Information Handling System Housing Synchronization with Differential Torque Hinge

• US 20150309539A1
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Kamphuis, Kevin L., Coolidge, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/261,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309539A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/08 Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts E05D7/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/02 Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps
• 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 1/1618 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 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

Abstract

An information handling system hinge assembly simulates synchronous and other types of motions by applying friction varied based upon dual-axis hinge rotational position to generate differential torque at an information handling system chassis and lid portion. A connecting device maintains first and second hinges in position relative to each other during rotation of the chassis and lid portions, such as through 360 degrees of rotation between closed and tablet positions.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a chassis;

processing components disposed in the chassis and operable to process information;

a lid;

a display disposed in the lid and interfaced with the processing components, the display operable to present the information as visual images;

first and second hinges rotationally coupling the chassis and lid, each hinge having first and second axles;

a first friction member associated with the first hinge; and

a second friction member associated with the second hinge;

wherein the first and second friction members change torque at the first and second axles based upon an angle of rotation of the chassis relative to the lid to create a predetermined rotational behavior of the chassis relative to the lid.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined rotational behavior comprises simulation of a synchronized gear motion of the chassis relative to the lid.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a physical connector device coupling the first axle of the first hinge relative to the first axle of the second hinge, and coupling the second axle of the first hinge relative to the second axle of the second hinge.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the physical connector device comprises a hinge cover that covers at least a portion of a length between the first and second hinges.

5. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the physical connector device comprises a single bar that couples at one end to the first and second axles of the first hinge and couples at a second end to the first and second axles of the second hinge.

6. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the physical connector device comprises a first bar that couples the first axle of the first hinge to the first axle of the of the second hinge and a second bar that couples the second axle of the first hinge to the second axle of the second hinge.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first and second friction members comprise compression disks disposed on each axle and a ramp disposed at a rotation point of each axle, the ramp varying compression of the compression disks, the compression varying torque associated with rotation of each axle.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined rotational behavior comprises simulation of sequential axis rotation and wherein the first and second friction members change torque at the first and second axles based upon direction of rotation.

9. A method for rotating an information handling system lid portion relative to a chassis portion, the method comprising:

coupling first and second hinges to the lid portion and the chassis portion, each hinge providing rotation about first and second axles disposed along first and second axes;

applying friction to the first and second axles with friction members, the friction resisting rotation of the first and second axles, the friction varying based upon the rotational position of the chassis and lid in order to create a predetermined rotational behavior.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined rotational behavior comprises simulation of synchronized gear motion between the lid portion and chassis portion.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined rotational behavior comprises simulation of sequential axis rotation between the lid portion and chassis portion.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising coordinating motion of the first and second hinges with a connecting member coupled to the first and second hinges.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the connecting member comprises a housing extending between the first and second hinges that covers the first and second hinges.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein applying friction to the first and second axles with friction members, the friction resisting rotation of the first and second axles, the friction varying based upon the rotational position of the chassis and lid in order to create a predetermined rotational behavior further comprises:

applying the friction by compressing disks disposed about each axle; and

varying the friction by varying a compressive force applied to the disks based upon the position of each axle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein varying the friction by varying a compressive force applied to the disks based upon the position of each axle further comprises engaging a ramp with each axle at an axle rotation point, the ramp changing the position of the axle relative to the compressing disks to vary the compressive force applied by the disks.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein applying friction to the first and second axles with friction members, the friction resisting rotation of the first and second axles, the friction varying based upon the rotational position of the chassis and lid in order to create a predetermined rotational behavior, further comprises:

applying friction by pressing a friction member against each axle; and

varying the friction by varying the diameter around the axle proximate the friction member.

17. A hinge assembly comprising:

attachment devices operable to couple the hinge assembly between an information handling system chassis portion and lid portion;

first and second hinges coupled to the attachment devices, each of the first and second hinges having first and second axles;

plural friction members, at least one of the plural friction members applying friction at each the first and second axles of each hinge, the friction varying based upon a rotational position and a direction of rotation of each of the first and second axles of each hinge so that the first and second hinges provide a predetermined rotational behavior of the chassis portion relative to the lid portion.

18. The hinge assembly of claim 17 wherein the predetermined rotational behavior comprises simulation of synchronized gear motion between the lid portion and chassis portion.

19. The hinge assembly of claim 17 wherein the predetermined rotational behavior comprises simulation of sequential axis rotation between the lid portion and chassis portion.

20. The hinge assembly of claim 17 wherein the plural friction members comprise compression disks that increase friction when compressed and decrease friction when decompressed, the compression disks compressed and decompressed based upon a rotational position of the hinges.