EXTENDABLE CONNECTING LINK

• US 20120257368A1
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bohn, David D., O'Brien, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/809
• 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 1/0274 for an electrical connector module

Abstract

In embodiments of an extendable connecting link, a first link section attaches in a first housing part of a device and a second link section attaches in a second housing part of the device. The first and second link sections interlock and slide-engage relative to each other. An interconnection channel routes an electrical interconnection between the first housing part and the second housing part of the device, where the interconnection channel is formed when the first and second link sections are slide-engaged. The first and second link sections also slide relative to each other to increase or decrease a length of the extendable connecting link.

Claims

1. An extendable connecting link, comprising:

a first link section configured for attachment in a first housing part of a device;

a second link section configured for attachment in a second housing part of the device, the first and second link sections interlocking and configured to slide-engage relative to each other; and

an interconnection channel configured to route an electrical interconnection between the first housing part and the second housing part of the device, the interconnection channel formed when the first and second link sections are slide-engaged.

2. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second link sections are configured to slide relative to each other to increase or decrease a length of the extendable connecting link.

3. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second link sections are configured to slide relative to each other to increase a length of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened from a closed position at zero degrees (0°

) to ninety degrees (90°

), and when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed from an open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) to said ninety degrees (90°

).

4. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second link sections are configured to slide relative to each other to decrease a length of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed from ninety degrees (90°

) to a closed position at zero degrees (0°

), and when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened from said ninety degrees (90°

) to an open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

).

5. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second housing parts of the device are movably coupled with a barrel hinge and the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link.

6. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 1, wherein the interconnection channel is configured to route the electrical interconnection comprising at least one of a flexible printed circuit, an electrical cable, an optical fiber, a coaxial cable, an antenna coaxial cable, or the flexible printed circuit bundled with one or more cables.

7. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first cam integrated with the first link section and a second cam integrated with the second link section, the first and second cams configured to apply a torque to open and close the first and second housing parts of the device relative to each other.

8. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second cams rotate to apply the torque as the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link rotate relative to the first and second housing parts of the device.

9. An extendable connecting link as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second cams are configured to apply a first detent when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened relative to each other, and apply a second detent when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed relative to each other.

10. A portable device, comprising:

a first housing part integrated with a display device;

a second housing part movably coupled to the first housing part, which is operable to open and close relative to the second housing part, the first and second housing parts configurable from a closed position to an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

);

a hinge operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the portable device; and

an extendable connecting link operable to movably couple the first and second housing parts, the extendable connecting link comprising first and second link sections that slide relative to each other to increase or decrease a length of the extendable connecting link.

11. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein the second housing part is integrated with an additional display device, and wherein the display device and the additional display device are configurable adjacent each other as a surface display in the open position.

12. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link are configured to slide relative to each other to increase the length of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of the portable device are opened from the closed position at zero degrees (0°

) to ninety degrees (90°

), and when the first and second housing parts of the portable device are closed from the open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) to said ninety degrees (90°

).

13. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link are configured to slide relative to each other to decrease the length of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of the portable device are closed from ninety degrees (90°

) to the closed position at zero degrees (0°

), and when the first and second housing parts of the portable device are opened from said ninety degrees (90°

) to the open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

).

14. A portable device as recited in claim 10, further comprising an interconnection channel configured to route an electrical interconnection between the first and second housing parts of the portable device, the interconnection channel formed when the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link are interlocked and slide-engage relative to each other, and wherein the electrical interconnection comprises at least one of a flexible printed circuit, an electrical cable, an optical fiber, a coaxial cable, an antenna coaxial cable, or the flexible printed circuit bundled with one or more cables.

15. A portable device as recited in claim 10, wherein the extendable connecting link includes a first cam integrated with the first link section and a second cam integrated with the second link section, the first and second cams configured to apply a torque to open and close the first and second housing parts of the portable device relative to each other.

16. A portable device as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and second cams rotate to apply the torque as the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link rotate relative to the first and second housing parts of the portable device.

17. A portable device as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and second cams are configured to apply a first detent when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened relative to each other, and apply a second detent when the first and second housing parts of the portable device are closed relative to each other.

18. A method, comprising:

interlocking a first link section of an extendable connecting link with a second link section of the extendable connecting link, the first and second link sections sliding relative to each other when slide-engaged, the first link section configured for attachment in a first housing part of a device and the second link section configured for attachment in a second housing part of the device; and

one of;

increasing a length of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened from a closed position at zero degrees (0°

) to ninety degrees (90°

), and when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed from an open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) to said ninety degrees (90°

);

or

decreasing the length of the extendable connecting link when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed from ninety degrees (90°

) to the closed position at zero degrees (0°

), and when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened from said ninety degrees (90°

) to the open position at one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

).

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising hinging the first and second housing parts of the device with a barrel hinge that is operable, in conjunction with the extendable connecting link, to movably couple the first and second housing parts of the device.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

applying a torque with first and second cams to open and close the first and second housing parts of the device relative to each other, the first link section of the extendable connecting link including the first cam and the second link section of the extendable connecting link including the second cam;

rotating the first and second cams to apply the torque as the first and second link sections of the extendable connecting link rotate relative to the first and second housing parts of the device;

applying a first detent with the first and second cams when the first and second housing parts of the device are opened relative to each other; and

applying a second detent with the first and second cams when the first and second housing parts of the device are closed relative to each other.