Direct hinge for optimizing conversion

• US 7,239,505 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: LeFors, Jon H., Keely, Leroy B., Stoddard, John Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/960,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 248/917, 248/919, 248/920
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 electronic device that has a body portion having an internal track, a display portion having a follower member that runs along the internal track and a support arm pivotally coupled to the body portion and to the display portion and enabling the display portion to move between multiple distinct positions relative to the body portion is described. A tablet personal computer can be converted from the tablet mode to the laptop mode in a direct and efficient manner.

Claims

1. A tablet personal computer comprising:

a display housing including a cutout recess and a follower member;

a body housing having a front end, a back end, a top, a bottom, an input device, and an internal track, the follower member running along the internal track;

a flex circuit electronic system; and

a hinge mechanism housing a portion of the flex circuit electronic system and connecting the display housing to the body housing, the hinge mechanism being configured such that when the computer is moved from a tablet position to a laptop position, the follower member runs along the internal track from the front end to the back end of the body housing, the follower member being closer to the top when adjacent to the input device than when at the front end and the back end of the body housing.

2. The tablet personal computer of claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

3. The tablet personal computer of claim 1, wherein the display housing includes a gripping feature.

4. The tablet personal computer of claim 1, further including a locking mechanism on the internal track that engages upon device orientation.

5. The tablet personal computer of claim 1, further including a latch for releasably holding the display housing in a first position.

6. The tablet personal computer of claim 5, wherein the display housing is automatically moved to a second position upon release of the latch.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein a first end of the hinge mechanism is rotationally attached to a rear face of the display housing.

8. The computer of claim 7, wherein a second end of the hinge mechanism opposite of the first end is rotationally attached to a top face of the body housing.

9. The computer of claim 7, wherein a portion of the hinge mechanism sits in a cutout of a top surface of the body housing.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism includes a plurality of rigid members each connecting the display housing to the body housing.

11. The tablet personal computer of claim 1, wherein the display housing further includes a screen.

12. The tablet personal computer of claim 11, wherein the screen further comprises a touch receptive screen.

13. A coupling system comprising:

a first housing element having a follower member and including a display including a screen with an upper end and a lower end;

a second housing element including a front end, a back end, a top, a bottom, a user input region, and an internal track along which the follower member runs, the internal track running from the front end to the back end, wherein the internal track is configured to be closer to the top at a portion adjacent to the user input region than at the front end and the back end;

a third housing element having a rotational hinge at two opposite ends, one of the rotational hinges being attached to the first housing element on a face opposite the display between the upper and lower ends; and

a coupling system movably linking the first housing element, the second housing element and the third housing element so as to permit only translation and rotation of the first housing element relative to the second housing element in the x-z plane.

14. The coupling system of claim 13, wherein the display is a touch receptive screen and the user input region includes a keyboard.

15. The coupling system of claim 14, wherein the third housing element includes electronic circuitry.

16. The coupling system of claim 13 wherein the input device has a left edge and a right edge and wherein the track runs medial to the left edge and the right edge between the front end and the back end of the second housing element.