Hinged device

• US 10,474,203 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Tazbaz, Errol Mark, Whitt, David Otto
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L
• Application Number:
  US15/255,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20180059735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 16354, 16366, 16368, 16369, 16370, 16225, 16250, 36167927, 36167906, 4555753, 37943313, 248919
• 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 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• 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

Abstract

The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion that includes a first display and a second portion that includes a second display. This example can also include a determinative hinge assembly that rotatably secures the first and second portions around first and second hinge axes. The determinative hinge assembly can have a first unflexed configuration when the first and second portions are parallel or perpendicular to one another and a second flexed configuration when the first and second portions contact one another when oriented at an oblique angle.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and

,

a determinative hinge assembly that is secured to the second portion, and the determinative hinge assembly further comprises a flexible member that is positioned between two planar parallel surfaces of the first portion, the flexible member configured to flex responsive to the first portion contacting the second portion at an oblique angle and to unflex when the first portion and the second portion are parallel to one another.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible member has a planar configuration and is parallel to the two planar parallel surfaces when unflexed.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible member is equidistant from the two planar parallel surfaces when unflexed.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible member is resiliently biased to the planar configuration.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the flexible member is not parallel to the two planar surfaces when flexed.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible member is arcuate when flexed.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein flexing of the flexible member allows the two planar parallel surfaces to move away from the second portion.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first body positioned in the first portion and defining a first axis of rotation of the determinative hinge assembly.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first body is only connected to the first portion via the flexible member.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein a first end of the flexible member is secured to the first body and a second end of the flexible member is secured to the first portion.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a second body positioned in the second portion and defining a second axis of rotation of the determinative hinge assembly.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first body defines a first cam and the second body defines a second cam.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein interaction of the first cam and the second cam determine when rotation occurs around the first axis of rotation and when rotation occurs around the second axis of rotation.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the interaction of the first cam and the second cam is accomplished via an interposed element.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible member allows a hinge end of the first portion to move away from a hinge end of the second portion at the oblique angles.

16. A device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a first display and a second portion that includes a second display; and

,

a determinative hinge assembly that is secured to the second portion and the determinative hinge assembly further comprises a flexible member that is positioned between two planar parallel surfaces of the first portion, the flexible member configured to flex responsive to the first display contacting the second portion at an oblique angle during rotation of the first and second portions and to unflex when the first portion and the second portion are parallel to one another.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a processor that controls the first and second displays and that creates separate graphical user interfaces on the first and second displays when the first and second displays are oriented at an oblique angle or right angle and creates a shared graphical user interface when the first and second displays are oriented at 180 degrees from one another.

18. A device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a first display and a second portion that includes a second display; and

,

a determinative hinge assembly that rotatably secures the first and second portions around first and second hinge axes and that has a first unflexed configuration when the first and second portions are parallel to one another and a second flexed configuration in response to the first and second portions contacting one another when oriented at an oblique angle.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the determinative hinge assembly allows a range of rotation and wherein the determinative hinge assembly further controls that a first sub-range of rotation occurs around the first hinge axis and a second sub-range of rotation occurs around the second hinge axis.