JP-2024156517-A5 -

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20230424

Description

This invention relates to a multi-axis hinge device suitable for use in various electronic devices such as mobile phones, electronic organizers, PDAs, netbooks, and notebook computers, and to electronic devices using this multi-axis hinge device, comprising a flexible display sheet, for example, made of organic EL, attached across both surfaces of a pair of housings. In recent years, electronic devices such as mobile phones have been developed and are becoming available on the market, in which a single flexible display sheet made of organic EL is attached across both surfaces of a pair of housings. An electronic device that allows the flexible display sheet of such an electronic device to bend into three states—inward-folded, unfolded, and outward-folded—is known in Patent Document 1 below. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-161009 The electronic device having a flexible display sheet using a multi-axis hinge device according to the present invention is shown, where (a) is a perspective view of the housing when the flexible display sheet is folded inward, (b) is a perspective view of the housing when the flexible display sheet is unfolded, and (c) is a perspective view of the housing when the flexible display sheet is folded outward.This is a plan view showing the arrangement of the housing and multi-axis hinge device when the flexible display sheet is in its deployed state.This is a perspective view of the mounting plate, base frame, cover, and lower cover.The images show perspective views of the locking mechanism in a multi-axis hinge device, with (a) being a perspective view from above and (b) being a perspective view from the back.This diagram shows the overall structure of the locking mechanism in a multi-axis hinge device. (a) is an exploded perspective view of the locking mechanism, and (b) is a plan view of the assembled locking mechanism.This is an enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating the retaining part of the locking mechanism.This diagram illustrates the first joint in the locking mechanism; (a) is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the first joint in Figure 5(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 5(b).This diagram illustrates the second joint in the locking mechanism; (a) is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the second joint in Figure 5(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in Figure 5(b).This diagram illustrates the lock synchronization section in a locking mechanism; (a) is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the lock synchronization section in Figure 5(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in Figure 5(b).This diagram illustrates the lock bracket portion of the locking mechanism; (a) is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the lock bracket portion in Figure 5(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along F-F in Figure 5(b).These are perspective views of the locking mechanism in a multi-axis hinge device, where (a) is a perspective view of the flexible display sheet being held in an inward-folded position, and (b) is a perspective view of the flexible display sheet being held in an outward-folded position.This diagram illustrates the first and second joints of the locking mechanism used when transitioning a flexible display sheet from an unfolded state to an outward-folded state and then to an inward-folded state.This diagram illustrates the joints of the locking mechanism in a multi-axis hinge mechanism. (a) is a perspective view of the locking mechanism from above, (b) shows the cam phase of the joint when the flexible display sheet is folded inward, (c) shows the cam phase of the joint when the flexible display sheet is unfolded, and (d) shows the cam phase of the joint when the flexible display sheet is folded outward. The multi-axis hinge device according to the present invention, and embodiments of electronic devices using this multi-axis hinge device, will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. As described above, the multi-axis hinge device B of the present invention is configured to reliably maintain the inward-folded, unfolded, and outward-folded states of the pair of housings 1 while achieving a compact design. The present invention relates to a multi-axis hinge device suitable for use in foldable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, electronic organizers, PDAs, netbooks, video display devices, portable game consoles, and notebook computers, where a flexible display sheet is stretched across a pair of housings. It is also suitable for use in foldable electronic devices utilizing this multi-axis hinge device. The multi-axis hinge device according to the present invention is not limited to mobile phones; as described above, it can be widely used in foldable electronic devices where a pair of housings, each with a flexible display sheet attached to its surface, are connected to each other in an openable and closable manner.