Double hinge axial cams

• US 8,451,601 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bohn, David D., O'Brien, Paul M., Fruhauf, Christopher Bramley, Basha, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US13/017,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20120194972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-67945, 36167955-67959, 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/169, 345/905, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 162/21, 162/27, 162/33, 163/66, 163/71, 162/86, 163/34, 163/35
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

In embodiments of double hinge axial cams, a portable device includes a first housing integrated with a display device, and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing. The first housing is operable to open and close relative to the second housing, and the first and second housings can be rotated from a closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°) to an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°), as well as rotated through approximately three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°). Double hinges are operable to movably couple the first housing and the second housing. The double hinges include axial cams that apply a holding torque in the open position that resists the first and second housings closing.

Claims

1. A portable device, comprising:

a first housing integrated with a display device;

a second housing movably coupled to the first housing, which is operable to open and close relative to the second housing, the first and second housings configurable from a closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°

) to an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

);

a double hinge operable to movably couple the first housing and the second housing, the double hinge comprising axial cams configured to apply a holding torque in the open position that resists the first and second housings closing;

the axial cams of the double hinge comprising cam-and-follower mechanisms, one of which opens a first half of the double hinge with less applied torque before a second half of the double hinge opens, and closes the first half of the double hinge before the second half of the double hinge closes; and

a cam face of a first cam follower comprising a different shape than a second cam follower, the cam face operable on an axial cam to apply the less applied torque.

2. A portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second housing is integrated with an additional display device, and wherein the display device and the additional display device are configurable adjacent each other as a surface display in the open position.

3. A portable device as recited in claim 2, wherein the display devices are viewable from opposite sides of the portable device in the closed position of the first and second housings.

4. A portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the double hinge is operable with a first actuation and a second actuation to sequence opening the first and second housings, and further operable to reverse sequence closing the first and second housings.

5. A portable device as recited in claim 4, wherein the double hinge is operable as a bistable mechanism said opening the first and second housings, and said closing the first and second housings.

6. A portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the double hinge is configured as a friction hinge that comprises the cam-and-follower mechanisms operable to actuate based on friction between a cam and a cam follower.

7. A portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the double hinge comprises a hinge link configured to couple the axial cams, the hinge link further configured for installation into the first and second housings of the portable device;

the axial cams each comprise a cam and a cam follower, a first cam integrated with the hinge link and a second cam configured removable from the hinge link; and

the second cam further configured for installation in the hinge link after the hinge link is installed into the first and second housings of the portable device.

8. A double hinge, comprising:

a hinge chassis configured for attachment to a first housing of a portable device and a second housing of the portable device, the first and second housings operable to open and close relative to each other from a closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°

) to an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

);

axial cams configured to apply a holding torque in the open position that resists the first and second housings closing responsive to a pressure input on a display device integrated into the first housing;

the axial cams comprising cam-and-follower mechanisms, one of which opens a first half of the double hinge with less applied torque before a second half of the double hinge opens, and closes the first half of the double hinge before the second half of the double hinge closes; and

a cam face of a first cam follower comprises a different shape than a second cam follower, the cam face operable on an axial cam to apply the less applied torque.

9. A double hinge as recited in claim 8, wherein the axial cams are operable for a first actuation and a second actuation to sequence opening the first and second housings, and are further operable to reverse sequence closing the first and second housings.

10. A double hinge as recited in claim 9, wherein the axial cams are operable as a bistable mechanism said opening the first and second housings, and said closing the first and second housings.

11. A double hinge as recited in claim 8, wherein the double hinge is configured as a friction hinge that comprises the cam-and-follower mechanisms operable to actuate based on friction between a cam and a cam follower.

12. A double hinge as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the double hinge further comprises a hinge link configured to couple the axial cams, the hinge link further configured for installation into the first and second housings of the portable device;

the axial cams each comprise a cam and a cam follower, a first cam integrated with the hinge link and a second cam configured removable from the hinge link; and

the second cam further configured for installation in the hinge link after the hinge link is installed into the first and second housings of the portable device.

13. A double hinge as recited in claim 8, further comprising tensioner springs each configured to apply a force to push a cam follower against a respective axial cam of the double hinge.

14. A method, comprising:

opening a first housing of a portable device relative to a second housing of the portable device, the first and second housings operable to open relative to each other from a closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°

) to an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

);

movably-coupling the first housing and the second housing with a double hinge that comprises axial cams configured for applying a holding torque in the open position that resists the first and second housings closing responsive to a pressure input on a display device integrated into the first housing, the axial cams of the double hinge comprising cam-and-follower mechanisms, one of which opens a first half of the double hinge with less applied torque before a second half of the double hinge opens, and closes the first half of the double hinge before the second half of the double hinge closes; and

applying less torque to a cam-and-follower mechanism, a cam face of a first cam follower comprising a different shape than a second cam follower and the cam face operable on an axial cam to apply the less applied torque.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

closing the first housing of the portable device relative to the second housing of the portable device;

sequencing said opening the first and second housings, the sequence comprising a first half of the double hinge said opening with the less applied torque before a second half of the double hinge opens; and

reverse-sequencing said closing the first and second housings, the reverse sequence comprising the first half of the double hinge said closing before the second half of the double hinge closes.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the axial cams of the double hinge are operable for a first actuation to open the first half of the double hinge before the second half of the double hinge opens, and the axial cams further operable for a second actuation to close the first half of the double hinge before the second half of the double hinge.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the first and second housings of the portable device are movably-coupled with the double hinge that is operable as a bistable mechanism said opening the first and second housings relative to each other, and closing the first and second housings relative to each other.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the first and second housings of the portable device are movably-coupled with the double hinge that is configured as a friction hinge that includes the cam-and-follower mechanisms operable to actuate based on friction between the axial cam and a cam follower.

19. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising coupling the axial cams of the double hinge with a hinge link configured for installation into the first and second housings of the portable device.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein:

the first axial cam is integrated with the hinge link; and

the second axial cam is configured removable from the hinge link and configured for installation in the hinge link after the hinge link is installed into the first and second housings of the portable device.