In an integrated structure, the first rotating shaft 241 includes a first gear 241a, a first shaft portion 241b and a plurality of first torsion members 241c. The second shaft 242 includes a second gear 242a, a second shaft portion 242b and a plurality of second torsion members 242c. The first shaft portion 241b passes through the first torsion member 241c and the bracket 244 and is assembled to the first gear 241a and the bracket 245 , the second shaft portion 242b passes through the second torsion member 242c and the bracket 244 and is assembled to the second gear 242a and the bracket 246, through the first gear 241a, the second gear 242a and the rack 243 are matched, and the second The extending axial direction of the rail 244a is consistent with the extending axial direction of the rack 243, so it can also achieve the moving effect that the rotating shafts can move toward or away from each other when rotating as required by the foregoing embodiment.

To sum up, in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device is provided with a corresponding rotating shaft module corresponding to the flexible characteristics of the flexible display, so that the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft of the rotating shaft module are in the process of rotating can be moved closer or further away from each other to match the deformation tendency of the flexible display.

The rotating shaft module passes the first gear and the second gear that rotate synchronously with the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft respectively, and makes the first gear and the second gear movably coupled to the rack together, so as to complete the first rotating shaft and the second gear. There is also a relative displacement of the second rotating shaft during the rotation process. In this way, when the flexible display is in a bent state, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are away from each other, so that the bending of the flexible display can be accommodated between the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft. During the transition of the flexible display from the bent state to the flattened state, the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are moved closer to each other to cope with the increased size after the aforementioned bending is flattened, so that the flexible display can be flattened again In the state, it can still be stably supported on a plane by the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above with examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the invention shall be determined by the claims.

Claims (20)

1. A hinge module, comprising:

a first rotating shaft having a first gear;

a second rotating shaft having a second gear; and

a rack to which the first and second gears are movably coupled, wherein the first shaft is moved on the rack by rotation of the first gear, the second shaft is moved on the rack by rotation of the second gear, and the first and second shafts are moved close to or away from each other by rotation.

2. The spindle module according to claim 1, wherein the first spindle and the first gear rotate with a first axis, the second spindle and the second gear rotate with a second axis, and the first spindle and the second spindle move toward or away from each other on the rack along a third axis, the first axis is parallel to the second axis, and the third axis is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis.

3. A hinge module as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

and the connecting rod group is connected to the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft so as to synchronously move the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft.

4. The hinge module of claim 3, wherein the linkage comprises a first rod, a second rod and a pivot shaft, the first rod is connected to the first shaft, the second rod is connected to the second shaft, the pivot shaft is pivoted to the first rod and the second rod, the pivot module further comprises a bracket, the first shaft and the second shaft are respectively inserted into the bracket, the bracket has a first track, and the pivot shaft is movably coupled to the first track.

5. The hinge module of claim 4, wherein the first track is between the first hinge and the second hinge, the first hinge and the second hinge moving closer to or away from the first track as the first hinge and the second hinge move closer to or away from each other.

6. The spindle module according to claim 4, wherein a moving stroke of the first spindle on the rack and a moving stroke of the second spindle on the rack coincide with each other.

7. A hinge module as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

the bracket is provided with the rack and a second track, and the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are movably coupled to the second track respectively.

8. The hinge module of claim 7, wherein the first hinge has a first torsion member and the second hinge has a second torsion member, the first and second torsion members each having a protrusion movably coupled to the second track.

9. A hinge module as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a first bracket to which the first shaft is assembled and which is adapted to be connected to a flexible display; and

a second bracket, wherein the second shaft is assembled to the second bracket, and the second bracket is used for connecting to the flexible display, wherein when the flexible display is in a bent state, the first bracket and the second bracket are away from each other so that the bending of the flexible display is accommodated between the first shaft and the second shaft, and when the flexible display is in a flattened state, the first shaft and the second shaft move closer to each other so that the first bracket and the second bracket support the flexible display on a plane.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a flexible display; and

a rotating shaft module, the flexible display being locally connected to the rotating shaft module to be driven by the rotating shaft module to be converted between a bending state and a flattening state, the rotating shaft module comprising:

a first rotating shaft having a first gear;

a second rotating shaft having a second gear; and

a rack, the first and second gears being movably coupled to the rack, wherein the first shaft is rotated by the first gear to move on the rack, the second shaft is rotated by the second gear to move on the rack, and the first and second shafts are rotated to move closer to or away from each other, when the flexible display is in the bent state, the first and second shafts are moved away from each other, and when the flexible display is converted from the bent state to the flattened state, the first and second shafts are moved closer to each other to jointly support the flexible display in a plane.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the flexible display has a display surface divided into a first region, a second region and a bending region, the first region is connected to the first shaft, the second region is connected to the second shaft, the bending region is adjacent to and between the first region and the second region, when the flexible display is in the bent state, the bending region is located between the first shaft and the second shaft, the first region faces the second region, and when the flexible display is in the flattened state, the first region, the second region and the bending region are located on a same plane.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein a distance between the first and second shafts is substantially equal to a dimension of the bending region when the flexible display is in the flattened state, and wherein the distance between the first and second shafts is greater than the dimension of the bending region when the flexible display is in the bent state.

13. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the first shaft and the first gear rotate with a first axis, the second shaft and the second gear rotate with a second axis, and the first shaft and the second shaft move relatively closer to or away from each other on the rack along a third axis, the first axis is parallel to the second axis, and the third axis is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge module further comprises:

and the connecting rod group is connected to the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft so as to synchronously move the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the linkage comprises a first rod, a second rod and a pivot shaft, the first rod is connected to the first shaft, the second rod is connected to the second shaft, the pivot shaft is pivoted to the first rod and the second rod, the shaft module further comprises a bracket, the first shaft and the second shaft are respectively inserted into the bracket, the bracket has a first track, and the pivot shaft is movably coupled to the first track.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first track is between the first hinge and the second hinge, and the first hinge and the second hinge move closer to or away from the first track during movement of the first hinge and the second hinge toward or away from each other.

17. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein a movement stroke of the first hinge on the rack and a movement stroke of the second hinge on the rack coincide with each other.

18. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge module further comprises:

the bracket is provided with the rack and a second track, and the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are movably coupled to the second track respectively.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the first hinge has a first torsion member, the second hinge has a second torsion member, and the first torsion member and the second torsion member each have a protrusion movably coupled to the second track.

20. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge module further comprises:

a first bracket to which the first shaft is assembled and which is adapted to be connected to the flexible display; and

a second bracket, the second shaft being assembled to the second bracket, the second bracket being configured to be connected to the flexible display, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are away from each other when the flexible display is in the bent state, and wherein the first bracket and the second bracket support the flexible display on the plane when the flexible display is in the flattened state.

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