HINGE APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20130111704A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Mitsui, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/250
• 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 apparatus for an electronic device includes a cam unit and a gear unit provided at a connecting position of an upper plate and a lower plate. The cam unit includes a first cam mechanism for causing a first cam shaft connected to an upper plate to generate a torque and a second cam mechanism for causing a second cam shaft connected to a lower plate to generate a torque. Further, the gear unit includes a first gear shaft connected to the upper plate and a second gear shaft connected to the lower plate, a first gear provided in the first gear shaft, a first gear provided in the second gear shaft, and a gear mechanism that synchronizes and rotates the first gear shaft and the second gear shaft.

Claims

1. A hinge apparatus for an electronic device comprising:

a cam unit; and

a gear unit;

wherein the cam unit includes

a cam cover,

a first cam shaft that is rotatably arranged in the cam cover and connected to a first cam bracket fixed to a first plate,

a first cam mechanism that causes the first cam shaft to generate a torque,

a second cam shaft configured to independently rotate relative to the first cam shaft and connected to a second cam bracket fixed to a second plate, and

a second cam mechanism that causes the second cam shaft to generate a torque,

wherein the gear unit includes

a gear cover,

a first gear shaft that is rotatably arranged in the gear cover and connected to a first cam bracket fixed to the first plate,

a first gear part arranged in the first gear shaft,

a second gear shaft that is rotatably arranged in the gear cover and connected to a second cam bracket fixed to the second plate,

a second gear part arranged in the second gear shaft, and

a gear mechanism including the first gear part and the second gear part, and configured to synchronize and rotate the first gear shaft and the second gear shaft,

wherein the cam unit and the gear unit are positioned away from and faced against the first and second plates that are rotatable relative to each other.

2. The hinge apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first gear shaft and the second gear shaft are configured to rotate in different directions relative to each other.

3. The hinge apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second cam mechanisms are configured to generate the torque one time when the second plate is rotate 360 degrees relative to the first plate.