Covered multi-axis hinge

• US 10,162,389 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Tazbaz, Errol Mark, Bitz, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US14/866,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20170090523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion and a second portion. This example can also include multiple interconnected friction engines that secure the first portion and the second portion. An individual friction engine can define an axis of rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion. The example can also include sequencing elements that control a relative order of rotation of the multiple interconnected friction engines and overlapping hinge covers that protect the multiple interconnected friction engines and stabilize the timing elements.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion;

a multi-axis hinge assembly comprising multiple friction engines, rotation of individual friction engines controlled by sequencing elements extending therebetween; and

,

elongate covers extending over individual friction engines and stabilizing the sequencing elements, adjacent friction engines directly secured to one another through windows in the elongate covers, and the sequencing elements move through the windows.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein an individual sequencing element includes a first end that engages camming surfaces on a first individual friction engine and a second opposite end that engages camming surfaces on a second individual friction engine.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the friction engines are oriented in an alternating offset cantilevered relationship and further comprising stabilizing couplers that rotatably secure pairs of friction engines to stabilize the multi-axis hinge assembly.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the stabilizing couplers include cam surfaces that engage the sequencing elements to control rotation sequence of the friction engines.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the sequencing elements move through the windows in a direction that is perpendicular to a length of the elongate covers.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the friction engines and the sequencing elements comprise similar high modulus materials.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the friction engines and the sequencing elements comprise the same material.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the same material is stainless steel.

9. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a display screen and a second portion that includes an input device; and

,

a covered sequentially rotating multi-axis hinge assembly comprising first, second, and third rotationally coupled and timed friction engines, the second friction engine cantilevered from the first and third friction engines and further comprising a stabilizing coupler that rotatably stabilizes the first friction engine and the third friction engine, the first friction engine extending through a window in an individual hinge cover and directly secured to the second friction engine.

10. The computing device of claim 9, further comprising a fourth friction engine that is rotationally coupled to the third friction engine and cantilevered in line with the second friction engine.

11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the stabilizing coupler comprises cam surfaces that work cooperatively with a sequencing pin to control an order of sequential rotation of the first, second, and third friction engines.

12. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the friction engines further comprise multiple sets of rotation limiters that control a range of angular rotation of individual friction engines.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the multiple sets of rotation limiters comprise a primary set of rotation limiters that engage to define the range of angular rotation and a second set of overload rotation limiters that only engage when excessive force is applied to the first and second portions that overloads the primary set of rotation limiters.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the multiple sets of rotation limiters are configured to engage simultaneously.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the multiple sets of rotation limiters are configured to engage at different angles of rotation from one another.

16. The computing device of claim 12, further comprising overlapping integrated hinge covers that protect the friction engines and wherein at least one set of the multiple sets of rotation limiters is partially defined by the overlapping integrated hinge covers.

17. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion;

multiple interconnected friction engines that secure the first portion and the second portion, an individual friction engine defining an axis of rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion;

sequencing elements that control a relative order of rotation of the multiple interconnected friction engines; and

,

overlapping hinge covers protecting the multiple interconnected friction engines and stabilizing the sequencing elements, the individual friction engine extending through a window in an individual hinge cover and directly secured to a next sequentially arranged individual friction engine.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the friction engines are directly secured to one another in an offset sequential relationship.

19. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the sequencing elements and the friction engines comprise high modulus materials and the hinge covers comprise low modulus materials.

20. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the hinge covers stabilize the sequencing elements by only allowing the sequencing elements to move along a single axis that is perpendicular to a length of the hinge covers.