FLEXIBLE DISPLAY HINGED DEVICE

• US 20190196541A1
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Published: 06/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: O'NEIL, Daniel G., TRZASKOS, James, LUCHOWIEC, Krzysztof Jan
• Granted Patent: US 11,061,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 1/04 with guide members shaped as circular arcs
• 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: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• 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: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel

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. The example can also include a first exoskeletal hinge segment secured to the first portion and a second exoskeletal hinge segment secured to the second portion. The first exoskeletal hinge segment can define an arcuate tab that travels in an arcuate cavity defined by the second exoskeletal hinge segment to allow relative rotation between the first and second portions.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably secured by a hinge assembly from a closed orientation through a range of rotation to an open orientation;

a flexible display fixedly secured to the first and second portions; and

,

the hinge assembly comprising a first hinge segment that defines an arcuate tab that travels in an arcuate cavity of an adjacent second hinge segment during the range of rotation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a living hinge secured to the first portion, the first hinge segment, the second hinge segment, and the second portion.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the living hinge comprises a sheet of flexible elastomeric material.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first hinge segment and the second hinge segment define voids facing the flexible display.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the living hinge is secured to the first hinge segment and the second hinge segment by extending into the voids.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a multi-pivot timing chain extending through the first and second hinge segments and secured to the first portion and the second portion.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the multi-pivot timing chain is fixedly secured to the first portion and slideably secured to the second portion.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the multi-pivot timing chain synchronizes rotation between the first and second hinge segments.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the multi-pivot timing chain includes intermeshing gears that cause simultaneous and equal rotation around each hinge axis of the multi-pivot timing chain.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second hinge segments comprise hollow exoskeletons.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the arcuate tab of the first hinge segment includes a tooth and the arcuate cavity of the second hinge segment defines an opposing tooth.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein an arc length between the opposing tooth and an end wall of the arcuate cavity define a range of rotation between the first hinge segment and the second hinge segment.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein engagement of the tooth and the opposing tooth retain the arcuate tab in the arcuate cavity.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the closed orientation comprises negative two degrees and the open orientation comprises one hundred and eighty degrees.

15. A device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and

,

a first exoskeletal hinge segment secured to the first portion and a second exoskeletal hinge segment secured to the second portion, the first exoskeletal hinge segment defining an arcuate tab that travels in an arcuate cavity defined by the second exoskeletal hinge segment to allow relative rotation between the first and second portions.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the arcuate tab includes first and second arcuate sidewalls and the arcuate cavity includes third and fourth arcuate sidewalls.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first arcuate sidewall, the second arcuate sidewall, the third arcuate sidewall, and the fourth arcuate sidewall share a common focus.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a single flexible display fixedly secured to the first portion and to the second portion.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the common focus is on an opposite side of the flexible display as the first and second exoskeletal hinge segments.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein interaction of the first sidewall and the third sidewall define a minimum bend radius experienced by the single flexible display during a range of rotation between the first portion and the second portion.

21. A device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion rotatably secured by a hinge assembly; and

,

a flexible display fixedly secured to the first and second portions;

the hinge assembly comprising a set of elongate hinge segments, adjacent hinge segment moving arcuately relative to one another during rotation of the first and second portions.