IP Library Granted Patent US 12,412,488
Granted Patent B2
US 12,412,488 · App. 17/727,692 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Foldable assembly and foldable display terminal

Inventors: Ding Zhong (Dongguan, CN); Yong Liu (Dongguan, CN); Wen Fan (Dongguan, CN); Zhenlin Xiao (Dongguan, CN); Zhengxiong Lv (Dongguan, CN); Lexiong Peng (Dongguan, CN)
Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
G09F9/301H05K5/0017H05K5/0217H10K50/84H10K59/12H10K77/111H10K2102/311
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,412,488
App. No.
17/727,692
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A foldable assembly which is configured to bear a flexible display. The foldable assembly includes a rotating shaft; a first mechanical part and a second mechanical part, where the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part are rotatably connected by using the rotating shaft; and a first protective structure, where the first protective structure is connected to an end face that is of the rotating shaft and that extends out of a periphery of the flexible display. A first surface of the flexible display is away from the rotating shaft, and the first protective structure is higher than or flush with the first surface of the flexible display, so that when the foldable display terminal falls, the first protective structure is in contact with a point of collision earlier than the flexible display.

Claims (51)

1. A foldable assembly configured to bear and includes a flexible display, comprises:

a rotating shaft and a plurality of support bars disposed axially around the rotating shaft;

a first mechanical part and a second mechanical part, wherein the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part are rotatably connected to the rotating shaft; and

a single first protective structure extends from each end of the rotating shaft forming an “L” shape with the rotating shaft which extends beyond each end of the flexible display and having a width that matches the rotating shaft, whereby the first protective structure is configured to provide additional protection when the flexible display is dropped.

2. The foldable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the first protective structure is stainless steel, die steel, or an amorphous alloy.

3. The foldable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first protective structure and the rotating shaft are integrally formed.

4. The foldable assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a second protective structure and a third protective structure, wherein

the second protective structure is connected to an end face that is of the first mechanical part and that extends out of the periphery of the flexible display, and the second protective structure is higher than or flush with the first surface of the flexible display; and

the third protective structure is connected to an end face that is of the second mechanical part and that extends out of the periphery of the flexible display, and the third protective structure is higher than or flush with the first surface of the flexible display.

5. The foldable assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the second protective structure and the first mechanical part are integrally formed, and the third protective structure and the second mechanical part are integrally formed.

6. The foldable assembly according to claim 4 , wherein a material of each of the second protective structure and the third protective structure is an aluminum alloy.

7. The foldable assembly according to claim 1 , further including a bent region support comprises a flexible connection layer and a plurality of spaced rigid support bars disposed along an axis direction of the rotating shaft; the rigid support bar is connected to the flexible connection layer; and the flexible connection layer is connected to a bent region of the flexible display by using an adhesive layer.

8. The foldable assembly according to claim 7 , wherein an elastic component is disposed between an end face of the bent region support and the first protective structure.

9. The foldable assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

a first protrusion is disposed on the first mechanical part, a first groove matching the first protrusion is disposed on the rotating shaft, and the first protrusion is located in the first groove; and

a second protrusion is disposed on the second mechanical part, a second groove matching the second protrusion is disposed on the rotating shaft, and the second protrusion is located in the second groove.

10. The foldable assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third mechanical part, wherein the first mechanical part is provided with a first sliding groove, a first end of the third mechanical part is connected to the rotating shaft, and a second end of the third mechanical part is disposed in the first sliding groove; and

a fourth mechanical part, wherein the second mechanical part is provided with a second sliding groove, a first end of the fourth mechanical part is connected to the rotating shaft, and a second end of the fourth mechanical part is disposed in the second sliding groove.

11. The foldable display terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the first protective structure and the rotating shaft are integrally formed.

12. A foldable display terminal, comprising a flexible display and a foldable assembly, wherein

a first non-bent area of the flexible display is connected to a first mechanical part in the foldable assembly;

a second non-bent area of the flexible display is connected to a second mechanical part in the foldable assembly;

a bent area of the flexible display is connected to a bent region support in the foldable assembly;

the bent area is located between the first non-bent area and the second non-bent area;

wherein the foldable assembly is configured to bear a flexible display, and the foldable assembly comprises:

a rotating shaft and a plurality of support bars disposed axially around the rotating shaft;

a first mechanical part and a second mechanical part, wherein the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part are rotatably connected by using the rotating shaft; and

a single first protective structure extends from each end of the rotating shaft forming an “L” shape with the rotating shaft which extends beyond each end of the flexible display and having a width that matches the rotating shaft, whereby the first protective structure is configured to provide additional protection when the flexible display is dropped.

13. The foldable display terminal according to claim 12 , wherein a material of the first protective structure is stainless steel, die steel, or an amorphous alloy.

14. The foldable display terminal according to claim 12 , further comprising a second protective structure and a third protective structure, wherein

the second protective structure is connected to an end face that is of the first mechanical part and that extends out of the periphery of the flexible display, and the second protective structure is higher than or flush with the first surface of the flexible display; and

the third protective structure is connected to an end face that is of the second mechanical part and that extends out of the periphery of the flexible display, and the third protective structure is higher than or flush with the first surface of the flexible display.

15. The foldable display terminal according to claim 14 , wherein the second protective structure and the first mechanical part are integrally formed, and the third protective structure and the second mechanical part are integrally formed.

16. The foldable display terminal according to claim 14 , wherein a material of each of the second protective structure and the third protective structure is an aluminum alloy.

17. The foldable display terminal according to claim 12 , further including a bent region support comprises a flexible connection layer and a plurality of spaced rigid support bars disposed along an axis direction of the rotating shaft; the rigid support bar is connected to the flexible connection layer; and the flexible connection layer is connected to a bent region of the flexible display by using an adhesive layer.

18. The foldable display terminal according to claim 17 , wherein an elastic component is disposed between an end face of the bent region support and the first protective structure.

19. The foldable display terminal according to claim 12 , wherein

a first protrusion is disposed on the first mechanical part, a first groove matching the first protrusion is disposed on the rotating shaft, and the first protrusion is located in the first groove; and

a second protrusion is disposed on the second mechanical part, a second groove matching the second protrusion is disposed on the rotating shaft, and the second protrusion is located in the second groove.

20. The foldable display terminal according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a third mechanical part, wherein the first mechanical part is provided with a first sliding groove, a first end of the third mechanical part is connected to the rotating shaft, and a second end of the third mechanical part is disposed in the first sliding groove; and

a fourth mechanical part, wherein the second mechanical part is provided with a second sliding groove, a first end of the fourth mechanical part is connected to the rotating shaft, and a second end of the fourth mechanical part is disposed in the second sliding groove.

21. A foldable display terminal, comprising:

a communication terminal comprising a foldable display; and

a housing to securely holding and protecting the foldable display, the housing comprising:

a rotating shaft and a plurality of support bars disposed axially around the rotating shaft;

a first mechanical part and a second mechanical part, wherein the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part are rotatably connected to the rotating shaft and are each configured to securely hold opposite ends of the foldable display; and

a single first protective structure extends from each end of the rotating shaft forming an “L” shape with the rotating shaft which extends beyond each end of the flexible display and having a width that matches the rotating shaft, whereby the first protective structure is configured to provide additional protection when the flexible display is dropped.

22. The foldable assembly according to claim 21 , wherein a material of the protective structure is stainless steel, die steel, or an amorphous alloy.

23. The foldable assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the protective structures and the rotating shaft are integrally formed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2025
From: ZHONG, DING; LIU, YONG; FAN, WEN; XIAO, ZHENLIN; LV, ZHENGXIONG; PENG, LEXIONG
To: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 071231/0462 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 201911008611.X · Oct 22, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2020121980 · Oct 19, 2020
Related Publication 20220248548A1 · Aug 4, 2022
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