Multi-axis hinge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10437293-B2
Application number	US-201615360652-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 23, 2016
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Technologies are described relating to sequential multi-axis hinges that rotatably secure portions of a computing device. One example can include a set of hinges that rotate around a set of hinge shafts. The example can also include a shuttle cam through which an individual hinge shaft passes. The shuttle cam can be configured to move orthogonally relative to the individual hinge shaft to block rotation of the individual hinge shaft or an adjacent individual hinge shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion; and
a sequential multi-axis hinge assembly that rotatably couples the first and second portions, the sequential multi-axis hinge assembly including:
hinge shafts that define frame axes,
hinge frames, an individual hinge frame positioned over and configured to rotate around an individual hinge shaft and an adjacent hinge shaft, an adjacent hinge frame positioned over and configured to rotate around the adjacent hinge shaft and a further adjacent hinge shaft, and
a sequencing assembly including a shuttle cam positioned over the individual hinge shaft and a timing cam positioned over the adjacent hinge shaft, the shuttle cam configured to move orthogonally to the individual hinge shaft and interact with a recess of the timing cam to control a relative sequence of rotation of the individual hinge frame around the adjacent hinge shaft with respect to the adjacent hinge frame.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising another sequencing assembly comprising another shuttle cam positioned over the adjacent hinge shaft and another timing cam positioned over the individual hinge shaft, the another shuttle cam configured to move orthogonally to the adjacent hinge shaft.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shuttle cam defines an elongate aperture through which the individual hinge shaft passes and wherein the shuttle cam is configured to move orthogonally to the individual hinge shaft to an extent defined by the elongate aperture.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shuttle cam includes a rail that is configured to be received in the recess of the timing cam, and interaction of the rail and the recess limit rotation of the shuttle cam.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shuttle cam comprises opposing first and second cam lobes.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the shuttle cam interacts with a second adjacent timing cam positioned on another adjacent hinge shaft to the individual hinge shaft that is opposite the adjacent hinge shaft.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the recess comprises a first cam recess and the second adjacent timing cam comprises a second cam recess.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein either the first cam lobe engages the first cam recess or the second cam lobe engages the second cam recess, but the first cam lobe does not engage the first cam recess at a same time that the second cam lobe engages the second cam recess.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the first cam recess and the second cam recess have a depth that is equal to a difference between a width of the individual hinge shaft and a width of an aperture of the shuttle cam that the individual hinge shaft passes through.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein all of the hinge shafts are co-terminus in a direction parallel to the frame axes.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the individual hinge frame defines a first shaft enclosure that secures the individual hinge frame to the individual hinge shaft and a second shaft enclosure that secures the individual hinge frame to the adjacent hinge shaft.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a friction interface that creates resistance to rotation on the individual hinge shaft.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the friction interface comprises a friction band through which the individual hinge shaft passes.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the resistance is uniform through a range of rotation of the friction band around the individual hinge shaft.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the resistance is non-uniform through a range of rotation of the friction band around the individual hinge shaft.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein the resistance is the same in clockwise rotation and counter-clockwise rotation of the friction band around the individual hinge shaft.

17. The device of claim 13 , wherein the resistance is different in clockwise rotation and counter-clockwise rotation of the friction band around the individual hinge shaft.

18. A sequential multi-axis hinge assembly comprising:
hinge shafts that define frame axes;
hinge frames interconnected by successive overlapping pairs of the hinge shafts such that an individual hinge frame is interconnected by an individual hinge shaft and an adjacent individual hinge shaft and configured to rotate around respective frame axes of the individual hinge shaft and the adjacent individual hinge shaft; and
a shuttle cam defining an elongate aperture through which the individual hinge shaft extends, the shuttle cam configured to move orthogonal to an individual respective frame axis of the individual hinge shaft and to interact with a timing cam associated with the adjacent individual hinge shaft to control an order of rotation of the individual hinge frame around the individual respective frame axis relative to rotation of an adjacent individual hinge frame around an adjacent individual frame axis of the adjacent individual hinge shaft.

19. The sequential multi-axis hinge assembly of claim 18 , wherein the timing cam includes a cam recess and is positioned on the adjacent individual hinge shaft and the shuttle cam is configured to engage the cam recess to block rotation of the adjacent individual hinge frame.

20. A device, comprising:
hinges that couple a first portion to a second portion, the hinges comprising hinge frames that rotate around and secure overlapping pairs of hinge shafts; and,
a shuttle cam through which an individual hinge shaft of an individual pair passes, the shuttle cam configured to move orthogonally relative to the individual hinge shaft and to interact with a timing cam associated with an adjacent individual hinge shaft of the individual pair to block rotation of an individual hinge frame of the individual pair relative to the adjacent individual hinge shaft.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Bitz Brian

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  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 title

• G06F1/1681 Primary

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• G06F1/166

  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 title

• G06F1/1654

  the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use · CPC title