PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20140217875A1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: PARK, Young-sun, JUNG, Bo-won
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/326
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes first and second device units and at least one hinge assembly configured to pivotably connect the second device unit to the first device unit. The hinge assembly includes a first fixing unit configured to be fixed to the first device unit, a second fixing unit configured to be fixed to the second device unit, a plurality of shaft members configured to be arranged in parallel with one another and to include first and second outer shaft members respectively mounted on the first and second fixing units and a plurality of inner shaft members arranged between the first and second outer shaft members, and a gear unit mounted on the shaft members to connect the plurality of shaft members with one another through a gear mesh.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

first and second device units; and

at least one hinge assembly configured to pivotably connect the second device unit to the first device unit,

the hinge assembly comprising;

a first fixing unit configured to be fixed to the first device unit;

a second fixing unit configured to be fixed to the second device unit;

a plurality of shaft members configured to be arranged in parallel with one another, the plurality of shaft members comprising first and second outer shaft members respectively mounted on the first and second fixing units, and a plurality of inner shaft members arranged between the first and second outer shaft members; and

a gear unit mounted on the shaft members and configured to connect the plurality of shaft members with one another through a gear mesh.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the gear unit comprises first and second gear trains configured to be arranged in parallel with each other.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first gear train comprises:

a first outer gear member configured to be coupled with the first outer shaft member;

a second outer gear member configured to be coupled with the second outer shaft member; and

a first group of coupling gear members mounted on the plurality of inner shaft members, at least two neighboring inner shaft members are connected to each other by one coupling gear member.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the second gear train comprises a second group of coupling gear members mounted on the first outer shaft member, the second outer shaft member, and the plurality of inner shaft members.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, wherein a total number of the plurality of shaft members is N, a number of the first group of coupling gear members is (N/2)-1, and a number of the second group of coupling gear members is N/2, wherein N is a natural number that is an even number.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 4, wherein each of the coupling gear members comprises:

a first gear part configured to be rotatably coupled with a first shaft member of two neighboring shaft members; and

a second gear part configured to be rotatably coupled with a second shaft member of the two neighboring shaft members.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein each of the shaft members comprises at least one elastic unit configured to prevent the second device unit from pivoting due to an external torque lower than a threshold value.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first gear train comprises:

a first outer gear member configured to be mounted on the first outer shaft member;

a second outer gear member configured to be mounted on the second outer shaft member; and

a plurality of inner gear members configured to be respectively fixedly coupled with the inner shaft members.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a plurality of coupler members, wherein any two neighboring shaft members are connected to each other by one of the plurality of coupler members.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a plurality of coupler members, wherein any two neighboring shaft members are connected to each other by one of the plurality of coupler members.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein each of the coupler members comprises:

a first coupler part configured to be rotatably coupled with a first shaft member of the any two neighboring shaft members; and

a second coupler part configured to be rotatably coupled with a second shaft member of the any two neighboring shaft members.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover unit configured to cover the at least one hinge assembly from an outside.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

the hinge assembly comprises;

a first hinge assembly; and

a second hinge assembly configured to have a same structure as the first hinge assembly and to keep a distance from the first hinge assembly in a direction of a pivot axis,

the cover unit comprises a plurality of cover members configured to cover at least some of the plurality of shaft members, and

each of the cover members is configured to cover a first shaft member of the first hinge assembly and a second shaft member of the second hinge assembly that corresponds to the first shaft member.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13, wherein when the second device unit is disposed at a maximum angle with respect to the first device unit, each of the cover members has at least one maximum angle determining surface that interferes with a movement of a neighboring cover member.

15. A hinge assembly configured to pivotably connect first and second device units of a portable electronic device, the hinge assembly comprising:

a first fixing unit configured to be fixed to the first device;

a second fixing unit to be fixed to the second device unit;

a plurality of shaft members configured to be disposed in parallel with one another, the plurality of shaft members comprising first and second outer shaft members respectively mounted on the first and second fixing units and a plurality of inner shaft member disposed between the first and second outer shaft members; and

a gear unit configured to be mounted on the plurality of shaft members so as to connect the plurality of shaft members with one another through a gear mesh.

16. A portable device, comprising:

first and second device units; and

at least one hinge assembly configured to pivotably connect the second device unit to the first device unit,

wherein the hinge assembly comprises a plurality of shaft members configured to be disposed in parallel with one another, and

wherein each of the plurality of shaft members comprises at least one elastic unit configured to apply torque opposite to an external torque to the shaft member in order to prevent the second device unit from pivoting due to the external torque being lower than a threshold value.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the elastic unit comprises at least one spring washer configured to provide an elastic force to the shaft member in order to generate the torque opposite to the external torque.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises:

a first fixing unit configured to be fixed to the first device unit; and

a second fixing unit configured to be fixed to the second device unit,

wherein the plurality of shaft members comprise;

a first outer shaft member configured to be mounted on the first fixing unit;

a second outer shaft member configured to be mounted on the second fixing unit; and

a plurality of inner shaft members configured to be disposed between the first and second outer shaft members.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a gear unit mounted on the shaft members to connect the plurality of shaft members with one another through a gear mesh.

20. A portable electronic device, comprising:

first and second device units;

first and second hinge assemblies configured to pivotably connect the second device unit to the first device unit, to be spaced apart from each other along a pivot shaft, and to have same structures; and

a cover unit configured to cover the first and second hinge assemblies,

wherein each of the hinge assemblies comprises a plurality of shaft members configured to be arranged in parallel with one another, and

wherein the cover unit comprises a plurality of cover members configured to cover some or all of the plurality of shaft members, wherein each of the cover members covers a first shaft member of the first hinge assembly and a second shaft member of the second hinge assembly that corresponds to the first shaft member.