Mechanical rotation and electrical interface combination

• US 7,535,722 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nord, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Norris; Jeremy C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Xiaoliang
• Application Number:
  US11/477,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 361/755, 361679-681, 361/814, 174/254
• US Class Current: 361/755
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 Devices for uninterrupted current collection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0233 Including a rotatable display body part

Abstract

A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device is provided in a portable electronic device. The interface device includes a hinge having a single signal connection in its interior between a first and a second part of the portable electronic device, a first processing unit connected to the hinge and to a number of parallel conductors in the first part, where the first processing unit receives a number of parallel electrical signals generated in the first part, combines these into a single signal and transmits this single signal over the single signal connection, and a second processing unit connected to the hinge and to a number of parallel conductors provided in the second part, where the second processing unit receives the combined signal, splits it into a number of parallel signals and provides these to the parallel conductors provided in the second part.

Claims

1. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device for use in a rotatable two part portable electronic device, the interface device comprising:

a hinge providing a rotational axis and having a single signal connection provided between the two parts in its interior, the hinge comprising a first hinging section and a second hinging section,

a first processing unit connected to the hinge and connected to a plurality of parallel conductors provided in a first part of the portable electronic device, said first processing unit being configured to receive a plurality of parallel electrical signals generated in the first part, combine these parallel signals into one first single signal and transmit this first single signal over the single signal connection,

a second processing unit connected to the hinge and to be connected to a plurality of parallel conductors provided in a second part of the portable electronic device, said second processing unit being configured to receive said first combined signal, split it into a plurality of parallel electrical signals and provide these to the parallel conductors provided in the second part, and

an electrical reference conductor that is arranged along the rotational axis,

wherein the signal connection comprises a single signal connection that is arranged through the first hinging section and the second hinging section,

wherein the second hinging section is aligned with the rotational axis of the hinge via an electrical conductor, and

wherein the hinge comprises a snap-in coaxial connector, wherein the first hinging section comprises a rod, and wherein the second hinging section comprises a cylindrical receptacle that is configured to receive the rod.

2. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the portable electronic device is to be connected to the hinge in a first plane and the second part of the portable electronic device is to be connected to the hinge in a second plane that is parallel to said first plane, wherein the two parallel planes are provided substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the hinge.

3. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises

a first hinging section to be connected to the first part of the portable electronic device and having a first mechanical fastener, and

a second hinging section to be connected to the second part of the portable electronic device and having a corresponding second mechanical fastener for joining the first and second sections to each other.

4. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein the single signal connection is provided along the rotational axis of the hinge.

5. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface according to claim 1, wherein electrical connections are provided via an electrical coaxial connector.

6. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface according to claim 5, wherein the single signal connection is provided in the centre of the coaxial connector aligned with the rotational axis.

7. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface according to claim 5, further comprising a separate electrical feed voltage conductor in the coaxial connector.

8. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device according to claim 1, further comprising

a modulating unit connected between the first processing unit and the single signal connection and configured to modulate the combined signal onto a carrier and supply the modulated carrier on said single signal connection, and

a demodulating unit connected between the single signal connection and the second processing unit and configured to demodulate the combined signal from the carrier.

9. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device according to claim 8, wherein the carrier is a feeding voltage provided from the first part to the second part.

10. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein the second processing unit is further configured to receive a plurality of parallel signals generated in the second part, combine these parallel signals into one single signal and transmit this second combined signal over the single connection, and the first processing unit is further configured to receive said second combined signal, split it into a plurality of parallel signals and provide these to the parallel conductors provided in the first part.

11. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface according to claim 1, wherein the single signal connection comprises an electrical core conductor.

12. A mechanical rotation and electrical interface according to claim 1, wherein the electrical reference conductor comprises a cylindrical reference voltage conductor that surrounds the single signal connection.

13. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first and a second part that can be rotated in relation to each other, and

a mechanical rotation and electrical interface device comprising;

a hinge providing a rotational axis and having a single signal connection provided between the two parts in its interior, the hinge comprising a first hinging section and a second hinging section,

a first processing unit connected to the hinge and to a plurality of parallel conductors provided in the first part, said first processing unit being configured to receive a plurality of parallel electrical data signals generated in the first part, combine these parallel signals into one single signal and transmit this first combined signal over the single signal connection, and

a second processing unit connected to the hinge and a plurality of parallel conductors provided in the second part, said second processing unit being configured to receive said first combined signal, split it into a plurality of parallel signals and provide these to the parallel signal conductors provided in the second part,

wherein the single signal connection is arranged through the first hinging section and the second hinging section,

wherein the second hinging section is aligned with the rotational axis of the hinge via an optical medium, and

wherein the hinge comprises a snap-in coaxial connector, wherein the first hinging section comprises a rod, and wherein the second hinging section comprises a cylindrical receptacle that is configured to receive the rod.

14. A device according to claim 13, further comprising a portable communication device.

15. A device according to claim 13, further comprising a cellular phone.