Laptop computer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10534408-B2
Application number	US-201916385348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2019
Priority date	Apr 17, 2018
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

A laptop computer includes a host, a hinge mechanism, and a display. The host includes a housing, a pivoting base, and a protection cover that pivots on the pivoting base. The hinge mechanism is connected to the host, and includes a first shaft disposed in the housing, and a connection element connected to the first shaft. The display is connected to the hinge mechanism. When the display is rotated about the host, the connection element is rotated following the first shaft and makes the protection cover rotating relative to the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laptop computer, comprising:
a host comprising:
a housing;
a pivoting base disposed in the housing; and
a protection cover that pivots on the pivoting base;

a hinge mechanism connected to the host, and comprising:
a first shaft disposed in the housing; and
a connection element connected to the first shaft; and

a display connected to the hinge mechanism, and being rotatable relative to the host via the hinge mechanism,
wherein when the display is rotated relative to the host, the connection element is rotated with the first shaft, so as to make the protection cover rotate relative to the housing.

2. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device disposed on the protection cover, and located in the housing.

3. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the protection cover comprises a light hole, and the electronic device comprises a camera module corresponding to the light hole.

4. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a frame disposed on the protection cover, wherein the electronic device is located between the frame and the protection cover.

5. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein while the display is moving from a covered position to an open position, an angle of inclination between the protection cover and the housing is gradually increased, and while the display is moving from the open position to the covered position, the angle of inclination between the protection cover and the housing is gradually decreased.

6. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the display is in a covered position, the protection cover covers an opening of the housing, and when the display is in an open position, the protection cover is inclined relative to the housing, and the opening is exposed between the protection cover and the housing.

7. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the host further comprises a base disposed in the housing, and has a curved groove, and the hinge mechanism further comprises:
a rotation element comprising a curved portion in the curved groove; and
a second shaft connected to the connection element and the rotation element, and extending parallel to the first shaft,
wherein when the display is rotated relative to the host, the curved portion is rotated relative to the curved groove along a curved path.

8. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the curved path is a circular path, and the curved groove and the curved portion are C-shaped.

9. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises:
a fixed element that pivots on the first shaft, and is affixed to the housing; and
a plurality of torque elements disposed on the first shaft, and configured to provide a torque force between the first shaft and the fixed element.

10. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
a first curved cover connected to the rotation element;
a second curved cover connected to the rotation element, wherein a gap is formed between the first curved cover and the second curved cover; and
a transmission wire connected to the host and the display, and located in the gap.

Assignees

• Acer Inc

Inventors

• Cheng Yan-Fong
• Ling Cheng-Nan
• Huang Yi-Ta
• Huang Pao-Min

Classifications

• 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

• G06F1/1688

  the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  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

• G06F1/203

  for portable computers, e.g. for laptops · CPC title

• G06F1/1683

  for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling · CPC title