Patent Publication Number: US-2022221905-A1

Title: Electronic devices

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates to the field of display, and in particular, to an electronic device with a display function. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the advancement of technologies, foldable electronic devices are becoming more and more sought after by users. However, a total length of a display panel of a foldable electronic device cannot be changed, which results in an uneven surface of the display panel during the folding of the electronic device, and further affects user experience. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes: a housing recessed inward to form one or more clearances penetrating the housing along a first direction; support plates, where a number of the support plates is at least two, and one clearance is correspondingly arranged below adjoining parts of two adjacent support plates; a display panel where the support plates are configured to support the display panel. The display panel is switchable between a folded position and an unfolded position; when the display panel is in the unfolded position, first surfaces of the support plates that abut against the display panel are flush; when the display panel is in the folded position, any two oppositely folded and adjacent support plates are separated by a part of the display panel that covers the any two oppositely folded and adjacent support plates when the display panel is in the unfolded position, and a part of the any two oppositely folded and adjacent support plates and a part of the display panel that covers the part of the any two oppositely folded and adjacent support plates when the display panel is in the unfolded position enter the clearance. 
     Further, the number of the support plates is two, and the two support plates correspond to one clearance. Two end surfaces of each of the support plates along the first direction are respectively provided with a fixation point, and the support plates are rotatable around respective fixation points. Along a second direction, each of the support plates includes a first end and a second end, and the first end is far away from the clearance relative to the second end. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the support plates includes a first support section and a second support section, the first support section extends from the first end to the fixation points, and the second support section extends from the second end to the fixation points. When the display panel is in the unfolded position, the second support sections are located above the clearance; when the display panel is in the folded position, the second support sections are located inside the clearance. 
     Further, a length of the second support sections along the second direction is same as a depth of the clearance. When the display panel is in the folded position, surfaces of the second support sections abut against a surface of the clearance. 
     Further, the electronic device further includes: connection mechanisms. Two ends of each of the connecting mechanisms are respectively connected with the fixation points on the end surfaces of the two support plates on a same side along the first direction. 
     Further, each of the connecting mechanisms includes at least three positioning points. Two of the positioning points are respectively connected with the fixation points on the end surfaces of the two support plates on the same side along the first direction, and remaining one of the positioning points is connected with the housing. Connecting lines of the three positioning points form a triangle. 
     Further, when the display panel is in the unfolded position, the second ends of the two support plates are in contact with each other. 
     Further, along a height direction, each of the support plates further includes a second surface, and the second surface is arranged opposite to the first surface. The height direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. At least at the second end of the support plates, the first surface and the second surface are connected by an arc, and in a direction from the second surface to the first surface, a size of the second end of the support plate gradually narrows. 
     Further, when the display panel is in the folded position, a distance between the two support plates is greater than or equal to a minimum bending diameter of the display panel. 
     Further, the number of the support plates is more than two. Along a second direction, each of the support plates includes two ends arranged oppositely, each of the support plates is respectively provided with fixation points at a predetermined distance from the ends. The support plates are rotatable around respective fixation points, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the support plates includes a first support section and two second support sections, the first support section extends from one of the fixation points to other of the fixation points, and the second support sections respectively extend from the ends to adjacent fixation points. When the display panel is in the unfolded position, each of the second support sections is located above a corresponding clearance; when the display panel is in the folded position, the second support sections on a folded side of the any two oppositely folded and adjacent support plates are located inside a corresponding clearance. 
     Further, lengths of the second support sections of each of the support plates are respectively same as a depth of a corresponding clearance. When the display panel is in the folded position, surfaces of the second support sections on the folded side of the any two oppositely folded and adjacent support plates abut against a surface of a corresponding clearance. 
     Further, the electronic device further includes: connecting mechanisms. Two ends of each of the connecting mechanisms are respectively connected with adjacent fixation points on end surfaces of two adjacent support plates on a same side along the first direction. 
     Further, each of the connecting mechanisms includes at least three positioning points. Two of the positioning points are respectively connected with the adjacent fixation points on the end surfaces of the two adjacent support plates on the same side along the first direction, and remaining one of the positioning points is fixedly connected with the housing. Connecting lines of the three positioning points form a triangle. 
     Further, the number of the connecting mechanisms is n, and the number of the support plates is n+1, where n is a positive integer. 
     Further, when the display panel is in the unfolded position, adjacent ends of the two adjacent support plates are in contact with each other. 
     Further, along a height direction, each of the support plates further includes a second surface, and the second surface is arranged opposite to the first surface. The height direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. At least at the adjacent ends of the two adjacent support plates, the first surfaces and the second surfaces are connected by arcs, and in a direction from the second surfaces to the first surfaces, sizes of the ends gradually narrow. 
     Further, when the display panel is in the folded position, a distance between the any two oppositely folded and adjacent support plates is greater than or equal to a minimum bending diameter of the display panel. 
     The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can include the following beneficial effects: in the above arrangement, when the display panel is in the folded position, the display panel is bent and enters the clearance, avoiding heaping/piling of the display panel when the display panel is in the folded position, and avoiding a gap appearing between the support plates and the display panel when the display panel is in the unfolded position, which ensures the evenness of the display panel. 
     It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an exploded structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating another structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a display panel and support plates. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating another structure of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an electronic device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating another structure of an electronic device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of support plates and connecting mechanisms according to still another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating another structure of support plates and connecting mechanisms according to still another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating yet another structure of support plates and connecting mechanisms according to still another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram illustrating still another structure of support plates and connecting mechanisms according to still another embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram illustrating another structure of support plates and connecting mechanisms according to still another embodiment of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Examplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, with the illustrations thereof represented in the drawings. When the following descriptions involve the drawings, like numerals in different drawings refer to like or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following examples do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims. 
     The terms used in the present application are for the purpose of describing particular examples only, and are not intended to limit the present application. Terms determined by “a/an”, “the” and “said” in their singular forms in the present application and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless clearly indicated otherwise in the context. It should also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items. 
     It should be understood that “first”, “second” and similar words used in the specification and claims of the present application do not represent any order, quantity or importance, but are used only to distinguish different components. Likewise, similar words such as “one”, “a” or “an” do not represent a quantity limit, but represent that there is at least one. Unless otherwise indicated, similar words such as “front”, “rear”, “lower” and/or “upper” are only for convenience of description, and are not limited to one position or one spatial orientation. Similar words such as “including” or “comprising” mean that an element or an item appearing before “including” or “comprising” covers elements or items and their equivalents listed after “including” or “comprising”, without excluding other elements or items. Similar words such as “connect” or “connected with each other” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, and may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. 
     The embodiments of the present application will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the case of no conflict, features in the following embodiments can be combined with each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present application relates to an electronic device  10 . The electronic device  10  is a foldable electronic device  10 , which may be a mobile phone, a computer, a tablet, an electronic book or other devices. The electronic device  10  may be an LCD electronic device. Of course, it may alternatively be an OLED electronic device. 
     The electronic device  10  includes a housing  100 , support plates  200 , and a display panel  300 . 
     A surface of the housing  100  is recessed inward to form a clearance  110 . The clearance  110  penetrates the housing  100  along a first direction Y. The support plates  200  are disposed above the housing  100 . A number of the support plates  200  is at least two. Two adjacent support plates  200  form a support body  210 . The display panel  300  is used to realize smart display of the electronic device  10 . The support plates  200  are configured to support the display panel  300 . That is, the display panel  300  is fixed above the support plates  200 . In an embodiment, the support plates  200  may be at least partially connected with the housing by snap-fitting. In another embodiment, the support plates may be at least partially connected with the housing by gluing, which is not particularly limited herein. 
     When the electronic device  10  is an LCD electronic device, the display panel  300  is a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes an upper substrate (not shown), a lower substrate (not shown), and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The liquid crystal layer is driven by an electric field generated between the upper substrate and the lower substrate to control display of images. 
     When the electronic device  10  is an OLED electronic device, the display panel  300  includes at least an organic light-emitting diode (not shown). The organic light-emitting diode includes an anode, a cathode, and an organic light-emitting layer between the anode and the cathode. In the organic light-emitting diode, holes from the anode and electrons from the cathode respectively migrate to the organic light-emitting layer, so that the organic light-emitting layer can emit light to display images. 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the number of the support plates is two, and the display panel  300  can be switched between a folded position  11  and an unfolded position  12 . When the display panel  300  is switched from the unfolded position  12  to the folded position  11 , the two support plates  200  in the support body  210  are rotated oppositely, so that the display panel  300  is bent. Especially, the display panel  300  located above adjoining positions of the two support plates  200  is bent. Parts of the two support plates  200  enter the clearance  110 , so that a part of the display panel  300  is driven to enter the clearance  110 . When the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , the two support plates  200  in the support body  210  are separated by the display panel  300 . 
     It should be noted that, in order to clearly show various components and parts, oblique line segments are drawn in the display panel  300  and the housing  100 , and the oblique line segments are not represented as cross-sectional lines. 
     A plane in which the display panel  300  is located when in the unfolded position  12  is used as a reference plane. When the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , a lowest point  310  of the bent part of the display panel  300  is lower than the reference plane. 
     In some designs, as shown in  FIG. 4 , no clearance is provided in the housing, and only a method of changing an overall size of a plurality of support plates  1  formed as a whole by connection thereof is adopted to avoid heaping/piling of a display panel  2 . In this design, the plurality of support plates  1  are connected together to form a chain structure, and the overall size of the plurality of support plates  1  is larger than a size of the display panel  2 . When the display panel  2  is caused to be in a folded position, relative positions of adjacent support plates  1  are changed, so that the display panel  2  moves as the support plates  1  move. During this process, some support plates  1  are rotated, and the plurality of support plates  1  formed as a whole by connection thereof are integrally recessed downward. The display panel  2  is recessed downward with the support plates  1 . Since the overall size of the plurality of support plates  1  formed as a whole by connection thereof is larger than the size of the display panel  2 , the display panel  2 , when in the folded position, can completely fit the support plates  1 , avoiding piling of the display panel  2 . However, when the display panel  2  is in an unfolded position, since the overall size of the plurality of support plates  1  formed as a whole by connection thereof is larger than the size of the display panel  2 , there is an angle between some adjacent support plates  1 , that is, for some support plates  1 , one end is far away from the display panel  2  relative to the other end, so that the display panel  2  is stretched flat. At the same time, this arrangement prevents the display panel from being deformed due to a stretch force. However, with such an arrangement, when the display panel  2  is in the unfolded position, not every part of the display panel  2  contacts the support plates  1 , resulting in that a gap appears between the display panel  2  and the support plates  1 , and a surface of the display panel  2  is uneven and prone to damage. 
     In this design, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , by providing the clearance  110 , part of the display panel  300  that is bent can be accommodated in the clearance  110 , thus avoiding piling of the display panel  300  when the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 . At the same time, when the display panel  300  is switched from the folded position  11  to the unfolded position  12 , the part of the display panel  300  located in the clearance  110  is moved out of the clearance  110  and flattens, and is supported by the support plates  200 . There is no gap between the support plates and the display panel, thus ensuring an evenness of the display panel  300  and avoiding the display panel  300  from being damaged. 
     It should be noted that the support plates  200  serve to fix the display panel  300 . When the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , all parts of the support plates  200  fit the display panel  300 . However, since the display panel  300  is to be switched between the folded position  11  and the unfolded position  12 , during the switching of the display panel  300  from the unfolded position  12  to the folded position  11 , a part of the support plates  200  are separated from the display panel  300 . It can be seen that the display panel  300  and the support plates  200  are not bonded with each other everywhere. Especially, a part of the display panel  300  located above an adjoining positions of two adjacent support plates  200  is not fixedly connected with the support plates  200  by means of gluing or the like. Therefore, when the display panel  300  is switched to the folded position  11 , a part of the display panel  300  can be separated from and bent relative to the support plates  200 , that is, a bent part of the display panel  300  smoothly joins attaching positions of the display panel  300  to the support plates  200 , so that the display panel is protected. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, when the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , surfaces of two support plates  200  in the support body  210  are flush, and a plane in which the support plates  200  are located is used as a first plane  203 . The first plane  203  is parallel to the reference plane formed by the display panel  300 . When the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , planes in which the two support plates  200  in the support body  210  are located are parallel and are used as second planes  204 . It should be noted that the first plane  203  is perpendicular to the second planes  204 . With the above arrangement, when the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , folding the electronic device  10  in half can be achieved, which facilitates convenient accommodation of the electronic device  10 . During the use of the electronic device  10 , if the electronic device  10  is to be accommodated, the electronic device  10  can be folded in half to assume a form as shown in  FIG. 3 . At this time, the display panel  300  is bent and sandwiched by the housing  100  and the support plates  200 , so that the display panel is protected, which avoids damages from the outside to the display panel  300  in the electronic device  10  during the accommodation of the electronic device  10 . For example, if an existing electronic device is stored in a handbag or pocket, the display panel may be scratched by sharp objects such as keys or cards that are also placed in the handbag or pocket. In this embodiment, by setting the electronic device  10  in a foldable form, the display panel  300  can be completely surrounded by the housing  100  to avoid its surface being scratched by the sharp objects such as keys or cards. In this embodiment, when in the folded position  11 , the display panel  300  may be in an off state. 
     In this embodiment, a number of the clearances  110  is one, so that the electronic device  10  can present a fold-in-half form. In other embodiments, the number of the clearances  110  can be two or three or more than three, so that the electronic device  10  can present various folded forms. Each clearance  110  needs to be provided with at least one support body  210  thereabove, and two adjacent support bodies  210  have one common support plate  200 . 
     In this embodiment, the support plates  200  are provided with fixation points  220 , and the support plates  200  can be rotated around the fixation points  220 , so that the support plates  200  can drive the display panel  300  to be switched between the unfolded position  12  and the folded position  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1  when necessary, along a second direction X, each support plate  200  includes a first end  201  and a second end  202 , and the first end  201  is far away from the clearance  110  relative to the second end  202 . It should be noted that the second direction X is perpendicular to the first direction Y, and both the first direction Y and the second direction X are perpendicular to a height direction H. Each support plate  200  includes a first support section  211  and a second support section  212 . The first support section  211  extends from the first end  201  to the fixation points  220 , and the second support section  212  extends from the second end  202  to the fixation points  220 . When the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , the second support sections  212  are located above the clearance  110 . When the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , the second support sections  212  are located inside the clearance  110 . 
     In the above arrangement, when the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , a part of the display panel  300  located above the clearance  110  can be supported by the second support sections  212  of the support plates  200 . During the switching of the display panel  300  from the unfolded position  12  to the folded position  11 , the second support sections  212  of the support plates  200  located above the clearance  110  are rotated and enter the clearance  110 , so that the part of the display panel  300  supported by the support plates  200  in the unfolded position also enters the clearance  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , the display panel  300  located in the clearance  110  is in an arc shape to avoid stress concentration caused by excessive local deformation of the display panel  300 . Moreover, when the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , a distance L between two support plates  200  in the support body  210  is equal to or greater than a minimum bending diameter of the display panel  300 . Each display panel  300  has a fixed minimum bending diameter, and the minimum bending diameter is a specific value. With the above arrangement, when folding the electronic device  10  in half is achieved, that is, when the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , the display panel  300  can be bent normally to prevent the display panel  300  from being damaged. 
     Further, lengths of the second support sections  212  are the same as a depth of the clearance  110 . When the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , surfaces of the second support sections  212  abut against a surface of the clearance  110 . Especially, end surfaces of the second ends  202  of the support plates  200  can abut against a bottom surface of the clearance  110 . With the above arrangement, achieving an effective limitation to a position of the support plates  200  is facilitated, thereby ensuring the stability of the form of the display panel  300 . Of course, in other embodiments, the depth of the clearance  110  may be greater than the lengths of the second support sections  212 . 
     It should be noted that the lengths of the second support sections  212  referred to here is specifically lengths of the second support sections  212  along the second direction X when the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), or lengths of the second support sections  212  along the height direction H when the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , the second ends  202  of two support plates  200  in the support body  210  are in contact with each other. With the above arrangement, when the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , surfaces of adjacent support plates  200  are flush, and there is no gap between the adjacent support plates  200 . The adjacent support plates  200  can better cooperate and support the display panel  300  to ensure that when the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , the display panel  300  is provided with the support plates  200  therebelow at any position to avoid the display panel  300  from being depressed, easily deformed, etc., so that the display panel  300  is better supported. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , along the height direction H in  FIG. 2  and along the second direction X in  FIG. 3 , each support plate  200  includes a first surface  205  and a second surface  206  arranged opposite to each other. The first surface  205  is configured to abut against the display panel  300 . At least at the second end, the first surface  205  and the second surface  206  are connected by an arc  207 , and in a direction from the second surface  206  to the first surface  205 , a size of the second end  202  of the support plate  200  gradually narrows. 
     In the above arrangement, when the display panel  300  is in the unfolded position  12 , two support plates  200  in the support body  210  are connected by sides of the second ends  202  close to the first surfaces  205  that abut against each other, and are used for supporting the display panel  300 . When the display panel  300  is switched from the unfolded position  12  to the folded position  11 , the two support plates  200  in the support body  210  are rotated in opposite directions and enter the clearance  110 . Since, in the direction from the second surface  206  to the first surface  205 , the size of the second ends  202  of the support plates  200  gradually narrows, during the rotation of the support plates  200 , there is a gap between rotation tracks of the second ends  202  of two adjacent support plates  200  to prevent the second ends  202  of the two support plates  200  from colliding with each other during their rotation so as to ensure the stability of the rotation. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , further, the electronic device  10  further includes connecting mechanisms  400 . The connecting mechanisms  400  are respectively arranged directly above the clearance  110  and on both ends of the support plates  200  and/or the housing  100  along the first direction Y to prevent the connecting mechanisms  400  from occupying the volume of the clearance  110 , so that when the display panel  300  is in the folded position  11 , a part of the display panel  300  entering the clearance  110  does not contact the connecting mechanisms  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , in an embodiment, the connecting mechanisms  400  can be of a rod-shaped structure extending along a single direction. Two ends of a connecting mechanism  400  are respectively connected with the fixation points  220  of the two support plates  200  in the support body  210 . When the display panel  300  is switched between the unfolded position  12  and the folded position  11 , relative positions between the connecting mechanisms  400  and the clearance  110  of the housing  100  do not change. In addition, a friction coefficient between the connecting mechanisms  400  and the support plates  200  is relatively large, so that relative positions between the connecting mechanisms  400  and the support plates  200  can be maintained stable by friction between the connecting mechanisms  400  and the support plates  200 , ensuring that the display panel  300  can relatively stably remain in the unfolded position  12  or the folded position  11 . Of course, in other embodiments, the limitation of positions between the support plates  200  and the display panel  300  can alternatively be achieved by additionally providing other position-limiting devices. 
     Since the display panel  300  is to be switched between the unfolded position  12  and the folded position  11 , the housing  100  is to be arranged as a flexible housing  100 , or a part of the housing  100  where the clearance  110  is arranged is to be made of a flexible and elastically deformable material. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , in another embodiment, the connecting mechanism  400  includes three positioning points  410 , where two positioning points  410  are respectively connected with the fixation points  220  of two support plates  200  in the support body  210 , and the remaining positioning point  410  is connected with the housing  100 . The fixation points  220  and the positioning points  410  may be connected by bolts. Of course, their connection can alternatively be realized in other ways. Connecting lines of the three positioning points  410  form a triangle (refer to the dotted lines in  FIG. 8 ). With the above arrangement, the connecting mechanism  400  and two support plates  200  can form a stable triangular structure. 
     The positioning point  410  fixedly connected with the housing  100  is used as a first positioning point  411 , and the positioning points  410  fixedly connected with the fixation points  220  of the support plates  200  are used as second positioning points  412 . Distances from the first positioning point  411  to the two second positioning points  412  are same, and the connecting lines of the three positioning points  410  form an equilateral or isosceles triangle. Of course, in other embodiments, the connecting lines of the three positioning points  410  may alternatively form a triangle with three unequal sides. 
     It should be noted that the connecting mechanism  400  and the housing  100  can be two separate components, and the connecting mechanism  400  and the housing  100  can be connected by welding, tenoning, screwing, etc. Of course, the connecting mechanism  400  and the housing  100  may alternatively be an integrally formed component. 
     In the above embodiments, a surface of the connecting mechanism  400  contacts side and bottom surfaces of the clearance  110 , increasing a contact area between the connecting mechanism  400  and the clearance  110 . At the same time, a shape of the connecting mechanism  400  is adapted to a shape of the clearance  110 , which can enhance a stability of positioning of the connecting mechanism  400 . A bottom end of the connecting mechanism  400  is provided with the first positioning point  411 , and the connecting mechanism  400  and the housing  100  are fixed together via the first positioning point  411 . 
     Further, when a number of the connecting mechanisms  400  is n, the number of the support plates  200  is n+1, and the number of the clearances is n, where n is a positive integer. In the above embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the number of the connecting mechanism  400  is one, and the number of the support plates  200  is two. Of course, as shown in  FIGS. 9-13 , in other embodiments, the number of the connecting mechanisms  400  can be multiple, and the number of the support plates  200  is always one more than the number of the connecting mechanisms  400 . Therefore, for each support plate  200  other than support plates at two ends, two ends thereof can include two fixation points, and are respectively connected with two connecting mechanisms  400 ; and for the support plates at two ends, only an end connected with the connecting mechanism thereof is provided with the fixation point. In some embodiments, all support plates have fixation points at both ends. When the number of the connecting mechanism  400  is multiple, and when the display panel is in the folded position, a part of the display panel in the clearances can be supported by the support plates  200 , so that the display panel is protected. At the same time, another part of the display panel enters a gap between two adjacent support plates  200  to avoid piling of the display panel, which ensures user experience. Please refer to the above description adaptively for each structure of the display device  10  and its specific mode of action, which will not be repeated here. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , when four support plates are included, the display panel can be folded completely in half in two ways. It should be noted that the display device  10  may not be provided with a connecting mechanism. Of course, alternatively, any of the above-mentioned connecting mechanisms (not shown) may be provided, and this application has no limitation thereto. In addition, the display panel can be folded as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     Similarly, when multiple support plates are included, the display panel can be folded in at least two ways. 
     In addition, it should be noted that the structure of one end surface of the electronic device is shown in the drawings, and the other end surface has a same structure. 
     The above are only embodiments of the present application, which are not intended to make any formal restriction on this application. Any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the technical solutions of the present application, can make some changes or modifications to the technical contents disclosed above as equivalent embodiments with equivalent changes. However, without departing from the contents of the technical solutions of the present application, any simple revisions, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present application still fall within the scope of the technical solutions of the present application.