	US 12,277,005 B2
	Folding apparatus and electronic device
Yunyong Li, Shanghai (CN); Chunjun Ma, Shanghai (CN); Zhengyi Xu, Shanghai (CN); Linhui Niu, Shanghai (CN); Ting Liu, Shanghai (CN); and Gangchao Wang, Shanghai (CN)
Assigned to Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Shenzhen (CN)
Appl. No. 18/001,827
Filed by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Shenzhen (CN)
PCT Filed Jun. 15, 2021, PCT No. PCT/CN2021/100140 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 14, 2022, PCT Pub. No. WO2021/254336, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 202010544417.X (CN), filed on Jun. 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0229189 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. H05K 5/00 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01)

CPC G06F 1/1616 (2013.01) [H04M 1/022 (2013.01)]

19 Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first housing;

a rotation mechanism and a second housing that are sequentially connected; and

a flexible display;

wherein the rotation mechanism is deformable such that the first housing and the second housing are folded or unfolded relative to each other;

wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a middle housing, a first support and a second support, a first end of the first support is rotatably connected to the middle housing, and a second end of the first support is fixedly connected to the first housing, a support surface of the first support is spliced with a support surface of the first housing to form a first support surface, a first end of the second support is rotatably connected to the middle housing, and a second end of the second support is fixedly connected to the second housing, and a support surface of the second support is spliced with a support surface of the second housing to form a second support surface;

wherein the rotation mechanism is configured in a manner that, when the first housing and the second housing are unfolded relative to each other to an open state, the first support and the second support are closest to each other, and the first support surface is flush with the second support surface; and when the first housing and the second housing are folded relative to each other to a closed state, the first support and the second support are farthest away from each other, and during folding of the first housing and the second housing, the first support surface and the second support surface approach each other in a direction away from the middle housing;

wherein the flexible display comprises a first part, a second part and a third part that are sequentially arranged, and the first part is fixedly connected to the support surface of the first housing, the third part is fixedly connected to the support surface of the second housing, and the second part deforms during folding or unfolding of the first housing and the second housing relative to each other;

wherein the middle housing comprises an outer cover, and the outer cover defines an inner space of the middle housing;

wherein the middle housing further comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion, and both the first protrusion and the second protrusion are located in the inner space of the middle housing and are fastened to the outer cover; and

wherein the rotation mechanism further comprises a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft, wherein the first rotation shaft is inserted into the first support and the first protrusion such that the first support is rotatably connected to the first protrusion, and the second rotation shaft is inserted into the second support and the second protrusion such that the second support is rotatably connected to the second protrusion.