Foldable electronic device having a flexible hinge mechanism

• US 20060133052A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Caruso, James F., Uppugonduri, Lavanya, Harmon, Roger W.
• Application Number:
  US11/015,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133052A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/752
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups

Abstract

A foldable electronic device (100) includes a flexible hinge mechanism for enabling the opening and closing of the first housing element (102) and the second housing element (104). The flexible hinge mechanism includes a flexible hinge element (106), a drag link (108) and a flexible connection strip (506). The flexible hinge element connects the two housing elements and is elastic in nature. The drag link also connecting the two housing elements and limits an opening angle between the two housing elements to an angle less than 180 degrees. The flexible connection strip is routed along the length of the flexible hinge element and connects electrical circuits in the two housing elements for exchange of signals.

Claims

1. A foldable electronic device having a flexible hinge mechanism for enabling opening and closing of two housing elements, the foldable electronic device comprising:

a flexible hinge element, the flexible hinge element connecting the two housing elements, the flexible hinge element being elastic in nature, the flexible hinge element being in a relaxed position when an opening angle between the two housing elements is at least 180 degrees;

a drag link, the drag link connecting the two housing elements, the drag link limiting the opening angle between the two housing elements to an angle less than 180 degrees; and

a flexible connection strip, the flexible connection strip being routed along a length of the flexible hinge element, the flexible connection strip connecting electrical circuits in the two housing elements for exchange of signals.

2. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the flexible hinge element comprises:

a flexible portion, the flexible portion being elastic in nature, the flexible portion being in a relaxed position when the opening angle between the two housing elements is at least 180 degrees; and

at least one strap, the at least one strap being an extended portion of the flexible portion, the at least one strap being used for attaching the flexible portion to the two housing elements.

3. The foldable electronic device according to claim 2 wherein the flexible portion comprises:

a flexible hinge strip, the flexible hinge strip being elastic in nature; and

a first cover covering the flexible hinge strip on at least one side.

4. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the flexible hinge strip is manufactured from a metallic material.

5. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the flexible hinge strip is manufactured from a non-metallic material.

6. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the first cover is manufactured from a non-metallic material.

7. The foldable electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the flexible portion comprises:

a second cover for covering the flexible hinge strip on at least another side.

8. The foldable electronic device according to claim 7 wherein the second cover is manufactured from a non-metallic material.

9. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 further comprising a snap and a catch hook for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position, the snap and the catch hook being mounted on either ends of the flexible hinge element, the snap and the catch hook being able to engage each other when the foldable electronic device is in a closed position.

10. The foldable electronic device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one magnet for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position.

11. The foldable electronic device according to claim 10 further comprising a second magnet for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position.

12. The foldable electronic device according to claim 10 further comprising a metal piece to engage with the at least one magnet for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position.

13. A foldable electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the flexible hinge element comprises:

at least one metal wire, the at least one metal wire being elastic in nature, the at least one metal wire following at least a part of a perimeter of the two housing elements; and

a first cover covering the flexible hinge element on at least one side.

14. A foldable device having a flexible hinge mechanism for enabling opening and closing of two housing elements, the foldable device comprising:

a flexible hinge element, the flexible hinge element coupling the two housing elements, the flexible hinge element being elastic in nature, the flexible hinge element being in a relaxed position when an opening angle between the two housing elements is at least 180 degrees; and

a drag link, the drag link connecting the two housing elements, the drag link limiting the opening angle between the two housing elements to an angle less than 180 degrees.

15. The foldable device according to claim 14 wherein the foldable device is an electronic device.

16. The foldable device according to claim 15 further comprises:

a flexible connection strip, the flexible connection strip being routed along a length of the flexible hinge element, the flexible connection strip connecting electrical circuits in the two housing elements for exchange of signals.

17. The foldable device according to claim 14 further comprising a snap and a catch hook for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position, the snap and the catch hook being mounted on either ends of the flexible hinge element, the snap and the catch hook being able to engage each other when the foldable device is in a closed position.

18. The foldable device according to claim 14 further comprising at least one magnet for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position.

19. The foldable device according to claim 18 further comprising a second magnet for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position.

20. The foldable device according to claim 18 further comprising a metal piece to engage with the at least one magnet for keeping the two housing elements in a closed position.