Flexible hinge spine

• US 9,268,373 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (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
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US14/727,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20150261262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.09, 361/679.15, 361/679.17, 36167927-67929, 345/168, 345/169, 400/472, 439 38- 40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 apparatus comprising:

a cover portion configured to be selectively disposed over at least a portion of a display device of a computing device;

a keyboard disposed in the cover portion;

a flexible hinge attached to the cover portion; and

a connection portion attached to the flexible hinge, a connection portion projection configured to magnetically attach to an enclosure, the connection portion comprising;

a metal spine; and

a plastic cover disposed over the metal spine.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the spine is secured to the projection using a plurality of pins to form a laminate structure.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of pins is configured to be self-clinching to secure the pin as part of the spine.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of pins that is self-clinching is configured such that when secured to the spine, a head of the pin is flush to a surface of the spine.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the projection is formed at least in part from a plastic material and the spine is formed using metal.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the connection portion includes a magnetic coupling device to magnetically couple the input device to the computing device.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the connection portion includes a plurality of communication contacts to communicate generated signals from input functionality that is included as part of the cover portion to the computing device.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the connection portion is configured to include one or more protrusions that are configured to be received within respective cavities of a channel of the computing device to resist removal of the connection portion from the computing device along one or more axes.

9. 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 via a flexible hinge, the connection portion configured to be communicatively coupled to the computing device to communicate the generated signals, the connection portion comprising;

a projection configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device to physically couple the connection portion to the computing device;

a device that is configured to form a magnetic attachment with one or more magnets disposed in the channel; and

a metal spine that is secured to the projection.

10. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the metal spine is secured to the projection using a plurality of pins along an approximate longitudinal axis defined by a length of the projection.

11. An input device as described in claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of pins is configured to be self-clinching to secure the pin as part of the spine.

12. An input device as described in claim 11, wherein the at least one of the plurality of pins that is self-clinching is configured such that when secured to the spine, a head of the pin is flush to a surface of the spine.

13. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the securing of the spine to the projection causes the projection to have increased mechanical stiffness along the longitudinal axis.

14. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the metal spine is further secured to the projection using an adhesive.

15. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the projection is formed at least in part from a plastic material.

16. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the device of the connection portion includes a magnetic coupling device to magnetically couple the input device to the computing device.

17. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the connection portion includes a plurality of communication contacts to communicate the generated signals to the computing device.

18. A system comprising:

a tablet computer having a housing configured to be held by one or more hands of a user; and

a cover portion that is configured to be selectively disposed over at least a portion of a display device of the tablet computer, the cover portion including;

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

a connection portion attached to the input portion via a flexible hinge, the connection portion configured to be communicatively coupled to the computing device to communicate the generated signals, the connection portion comprising;

a plastic projection configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device to physically couple the connection portion to the computing device;

a plurality of magnets that are configured to form a magnetic attachment with one or more magnets disposed in the channel; and

a metal spine that is secured to the plastic projection.

19. A system as described in claim 18, wherein the spine is secured to the projection using a plurality of pins to form a laminate structure, the laminate structure being formed using the plurality of pins oriented generally perpendicular to a surface of the projection.

20. A system as described in claim 18, wherein the input portion is configured as a keyboard.