IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,197,252
Granted Patent B2
US 12,197,252 · App. 17/923,400 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Flexible screen support device and intelligent terminal

Inventor: Li Cao (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
G06F1/1652G06F1/1681
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,197,252
App. No.
17/923,400
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a flexible screen support device and an intelligent terminal. The flexible screen support device includes a bending plate, a connection rope, and a driving mechanism. The bending plate includes multiple support blocks hingedly connected in sequence. The width of the upper part of each support block gradually decreases to form a rotation gap between adjacent support blocks. One part of the connection rope penetrates through the upper parts of the multiple support blocks. The other part of the connection rope penetrates through the lower parts of the multiple support blocks. The driving mechanism is configured to pull the one part of the connection rope so that the upper parts of adjacent support blocks are in contact with one another to bend the bending plate. The intelligent terminal includes a flexible screen and the described flexible screen support device.

Claims (25)

1. A flexible screen support device, comprising:

a bending plate, wherein the bending plate comprises a plurality of support blocks hingedly connected in sequence, lower end surfaces of the plurality of support blocks are configured to abut and conform to a flexible screen, a width of an upper part of each of the plurality of support blocks gradually decreases to form a rotation gap between adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks, each of the plurality of support blocks has a columnar structure, an upper cross section of each of the plurality of support blocks is in a shape of a trapezoid, and a lower cross section of each of the plurality of support blocks is in a shape of a rectangle;

a connection rope, wherein one part of the connection rope penetrates through upper parts of the plurality of support blocks, and another part of the connection rope penetrates through lower parts of the plurality of support blocks; and

a driving mechanism connected to the connection rope, wherein the driving mechanism is configured to pull the one part of the connection rope so that upper parts of adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks are in contact with one another to bend the bending plate, and the driving mechanism is further configured to pull the another part of the connection rope so that the upper parts of the adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks are separated from one another to flatten the bending plate.

2. The flexible screen support device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support blocks have a same shape and a same size.

3. The flexible screen support device according to claim 2 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, one end of the connection rope is secured to an upper part of a support block of the plurality of support blocks at an end, another end of the connection rope is secured to a lower part of the support block at the end, and a middle part of the connection rope is secured to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the end is an end facing away from the driving mechanism.

4. The flexible screen support device according to claim 1 , wherein the bending plate further comprises a connection rod, a side wall of each of the plurality of support blocks is provided with a mounting hole, and the connection rod is inserted through mounting holes of two adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks so that the two adjacent support blocks are connected hingedly.

5. The flexible screen support device according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of support blocks and the connection rod are each made of a hard material.

6. The flexible screen support device according to claim 5 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, one end of the connection rope is secured to an upper part of a support block of the plurality of support blocks at an end, another end of the connection rope is secured to a lower part of the support block at the end, and a middle part of the connection rope is secured to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the end is an end facing away from the driving mechanism.

7. The flexible screen support device according to claim 4 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, one end of the connection rope is secured to an upper part of a support block of the plurality of support blocks at an end, another end of the connection rope is secured to a lower part of the support block at the end, and a middle part of the connection rope is secured to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the end is an end facing away from the driving mechanism.

8. The flexible screen support device according to claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, one end of the connection rope is secured to an upper part of a support block of the plurality of support blocks at an end, another end of the connection rope is secured to a lower part of the support block at the end, and a middle part of the connection rope is secured to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the end is an end facing away from the driving mechanism.

9. The flexible screen support device according to claim 8 , wherein at least two groups of connection ropes and at least two groups of driving mechanisms are provided, the at least two groups of connection ropes are uniformly distributed along a length direction of the plurality of support blocks, and each group of the at least two groups of connection ropes is correspondingly connected to one group of the at least two groups of driving mechanisms.

10. The flexible screen support device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection rope is a rope of a soft elastic material.

11. An intelligent terminal, comprising a flexible screen and a flexible screen support device, wherein the flexible screen is disposed on the flexible screen support device; and the flexible screen support device comprises a bending plate, a connection rope, and a driving mechanism;

wherein the bending plate comprises a plurality of support blocks hingedly connected in sequence, lower end surfaces of the plurality of support blocks are configured to abut and conform to the flexible screen, a width of an upper part of each of the plurality of support blocks gradually decreases to form a rotation gap between adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks, each of the plurality of support blocks has a columnar structure, an upper cross section of each of the plurality of support blocks is in a shape of a trapezoid, and a lower cross section of each of the plurality of support blocks is in a shape of a rectangle;

wherein one part of the connection rope penetrates through upper parts of the plurality of support blocks, and another part of the connection rope penetrates through lower parts of the plurality of support blocks; and

wherein the driving mechanism is connected to the connection rope, the driving mechanism is configured to pull the one part of the connection rope so that upper parts of adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks are in contact with one another to bend the bending plate, and the driving mechanism is further configured to pull the another part of the connection rope so that the upper parts of the adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks are separated from one another to flatten the bending plate.

12. The intelligent terminal according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of support blocks have a same shape and a same size.

13. The intelligent terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, one end of the connection rope is secured to an upper part of a support block of the plurality of support blocks at an end, another end of the connection rope is secured to a lower part of the support block at the end, and a middle part of the connection rope is secured to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the end is an end facing away from the driving mechanism.

14. The intelligent terminal according to claim 11 , wherein the bending plate further comprises a connection rod, a side wall of each of the plurality of support blocks is provided with a mounting hole, and the connection rod is inserted through mounting holes of two adjacent support blocks of the plurality of support blocks so that the two adjacent support blocks are connected hingedly.

15. The intelligent terminal according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of support blocks and the connection rod are each made of a hard material.

16. The intelligent terminal according to claim 14 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, one end of the connection rope is secured to an upper part of a support block of the plurality of support blocks at an end, another end of the connection rope is secured to a lower part of the support block at the end, and a middle part of the connection rope is secured to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the end is an end facing away from the driving mechanism.

17. The intelligent terminal according to claim 11 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, one end of the connection rope is secured to an upper part of a support block of the plurality of support blocks at an end, another end of the connection rope is secured to a lower part of the support block at the end, and a middle part of the connection rope is secured to an output shaft of the motor, wherein the end is an end facing away from the driving mechanism.

18. The intelligent terminal according to claim 17 , wherein at least two groups of connection ropes and at least two groups of driving mechanisms are provided, the at least two groups of connection ropes are uniformly distributed along a length direction of the plurality of support blocks, and each group of the at least two groups of connection ropes is correspondingly connected to one group of the at least two groups of driving mechanisms.

19. The intelligent terminal according to claim 11 , wherein the connection rope is a rope of a soft elastic material.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2025
From: ZTE CORPORATION
To: DRNC HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070604/0596 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2024
From: CAO, LI
To: ZTE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067162/0580 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202010538106.2 · Jun 12, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230194043A1 · Jun 22, 2023
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