Portable apparatus having two rotatable and foldable units and hinge device used for the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable electronic or communication device, comprising:
- a first panel comprising a first surface;
a second panel comprising a second surface;
a connector connecting the first panel and second panel;
wherein the connector is configured to rotatably connect the first panel and second panel relative to each other, the second panel being rotatable about a panel rotating axis between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, the first and second surfaces facing each other and being substantially parallel to each other when the second panel is in the first rotational position;
wherein the connector is configured to further slidably connect the first panel and second panel relative to each other, the second panel or a portion thereof being substantially linearly movable between a first linear position and a second linear position when the second panel is in the first rotational position; and
wherein the connector is further configured to actuate rotation of the second panel from the first rotational position toward the second rotational position about the panel rotating axis when the second panel or the portion thereof is in a predetermined position between the first and second linear positions, wherein the connector comprises;
a cam having a cam surface, which comprises a first spontaneous moving section;
a cam follower in contact with the cam surface at a contact point, the cam follower spontaneously rotatable in a first rotational direction about a hinge axis relative to the cam surface when the contact point is located on the first spontaneous moving section;
wherein one of the cam and the cam follower is substantially non-rotatable relative to the second panel, and wherein the other is rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotates relative to each other; and
a coupler connected to the cam or the cam follower, the coupler rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotate relative to each other, the coupler being substantially linearly non-movable relative to the second panel.
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Abstract
A portable apparatus of the present invention comprises a first unit, a second unit, and a hinge device that is coupled to the first and second units such that the units can be moved to be in contact with or spaced apart from each other and allows relative sliding movement between the first and second units within a certain range. The hinge device exerts a force in a direction in which the first and second units are spaced apart from each other, through the relative sliding movement by a predetermined distance between the two units in the complete contact state of the first and second units.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A portable electronic or communication device, comprising:
- a first panel comprising a first surface;
a second panel comprising a second surface;
a connector connecting the first panel and second panel;
wherein the connector is configured to rotatably connect the first panel and second panel relative to each other, the second panel being rotatable about a panel rotating axis between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, the first and second surfaces facing each other and being substantially parallel to each other when the second panel is in the first rotational position;
wherein the connector is configured to further slidably connect the first panel and second panel relative to each other, the second panel or a portion thereof being substantially linearly movable between a first linear position and a second linear position when the second panel is in the first rotational position; and
wherein the connector is further configured to actuate rotation of the second panel from the first rotational position toward the second rotational position about the panel rotating axis when the second panel or the portion thereof is in a predetermined position between the first and second linear positions, wherein the connector comprises;
a cam having a cam surface, which comprises a first spontaneous moving section;
a cam follower in contact with the cam surface at a contact point, the cam follower spontaneously rotatable in a first rotational direction about a hinge axis relative to the cam surface when the contact point is located on the first spontaneous moving section;
wherein one of the cam and the cam follower is substantially non-rotatable relative to the second panel, and wherein the other is rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotates relative to each other; and
a coupler connected to the cam or the cam follower, the coupler rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotate relative to each other, the coupler being substantially linearly non-movable relative to the second panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- a first panel comprising a first surface;
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33. A portable electronic or communication device, comprising:
- a first panel comprising a first surface;
a second panel comprising a second surface;
a connector configured to rotatably connect the first panel and the second panel, the second panel being rotatable about an axis between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, wherein the first and second surfaces face each other and being substantially parallel to each other when the second panel is in the first rotational position; andmeans for slidably connecting the first panel and the second panel, the second panel or a portion thereof substantially linearly movable between a first linear position and a second linear position when the second panel is in the first rotational position, wherein the connector comprises;
a cam having a cam surface, which comprises a first spontaneous moving section;
a cam follower in contact with the cam surface at a contact point, the cam follower spontaneously rotatable in a first rotational direction about a hinge axis relative to the cam surface when the contact point is located on the first spontaneous moving section;
wherein one of the cam and the cam follower is substantially non-rotatable relative to the second panel, and wherein the other is rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotates relative to each other; and
a coupler connected to the cam or the cam follower, the coupler rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotate relative to each other, the coupler being substantially linearly non-movable relative to the second panel. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
- a first panel comprising a first surface;
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36. A connector for use in connecting a first panel and a second panel of a portable electronic or communication device, the first panel having a first surface and a second panel having a second surface, the connector comprising:
- a connector configured to rotatably connect the first panel and the second panel so that the second panel is rotatable about an axis between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, wherein the first and second surfaces face each other and being substantially parallel to each other when the second panel is in the first rotational position; and
means for slidably connecting the first and second panel so that the second panel or a portion thereof is substantially linearly movable between a first linear position and a second linear position when the second panel is in the first rotational positions, wherein the connector comprises;
a cam having a cam surface, which comprises a first spontaneous moving section;
a cam follower in contact with the cam surface at a contact point, the cam follower spontaneously rotatable in a first rotational direction about a hinge axis relative to the cam surface when the contact point is located on the first spontaneous moving section;
wherein one of the cam and the cam follower is substantially non-rotatable relative to the second panel, and wherein the other is rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotates relative to each other; and
a coupler connected to the cam or the cam follower, the coupler rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the second panel as the cam and the cam follower rotate relative to each other, the coupler being substantially linearly non-movable relative to the second panel. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
- a connector configured to rotatably connect the first panel and the second panel so that the second panel is rotatable about an axis between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, wherein the first and second surfaces face each other and being substantially parallel to each other when the second panel is in the first rotational position; and
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39. A hinge device for use in a portable electronic or communication device, comprising:
- a housing;
a first hinge unit substantially enclosed within the housing, the first hinge unit comprising a first coupler rotatable about a first hinge axis relative to the housing;
a second hinge unit substantially enclosed within the housing, the second hinge unit comprising a second coupler rotatable about a second hinge axis relative to the housing;
wherein the second coupler is rotatable about the second hinge axis relative to the housing for an angle less than about 90°
, wherein the first hinge unit;
a cam having a cam surface, which comprises a first spontaneous moving section;
a cam follower in contact with the cam surface at a contact point, the cam follower spontaneously rotatable in a first rotational direction about the first hinge axis relative to the cam surface when the contact point is located on the first spontaneous moving section;
wherein one of the cam and the cam follower is substantially non-rotatable relative to the housing, and wherein the other is rotatable about the hinge axis relative to the housing as the cam and the cam follower rotates relative to each other; and
the first coupler connected to the cam or the cam follower, the coupler rotatable about the first hinge axis relative to the housing as the cam and the cam follower rotate relative to each other, the coupler being substantially linearly non-movable relative to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
- a housing;
Specification