Hinge device and portable terminal having the same

• US 20060059659A1
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Do-Hun, Park, Sung-Sun
• Granted Patent: US 7,484,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/330
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1078 the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/10 with non-parallel pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0212 with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, i.e. folding around a first axis and rotating around a second axis perpendicular to the first
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A portable terminal has a first side hinge arm positioned on a side of one of its housings and a second side hinge arm positioned on the other side of the other housing. A hinge device rotatably couples the housings and generates a rotational force to fold or unfold them. The hinge device makes the assembly process easy and contributes to diversification of terminal design. One of the housings can reverse its front and rear surfaces when unfolded, due to a dual hinge construction, for more convenient use of the portable terminal having a camera device.

Claims

1. A hinge device for a portable terminal comprising:

a first hinge housing;

a first hinge cam received in the first hinge housing so that it can move linearly in the longitudinal direction;

a hinge shaft extending through the first hinge cam in the longitudinal direction and rotatably coupled to the first hinge housing; and

a second hinge housing fixed to the hinge shaft and adapted to rotate relative to the first hinge housing, the second hinge housing enclosing the first hinge housing.

2. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first hinge housing has at least one longitudinal guide groove on its inner peripheral surface, and

the first hinge cam has at least one guide protrusion on its outer peripheral surface to engage the guide groove in such a manner that it can move linearly therein.

3. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the hinge shaft has a fixing body on one end of the hinge shaft, the fixing body being fixed to the second hinge housing, and

the hinge shaft has a second hinge cam adjacent to the fixing body, the second hinge cam facing the first hinge cam.

4. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

an elastic means coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the hinge shaft, a first end of the elastic means being supported on the inner wall of the first hinge housing, and the other end being supported on the first hinge cam to provide an elastic force acting in such a direction that the first hinge cam is forced against the second hinge cam.

5. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the first hinge cam has at least one curved crest, and

the second hinge cam has at least one curved trough to engage the curved crest.

6. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first hinge housing has a first stopper on its outer peripheral surface, the first stopper extending a distance corresponding to a predetermined angular range in the circumferential direction, and

the second hinge housing has a second stopper on its inner peripheral surface, the second stopper extending a distance corresponding to a predetermined angular range in the circumferential direction, the range of movement of the second stopper being limited by the first stopper.

7. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sum of angular span of the first and second stoppers is 180°

.

8. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the second hinge housing has a stepped surface formed on the inner peripheral surface of the second hinge housing that extends in the circumferential direction at a level different from that of the second stopper to receive the first stopper.

9. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a support ring coupled to an end of the second hinge housing, the support ring protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the second hinge housing in the radial direction.

10. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hinge housing comprises:

a first housing portion enclosed by the second hinge housing; and

a second housing portion extending from an end of the first housing portion and having an outer peripheral surface adapted to be flush with the outer peripheral surface of the second housing when the second housing is coupled thereto, the first and second housing portion having a stepped surface located between them.

11. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the second housing portion has a longitudinally extending first slit on the outer peripheral surface,

the second hinge housing has a longitudinally extending second slit, and

the stepped surface between the first and second housing portions has a third slit to connect the first slit to the interior of the second hinge housing.

12. A portable terminal comprising:

a first housing having a first side hinge arm formed on one side;

a second housing having a second side hinge arm formed on the side of the second housing that faces the end of the first side hinge arm, the second housing rotating towards or away from the first housing to be folded or unfolded;

a first hinge housing fixed to the second side hinge arm;

a hinge shaft rotatably coupled to the first hinge housing; and

a second hinge housing fixed to the first side hinge arm and the hinge shaft while enclosing the outer peripheral surface of the first hinge housing.

13. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a support ring coupled to an end of the second hinge housing, the support ring protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the second hinge housing in the radial direction, the support ring being interposed between the first and second side hinge arms.

14. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the first side hinge arm has a first receiving hole to receive the second hinge housing, and

the second side hinge arm has a second receiving hole that faces the first receiving hole to receive the first hinge housing.

15. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a camera lens positioned in a third receiving hole located in the second side hinge arm; and

a hole cap coupled to the second side hinge arm to close the third receiving hole.

16. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the second side hinge arm has an exposure opening and a camera lens positioned inside the second side hinge arm to take pictures via the exposure opening.

17. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a first hinge cam received in the first hinge housing in such a manner that it can move linearly therein and rotatably coupled to the hinge shaft; and

a second hinge cam fixed to the hinge shaft and adapted to face the first hinge cam while making sliding contact with it.

18. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the first hinge housing has a first stopper formed on the outer peripheral surface that extends a distance corresponding to a predetermined angular range in the circumferential direction;

and

the second hinge housing has a second stopper formed on the inner peripheral surface that extends a distance corresponding to a predetermined angular range in the circumferential direction, the range of movement of the second stopper being limited by the first stopper to limit the range of rotation of the second housing.

19. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first hinge housing comprises:

a first housing portion enclosed by the second hinge housing; and

a second housing portion extending at a level different from that of the first housing portion and having an outer peripheral surface adapted to be flush with the outer peripheral surface of the second housing when the second housing is coupled thereto, the first and second housing portions forming a stepped surface therebetween.

20. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the second housing portion has a first longitudinally extending slit on its outer peripheral surface,

the second hinge housing has a second longitudinally extending slit, and

the stepped surface between the first and second housing portions has a third slit that connects the first slit to the interior of the second hinge housing so that a passage is provided along which a flexible printed circuit extends from the first housing to the second housing.

21. A hinge device for a portable terminal having a first housing, a second housing adapted to rotate about a first hinge axis to be folded on or unfolded from the first housing while facing it and to rotate about a second hinge axis extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first hinge axis when unfolded from the first housing, and a hinge device for rotatably coupling the first and second housings to each other, the hinge device comprising:

a first hinge module received in the first housing to generate a rotational force for folding or unfolding the second housing about the first hinge axis;

a coupling housing positioned along the first hinge axis and fixed to the first housing;

a hinge housing coupled to the coupling housing and adapted to rotate about the first hinge axis by rotational force generated by the first hinge module; and

a second hinge module coupled to the hinge housing and having a rotary shaft adapted to rotate about the second hinge axis and fixed to the second housing.

22. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the first housing has a side hinge arm, the first housing extending along the first hinge axis and adapted to receive the first hinge module.

23. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein

the coupling housing is fixedly coupled to the side hinge arm.

24. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein

the inner end of the side hinge arm is coupled to the inner end of the hinge housing.

25. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 22, wherein

the first and second housing have first and second lateral surfaces which are opposite one another, and the outer end of the side hinge arm is positioned on the first lateral surface of the first and second housings, and the outer end of the hinge housing is positioned on the second lateral surface of the first and second housings.

26. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the first hinge module has a hinge shaft adapted to rotate about the first hinge axis, and

the hinge housing has a driving shaft fixed to the inner end thereof to rotate while engaging an end of the hinge shaft.

27. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 26, wherein the driving shaft is integral with the hinge shaft.

28. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 26, wherein

the driving shaft has a shaft groove formed on one end, and the shaft groove is engaged by an end of the hinge shaft so that the driving shaft and the hinge shaft constrain each other in the direction of rotation of the hinge shaft.

29. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a coupling ring fixed to the inner end of the hinge housing to support the rotation of the hinge housing relative to the coupling housing and prevent the hinge housing and the coupling housing separating from each other.

30. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first hinge module comprises:

a module housing having a hinge hole extending along the first hinge axis,

a hinge shaft rotatable received in the hinge hole, an end of the hinge shaft protruding from the end of the module housing,

a hinge cam received in the hinge hole in such a manner that it can move linearly therein while facing the other end of the hinge shaft; and

an elastic member received in the hinge hole to bias the hinge cam with an elastic force against the hinge shaft, the elastic force acting on the hinge cam being converted into a rotational force acting in the direction of rotation of the hinge shaft or in the opposite direction as the hinge shaft rotates.

31. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 30, wherein

the first hinge module has a hinge pin fixed to the end wall of the hinge hole and extending through the elastic member, the hinge cam, and the hinge shaft along the first hinge axis to support an end of the hinge shaft and limit the movement of the hinge shaft along the first hinge axis.

32. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a support shaft extending through the rotary shaft along the second hinge axis, one end of the support shaft being fixed to the hinge housing and the other end being rotatably coupled to the end of the rotary shaft;

a first rotary cam fixedly coupled to the support shaft and rotatably received in the rotary shaft;

a second rotary cam rotatably coupled to the support shaft while facing the first rotary cam and received in the rotary shaft in such a manner that it can move linearly therein; and

an elastic member received in the rotary shaft to provide the second rotary cam with an elastic force that biases the second rotary cam against the first rotary cam.

33. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 32, wherein

the other end of the support shaft protrudes from the end of the rotary shaft to have an E-ring fastened to the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft.

34. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the rotary shaft has a pair of fastening arms extending away from each other from the outer peripheral surface of an end of the rotary shaft to be fastened to the interior of the second housing.

35. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the coupling housing has a part inserted into the inner end of the hinge housing.

36. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the hinge housing has a speaker device received in the outer end.

37. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the side hinge arm has a speaker device received in the outer end.

38. The hinge device for a portable terminal as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the hinge housing has a camera module received in the outer end and the side hinge arm has a shutter switch received in the outer end.

39. A portable terminal comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing adapted to rotate about a first hinge axis to be folded on or unfolded from the first housing while facing it;

a hinge device for rotatably coupling the first and second housings to each other;

a first side hinge arm formed on a side of the first housing;

a second side hinge arm positioned on a side of the second housing with an end coupled to the end of the first side hinge arm while facing it and adapted to rotate about the first hinge axis; and

a first hinge module positioned on the hinge device to rotatably couple the first and second side hinge arms to each other.

40. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 39, wherein

the first hinge module is received in the first side hinge arm with an end coupled to the second side hinge arm to generate rotational force to fold or unfold the second housing.

41. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 39, wherein the first hinge module comprises:

a module housing having a hinge hole extending along the first hinge axis;

a hinge shaft having a first end protruding from the end of the module housing and at least one trough formed on the second end of the hinge shaft;

a hinge cam having at least one crest formed on a first end, the at least one crest facing the at least one trough of the hinge shaft, the hinge cam being received in the hinge hole in such a manner that it can move linearly therein while facing the second end of the hinge shaft; and

an elastic member received in the hinge hole to provide the hinge cam with an elastic force to force it against the hinge shaft, the elastic force being converted into a rotational force acting in the direction of rotation of the hinge shaft or in the opposite direction as the hinge shaft rotates.

42. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 39, wherein

the second side hinge arm is integral with the second housing.

43. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

a rotary shaft having one end fixed to the second housing and another end coupled to the second side hinge arm to rotate about a second hinge axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first hinge axis.

44. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 43, further comprising:

a support shaft extending through the rotary shaft along the second hinge axis with one end fixed to the second side hinge arm and another end rotatably coupled to the end of the rotary shaft;

a first rotary cam having at least one trough formed on one end, the first rotary cam being fixedly coupled to the support shaft to be rotatably received in the rotary shaft;

a second rotary cam having at least one crest formed on one end, the at least one crest facing the at least one trough of the first rotary cam, the second rotary cam being rotatably coupled to the support shaft while facing the first rotary cam to be received in the rotary shaft in such a manner that it can move linearly therein; and

an elastic member received in the rotary shaft to provide the second rotary cam with an elastic force to force it against the first rotary cam.

45. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

a camera device positioned in the second side hinge arm and an exposure window formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second side hinge arm.