IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,066,856
Granted Patent B2
US 12,066,856 · App. 17/274,200 · Granted Aug 20, 2024

Foldable mechanism, display device, and electronic equipment

Inventors: Zhuo Zhang (Hubei, CN); Zikang Feng (Hubei, CN)
Assignee: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
G06F1/1616G06F1/1652G09F9/301H04M1/0249H04M1/0216H04M1/0268
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,066,856
App. No.
17/274,200
Granted
Aug 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A foldable mechanism, a display device, and an electronic equipment are provided. The foldable mechanism includes a first sub-mechanism and a second sub-mechanism. Through an asymmetric and complementary arrangement of the first sub-mechanism and the second sub-mechanism, the foldable mechanism includes a plurality of structures with different thicknesses, which can not only meet loading requirements of components of different thicknesses, but also reduce a thickness of an entire machine of the foldable mechanism after the foldable mechanism is folded, thereby reducing a thickness of an entire machine after folding the display device and the electronic equipment.

Claims (32)

1. A foldable mechanism, comprising:

a first sub-mechanism having a first structure and a first boss having a first thickness, wherein the first structure comprises at least a first slope, a portion having a maximum thickness of the first slope is in contact with the first boss, and a thickness of the first slope gradually decreases in a direction where the first slope approaches the second structure; and

a second sub-mechanism having a second structure that is asymmetrical and complementary to the first structure, wherein the second structure is rotatably connected to the first structure, the second structure comprises at least a second slope, and a thickness of the second slope gradually increases in a direction where the second slope approaches the first structure;

wherein when the foldable mechanism is in an unfolded state, a plane formed by a front surface of the first boss, a front surface of the first structure, and a front surface of the second structure is configured to attach a flexible display screen, and the first structure is located between the first boss and the second structure; and

when the first structure and the second structure are turned toward an opposite side of the front surface of each other to a folded state, a sum of a thickness of the first structure and a thickness of the second structure is less than or equal to the first thickness;

wherein the first structure further comprises a second boss having a second thickness; and the second boss is located between the first boss and the first slope, the second thickness is equal to the maximum thickness of the first slope, and the maximum thickness of the first slope is less than the first thickness.

2. The foldable mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first structure further comprises a third boss having a third thickness; and

the third boss is located between the first slope and the second structure, and the third thickness is less than the second thickness.

3. The foldable mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the second thickness ranges from 2 mm to 8 mm.

4. The foldable mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first boss is provided with a retreat adjacent to the first structure.

5. The foldable mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-mechanism has a first magnet, the second sub-mechanism has a second magnet, and a polarity of the first magnet is different from a polarity of the second magnet.

6. The foldable mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first thickness is less than or equal to 9 mm.

7. A display device, comprising the foldable mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises at least two states:

a first folded state when the first sub-mechanism and the second sub-mechanism are rotated toward the opposite side of the front surface of each other; and

a second unfolded state when the first sub-mechanism and the second sub-mechanism are rotated away from the opposite side of the front surface of each other;

wherein an area of the display device in the second unfolded state is greater than an area of the display device in the first folded state.

8. The display device according to claim 7 , wherein when the display device is in the folded state, the first structure and the second structure overlap each other.

9. The display device according to claim 7 , wherein the first structure further comprises a third boss having a third thickness; and

the third boss is located between the first slope and the second structure, and the third thickness is less than the second thickness.

10. The display device according to claim 7 , wherein the second thickness ranges from 2 mm to 8 mm.

11. The display device according to claim 8 , wherein the first boss is provided with a retreat adjacent to the first structure.

12. The display device according to claim 8 , wherein the first sub-mechanism has a first magnet, the second sub-mechanism has a second magnet, and a polarity of the first magnet is different from a polarity of the second magnet.

13. The display device according to claim 8 , wherein the first thickness is less than or equal to 9 mm.

14. An electronic equipment, comprising:

a flexible display screen and the foldable mechanism according to claim 1 ;

wherein the flexible display screen is attached to a front surface and a side surface of the foldable mechanism, and the front surface is defined by the front surface of the first boss, the front surface of the first structure, and the front surface of the second structure.

15. The electronic equipment according to claim 14 , wherein the first structure further comprises a second boss having a second thickness; and

the second boss is located between the first boss and the first slope, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

16. The electronic equipment according to claim 15 , wherein the first structure further comprises a third boss having a third thickness; and

the third boss is located between the first slope and the second structure, and the third thickness is less than the second thickness.

17. The electronic equipment according to claim 15 , wherein the second thickness ranges from 2 mm to 8 mm.

18. The electronic equipment according to claim 14 , wherein the first boss is provided with a retreat adjacent to the first structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2021
From: ZHANG, ZHNO; FENG, ZIKANG
To: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056122/0857 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202011135535.1 · Oct 21, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220357769A1 · Nov 10, 2022
Cited By (3)
US 1,062,679 US 1,062,680 US 1,068,710