Patent Description:
With rapid development of technologies, electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a wearable device have brought great convenience to people's work and life, and have become one of necessary electronic products in people's daily work and life. Most related electronic devices have displays of a single structure. Especially for a wearable device, a display has a small size, and it is inconvenient for a user to operate on or watch.

D1(<CIT>) disclosed a motorized foldable flexible display, which comprises a motorized mechanism to drive the right/left sides of a flexible display screen rotate against center side to change the configuration into triangular, or the motor pull the right and left parts of the display to make the configuration become flat.

D2(<CIT>) disclosed a wearable apparatus in which a folding panel mounted on the mounting component, and the folding panel including at least two display screens interconnected at a joint where sensors are disposed. Specifically, the display screen can stacked on top of each other to make the folding panel be in the folded state, and can be used as a watch. When the user needs to enlarge the display area, the display screen can rotate around a pivot shaft that mounted at side edge of the display screens, which makes the display area enlarged.

D3(<CIT>) disclosed a method includes receiving a user input at a first display surface of an electronic device to move a graphical user interface element displayed at the first display surface. The electronic device includes a second display surface separated from the first display surface by a gap. The method also includes determining that at least a portion of the graphical user interface element is to be moved beyond an edge of the first display surface into the gap such that the at least a portion of the graphical user element will not be displayed at the first display surface. The method further includes displaying the at least a portion of the graphical user interface element at the second display surface based on a location and a direction of movement of the graphical user interface element at the first display surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device, so as to solve the problem in the prior art that a display of an electronic device has a single structure and a small size.

To solve the foregoing problem, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device, which is defined in claim <NUM>.

To describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described embodiments are some rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the electronic device includes a first display <NUM>, a transmission assembly <NUM>, and at least two second displays <NUM>. The first display <NUM> includes a first surface (not shown) used to display an image and a second surface (not shown) opposite to the first surface. The at least two second displays <NUM> are connected to the transmission assembly <NUM>, and the transmission assembly <NUM> drives the at least two second displays <NUM> to move between first positions and second positions. When the at least two second displays <NUM> are located at the first positions, at least part of each of the least two second displays <NUM> is covered by an orthographic projection of the first display <NUM> along a perpendicular direction of the second surface; or when the at least two second displays <NUM> are located at the second positions, at least two second displays <NUM> are located on a periphery of the first display <NUM>, and abut against an outer peripheral wall of the first display <NUM>.

In the technical solution provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second displays <NUM> of the electronic device can move between the first positions and the second positions when driven by the transmission assembly <NUM>, to improve flexibility of a display of the electronic device, and solve the problem in the prior art that a display of an electronic device has a single structure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the second displays <NUM> are located at the second positions, the second displays <NUM> enclose the first display <NUM> and abut against the periphery of the first display <NUM>. In this case, the second displays <NUM> and the first display <NUM> are stitched into a display having a relatively large displaying size, to increase a size of a display screen of the electronic device and facilitate watching of a user, so that the user has a better watching experience and it is convenient for the user to operate on the display.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the transmission assembly <NUM> faces the second surface, that is, is located on a side of the first display <NUM> that is not used to display an image.

Still referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the second displays <NUM> are located at the first positions, the second displays <NUM> are located on a side close to the second surface of the first display <NUM>. In this case, the electronic device displays an image through the first display <NUM>. In an optional implementation, an area of each second display <NUM> is less than an area of the first display <NUM>, and when the second displays <NUM> are located at the first positions, the first display <NUM> covers the at least two second displays <NUM> in the perpendicular direction of the second surface. In other words, the second displays <NUM> are hidden under the first display <NUM>, and the second displays <NUM> are not exposed to the outside of the first display <NUM>, to ensure beauty of an appearance of a small-sized electronic device, for example, a wearable device such as a smart watch, and facilitate wearing of a user.

In accordance with the claimed invention, the electronic device further includes a rotating shaft <NUM>. The movement of the transmission assembly <NUM> being driven by the rotating shaft <NUM>.

The rotating shaft <NUM> is connected to the first display <NUM>, and the transmission assembly <NUM> is rotatably connected to the first display <NUM> through the rotating shaft <NUM>. In accordance with the claimed invention, the rotating shaft <NUM> is disposed on a center area of the second surface of the first display <NUM>, and the rotating shaft <NUM> extends in a direction away from the second surface. The transmission assembly <NUM> may be sleeved on the rotating shaft <NUM>, and rotation of the first display <NUM> drives the rotating shaft <NUM> and the transmission assembly <NUM> to rotate coaxially, so that the transmission assembly <NUM> drives the second displays <NUM> to move. A user may manually rotate the first display <NUM> to rotate the rotating shaft <NUM>.

In another implementation, a drive motor may be further disposed on the electronic device. The transmission assembly <NUM> is connected to the drive motor. Running of the drive motor drives the transmission assembly <NUM> to rotate, so that the transmission assembly <NUM> drives the second displays <NUM> to move. The drive motor may be disposed inside a housing of the electronic device, and is electrically connected to a controller of the electronic device. The controller of the electronic device controls running of the drive motor, to drive the transmission assembly <NUM> to rotate. Alternatively, the rotating shaft <NUM> may be connected to the drive motor, and the drive motor runs to drive the rotating shaft <NUM> to move, to drive the transmission assembly <NUM> and the second display to move. Alternatively, both the transmission assembly and the rotating shaft <NUM> are connected to the drive motor, and the drive motor runs to drive both the rotating shaft <NUM> and the transmission assembly to move. For a circuit connection relationship between the drive motor and the controller and working principles thereof, refer to the prior art, and details are not provided herein again.

Still referring <FIG> and <FIG>, the transmission assembly <NUM> includes a transmission shaft <NUM> and transmission rods <NUM>. The transmission shaft <NUM> is connected to the first display <NUM> through the rotating shaft <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), so that rotation of the first display <NUM> can drive the rotating shaft <NUM> and the transmission shaft <NUM> to rotate. Alternatively, in a case that the electronic device further includes the drive motor, the transmission shaft <NUM> and/or the rotating shaft <NUM> is connected to the drive motor, so that the transmission shaft <NUM> and/or the rotating shaft <NUM> is driven, by running of the motor, to move. One end of each of the transmission rods <NUM> is connected to the transmission shaft <NUM>, and the other end is connected to the second display <NUM>. In this way, rotation of the transmission shaft <NUM> can drive the transmission rods <NUM> to move, to push the second displays <NUM> connected to the ends of the transmission rods <NUM> outwards, to implement stitching of the second displays <NUM> and the first display <NUM>, or pull the second displays <NUM> inwards to hide the second displays <NUM> under the first display <NUM>.

Optionally, the transmission shaft <NUM> may be sleeved on the rotating shaft <NUM>, one end of each of the transmission rods <NUM> is hinged with the transmission shaft <NUM>, and another end of the transmission rods <NUM> is hinged with the second display <NUM>. In this way, when the rotating shaft <NUM> rotates forward, the transmission shaft <NUM> is driven to rotate coaxially, rotation of the transmission shaft <NUM> can exert thrust on the transmission rods <NUM> that are hinged with the transmission shaft <NUM>, and the transmission rods <NUM> can push, outwards through the thrust, the second displays <NUM> that are hinged with the transmission rods <NUM>. It is easily understood that when the rotating shaft <NUM> rotates reversely, the second displays <NUM> can be pulled inwards through co-working of the transmission shaft <NUM> and the transmission rods <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device may further include a tray <NUM>. The tray <NUM> is used to support the second display <NUM>. A first guiding structure <NUM> is disposed on a side of the tray <NUM> facing the first display <NUM>, a second guiding structure <NUM> is disposed on the second display <NUM>, and the first guiding structure <NUM> cooperates with the second guiding structure <NUM>. When the at least two second displays <NUM> move to the second positions through the first guiding structures <NUM> and the second guiding structures <NUM>, the at least two second displays <NUM> and the first display <NUM> are located on a same plane.

It should be noted that the first display <NUM> covers the tray <NUM>. In other words, a size of the tray <NUM> is less than or equal to a size of the first display <NUM>, so that the tray <NUM> is not exposed to the outside of the first display <NUM>, and when the second displays <NUM> are located at the first positions, the second displays <NUM> and the tray <NUM> are covered by the first display <NUM>, to ensure beauty of appearance of the electronic device. In addition, the rotating shaft <NUM> and the transmission shaft <NUM> may run through the tray <NUM>, and the tray <NUM> is sleeved on the rotating shaft <NUM> or the transmission shaft <NUM>; or when there is one tray <NUM>, the tray <NUM> may be connected to a housing of the electronic device, and when the transmission shaft <NUM> rotates, the tray <NUM> is fixed.

Optionally, a quantity of the first guiding structures <NUM> is the same as a quantity of the second guiding structures <NUM>. For example, if there are four second displays <NUM>, one second guiding structure <NUM> is disposed on each second display <NUM>, and one first guiding structure <NUM> cooperating with each second guiding structure <NUM> is disposed on the tray <NUM>. In this way, the first guiding structures <NUM> and the second guiding structures <NUM> can guide movement of the second displays <NUM> and prevent displacement of movement of the second display <NUM>, to guide the plurality of second displays <NUM> to move to the second positions to be on a same plane as the first display <NUM> and be stitched into an entire display screen together with the first display <NUM>, for example, a round or square display screen.

Optionally, there may be a plurality of specific structural forms of the first guiding structures <NUM> and the second guiding structures <NUM>. For example, the first guiding structure <NUM> and the second guiding structure <NUM> may be configured to a slideway and a sliding slot, or may be configured to another form. For example, the rotating shaft <NUM> is disposed on the second surface of the first display <NUM>, the transmission shaft <NUM> is sleeved on the rotating shaft <NUM>, and the transmission rods <NUM> are connected to the transmission shaft <NUM> and the second displays <NUM>. Optionally, the first guiding structure <NUM> is a slideway, the second guiding structure <NUM> is a sliding slot, the slideway and the sliding slot extend in a direction pointing to a center of circle of the transmission shaft <NUM>, and the slideway and the sliding slot limit a moving direction of the second display. As shown in <FIG>, the transmission bar <NUM> is an arc-shaped bar, and two ends of the transmission bar <NUM> are respectively hinged with the transmission shaft <NUM> and the second display <NUM>. When the transmission shaft <NUM> rotates, the transmission bar <NUM> pushes, under thrust, the second display <NUM> to move. Due to the slideway and the sliding slot, the second display <NUM> can move only in an extension direction of the slideway and in a direction away from the transmission shaft <NUM>, to move to the outer side of the first display <NUM>.

In an optional implementation, referring to <FIG>, the first guiding structure <NUM> is a sliding part, and is optionally a roller, and the second guiding structure <NUM> is a guiding slot. The guiding slot includes a first side wall and a bottom surface, the bottom surface is an oblique surface, and a distance between a part of the bottom surface close to the transmission assembly <NUM> and the tray <NUM> is less than a distance between a part of the bottom surface away from the transmission assembly <NUM> and the tray <NUM>. In other words, the bottom surface of the guiding slot is an oblique surface relative to the tray <NUM>, the bottom surface of the guiding grove includes a first end close to the transmission shaft <NUM> and a second end away from the transmission shaft <NUM>, and the first end is closer to the tray <NUM> than the second end. The guiding slot is located on a side of the second display <NUM> facing the tray <NUM>, and the roller is disposed on the tray <NUM>, and contacts the bottom surface of the guiding slot. The tray <NUM> is fixed, and a position of the roller on the tray <NUM> is not changed. Therefore, when the second display <NUM> move from the first position to the second position, the guiding slot moves relative to the roller, and rolling of the roller exerts thrust on the guiding slot, to push the second display <NUM> to move towards the second position. In addition, a depth of an end of the bottom surface of the guiding slot close to the transmission shaft <NUM> is less than a depth of an end away from the transmission shaft <NUM>. When the second display <NUM> moves to the second position, because the bottom surface of the guiding slot is an oblique surface and the position of the roller is not changed, the second display <NUM> may move in a direction away from the transmission shaft <NUM> under thrust of the transmission bar <NUM>, and the roller and the guiding slot can enable the second display <NUM> to move in a direction away from the tray <NUM>, so that the second displays <NUM> can move to a same plane as the first display <NUM>, and when the second displays <NUM> are located at the second positions, the second displays <NUM> and the first display <NUM> are stitched into an entire plane, to ensure smoothness of the display screen of the electronic device, and ensure a display effect of the electronic device.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a quantity of the trays <NUM> is not limited. For example, there may be one tray or at least two trays. When there are at least two trays <NUM>, the trays <NUM> are stacked relative to the first display <NUM>, in other words, the trays <NUM> are stacked in a perpendicular direction of the first display <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in the electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, there are two trays <NUM>. The two trays <NUM> are stacked relative to the first display <NUM> and are located below the first display <NUM>. The first display <NUM> can cover the two trays <NUM>. For example, the two trays <NUM> are respectively a first tray and a second tray. The first tray and the second tray carry the second displays <NUM>. The first tray carries a first sub display <NUM>, the second tray carries a second sub display <NUM>, and there is at least one first sub display <NUM> and at least one second sub display <NUM>. In this way, the two trays <NUM> are disposed, so that the second displays <NUM> are disposed in a layered manner, and sizes of the second displays <NUM> can be designed to be relatively small.

In addition, when there are at least two first sub displays <NUM> and at least two second sub displays <NUM>, the first sub displays <NUM> and the second sub displays <NUM> are disposed alternately when being located at the second positions.

Still referring to <FIG>, there are four first sub displays <NUM> and four second sub displays <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the four first sub displays <NUM> and the four second sub displays <NUM> are disposed alternately when being located at the second positions. In this way, a size of each first sub display <NUM> and a size of each second sub display <NUM> are relatively small, and when the second displays are located at the first positions, it can be avoided that two adjacent second displays <NUM> on a same tray <NUM> contact each other, thereby ensuring smoothness of movement of the second displays <NUM> between the first positions and the second positions.

Certainly, there may be three trays <NUM>, four trays <NUM>, or more trays <NUM>, and each tray <NUM> carries a second display <NUM>. When the plurality of second displays <NUM> are located at the second positions, the second displays are stitched into a ring and enclose the first display <NUM>. A larger quantity of second displays <NUM> indicates that sizes of the second displays can be designed to be smaller, facilitating arrangement of the second displays <NUM> in the electronic device.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the electronic device provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, there are three trays <NUM>. The three trays <NUM> are stacked relative to the first display <NUM> and are located below the first display <NUM>. The first display <NUM> can cover the three trays <NUM>, to ensure beauty of appearance of the electronic device. Specifically, the three trays <NUM> may be respectively a first tray <NUM>, a second tray <NUM>, and a third tray <NUM>, and the at least two second displays <NUM> include at least two first sub displays <NUM> supported by the first tray <NUM>, at least two second sub displays <NUM> supported by the second tray <NUM>, and at least two third sub displays <NUM> supported by the third tray <NUM>.

Specifically, referring to <FIG>, there are four first sub displays <NUM>, four second sub displays <NUM>, and four third sub displays <NUM>. When the four first sub displays <NUM>, the four second sub displays <NUM>, and the four third sub displays <NUM> are located at the second positions, one second sub display <NUM> and one third sub display <NUM> are located between any two adjacent first sub displays <NUM>, and one third sub display <NUM> and one first sub display <NUM> are located between any two adjacent second sub displays <NUM>. In this way, the <NUM> second displays <NUM> are stitched into a ring and enclose the first display <NUM> when being located at the second positions, to form a larger display together with the first display <NUM>, so that the electronic device has a larger display screen. The four first sub displays <NUM>, the four second sub displays <NUM>, and the four third sub displays <NUM> are stitched in a sequence shown in <FIG> to form an entire ring and enclose the first display <NUM> when being located at the second positions.

Optionally, referring to <FIG>, a central angle corresponding to a display area of the first sub display <NUM> is <NUM> degrees, a central angle corresponding to a display area of the second sub display <NUM> is <NUM> degrees, and a central angle corresponding to a display area of the third sub display <NUM> is <NUM> degrees. In this way, sizes of the second sub displays <NUM> disposed on the second tray <NUM> and sizes of the third sub displays <NUM> disposed on the third tray <NUM> can be designed to be smaller, facilitating arrangement of the second displays <NUM> in the electronic device.

It should be noted that in the embodiments of <FIG>, the transmission assembly <NUM>, the first guiding structures, and the second guiding structures may be designed in a manner in the embodiments of <FIG>, and details are not provided herein again.

Claim 1:
An electronic device, comprising: a first display (<NUM>), a transmission assembly (<NUM>), and at least two second displays (<NUM>), wherein the first display (<NUM>) comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the at least two second displays (<NUM>) are connected to the transmission assembly (<NUM>), and the transmission assembly (<NUM>) drives the at least two second displays (<NUM>) to move between first positions and second positions, wherein
when the at least two second displays (<NUM>) are located at the first positions, at least part of each of the least two second displays (<NUM>) is covered by an orthographic projection of the first display (<NUM>) along a perpendicular direction of the second surface; or when the at least two second displays (<NUM>) are located at the second positions, at least two second displays (<NUM>) are located on a periphery of the first display (<NUM>), and abut against an outer peripheral wall of the first display (<NUM>); wherein
the electronic device further comprises a rotating shaft (<NUM>), and the transmission assembly (<NUM>) is connected to the rotating shaft (<NUM>); wherein
the rotating shaft (<NUM>) is connected to the first display (<NUM>), and the rotating shaft (<NUM>) is disposed in a center area of the second surface, and extends in a direction away from the second surface, and the transmission assembly (<NUM>) is rotatably connected to the first display (<NUM>) through the rotating shaft (<NUM>).