TWI858491B - Foldable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable electronic device includes a first body, a second body and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism includes a base, a sliding member, two gears, two connecting rods and a gear shaft. The base is disposed on the first body. The sliding member is slidably disposed on the base. The two gears are pivoted on the sliding member and are engaged with each other. One end of the two connecting rods are fixedly connected with the two gears, and the other end of the two connecting rods are slidably disposed on the base. The gear shaft is pivoted to the sliding member and engages with one of the two gears. When the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the gear shaft, the two gears, and the two connecting rods are driven in sequence, so that one end of each of the two connecting rods slides on the base in a direction away from each other, and the other end of each of the two connecting rods moves in a direction of one end of the two connecting rods, so that the sliding member and the gear shaft gradually move closer to the first body.

Description

Folding electronic devices

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and in particular to a foldable electronic device.

Generally speaking, a foldable electronic device includes a first body, a second body, and a hinge mechanism, wherein the first body and the second body can rotate relative to each other through the hinge mechanism, thereby achieving the expansion and closure of the foldable electronic device. However, when the second body is expanded or closed relative to the first body, there will be a step difference between the second body and the first body, which affects the appearance.

The present invention provides a foldable electronic device with beautiful appearance.

The foldable electronic device of the present invention comprises a first body, a second body and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism connects the first body and the second body so that the second body rotates relative to the first body through the hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism comprises a base, a sliding member, a first gear, a first connecting rod, a second gear, a second connecting rod and a gear shaft. The base is arranged on the first body. The sliding member is slidably arranged on the base. The first gear is hinged on the sliding member. The first connecting rod has one end fixed to the first gear and the other end slidably arranged on the base. The second gear is hinged on the sliding member, and the second gear is engaged with the first gear. One end of the second connecting rod is fixedly connected to the first gear, and the other end is slidably arranged on the base. The gear shaft is pivotally arranged on the sliding member, and the gear shaft is engaged with the second gear. When the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the gear shaft rotates with the second body to drive the second gear, and the second gear drives the first gear to rotate. During the rotation of the first gear and the second gear, the first gear and the second gear respectively drive the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod to swing, so that one end of each of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod slides on the base in a direction away from each other, and the other end of each of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod moves in a direction toward one end of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, so that the sliding member and the gear shaft gradually move closer to the first body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foldable electronic device is adapted to switch between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second body is closed relative to the first body, and the sliding member is relatively far away from the first body. In the second state, the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, and the sliding member is relatively close to the first body. In the process of switching from the first state to the second state, the second body drives the gear shaft to rotate, the gear shaft drives the second gear to rotate, the second gear drives the second connecting rod to swing and drives the first gear to rotate, and the first gear drives the first connecting rod to swing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the base has a slide groove, the first connecting rod has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and the second connecting rod has a third end and a fourth end opposite to the third end. The first end and the third end are slidably arranged in the slide groove, the second end is fixedly connected to the first gear, and the fourth end is fixedly connected to the second gear.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned slide groove extends along an extension direction. The first end defines a first axis, the second end defines a second axis, the third end defines a third axis, and the fourth end defines a fourth axis. The second axis is projected onto the slide groove to define a first intersection perpendicular to the extension direction, and the fourth axis is projected onto the slide groove to define a second intersection perpendicular to the extension direction. The first axis, the second axis and the first intersection define a first triangle, and the third axis, the fourth axis and the second intersection define a second triangle. During the swinging process of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, the first triangle is always equal to the second triangle.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second end and the fourth end are suitable for synchronous reverse rotation.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the specifications of the first gear and the second gear are the same.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are the same.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the gear shaft has a third gear, and the third gear engages the second gear.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first gear and the second gear are mutually meshing spur gears, and the third gear is a snail gear meshing with the second gear.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the foldable electronic device further includes two guide rods. The two guide rods are disposed on the base. The sliding member is passed through the two guide rods so as to be slidably disposed on the base along the two guide rods.

Based on the above, in the foldable electronic device of the present invention, when the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the gear shaft rotates with the second body to drive the second gear, and the second gear drives the first gear to rotate. During the rotation of the first gear and the second gear, the first gear and the second gear respectively drive the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod to swing, so that the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are One end of each of the two connecting rods slides away from each other on the base, and the other end of each of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod moves toward one end of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, so that the sliding member and the gear shaft gradually move closer to the first body, thereby eliminating the step difference generated when the second body is opened or closed relative to the first body, and increasing the beauty of the appearance.

In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the following is a detailed description of the embodiments with the accompanying drawings.

100: Foldable electronic devices

110: First Body

120: Second body

130: Hinge mechanism

131: Base

131a: Chute

132: Sliding part

132a: First penetration section

132b: Second penetration section

133: First gear

134: First connecting rod

134a: First end

134b: Second end

135: Second gear

136: Second connecting rod

136a: The third end

136b: The fourth end

137: Gear shaft

137a: Third gear

137b: Axis

137c: Bracket

138:Guide rod

140: Torque assembly

A, B: Area

AX1: First axis

AX2: Second axis

AX3: Third axis

AX4: Fourth axis

P1: First intersection point

P2: Second intersection

T1: The first triangle

T2: Second triangle

X-Y-Z: Cartesian coordinates

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of region A of the foldable electronic device of FIG1.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the exploded view of the hinge mechanism of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device of Figure 1 being transformed into a second state.

FIG5 is an enlarged schematic diagram of region B of the foldable electronic device of FIG4.

Figure 6 is a partially enlarged top view of the foldable electronic device of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a partially enlarged top view of the foldable electronic device of Figure 4.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of region A of the foldable electronic device of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic diagram of the hinge mechanism of FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the foldable electronic device of FIG. 1 being switched to a second state. Cartesian coordinates X-Y-Z are provided here for ease of description. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 , the foldable electronic device 100 is, for example, a notebook computer, but is not limited thereto. The foldable electronic device 100 includes a first body 110, a second body 120, and a hinge mechanism 130. The hinge mechanism 130 connects the first body 110 and the second body 120, so that the second body 120 can rotate relative to the first body 110 through the hinge mechanism 130, and can be switched between a first state (e.g., a closed state) shown in FIG. 1 and a second state (e.g., an expanded state) shown in FIG. 4.

Further referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the hinge mechanism 130 includes a base 131, a sliding member 132, a first gear 133, a first connecting rod 134, a second gear 135, a second connecting rod 136 and a gear shaft 137. The base 131 is disposed on the first body 110. The sliding member 132 is slidably disposed on the base 131. The first gear 133 is pivoted on the sliding member 132. One end of the first connecting rod 134 is fixed to the first gear 133, and the other end of the first connecting rod 134 is slidably disposed on the base 131. The second gear 135 is pivoted on the sliding member 132, and the second gear 135 engages the first gear 133. One end of the second connecting rod 136 is fixed to the first gear 133, and the other end of the second connecting rod 136 is slidably mounted on the base 131. The gear shaft 137 is pivoted on the sliding member 132, and the gear shaft 137 is engaged with the second gear 135.

FIG5 is an enlarged schematic diagram of region B of the foldable electronic device of FIG4. Please refer to FIG1, FIG2, FIG4 and FIG5. When the second body 120 is unfolded relative to the first body 110, the gear shaft 137 rotates with the second body 120 to drive the second gear 135, and the second gear 135 drives the first gear 133 to rotate. During the rotation of the first gear 133 and the second gear 135, the first gear 133 and the second gear 135 drive the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 to swing respectively, so that the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 are rotated. One end of each of the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 slides away from each other on the base 131, and the other end of each of the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 moves toward one end of the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136, so that the sliding member 132 and the gear shaft 137 gradually move closer to the first body 110, thereby eliminating the step difference generated when the second body 120 is unfolded or closed relative to the first body 110, and increasing the appearance of the foldable electronic device 100.

Please refer to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the foldable electronic device 100 further includes two guide rods 138. The two guide rods 138 pass through the base 131 along the Y axis and are then disposed on the base 131.

The sliding member 132 has at least one first penetration portion 132a and at least one second penetration portion 132b. In order to improve the stability of each component during movement, two first penetration portions 132a and two second penetration portions 132b are arranged along the X-axis. The sliding member 132 is penetrated through the two guide rods 138 along the Y-axis through the two first penetration portions 132a, so as to be slidably arranged on the base 131 along the Y-axis along the two guide rods 138.

In addition, the base 131 has a slide groove 131a, and the slide groove 131a extends along an extension direction (in terms of the content shown in the figure, it extends along the X-axis). The first connecting rod 134 has a first end 134a and a second end 134b opposite to the first end 134a, and the second connecting rod 136 has a third end 136a and a fourth end 136b opposite to the third end 136a, wherein the first end 134a and the third end 136a are both slidably disposed in the slide groove 131a along the X-axis. The first gear 133 and the second gear 135 pivoted on the sliding member 132 can both rotate around the Z axis, and the second end 134b is fixedly connected to the first gear 133, and the fourth end 136b is fixedly connected to the second gear 135, so the second end 134b and the fourth end 136b can both rotate around the Z axis, wherein the first gear 133 and the second gear 135 are suitable for synchronous reverse rotation, so that the second end 134b and the fourth end 136b fixed thereto are also suitable for synchronous reverse rotation.

The gear shaft 137 has a third gear 137a, a pivot 137b and a bracket 137c, wherein the third gear 137a is disposed on the outer periphery of the pivot 137b, one end of the pivot 137b is connected to the bracket 137c, the other end of the pivot 137b is provided with a torque assembly 140, and the third gear 137a engages the second gear 135. The pivot 137b is penetrated through the two second penetration portions 132b of the sliding member 132 along the X-axis direction, so that the entire gear shaft 137 can rotate around the X-axis on the two second penetration portions 132b through the pivot 137b. The second body 120 is connected to the bracket 137c, so that the second body 120 and the gear shaft 137 can rotate synchronously around the X axis.

In this embodiment, the first gear 133 and the second gear 135 are mutually meshing spur gears, and the third gear 137a is a worm gear meshing with the second gear 135. The first gear 133 and the second gear 135 have the same specifications (for example, the number of teeth, module, and pitch circle diameter are the same), but are not limited to this. In addition, the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 have the same length.

FIG6 is a partially enlarged schematic top view of the foldable electronic device of FIG1. FIG7 is a partially enlarged schematic top view of the foldable electronic device of FIG4. Please refer to FIG3, FIG6 and FIG7 for a more clear explanation of the spirit of the present invention. The first end 134a defines a first axis AX1, the second end 134b defines a second axis AX2, the third end 136a defines a third axis AX3, and the fourth end 136b defines a fourth axis AX4, wherein the first axis AX1, the second axis AX2, the third axis AX3 and the fourth axis AX4 are parallel to the Y axis.

The second axis AX2 is projected along the negative Y axis onto the slide groove 131a to define a first intersection point P1 perpendicular to the extension direction of the slide groove 131a (i.e., the X axis), and the fourth axis AX4 is projected along the negative Y axis onto the slide groove 131a to define a second intersection point P2 perpendicular to the extension direction of the slide groove 131a (i.e., the X axis).

The first axis AX1, the second axis AX2 and the first intersection P1 define a first triangle T1, and the third axis AX3, the fourth axis AX4 and the second intersection P2 define a second triangle T2. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, during the swinging of the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136, the first triangle T1 is always equal to the second triangle T2. In other words, the first gear 133 and the first connecting rod 134 are symmetrically arranged with the second gear 135 and the second connecting rod 136.

Please refer to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6. In the first state, the second body 120 is closed relative to the first body 110, and the sliding member 132 is relatively far away from the first body 110, the sliding groove 131a, the first end 134a and the third end 136a in the Y-axis direction.

Please refer to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 7. In the second state, the second body 120 is unfolded relative to the first body 110, and the sliding member 132 is relatively close to the first body 110, the sliding groove 131a, the first end 134a and the third end 136a in the Y-axis direction.

In the process of converting from the first state (closed state) shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 to the second state (expanded state) shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the second body 120 rotates around the negative X axis, and the second body 120 synchronously drives the gear shaft 137 to rotate around the negative X axis. In the process of the gear shaft 137 rotating around the negative X axis, the third gear 137a drives the second gear 135 to rotate around the negative Z axis. The second gear 135 drives the second connecting rod 136 to swing on the XY plane and synchronously drives the first gear 133 to rotate around the Z axis. When the first gear 133 rotates around the Z axis, the first gear 133 drives the first connecting rod 134 to swing on the XY plane, and the swing directions of the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 on the XY plane are opposite to each other. In other words, the third gear 137a only drives the second gear 135 and has no engagement or driving relationship with the first gear 133.

Finally, one end of each of the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 (i.e., the first end 134a and the third end 136a) slides on the base 131 in a direction away from each other (the first end 134a moves toward the negative X-axis direction, and the third end 136a moves toward the positive X-axis direction), and the other end of each of the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136 (i.e., the second end 134b and the fourth end 136b) moves toward the first body 110, the slide slot 131a, the first The first end 134a of the connecting rod 134 and the third end 136a of the second connecting rod 136 move in the negative Y-axis direction, so that the sliding member 132 and the gear shaft 137 gradually move relatively close to the first body 110, the slide groove 131a, the first end 134a and the third end 136a along the negative Y-axis, thereby eliminating the step difference generated when the second body 120 is unfolded relative to the first body 110, and increasing the appearance of the foldable electronic device 100.

On the contrary, the principle of the process in which the second body 120 is converted from the second state (expanded state) shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7 to the first state (closed state) shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6 relative to the first body 110 is the same. Finally, due to the action of the hinge mechanism 130, the sliding member 132 and the gear shaft 137 gradually move away from the first body 110, the slide groove 131a, the first end 134a and the third end 136a along the positive Y axis, thereby eliminating the step difference generated when the second body 120 is closed relative to the first body 110, and increasing the appearance of the foldable electronic device 100.

In addition, the design of the gears and connecting rods used in the hinge mechanism 130 of the present invention enables the overall height of the foldable electronic device 100 to be smaller in the Z-axis direction, which helps to make the foldable electronic device 100 lighter and thinner.

Furthermore, the hinge mechanism 130 of the present invention uses very few parts, has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture and assemble, and has a relatively low manufacturing cost.

It is particularly noted that the present invention uses the guide rod 138 as a means to guide the sliding member 132 to slide back and forth in the Y-axis direction, but the actual method of sliding the sliding member 132 on the base 131 along the Y-axis is not limited to this.

In other embodiments, one of the base and the sliding member may be provided with a sliding rail recessed inside, and the other of the base and the sliding member may be provided with a sliding block protruding outside, and the sliding block is slidably arranged in the sliding rail, so that the sliding member is slidably arranged on the base along the Y-axis.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first end 134a and the third end 136a move to the end point of the slide groove 131a to stop the first connecting rod 134 and the second connecting rod 136, so as to limit the position of the second body 120 relative to the first body 110. In FIG. 5, the sliding member 132 does not have any abutment with the base 131. However, the means of limiting the position of the second body 120 relative to the first body 110 is not limited to this.

In other embodiments, the base and the sliding member may be abutted against each other to serve as a stop limit.

In summary, in the foldable electronic device of the present invention, when the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the gear shaft rotates with the second body to drive the second gear, and the second gear drives the first gear to rotate. During the rotation of the first gear and the second gear, the first gear and the second gear respectively drive the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod to swing, so that the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are One end of each connecting rod slides away from each other on the base, and the other end of each of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod moves toward one end of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, so that the sliding member and the gear shaft gradually move closer to the first body, thereby eliminating the step difference generated when the second body is opened or closed relative to the first body, and increasing the beauty of the appearance.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above by the embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope of the attached patent application.

130: Hinge mechanism

131: Base

131a: Chute

132: Sliding part

132a: First penetration section

132b: Second penetration section

133: First gear

134: First connecting rod

134a: First end

134b: Second end

135: Second gear

136: Second connecting rod

136a: The third end

136b: The fourth end

137: Gear shaft

137a: Third gear

137b: Axis

137c: Bracket

138:Guide rod

140: Torque assembly

X-Y-Z: Cartesian coordinates

Claims (10)

A foldable electronic device includes: a first body; a second body; and a hinge mechanism connecting the first body and the second body so that the second body can rotate relative to the first body through the hinge mechanism, the hinge mechanism including: a base disposed on the first body; a sliding member slidably disposed on the base; a first gear pivotally disposed on the sliding member; a first connecting rod, one end of which is fixedly connected to the first gear and the other end of which is slidably disposed on the base; a second gear pivotally disposed on the sliding member and engaged with the first gear; a second connecting rod, one end of which is fixedly connected to the first gear and the other end of which is slidably disposed on the base; and a gear shaft pivotally disposed on the sliding member. and engages the second gear; wherein, when the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, the gear shaft rotates with the second body to drive the second gear, and the second gear drives the first gear to rotate, and during the rotation of the first gear and the second gear, the first gear and the second gear respectively drive the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod to swing, so that one end of each of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod slides on the base in a direction away from each other, and the other end of each of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod moves in a direction toward one end of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, so that the sliding member and the gear shaft gradually move closer to the first body. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the foldable electronic device is suitable for switching between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second body is closed relative to the first body, and the sliding member is relatively far away from the first body. In the second state, the second body is unfolded relative to the first body, and the sliding member is relatively close to the first body. In the process of switching from the first state to the second state, the second body drives the gear shaft to rotate, the gear shaft drives the second gear to rotate, the second gear drives the second connecting rod to swing and drives the first gear to rotate, and the first gear drives the first connecting rod to swing. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the base has a slide slot, the first connecting rod has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the second connecting rod has a third end and a fourth end opposite to the third end, the first end and the third end are slidably disposed in the slide slot, the second end is fixedly connected to the first gear, and the fourth end is fixedly connected to the second gear. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 3, wherein the slide extends along an extension direction, the first end defines a first axis, the second end defines a second axis, the third end defines a third axis, the fourth end defines a fourth axis, the second axis is projected onto the slide to define a first intersection perpendicular to the extension direction, the fourth axis is projected onto the slide to define a second intersection perpendicular to the extension direction, wherein the first axis, the second axis and the first intersection define a first triangle, the third axis, the fourth axis and the second intersection define a second triangle, During the swinging process of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod, the first triangle is always equal to the second triangle. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 3, wherein the second end and the fourth end are adapted to rotate synchronously in opposite directions. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the first gear and the second gear have the same specifications. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod have the same length. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the gear shaft has a third gear, and the third gear meshes with the second gear. A foldable electronic device as described in claim 8, wherein the first gear and the second gear are mutually meshing spur gears, and the third gear is a snail gear meshing with the second gear. The foldable electronic device as described in claim 1 further includes: two guide rods disposed on the base, and the sliding member is passed through the two guide rods so as to be slidably disposed on the base along the two guide rods.

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