Design and Implementation of Friction Hinge with a Range of Motion and Detent Separation Greater than 180 Degrees

• US 20100154171A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thiruppukuzhi, Srikanth, Lombardi, Michael J, Harmon, Roger W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/341
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

A mobile phone or other electronic device is provided with an improved friction hinge with a radial range of motion greater than 180 degrees and with detents at both ends of travel. The friction hinge can include an asymmetrical cam in conjunction with a single tab on a follower. Advantageously, the electronic device with the improved friction hinge can allows a full 360 degree range of motion with any number of detents at any radial position.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a flip providing a top and cover of an electronic device, said flip comprising a first housing having an inward upper surface, an outward upper surface and an upper edge connecting the inward upper surface and the outward upper surface, the outward upper surface of the first housing including a screen providing an electronic display;

a base providing a bottom for manually grasping the electronic device, said base comprising a second housing having an inward lower surface, an outward lower surface and a lower edge connecting the inward lower surface and the outward lower surface, the outward lower surface of the second housing including a keyboard, said base defining a battery compartment for receiving at least one battery to energize the keyboard and electronic display; and

a friction hinge pivotally connecting the flip to the base, said friction hinge having a first detent located at about a zero (0) degree position for closing the electronic device and a second detent located at a position beyond 180 degrees so that the electronic device can be partially opened and subsequently pivoted to a fully opened position with the flip opened at an angle beyond 180 degrees relative to the base.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the friction hinge has a spring positioned substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the friction hinge comprises an asymmetric cam with at least two of said detents.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the friction hinge includes a follower with a single tab for engaging said detents to provide for movement of the electronic device from said closed position, to said partially open position and to said fully open position.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said detents are separated by about 210 degrees to allow for about 190 degrees of travel and about 10 degrees of preload at both ends of travel.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the friction hinge includes a cam with diametrically opposite curved surfaces and diametrically opposite planar surfaces.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the friction hinge comprises a follower with a generally oblong configuration, said follower having diametrically opposite curved surfaces and diametrically opposite planar surfaces, and said follower having an axially extending rounded tip providing a single tab for engaging said detents.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a flip providing a top and cover of an electronic device, said flip comprising a first housing having an inward upper surface, an outward upper surface and an upper edge connecting the inward upper surface and the outward upper surface, the outward upper surface of the first housing including a screen providing an electronic display;

a base providing a bottom for manually grasping the electronic device, said base comprising a second housing having an inward lower surface, an outward lower surface and a lower edge connecting the inward lower surface and the outward lower surface, the outward lower surface of second housing including a keyboard, said base having a battery compartment for containing at least one battery to energize the keyboard and electronic device; and

a friction hinge coupling the flip to the base for providing specific positions of the electronic device including a closed tablet position in which the flip and base are positioned at about a zero (0) degree angle relative to each other at a closing torque, a fully open qwerty position in which the flip and base are positioned at a open angle beyond about 180 degrees at a fully open torque, and a partially open video player position in which the flip and base are positioned at an open angle of inclination ranging between said closed and fully open positions at a torque less than said closing torque and said fully open torque.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein said partially open video player position is at an angle of inclination greater than zero (0) degrees and less than about 190 degrees at a generally constant torque.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein said partially open video player position ranges from about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the fully open qwerty position is at about 190 degrees.

12. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the friction hinge comprises an asymmetrical cam with a first detent at about a zero (0) degree position and a second detent at a position beyond 180 degrees.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a flip providing a top and cover of an electronic device, said flip comprising a first housing having an inward upper surface, an outward upper surface and an upper edge connecting the inward upper surface and the outward upper surface, and said outward upper surface of the first housing including an outer display screen providing an outer electronic display;

a base providing a bottom for manually grasping the electronic device, said base comprising a second housing having an inward lower surface, an outward lower surface and a lower edge connecting the inward lower surface and the outward lower surface, the outward lower surface of second housing including a keyboard, said base having a battery compartment for receiving at least one battery to energize the keyboard and electronic displays; and

a friction hinge pivotally connecting and coupling the flip to the base, said friction hinge comprising

a shaft providing a pivot pin and defining an axis of rotation;

an asymmetrical cam having a first detent located at a zero (0) degree position for closing the electronic device and a second detent located at a position beyond 180 degrees so that the electronic device can be partially opened and subsequently pivoted to a fully opened position with the flip opened at an angle beyond 180 degrees relative to the base, said cam having a face;

a follower secured to said shaft and having an axially extending rounded tip providing a single tab for riding the asymmetrical cam and engaging the detents;

a coil spring positioned about the shaft and extending axially along and substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the electronic device for urging the face of the cam against the single tab of the follower;

said friction hinge providing specific positions of the electronic device including a closed position in a tablet mode in which the flip and base are positioned at a zero (0) degree angle relative to each other at a closing torque, a fully open position in a qwerty mode in which the flip and base are positioned at a open angle substantially greater than about 180 degrees at a fully open torque, and a partially open position in a video player mode in which the flip and base are positioned at an open angle substantially greater than said closed position but substantially less than fully open position at a torque less than said closing torque and said fully open torque.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of an electronic device with a clamshell configuration, a radiotelephone, a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a portable gaming device, and combinations thereof.

15. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein:

in the tablet mode, the flip is held closed using the first detent in the cam and the preload of the coil spring;

said partially open position in the video player mode ranges from about 70 degrees to about 100 degrees, and when the electronic device is in the video player mode, the user sets the desired angle of the flip and the flip is then held open with a holding torque produced by the friction between the can and the follower; and

said fully open position is about 190 degrees, and when the electronic device in is in the qwerty mode, the flip is held open to about 190 degrees using the second detent in the cam and the preload of the coil spring.

16. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein said detents of said asymmetrical cam are separated by about 210 degrees to allow for about 190 degrees of travel and about 10 degrees of preload at both ends of travel.

17. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein:

said asymmetrical cam has diametrically opposite curved surfaces and diametrically opposite planar surfaces; and

said follower has an oblong configuration with diametrically opposite curved surfaces and diametrically opposite planar surfaces.

18. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein said friction hinge allows for a full 360 degree range of motion of the flip relative to the base.

19. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein:

the coil spring comprises a compression spring;

the cam comprises an asymmetrical cam surface; and

the friction hinge comprises, metal, plastic, or combinations thereof.