COVERED MULTI-PIVOT HINGE

• US 20160132076A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: BITZ, Brian, Campbell, John, GAULT, Joe, TAZBAZ, Errol Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,625,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion and a second portion. This example can also include a multi-pivot hinge unit rotatably securing the first and second portions. This example can further include a covered sequentially rotating multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion in a manner that extends a footprint of the computing device as the first portion is rotated away from the second portion.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion;

a set of rotatably interconnected elongate covers securing the first and second portions, individual elongate covers defining a cavity; and

,

a multi-pivot hinge assembly comprising a set of hinge elements, an individual hinge element positioned within the cavity of a first individual elongate cover and rotatably secured between the first individual elongate cover and a second adjacent elongate cover effective that the individual hinge element pivots around a hinge axis that is parallel to the elongate cover.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the individual elongate covers have a convex surface and an opposing concave surface that defines the cavity.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the convex surface of the first individual elongate cover is rotatably secured against the concave surface of the second adjacent elongate cover.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the rotation of the set of hinge elements is sequentially controlled by timing elements.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the timing elements are positioned within the first individual elongate cover and extend to the second adjacent elongate cover.

6. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the hinge elements comprise friction engines.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the set of hinge elements is configured to be rotated from a storage position where the first portion is generally parallel to and above the second portion to a deployed position where the first portion is at an obtuse angle relative to the second portion.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the set of hinge elements is configured to sequentially rotate from the storage position to the deployed position starting with a first individual hinge element proximate to the second portion and proceeding only to a second adjacent individual hinge element when the first individual hinge element has completed a defined range of rotation.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the second portion defines a footprint of the computing device in the storage position as measured transverse the elongate covers and in the deployed position the set of rotatably interconnected elongate covers extends the footprint.

10. The computing device of claim 9, further comprising electronic components positioned in the first portion and wherein the extended footprint stabilizes the computing device from tipping in the deployed position.

11. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a display screen and a second portion that includes an input device; and

,

a covered sequentially rotating multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion in a manner that extends a footprint of the computing device as the first portion is rotated away from the second portion.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the second portion is configured to be positioned on a horizontal surface and the first portion is configured to be rotated relative to the horizontal surface from a storage position to a deployed position, and wherein the extended footprint maintains a center of mass of the computing device above the extended footprint in the deployed position.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the second portion is configured to be positioned on a horizontal surface and the first portion is configured to be positioned over the second portion in a generally horizontal orientation and to be rotated relative to the horizontal surface to a deployed position that is obtuse to the horizontal surface, and wherein the extended footprint maintains a center of mass of the computing device above the extended footprint in the deployed position and wherein the covered sequentially rotating multi-pivot hinge assembly rotates around a set of hinge axes when the first portion is rotated from the horizontal orientation starting with a first hinge axis closest to the second portion and sequentially progressing to a second hinge axis farther from the second portion upon completion of a defined angle of rotation by the first hinge axis.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the covered sequentially rotating multi-pivot hinge assembly further comprises a set of overlapping covers.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the overlapping covers contribute to a rotation functionality of the covered sequentially rotating multi-pivot hinge assembly and a sequential timing functionality of the covered sequentially rotating multi-pivot hinge assembly.

16. The computing device of claim 11, further comprising a battery and a processor positioned in the first portion.

17. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and

,

a multi-axis hinge assembly securing the first portion and the second portion, the multi-axis hinge assembly including overlapping covers and timed link elements positioned in the overlapping covers that define an order of rotation of individual axes of the multi-axis hinge assembly.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the timed link elements define the order of rotation by limiting rotation initially to an individual axis of rotation nearest the second portion as the first and second portions are rotated away from one another and further limiting rotation initially to another individual axis of rotation nearest the first portion as the first and second portions are rotated toward one another.

19. The computing device of claim 17, wherein a first individual timed link element interacts with first and second individual covers and wherein the first individual timed link element blocks rotation of the second individual cover until the first individual cover has completed a defined angle of rotation.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the first and second individual covers are adjacent to one another or wherein a third individual cover is interposed between the first and second individual covers.