IP Library Granted Patent US 12693713
Granted Patent B2
US 12693713 · App. 18/577,399 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Rotary shaft mechanism and foldable display device

Inventors: Fengping Wu (Beijing, CN); Wei Qing (Beijing, CN); Ren Xiong (Beijing, CN); Jun Zhang (Beijing, CN); Chuankun You (Beijing, CN); Jia Zeng (Beijing, CN); Zhihui Wang (Beijing, CN)
Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.; BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
G06F1/1681G06F1/1652
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693713
App. No.
18/577,399
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a rotary shaft mechanism including a curved base, a screen support plate, a curved slider, and a rotating block; the curved base includes a first centerline extending along X direction and two curved connecting portions symmetrically arranged around the first centerline; in the X direction, the screen support plates are on opposite sides of the curved base, each curved connecting portion is connected to the corresponding screen support plate through the curved slider and the rotating block; along the X direction, each curved connecting portion is divided into first and second curved guide grooves, the rotating block includes a curved connector connected to the first curved guide groove, and a sliding connector slidably connected to the screen support plate; the curved slider is rotatably connected into the second curved guide groove, and the curved slider is rotatably connected to the screen support plate through a pin-shape shaft.

Claims (42)

1 . A rotary shaft mechanism configured to fold a display panel, wherein, the rotary shaft mechanism comprises a curved base, two screen support plates, a curved slider, and a rotating block;

the curved base comprises a first centerline extending along a first direction, and the curved base comprises two curved connecting portions symmetrically arranged around the first centerline; in the first direction, the two screen support plates are respectively on opposite sides of the curved base, each curved connecting portion is connected to a corresponding screen support plate through the curved slider and the rotating block;

along the first direction, each curved connecting portion is divided into a second curved guide groove and a first curved guide groove, both the second curved guide groove and the first curved guide groove extend along a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction;

the rotating block comprises a curved connector connected to the first curved guide groove, and a sliding connector slidably connected to the screen support plate;

the curved slider is rotatably connected to an inner wall of the second curved guide groove, and the curved slider is rotatably connected to the screen support plate through a pin-shape shaft, a vertical distance between a rotation center of the curved slider and a first plane is different from a vertical distance between a rotation center of the rotating block and the first plane, so that when the rotary shaft mechanism is folded, the rotating block and the screen support plate slide relatively in a direction parallel to the screen support plate, and the first plane is a contact plane between the screen support plate and the rotating block;

wherein a side of the curved slider is provided with a first pin-shape shaft hole that runs through the curved slider in the first direction, the screen support plate is provided with a second pin-shape shaft hole that matches the first pin-shape shaft hole to allow the pin-shape shaft to pass through.

2 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein a strip-shaped hole extending along the second direction is in the sliding connector, and a sliding groove is in the screen support plate and used for inserting the sliding connector, a sliding hole is in one side of the sliding groove away from a bearing surface of the screen support plate, and a length of the sliding hole in the second direction is smaller than a length of the strip-shaped hole in the second direction, the sliding hole is to be matched with the strip-shaped hole to allow a sliding member to pass through, and to enable the sliding member to slide along the strip-shaped hole.

3 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein, in the first direction, the rotating block further comprises a reinforcing rod on one side of the strip-shaped hole.

4 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein, when in an unfolded state, the sliding hole is in the middle of the strip-shaped hole, or at one end of the strip-shaped hole near the curved connector; when in a folded state, the screen support plate slides relative to the rotating block, and the sliding hole is at one end, away from the curved connector, of the strip-shaped hole.

5 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein both the second curved guide groove and the first curved guide groove are in the middle of the curved connecting portion in a third direction;

in an unfolded state, a surface of the curved connecting portion is in a same plane as a bearing surface of the screen support plate, the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the third direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

6 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a gear group, a connecting rod, a synchronous transmission rod, and a fixing plate on the curved base, wherein the connecting rod extends along the first direction, and a first end of the synchronous transmission rod is meshed and connected with the gear group, and is sleeved on the connecting rod and is rotatable around the connecting rod, a second end of the synchronous transmission rod is fixed on the screen support plate, and the fixing plate is sleeved on the connecting rod, the fixing plate is on one side of the synchronous transmission rod away from the curved base;

one side, close to the fixing plate, of the first end of the synchronous transmission rod is provided with a limiting protrusion, and a limiting groove is provided in the fixing plate, the limiting groove is matched with the limiting protrusion to limit a position of the synchronous transmission rod in a unfolded state or a folded state.

7 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein an end surface of the first end is divided into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is convex to form the limiting protrusion having a fan shape, the limiting protrusion is rotatably accommodated in the limiting groove, the second portion is rotatably connected to connecting surfaces around the limiting groove.

8 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a friction plate, an elastic member, and a fixing member, wherein the elastic member is sleeved on the connecting rod and on one side of the fixing plate away from the curved base, the fixing member is sleeved on the connecting rod and on one side of the elastic member away from the fixing plate, so as to fix the elastic member;

the fixing plate comprises a via hole, the via hole allows the connecting rod to pass through, and the fixing plate comprises a first surface connected to the elastic member, a connecting groove is formed by depressing surroundings of the via hole on the first surface, and the friction plate is connected to an inner wall of the connecting groove.

9 . The rotary shaft mechanism according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a concave convex wheel between the friction plate and the elastic member, wherein a concave convex surface of the concave convex wheel is connected to the friction plate.

10 . A foldable display device, comprising:

a rotary shaft mechanism; and

a display panel fixed on the rotary shaft mechanism, wherein the rotary shaft mechanism comprises a curved base, two screen support plates, a curved slider, and a rotating block;

the curved base comprises a first centerline extending along a first direction, and the curved base comprises two curved connecting portions symmetrically arranged around the first centerline; in the first direction, the two screen support plates are respectively on opposite sides of the curved base, each curved connecting portion is connected to a corresponding screen support plate through the curved slider and the rotating block;

along the first direction, each curved connecting portion is divided into a second curved guide groove and a first curved guide groove, both the second curved guide groove and the first curved guide groove extend along a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction;

the rotating block comprises a curved connector connected to the first curved guide groove, and a sliding connector slidably connected to the screen support plate;

the curved slider is rotatably connected to an inner wall of the second curved guide groove, and the curved slider is rotatably connected to the screen support plate through a pin-shape shaft, a vertical distance between a rotation center of the curved slider and a first plane is different from a vertical distance between a rotation center of the rotating block and the first plane, so that when the rotary shaft mechanism is folded, the rotating block and the screen support plate slide relatively in a direction parallel to the screen support plate, and the first plane is a contact plane between the screen support plate and the rotating block;

wherein a side of the curved slider is provided with a first pin-shape shaft hole that runs through the curved slider in the first direction, the screen support plate is provided with a second pin-shape shaft hole that matches the first pin-shape shaft hole to allow the pin-shape shaft to pass through.

11 . The foldable display device according to claim 10 , wherein a strip-shaped hole extending along the second direction is in the sliding connector, and a sliding groove is in the screen support plate and used for inserting the sliding connector, a sliding hole is in one side of the sliding groove away from a bearing surface of the screen support plate, and a length of the sliding hole in the second direction is smaller than a length of the strip-shaped hole in the second direction, the sliding hole is to be matched with the strip-shaped hole to allow a sliding member to pass through, and to enable the sliding member to slide along the strip-shaped hole.

12 . The foldable display device according to claim 11 , wherein, in the first direction, the rotating block further comprises a reinforcing rod on one side of the strip-shaped hole.

13 . The foldable display device according to claim 11 , wherein, when in an unfolded state, the sliding hole is in the middle of the strip-shaped hole, or at one end of the strip-shaped hole near the curved connector; when in a folded state, the screen support plate slides relative to the rotating block, and the sliding hole is at one end, away from the curved connector, of the strip-shaped hole.

14 . The foldable display device according to claim 10 , wherein both the second curved guide groove and the first curved guide groove are in the middle of the curved connecting portion in a third direction;

in an unfolded state, a surface of the curved connecting portion is in a same plane as a bearing surface of the screen support plate, the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the third direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

15 . The foldable display device according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a gear group, a connecting rod, a synchronous transmission rod, and a fixing plate on the curved base, wherein the connecting rod extends along the first direction, and a first end of the synchronous transmission rod is meshed and connected with the gear group, and is sleeved on the connecting rod and is rotatable around the connecting rod, a second end of the synchronous transmission rod is fixed on the screen support plate, and the fixing plate is sleeved on the connecting rod, the fixing plate is on one side of the synchronous transmission rod away from the curved base;

one side, close to the fixing plate, of the first end of the synchronous transmission rod is provided with a limiting protrusion, and a limiting groove is provided in the fixing plate, the limiting groove is matched with the limiting protrusion to limit a position of the synchronous transmission rod in a unfolded state or a folded state.

16 . The foldable display device according to claim 15 , wherein an end surface of the first end is divided into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is convex to form the limiting protrusion having a fan shape, the limiting protrusion is rotatably accommodated in the limiting groove, the second portion is rotatably connected to connecting surfaces around the limiting groove.

17 . The foldable display device according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a friction plate, an elastic member, and a fixing member, wherein the elastic member is sleeved on the connecting rod and on one side of the fixing plate away from the curved base, the fixing member is sleeved on the connecting rod and on one side of the elastic member away from the fixing plate, so as to fix the elastic member;

the fixing plate comprises a via hole, the via hole allows the connecting rod to pass through, and the fixing plate comprises a first surface connected to the elastic member, a connecting groove is formed by depressing surroundings of the via hole on the first surface, and the friction plate is connected to an inner wall of the connecting groove.

18 . The foldable display device according to claim 17 , further comprising:

a concave convex wheel between the friction plate and the elastic member, wherein a concave convex surface of the concave convex wheel is connected to the friction plate.