HINGE MECHANISM FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120120618A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bohn, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,982,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/749
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/18 with sliding pins or guides
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1253 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

A hinge mechanism for a mobile electronic device includes a first leaf comprising first and second fixed pivot axes and a second leaf comprising third and fourth fixed pivot axes, the four pivot axes being substantially parallel to one another. A first linkage is pivotally coupled to the first leaf at the first pivot axis and pivotally coupled to the second leaf at the fourth pivot axis. A second linkage is pivotally coupled to the first leaf such at the second pivot axis and pivotally coupled to the second leaf at the third pivot axis. The first and second leaves are pivotable at least about 180° relative to one another. A cam mechanism can be included to bias the pivotal motion of the leaves. An FPC or other electrical connector linking the leaves can pass through a passage in at least one of the linkages.

Claims

1. A hinge mechanism for a mobile electronic device, comprising:

a first leaf comprising a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes being spaced from one another and fixed relative to the first leaf;

a second leaf comprising a third pivot axis and a fourth pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes being spaced from one another and fixed relative to the second leaf, the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes being substantially parallel to one another;

a first linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the first linkage is pivotable about the first pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the first linkage is pivotable about the fourth pivot axis relative to the second leaf; and

a second linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the second linkage is pivotable about the second pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the second linkage is pivotable about the third pivot axis relative to the second leaf;

wherein the first leaf and the second leaf are pivotable, between a closed position and an open position, at least about 180°

relative to one another in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes.

2. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein, when the hinge is in the closed position, the first linkage and the second linkage are transverse to one another when viewed in an axial direction of the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes.

3. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein:

a first link length is a distance between the first and fourth pivot axes;

a second link length is a distance between the second and third pivot axes;

a first separation is a distance between the first and second pivot axes; and

a second separation is a distance between the third and fourth pivot axes;

wherein the absolute value of the first link length minus the second link length is greater than or equal to the absolute value of the first separation minus the second separation.

4. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first and second pivot axes is about equal to a distance between the third and fourth pivot axes and a distance between the first and fourth pivot axes is about equal to a distance between the second and third pivot axes.

5. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein, when the first and second leaves are in the closed position, a distance between the first and third pivot axes is about equal to a distance between the second and fourth pivot axes.

6. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein only substantially determinate motion is permitted as the first and second leaves pivot between the closed position and the open position.

7. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein, as the first and second leaves move from the closed position to the open position, the first linkage pivots less than 90°

about the first pivot axis relative to the first leaf and the second linkage pivots more than 90°

about the second pivot axis relative to the first leaf.

8. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a third linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the third linkage is pivotable about the first pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the third linkage is pivotable about the fourth pivot axis relative to the second leaf, the first and third linkages being positioned on opposite sides of the second linkage; and

a fourth linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the fourth linkage is pivotable about the second pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the fourth linkage is pivotable about the third pivot axis relative to the second leaf, the second and fourth linkages being positioned between the first and third linkages.

9. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein an intermediate portion of the second linkage is wider than an intermediate portion of the first linkage in the direction of the second and third pivot axes, the second linkage comprising a longitudinal passage extending through the intermediate portion of the second linkage from adjacent the second pivot axis to adjacent the third pivot axis, the longitudinal passage being configured to route a flexible electrical connector between the first and second leaves.

10. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, further comprising at least one cam mechanism for biasing the pivotal movement of first and second leaves relative to one another, the cam mechanism comprising a radial bistable over-center cam, a radial friction detent cam, an axial bistable over-center cam, or an axial friction detent cam.

11. The hinge mechanism of claim 10, the hinge mechanism further comprising:

a spring comprising first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being engaged with the first leaf; and

a pusher comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the pusher being engaged with the second end portion of the spring and slidable relative to the first leaf;

wherein one of the first and second linkages comprises a cam portion adjacent to the first leaf, the cam portion interacting with the second end portion of the pusher to bias hinge toward the closed position or toward the open position.

12. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first and second linkages are nested with one another.

13. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein:

the first leaf comprises an outer major surface and an inner major surface;

the second leaf comprises an outer major surface and an inner major surface;

the inner major surfaces of the first and second leaves are substantially coplanar when the first and second leaves are in the open position;

the outer major surfaces of the first and second leaves are substantially coplanar when the first and second leaves are in the open position; and

the first and second pivot axes are about halfway between the inner and outer major surfaces of the first leaf and the third and fourth pivot axes are about halfway between the inner and outer major surfaces of the second leaf.

14. The hinge mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first leaf and the second leaf are pivotable, between a first closed position and a second closed position, about 360°

relative to one another in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes.

15. The hinge mechanism of claim 14, wherein, when the hinge is in the first closed position or the second closed position, the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes are substantially coplanar.

16. A hinged mobile electronic device, comprising:

a first leaf comprising a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes being spaced from one another and fixed relative to the first leaf;

a second leaf comprising a third pivot axis and a fourth pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes being spaced from one another and fixed relative to the second leaf, the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes being substantially parallel to one another;

a first linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the first linkage is pivotable about the first pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the first linkage is pivotable about the fourth pivot axis relative to the second leaf; and

a second linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the second linkage is pivotable about the second pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the second linkage is pivotable about the third pivot axis relative to the second leaf;

wherein at least one of the first leaf and the second leaf comprises electronic user interface apparatus; and

wherein the first leaf and the second leaf are pivotable, between a closed position and an open position, at least about 180°

relative to one another in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the second linkage comprises a longitudinal passage extending from adjacent the second pivot axis to adjacent the third pivot axis, the mobile device further comprising a flexible printed circuit (FPC) extending between the first leaf and the second leaf, the FPC passing through the longitudinal passage in the second linkage.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, further comprising:

a first side surface and an opposed second side surface, the first and second side surfaces being substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis, the first and second linkages being nearer to the first side surface that to the second side surface;

a third linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf and to the second leaf, the third linkage being nearer to the second side surface than to the first side surface, the third linkage comprising a longitudinal passage extending from adjacent the first leaf to adjacent the second leaf; and

a coaxial cable extending between the first leaf and the second leaf, the coaxial cable passing through the longitudinal passage in the third linkage.

19. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein:

the first leaf comprises a first major surface and an opposed second major surface;

the second leaf comprises third major surface and an opposed fourth major surface; and

the first, second, third and fourth major surfaces each comprise an electronic display screen.

20. A hinged mobile electronic device, comprising:

a first leaf comprising a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes being spaced from one another and fixed relative to the first leaf;

a second leaf comprising a third pivot axis and a fourth pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes being spaced from one another and fixed relative to the second leaf, the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes being substantially parallel to one another;

a first linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the first linkage is pivotable about the first pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the first linkage is pivotable about the fourth pivot axis relative to the second leaf;

a second linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the second linkage is pivotable about the second pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the second linkage is pivotable about the third pivot axis relative to the second leaf, the second linkage comprising a longitudinal passage extending from adjacent the second pivot axis to adjacent the third pivot axis, the first and second linkages being nested with one another;

a third linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the third linkage is pivotable about the first pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the third linkage is pivotable about the fourth pivot axis relative to the second leaf, the third linkage comprising a longitudinal passage extending from adjacent the second pivot axis to adjacent the third pivot axis;

a fourth linkage pivotally coupled to the first leaf such that the fourth linkage is pivotable about the second pivot axis relative to the first leaf, and pivotally coupled to the second leaf such that the fourth linkage is pivotable about the third pivot axis relative to the second leaf, the third and fourth linkages being nested with one another and spaced apart from the first and second linkages;

at least one cam mechanism for biasing the pivotal movement of first and second leaves relative to one another;

a flexible printed circuit (FPC) extending between the first leaf and the second leaf, the FPC passing through the longitudinal passage in the second linkage and electrically connecting components of the first and the second leaves; and

an electrical connector extending between the first leaf and the second leaf, the electrical connector passing through the longitudinal passage in the third linkage and electrically connecting components of the first and the second leaves;

wherein the first leaf and the second leaf are pivotable, between a closed position and an open position, at least about 180°

relative to one another in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes, and when the device is in the closed position, the first linkage and the second linkage are transverse to one another and the third and fourth linkages are transverse to one another when viewed in an axial direction of the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes.