TERMINAL APPARATUS

• US 20130135809A1
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.), Lenovo Company Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.), Lenovo Company Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: UCHIYAMA, Yoshiharu, HOU, Wenlin, SHAO, Junhua, DAI, Huang, YANG, Daye
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a hinge device and a folded apparatus having such hinge device. The hinge device comprises a hinge bracket, a first axis, and a second axis provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket, the first axis is connected to a first body of an apparatus, and the second axis is connected to a second body of the apparatus, the first body can rotate from 0 degree to 360 degree and/or from 360 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body by being brought by the first axis and the second axis, wherein, when the first body rotates from 0 degree to a predetermined angle and/or from the predetermined angle to 0 degree with respect to the second body, the first axis rotates and the second axis rests, and wherein, when the first body rotates from the predetermined angle to 360 degree and/or from 360 degree to the predetermined angle with respect to the second body, the second axis rotates and the first axis rests.

Claims

1. A hinge device, comprising:

a hinge bracket; and

a first axis and a second axis provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket, the first axis is connected with a first body of an apparatus and the second axis is connected with a second body of the apparatus;

the first body can rotate from 0 degree to 360 degree and/or from 360 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body by being brought by the first axis and the second axis,

wherein, when the first body rotates from 0 degree to a predetermined angle and/or from the predetermined angle to 0 degree with respect to the second body, the first axis rotates and the second axis rests, and

wherein, when the first body rotates from the predetermined angle to 360 degree and/or from 360 degree to the predetermined angle with respect to the second body, the second axis rotates and the first axis rests.

2. The hinge device of claim 1, wherein a first recess is provided on the first axis and a second recess is provided on the second axis, and

the hinge device further comprises a float locating member, the float locating member is supported by the hinge bracket and is able to slide between the first axis and the second axis to be coupled to the first recess and/or the second recess.

3. The hinge device of claim 1, wherein a first cam and a second cam are provided on the first axis and the second axis respectively, the first axis and the second axis bring the first cam and second cam to rotate respectively as rotating.

wherein, the first recess is provided on the first cam, and the second recess is provided on the second cam, and

wherein, the hinge device further comprises a float locating member, the float locating member is supported by the hinge bracket and is able to slide between the first axis and the second axis to be coupled to the first recess and/or the second recess.

4. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein, when the first body rotates from 0 degree to 360 degree and/or from 360 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body, when the first body rotates to the predetermined angle, the float locating member starts from to be coupled with one of the first recess and the second recess to be coupled with the other one of the first recess and the second recess.

5. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein, when the first body rotates from 0 degree to 360 degree and/or from 360 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body, when the first body rotates to the predetermined angle, the float locating member starts from to be coupled with one of the first recess and the second recess to be coupled with the other one of the first recess and the second recess.

6. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein the minimum gap between the first axis and the second axis is less than a size in the direction of a line connecting the center of the first axis and the center of the second axis of the float locating member.

7. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein the minimum gap between the first cam and the second cam is less than a size in the direction of a line connecting the center of the first cam and the center of the second cam of the float locating member.

8. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein the float locating member is a float locating cam provided between the first axis and the second axis, the float locating member is connected slidable and unrotatable to the hinge bracket.

9. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein the float locating member is a cylinder being parallel with the first axis and the second axis.

10. The hinge device of claim 9, wherein the cylinder has a circular cross section and the diameters of the two end parts of the cylinder is less than the diameter of the central section, and

two openings of track shape are provided on the hinge bracket, the two end parts of the cylinder are inserted in the two openings of track shape respectively to slide between the first axis and the second axis, so that the central section can be coupled to the first recess and/or the second recess.

11. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein the cross section of each of the first recess and the second recess has a slant side wall.

12. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein the cross section of each of the first recess and the second recess has a slant side wall.

13. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein the hinge bracket comprises two support plates provided being parallel with each other and perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

14. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein the hinge bracket comprises two support plates provided being parallel with each other and perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

15. The hinge device of claim 13, wherein the float locating member is sandwiched between the two support plates, and the first recess and the second recess are between the two support plates.

16. The hinge device of claim 2, wherein protrusions are formed on each of the first axis and the second axis, and stop parts corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the hinge bracket, the protrusions and the stop parts fit so that one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate the predetermined angle with respect to the hinge bracket, and the other one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate a remaining angle by subtracting the predetermined angle from 360 degree with respect to the hinge bracket.

17. The hinge device of claim 3, wherein protrusions are formed on each of the first cam and the second cam, and stop parts corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the hinge bracket, the protrusions and the stop parts fit so that one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate the predetermined angle with respect to the hinge bracket, and the other one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate a remaining angle by subtracting the predetermined angle from 360 degree with respect to the hinge bracket.

18. The hinge device of claim 16, wherein, when the first axis and the second axis rotate to a position that the first recess and the second recess face each other and are most approximate, the stop parts block the protrusions so that neither the first axis nor the second axis can rotate in one direction with respect to the hinge bracket, and only rotates in a reverse direction.

19. The hinge device of claim 17, wherein, when the first axis and the second axis rotate to a position that the first recess and the second recess face each other and are most approximate, the stop parts block the protrusions so that neither the first axis nor the second axis can rotate in one direction with respect to the hinge bracket, and only rotates in a reverse direction.

20. The hinge device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is 180 degree.

46. The folded apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a first body;

a second body; and

the hinge device connecting the first body and the second body.

21. A hinge device, comprising:

a hinge bracket;

a first axis and a second axis provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket, a first recess and a second recess being provided on the first axis and the second axis respectively; and

a float locating member, supported by the hinge bracket and being able to slide between the first axis and the second axis to be coupled to the first recess and/or the second recess.

22. The hinge device of claim 21, wherein the first axis and the second axis have a first cam and a second cam provided thereon respectively, the first axis and the second axis bring the first cam and the second cam to rotate as rotating, and

wherein, the first recess is provided on the first cam, and the second recess is provided on the second cam.

23. The hinge device of claim 21, wherein the minimum gap between the first axis and the second axis is less than a size in the direction of a line connecting the center of the first axis and the center of the second axis of the float locating member.

24. The hinge device of claim 21, wherein the float locating member is a cylinder being parallel with the first axis and the second axis.

25. The hinge device of claim 24, wherein the diameter of at least one end of the cylinder is less than the diameter of the central section, and

a slit opening is provided on the hinge bracket, at least one end of the cylinder is inserted into the slit opening to be able to slide between the first axis and the second axis, so that the central section can be coupled to the first recess or the second recess.

26. The hinge device of claim 21, wherein the cross section of each of the first recess and the second recess has a slant side wall.

27. The hinge device of claim 21, wherein the hinge bracket comprises two support plates provided being parallel with each other and in perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

28. The hinge device of claim 27, wherein the float locating member is sandwiched between the two support plates, and the first recess and the second recess are between the two support plates.

29. The hinge device of claim 21, wherein protrusions are formed on each of the first axis and the second axis, and stop parts corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the hinge bracket, the protrusions and the stop parts fit so that one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate the predetermined angle with respect to the hinge bracket, and the other one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate a remaining angle by subtracting the predetermined angle from 360 degree with respect to the hinge bracket.

30. The hinge device of claim 22, wherein protrusions are formed on each of the first cam and the second cam, and stop parts corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the hinge bracket, the protrusions and the stop parts fit so that one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate the predetermined angle with respect to the hinge bracket, and the other one of the first axis and the second axis can rotate a remaining angle by subtracting the predetermined angle from 1860 degree with respect to the hinge bracket.

31. The hinge device of claim 29, wherein, when the first axis and the second axis rotate to a position that the first recess and the second recess face each other and are most approximate, the stop parts block the protrusions so that neither the first axis nor the second axis can rotate in one direction with respect to the hinge bracket, and only rotates in a reverse direction.

32. The hinge device of claim 30, wherein, when the first axis and the second axis rotate to a position that the first recess and the second recess face each other and are most approximate, the stop parts block the protrusions so that neither the first axis nor the second axis can rotate in one direction with respect to the hinge bracket, and only rotates in a reverse direction.

33. The hinge device of claim 29, wherein the predetermined angle is 180 degree.

34. The hinge device of claim 29, wherein, when the first axis and the second axis rotate to a position that the first recess and the second recess face each other and are most approximate, the float locating member starts from to be coupled with one of the first recess and the second recess to be coupled with the other one of the first recess and the second recess.

35. The hinge device of claim 30, wherein, when the first axis and the second axis rotate to a position that the first recess and the second recess face each other and are most approximate, the float locating member starts from to be coupled with one of the first recess and the second recess to be coupled with the other one of the first recess and the second recess.

36. A hinge device, comprising:

a hinge bracket;

a first axis and a second axis provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket, the first axis is connected to a first cam, and the first axis brings the first cam to rotate as rotating;

the second axis is connected to the second cam, and the second axis brings the second cam to rotate as rotating;

a first recess and a second recess are provided on the first cam and the second cam respectively; and

a locating cam member, supported by the hinge bracket and being able to slide between the first cam and the second cam to be coupled to the first recess or the second recess.

37. A hinge device, comprising:

a hinge bracket;

a first axis and a second axis provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket, wherein the first axis is connected with a first body and the second axis is connected with a second body;

the first axis and the second axis interacts to make the first body be able to rotate from 0 degree to 360 degree and from 360 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body;

a first recess and a second recess are provided on a partial circumference of a part of the first axis and the second axis respectively, a first protrusion and second protrusion are provided on the first axis and the second axis respectively;

a first stop part and a second stop part are provided on the hinge bracket;

the first stop part and the first protrusion fit so that the first axis bring the first body to rotate from 0 degree to 180 degree and from 180 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body;

the second stop part and the second protrusion fit so that the second axis bring the first body to rotate from 180 degree to 360 degree and from 360 degree to 180 degree with respect to the second body; and

a float locating member, supported by the hinge bracket and being able to slide between the first axis and the second axis to be coupled to the first recess and/or the second recess.

38. A hinge device, comprising:

a hinge bracket;

a first axis and a second axis, provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket;

wherein, the first axis is connected to the first body, and the second axis is connected to the second body;

the first axis and the second axis interacts so that the first body can rotate from 0 degree to 360 degree and from 360 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body;

the first axis is connected the first cam, the first axis bring the first cam to rotate as rotating;

the second axis is connected to the second cam, and the second axis brings the second cam to rotate as rotating;

a first recess and a second recess are provided on the first cam and the second cam respectively;

a locating cam member, supported by the hinge bracket and being able to slide between the first cam and the second cam to be coupled to the first recess or the second recess.

a first protrusion and a second protrusion are provided on provided on the first cam and the second cam respectively, a first stop part and a second stop part are provided on the hinge bracket;

the first stop part and the first protrusion fit so that the first axis bring the first body to rotate from 0 degree to 180 degree and from 180 degree to 0 degree with respect to the second body; and

the second stop part and the second protrusion fit so that the second axis bring the first body to rotate from 180 degree to 360 degree and from 360 degree to 180 degree with respect to the second body.

39. A folded apparatus, comprising:

a first body;

a second body; and

at least one bi-axis hinge device connecting the first body to the second body,

wherein, the bi-axis hinge device comprising;

a hinge bracket;

a first axis and a second axis provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket, a first recess and a second recess being provided on the first axis and the second axis respectively; and

a float locating member, supported by the hinge bracket and being able to slide between the first axis and the second axis to be coupled to the first recess and/or the second recess.

40. A folded apparatus, comprising:

a first body;

a second body; and

at least one bi-axis hinge device connecting the first body to the second body,

wherein, the bi-axis hinge device comprises;

a hinge bracket;

a first axis and a second axis, provided being parallel with each other and supported rotatablely by the hinge bracket;

the first axis is connected the first cam, the first axis bring the first cam to rotate as rotating;

the second axis is connected to the second cam, and the second axis brings the second cam to rotate as rotating;

a first recess and a second recess are provided on the first cam and the second cam respectively; and

a locating cam member, supported by the hinge bracket and being able to slide between the first cam and the second cam to be coupled to the first recess or the second recess.

41. The folded apparatus of claim 40, wherein the first body has a display unit and the second body has an input unit.

42. The folded apparatus of claim 41, wherein the display unit comprises a touch display screen.

43. The folded apparatus of claim 41, wherein the input unit is an extension-type keyboard.

44. The folded apparatus of claim 41, wherein the input unit is a dustproof keyboard.

45. The folded apparatus of claim 41, wherein the input unit is a touch input unit.

47. A hinge device having a first rotating center axis and a second rotating center axis, the first rotating center axis and the second rotating center axis are axially supported in a manner of being parallel with one another, the first and the second rotating center axis are mounted on the bracket plate in a rotatable manner by inserting the first and the second rotating center axis into holes provided on the bracket plate respectively, characterize in, the hinge device further comprising:

a cam, provided on the first rotating center axis, having a convex part protruding in the direction of the rotating center axis, and rotating integrated with the first rotating center axis;

a cam locking part, provided on the first rotating center axis, having a concave part locked with the convex part of the cam depressed in the direction of the rotating center axis and rotating in relative to the cam;

a press force applying device pressing the cam and the cam locking part toward the direction that is closer to each other to apply force;

a stop part, provided on the second rotating center axis and rotating integrated therewith;

a blocker, provided on a prescribed position of the bracket plate to be corresponding to the stop part of the second pivot center axis,

the stop part of the second pivot center axis and the blocker being made to joint against to restrict the rotary angle of the second pivot center axis,

when the hinge device acts, any axis of the first and the second rotating center axis being made to carry out the motion of rotating with respect to the bracket plate and bringing the bracket plate to rotation with respect to the other axis in order.

48. The hinge device of claim 47, wherein, when the hinge device acts, if the stop part of the second rotating center axis and the blocker joint against, the second rotating center axis stop rotation, and at this time the first rotating center axis starts the rotary motion in response to an active force further applied.

49. The hinge device of claim 48, wherein,

constant moments of the first rotating center axis and the second pivot center axis are set to T1 and T2 and let T2>

T1,

a moment required for the convex part of the cam releasing from the concave part of the cam locking part is set to T3, and let T3>

T2>

T1.

50. The hinge device of any one of claim 49, wherein the bracket plate is made of a rigid material.

62. A portable terminal having the hinge device of claim 47.

51. A hinge device having a first rotating center axis and a second rotating center axis, the first rotating center axis and the second rotating center axis are axially supported in a manner of being parallel with one another, the first and the second rotating center axis are mounted on the bracket plate in a rotatable manner by inserting the first and the second rotating center axis into holes provided on the bracket plate respectively, characterize in, the hinge device comprising:

a first stop part, provided on the first rotating center axis and rotating integrated therewith;

a second stop part, provided on the second rotating center axis and rotating integrated therewith;

a first blocker, provided on a prescribed position of the bracket plate to be corresponding to the first stop part; and

a second blocker, provided on a prescribed position of the bracket plate to be corresponding to the second stop part,

the rotary angle of the first rotating center axis is restricted by making the first stop part and the first blocker to joint against, and the rotary angle of the second rotating center axis is restricted by making the second stop part and the second blocker to joint against,

when the hinge device acts, any axis of the first and the second rotating center axis being made to carry out the motion of rotating with respect to the bracket plate and bringing the bracket plate to rotation with respect to the other axis in order.

52. The hinge device of claim 51, wherein, when the hinge device acts, if the blocking part of the second rotating center axis and the blocker joint against, the first rotating center axis is made to stop rotation, and at this time the second rotating center axis starts to rotate in response to an active force further applied,

if the second stop part and the second blocker joint against, the second rotating center axis is made to stop rotation, and at this time the first rotating center axis starts the rotary motion in response to an active force further applied.

53. The hinge device of claim 52, wherein the bracket plate is made of a rigid material.

54. The hinge device of claim 52, wherein, the first blocker is mounted on one end of the bracket plate in adjacent to the first rotating center axis, the second blocker is mounted on the other end of the bracket plate in adjacent to the second rotating center axis in a manner of being 90 degree with respect to the first blocker.

55. The hinge device of claim 54, wherein the hinge device further comprising:

a cam, provided on the first rotating center axis, having a convex part protruding in the direction of the rotating center axis, and rotating integrated with the first rotating center axis;

a cam locking part, provided on the first rotating center axis, having a concave part locked with the convex part of the cam depressed in the direction of the rotating center axis and rotating in relative to the cam;

a press force applying device pressing the first cam and the cam locking part toward the direction that is closer to each other to apply force;

56. The hinge device of claim 55, wherein constant moments of the first rotating center axis and the second pivot center axis are set to T1 and T2 respectively and let T2>

T1,

a moment required for the convex part of the cam releasing from the concave part of the cam locking part is set to T3 and let T3>

T2>

T1.

57. The hinge device of claim 52, wherein the first blocker is mounted on one end of the bracket plate in adjacent to the first rotating center axis, the second blocker is mounted on the other end of the bracket plate in adjacent to the second rotating center axis in a manner of being 180 degree with respect to the first blocker.

58. The hinge device of claim 57, wherein the hinge device further comprising:

cams, provided on the first and the second rotating center axis, having convex parts protruding in the direction of the rotating center axes, and rotating integrated with the rotating center axes;

cam locking parts, provided on the first and the second rotating center axis, having concave parts locked with the convex parts of the cams depressed in the direction of the rotating center axes and rotating in relative to the cams;

a press force applying device pressing the cams and the cam locking parts toward the direction that is closer to each other to apply force.

59. The hinge device of claim 58, wherein constant moments of the first rotating center axis and the second pivot center axis are set to T1 and T2 respectively and let T2=T1,

a moment required for the convex parts of the cams releasing from the concave parts of the cam locking parts is set to T3 and let T3>

T2=T1.

60. The hinge device of claim 52, wherein S-shape wrapping members are provided on the first and the second rotating center axis,

the first and the second blocker are provided on positions apart from the end parts of the bracket plate in a manner of being opposite to each other.

61. The hinge device of claim 57, wherein the first rotating center axis and the second rotating center axis are assembled in a manner of having a 180 degree difference of the rotary angle,

when the hinge device carries out an open motion, the constant moment of the first rotating center axis is less than the constant moment of the second pivot center axis;

when the hinge device carries out a close motion, the constant moment of the first rotating center axis is made to be larger than the constant moment of the second pivot center axis.

63. A portable terminal having the hinge device of claim 51.