DUAL SCREEN FOLDING DISPLAY HINGE

• US 20120120627A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multifold International Incorporated Pte. Ltd. (Transpacific IP Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: IMERJ LLC (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Mike, Kimbell, Marty, Gaynes, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/807
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/105 the maintaining means acting perpendicularly to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 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: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Dual screen display devices are disclosed. The device is able to be a mechanical hinge capable of joining multiple screens to form a single display or a substantially continuous display. The device is also capable of splitting a jointed display into separated screens. In some embodiments, the device comprises detaining mechanisms allowing the device to instantly interchange among several pre-defined angles or positions.

Claims

1. A device for forming a joined display comprising:

a. a core member;

b. a first movable member capable of moving around the core member in a rotational manner, wherein the first movable member comprises a first surface;

c. a second movable member capable of moving around the core member in a rotational manner, wherein the second movable member comprises a second surface; and

d. a single display formed when the first surface couple with the second surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first surface, the second surface, or both comprise one or more screens of an electronic device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more screens comprise an LCD, an LED, or a plasma screen.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the single display comprises a substantially continuous display having joined screens.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the core member comprises a first and a second pivot hinges.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first movable member is capable of moving in a rotational manner along the first pivot hinge.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a detaining mechanism, such that a movement of the first movable member, the second movable member, or both is able to be stopped at a pre-defined angle.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the pre-defined angle comprises a position having the single display formed when a first display on the first movable member couples with a second display on the second movable member.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the pre-defined angle further comprises a position having a first display on the first movable member parallel to a second display on the second movable member.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the pre-defined angle further comprises a position having a first display on the first movable member non-parallel to a second display on the second movable member.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising an elastic member positioned in a direction non-parallel to the first and the second pivot hinges.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the elastic member comprises a spring.

13. A method of forming a joined screen display comprising:

a. forming a body comprising at least a portion of a first rotatable member, at least a portion of a second rotatable member, or both;

b. forming a first screen on the first rotatable member; and

c. forming a second screen on the second rotatable member, wherein the first screen and the second screen form a substantially continuous display when at least a portion of the first screen becomes substantially parallel to at least a portion of the second screen.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first rotatable member is capable of rotating around a first axis and the second rotatable member is capable of rotating around a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis are contained within the body.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the second axis.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first screen and the second screen face outward in opposite directions when the first screen is substantially parallel to the second screen.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising a detaining mechanism capable of detaining the first screen, the second screen, or both in a pre-determined angel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first screen, the second screen, or both are capable of instantly interchanging between a first position and a second position by changing a force of engagement of the detaining mechanism.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first screen is parallel to the second screen in the first and the second positions, wherein the first position of the first screen is perpendicular to the second position of the first screen.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising an electronic device comprises the first screen, the second screen, the body, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic device is in a power-on status when the substantially continuous display is formed.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic device is in a power-off status when the first screen disjoins from the second screen.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic device comprises a phone, a computer, a music player, or a combination thereof.

24. A mechanical device comprising:

a. a body;

b. a first bracket rotatably coupling with the body with a first pivot;

c. a second bracket rotatably coupling with the body with a second pivot; and

d. at least one detaining member capable of detaining the first bracket, the second bracket, or both at one or more of pre-defined detaining locations on the first bracket, the second bracket, or both.

25. The mechanical device of claim 24, wherein the pre-defined detaining locations comprise a first terminal location perpendicular to a second terminal location on a first rotating axis of the first bracket or a second rotating axis of the second bracket.

26. The mechanical device of claim 25, wherein the pre-defined detaining locations comprise an intermediate location between the first and the second terminal locations.

27. The mechanical device of claim 25, wherein the first bracket couples with a first screen and the second bracket couples with a second screen.

28. The mechanical device of claim 25, wherein the first screen and the second screen form a single display.