Foldable electronic device formed by pivotally connecting two casings through hinge

• US 20040266239A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Kurokawa, Tomoyasu
• Granted Patent: US 6,926,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/165
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/025 having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/055 Folded back on itself

Abstract

A plurality of wound portions are formed on a wiring cable to be arranged in a two-axis hinge that connects two casings. Winding directions of the wound portions which are adjacent are set opposite to each other. In a foldable electronic device in which two casings are pivotally connected to each other through a two-axis hinge having two pivot shafts, the wiring cable is arranged in the two-axis hinge. One wound portion of the wiring cable is wound around one pivot shaft of the two-axis hinge. The other wound portion of the wiring cable is wound around the other pivot shaft of the two-axis hinge.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing;

a two-axis hinge having first and second pivot shafts to pivotally connect the first and second casings; and

a wiring cable to electrically connect the first and second casings through the two-axis hinge, wherein

the wiring cable is wound around the first pivot shaft of the two-axis hinge in a first direction, and around the second pivot shaft of the two-axis hinge in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein first and second bent portions are formed at a substantially central portion in a longitudinal direction of the wiring cable.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring cable is an FPC cable.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the FPC cable is an elongated band-like cable formed by adhering adhesive tapes to two surfaces of an array of a plurality of wire-like cables arranged at a predetermined interval.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring cable includes a plurality of wiring cables.

6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first gear formed on part of an outer surface of the first pivot shaft; and

a second gear formed on part of an outer surface of the second pivot shaft and serving to mesh with the first gear.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second gears are formed to pivot by the same angle in opposite directions.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein

the first pivot shaft is fixed to an end of the first casing, and

the second pivot shaft is fixed to an end of the second casing.

9. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing which pivotally supports the first and second pivot shafts.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein an image sensing portion is mounted on the first casing.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein

an image display is mounted on the second casing,

the image display serving to acquire and display through the wiring cable image information acquired by the image sensing portion.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein a card slot portion to mount a memory card is mounted on the first casing.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein

an image display is mounted on the second casing, and

the image display acquires and displays through the wiring cable image information recorded on a memory card mounted on the card slot portion.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein an image display is mounted on the second casing.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein

an image display is mounted on the first casing, and

an operating portion is mounted on the second casing.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the foldable electronic device is a digital camera.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the foldable electronic device is a cellular phone.

18. A method of wiring a cable in a hinge that connects two casings, wherein a plurality of wound portions are formed on the cable, and winding directions of the wound portions which are adjacent are set opposite to each other.