Mobile electronic device having member rotatable between first and second positions

• US 8,769,772 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Riddiford, Martin, Reeves, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): DELISLE, ROBERTA S
• Application Number:
  US13/206,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20130036846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 163/54, 163/68, 163/69
• US Class Current: 16/354
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18056 Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18152 Belt or chain carried member

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a mobile electronic device is provided with a linkage mechanism that couples first and second members of the device such that the device may be moved between a first position and a second position. The linkage mechanism includes a linkage intermediate the first and second members, the linkage having a fixed length. The linkage mechanism further includes a motion constraint mechanism that constrains movement of the first member with respect to the second member to a controlled motion. The linkage mechanism described herein may further provide that the top member rotates without increasing the length or width of the device.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a first member having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a second member; and

at least one linkage mechanism coupling the first member and the second member such that the device may be moved between a first position and a second position, the at least one linkage mechanism comprising;

a linkage intermediate the first member and the second member; and

a motion constraint mechanism that constrains movement of the first member with respect to the second member between the first and second positions to a pre-defined rotational and translational path, the rotational and translational path being defined by rotation of the first member with respect to the second member and counter-rotation of the linkage with respect to the second member, wherein

when the device is in the first position, the first member overlies the second member, the first surface is accessible and faces away from the second member, and the second surface faces toward the second member, and

when the device is in the second position, the first member overlies the second member, the second surface is accessible and faces away from the second member, and the first surface faces toward the second member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion control mechanism is a pulley system intermediate the first member and the second member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion constraint mechanism transfers said rotation of the first member to said counter-rotation of the linkage and transfers said counter-rotation of the linkage to said rotation of the first member, thereby coupling said rotation of the first member with said counter-rotation of the linkage.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the motion constraint mechanism comprises:

a first node fixedly attached to a side of the first member, the linkage being rotatably coupled to the first member at the first node;

a second node fixedly attached to a side of the second member, the linkage being rotatably coupled to the second member at the second node, the linkage having a fixed length; and

a rotation transfer mechanism that rotationally couples the first node and the second node to thereby transfer said rotation of the first member to said counter-rotation of the linkage and transfer said counter-rotation of the linkage to said rotation of the first member.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first member has a first end and a second end, and the first member has a length (L) between the first end and the second end, and the first node is located less than one quarter of the length (L) away from the second end of the first member, the first end of the first member initially rotating away from the second member during the movement between the first position and the second position.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the second member has a first end and a second end, and the second node is located centrally between the first end and the second end of the second member.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein:

the first member has a first axis of rotation, and the first node has a first perimeter about the first axis of rotation;

the linkage has a second axis of rotation, and the second node has a second perimeter about the second axis of rotation; and

the rotation transfer mechanism comprises a flexible link that is wrapped around at least a portion of each of the first and second perimeters, and which is anchored to each of the first node and the second node.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the motion constraint mechanism comprises a pulley system, the first node comprising a first pulley of the pulley system, the second node comprising a second pulley of the pulley system, and the rotation transfer mechanism comprising at least one line of the pulley system, the at least one line coupling the first pulley and the second pulley.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein a diameter of the second pulley and a diameter of the first pulley are in accordance with the formula:

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one line is anchored to each of the first pulley and the second pulley to form two line sections of equal length, each of the line sections being anchored to the first pulley and the second pulley.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein,

when the device is in the first position, the first line section is wrapped substantially around the first pulley and substantially unwrapped from the second pulley, and the second line section is substantially unwrapped from in the first pulley and wrapped partially around the second pulley, and

when the device is in the second position, the second line section is wrapped substantially around the first pulley and substantially unwrapped from the second pulley, and the first line section is substantially unwrapped from in the first pulley and wrapped partially around the second pulley.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the first pulley and the second pulley do not protrude above the first member or below the second member in both the first position and the second position.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the first pulley comprises a hole through which the at least one line passes, the at least one line being anchored to the first pulley within the hole, and the hole is offset from the centre of a circular cross-section of the first pulley.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein the motion constraint mechanism comprises a gear system, the first node comprising a first gear of the gear system, the second node comprising a second gear of the gear system, and the rotation transfer mechanism comprising at least one further gear meshed intermediate the first gear and the second gear.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one further gear meshed intermediate the first gear and the second gear comprises an odd number of gears.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein movement of the first member with respect to the second member between the first position and the second position comprises a rotation of the first member of about 180 degrees.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the first member further comprises at least one interface element on the first surface.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the second member comprises a protective cover.

19. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a first member having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a second member; and

at least one linkage mechanism coupling the first member and the second member such that the device may be moved between a first position and a second position, the at least one linkage mechanism comprising;

a linkage intermediate the first member and the second member; and

a motion constraint mechanism that constrains movement of the first member with respect to the second member between the first and second positions to a pre-defined rotational and translational path, the rotational and translational path being defined by a rotation of the first member with respect to the second member and a counter-rotation of the linkage with respect to the second member, wherein

the pre-defined path comprises about 180 degrees of rotation of the first member with respect to the second member with the first member being in approximately a same lateral position in both the first position and the second position.

20. An assembly for use with a mobile electronic device, the assembly comprising:

a cover member; and

at least one linkage mechanism that is attachable to the device,

the at least one linkage mechanism, when attached to the device, interconnecting the device and the cover member such that the device and the cover member can be moved relative to each other between;

a first position wherein the device overlies the cover member;

a second position wherein the device overlies the cover member and the device is rotated about 180 degrees with respect to the first position,

the at least one linkage mechanism comprising;

a linkage intermediate the device and the cover member; and

a motion constraint mechanism that constrains movement of the device with respect to the cover member between the first and second positions to a pre-defined rotational and translational path, the rotational and translational path being defined by a rotation of the device with respect to the cover member and a counter-rotation of the linkage with respect to the cover member.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the motion control mechanism is a pulley system intermediate the cover member and the device.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the motion constraint mechanism transfers said rotation of the cover member to said counter-rotation of the linkage and transfers said counter-rotation of the linkage to said rotation of the device, thereby coupling said rotation of the cover member with said counter-rotation of the linkage.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the motion constraint mechanism comprises:

a first node fixedly attached to a side of the cover member, the linkage being rotatably coupled to the cover member at the first node;

a second node fixedly attached to a side of the device, the linkage being rotatably coupled to the device at the second node, the linkage having a fixed length; and

a rotation transfer mechanism that rotationally couples the first node and the second node to thereby transfer said rotation of the cover member to said counter-rotation of the linkage and transfer said counter-rotation of the linkage to said rotation of the cover member.

24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the motion constraint mechanism comprises a pulley system, the first node comprising a first pulley of the pulley system, the second node comprising a second pulley of the pulley system, and the rotation transfer mechanism comprising at least one line of the pulley system, the at least one line coupling the first pulley and the second pulley.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein a diameter of the second pulley and a diameter of the first pulley are in accordance with the formula: