Foldable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11573602-B2
Application number	US-202117369973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2021
Priority date	Sep 15, 2020
Publication date	Feb 7, 2023
Grant date	Feb 7, 2023

Abstract

A foldable electronic device including a first body having a first side and a second side, a second body rotatably connected to the first side of the first body, at least one sliding structure disposed in the first body and adjacent to the second side, a first screen rotatably connected to the second body and movably disposed at the at least one sliding structure, at least one hinge structure disposed in the first body and connected to the at least one sliding structure, and a second screen disposed at the at least one hinge structure and located at the second side is provided. The second body is adapted to rotate relative to the first body and driving the first screen to move along the at least one sliding structure to switch to a closed state or an unfolding state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable electronic device, comprising:
a first body having a first side and a second side;
a second body rotatably connected to the first side of the first body;
at least one sliding structure disposed in the first body and adjacent to the second side;
a first screen rotatably connected to the second body and movably disposed at the at least one sliding structure;
at least one hinge structure disposed in the first body and connected to the at least one sliding structure; and
a second screen disposed at the at least one hinge structure and located at the second side,
wherein the second body is adapted to rotate relative to the first body and drive the first screen to move along the at least one sliding structure to switch to a closed state and an unfolding state, in the closed state, the first screen leans against the first body and the second screen, in the unfolding state, a lifting angle is formed between the first screen and the first body, the first screen is separated from the second screen, and the second screen is adapted to be bent relative to the first body.

2. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding structure comprises:
a base fixed in the first body;
a position-limiting frame having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally connected to the base, and the second end is movably disposed on the base and connected to the at least one hinge structure;
a sliding linkage slidably disposed on the base; and
a main bearing plate pivotally connected to the sliding linkage and connected to a bottom surface of the first screen.

3. The foldable electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the base has a first sliding groove and a second sliding groove, the sliding linkage has a first pin and a second pin respectively slidably pass through the first sliding groove and the second groove, the first pin moves along the first sliding groove and contacts a lower edge of the position-limiting frame, and the second pin is adapted to move along the second sliding groove to move up and down.

4. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein in the closed state, the first pin moves to an end of the first sliding groove close to the second screen and abuts against the lower edge of the position-limiting frame, so that the first end of the position-limiting frame is unable to pivot relative to the base, the second pin moves to an end of the second sliding groove close to the second screen, and the sliding linkage drives the main bearing plate to enter the first body, so that the first screen leans against the first body and the second screen.

5. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein in the unfolding state, the first pin moves to an end of the first sliding groove away from the second screen and aligns with an inclined surface of the position-limiting frame, the first end of the position-limiting frame is adapted to pivot relative to the base, the second pin moves to an end of the second sliding groove away from the second screen, and the sliding linkage drives the main bearing plate to protrude from the first body, so that the first screen is lifted from the first body and the second screen.

6. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein when the first pin moves to a middle of two ends of the first sliding groove, the first pin abuts against the lower edge of the position-limiting frame, so that the first end of the position-limiting frame is unable to pivot relative to the base, the second pin moves to a middle of two ends of the second sliding groove, and the sliding linkage drives the main bearing plate to protrude from the first body, so that the first screen partially overlaps the second screen.

7. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein when the first body and the second body are switched from the unfolding state to the closed state, the second body is adapted to drive the first screen to slide along the first body toward the second side, and the first screen pushes against the second screen to be flush with the second side of the first body.

8. The foldable electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one hinge structure comprises:
a torque element disposed in the first body;
a rotating shaft rotatably passes through the torque element;
a first bracket disposed at the torque element and fixed to the first body;
a second bracket disposed at the rotating shaft and fixedly connected to the second screen; and
a driving rod fixedly sleeved over the rotating shaft and pivotally connected to the second end of the position-limiting frame.

9. The foldable electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the rotating shaft has a rotating portion, a connecting portion, and a latching portion, the rotating portion rotatably passes through the torque element, the connecting portion is far away from the rotating portion and is fixedly connected to the second bracket, the latching portion is located between the rotating portion and the connecting portion, the driving rod is engaged with the latching portion, and the driving rod is adapted to rotate relative to the torque element with the rotating shaft to drive the second end of the position-limiting frame.

10. The foldable electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the base has a lifting groove, the rotating shaft is adapted to rotate relative to the torque element, and the second end of the position-limiting frame is driven to move vertically along the lifting groove through the driving rod.

11. The foldable electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein when the driving rod drives the second end to move to a bottom end of a lifting groove, the second screen is bent relative to the first body.

12. The foldable electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein when the driving rod drives the second end to move to a top end of a lifting groove, the second screen is flush with the second side of the first body.

13. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a bracket rotatably connected to a rear side of the first body relative to the first screen and adapted to rotate relative to the first body to switch to a supporting state or a storage state.

14. The foldable electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein in the supporting state, the bracket is unfolded from the first body, an unfolding angle is formed between the bracket and the rear side, and in the storage state, the bracket is attached to the rear side, the bracket is tightly integrated with the first body.

Assignees

• Lin Che Hsien
• Chu Che Hsien
• Compal Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lin Che-Hsien
• Chu Che-Hsien

Classifications

• F16C11/04

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

• G06F1/1681

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

• F16M11/2021

  around a horizontal axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  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

• F16M13/005

  integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported · CPC title