Multi-pivot hinge

• US 9,625,954 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Campbell, John, Bitz, Brian, Tazbaz, Errol Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US14/555,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20160147267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0054 Covers, e.g. for protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/06 Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1014 for maintaining the hinge in only one position, e.g. closed
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2007/128 in a radial direction
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/06 with two or more pins E05D7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/12 to allow easy detachment of the hinge from the wing or the frame E05D15/507 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• 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 1/1681 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes

Abstract

The description relates to devices, such as computing devices that have hinged portions. One example can include a first portion and a second portion. This example can also include a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion. The sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly can include rotation control elements configured to control a relative order of rotation around axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a display screen and a second portion that includes an input device; and

,

a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion from a storage position where the first portion is juxtaposed over the second portion to a deployed position where the first portion is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the second portion, the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly comprising multiple hinge stacks, individual hinge stacks coupled to the first and second portions and comprising multiple sequencing pins and multiple radially arranged links that rotate around individual hinge axes, individual sequencing pins interposed between individual adjacent links to control a relative order of rotation of the individual adjacent links depending upon whether the first portion and second portion are being rotated from the storage position to the deployed position or from the deployed position to the storage position.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the individual adjacent links include cam surfaces and the cam surfaces and the sequencing pins comprise rotation control sub-assemblies.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the individual links have opposing offset first and second regions connected by a central region, wherein individual first regions define first passageways and individual second regions define second passageways that are parallel to the first passageways, an individual first region of an individual first link rotatably secured to an individual second region of an individual second link by a shaft that defines an individual axis of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly, and wherein an individual second region of a third individual link is secured to a first region of the second individual link via a second shaft.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the central region of the first link partially defines a channel in which an individual sequencing pin resides and wherein the individual first region of the individual first link defines a first cam surface and the individual second region of the third individual link defines a second cam surface and wherein a relative position of the individual sequencing pin relative to the first and second cam surfaces determines whether the second individual link can rotate relative to the first individual link.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the shaft has a circular profile when viewed transverse the axis of rotation or wherein the shaft is not circular.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the shaft is key shaped and a profile of an individual first passageway of the first link matches a profile of the shaft and a profile of an individual second passageway of the second link is circular.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the individual sequencing pins comprise rotation control elements that prevent rotation around a second individual hinge axis until a first individual hinge axis has completed a defined number of degrees of rotation.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly is configured to create a larger footprint of the computing device in the deployed position than in the storage position.

9. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly is visible when in both the storage position and the deployed position.

10. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a display screen and a second portion that includes an input device; and

,

a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion from a storage position where the first portion is juxtaposed over the second portion to a deployed position where the first portion is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the second portion, the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly comprising multiple hinge stacks, rotation control elements, and a rotation limiter to limit rotation around each axis of rotation to a defined number of degrees,

individual hinge stacks coupled to the first and second portions and comprising multiple radially arranged links that rotate around individual hinge axes, individual rotation control elements interposed between individual adjacent links to control a relative order of rotation of the individual adjacent links depending upon whether the first portion and the second portion are being rotated from the storage position to the deployed position or from the deployed position to the storage position.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the rotation limiter comprises multiple individual rotation limiters that are associated with the individual hinge axes.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein, in an instance where the first portion and the second portion are being rotated from the storage position to the deployed position, the individual rotation control elements control the relative order of rotation of the individual adjacent links by preventing a second individual adjacent link from rotating until a first individual adjacent link has rotated the defined number of degrees.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein, in another instance where the first portion and the second portion are being rotated from the deployed position to the storage position, the individual rotation control elements control the relative order of rotation of the individual adjacent links by preventing the first individual adjacent link from rotating until the second individual adjacent link has rotated the defined number of degrees.

14. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion that includes a display screen and a second portion that includes an input device;

a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion from a storage position where the first portion is juxtaposed over the second portion to a deployed position where the first portion is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the second portion, the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly comprising multiple hinge stacks and rotation control elements; and

,

a hinge cover positioned relative to the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly,

individual hinge stacks coupled to the first and second portions and comprising multiple radially arranged links that rotate around individual hinge axes, individual rotation control elements interposed between individual adjacent links to control a relative order of rotation of the individual adjacent links depending upon whether the first portion and second portion are being rotated from the storage position to the deployed position or from the deployed position to the storage position.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the hinge cover comprises multiple rigid hinge covers or wherein the hinge cover comprises a flexible hinge cover that extends from the first portion to the second portion.

16. A computing device, comprising:

a first portion and a second portion; and

,

a sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion and comprising rotation control elements that comprise locking cam members that engage cam surfaces defined on links that rotate around individual axes of rotation, the rotation control elements configured to control a relative order of rotation around axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the locking cam members comprise elongate sequencing pins oriented parallel to the axes of rotation of the sequential multi-pivot hinge assembly.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the second portion defines a footprint of the computing device when the first portion is juxtaposed over the second portion in a storage position and when the first portion is rotated away from the second portion to an obtuse angle, the rotation control elements expand the footprint.

19. The computing device of claim 18, further comprising electronic components positioned in the first portion and wherein a center of mass of the computing device is located above the expanded footprint.