MULTI-PIVOT HINGE

• US 20160215541A1
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: CAMPBELL, John, JI, Bonggwon, LIAO, Jeff, ZHANG, Jingjiang, TAZBAZ, Errol Mark, BITZ, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,174,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/14 with four parallel pins and two arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• 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 1/022 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 sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion. The sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly can include a first set of links configured to control a relative order of rotation around individual axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly when the first and second portions are being rotated away from one another and a second different set of links configured to control the relative order of rotation around the individual axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly when the first and second portions are being rotated toward one another.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and

,

a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion from a storage position where the first portion is juxtaposed over the second portion to a deployed position where the first portion is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the first portion, the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly comprising a first set of cammed links that controls an order of rotation around individual hinge axes when the first portion and the second portion are being rotated from the storage position to the deployed position and a separate second set of cammed links that controls the order of rotation around the individual hinge axes from the deployed position to the storage position.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first set of cammed links comprises a first subset of links that are arranged end-to end with one another and a second subset of links that are arranged end-to-end with one another, and wherein the first subset of links are offset one hinge axis from the second subset of links.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein individual links comprise first and second portions of the individual links, and wherein individual links of the first set of links are arranged in an end-to-end manner so that the first portion of a first individual link interacts with the second portion of a second individual link.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the individual links further comprise a tab on the first portion and an engagement surface on the second portion, and wherein interaction of the tab of a first individual link and the engagement surface of an adjacent individual link controls rotation around an individual hinge axis passing through the adjacent individual link.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly further comprises hinge shafts that define the hinge axes.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the hinge shafts have a circular profile when viewed transverse an axis of rotation or wherein the hinge shafts are not circular.

7. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising rotation limiters that define an angle of rotation around an individual axis of rotation.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the rotation limiters comprise a first portion that is configured to rotate around an individual hinge shaft and a second portion that is non-rotatably secured to the individual hinge shaft.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly is configured to create a larger footprint of the computing device in the deployed position than in the storage position.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly is visible when the computing device is in both the storage position and the deployed position.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a touchscreen and the second portion includes a keyboard or another touchscreen.

12. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising multiple rigid hinge covers or further comprising a flexible hinge cover that extends from the first portion to the second portion.

13. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the deployed position is in a range from about 90 degrees to about 360 degrees from the storage position.

14. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and

,

a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion and comprising a first set of links configured to control a relative order of rotation around individual axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly when the first and second portions are being rotated away from one another and a second different set of links configured to control the relative order of rotation around the individual axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly when the first and second portions are being rotated toward one another.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein at least some of the links are cammed links comprising a cam tab and a cam engagement surface.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein all of the cammed links of the first set have a same geometric shape as the cammed links of the second set or wherein the cammed links of the first set have a different geometric shape as the cammed links of the second set.

17. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the cammed links have a same geometric shape or wherein individual cammed links have different geometric shapes from one another.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the second portion defines a footprint of the computing device when the first portion is juxtaposed over the second portion in a storage position and when the first portion is rotated away from the second portion the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly expands the footprint.

19. The computing device of claim 18, further comprising electronic components positioned in the first portion and wherein a center of mass of the computing device is located above the expanded footprint.

20. A hinge, comprising:

a first interface and a second interface; and

,

a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first interface and the second interface and including an opening order-controlling set that controls rotation around individual axes starting proximate to the second interface when rotating the first and second interfaces apart and a closing order-controlling set that controls rotation starting proximate to the first interface when moving the first and second interfaces toward one another.