Patent Description:
As user demands increase, large-screen terminal devices are increasingly favored by users. With a large screen, display performance of the terminal device can be improved. However, a larger screen area usually leads to a larger size of the terminal device, affecting portability of the terminal device. The larger size makes it difficult for users to hold the terminal device, adding to the inconvenience of carrying.

With popularization of flexible displays, an increasing number of foldable terminal devices have emerged which are equipped with flexible displays. In an unfolded state, the flexible display unfolds to form a larger area, so as to obtain a larger display area; and in a folded state, the flexible display makes the foldable terminal have a smaller size, convenient for users to carry.

Generally, two connected folding portions of the foldable terminal device rotate with respect to each other to implement switching between the unfolded state and the folded state. When the flexible display is in the folded state, there is a bending portion at a bending position of the flexible display, and the bending portion of the flexible display is prone to squeezing of a housing to have stacking folds, thereby easily causing damages to the flexible display.

Document <CIT> discloses a foldable device which includes a flexible display including first, second, and third portions; a body including first, second, and third support portions which respectively support the first, second, and third portions; a hinge including a first rotation axis which connects the first support portion to the third support portion, and a second rotation axis which connects the second support portion to the third support portion; and a slot hole which is rotatably coupled with the first and second rotation axes, and which moves the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis when the first support portion and the second support portion rotate with respect to the third support portion. The first and second rotation axes allow the first and second support portions to rotate with respect to the third support portion when the flexible display changes from an open state to a closed state.

Document <CIT> discloses a hinge unit and a mobile terminal having the same in which a user's convenience can be improved by enabling a rotating (folding or flipping) of first and second bodies by approximately <NUM>°.

This disclosure discloses a rotatable connector assembly.

This disclosure employs the following technical solutions:
A rotatable connector assembly includes a base and two connector members respectively connected to two sides of the base, where each of the connector members includes a first hinge and a second hinge, and two sides of the base are provided with a first sliding slot; one end of the first hinge is slidably connected to the first sliding slot and rotates with respect to the base, and the other end of the first hinge is hinged to one end of the second hinge; the rotatable connector assembly has an unfolded state and a folded state, where in the unfolded state, the two connector members connected to the two sides of the base extend in a direction away from each other; and in the folded state, the two connector members connected to the two sides of the base are stacked, the first hinge and the second hinge of each of the connector members are bent to form a recess at a hinged position, and the recesses formed in the two connector members are joined to form an accommodating space.

A foldable terminal device includes a flexible display, two housings, and the rotatable connector assembly described above, where the two housings are respectively connected to two connector members, the two housings and the rotatable connector assembly form a mounting plane, and the flexible display is mounted onto the mounting plane.

The technical solutions provided in this disclosure can achieve the following beneficial effects:
The rotatable connector assembly disclosed in the embodiments of this disclosure has an unfolded state and a folded state, and when applied to a foldable terminal device equipped with a flexible display, can have the same unfolded state and folded state as the foldable terminal device. In the folded state, the first hinge and the second hinge of each of connector members are bent to form a recess at a hinged position. When the two connector members are stacked, the recesses respectively formed in the connector members are joined to form an accommodating space, so as to well accommodate a bending portion of the flexible display, avoiding that the bending portion is squeezed to have stacking folds. Therefore, the rotatable connector assembly disclosed in the embodiments of this disclosure is undoubtedly able to well resolve the problem in related technologies that when a foldable terminal device is in a folded state, a flexible display is prone to have stacking folds at a bending portion.

The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding about this disclosure, and constitute a part of this disclosure. Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and descriptions thereof are used to explain this disclosure, but do not constitute any inappropriate limitation on this disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:.

Reference signs are described as follows:.

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions of this disclosure with reference to specific embodiments of this disclosure and corresponding drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely a part rather than all of the embodiments of this disclosure.

This disclosure discloses a rotatable connector assembly to resolve the problem that when a foldable terminal device is in a folded state, a flexible display is prone to have stacking folds at a bending portion.

The technical solutions disclosed in the embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Refer to <FIG>. An embodiment of this disclosure discloses a rotatable connector assembly <NUM>, where the disclosed rotatable connector assembly <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and two connector members <NUM>.

In this embodiment, both sides of the base <NUM> are provided with a first sliding slot <NUM>. Generally, the base <NUM> is a special-shaped columnar structure, and the base <NUM> provides an installation foundation for the connector members <NUM>.

The two connector members <NUM> are respectively connected to two sides of the base <NUM>. Each of the connector members <NUM> includes a first hinge <NUM> and a second hinge <NUM>. One end of the first hinge <NUM> is slidably connected to the first sliding slot <NUM> and rotates with respect to the base <NUM>. The first hinge <NUM> sliding in the first sliding slot <NUM> allows the first hinge <NUM> to rotate with respect to the base <NUM>. Specifically, the first sliding slot <NUM> may be an arc slot. The other end of the first hinge <NUM> is hinged to one end of the second hinge <NUM>, and the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> rotate with respect to each other. A whole formed by the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> is able to rotate with respect to the base <NUM>. Specifically, the first hinge <NUM> may be hinged to the second hinge <NUM> through a coupling shaft <NUM>.

The rotatable connector assembly <NUM> disclosed in this embodiment may be applied in a foldable terminal device, and may be used to connect two folding parts of the foldable terminal device (for example, the housings described hereinafter).

The rotatable connector assembly <NUM> disclosed in this embodiment has an unfolded state and a folded state. For the foldable terminal device that includes the rotatable connector assembly <NUM>, when the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> is in the unfolded state, the whole foldable terminal device is in the unfolded state; and when the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> is in the folded state, the whole foldable terminal device is in the folded state.

Refer to <FIG> again. When the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> is in the unfolded state, the two connector members <NUM> connected to the two sides of the base <NUM> extend in a direction away from each other. Generally, in the unfolded state, both the first hinges <NUM> and the second hinges <NUM> of the two connector members <NUM> are located in a same plane, so that the foldable terminal device can be unfolded, thereby unfolding a flexible display <NUM> of the foldable terminal device.

Refer to <FIG> again. When the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> is in the folded state, the two connector members <NUM> connected to the two sides of the base <NUM> are stacked. Meanwhile, the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> of each of the connector members <NUM> are bent to form a recess A at a hinged position, and the recesses A formed in the two connector members <NUM> are joined to form an accommodating space. The accommodating space is used to accommodate a bending portion of the flexible display <NUM> that is bent, as shown in <FIG>. The recess A is essentially formed by the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> of each of the connector members <NUM> rotating with respect to each other at a specified angle.

The rotatable connector assembly <NUM> disclosed in the embodiment of this disclosure has an unfolded state and a folded state. When applied to a foldable terminal device equipped with a flexible display <NUM>, the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> can have the same unfolded state and folded state as the foldable terminal device. In the folded state, the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> of each of the connector members <NUM> are bent to form a recess A at the hinged position. When the two connector members <NUM> are stacked, the respectively formed recesses A are join to form an accommodating space, so as to well accommodate a bending portion of the flexible display <NUM>, avoiding that the bending portion is squeezed to have stacking folds. Therefore, the rotatable connector assembly disclosed in the embodiments of this disclosure is undoubtedly able to resolve the problem in related technologies that when a foldable terminal device is in a folded state, a flexible display is prone to have stacking folds at a bending position.

In order to facilitate the connection to other components (for example, the housings <NUM> described hereinafter) of the foldable terminal device, in an optional solution, the connector members <NUM> may further include two third hinges <NUM> respectively connected to the two sides of the base <NUM>. Both sides of the base <NUM> are provided with a second sliding slot <NUM>, and one end of the third hinge <NUM> is slidably connected to the second sliding slot <NUM> and rotates with respect to the base <NUM>. When the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> is folded or unfolded, the third hinge <NUM> is able to rotate with respect to the base <NUM> by sliding in the second sliding slot <NUM>. The other end of the second hinge <NUM> is slidably connected to the other end of the third hinge <NUM>, thereby being able to adapt to the difference between the rotation of the third hinge <NUM> and the rotation of the second hinge <NUM>.

Generally, the first sliding slot <NUM> and the second sliding slot <NUM> are respectively arranged at a top and a bottom of the base <NUM>, and the other end of the third hinge <NUM> is slidably connected to the other end of the second hinge <NUM>, thereby allowing a whole formed by the third hinge <NUM>, the second hinge <NUM>, and the first hinge <NUM> to rotate together.

In this embodiment, the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> may have various structures. In order to better support the flexible display <NUM>, in an optional solution, both the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> may be plate-like structures. Specifically, in the unfolded state, the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> may be joined to form a support plane that can support part of the flexible display <NUM>.

The third hinge <NUM> may have various structures. Refer to <FIG> again. In a specific embodiment, each of the third hinges <NUM> may include two side plates 123a and a middle plate 123b, where the middle plate 123b is connected between one end of each of the two side plates 123a, and the other ends of the two side plates 123a extend in a direction away from the middle plate 123b. The middle plate 123b is slidably connected to the second sliding slot <NUM>, thereby allowing the third hinge <NUM> to rotate with respect to the base <NUM> through sliding.

The other end of each of the side plates 123a is provided with a strip-shaped hole 123a1. Generally, the strip-shaped hole 123a1 extends in the direction away from the middle plate 123b. In this embodiment, the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> are arranged between two side plates 123a that are on a same side of the base <NUM> as the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM>. The second hinge <NUM> is provided with a connecting block <NUM>, and the connecting block <NUM> is slidably connected to the strip-shaped hole 123a1. In this case, the third hinge <NUM> is equivalent to supporting the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM>, and the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> are able to rotate with the third hinge <NUM>.

During operation, one end of the first hinge <NUM> slidably cooperates with the first sliding slot <NUM> of the base <NUM>, one end of the third hinge <NUM> slidably cooperates with the second sliding slot <NUM> of the base <NUM>, and the third hinge <NUM> is connected to the second hinge <NUM> through cooperation of the connecting block <NUM> and the strip-shaped hole 123a1, thereby allowing the first hinge <NUM>, the second hinge <NUM>, and the third hinge <NUM> to rotate synchronously.

In a design process, the synchronous rotation of the foregoing rotating elements may be achieved by adjusting a size of the first sliding slot <NUM> and a size of the second sliding slot <NUM>.

In a specific assembly process, a notch of the first sliding slot <NUM> is an end portion formed by sliding of the first hinge <NUM>. In order to avoid the first hinge <NUM> separating from the first sliding slot <NUM>, in an optional solution, the notch of the first sliding slot <NUM> may be provided as a captive notch that is able to prevent the first hinge <NUM> from separating from the first sliding slot <NUM>. In the same way, a notch of the second sliding slot <NUM> may also be provided as a captive notch that is able to prevent the third hinge <NUM> from separating from the second sliding slot <NUM>. An end part of the first hinge <NUM> may be hooked to the captive notch of the first sliding slot <NUM>. Certainly, during an installation process, the end part of the first hinge <NUM> may pass through the captive notch of the first sliding slot <NUM> through deformation, thereby extending into the first sliding slot <NUM> and slidably cooperating with the first sliding slot <NUM>. In the same way, an end part of the third hinge <NUM> may also pass through the captive notch of the second sliding slot <NUM> through deformation, thereby extending into the second sliding slot <NUM> and slidably cooperating with the second sliding slot <NUM>.

Certainly, the connector members <NUM> may be connected to the base <NUM> through other structures. Refer to <FIG> again. End planes of the base <NUM> may be provided with threaded holes <NUM>, and each of the side plates 123a is disposed on an outer side of an end plane corresponding to the base <NUM>. The rotatable connector assembly <NUM> may further include screws <NUM>, where the screw <NUM> passes through a connecting hole 123a2 of the side plate 123a and is fastened to the base <NUM>. The side plate 123a rotatably cooperates with a corresponding screw <NUM>. In this case, the connector member <NUM> is rotatably connected to the screw <NUM> fastened to the base <NUM> through the side plate 123a, thereby achieving the connection to the base <NUM>. In this case, the cooperation of the screw <NUM> and the side plate 123a enables the first hinge <NUM> and the second hinge <NUM> to slide respectively along the first sliding slot <NUM> and the second sliding slot <NUM>, without separating from the first sliding slot <NUM> and the second sliding slot <NUM>.

Based on the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> disclosed in the embodiments of this disclosure, an embodiment of this disclosure discloses a foldable terminal device. The disclosed foldable terminal device includes a flexible display <NUM>, two housings <NUM>, and the foregoing rotatable connector assembly <NUM>. The two housings <NUM> are respectively connected to the two connector members <NUM>, the two housings <NUM> and the rotatable connector assembly <NUM> form a mounting plane, and the flexible display <NUM> is mounted onto the mounting plane.

Specifically, the housings <NUM> are basic elements of the foldable terminal device, providing other components (such as a circuit board and a battery) of the foldable terminal device with a mounting space. The housings <NUM> may have various structures. In a specific embodiment, the housings <NUM> may include a battery cover <NUM> and a mainboard top cover <NUM> connected to the battery cover <NUM>, where the mainboard top cover <NUM>, the first hinge <NUM>, and the second hinge <NUM> can form the foregoing mounting plane. When the foldable terminal device disclosed in this embodiment is in a folded state, the flexible display <NUM> is able to be folded and hidden, as shown in <FIG>. The mainboard top cover <NUM> may be fastened onto the battery cover <NUM> through engaging, or certainly may be fastened through a connecting element (for example, a threaded connecting element).

The connector member <NUM> may be connected to a corresponding housing <NUM> in various manners. For example, the housing <NUM> is directly fastened onto the connector member <NUM> through an engaging structure, a connecting element (for example, a threaded connecting element), or the like. Refer to <FIG> again. In an optional solution, the end part of the side plate 123a is slidably connected to an in-housing space <NUM> formed by the battery cover <NUM> and the mainboard top cover <NUM>. The foregoing side plate 123a is slidably connected to the in-housing space <NUM>, thereby well adapting to movements of the third hinge <NUM> along the second sliding slot <NUM> during rotation.

In an optional solution, an inner wall of the side plate 123a may be provided with a lapping step 123a3, the mainboard top cover <NUM> is provided with a support block <NUM>, and the support block <NUM> supports the lapping step 123a3. After mounted onto the battery cover <NUM>, the mainboard top cover <NUM> can be fixed to a position in the assembly through the cooperation of the support block <NUM> and the lapping step 123a3.

Specifically, the lapping step 123a3 may extend into the in-housing space <NUM>. An end part of the lapping step 123a3 that can extend into the in-housing space <NUM> may be provided with a first limiting element 123a4. In the unfolded state, a first gap B is reserved between the first limiting element 123a4 and the support block <NUM>, and in the folded state, the first limiting element 123a4 is in position-limited contact with the support block <NUM>. Because the elements of the foldable terminal device have different motions during switching between the unfolded state and the folded state, in a folding process, the first gap B between the first limiting element 123a4 and the support block <NUM> reduces gradually until the first limiting element 123a4 and the support block <NUM> are in position-limited contact with each other. At this point, the foldable terminal device is in the folded state.

Each of the third hinges <NUM> may include a second limiting element 123a5. Specifically, the side plate 123a may be arranged at the second limiting element 123a5. In the folded state, the battery cover <NUM> is arranged on an outer side of a corresponding third hinge <NUM>. A second gap C may be formed between the battery cover <NUM> and the second limiting element 123a5. In the unfolded state, the battery cover <NUM> is in butt contact with the second limiting element 123a5. In this case, the battery cover <NUM> abuts against the second limiting element 123a5, preventing the foldable terminal device from excessive rotation when unfolded.

Refer to <FIG>. In an optional solution, at least one of the two housings <NUM> is provided with a secondary display <NUM> on a side away from the mounting plane, meaning that the flexible display <NUM> and the secondary display <NUM> are respectively provided on two sides of the housing <NUM>. The secondary display <NUM> makes the foldable terminal device still usable when in the folded state.

The foldable terminal device in the embodiments of this disclosure may be a terminal device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, an e-book reader, a game console, or a wearable device (such as a smartwatch). The embodiments of this disclosure do not limit the specific type of the foldable terminal device.

The above embodiments of this disclosure focus on the differences between the embodiments. As long as different features of improvement in the embodiments are not contradictory, they can be combined to form a more preferred embodiment. Further descriptions are omitted herein for the purpose of brevity.

Claim 1:
A rotatable connector assembly (<NUM>), comprising a base (<NUM>) and two connector members (<NUM>) respectively connected to two sides of the base (<NUM>), wherein each of the connector members (<NUM>) comprises a first hinge (<NUM>) and a second hinge (<NUM>), and both sides of the base (<NUM>) are provided with a first sliding slot (<NUM>); one end of the first hinge (<NUM>) is slidably connected to the first sliding slot (<NUM>) and rotates with respect to the base (<NUM>), and the other end of the first hinge (<NUM>) is hinged to one end of the second hinge (<NUM>); the rotatable connector assembly (<NUM>) has an unfolded state and a folded state, wherein in the unfolded state, the two connector members (<NUM>) connected to the two sides of the base (<NUM>) extend in a direction away from each other; and in the folded state, the two connector members (<NUM>) connected to the two sides of the base (<NUM>) are stacked, the first hinge (<NUM>) and the second hinge (<NUM>) of each of the connector members (<NUM>) are bent to form a recess (A) at a hinged position, and the recesses (A) formed in the two connector members (<NUM>) are joined to form an accommodating space.