Patent Publication Number: US-2023145073-A1

Title: Foldable Electronic Device

Description:
This application claims priority to China National Intellectual Property Administration No. 202010142492.3, filed with China National Intellectual Property Administration on Mar. 4, 2020 and entitled “FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates to the field of terminal technologies, and in particular, to a foldable electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As mobile devices such as mobile phones constantly develop, users have an increasingly strong demand for large-screen mobile phones. However, the large-screen mobile phones obviously are inconvenient to carry. Therefore, a foldable screen mobile phone with a screen that can be extended and deformed becomes main trends for improving carrying convenience. To meet differentiated requirements of different users, various foldable mobile phones with an inward folding screen or an outward folding screen emerge. 
     Currently, after the foldable mobile phone with an inward folding screen is folded, two display areas face each other. In an unfolding process, one end of each of the two display areas rotates around the other end to open. However, during use, if a user needs to view shortcut information, for example, time and a battery level, the user needs to unfold the foldable mobile phone to view the shortcut information. This is inconvenient for the user to view the shortcut information and affects user experience, and a service life of the foldable mobile phone is affected dues to multiple times of folding. 
     SUMMARY 
     This application provides a foldable electronic device, to help a user conveniently view information, reduce a quantity of folding times, and resolve a problem that it is inconvenient to view information on an existing foldable mobile phone with an inward folding screen and that a service life is affected due to multiple times of folding. 
     This application provides a foldable electronic device including a foldable display screen. The foldable display screen includes a first display area, a second display area, a third display area, and a fourth display area. 
     The fourth display area is located between the second display area and the third display area, and the second display area faces away from the third display area. 
     When the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the first display area faces the second display area. 
     The rear side of the second display area includes a first area and a second area. 
     The foldable electronic device further includes at least one camera, and the at least one camera is disposed in the first area. 
     The third display area is fixedly disposed in the second area. 
     A button is further disposed in the fourth display area. 
     In the foldable electronic device provided in this embodiment of this application, the fourth display area is located between the second display area and the third display area, the second display area faces away from the third display area. When the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the first display area faces the second display area. In this way, when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, shortcut information may be displayed and interaction may be performed by using the fourth display area and the third display area, so that a user does not need to view information and perform interaction after unfolding the foldable electronic device, and a quantity of folding times of the foldable device are reduced. Therefore, the foldable electronic device provided in this embodiment of this application enables the user to conveniently view information when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, increases a service life of the foldable electronic device, ensures that an interaction operation can be implemented when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, and more items can be operated by the user when the mobile phone is in a folded state. This can resolve a problem that shortcut information cannot be conveniently viewed on an existing foldable mobile phone in a folded state and a service life of the foldable mobile phone is affected due to excessive folding times for viewing shortcut information. 
     In a possible implementation, the fourth display area is located on a first side edge of the foldable electronic device. In this way, the first side edge of the foldable electronic device may perform displaying by using the fourth display area, to allow more areas to perform displaying when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state. 
     In a possible implementation, the foldable display screen further includes a fifth display area, and the fifth display area is located between the first display area and the second display area. 
     In a possible implementation, the button is a virtual button. 
     In a possible implementation, the virtual button is configured as a volume button. 
     In a possible implementation, an indicator is disposed in the fourth display area. 
     In a possible implementation, the virtual button includes at least one of the following: 
     a dial button, a camera button, or a payment button. 
     In a possible implementation, the fourth display area displays first indication information, and the first indication information indicates a battery level of the electronic device. 
     In a possible implementation, the foldable electronic device further includes a distance sensor and/or an ambient optical sensor, and the distance sensor and/or the ambient optical sensor are/is disposed in the first area. 
     In a possible implementation, the foldable electronic device further includes a first structural part, a second structural part, and a first hinge. The first structural part supports the first display area of the foldable display screen. 
     The second structural part supports the second display area of the foldable display screen. 
     The first structural part and the second structural part rotate relative to the first hinge, so that when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the first display area faces the second display area. 
     In a possible implementation, the fifth display area is located at the first hinge. 
     In a possible implementation, the foldable display screen further includes a sixth display area and a seventh display area. 
     The seventh display area is located between the sixth display area and the first display area. 
     The sixth display area is fixedly disposed on the rear side of the first display area, or when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the sixth display area faces away from the first display area. In this way, when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the sixth display area, the seventh display area, the third display area, and the fourth display area all can display shortcut information, so that a user can view shortcut information more conveniently. 
     In a possible implementation, the seventh display area is located on a second side edge of the foldable electronic device. When the foldable electronic device is in an unfolded state, the first side edge faces the second side edge. 
     In a possible implementation, the foldable electronic device further includes a third structural part and a second hinge. The third structural part is rotationally connected to the first structural part by using the second hinge. 
     The seventh display area is located on the second hinge. 
     The third structural part supports the sixth display area. 
     In a possible implementation, an orthographic projection area that is on the rear side of the first display area and that is of the sixth display area partially or completely covers the rear side of the first display area. 
     In a possible implementation, the foldable electronic device further includes a rear cover, at least a part of an area of the rear cover is located in the first area, and an outer surface of the rear cover located in the first area is aligned with a display surface of the third display area. In this way, there is no height difference between the third display area and the part that is of the rear cover and that is located in the first area, and the third display area of the foldable electronic device and the part that is of the rear cover and that is located in the first area form a smooth outer surface. 
     In a possible implementation, an end surface of an end that is of the camera and that faces an object side protrudes from an outer surface of the rear cover located in the first area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a structure of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram of a structure of an unfolded foldable display screen in a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a structure of a foldable electronic device folded by a specific angle according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a structure of a foldable electronic device in another direction when the foldable electronic device is folded according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded view of a structure of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of a fourth display area in a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  8    is another schematic diagram of a fourth display area in a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  9    is still another schematic diagram of a fourth display area in a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  10    is yet another schematic diagram of a fourth display area in a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic diagram of a display structure of a foldable electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic diagram of a structure of a rear side of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  13    is a schematic diagram of a first display area and a second display area when a foldable electronic device is in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  14    is another schematic display diagram of a first display area and a second display area when a foldable electronic device is in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  15    is an exploded view of a structure of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a foldable electronic device in  FIG.  15    in a folded state; 
         FIG.  17    is an exploded view of a structure of a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a foldable electronic device in FIG.  17  in a folded state; 
         FIG.  19    is a schematic diagram of a structure of an unfolded foldable display screen in a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  20    is a perspective view of a structure of a rear side of a foldable electronic device when the foldable electronic device is folded by a specific angle according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  21    is a schematic diagram of a structure of a rear side of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  22    is a perspective view of a structure of a rear side of a foldable electronic device when the foldable electronic device is folded by a specific angle according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  23    is a perspective view of a structure of a foldable electronic device in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  24    is a schematic diagram of a structure of an unfolded foldable display screen in a foldable electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective view of a structure of a rear side of a foldable electronic device when the foldable electronic device is folded by a specific angle according to an embodiment of this application; and 
         FIG.  26    is a perspective view of a structure obtained when a sixth display area of a foldable electronic device is folded to a rear side of a first display area according to an embodiment of this application. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10 —Foldable display screen;  11 —first display area;  12 —second display area;  121 —rear side;  121   a —first area;  121   b —second area;  13 —third display area;  14 —fourth display area;  15 —fifth display area;  16 —sixth display area;  17 —seventh display area;  21 —first structural part;  211 —first middle plate;  212 —second side edge of the first structural part;  213 —first bottom edge;  214 —first top edge;  22 —second structural part;  221 —second middle plate;  222 —first side edge of the second structural part;  223 —second bottom edge;  224 —second top edge;  225 —second side edge of the second structural part;  23 —third structural part;  31 —first hinge;  32 —second hinge;  40 —rear cover;  41 —first rear cover;  42 —second rear cover;  43 —third rear cover;  51 —camera;  52 —sensor;  53 —mounting plate;  60 —circuit board;  71 —first battery;  72 —second battery;  80 —supporting steel sheet. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Terms used in implementations of this application are merely used to explain specific embodiments of this application, but are not intended to limit this application. The following describes implementations of embodiments of this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     A foldable electronic device provided in embodiments of this application may include but is not limited to a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, an ultra-mobile personal computer (ultra-mobile personal computer, UMPC), a handheld computer, a handheld transceiver, a netbook, a POS terminal, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a dashboard camera, a security protection device, or another foldable mobile terminal or fixed terminal. 
     In embodiments of this application, an example in which a mobile phone is the foregoing foldable electronic device is used for description, and the mobile phone is a foldable mobile phone with an inward folding screen and an additional external screen. 
     In an existing foldable mobile phone with an inward folding screen, when the foldable mobile phone is folded, two display areas face each other. When a user needs to view shortcut information, the user needs to unfold the foldable mobile phone for viewing, which is inconvenient for the user to view the shortcut information. In addition, the foldable mobile phone needs to be unfolded each time of viewing, and consequently a service life of the foldable mobile phone is affected due to multiple times of folding. 
     In embodiments of this application, a third display area and a fourth display area are added to the foldable display screen. When the foldable mobile phone is in a folded state, the third display area and the fourth display area are exposed to the outside. In this way, the third display area and the fourth display area can display shortcut information, so that a user may view the shortcut information without unfolding the foldable mobile phone. This can reduce a quantity of folding times of the foldable mobile phone, and avoid a problem of inconvenience in viewing and excessive folding times that are caused when the user unfolds the mobile phone to view the short cut information. 
     A structure of the foldable mobile phone provided in embodiments of this application is described in detail by using the following scenarios. 
     Scenario 1 
       FIG.  1    shows a structure of a foldable mobile phone in an unfolded state, and  FIG.  2    is a schematic plan view of a structure of an unfolded foldable display screen. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the foldable mobile phone may include a foldable display screen  10 . The foldable display screen  10  may be an organic light-emitting diode (Organic Light-Emitting Diode, OLED) display screen, or may be another bendable flexible display screen. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the foldable display screen  10  may include a first display area  11 , a second display area  12 , a third display area  13 , and a fourth display area  14 . The fourth display area  14  is located between the second display area  12  and the third display area  13 , and the second display area  12  and the third display area  13  face away from each other. For example, as shown in  FIG.  1   , when the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded state, the second display area  12  and the third display area  13  face away from each other. As shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , when the foldable mobile phone is folded and the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  are at a specific angle (for example, the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  are at 30°, the second display area  12  and the third display area  13  still face away from each other. Therefore, in this embodiment of this application, when the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded state or a folded state, a relative position of the third display area  13  to the second display area  12  is fixed, and the third display area  13  may be fixedly disposed on a rear side of the second display area  12  and located in a second area  121   b  on the rear side of the second display area  12  (refer to  FIG.  6    below). The third display area  13  and the second display area  12  may be fixedly disposed and cannot rotate relative to each other. 
     In a possible implementation, as shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the foldable display screen may further include a fifth display area  15 , and the fifth display area  15  is located between the first display area  11  and the second display area  12 . A center axis of the fifth display area  15  coincides with a center axis of the foldable electronic device. As shown in  FIG.  1   , when the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded state, the fifth display area  15  is in a same plane with the first display area  11  and the second display area  12 . When the foldable mobile phone is folded, the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  may be folded around the center axis of the fifth display area  15 . 
     It should be noted that, the second display area  12  facing away from the third display area  13  means that a display surface of the second display area  12  faces away from a display surface of the third display area  13 . For example, the display surface of the second display area  12  faces away from the display surface of the third display area  13 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, as shown in  FIG.  5   , when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the first display area  11  faces the second display area  12 . For example, a display surface of the first display area  11  faces a display surface of the second display area  12 . In other words, the display surface of the first display area  11  faces the display surface of the second display area  12 . In this way, when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the first display area  11  faces the second display area  12 , the third display area  13  and the fourth display area  14  are exposed to the outside (refer to  FIG.  4   ), and the third display area  13  and the fourth display area  14  may display shortcut information, so that a user can still view the shortcut information when the mobile phone is not unfolded. This can reduce a quantity of folding times of the foldable electronic device. 
     In this embodiment of this application, the foldable electronic device being in an unfolded state may be a state of the foldable electronic device when the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  are at 180° as shown in  FIG.  1   . The folded state of the foldable electronic device may be a state of the foldable electronic device when the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  are at 0° as shown in  FIG.  5   . When an angle between the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  in the foldable electronic device is greater than 0 and less than 180°, for example, when the angle between the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  is 90° or 135°, the foldable electronic device may be in a semi-unfolded state or a semi-folded state. 
     In this embodiment of this application, as shown  FIG.  6   , a rear side  121  of the second display area  12  may include a first area  121   a  and a second area  121   b.  For example, the rear side  121  of the second display area  12  is divided into two areas by using a dashed line L in  FIG.  6   , and one of the two areas is the first area  121   a,  and the other is the second area  121   b.  The first area  121   a  and the second area  121   b  may be two long-strip-shaped structures arranged in parallel. In this embodiment, heights of the first area  121   a  and the second area  121   b  may be the same, and widths of the first area  121   a  and the second area  121   b  may be adjusted based on a width b of the third display area  13 . 
     When the third display area  13  faces away from the second display area  12 , the third display area  13  may be located in the second area  121   b  on the rear side of the second display area  12 . In other words, in this embodiment of this application, when the third display area  13  is located in the rear side of the second display area  12 , the third display area  13  partially covers the rear side of the second display area  12 . Certainly in some other examples, the third display area  13  may also completely cover the rear side of the second display area  12 . In other words, the third display area  13  may be located in the first area  1121   a  and the second area  121   b.  In this way, the third display area  13  may be provided with a hole. The camera  51  may be located at a position of the hole in the third display area  13 , and the third display area  13  is used as a hole-punch display. 
     It should be noted that, in this embodiment of this application, a fourth display area  14  exists between the third display area  13  and the second display area  12 , so that when the third display area  13  and the second display area  12  are disposed facing away from each other, the fourth display area  14  allows a specific spacing between the third display area  13  and the second area  121   b  of the second display area  12 . Therefore, the third display area  13  being located in the second area  121   b  does not indicate that the third display area  13  is disposed on the second area  121   b.  Instead, when the third display area  13  is disposed on the rear side of the second display area  12 , an orthographic projection area that is of the third display area  13  and that is on the rear side of the second display area  12  is located in the second area  121   b.  For example, the orthographic projection area that is of the third display area  13  and that is on the rear side of the second display area  12  completely covers the second area  121 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, the foldable electronic device further includes at least one camera  51 . For example, there are three cameras  51  as shown in  FIG.  6   . Certainly, in some other examples, at least four cameras may be disposed to implement a four-camera function. In this embodiment of this application, the at least one camera  51  is located in the first area  121   a.  In this way, as shown in  FIG.  5   , the camera  51  is located in the first area  121   a  on the rear side of the second display area  12 , and the third display area  13  is located in the second area  121   b  of the second display area  12 . It should be noted that, the camera  51  being located in the first area  121   a  is specifically that an orthographic projection that is of the camera  51  and that is on the rear side of the second display area  12  is located in the first area  121   a,  and a lens end of the camera  51  faces away from the display surface of the second display area  12 . In this embodiment of this application, the camera  51  may be used as a front-facing camera for taking a selfie when the mobile phone is in a folded state, or the camera  51  may be used as a rear-facing camera for photographing when the mobile phone is unfolded. 
     In this embodiment of this application, the foldable electronic device further includes at least one sensor  52 . The sensor  52  may be a distance sensor configured to detect a distance during photographing. Alternatively, the sensor  52  may be an ambient optical sensor configured to detect ambient light, to increase or decrease an exposure value during photographing.  FIG.  6    shows one sensor  52 . In another example, a quantity of the sensors  52  includes but is not limited to one, or may be two. For example, the foldable electronic device includes a distance sensor and an ambient optical sensor. The at least one sensor may be located in the first area  121   a  and disposed close to the camera  51 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, to support the foldable display screen  10 , as shown in  FIG.  6   , the foldable electronic device may further include a first structural part  21 , a second structural part  22 , and a first hinge  31 . The first structural part  21  and the second structural part  22  rotate relative to the first hinge  31 . For example, one end of the first structural part  21  is rotationally connected to one end of the second structural part  22  by using the first hinge  31 , and the other end of the first structural part  21  and the other end of the second structural part  22  may rotate around the first hinge  31 . The first structural part  21  may support the first display area  11  of the foldable display screen, the second structural part  22  may support the second display area  12  of the foldable display screen, and the first hinge  31  may support the fifth display area  15  of the foldable display screen (refer to  FIG.  1   ). In this way, when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, the first display area  11  faces the second display area  12 , and the fifth display area  15  bends at the first hinge  31 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, the second display area  12  is located on one side of the second structural part  22 , and the third display area  13  is located on the other side of the second structural part  22 . For example, an inner side of the second structural part  22  is configured to support the second display area  12 , an outer side of the second structural part  22  is configured to support the third display area  13 , and a side edge of the second structural part  22  is configured to support the fourth display area  14 . 
     Refer to  FIG.  6   . The first structural part  21  may include a first middle plate  211  and a frame disposed around an outer edge of the first middle plate  211 . The frame may include a second side edge  212 , a first top edge  214 , a first bottom edge  213 , and a first side edge (not shown). The second structural part  22  may include a second middle plate  221  and a frame disposed around an outer edge of the second middle plate  221 . The frame may include a first side edge  222 , a second top edge  224 , a second bottom edge  223 , and a second side edge  225 . The first hinge  31  may be separately connected to the second side edge  225  of the second structural part  22  and the first side edge of the first structural part  21 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, each frame is fastened to the first middle plate  211  and the second middle plate  221  through injection and molding. The first middle plate  211  and the second middle plate  221  may be aluminum plates, aluminum alloys, or magnesium alloys. Each frame may be a metal frame, a glass frame, or a ceramic frame. 
     In a possible implementation, the first side edge of the foldable electronic device may be the first side edge  222  of the second structural part  22 . Refer to  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  6   . The fourth display area  14  may be located on the first side edge  222  of the second structural part  22 . In this way, the first side edge  222  of the second structural part  22  is covered by the fourth display area  14 , to perform displaying on the first side edge  222  of the second structural part  22 , so that no black edge exists on the second side edge  222  of the second structural part  22  in the third display area  13 , and a black edge area in the third display area  13  of the foldable electronic device is reduced, thereby ensuring that the foldable electronic device has a larger display area when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state. In this way, when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, an exposed display area includes but is not limited to displaying shortcut information, and interaction, for example, WeChat chatting or web page browsing, may be further implemented in the display area. In addition, when the fourth display area  14  is located on the first side edge  222 , no black edge (refer to  FIG.  1   ) exists on the first side edge  222  in the second display area  12 , so that a display area of the second display area  12  is larger. In this way, after the foldable electronic device is unfolded, a screen-to-body ratio of a display screen including the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  is larger. 
     In a possible implementation, as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  6   , the foldable mobile phone may further include a rear cover  40 . The rear cover  40  may include a first rear cover  41  and a second rear cover  42 , and the first rear cover  41  and the second rear cover  42  may be independent rear covers shown in  FIG.  6   . Certainly, in some other examples, the first rear cover  41  and the second rear cover  42  may be an integrated structure. The second rear cover  42  and the first display area may be respectively located on two sides of the first structural part  21 , and the first rear cover  41  and the third display area  13  are located on a same side of the second structural part  22 . In this embodiment, the first rear cover  41  may be located in the first area  121   a  on the rear side of the second display area  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the at least one camera  51  and the sensor  52  may be located in the first rear cover  41 . The first rear cover  41  may be provided with an assembly hole (not shown) for assembling the at least one camera  51  and the sensor  52 . An end face of an end that faces an object side and that is of the at least one camera  51  and an end face of an end of the sensor  52  may protrude outwards from the assembly hole, so that the end face of the end that faces the object side and that is of the at least one camera  51  and the end face of the end of the sensor  52  are not in a same plane as an outer surface of the first rear cover  41 . Alternatively, an end face of an end that faces an object side and that is of the at least one camera  51  and an end face of an end of the sensor  52  extend into the assembly hole and are aligned with an outer surface of the first rear cover  41 . It should be noted that the end face of the end that faces the object side and that is of the camera  51  is specifically an exposed end face of the camera  51  in the first rear cover  41  in  FIG.  5   , and the end face of the end of the sensor  52  is an exposed end face of the sensor  52  in the first rear cover  41  in  FIG.  5   . 
     It should be noted that the camera  51  and the sensor  52  may be separately disposed in the first rear cover  41 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG.  5   , the camera  51  and the sensor  52  may be assembled on the mounting plate  53  to form an integrated structure, and the integrated structure is mounted in the first rear cover  41 . In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  5   , an end face of the mounting plate  53  on the outer surface of the first rear cover  41  is higher than the outer surface of the first rear cover  41 . Alternatively, as shown in the following  FIG.  7   , the mounting plate  53  protrudes on the outer surface of the first rear cover  41 . Certainly, an outward-facing end face of the mounting plate  53  may also be aligned with the outer surface of the first rear cover  41 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, the first rear cover  41  and the second rear cover  42  may be metal, glass, plastic, or ceramic rear covers. 
     In a possible implementation, the first rear cover  41  and the third display area  13  are located on a same side of the second structural part  22 , the third display area  13  is located in the second area  121   b  on the rear side of the second display area  12 , and the first rear cover  41  is located in the first area  121   a  on the rear side of the second display area  12 . The outer surface of the first rear cover  41  is aligned with the display surface of the third display area  13 . For example, the display surface of the third display area  13  and the outer surface of the first rear cover  41  (that is, a surface facing away from the display surface of the second display area  12 ) are on a same plane (refer to  FIG.  7    below). In this way, when the foldable mobile phone is in a folded state, no mismatch exists between the outer surface of the first rear cover  41  and the display surface of the third display area  13 , and smooth transition occurs at a joint between the outer surface of the first rear cover  41  and the third display area  13 , so that an appearance of an outer surface formed by the first rear cover  41  and the third display area is smoother, and display effect is not affected. Certainly, in some other examples, the outer surface of the first rear cover  41  is closer to the second display area  12  than to the display surface of the third display area  13 . For example, there is a height difference between the outer surface of the first rear cover  41  and the display surface of the third display area  13 . The outer surface of the first rear cover  41  may be lower than the display surface of the third display area  13 , and the end face of the end that faces the object side and that is of the camera  51  and/or the end face of the end of the sensor  52  may be aligned with the display surface of the third display area  13 . 
     In a possible implementation, as shown in  FIG.  6   , the foldable mobile phone may further include a circuit board  60 , a first battery  71 , and a second battery  72 . The circuit board  60  and the first battery  71  may be located on a surface that is of the second middle plate  221  of the second structural part  22  and that faces the third display area  13 . The second battery  72  may be located on a surface that is of the first middle plate  211  of the first structural part  21  and that faces the second rear cover  42 . Certainly, in some other examples, a quantity of the circuit boards  60  may include but is not limited to one. For example, two circuit boards  60  may be included, one circuit board  60  is located on the second middle plate  221  of the second structural part  22  and the other circuit board  60  is located on the first middle plate  211  of the first structural part  21 . 
     In this embodiment, the first battery  71  and the second battery  72  may be connected to the circuit board  60  by using a power supply management module and a charging management module. The power supply management module receives input of the first battery  71 , the second battery  72 , and/or the charging management module, and supplies power to a processor, an internal memory, an external memory, the foldable display screen  10 , a camera module, a communications module, and the like. The power management module may be further configured to monitor parameters such as capacities of the first battery  71  and the second battery  72 , cycles of the first battery  71  and the second battery  72 , and health statuses (leakage and impedance) of the first battery  71  and the second battery  72 . In some other embodiments, the power supply management module may alternatively be disposed in a processor of the circuit board  60 . In some other embodiments, the power supply management module and the charging management module may alternatively be disposed in a same component. 
     In a possible implementation, the foldable mobile phone further includes a supporting steel sheet  80 , and the supporting steel sheet  80  is configured to support the foldable display screen  10 .  FIG.  6    shows one supporting steel sheet  80 . The supporting steel sheet  80  is configured to support the third display area  13  of the foldable display screen  10 . In some other examples, the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  are disposed to support the foldable display screen  10 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the supporting steel sheet  80  is located on the circuit board  60  and the first battery  71 , the third display area  13  is located on the supporting steel sheet  80 , and the circuit board  60  and the first battery  71  are disposed on the surface that is of the second middle plate  221  of the second structural part  22  and that faces the third display area  13 . The circuit board  60  and the first battery  71  are disposed in parallel on the second middle plate  221 . A part of the second middle plate  221 , the circuit board  60 , the first battery  71 , and the supporting steel sheet  80  may be disposed between the third display area  13  and the second area  121   b  that is on the rear side of the second display area  12 . An orthographic projection that is of the circuit board  60  and that is on the rear side of the second display area  12  may be located in the second area  121   b,  may be located in the first area  121   a,  or may be located in the first area  121   a  and the second area  121   b.  An orthographic projection that is of the first battery  71  and that is on the rear side of the second display area  12  may be located in the second area  121   b,  may be located in the first area  121   a,  or may be located in the first area  121   a  and the second area  121   b.  Disposing positions of the first battery  71  and the circuit board  60  are specifically adjusted based on an actual requirement, and this is not limited in this embodiment of this application. Certainly, in some other examples, the first middle plate  211  and the second middle plate  221  may respectively support the first display area  11  and the second display area  12 , so that the supporting steel sheet  80  is not disposed on a rear side of the first display area  11  and the rear side of the second display area  12 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, as shown in  FIG.  7   , a button is further disposed in the fourth display area  14 . The button may be a virtual button. For example, the button may be a virtual touch button, and the virtual button is displayed in the fourth display area  14 . The virtual button shown in  FIG.  7    may be configured as a volume button  141 . For example, at least one volume button  141  may be displayed in the fourth display area  14 .  FIG.  7    shows two volume buttons  141 , one volume touch button  111  is configured to increase volume, and the other volume touch button  141  is configured to decrease the volume. For example, one of the volume touch buttons  141  may be pressed and held to increase the volume, and the other volume touch button  141  may be pressed and held to decrease the volume. Certainly, in some other examples, one volume button  141  may be disposed. For example, sliding up the volume button  141  is to increase volume, and sliding down the volume button  141  is to decrease the volume. 
     In another possible implementation, as shown in  FIG.  8   , at least one virtual shortcut button is disposed in the fourth display area  14 , for example, a shortcut button  142   a,  a shortcut button  142   b,  and a shortcut button  142   c.  The plurality of shortcut buttons may include at least one of a dial button, a camera button, or a payment button. Certainly, the shortcut button includes but is not limited to a dial button, a camera button, or a payment button. 
     In another possible implementation, at least one indicator may be further disposed in the fourth display area  14 . As shown in  FIG.  9   , the fourth display area  14  has multiple display indicators of different colors, for example, a display indicator  143   a,  a display indicator  143   b,  a display indicator  143   c,  a display indicator  143   d,  a display indicator  143   e,  and a display indicator  143   f.  When the display indicators are turned on, ring flashing effect is formed, so that the mobile phone is cooler. The multiple display indicators of different colors may be red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple display indicators, to form a rainbow color. Alternatively, in this embodiment, each display indicator may display multiple colors, and multiple display indicators perform ring-flashing in a rainbow color after being lit. 
     In another possible implementation, the fourth display area  14  displays first indication information, the first indication information indicates a battery level of the electronic device. The first indication information may be a battery level display box  144  shown in  FIG.  10   . The battery level display box  144  may display the battery level and display a charging status in a charging process. In some other examples, the first indication information may alternatively be a digital identifier. For example, when a battery level is 30%, the first indication information is displayed as 30%. Alternatively, the first indication information may include a battery level display box  144  and a digital identifier. For example, the digital identifier is displayed on the battery level display box  144 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, when the foldable mobile phone is used, the fourth display area  14  may display a battery level, time, a virtual button, and the like, and the third display area  13  may implement an interaction function. For example, as shown in  FIG.  11   , when the foldable electronic device is in a folded state, WeChat voice chatting or video chatting may be performed in the third display area  13 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG.  12   , when the foldable electronic device is in an unfolded state, WeChat chatting may be performed in the third display area  13 , in this embodiment, through interaction in the third display area  13  a user can perform interaction only after unfolding the foldable mobile phone. 
     When the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded state, as shown in  FIG.  13   , a photo may be simultaneously displayed in the second display area  12 , the first display area  11 , and the fifth display area  15 . Alternatively, when the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded stale, as shown in  FIG.  14   , an application icon is displayed in the second display area  12 . When a finger of a user touches an icon, for example, a clock icon in  FIG.  14   , an image after touching is displayed in the first display area  11 . The second display area  12  and the first display area  11  may display different content. In this way, for example, the user may chat in the second display area  12  by using WeChat, watch a video in the first display area  11 . The user may simultaneously select two different operations. 
     In a possible implementation, as shown in  FIG.  15   , the rear cover  40  may be a bendable rear cover. For example, the rear cover  40  is a flexible cover. In this way, the rear cover  40  may be an integrated plate, and the first rear cover  41  and the second rear cover  41  may be an integrated structure. The rear cover  40  may include three parts. A first part of the rear cover  40  is located in the first area  121   a  on the rear side of the second display area  12 , and is aligned with the display surface of the third display area  13 . Alternatively, in another example, an outer surface that is of the rear cover  40  and that is located in the first area  121   a  is closer to the second display area  12  than to the display surface of the third display area  13 . For example, the outer surface that is of the rear cover  40  and that is located in the first area  121   a  is lower than the display surface of the third display area  13 . The end face of the end that faces the object side and that is of the camera  51  and/or the end face of the end of the sensor  51  may be aligned with the display surface of the third display area  13 . A second part of the rear cover  40  is located at the first hinge  31 . The second part of the rear cover  40  and the fifth display area  15  are respectively located on two sides of the first hinge. A third part of the rear cover  40  is located on an outer side of the first structural part  21  and faces away from the first display area  11 . When the foldable mobile phone is in a folded state, as shown in  FIG.  16   , the rear cover  40  bends at the first hinge  31 . The first structural part  21  and the second structural part  22  are connected to the rear cover  40 . 
     In a possible implementation, in this embodiment of this application, as shown in FIG.  17 , the first middle plate  211  of the first structural part  21  may replace the second rear cover  42 . For example, the first middle plate  211  and each edge that are of the first structural part  21  form a rear cover with a frame, in other words, the first structural part  21  may be a rear cover. In this way, the second rear cover  42  may be omitted, and only the first rear cover  41  is disposed. For example, the rear cover  40  only includes the first rear cover  41 , so that the entire rear cover  40  (that is, the first rear cover  41 ) is located in the first area  121   a  on the rear side of the second display area  12 . As shown in  FIG.  17   , the first middle plate  211  of the first structural part  21  and each edge form a cavity, and the second battery  72  may be located in the cavity. As shown in  FIG.  18   , the second battery  72  is located between the first display area  11  and the first middle plate  211 , and the second battery  72  is located between the first display area  11  and the second middle plate  221 . 
     Scenario 2 
     In this scenario, as shown in  FIG.  19   , the foldable display screen may further include a sixth display area  16  and a seventh display area  17 . The seventh display area  17  is located between the sixth display area  16  and the first display area  11 . Refer to  FIG.  20   . The sixth display area  16  is fixedly disposed on the rear side of the first display area  11 . For example, when the foldable mobile phone is in a semi-folded state (as shown in  FIG.  20   ) or an unfolded state (as shown in  FIG.  21   ), the sixth display area  16  keeps facing away from the first display area  11 , and a relative position of the sixth display area  16  to the first display area  11  is fixed. 
     In this embodiment of this application, when the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded state, the sixth display area  16  and the third display area  13  may be located on a same side and in a same plane. When the foldable mobile phone is in a folded state, the sixth display area  16  and the third display area  13  face away from each other. For example, a display surface of the sixth display area  16  faces away from a display surface of the third display area  13 . In this way, after the mobile phone in a folded stale is placed, a user can view shortcut information or perform interaction by using either the sixth display area  16  or the third display area  13 . This avoids a case in which when the user places the mobile phone in a folded state with the third display area  13  facing away from the user, the user needs to turn over the mobile phone to view the shortcut information in the third display area  13  or perform interaction. 
     In this embodiment of this application, when the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded state, as shown in  FIG.  21   , the sixth display area  16  and the third display area  13  may display different content. For example, a shortcut icon may be displayed in the sixth display area  16 , and WeChat chatting or other interaction may be performed in the third display area  13 . 
     In this embodiment of this application, as shown in  FIG.  20   , an orthographic projection that is of the sixth display area  16  and that is on the rear side of the first display area  11  may partially cover the rear side of the first display area  11 . For example, the rear side of the first display area  11  may include two areas. The sixth display area  16  is located in one of the two areas, and the second rear cover is located in the other area. A display surface of the sixth display area  16  is aligned with an outer surface of the second rear cover, to ensure that no mismatch exists between the sixth display area  16  and the second rear cover, and the sixth display area  16  and the second rear cover form a smooth outer surface. 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG.  22   , an orthographic projection that is of the sixth display area  16  and that is on the rear side of the first display area  11  may completely cover the rear side of the first display area  11 . For example, a display area of the sixth display area  16  may be the same as the display surface of the first display area  11 . In this way, when a user uses the foldable mobile phone, and the mobile phone is in a folded state, a display surface of the sixth display area  16  is larger. Therefore, the sixth display area  16  can satisfy most interactions and functions. When the user needs to watch a video or play a game on a large screen, the user may unfold the foldable mobile phone. 
     In this embodiment of this application, a second side edge of the foldable electronic device may be the second side edge  212  of the first structural part  21 . Therefore, the seventh display area  17  may be located on the second side edge  212  of the first structural part  21  (refer to  FIG.  17   ). In this way, the seventh display area  17  and the fourth display area  14  are respectively located on two sides of the foldable mobile phone, so that both the two sides of the foldable mobile phone can perform display, no black edge exists on the first side edge  222  in the first display area  11  and on the second side edge  212  in the second display area  12 , and a screen-to-body ratio is larger when the mobile phone is in an unfolded state. In addition, no black edge exists on the first side edge  222  in the third display area  13  and on the second side edge  212  in the sixth display area  16 , so that display surfaces of the third display area  13  and the sixth display area  16  are larger. 
     Scenario 3 
     In the foregoing scenario 2, the sixth display area  16  is fixedly disposed. However, in this scenario, a relative position of the sixth display area  16  to the first display area  11  may change. For example, the sixth display area  16  may be disposed rotationally relative to the first display area  11 . As shown in  FIG.  23   , the foldable mobile phone may further include a third structural part  23  and a second hinge  32 . The third structural part  23  is rotationally connected to the first structural part  21  by using the second hinge  32 , and the third structural part  23  supports the sixth display area  16 . As shown in  FIG.  23    and  FIG.  24   , the seventh display area  17  is located at the second hinge  32 . 
     It should be noted that, when the foldable mobile phone includes the first hinge  31  and the second hinge  32 , rotation directions of the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  may be different from rotation directions of the sixth display area  16  and the first display area  11 . For example, as shown in  FIG.  25   , the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  may rotate between 0° and 180°, and the sixth display area  16  and the first display area  11  may rotate between 180° and 360°. In this embodiment of this application, the foldable mobile phone being in an unfolded state is a state shown in  FIG.  23    in which the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  are at 180° and the first display area  11  and the sixth display area  16  are at 180°. The foldable mobile phone being in a folded state is a state in which the first display area  11  and the second display area  12  are at 0° and the first display area  11  and the sixth display area  16  are at 360°. 
     In this embodiment of this application, as shown in  FIG.  25   , the rear cover  40  may further include a third rear cover  43 . The third rear cover  43  and the sixth display area  16  are respectively located on two sides of the third structural part  23 . The third rear cover  43  is located in an entire area on a rear side of the sixth display area  16 , and the second rear cover  42  is located in the entire area on the rear side of the first display area  11 . When the first structural part  21  and the third structural part  23  are in a folded state, the third rear cover  43  faces the second rear cover  42 . In this embodiment of this application, the third rear cover  43  and the second rear cover  42  may be disposed independently of each other. Alternatively, the third rear cover  43  and the second rear cover  42  may be an integrated structure. The integrated structure may be a bendable plate, for example, may be a flexible plate, a part of the flexible plate is used as the third rear cover  43 , and another part of the flexible plate is used as the second rear cover  42 . 
     When the foldable mobile phone is in an unfolded state, as shown in  FIG.  23   , the sixth display area  16  and the display surface of the first display area  11  are in a same plane. When the first structural part  21  and the third structural part  23  that are of the foldable mobile phone are folded together. For example, as shown in  FIG.  26   , the sixth display area  16  faces away from the first display area  11 , that is, when the folded mobile phone is in a folded state, the display surface of the sixth display area  16  faces away from the display surface of the first display area  11 . 
     In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  26   , when the sixth display area  16  faces away from the first display area  11 , the sixth display area  16  completely covers the second rear cover  42 . In this way, when the three structural parts of the foldable mobile phone are folded together, a side on which the sixth display area  16  is located is a stable structure and has no step from the second rear cover  42 , thereby ensuring aesthetic appearance of the foldable electronic device. 
     In descriptions of embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms “installation”, “connection to”, and “connection” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, the connection may be a fixed connection, may be an indirect connection by using an intermediate medium, or may be an internal connection between two elements or an interaction relationship between two elements. For a person of ordinary skill in the art, specific meanings of the foregoing terms in embodiments of this application may be understood according to a specific situation. 
     In the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of embodiments of this application, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, and so on (if any) are intended to distinguish between similar objects but do not necessarily indicate a specific order or sequence. 
     Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely intended for describing the technical solutions of embodiments of this application other than limiting embodiments of this application. Although embodiments of this application are described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they may still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent replacements to some or all technical features thereof, without departing from the scope of the technical solutions of embodiments of this application.