Slide rail mechanism, retractable screen structure and electronic device

A slide rail mechanism for a retractable screen structure includes: a holder assembly including a holder, the holder having a plurality of guide rails extending along a first direction; and a slide rail assembly including a sliding member coupled to a flexible display screen of the retractable screen structure, and an elastic assembly that includes at least one first elastic member having a first end coupled to the holder and a second end coupled to the sliding member, and at least one second elastic member fitted over at least one of the guide rails. The sliding member is arranged on the plurality of guide rails and slidable along the first direction, and the at least one first elastic member, the at least one second elastic member, and the flexible display screen are driven to move together when the sliding member slides along the guide rails.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of and priority to Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 202110711451.6, filed on Jun. 25, 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

With the continuous progress of screen technology, mass production of foldable flexible screens has been achieved, and flexible display screens that measure 0.01 mm in thickness are available globally, enriching the form of terminal products from smart wear to smart home, and smartphone terminals. Ultra-thin flexible screens allow diverse designs of products, such as foldable cell phones, ring-shaped cell phones, and special-shaped curved terminal products. Moreover, the arrival of5G facilitates electrical connection of all intelligent products and accelerates data transmission, which enables certain modules of intelligent terminal products to function even when they are separated from the intelligent terminal products, such as camera modules and BOX acoustic modules. Development of battery technology has improved battery capacity, which leads to smaller terminal products and more flexible terminal product design.

With increased demand for flexible screen products, display areas need to be increased or decreased to enhance user experience when the device is used for different purposes, e.g., watching videos or making phone calls. There are currently two main screen expansion structures: foldable screen structures and retractable screen structures.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to the field of retractable screen products and, more particularly, to a slide rail mechanism, a retractable screen structure, and an electronic device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a slide rail mechanism for a retractable screen structure. The slide rail mechanism includes: a holder assembly including a holder, the holder having a plurality of guide rails extending along a first direction; and a slide rail assembly including a sliding member coupled to a flexible display screen of the retractable screen structure, and an elastic assembly that includes at least one first elastic member having a first end coupled to the holder and a second end coupled to the sliding member, and at least one second elastic member fitted over at least one of the guide rails. The sliding member is arranged on the plurality of guide rails and slidable along the first direction, and the at least one first elastic member, the at least one second elastic member, and the flexible display screen are driven to move together when the sliding member slides along the guide rails.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a retractable screen structure. The retractable screen structure includes: a slide rail mechanism and a flexible display screen. The slide rail mechanism includes: a holder assembly including a holder, the holder having a plurality of guide rails extending along a first direction; and a slide rail assembly including a sliding member coupled to a flexible display screen of the retractable screen structure, and an elastic assembly that includes at least one first elastic member having a first end coupled to the holder and a second end coupled to the sliding member, and at least one second elastic member fitted over at least one of the guide rails. The sliding member is arranged on the plurality of guide rails and slidable along the first direction, and the at least one first elastic member, the at least one second elastic member, and the flexible display screen are driven to move together when the sliding member slides along the guide rails. A rotation shaft assembly is arranged on a side of the holder away from the slide rail assembly, and an axial direction of the rotation shaft assembly is perpendicular to the first direction. The flexible display screen has a first end coupled to the sliding member and a second end wound around the rotation shaft assembly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device. The electronic device includes: a housing including a first housing and a second housing arranged on the first housing and being slidable along a first direction, the first housing and the second housing forming a receiving structure having an opening; a retractable screen structure arranged within the receiving structure; and a drive assembly. The retractable screen structure includes: a slide rail mechanism and a flexible display screen. The slide rail mechanism includes: a holder assembly including a holder, the holder having a plurality of guide rails extending along a first direction; and a slide rail assembly including a sliding member coupled to a flexible display screen of the retractable screen structure, and an elastic assembly that includes at least one first elastic member having a first end coupled to the holder and a second end coupled to the sliding member, and at least one second elastic member fitted over at least one of the guide rails. The sliding member is arranged on the plurality of guide rails and slidable along the first direction, and the at least one first elastic member, the at least one second elastic member, and the flexible display screen are driven to move together when the sliding member slides along the guide rails. A rotation shaft assembly is arranged on a side of the holder away from the slide rail assembly, and an axial direction of the rotation shaft assembly is perpendicular to the first direction. The flexible display screen has a first end coupled to the sliding member and a second end wound around the rotation shaft assembly. The rotation shaft assembly is arranged on a side close to the second housing, and the flexible display screen has a first end close to a bottom of the housing and a second end coupled to the first housing to cover the opening. The drive assembly is arranged within the receiving structure and coupled to the slide rail mechanism, and the drive assembly drives the slide rail mechanism to move along the first direction, in which the drive assembly drives the slide rail mechanism to move along the first direction, brings the second housing, the slide rail assembly, the first end of the flexible display screen and the sliding member to move along the first direction relative to the first housing, and allows the flexible display screen to switch between a retracted state and an expanded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, with examples thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings in which the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise represented. The implementations set forth in the following description of exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present disclosure as recited in the appended claims.

Terms used herein in the description of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, technical terms or scientific terms used herein shall be understood in the ordinary sense as appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application belongs. Terms such as “first” and “second” used in the specification and claims are not intended to indicate any sequence, quantity or significance of indicated technical features, and are merely used to distinguish different elements. Likewise, the words “a,” “an” and the like used in the specification and claims are not intended to limit the quantity but indicate the presence of at least one element or device referred to by the words. The term “a plurality of” or “several” means two or more than two. Terms such as “front,” “rear,” “lower” and/or “upper” are merely for the convenience of description and not limited to a position or an orientation, unless indicated otherwise. Terms “comprising” or “containing” mean that the elements or articles before these terms “comprising” or “containing” includes the elements or articles listed after the terms “comprising” or “containing” and do not exclude other elements or articles. The terms “connected” or “coupled” and the like are not limited to physical or mechanical connection, but may include electrical connection, regardless of direct connection or indirect connection.

Terms used in the present disclosure are only used for describing specific embodiments and not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used in the specification and claims, the terms, “a,” “the” and “the” in singular forms, are intended to include plural forms, unless clearly indicated in the context otherwise. It should also be understood that, as used herein, the term “and/or” represents and contains any one and all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

The present disclosure provides a slide rail mechanism, a retractable screen structure, and an electronic device, all of which will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and features in the following embodiments and implementations may be combined with each other in the absence of conflict.

Referring toFIGS.1-3, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a slide rail mechanism for a retractable screen structure, including: a holder assembly10and a slide rail assembly20. The holder assembly10includes a holder11, and the holder11includes a plurality of guide rails24extending along a first direction X (a vertical direction shown inFIG.3). The slide rail assembly20includes a sliding member22coupled to the flexible display screen90of the retractable screen structure, and an elastic assembly230. The elastic assembly230includes at least one first elastic member231and at least one second elastic member232; a first end2311of the first elastic member231is coupled to the holder11, and a second end2312of the first elastic member231is coupled to the sliding member22; the second elastic member232is fitted over at least one guide rail24. The sliding member22is arranged on the plurality of guide rails24and slidable along the first direction X. When the sliding member22slides along the guide rails24, the first elastic member231, the second elastic member232, and the flexible display screen90are driven to move together, and the elastic assembly230is stretched or compressed under the action of the sliding member22and thus is deformed, generating pre-tension on the flexible display screen90. It can be understood that the sliding member22slides along the guide rails24in a direction denoted by an arrow inFIG.3relative to the holder11, squeezing the first elastic member231and the second elastic member232of the elastic assembly230, so that the elastic assembly230generates reversed tension on the flexible display screen and the flexible display screen keeps a flat state when expanding.

Through the above arrangement, with the slide rail mechanism of the present disclosure, the sliding member22moves along the guide rails24in the first direction X relative to the holder11and can drive the flexible display screen90of the retractable screen structure to move together, achieving expansion and retraction of the flexible display screen90. The sliding member22drives the first elastic member231and the second elastic member232of the elastic assembly230to move together, stretching or squeezing the elastic assembly230, which can produce pre-tension on the flexible display screen90, and make the expansion of the flexible display screen90more smooth, to avoid causing problems such as screen bulging, swelling and distortion when the whole machine slides open.

Referring toFIGS.4and5, in some possible embodiments, the guide rail24includes a guide bar240extending along the first direction X, and the second elastic member232is fitted over the guide bar240. The sliding member22includes a plurality of slide slots220corresponding to the number of the guide bars240. The sliding member22is slidably arranged on the guide rails24through the slide slots220, and when the sliding member22slides along the guide rails24, the second elastic members232fitted over the guide bars240are driven to move and deform. It can be understood that due to the fit and cooperation between the slide slots220and the guide bars240, a sliding direction of the sliding member22is limited to an extension direction of the guide rail24, i.e., sliding along the first direction X, which can prevent the sliding member22from coming out of the guide rail24. In some embodiments, the number of the guide rails24is an even number, and the guide rails are symmetrically arranged on the holder11. The number of the second elastic members232corresponds to the number of the guide rails24, each second elastic member232being fitted over one guide rail24. In some embodiments, there are six groups of guide rails24symmetrically arranged on the holder11, making the sliding member22more stable when sliding. In other examples, the number of the guide rails24may vary and will not be limited in the present disclosure.

In some possible embodiments, the slide rail assembly20further includes at least one limit block25arranged at an end (i.e., an upper end inFIG.3) of the slide rail assembly20away from the holder11, and the sliding member22includes a limit portion221that fits against the limit block25. The limit block25fits against the limit portion221of the sliding member22, which can limit a start position of the sliding member22and prevent the sliding member22from coming out of the guide rail24. In some embodiments, the limit portion221may be understood as a groove, and there are two limit blocks25symmetrically arranged on the holder11and two limit portions221arranged in correspondence with the limit blocks25, which will not be limited in the present disclosure. In an example shown inFIG.3, the limit blocks25are arranged at the upper end of the holder11, and the start position of the sliding member22is located at the upper end of the holder11, in which state the elastic assembly230is preloaded and exerts elastic pre-tension on the sliding member22to keep the sliding member22in the start position.

In some possible embodiments, a plastic member224is fitted over the guide bar240, and the slide slot220is fitted over the plastic member224. The plastic member224reduces friction between the slide slot220and the guide rail24, reducing wear to ensure smooth sliding. In some embodiments, the plastic member224may employ POM (polyoxymethylene resin) plastic that is a self-lubricating plastic. The slide slot220of the sliding member22and the plastic member224can be combined together as a single part by a co-molding process (insert-molding), to ensure that the sliding member22can only slide along the extension direction of the guide rail24, i.e., the first direction X, to prevent the sliding member from falling off and improve structural stability.

In some possible embodiments, the first elastic member231includes an arc-shaped body portion233, a first connection portion234coupled to a first end of the arc-shaped body portion233, and a second connection portion235coupled to a second end of the arc-shaped body portion233. The first connection portion234is coupled to the holder11and the second connection portion235is coupled to the sliding member22. When the sliding member22slides along the guide rail24, the second connection portion235is driven to move, deforming the first elastic member231and generating a reverse elastic force on the sliding member22and the flexible display screen, so that the flexible display screen remains flat when expanding. In some embodiments, the first elastic member231and the second elastic member232may be springs, tension springs and other springs made of metal materials, and exert pre-tension when assembled to keep the sliding member22in the start position. When the sliding member22slides along the guide rail24relative to the holder11, the second connection portion235of the first elastic member231and the second elastic member232are driven to move, and the first elastic member231and the second elastic member232are deformed to generate the reverse elastic force on the sliding member22. In some embodiments, the arc-shaped body portion233is C-shaped, and it can be understood that the first elastic member231may be a C-shaped spring. There are two first elastic members231symmetrically arranged between the holder11and the sliding member22. There are a plurality of second elastic members232, part of the second elastic members232being arranged between the two first elastic members231and another part of the second elastic members232being arranged outside the two first elastic members231. By using the two kinds of elastic members in combination and spacing them apart, the overall elastic force of the elastic assembly230can be enhanced to provide a greater elastic force for the flexible display screen, thereby allowing the flexible display screen to have a longer expansion stroke. It is also possible to keep the elastic force substantially constant, and the tension on the flexible display screen is more stable.

The holder11may include a guide slot arranged along the first direction X and used for assembling the guide rail24. During assembling, the second connection portion235of the first elastic member231and the sliding member22are first riveted together; the guide bar240of the guide rail24is inserted along a lower side surface of the holder11and into the guide slot; the slide slot220of the sliding member22and the second elastic member232are fitted over the guide bar240of the guide rail24; a tail end of the guide bar240is firmly fixed to the holder11by spot welding after the guide bar240is completely mounted into the holder11; the first connection portion234of the first elastic member231is fixed to the holder11by riveting. In such a way, the slide rail assembly20and the holder11are assembled together.

In some possible implementations, the holder11may be a stamped metal plate or adopt a hollowed-out design for weight reduction according to a space layout of the whole machine, which facilitates adjustment for locations with great influence on strength, increases space for a better utilization rate, and makes the whole machine thin and light. The flexible display screen90is fixed to the sliding member22of the slide rail assembly20. The sliding member22may be made of SUS stainless steel plate and POM plastic by a co-molding process. The stainless steel plate can act as a main body to provide strength support. The slide slot may be formed by POM plastic injection molding and can slide relative to the guide rail24to reduce friction. The limit block25may be made of plastic, and can limit the start position of the sliding member22and prevent the sliding member22from coming out of the guide rail24. The guide rail24may be formed by a stainless steel stamping process and fixed on the holder11by spot welding. In cooperation with the slide slot220on the sliding member22, an inverted hook structure is formed to prevent the sliding member22from coming out of the guide rail24when sliding. An exposed surface of the sliding member22may act as an adhesive area226, to which the flexible display screen90affixes. The guide bar240may be a cylindrical bar made of metal materials.

Referring toFIG.1again, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a retractable screen structure including the slide rail mechanism and the flexible display screen90as described in the above embodiments. A rotation shaft assembly12is arranged on a side of the holder11away from the slide rail assembly20, and an axial direction of the rotation shaft assembly12is perpendicular to the first direction X. The flexible display screen90has a first end901coupled to the sliding member22and a second end902wound around the rotation shaft assembly12.

Through the above arrangement, the sliding member22moves along the first direction X relative to the holder11and can drive the flexible display screen90to move together, to realize the expansion and retraction of the flexible display screen90. The sliding member22drives the elastic assembly230to move together and stretches the elastic assembly230, which can produce pre-tension on the flexible display screen90and make the flexible display screen90more flat during expansion, to avoid causing problems such as screen bulging, swelling and distortion when the whole machine slides open.

In some possible implementations, the rotation shaft assembly12includes a rotation shaft support121, a rotation shaft122and a rotation wheel123. The rotation shaft support121is arranged on the side of the holder11away from the slide rail assembly20. The rotation shaft122passes through the rotation shaft support121. The rotation wheel123is fitted over the rotation shaft122, and the second end of the flexible display screen90is wound around the rotation wheel123. When the flexible display screen90moves along with the slide rail assembly22, the rotation wheel123passively rotates, making the expansion and retraction of the flexible display screen90more smooth.

In some embodiments, the flexible display screen90consists of a flexible OLED screen attached to an extremely thin layer of stainless steel mesh, which is highly flexible. There may be a plurality of rotation shaft supports121spaced apart from one another along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction X. There may be a plurality of rotation wheels123, one rotation wheel being assembled between two adjacent rotation shaft supports121. Depending on space between two adjacent rotation shaft supports121, there may be large and small rotation wheels assembled in suitable positions. The rotation wheel123may be made of engineering plastic POM by injection molding, with a through hole in the middle and slots on both ends to receive bearings, and the rotation wheel123is fitted over the rotation shaft122and can passively rotate around the rotation shaft122via the bearings after being assembled. The rotation shaft122may adopt a D-shaped shaft, and the D-shaped cross section mainly serves to fix a bearing inner ring to prevent the bearing inner ring from rotating with the rotation shaft. The rotation shaft122may be made of stainless steel and passes through the plurality of rotation shaft supports121. The rotation shaft122includes screw threads1220on both ends and can be fixed to a middle frame of the electronic device by a fastener such as a screw126, to realize fixation of the rotation shaft. The screw126may be made of metals. The screw may include a child-mother screw with a screw rod on one end, passing through a screw washer to be fastened to the rotation shaft to lock the screw washer and the rotation shaft tightly. The bearing, which may be made of stainless steel or ceramic, is assembled on the rotation wheel123, and each rotation wheel123is assembled with one bearing1230and a bearing spacer, separately on both ends of the rotation wheel. The bearing spacer may be made of metal materials. When the rotation wheels are mounted to the rotation shaft, one bearing spacer is arranged on each of both sides of each rotation wheel, and the rotation shaft122passes through an inner hole of the bearing spacer. When both ends of the rotation shaft122are locked by the screw126, the screw washer serves to fix the bearing inner ring relative to the rotation shaft122and prevent the bearing inner ring from rotating along with a bearing outer ring, and has a function of grounding the bearing to the holder.

Referring toFIGS.6to8, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device that may be a cell phone, a mobile terminal, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a terminal handheld device with a screen, an in-vehicle display device, and the like. The electronic device includes a housing, the retractable screen structure as described in the above embodiments, and a drive assembly990.

The housing includes a first housing91and a second housing92slidably arranged on the first housing91along the first direction X. The first housing91and the second housing92form a receiving structure991having an opening. The retractable screen structure is arranged within the receiving structure991; the rotation shaft assembly12is arranged on a side close to the second housing92; the first end901of the flexible display screen90is close to a bottom of the housing and the second end902of the flexible display screen90is coupled to the first housing91to cover the opening. The drive assembly990is arranged within the receiving structure991, and the drive assembly990is coupled to the slide rail mechanism to drive the slide rail mechanism to move in the first direction X. In some embodiments, the first housing91may include a support plate93, and the second end of the flexible display screen90is coupled to the support plate93, which may provide support and protection for the flexible display screen90.

The drive assembly990drives the slide rail mechanism to move along the first direction X, bringing the second housing92, the slide rail assembly20, the first end901of the flexible display screen90and the sliding member22to move along the first direction X relative to the first housing91, and allowing the flexible display screen90to switch between a retracted state and an expanded state.

As shown inFIG.6, the sliding member22in the start position is subjected to a preload force of the elastic assembly230due to the preload of two kinds of elastic members of the elastic assembly230and remains stationary in the start position due to the presence of the limit block25, in which case the flexible display screen90is in the retracted state.

The drive assembly990as a power source is fixed to the middle frame (also known as the housing) of the whole machine, and the electronic device receives a command through UI and controls the drive assembly990to drive the slide rail mechanism to move in the first direction X (i.e., moving leftwards inFIG.7), so that the slide rail mechanism as a whole slides out relative to the first housing91in a direction away from the first housing91. During this process, the first end of the flexible display screen90slides together with the sliding member22, and the rotation wheel of the rotation shaft assembly passively rotates under the force of the flexible display screen90. Since the second end of the flexible display screen90is coupled to the first housing91, an effect of expanding the flexible display screen90gradually can be achieved as the slide rail mechanism gradually slides out, as shown inFIG.7. During the sliding process of the slide rail mechanism, the sliding member22can move from one end of the holder11to the other end of the holder under the pull of the flexible display screen, which can further increase an expanding length of the flexible display screen90. Moreover, during the sliding process, the elastic assembly230is stretched by the sliding member22and exerts, on the sliding member22, elastic tension with a reverse direction opposite to a sliding direction, the flexible display screen90is always subject to the tension in the reverse direction, which is equivalent to pulling the flexible display screen90rightwards. As a result, the flexible display screen90expanded is more flat, and a trajectory of bending the flexible display screen90conforms to the design intention, to avoid causing problems such as screen bulging, swelling and distortion when the whole machine slides open.

It can be understood that throughout the process, the sliding member22is pulled by the second end of the flexible display screen90and can move from one end of the holder11to the other end thereof. Assuming that the slide rail mechanism slides out for a stroke of S relative to the first housing91and the sliding member22slides for a stroke of S, the first end of the flexible display screen90moves for a distance of 2S along with the slide rail mechanism relative to the first housing91.

When the whole machine receives an external command for retraction, a drive motor130starts to drive reversely, retracting the slide rail mechanism and the flexible display screen90. In this process, the holder11and the fixed seat are driven by the drive assembly990to move in the reverse direction, the flexible display screen90and the sliding member22are gradually retracted under the elastic force of the elastic assembly230, and the sliding member22returns to the start position under the elastic force of the elastic assembly230, thus restoring the flexible display screen90to the retracted state. Therefore, the use of the slide rail mechanism of the present disclosure can smoothly and effectively ensure that the flexible display screen keeps a bending form throughout the sliding opening and retracting process, and that the power loss caused by the friction generated in the process of sliding opening and retracting the screen is at a low level, and realize practical and easily attainable solutions to guarantee product reliability.

Referring toFIGS.6and7, in some possible embodiments, the holder11includes a transmission member13. The drive assembly990includes the drive motor130, a screw rod14coupled to the drive motor130, and a nut15fitted over the screw rod14. The screw rod14extends along the first direction X, and the nut15abuts against the transmission member13. The drive motor130drives the screw rod14to rotate, bringing the nut15and the transmission member13to move along the first direction X, and bringing the slide rail mechanism to move along the first direction X. It should be noted that the drive assembly990may also adopt a rack-and-pinion structure, a worm-and-gear structure and the like.

Other embodiments of the present disclosure may be conceivable for those skilled in the art after considering the specification and practicing the technical solutions disclosed herein. The present disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptive changes of the present disclosure. These variations, uses, or adaptive changes follow the general principles of the present disclosure and include common knowledge or conventional technical means in the technical field that are not disclosed in the present disclosure. The description and the embodiments are regarded as exemplary only, and the true scope of the present disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the particular structures described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is only limited by the appended claims.