Rotating shaft and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11442509-B2
Application number	US-202017033209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2020
Priority date	Sep 26, 2019
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

A rotating shaft configured to connect two screen-brackets includes two axle structures arranged symmetrically. One of the two axle structures includes an axle, a motion conversion structure, a screen bracket connection structure, and a supporting bracket. The axle includes a worm groove at a surface of the axle. The motion conversion structure cooperates with the worm groove to form a worm drive. The screen bracket connection structure is movably connected to the motion conversion structure and includes mounting holes, which are configured to mount the screen-brackets. The supporting bracket is sleeved at the axle, rotates around an axis of the axle, and is movably connected to the motion conversion structure and the screen bracket connection structure. The motion conversion structure is movable along an axis direction of the axle on a first surface relative to the supporting bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotating shaft configured to connect two screen-brackets, comprising:
two axle structures arranged symmetrically, one of the two axle structures including:
an axle including a worm groove at a surface of the axle;
a motion conversion structure cooperating with the worm groove to form a worm drive;
a screen bracket connection structure movably connected to the motion conversion structure and including mounting holes being configured to mount the two screen-brackets; and
a supporting bracket sleeved at the axle, rotating around an axis of the axle, and movably connected to the motion conversion structure and the screen bracket connection structure;
wherein:
the motion conversion structure is movable along an axis direction of the axle on a first surface relative to the supporting bracket;
the screen bracket connection structure is movable along a radial direction of the axle on the first surface relative to the supporting bracket;
the first surface is a surface where the supporting bracket is located;
the screen bracket connection structure includes a track groove; and
the motion conversion structure includes a first protrusion embedded in the worm groove and cooperating with the worm groove to form the worm drive, and a second protrusion embedded in the track groove and moving along a trajectory of the track groove in the track groove.

2. The rotating shaft of claim 1 , wherein the trajectory of the track groove is configured to allow a distance between opposite sides of the two screen-brackets to be maintained at a fixed value when the two screen-brackets rotate.

3. The rotating shaft of claim 1 , wherein the supporting bracket includes:
a second sleeve sleeved at the axle and rotating around the axis of the axle;
a radial movement connection structure movably connected to the motion conversion structure; and
an axial movement connection structure movably connected to the screen bracket connection structure.

4. The rotating shaft of claim 3 , wherein:
the radial movement connection structure includes a third protrusion;
the motion conversion structure includes a hole; and
the third protrusion is embedded in the hole.

5. The rotating shaft of claim 3 , wherein:
the radial movement connection structure includes a radial sliding clamp structure; and
the radial sliding clamp structure is configured to clamp the screen bracket connection structure.

6. The rotating shaft of claim 1 , further comprising a synchronization structure configured to connect the two axle structures and synchronously mirror movements of the two axle structures.

7. An electronic device, comprising:
two screen-brackets; and
a rotating shaft configured to connect the two screen-brackets, the rotating shaft including:
two axle structures arranged symmetrically, one of the two axle structures including:
an axle including a worm groove at a surface of the axle;
a motion conversion structure cooperating with the worm groove to form a worm drive;
a screen bracket connection structure movably connected to the motion conversion structure and including mounting holes being configured to mount the two screen-brackets; and
a supporting bracket sleeved at the axle, rotating around an axis of the axle, and movably connected to the motion conversion structure and the screen bracket connection structure;
wherein:
the motion conversion structure is movable along an axis direction of the axle on a first surface relative to the supporting bracket;
the screen bracket connection structure is movable along a radial direction of the axle on the first surface relative to the supporting bracket;
the first surface is a surface where the supporting bracket is located;
the screen bracket connection structure includes a track groove; and
the motion conversion structure includes a first protrusion embedded in the worm groove and cooperating with the worm groove to form the worm drive, and a second protrusion embedded in the track groove and moving along a trajectory of the track groove in the track groove.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein:
a distance between opposite sides of the two screen-brackets is maintained at a fixed value when the two screen-brackets rotate around the axis to an arbitrary angle.

9. The device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a flexible screen mounted at the two screen-brackets.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the supporting bracket includes:
a second sleeve sleeved at the axle and rotating around the axis of the axle;
a radial movement connection structure movably connected to the motion conversion structure; and
an axial movement connection structure movably connected to the screen bracket connection structure.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein:
the radial movement connection structure includes a third protrusion;
the motion conversion structure includes a hole; and
the third protrusion is embedded in the hole.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein:
the radial movement connection structure includes a radial sliding clamp structure; and
the radial sliding clamp structure is configured to clamp the screen bracket connection structure.

13. The device of claim 7 , wherein the rotating shaft further includes a synchronization structure configured to connect the two axle structures and synchronously mirror movements of the two axle structures.

Assignees

• Lenovo Beijing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Ran
• Shi Jinzhong
• Han Liang
• Tan Tianshui
• Rui Shibo

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1641 Primary

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title

• E05D3/12

  with two parallel pins and one arm · CPC title

• G06F1/1681 Primary

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title