Mobile Terminal with synchronizing hinge

• US 6,900,981 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kauhaniemi, Ilpo, Paakkonen, Pekka, Kuivas, Juha
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/421,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-687, 361724-727, 361/740, 361/759, 345/169, 345/905, 439/928, 248917-923, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.06
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/105 the maintaining means acting perpendicularly to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/122 Gear hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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 1/1681 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

An electronic device including a first section having a keypad; a second section having a display; and a connection movably connecting the second section with the first section. The connection includes a first axis of rotation with the first section, an offset second axis of rotation with the second section, and synchronizing members which rotate the first section relative to the connection in unison with rotation of the second section relative to the connection.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first section having a keypad;

a second section having a display; and

a connection movably connecting the second section with the first section, the connection comprising a first axis of rotation with the first section, a second axis of rotation with the second section, and synchronizing members which rotate the first section relative to the connection in unison with rotation of the second section relative to the connection, wherein the second axis of rotation is offset from the first axis of rotation.

2. An electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile communications device having a transceiver located in one of the first or second sections.

3. An electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the first and second sections comprise a first position with the keypad and display being closed by the first and second sections, a second position with the second section rotated about 180 degrees relative to the first section, and a third position with the second section rotated about 360 degrees relative to the first section and having the keypad and display located on opposite exterior facing sides of the electronic device.

4. An electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the connection comprises a hinge frame having a general oval side profile and two parallel pin receiving holes.

5. An electronic device as in claim 1 further comprising a flex circuit extending across the connection and electrically connecting electronic circuitry in the first section to electronic circuitry in the second section.

6. An electronic device as in claim 4 wherein the hinge frame comprises a recess for receiving the synchronizing members.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a first section;

a second section having a display; and

a connection movably connecting the second section with the first section, the connection comprising a first axis of rotation with the first section, an offset second axis of rotation with the second section, and synchronizing members which rotate the first section relative to the second section, wherein the synchronizing members comprises two gears connected to each other.

8. An electronic device as in claim 7 wherein the connection comprises two hinge pins rotatably mounted in the pin receiving holes, each hinge pin having one of the gears connected thereto, and each hinge pin being stationarily connected to a respective one of the first and second sections.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a first section;

a second section having a display; and

a connection movably connecting the second section with the first section, the connection comprising a first axis of rotation with the first section, an offset second axis of rotation with the second section, and synchronizing members which rotate the first section relative to second section, wherein the connection comprises a detent locating system for locking position of the second section relative to the first section at an intermediate position between a fully closed position and a fully open position.

10. An electronic device as in claim 9 wherein the fully open position comprises about a 360 degree fully open position.

11. An electronic device as in claim 9 wherein the synchronizing members are adapted to rotate the first section relative to the connection in unison with rotation of the second section relative to the connection.

12. A mobile communications device comprising:

a housing;

a transceiver in the housing;

a keypad connected to the housing; and

a display connected to the housing;

wherein the housing comprises a first section movably connected to a second section of the housing by a multi-axis hinge, wherein a first axis of rotation of the hinge is provided at the first section of the housing and a second offset axis of rotation of the hinge is provided at the second section of the housing, and wherein the hinge comprises means for synchronizing rotation of the first and second sections relative to the hinge through a path of about 360 degrees.

13. A mobile communications device as in claim 12 wherein the first and second sections comprise a first position with the keypad and display being closed by the first and second sections, a second position with the second section rotated about 180 degrees relative to the first section such that the first section is substantially inline with the second section and a hinge frame of the hinge, and a third position with the second section rotated about 360 degrees relative to the first section and having the keypad and display located on opposite exterior facing sides of the mobile communications device.

14. A mobile communications device as in claim 12 wherein the hinge comprises a hinge frame having a general oval side profile and two parallel pin receiving holes.

15. A mobile communications device as in claim 12 further comprising a flex circuit extending across the hinge and electrically connecting electronic circuitry in the first section to electronic circuitry in the second section.

16. A mobile communications device as in claim 12 wherein the connection comprises a detent locating system for locking position of the second section relative to the first section at an intermediate position between a fully closed position and a 360 degree fully open position.

17. A mobile communications device as in claim 14 wherein the means for synchronizing rotation of the first and second sections relative to the hinge comprises gears connected to each other.

18. An electronic device as in claim 17 wherein the hinge comprises two hinge pins rotatably mounted in the pin receiving holes, each hinge pin having one of the gears connected thereto, and each hinge pin being stationarily connected to a respective one of the first and second sections.

19. A mobile communications device comprising:

a housing having a first section, a second section, and a synchronized rotation multi-axis hinge connection connecting the first section with the second section;

a transceiver located in the housing;

a key pad connected to the housing;

a display connected to the housing; and

a flex conductor extending across the hinge connection and coupling electronic circuitry in the first section of the housing with electronic circuitry in the second section of the housing, wherein the synchronized rotation multi-axis hinge connection comprises;

a hinge frame;

two hinge pins rotatably mounted in the hinge frame;

synchronizing gears connecting the hinge pins to each other;

a first frame member fixedly connecting a first one of the hinge pins to the first section of the housing;

a second frame member fixedly connecting a second one of the hinge pins to the second section of the housing,

and wherein the second section of the housing is adapted to rotate about 360 degrees relative to the first section of the housing.

20. A mobile communications device as in claim 19 wherein the connection comprises a detent locating system for locking position of the second section relative to the first section at an intermediate position at about 180 degrees of rotation between a fully closed position and a 360 degree fully open position.

21. A mobile communications device as in claim 19 wherein the first and second sections comprise a first position with the keypad and display being closed by the first and second sections, a second position with the second section rotated about 180 degrees relative to the first section, and a third position with the second section rotated about 360 degrees relative to the first section and having the keypad and display located on opposite exterior facing sides of the mobile communications device.

22. A mobile communications device as in claim 19 wherein the hinge frame has a general oval side profile and two parallel pin receiving holes.

23. An electronic device comprising:

a first section;

a second section having a display; and

a connection movably connecting the second section with the first section, the connection comprising a first axis of rotation with the first section, a spaced second axis of rotation with the second section, and synchronizing members which rotate the first section relative to the connection in unison with rotation of the second section relative to the connection.

24. A mobile communications device comprising:

a housing;

a transceiver in the housing;

at least one key connected to the housing; and

a display connected to the housing;

wherein the housing comprises a first section movably connected to a second section of the housing by a multi-axis hinge, wherein a first axis of rotation of the hinge is provided for the first section of the housing and a second offset axis of rotation of the hinge is provided for the second section of the housing, and wherein the multi-axis hinge comprises a synchronizing system for synchronizing rotation of the first and second sections relative to the multi-axis hinge through a path of at least about 180 degrees.