Foldable module and foldable electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12506820-B2
Application number	US-202418763922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2024
Priority date	Jun 27, 2019
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A foldable module is provided, including a first connection part, a first pin, a first drive ring, and a first spring. A first pin hole is disposed on the first connection part, and the first pin passes through the first drive ring, the first pin hole, and the first spring. A first convex part and a first concave part are disposed between the first drive ring and the first connection part, and the first convex part is located between the first spring and the first concave part, or the first concave part is located between the first spring and the first convex part. When the first connection part rotates, the first convex part slides out of the first concave part. In a folding or unfolding process, the first convex part slides out of the first concave part, to provide damping force for unfolding or folding.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A foldable module, comprising a first connection part, a first pin, a first drive ring, and a first spring, wherein
the first connection part comprises a first rotating end, a first pin hole is disposed on the first rotating end, the first pin passes through the first drive ring, the first pin hole, and the first spring, the first rotating end is rotatably connected to the first pin, a first convex part is disposed on one side of the first rotating end toward the first drive ring, a first concave part is disposed on the first drive ring, the first concave part is located between the first spring and the first convex part, and the first convex part is embedded in the first concave part; and in response to a rotation of the first connection part, the first convex part slides out of the first concave part; wherein the foldable module further comprises a second connection part, a second pin, a second drive ring, and a second spring; and the second connection part comprises a second rotating end, a second pin hole is disposed on the second rotating end, the second pin passes through the second drive ring, the second pin hole, and the second spring, the second rotating end is rotatably connected to the second pin, a second convex part is disposed on one side of the second rotating end toward the second drive ring, a second concave part is disposed on the second drive ring, the second concave part is located between the second spring and the second convex part, and the second convex part is embedded in the second concave part; in response to a rotation of the second connection part, the second convex part slides out of the second concave part; wherein the first pin and the second pin are disposed in parallel and spaced apart, a first toothed structure is disposed on one side of the first connection part towards the second connection part, a second toothed structure is disposed on one side of the second connection part towards the first connection part, and the first toothed structure and the second toothed structure are used to drive the second connection part to rotate synchronously in response to the rotation of the first connection part.

2 . The foldable module according to claim 1 , wherein the first toothed structure meshes with the second toothed structure.

3 . The foldable module according to claim 2 , wherein the first drive ring and the second drive ring are in an integrated structure.

4 . The foldable module according to claim 2 , wherein the first drive ring is disposed between the first connection part and the first spring, and the second drive ring is disposed between the second connection part and the second spring.

5 . The foldable module according to claim 2 , further comprising a first circlip and a second circlip, a first snap groove is disposed at a tail end of the first pin, the first circlip is snapped in the first snap groove, and the first spring abuts against the first circlip; and
a second snap groove is disposed on the second pin, the second circlip is snapped in the second snap groove, and the second spring abuts against the second circlip.

6 . The foldable module according to claim 5 , wherein the first circlip and the second circlip are in an integrated structure.

7 . The foldable module according to claim 5 , wherein a first stopper is disposed at a head end of the first pin, and a second stopper is disposed at a head end of the second pin.

8 . The foldable module according to claim 7 , wherein the first stopper comprises a first stopping flange located at the head end of the first pin and a first pin sleeve that is sleeved on the first pin, and the second stopper comprises a second stopping flange located at the head end of the second pin and a second pin sleeve that is sleeved on the second pin.

9 . The foldable module according to claim 8 , wherein the first pin sleeve and the second pin sleeve are in an integrated structure.

10 . The foldable module according to claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of first convex parts and a plurality of first concave parts, and the plurality of the first convex parts are disposed at intervals around an axis of the first pin; and each of the first convex parts cooperates with one of the first concave parts.

11 . A foldable electronic device, comprising: a first supporting piece, a second supporting piece, a foldable screen, and a foldable module, wherein the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are connected by using the foldable module, and the foldable screen covers the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece, wherein the foldable module comprises a first connection part, a first pin, a first drive ring, and a first spring, wherein
the first connection part comprises a first rotating end, a first pin hole is disposed on the first rotating end, the first pin passes through the first drive ring, the first pin hole, and the first spring, the first rotating end is rotatably connected to the first pin, a first convex part is disposed on one side of the first rotating end toward the first drive ring, a first concave part is disposed on the first drive ring, the first concave part is located between the first spring and the first convex part, and the first convex part is embedded in the first concave part; and in response to a rotation of the first connection part, the first convex part slides out of the first concave part; wherein the foldable module further comprises a second connection part, a second pin, a second drive ring, and a second spring; and the second connection part comprises a second rotating end, a second pin hole is disposed on the second rotating end, the second pin passes through the second drive ring, the second pin hole, and the second spring, the second rotating end is rotatably connected to the second pin, a second convex part is disposed on one side of the second rotating end toward the second drive ring, a second concave part is disposed on the second drive ring, the second concave part is located between the second spring and the second convex part, and the second convex part is embedded in the second concave part; in response to a rotation of the second connection part, the second convex part slides out of the second concave part; wherein the first pin and the second pin are disposed in parallel and spaced apart, a first toothed structure is disposed on one side of the first connection part towards the second connection part, a second toothed structure is disposed on one side of the second connection part towards the first connection part, and the first toothed structure and the second toothed structure are used to drive the second connection part to rotate synchronously in response to the rotation of the first connection part.

12 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the first toothed structure meshes with the second toothed structure.

13 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the first drive ring and the second drive ring are in an integrated structure.

14 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the first drive ring is disposed between the first connection part and the first spring, and the second drive ring is disposed between the second connection part and the second spring.

15 . The foldable electronic device according to claim 12 , further comprising a first circlip and a second circlip, a first snap groove is disposed at a tail end of the first pin, the first circlip is snapped in the first snap groove, and the first spring abuts against the first circlip; and
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Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wu Weifeng
• Zhong Ding

Classifications

• G06F1/1681

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

• 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

• H04M1/022 Primary

  The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes · CPC title

• F16C2380/00

  Electrical apparatus · CPC title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title