Flexible Hinge Spine

• US 20140185215A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Whitt, David Otto III, Wahl, Eric Joseph, Vandervoort, David C., Pleake, Todd David, Huala, Rob, Schneider, Summer L., McLaughlin, Robyn Rebecca Reed, Mickelson, Matthew David, Pelley, Joel Lawrence, Shaw, Timothy C., Groene, Ralf, Wang, Hua, Stoumbos, Christopher Harry, Aagaard, Karsten
• Granted Patent: US 9,075,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

Flexible hinge spine techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an input portion configured to generate signals to be processed by a computing device; and

a connection portion attached to the input portion, the connection portion configured to be communicatively coupled to the computing device to communicate the generated signals and physically coupled to the computing device using a projection that is configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device.