Hinge overtravel in a dual screen handheld communication device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld computing device, comprising:
- a first display assembly including a first active display area and a first housing having a rear surface, a first side surface extending between a periphery of the first active display area and the rear surface of the first housing, and a first opening formed in a portion of the first side surface;
a second display assembly including a second active display area and a second housing having a rear surface, a second side surface extending between a periphery of the second active display area and the rear surface of the second housing, and a second opening formed in a portion of the second side surface; and
a hinge including a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis that is different from the first pivot axis, the hinge connected to the first and second display assemblies so that the first display assembly is rotatable about the first pivot axis and the second display assembly is rotatable about the second pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis is oriented nearer the first rear surface than the first active display area and the second pivot axis is oriented nearer the second rear surface than the second active display area, wherein the hinge is at least partially disposed within the first and second openings such that the hinge does not protrude from front surfaces of the first and second active display areas, wherein the hinge includes a hub with an internal passage extending between the first and second openings, the passage extending transverse to the first and second pivot axes, wherein the hinge has a range of motion of more than 180 degrees so that the device is foldable between an open position in which a first plane of the first active display area is transverse to a second plane of the second active display area and a closed position in which the first and second rear surfaces are oriented substantially back-to-back in adjacent planes, wherein, when in the open position, the hinge is not visible when viewing the first active display area and second active display area, wherein the hinge further comprises a first leaf at least partially positioned within the first opening of the first housing and a second leaf at least partially positioned within the second opening of the second housing, wherein the first leaf has a first open flange extending from a base of the first leaf and the second leaf has a second open flange extending from a base of the second leaf, wherein in the open position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially parallel to each other, substantially abut each other, and prevent further rotation of the first active display area and second active display area, and wherein in the closed position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially coplanar and a rear surface of the hinge is visible.
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Abstract
A handheld communication device includes first and second screen assemblies, each including a screen having an active display area and housing having a rear surface, and a side surface extending between a periphery of the screen and the rear surface of the housing and a hinge connected to the first and second screen assemblies, whereby the hinge has a range of motion of more than 180 degrees.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A handheld computing device, comprising:
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a first display assembly including a first active display area and a first housing having a rear surface, a first side surface extending between a periphery of the first active display area and the rear surface of the first housing, and a first opening formed in a portion of the first side surface; a second display assembly including a second active display area and a second housing having a rear surface, a second side surface extending between a periphery of the second active display area and the rear surface of the second housing, and a second opening formed in a portion of the second side surface; and a hinge including a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis that is different from the first pivot axis, the hinge connected to the first and second display assemblies so that the first display assembly is rotatable about the first pivot axis and the second display assembly is rotatable about the second pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis is oriented nearer the first rear surface than the first active display area and the second pivot axis is oriented nearer the second rear surface than the second active display area, wherein the hinge is at least partially disposed within the first and second openings such that the hinge does not protrude from front surfaces of the first and second active display areas, wherein the hinge includes a hub with an internal passage extending between the first and second openings, the passage extending transverse to the first and second pivot axes, wherein the hinge has a range of motion of more than 180 degrees so that the device is foldable between an open position in which a first plane of the first active display area is transverse to a second plane of the second active display area and a closed position in which the first and second rear surfaces are oriented substantially back-to-back in adjacent planes, wherein, when in the open position, the hinge is not visible when viewing the first active display area and second active display area, wherein the hinge further comprises a first leaf at least partially positioned within the first opening of the first housing and a second leaf at least partially positioned within the second opening of the second housing, wherein the first leaf has a first open flange extending from a base of the first leaf and the second leaf has a second open flange extending from a base of the second leaf, wherein in the open position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially parallel to each other, substantially abut each other, and prevent further rotation of the first active display area and second active display area, and wherein in the closed position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially coplanar and a rear surface of the hinge is visible. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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providing a communication device comprising; a first display assembly including a first active display area and a first housing having a first rear surface, and a side surface extending between a periphery of the first active display area and the first rear surface of the first housing; a second display assembly including a second active display area and a second housing having a second rear surface, and a side surface extending between a periphery of the second active display area and the second rear surface of the second housing; and a hinge including a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis that is different from the first pivot axis, the hinge connected to the first and second display assemblies; moving the hinge to a fully closed position in which the first and second rear surfaces of the first and second housings are in contact with one another and the first and second active display areas face outwardly in opposing directions; and from the fully closed position, moving the hinge to a fully opened position, wherein, when in the fully opened position, the hinge has a range of motion of more than 180 degrees, wherein, when in the fully opened position, the hinge is oriented nearer the first rear surface and the second rear surface than the first active display area and the second active display area, wherein, when in the fully opened position, the hinge is not visible when viewing the first active display area and second active display area, wherein the hinge further comprises a first leaf at least partially positioned within the first opening of the first housing and a second leaf at least partially positioned within the second opening of the second housing, wherein the first leaf has a first open flange extending from a base of the first leaf and the second leaf has a second open flange extending from a base of the second leaf, wherein in the open position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially parallel to each other, substantially abut each other, and prevent further rotation of the first active display area and second active display area, and wherein in the closed position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially coplanar and a rear surface of the hinge is visible. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A handheld computing device, comprising:
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a first display assembly including a first active display area and a first housing having a rear surface, and a side surface extending between a periphery of the first active display area and the rear surface of the first housing; a second display assembly including a second active display area and a second housing having a rear surface, and a side surface extending between a periphery of the second active display area and the rear surface of the second housing; and a hinge including a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis that is different from the first pivot axis, the hinge connected to the first and second display assemblies, the hinge including a hub with an internal passage extending between the first display assembly and the second display assembly, the first and second display areas associated with first and second screens, respectively, and the passage adapted to facilitate electrical coupling of the first and second screens, wherein the hinge has a range of motion of more than 180 degrees so that the device is foldable between an open position in which a first plane of the first active display area is transverse to a second plane of the second active display area and a closed position in which the first and second active display areas are oriented substantially back-to-back in adjacent planes, and wherein each of the first and second planes define an angle δ
relative to a common plane that is greater than 0 but no more than about 10 degrees, wherein, when in the open position, the hinge is oriented nearer the first rear surface and the second rear surface than the first active display area and the second active display area, wherein, when in the open position, the hinge is not visible when viewing the first active display area and second active display area, wherein the hinge further comprises a first leaf at least partially positioned within the first opening of the first housing and a second leaf at least partially positioned within the second opening of the second housing, wherein the first leaf has a first open flange extending from a base of the first leaf and the second leaf has a second open flange extending from a base of the second leaf, wherein in the open position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially parallel to each other, substantially abut each other, and prevent further rotation of the first active display area and second active display area, and wherein in the closed position the first open flange and the second open flange are substantially coplanar and a rear surface of the hinge is visible. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification