Patent Publication Number: US-2023134121-A1

Title: Damping mechanism, hinge and folding electronic device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is proposed based on and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202111275802.X, filed on Oct. 29, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Foldable electronic devices have become more and more popular among consumers. In order to achieve the folded form in a device, it is usually necessary to provide hinges in the foldable electronic device, and the hinges are typically used to switch the foldable electronic devices between the unfolded form and the folded form. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of electronic devices, and in particular to a damping mechanism, a hinge and a foldable electronic device. 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a damping mechanism is provided, including a chamber, a movable blocking member and a power assembly. At least part of the movable blocking member is located in the chamber and cooperates with an inner wall face of the chamber to enclose a damping fluid cavity; at least one of the chamber and the movable blocking member defines a damping fluid circulation port in communication with the damping fluid cavity. The power assembly is abutted against the movable blocking member, and configured to drive the movable blocking member to move relative to the chamber to change the volume of the damping fluid cavity. 
     According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a hinge is provided, including an intermediate bracket and a rotating coupling component rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket, the rotating coupling component includes the damping mechanism, and the damping mechanism is configured to provide rotary damping force when the rotating coupling component rotates relative to the intermediate bracket. The damping mechanism includes a chamber, a movable blocking member and a power assembly. At least part of the movable blocking member is located in the chamber and cooperates with an inner wall face of the chamber to enclose a damping fluid cavity; at least one of the chamber and the movable blocking member defines a damping fluid circulation port in communication with the damping fluid cavity. The power assembly is abutted against the movable blocking member, and configured to drive the movable blocking member to move relative to the chamber to change the volume of the damping fluid cavity. 
     According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a foldable electronic device is provided, including a foldable screen and at least one hinge. The hinge includes an intermediate bracket and a rotating coupling component rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket, the rotating coupling component includes the damping mechanism, and the damping mechanism is configured to provide rotary damping force when the rotating coupling component rotates relative to the intermediate bracket. The damping mechanism includes a chamber, a movable blocking member and a power assembly. At least part of the movable blocking member is located in the chamber and cooperates with an inner wall face of the chamber to enclose a damping fluid cavity; at least one of the chamber and the movable blocking member defines a damping fluid circulation port in communication with the damping fluid cavity. The power assembly is abutted against the movable blocking member, and configured to drive the movable blocking member to move relative to the chamber to change the volume of the damping fluid cavity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and together with the description intend to explain principles of the present invention. 
         FIG.  1    is a sectional view of a damping mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram of the damping mechanism illustrated in  FIG.  1    when a transmission member is at a first rotation position; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of the damping mechanism illustrated in  FIG.  1    when a transmission member is at an intermediate position between a first rotation position and a second rotation position; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of the damping mechanism illustrated in  FIG.  1    when a transmission member is at a second rotation position; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of a fixed seat in the damping mechanism illustrated in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of a damping mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of a damping mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment when a transmission member is at a first rotation position; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram of a damping mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment when a transmission member is at a second rotation position; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of fitting between a hinge and left and right middle frames according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  10    is a top view of fitting between a hinge and left and right middle frames according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  11    is an exploded view of a hinge and left and right middle frames according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic diagram of movement of a hinge according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments will be described here in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description involves the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, same numbers in different drawings indicate same or similar elements. Implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. On the contrary, they are only examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present invention as detailed in the appended claims. 
     A hinge of a foldable electronic device usually includes an intermediate bracket and supporting parts provided at both sides of the intermediate bracket and rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket, and the supporting parts at both sides each support the two middle frames of the foldable electronic device. The supporting part and the intermediate bracket are rotatably coupled through cooperation of a rotating shaft and a shaft hole. In order to ensure smoothness of rotation of the rotating shaft, a surface of the rotating shaft and a hole wall of the shaft hole are set to be smooth, which leads to a poor hand feeling of the foldable electronic device during form switching. In addition, the structure of the foldable electronic device will be impacted if a user exerts too much force during form switching, which will affect the service life of the foldable electronic device. 
     In order to solve the above technical problems, the present disclosure provides a damping mechanism, which includes a damping fluid cavity formed by enclosure of a movable blocking member and a chamber, and a damping fluid circulation port communicating the damping fluid cavity with the outside. When a power assembly drives the movable blocking member to move, a flow speed of a damping fluid is limited by the damping fluid circulation port, to provide damping force for movement of the power assembly and ensure smoothness of movement of the power assembly. When a foldable electronic device adopts the damping mechanism, the damping mechanism can provide damping force when the foldable electronic device is switched in form, effectively improve a hand feeling, and meanwhile can avoid an impact on the structure of the foldable electronic device caused by an excessive stress during form switching, thereby prolonging the service life of the foldable electronic device. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a damping mechanism  100 , as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the damping mechanism  100  includes a chamber  10 , a movable blocking member  20  and a power assembly  30 . At least part of a structure of the movable blocking member  20  is located in the chamber  10 , and cooperates with an inner wall face of the chamber  10  to enclose a damping fluid cavity  110 . The damping fluid cavity  110  is configured to accommodate a damping fluid. At least one of the chamber  10  and the movable blocking member  20  defines a damping fluid circulation port  11 , and the damping fluid circulation port  11  is communicated with the damping fluid cavity  110 , so that the damping fluid cavity  110  can exchange the damping fluid with the outside (the space outside the damping fluid cavity  110 ) through the fluid circulation port  11 . 
     The power assembly  30  is abutted against the movable blocking member  20 , and the power assembly  30  is configured to drive the movable blocking member  20  to move relative to the chamber  10  to change a volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . For example, the power assembly  30  can drive the blocking member  20  to move relative to the chamber  10  to reduce the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . At this time, the damping fluid in the damping fluid cavity  110  is squeezed and discharged to the outside through the damping fluid circulation port  11 . For example, the power assembly  30  can drive the blocking member  20  to move relative to the chamber  10  to increase the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . At this time, under a negative pressure, the external damping fluid enters the damping fluid cavity  110  through the damping fluid circulation port  11 . 
     In the damping mechanism  100  provided by the present embodiment, the chamber  10  cooperates with the movable blocking member  20  to enclose the damping fluid cavity  110 , and at least one of the chamber  10  and the movable blocking member  20  defines the damping fluid circulation port  11  in communication with the damping fluid cavity  110 . When the power assembly  30  drives the movable blocking member  20  to move to change the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 , the damping fluid can flow between the damping fluid cavity  110  and the outside through the damping fluid circulation port  11 . The damping fluid circulation port  11  can limit a flow speed of damping fluid, thereby providing damping force to movement of the power assembly  30 , so that the power assembly  30  can move smoothly. When the damping mechanism  100  is applied to a hinge of a foldable electronic device, the damping mechanism  100  can provide damping force when the foldable electronic device is switched in form (see the following description for details), effectively improve a hand feeling, and meanwhile can avoid an impact on the structure of the foldable electronic device caused by an excessive stress during form switching, thereby prolonging the service life of the hinge and the foldable electronic device. 
     It can be understood that the movable blocking member  20  can be partially located in the chamber  10 , completely located in the chamber  10 , or can be driven by the power assembly  30  to move between a position completely located in the chamber  10  and a position partially located in the chamber  10 , which is not limited by the present disclosure. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the chamber  10  has an elongated structure, and the elongated structure here refers to a structure has a size in one direction (i.e., an extending direction) larger than those in other directions, such as columnar structures like a cylinder. It can be understood that the one direction mentioned here may be a straight direction or a curved direction, which is not limited in the present disclosure. The movable blocking member  20  is slidably fitted in the chamber  10 , so that the movable blocking member  20  can slide along the extending direction of the chamber  10 . For example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the movable blocking member  20  includes a blocking part  21  matched with a shape of the chamber  10 , and the blocking part  21  can slide along the extending direction of the chamber  10 , so that the blocking part  21  and the inner wall face of the chamber  10  cooperate to enclose the elongated damping fluid cavity  110 . When the blocking part  21  slides along the extension direction of the chamber  10 , a length of the elongated damping fluid cavity  110  can be changed, to change the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the chamber  10  has a structure with equal cross-sectional areas at all positions, thereby ensuring that the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110  changes approximately linearly when the movable blocking member  20  moves, to provide uniform damping force to the power assembly  30 . 
     In one embodiment, a sealing structure  49  is provided between the movable blocking member  20  and the inner wall face of the chamber  10 , to ensure tightness between the movable blocking member  20  and the inner wall face of the chamber  10  during movement of the movable blocking member  20 . In this way, the damping fluid can only flow through the damping fluid circulation port  11 , to limit the flow speed of the damping fluid by utilizing the damping fluid circulation port  11  and avoid leakage of the damping fluid between the movable blocking member  20  and the inner wall face of the chamber  10 . 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , an outer circumferential face of the blocking part  21  defines an annular groove, and the sealing structure  49  includes a sealing ring  40  provided in the annular groove, and an outer circumferential face of the sealing ring  40  is attached to the inner wall face of the chamber  10 , to realize sealing between the movable blocking member  20  and the inner wall face of the chamber  10 . 
     A circulation area of the damping fluid circulation port  11  is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the damping fluid cavity  110 . The circulation area of the damping fluid circulation port  11  here refers to an area of the cross section of the damping fluid circulation port  11  perpendicular to a flow direction of the damping fluid. Because the circulation area of the damping fluid circulation port  11  is small, when the blocking part  21  slides along the extension direction of the chamber  10 , a flow rate of the damping fluid at the damping fluid circulation port  11  is limited, thereby realizing a damping hysteresis effect on movement of the blocking part  21 . 
     In one embodiment, the damping fluid circulation port  11  is defined in the movable blocking member  20 , and when the movable blocking member  20  moves, the damping fluid flows between the damping fluid cavity  110  and the outside through the damping fluid circulation port  11  in the movable blocking member  20 . In other embodiments, the damping fluid circulation port  11  is defined in the chamber  10 , for example, at a middle position in the extending direction of the chamber  10 , as illustrated in  FIG.  1   . Of course, it can be understood that each of the movable blocking member  20  and the chamber  10  may define the damping fluid circulation port  11 , which are not limited by the present disclosure. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the chamber  10  defines an opening  12 , and the movable blocking member  20  can be mounted into the chamber through the opening  12 . In the embodiment where the chamber  10  has the elongated structure, the opening  12  can be defined in one end of the chamber  10 , and one movable blocking member  20  is correspondingly provided. The movable blocking member  20  is mounted into the chamber  10  through the opening  12 , and the other end of the chamber  10  is closed. The movable blocking member  20  moves toward the closed end of the chamber  10  to reduce the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 , and the movable blocking member  20  moves away from the closed end to increase the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . 
     In other embodiments, the openings  12  may also be defined in both ends of the chamber  10  as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , and two movable blocking members  20  are correspondingly provided. The two movable blocking members  20  are respectively mounted into the chamber  10  through the openings  12  in both ends of the chamber  10 . The two movable blocking members  20  move close to each other (refer to  FIGS.  3  and  4   ) to reduce the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 , and the two movable blocking members  20  move away from each other to increase the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . 
     The power assembly  30  includes a transmission member  31 , the transmission member  31  is provided with a first rotating coupling part  319  (described in detail below), and the transmission member  31  can rotate around an axis of the first rotating coupling part  319 . A first end  311  of the transmission member  31  in a rotation direction is coupled to the movable blocking member  20  through the opening  12 , and a second end  312  of the transmission member  31  in the rotation direction is a force receiving end. In this way, when a force is acted on the second end  312  of the transmission member  31 , the transmission member  31  rotates around the axis of the first rotating coupling part  319 , so that the first end  311  of the transmission member  31  drives the movable blocking member  20  to move. In some embodiments, the transmission member  31  has a first rotation position as illustrated in  FIG.  2    and a second rotation position as illustrated in  FIG.  4   . At the first rotation position, the damping fluid cavity  110  has a larger volume. As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , when the transmission member  31  rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, the first end  311  of the transmission member  31  pushes the movable blocking member  20  to move, thereby squeezing the damping fluid in the damping fluid cavity  110 , and the damping fluid is discharged through the damping fluid circulation port  11 . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , when the transmission member rotates to the second rotation position, the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110  is reduced. 
     The above-mentioned first end  311  is coupled to the movable blocking member  20  through the opening  12 , which may be that the movable blocking member  20  is located inside the chamber  10 , the first end  311  is coupled to the movable blocking member  20  through the opening  12 , or part of the structure of the movable blocking member  20  is exposed through the opening  12 , and the first end  311  is coupled to the exposed part of the movable blocking member  20 . Coupling between the first end  311  and the movable blocking member  20  can be that they abut against each other, or that they can be flexibly coupled by rotating coupling or other modes. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the first end  311  of the transmission member  31  in the rotation direction is abutted against the movable blocking member  20  to apply a pressure along a first direction to the movable blocking member  20 . For example, when a force is acted on the second end of the transmission member  31  at the first rotation position, the transmission member  31  rotates to the second rotation position to push the movable blocking member  20  to move, thereby changing the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . In the present embodiment, because the transmission member  31  is abutted against the movable blocking member  20 , the transmission member  31  cannot drive the movable blocking member  20  to move together when the transmission member moves from the second rotation position to the first rotation position. Therefore, the power assembly  30  further includes an elastic reset member  33  provided in the chamber  10 , and the elastic reset member  33  is configured to apply a pressure to the movable blocking member  20  in a second direction opposite the first direction, to push the movable blocking member  20  to reset by the elastic reset member  33 . 
     In some embodiments, the movable blocking member  20  includes a guide rod part  22  located in the chamber  10 , the guide rod part  22  is coupled to an inner side of the blocking part  21 , the blocking part  21  is hermetically coupled to the chamber  10 , and a junction of the blocking part  21  and the guide rod part  22  is provided with a step face  23 . For example, the blocking part  21  and the guide rod part  22  form a stepped shaft, and a stepped face of the stepped shaft constitutes the step face  23 . The first end  311  of the transmission member  31  is abutted against the blocking part  21 , and the elastic reset member  33  is fitted over the guide rod part  22  and is abutted against the step face  23 , so that when the transmission member  31  drives the movable blocking member  20  to move, the guide rod part  22  is utilized to guide and limit movement of the elastic reset member  33 , and ensure smoothness of movement thereof. For example, the elastic reset member  33  may be a coil spring. 
     In one embodiment, a free end of the guide rod part  22  is provided with a guide structure for guiding mounting of the elastic reset member  33 , to facilitate mounting of the elastic reset member  33 . In some embodiments, the free end of the guide rod part  22  has a frustum-shaped or hemispherical structure. 
     In other embodiments, the transmission member  31  is rotatably coupled to the movable blocking member  20 , so that the transmission member  31  can drive the movable blocking member  20  to move synchronously. For example, when the transmission member  31  rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, the transmission member can drive the movable blocking member  20  to compress the damping fluid cavity  110 , while when the transmission member  31  rotates from the second rotation position to the first rotation position, the transmission member can drive the movable blocking member  20  to move in the opposite direction to increase the damping fluid cavity  110 . In other embodiments, the transmission member  31  may also be coupled to the movable blocking member  20  by other flexible coupling modes. For example, the transmission member  31  is coupled to the movable blocking member  20  through a telescopic bellows. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the damping mechanism  100  further includes a fixed seat  60 . As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the fixed seat  60  includes a fixed seat body  64 , and the fixed seat body  64  defines the chamber  10 . The fixed seat  60  further includes a second rotating coupling part  66  located at a side of the chamber  10 . The first rotating coupling part  319  is fitted with the second rotating coupling part  66  to rotatably couple the transmission member  31  to the fixed seat  60 . The fixed seat  60  can not only define the chamber  10 , but can also realize rotating coupling with the transmission member  31 , and hence the structure is simpler and more compact. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the fixed seat body  64  has an elongated block structure, and the elongated block structure defines a through hole penetrating along an extending direction thereof, so that the elongated block structure with the through hole constitutes the above-mentioned chamber  10 . The second rotating coupling part  66  includes two first limit plate parts  61  which are formed by extending from a side of the fixed seat body  64  and are provided at intervals, and the two first limit plate parts  61  each defines a first pin hole  611 . As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the first rotating coupling part  319  includes a coupling plate part  313  and a second pin hole (not illustrated in the figure) defined in the coupling plate part  313 . In an assembled state, the coupling plate part  313  is located between the two first limit plate parts  61 , the first pin hole  611  and the second pin hole are correspondingly arranged, and a pin shaft  314  penetrates through the first pin hole  611  and the second pin hole, thereby realizing rotating coupling between the transmission member  31  and the fixed seat  60 . 
     In other embodiments, the first rotating coupling part  319  may also be a rotating shaft provided on the transmission member  31 , and the second rotating coupling part  66  is a rotating shaft hole having an opening at one side and defined in the fixed seat  60 . The rotating shaft on the transmission member  31  can be snapped into the rotating shaft hole through the opening. Rotating coupling between the transmission member  31  and the fixed seat  60  can also be realized. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the fixed seat  60  is provided with a guide part  62 , and the power assembly  30  further includes a driving member  32  slidably fitted with the guide part  62 . The driving member  32  is coupled to the second end  312  of the transmission member  31  in the rotation direction. In some embodiments, the driving member  32  includes a driving part  329 , and the driving part  329  is slidably fitted with the guide part  62  and coupled to the second end  312  of the transmission member  31  in the rotation direction. In this way, the driving member  32  can move along the guide part  62 . In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the guide part  62  is located at the same side of the chamber  10  as the second rotating coupling part  66 . The guide part  62  includes a protruded structure extending from the fixed seat body to a side away from the chamber  10 . The cross-sectional shape of the protruded structure is I-shaped, and the protruded structure includes two second limit plate parts  621  provided at intervals, and opposite sides of the two second limit plate parts  621  are coupled by a guide bar  622 . Correspondingly, the driving part  329  defines a guide through slot  3211 . In an assembled state, part of the structure of the driving part  329  is located between two second limit plate parts  621 , and the guide bar  622  is slidably fitted in the guide through slot  3211 . Therefore, through fitting of the second limit plate part  621  and the guide bar  622  with the driving part  329 , relative movement of the driving member  32  and the fixed seat  60  can be well limited and guided, and reliability of the relative movement therebetween can be ensured. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  3   , the driving part  329  includes a guide plate part  321 , and the guide through slot  3211  is defined in the guide plate part  321 . In an assembled state, the guide plate part  321  is located between two second limit plate parts  621 , and the guide bar  622  is located in the guide through slot  3211  and can slide along the guide through slot  3211 , to realize sliding fit between the guide part  62  and the driving member  32 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the driving part  329  of the driving member  32  defines a groove  322  fitted with the second limit plate part  621 , and a groove bottom wall of the groove  322  constitutes the above-mentioned guide plate part  321 . In an assembled state, the second limit plate part  621  is located in the groove  322 , so that when the guide part  62  and the driving member  32  slide relatively, the guide bar  622  slides along the guide through slot  3211  and the second limit plate part  621  slides along the groove  322 , thereby improving their sliding smoothness. 
     In some embodiments, the driving member  32  includes a first fitting face  323  and a second fitting face  324  coupled and provided at an angle. When the transmission member  31  is at the first rotation position, the transmission member  31  is fitted with the first fitting face  323 , and when the transmission member  31  is at the second rotation position, the transmission member  31  is fitted with the second fitting face  324 . Because there is the angle between the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324 , the transmission member  31  can remain at the first rotation position or the second rotation position. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , a protruding direction of the guide part  62  is perpendicular to the extending direction of the chamber  10 , the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324  have angles with the protruding direction of the guide part  62 , and the second fitting face  324  is provided closer to the chamber  10  than the first fitting face  323 . As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the transmission member  31  has an overall bent structure, and the first end  311  of the transmission member  31  is provided with a hook part, the hook part extends into the chamber  10  through the opening  12  of the chamber  10  and is abutted against the movable blocking member  20  in the chamber  10 . For example, a face of the hook part abutting against the movable blocking member  20  is an arc face, thereby improving smoothness of relative movement between the hook part and the movable blocking member  20  when the transmission member  31  rotates. The first rotating coupling part  319  is provided at a bending position of the transmission member  31 , thereby ensuring good torque transmission between the first end  311  and the second end  312  of the transmission member  31 . For example, as still illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the coupling plate part  313  is formed by protruding from the bending position of the transmission member  31  toward the fixed seat  60 . 
     The second end  312  of the transmission member  31  is abutted against the driving member  32 . As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , when the transmission member  31  is at the first rotation position, the transmission member  31  is abutted against the first fitting face  323 . As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , when the driving member  32  moves along the guide part  62  in the direction away from the chamber  10 , the transmission member  31  slides along the first fitting face  323 , and the first fitting face  323  pushes the transmission member  31  up, so that the transmission member  31  rotates in the second rotation direction. When the transmission member  31  passes over a sharp corner position between the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324 , as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the transmission member  31  is abutted against the second fitting face  324 , so that the transmission member  31  is stabilized at the second rotation position. When the driving member  32  moves in the reverse direction along the guide part  62 , an action process of the transmission member  31  is opposite the above-mentioned process, which will not be repeated here. 
     In order to better fit with the driving member  32 , in some embodiments, the second end  312  of the transmission member  31  is provided with a transition structure fitted with the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324 . In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the transition structure includes a third fitting face  315  and a fourth fitting face  316  coupled and provided at an angle. When the transmission member  31  is at the first rotation position, the third fitting face  315  of the transmission member  31  is attached to the first fitting face  323  of the driving member  32 , and the fourth fitting face  316  of the transmission member  31  is attached to the second fitting face  324  of the driving member  32  when the transmission member  31  is at the second rotation position, thereby ensuring positional reliability of the transmission member  31  at the first rotation position and the second rotation position. 
     In other embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the second end  312  of the transmission member  31  in the rotation direction is provided with a roller  317 , and the roller  317  rolls along the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324 , so that the driving member  32  can drive the transmission member  31  to rotate. As the roller  317  is in rolling friction with the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324 , the wear resistance and service life of the damping mechanism  100  can be improved, and at the same time, the damping mechanism  100  has a good damping function. 
     Of course, it can be understood that the second end  312  of the transmission member  31  may also be coupled to the driving member  32  through a coupling structure. For example, in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the driving member  32  is coupled to the transmission member  31  through a first coupling rod  318  to drive the transmission member  31  to rotate between the first rotation position and the second rotation position. In some embodiments, one end of the first coupling rod  318  is rotatably coupled to the driving member  32 , and the other end is rotatably coupled to the second end  312  of the transmission member  31 . The transmission member  31 , the first coupling rod  318 , the driving member  32  and the guide part  62  constitute a crank-slider mechanism. As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , when the driving member  32  slides away from the chamber  10  along the guide part  62 , the driving member  32  drives the transmission member  31  to rotate in the second rotation direction through the first coupling rod  318 , so that the movable blocking member  20  compresses the damping fluid cavity  110 . On the contrary, when the driving member  32  slides along the guide part  62  in the direction close to the chamber  10 , the driving member  32  drives the transmission member  31  to rotate in the first rotation direction through the first coupling rod  318 , so that the movable blocking member  20  moves in the opposite direction under the action of the transmission member  31  or the elastic reset member  33  to expand the damping fluid cavity  110 . 
     In some embodiments, one end of the chamber  10  defines an opening  12 , and a movable blocking member  20  and a transmission member  31  are correspondingly provided. In other embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , both ends of the chamber  10  define the openings  12 , and each opening  12  is provided with a movable blocking member  20 , and each movable blocking member  20  is correspondingly provided with a transmission member  31 . Correspondingly, two second rotating coupling parts  66  are provided at intervals, and respectively fitted with the first rotating coupling parts  319  of the two transmission members  31 . The guide part  62  may be provided between the two second rotating coupling parts  66 , or at a side of one of the second rotating coupling parts  66 , or simultaneously between the two second rotating coupling parts  66  and at a side of one of the second rotating coupling parts  66 . 
     In the embodiment in which the guide part  62  is provided between the two second rotating coupling parts  66 , the driving member  32  is separately coupled to the second ends of the two transmission members  31 , so that one driving member  32  can synchronously drive the two transmission members  31 , and the structure is simpler and more compact. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the driving part  329  of the driving member  32  has a plate-like structure as a whole, the groove  322  and the guide through slot  3211  are defined in the middle of the driving part  329 , and both sides of the driving part  329  are provided with a group of combined faces of the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324 , to be respectively fitted with the transmission members  31  on both sides. 
     In one embodiment, both sides of the driving part  329  each define a guide groove, a groove bottom face of the guide groove forms the first fitting face  323  and the second fitting face  324 , and the second end of the transmission member  31  extends into the guide groove and is fitted with the groove bottom face of the guide groove. Provision of the guide groove can further improve reliability of movement between the transmission member  31  and the driving member  32 . 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure further provides a hinge  900 , as illustrated in  FIGS.  9  to  11   , the hinge  900  includes an intermediate bracket  200  and a rotating coupling component  700  rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket  200 . The rotating coupling component  700  includes the damping mechanism  100  as described in the above embodiments, and the damping mechanism  100  is configured to provide rotating damping force when the rotating coupling component  700  rotates relative to the intermediate bracket  200 , to improve a hand feeling of the hinge  900  during rotation, avoid an impact on an internal structure of the hinge  900  due to excessive stress, and prolong the service life of the hinge  900 . In some embodiments, the rotating coupling component  700  is provided at a side of the intermediate bracket  200 , while in other embodiments, both sides of the intermediate bracket  200  are provided with the rotating coupling components  700 . 
     In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  11   , the rotating coupling component  700  includes a second coupling rod  300 , the second coupling rod  300  has one end rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket  200  and the other end rotatably coupled to the fixed seat  60  of the damping mechanism  100 , and the driving member  32  of the damping mechanism  100  is rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket  200 . There is a predetermined distance between a rotation axis of the second coupling rod  300  relative to the intermediate bracket  200  and a rotation axis of the driving member  32  relative to the intermediate bracket  200 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the intermediate bracket  200 , the second coupling rod  300 , the driving member  32  and the guide part  62  on the fixed seat  60  form a crank-slider mechanism. When the second coupling rod  300  and the driving member  32  both rotate relative to the intermediate bracket  200 , because there is the predetermined distance between the rotation axis of the second coupling rod  300  relative to the intermediate bracket  200  and the rotation axis of the driving member  32  relative to the intermediate bracket  200 , and the second coupling rod  300  is rotatably coupled to the fixed seat  60 , the driving member  32  can slide along the guide part  62  on the fixed seat  60 . As mentioned above, when the driving member  32  slides along the guide part  62 , the driving member will drive the transmission member  31  to rotate to change the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 . When the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110  changes, the damping fluid can flow between the damping fluid cavity  110  and the outside through the damping fluid circulation port  11 . The damping fluid circulation port  11  can limit the flow speed of the damping fluid, thereby providing damping force for opening and closing action of the hinge  900 . 
     In one embodiment, the second coupling rod  300  includes a third rotating coupling part  310  rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket  200 , a fourth rotating coupling part  320  rotatably coupled to the fixed seat  60  of the damping mechanism  100 , and a coupling rod part  330  coupling the third rotating coupling part  310  and the fourth rotating coupling part  320 . As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , in a direction of a rotation axis of the third rotating coupling part  310 , the third rotating coupling part  310  and the fourth rotating coupling part  320  are staggered, and the third rotating coupling part  310  is closer to the chamber  10  than the fourth rotating coupling part  320 . The damping mechanism  100  has a larger size in a direction of the rotation axis of the third rotating coupling part  310 , while the fourth rotating coupling part  320  needs to be coupled to the fixed seat  60  and occupy part of space. Based on this, the third rotating coupling part  310  and the fourth rotating coupling part  320  are staggered, which can ensure a transmission torque between the third rotating coupling part  310  and the fourth rotating coupling part  320 , and can also make the overall structure of the hinge  900  more compact. In some embodiments, the coupling rod part  330  is configured to be of a bent or curved structure, thereby ensuring structural strength of the second coupling rod  300 . 
     The intermediate bracket  200  is configured to form rotating coupling with the second coupling rod  300  and the driving member  32  separately. In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  11   , the intermediate bracket  200  includes a bracket body  210  and a cover  220  snapped with each other. The bracket body  210  and the cover  220  can be fixedly coupled, for example, by snap-fit, fastener coupling, etc. They are snapped to form a sixth rotating coupling part fitted with the second coupling rod  300  and a seventh rotating coupling part fitted with the driving member  32 . 
     In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  11   , the third rotating coupling part  310  provided at one end of the second coupling rod  300  has a convex arc face and a concave arc face, and the sixth rotating coupling part includes a first cylindrical groove  221  defined in the cover  220  and configured to be fitted with the convex cylindrical face and a cylindrical protrusion (not illustrated in the figure) provided on the bracket body  210  and configured to be fitted with the concave cylindrical face. After the cover  220  is snapped with the bracket body  210 , space for rotation of the third rotating coupling part  310  is formed between the first cylindrical groove  221  and the cylindrical protrusion. Of course, in other embodiments, the third rotating coupling part  310  may also be a rotating shaft, and the sixth rotating coupling part is a rotating shaft hole fitted with the rotating shaft. 
     As still illustrated in  FIG.  11   , the driving member  32  further includes a fifth rotating coupling part  325  coupled to the driving part  329 , and the fifth rotating coupling part  325  is rotatably coupled to the intermediate bracket  200 . The fifth rotating coupling part  325  is coupled to the driving part  329  through a bending structure  326 . Provision of the bending structure  326  makes the driving part  329  offset to the outside of the intermediate bracket  200 , thereby forming more accommodation space inside the driving part  329  when the hinge  900  is folded in. For example, the accommodation space may accommodate a bending area of a foldable screen. In some embodiments, the fifth rotating coupling part  325  includes the first rotating shaft, and the seventh rotating coupling part includes second cylindrical grooves  222  defined in the cover  220  and the bracket body  210 . After the cover  220  is snapped with the bracket body  210 , space for rotation of the first rotating shaft of the driving member  32  is formed between the two second cylindrical grooves  222 . Of course, in other embodiments, the fifth rotating coupling part  325  may also have a bearing bush-like structure similar to the structure of the third rotating coupling part  310 , and the cover body  220  and the bracket body  210  may be provided with a corresponding fitting structure. 
     In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the sixth rotating coupling part includes a coupling rod coupling part  63  provided on the fixed seat  60 , the coupling rod coupling part  63  is provided side by side with the chamber  10 , and the fourth rotating coupling part  320  is rotatably coupled to the coupling rod coupling part  63 . In some embodiments, the fourth rotating coupling part  320  includes a second rotating shaft provided at the other end of the second coupling rod  300 , and a third pin hole (not illustrated in the figure) is defined in the second rotating shaft. The coupling rod coupling part  63  defines a fourth pin hole  631 , and a pin passes through the third pin hole and the fourth pin hole  631 , to realize rotating coupling between the second coupling rod  300  and the fixed seat  60 . Of course, in other embodiments, the coupling rod coupling part  63  may be provided with two stub shafts, and the second rotating shaft  320  may be snapped between the two stub shafts, so that the two stub shafts can be respectively snapped into the third pin hole. In this way, two stub shafts can be utilized to support the second rotating shaft  320 , and at the same time, rotating coupling between the second coupling rod  300  and the fixed seat  60  can be realized. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a foldable electronic device  1000 , which includes a foldable screen  800 , such as a flexible OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screen, and the hinge  900  according to the above various embodiments. The hinge  900  is utilized to realize folding of the foldable screen  800 . As the hinge  900  is provided with the damping mechanism  100 , damping force can be provided when the foldable screen  800  is switched between a folded state and an unfolded state, so that a hand feeling of the foldable electronic device  1000  during the state switching can be improved, an impact on the internal structure of the foldable electronic device  1000  caused by an excessive stress is avoided, and the service life of the foldable electronic device  1000  is prolonged. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG.  9    to  FIG.  11   , the foldable electronic device  1000  includes a first middle frame  400  and a second middle frame  500 , and the fixed seats  60  on both sides of the intermediate bracket  200  of the hinge  900  are fixedly coupled to the first middle frame  400  and the second middle frame  500  respectively. For example, the fixed seats  60  may be fixedly coupled to the first middle frame  400  and the second middle frame  500  by welding, screw coupling and the like. When the foldable electronic device  1000  is in the unfolded state, the transmission member  31  is at the first rotation position. When the foldable electronic device  1000  is changed from the unfolded state to the folded state, the first middle frame  400  and the second middle frame  500  respectively drive the fixed seats  60  on both sides to rotate relatively, so that the driving member  32  slides relative to the guide part  62  on the fixed seat  60 , thereby driving the transmission member  31  to rotate to the second rotation position. The movable blocking member  20  in contact with the transmission member  31  will compress the damping fluid cavity  110 , and the volume change of the damping fluid cavity  110  will provide damping force to rotation of the first middle frame  400  and the second middle frame  500 , to improve the hand feeling of the foldable electronic device  1000  during folding. 
     On the contrary, when the foldable electronic device  1000  is unfolded, the first middle frame  400  and the second middle frame  500  respectively drive the fixed seats  60  on both sides to rotate in opposite directions, so that the driving member  32  slides reversely relative to the guide part  62  on the fixed seat  60 , thereby driving the transmission member  31  to rotate to the first rotation position. The movable blocking member  20  can move reversely under the action of the transmission member  31  or the elastic reset member  33  to expand the volume of the damping fluid cavity  110 , and the volume change of the damping fluid cavity  110  will provide damping force to rotation of the first middle frame  400  and the second middle frame  500 , to improve the hand feeling of the foldable electronic device  1000  during unfolding. In addition, the damping force provided by the damping mechanism  100  can also prevent the impact on the internal structure of the foldable electronic device  1000  caused by the excessive stress when the state changes, thereby prolonging the service life of the foldable electronic device  1000 . 
     In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device  1000  may be a mobile phone, an electronic book and other electronic devices, which is not limited by the present disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, the first middle frame  400  defines a first mounting groove  410 , the second middle frame  500  defines a second mounting groove  510 , and the fixed seats  60  of the rotating coupling components  700  on both sides are respectively provided in the first mounting groove  410  and the second mounting groove  510 . By providing the first mounting groove  410  and the second mounting groove  510 , the fixed seats  60  are offset to the outside of the intermediate bracket  200 , so that more accommodation space can be formed inside the fixed seats  60  when the hinge  900  is folded in, and the accommodation space can accommodate the folding area of the foldable screen  800 . 
     One hinge  900  or a plurality of hinges  900  may be provided on the foldable electronic device  1000 . In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device  1000  has an up-down foldable structure, and the foldable electronic device  1000  includes one hinge  900 . In other embodiments, the foldable electronic device  1000  has a left-right foldable structure, and the foldable electronic device  1000  includes a plurality of hinges  900  provided side by side. 
     The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure may have the following beneficial effects: the damping fluid cavity is formed by enclosure of the movable blocking member and the chamber, and at least one of the chamber and the movable blocking member defines the damping fluid circulation port in communication with the damping fluid cavity. When the power assembly drives the movable blocking member to move to change the volume of the damping fluid cavity, the damping fluid can flow between the damping fluid cavity and the outside through the damping fluid circulation port. The damping fluid circulation port can limit the flow speed of the damping fluid, thereby providing damping force to the movement of the power assembly, so that the power assembly can move smoothly. When the damping mechanism is applied to the hinge of the foldable electronic device, the mechanism can provide damping force when the foldable electronic device is switched in form, effectively improve the hand feeling, and meanwhile can avoid an impact on the structure of the foldable electronic device caused by an excessive stress during form switching, thereby prolonging the service life of the hinge and the foldable electronic device. 
     Those skilled in the art will easily conceive other embodiments of the present invention after considering the specification and practicing the present invention disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the present invention, which follow the general principles of the present invention and include common knowledge or conventional technical means in the technical field that are not disclosed in the present disclosure. The description and embodiments are only deemed to be illustrative. The true scope and spirit of the present invention are indicated by the following claims. 
     It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and illustrated in the drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.