US-12628295-B2 - Foldable electronic device

US12628295B2US 12628295 B2US12628295 B2US 12628295B2US-12628295-B2

Abstract

A foldable electronic device is provided and includes a central base, a pivot module, a torque module, two panel bodies, two transmission members, two connecting rods and a flexible screen. The pivot module is disposed on the central base. The torque module is disposed on the pivot module. The panel bodies pivot relative to the central base. The transmission members pivot relative to the pivot module. The connecting rods pivot relative to the panel bodies and the transmission members. The flexible screen is disposed on the panel bodies and includes a bendable area. When the panel bodies are in an unfolded state, the flexible screen is flattened. When the panel bodies are in a folded state, the bendable area is bent.

Inventors

Chun-Hao Huang
Chien-cheng Yeh

Assignees

SYNCMOLD ENTERPRISE CORP.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240207
Priority Date: 20231211

Claims (13)

1 . A foldable electronic device, comprising: a central base including a body portion, at least one first arc-shaped slider and at least one second arc-shaped slider, wherein the first arc-shaped slider and the second arc-shaped slider are respectively formed on the body portion and spaced apart from each other; a pivot module disposed on the central base and including a first rod and a second rod, wherein the first rod and the second rod are pivotally connected to the body portion along a first axis and a second axis respectively and are able to synchronously and reversely rotate; a torque module disposed on the pivot module; a first panel body including a first wing member, wherein the first wing member has at least one first arc-shaped slideway and a first pivot joint, the first arc-shaped slider is slidably disposed on the first arc-shaped slideway, whereby the first wing member is able to pivot relative to the body portion with a first virtual axis as a center; a first transmission member sleeved on the first rod and synchronously rotating with the first rod; a first connecting rod pivotally connected to the first transmission member along a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to the first pivot joint along a first rotating axis; a second panel body including a second wing member, wherein the second wing member has at least one second arc-shaped slideway and a second pivot joint, the second arc-shaped slider is slidably disposed on the second arc-shaped slideway, whereby the second wing member is able to pivot relative to the body portion with a second virtual axis as a center; a second transmission member sleeved on the second rod, synchronously rotating with the second rod, and spaced apart from the first transmission member; a second connecting rod pivotally connected to the second transmission member along a second pivot axis and pivotally connected to the second pivot joint along a second rotating axis; and a flexible screen disposed on the first panel body and the second panel body and including a bendable area; wherein the first panel body and the second panel body are able to transform between an unfolded state and a folded state, wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the unfolded state, the flexible screen is flattened, and the first wing member and the second wing member jointly support the bendable area, and wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the folded state, the bendable area of the flexible screen bends, and the first wing member, the second wing member and the central base jointly define an accommodating space for accommodating the bendable area; wherein a first external angle is formed between the first connecting rod and the first wing member, and a second external angle is formed between the second connecting rod and the second wing member, wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the unfolded state, the first external angle and the second external angle are minimum, wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are transformed from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first external angle and the second external angle gradually become greater, and wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the folded state, the first external angle and the second external angle are maximum.
2 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the unfolded state, a distance between the first rotating axis and the first axis is less than a distance between the first pivot axis and the first axis, and a distance between the second rotating axis and the second axis is less than a distance between the second pivot axis and the second axis, and wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the folded state, the distance between the first rotating axis and the first axis is greater than the distance between the first pivot axis and the first axis, and the distance between the second rotating axis and the second axis is greater than the distance between the second pivot axis and the second axis.
3 . The foldable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first transmission member includes a first fixed joint, a first bending plate and a first shaft joint, which are integrally formed, wherein the first fixed joint is fixed to the first rod along the first axis, the first bending plate bends and extends outwardly from the first fixed joint along a radial direction of the first axis, and the first shaft joint extends outwardly from the first bending plate and is pivotally connected to the first connecting rod along the first pivot axis; wherein the second transmission member includes a second fixed joint, a second bending plate and a second shaft joint, which are integrally formed, and wherein the second fixed joint is fixed to the second rod along the second axis, the second bending plate bends and extends outwardly from the second fixed joint along a radial direction of the second axis, and the second shaft joint extends outwardly from the second bending plate and is pivotally connected to the second connecting rod along the second pivot axis.
4 . The foldable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the torque module includes a plurality of friction fixed pieces and two pivot fixed pieces, which are passed through by the first rod and the second rod, and wherein one of the friction fixed pieces is disposed on one side of the first transmission member and one side of the second transmission member, the others of the friction fixed pieces are disposed between the pivot fixed pieces, and one of the pivot fixed pieces abuts against the first fixed joint and the second fixed joint.
5 . The foldable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the pivot module further includes a first tooth portion, a second tooth portion and two gears, and wherein the first tooth portion is formed on one end of the first rod, the second tooth portion is formed on one end of the second rod, and the gears are meshed with each other and disposed between the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion and are meshed with the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion respectively, such that the first rod and the second rod are able to synchronously and reversely rotate.
6 . The foldable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the unfolded state, both the first external angle and the second external angle are less than 45 degrees, and wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the folded state, both the first external angle and the second external angle are greater than 135 degrees.
7 . The foldable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein each of the friction fixed pieces has a first penetrating hole and a second penetrating hole, and each of the pivot fixed pieces has a first shaft hole and a second shaft hole, and wherein the first rod passes through the first penetrating hole and the first shaft hole, and the second rod passes through the second penetrating hole and the second shaft hole.
8 . The foldable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the torque module further includes a plurality of first stop washers, a plurality of first bowl-shaped washers, a plurality of second stop washers and a plurality of second bowl-shaped washers, wherein the first stop washers are sleeved on the first rod and located between the pivot fixed pieces, and move synchronously with the first rod, wherein the first bowl-shaped washers are sleeved on the first rod and constantly provide a first elastic force, and the first elastic force tends to make the first stop washers abut against the pivot fixed pieces and the friction fixed pieces, wherein the second stop washers are sleeved on the second rod and located between the pivot fixed pieces, and move synchronously with the second rod, and wherein the second bowl-shaped washers are sleeved on the second rod and constantly provide a second elastic force, and the second elastic force tends to make the second stop washers abut against the pivot fixed pieces and the friction fixed pieces.
9 . The foldable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the pivot module further includes a first nut and a second nut, wherein the first nut is screwed to the other end of the first rod, and the second nut is screwed to the other end of the second rod, and wherein the first bowl-shaped washers are located between the first nut and the pivot fixed pieces, and the second bowl-shaped washers are located between the second nut and the pivot fixed pieces.
10 . The foldable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the unfolded state, the first panel body and the second panel body are substantially 180 degrees apart, wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the folded state, the first panel body and the second panel body are substantially 0 degrees apart, wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are transformed between the unfolded state and the folded state, the first rod and the second rod synchronously and reversely rotate, so that the first stop washers, the second stop washers, the first fixed joint and the second fixed joint simultaneously generate friction with the pivot fixed pieces and the friction fixed pieces, thus to make that the first panel body and the second panel body are able to stop at any position and sandwich an angle between 0 degrees and 180 degrees.
11 . The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first panel body further includes a first limiting member and a first accommodating groove, the first limiting member extends outwardly from the first wing member, and the first accommodating groove is surrounded and defined by the first wing member and the first limiting member, and wherein the second panel body further includes a second limiting member and a second accommodating groove, the second limiting member extends outwardly from the second wing member and is spaced apart from the first limiting member, and the second accommodating groove is surrounded and defined by the second wing member and the second limiting member.
12 . The foldable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the unfolded state, the pivot module, the torque module, the first transmission member and the second transmission member are respectively and partially accommodated in the first accommodating groove and the second accommodating groove, and the first transmission member and the second transmission member are separated from the first limiting member and the second limiting member respectively, and wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the folded state, the pivot module, the torque module, the first transmission member and the second transmission member are separated from the first accommodating groove and the second accommodating groove respectively, and the first transmission member and the second transmission member abut against the first limiting member and the second limiting member respectively.
13 . The foldable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first axis, the first virtual axis, the first pivot axis, the first rotating axis, the second axis, the second virtual axis, the second pivot axis and the second rotating axis are parallel to each other.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/500,303 filed on May 5, 2023, and the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application Serial No. 112213526 filed on Dec. 11, 2023. The entirety of each application is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a foldable electronic device, and more particularly, to a foldable electronic device having a flexible screen. 2. Description of Related Art EP4199485 discloses an electronic equipment, and the electronic equipment comprises a first housing, a second housing and a hinge structure connected to the first housing and the second housing. The hinge structure includes a fixed structure, a first rotary structure, a second rotary structure, an arm structure and a torque structure. The arm structure has a first arm shaft, a second arm shaft, a first arm, a second arm, a gear structure, a fixed member and a stopper. The first rotary structure has a first sliding groove, and the second rotary structure has a second sliding groove. The first arm is connected to the first sliding groove via a first sliding pin, and the second arm is connected to the second sliding groove via a second sliding pin. When the first housing and the second housing rotate in opposite directions about rotation axes R1, R2 respectively, the first arm and the first sliding pin can slide relative to the first rotary structure from one end of the first sliding groove to the other end of the first sliding groove, and the second arm and the second sliding pin can slide relative to the second rotary structure from one end of the second sliding groove to the other end of the second sliding groove, such that the first housing and the second housing can relatively unfold or relatively fold to each other. The electronic equipment disclosed in the aforementioned EP4199485 uses the structures of slideways and sliders to accomplish the unfolding or folding function. The present disclosure further provides a foldable electronic device that is different from the structures of slideways and sliders. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides a foldable electronic device, which comprises: a central base including a body portion, at least one first arc-shaped slider and at least one second arc-shaped slider, wherein the first arc-shaped slider and the second arc-shaped slider are respectively formed on the body portion and spaced apart from each other; a pivot module disposed on the central base and including a first rod and a second rod, wherein the first rod and the second rod are pivotally connected to the body portion along a first axis and a second axis respectively and are able to synchronously and reversely rotate; a torque module disposed on the pivot module; a first panel body including a first wing member, wherein the first wing member has at least one first arc-shaped slideway and a first pivot joint, the first arc-shaped slider is slidably disposed on the first arc-shaped slideway, whereby the first wing member is able to pivot relative to the body portion with a first virtual axis as a center; a first transmission member being sleeved on the first rod, wherein the first transmission member synchronously rotates with the first rod; a first connecting rod pivotally connected to the first transmission member along a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to the first pivot joint along a first rotating axis; a second panel body including a second wing member, wherein the second wing member has at least one second arc-shaped slideway and a second pivot joint, the second arc-shaped slider is slidably disposed on the second arc-shaped slideway, whereby the second wing member is able to pivot relative to the body portion with a second virtual axis as a center; a second transmission member being sleeved on the second rod, wherein the second transmission member synchronously rotates with the second rod and is spaced apart from the first transmission member; a second connecting rod pivotally connected to the second transmission member along a second pivot axis and pivotally connected to the second pivot joint along a second rotating axis; and a flexible screen disposed on the first panel body and the second panel body and comprising a bendable area; wherein the first panel body and the second panel body are able to transform between an unfolded state and a folded state, wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the unfolded state, the flexible screen is flattened, and the first wing member and the second wing member jointly support the bendable area, wherein when the first panel body and the second panel body are in the folded state, the bendable area of the flexible screen bends, and the first wing member, the second wing member and the central base jointly define an accommodating space for accommodating the bendable area. In the aforementioned foldable electronic device