Micro-hinge for an electronic device

• US 10,633,898 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2018
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cheah, Bok Eng, Loo, Howe Yin, Lim, Min Suet, Kong, Jackson Chung Peng, Oh, Poh Tat
• Primary Examiner(s): Delisle, Roberta S
• Application Number:
  US16/012,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20190093402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 16366, 16368, 16369
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/06 with two or more pins E05D7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• 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 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3218 of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer or laptop, which includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which includes any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particular example implementation of the electronic device may include a low profile hinge design that includes a micro-hinge. The micro-hinge can couple a first element to a second element and can include a first attachment that couples to the first element, a second attachment that couples to the second element, and a plurality of linkages that couples the first attachment to the second attachment. The low profile hinge can further include a plurality of micro-hinges and a plurality of support rods.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a base carrying a keyboard;

a display; and

a hinge to secure the display to the base, the hinge including a base linkage near the base, a display linkage near the display, and at least one intermediate linkage between the base linkage and the display linkage,

the base linkage, the at least one intermediate linkage, and the display linkage to rotate in a first direction to enable the display to move into a closed configuration in which the display faces the keyboard,

the base linkage, the at least one intermediate linkage, and the display linkage to rotate in a second direction to enable the display to move away from the base into an open configuration,

the linkages to form an arch between the base linkage and the display linkage when the display is in the closed configuration,

at least two of the base linkage, the at least one intermediate linkage, and the display linkage to move from a curved position to a flat position when the display moves from the closed configuration toward the open configuration, the at least two of the base linkage, the at least one intermediate linkage, and the display linkage lying in a plane when the at least two of the base linkage, the at least one intermediate linkage, and the display linkage are in the flat position.

2. The electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the hinge is to enable the display to rest with a screen of the display facing away from the base.

3. The electronic device as defined in claim 2, wherein the linkages are to form the arch between the base linkage and the display linkage when the screen of the display is facing away from the base.

4. The electronic device as defined in claim 1, further including a covering to cover the linkages, the covering to extend along a length of the base.

5. The electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the base linkage is to interlock with one of the at least one intermediate linkages.

6. The electronic device as defined in claim 5, wherein the at least one intermediate linkage includes a first intermediate linkage and a second intermediate linkage, the first intermediate linkage to interlock with the base linkage and the second intermediate linkage to interlock with the display linkage.

7. The electronic device as defined in claim 1, further including a rod extending through an opening defined in the at least one intermediate linkage.

8. The electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate linkage is stacked between the base linkage and the display linkage.

9. The electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the hinge is to support the display in an at least partially upright position when the display is in the open configuration.

10. The electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein the arch defines an opening therein.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a keyboard;

a base to support the keyboard;

a display; and

means for securing the display to the base, the means for securing to enable the display to move from a first position in which the display faces the keyboard to a second position in which the display faces away from the keyboard, the means for securing having a curved profile relative to the base when the display is in the first position, at least a portion of the means for securing having a flat profile relative to the base when the display is in the second position.

12. The electronic device as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for securing includes at least three linkages.

13. The electronic device as defined in claim 12, further including means for coupling two of the at least three linkages.

14. The electronic device as defined in claim 11, wherein a first linkage is to engage the base, a second linkage is to engage the display, and a third linkage is between the first linkage and the second linkage.

15. The electronic device as defined in claim 11, further including a covering to cover the means for securing.

16. The electronic device as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for securing is to support the display in at least a partially upright position when the display is in the second position.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a base;

a keyboard on the base;

a display including a display screen; and

a hinge including at least three hinge segments to link the base to the display, the hinge segments to rotate in a first direction to enable the display to move into a closed configuration in which the display faces the keyboard, the hinge segments to rotate in a second direction to enable the display to move away from the base into an open configuration, the hinge segments in an arch when the display is in the closed configuration,

at least two of the hinge segments to move from a curved position to a flat position when the display moves from the closed configuration toward the open configuration, the at least two hinge segments lying in a plane when the at least two hinge segments are in the flat position.

18. The electronic device as defined in claim 17, wherein the hinge segments define an opening of the arch.

19. The electronic device as defined in claim 17, further including a covering to cover the hinge segments.

20. The electronic device as defined in claim 17, wherein a first one of the hinge segments defines an opening and further including a rod extending through the opening.