Mandrel flex circuit routing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10635141-B2
Application number	US-201615567932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2016
Priority date	May 5, 2015
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

Cable assemblies for providing electrical communication between hinged sections of an electronic device are described. The cable assemblies can include a cover that covers one or more cables that run through a hinge region of the electronic device. The cable and cover can be drawn over a mandrel of the hinge region. The cover and the portions of the mandrel can be visible to a user at the hinge region of the electronic device. The cover can be sufficiently rigid to guide a path of the cable and protect the cable from bending beyond a prescribed angle during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cover can also be sufficiently rigid to prevent ceasing or folding of the cover and the cable during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cable assemblies can also include a hinged cover that can be pivoted to close a gap between two hinged sections of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable computing device, comprising:
a cable configured to electrically couple a first electrical component attached to a first portion of the portable computing device and a second electrical component attached to a second portion of the portable computing device;
a hinge mechanism having a curved surface, wherein the cable is configured to bend over the curved surface; and
a cover at least partially in contact with a surface of the cable and having a first end and a second end;
a tensioning mechanism to apply tension to the second end of the cover to pull the second end into the second portion of the portable computing device.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the cover hides the cable from view when the first portion and the second portion rotate with respect to each other.

3. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the cover is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of: glass, polyurethane, fiberglass, aramid fibers, and a composite fiber.

4. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a structural layer that is bonded between an outer layer and an abrasion resistant layer.

5. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge mechanism comprises one or more clutch mechanisms to provide a predetermined amount of resistance when the first portion and the second portion rotate about a pivot axis associated with the hinge mechanism.

6. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the cover hides a portion of the curved surface of the hinge mechanism when the first portion and the second portion are rotated with respect to each other.

7. A method of covering a cable routed between a first portion and a second portion of an electronic device, the first portion pivotally coupled with the second portion at a hinge mechanism, the method comprising:
electrically coupling the first portion and the second portion with the cable, the cable drawn over a curved surface of the hinge mechanism when the electronic device is rotated from a closed state to an open state; and
covering an exposed surface of the cable with a cover, the cover drawn over the cable and the curved surface of the hinge mechanism when the electronic device is rotated from the closed state to the open state;
attaching a tensioning mechanism to the cover to apply a return force to the cover.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover is mechanically captured by the second portion.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover hides the cable from view when the electronic device is in the open state.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover is comprised of at least one of glass, polyurethane, fiberglass, aramid fibers, or a composite fiber.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises a structural layer that is bonded between an outer layer and an abrasion resistant layer.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover is drawn over a greater amount of the curved surface of the hinge mechanism during the open state relative to the closed state.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover is coupled to the first portion of the electronic device and the tensioning mechanism.

14. A hinge cover for an electronic device having a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion via a hinge mechanism, the hinge cover comprising:
a first side positioned proximate to a cable, the cable electrically connecting the first portion to the second portion, wherein the cable is configured to bend over a curved surface of the hinge mechanism;
a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second side is exposed at the hinge mechanism when the electronic device is in an open state; and
a tensioning mechanism to pull the hinge cover into the second portion of the electronic device.

15. The hinge cover of claim 14 , wherein the hinge cover is configured to conceal the curved surface of the hinge mechanism and the cable from being exposed to a user when the first portion is pivoted with respect to the second portion.

16. The hinge cover of claim 14 , wherein the hinge cover is comprised of a flexible material.

17. The hinge cover of claim 14 , wherein one or more slits are provided along the hinge cover such that a first section of the hinge cover flexes independently of a second section of the hinge cover.

18. The hinge cover of claim 17 , wherein the first section of the hinge cover is configured to flex freely from the curved surface of the hinge mechanism while the second section is adhered to the curved surface of the hinge mechanism.

19. The hinge cover of claim 14 , wherein the hinge cover is manufactured from a single layer of a laminated material or a woven material.

20. A portable computing device, comprising:
a first housing portion containing a display assembly;
a second housing portion containing a circuit component, the second housing portion joined to the first housing portion by a rotatable hinge mechanism, the first and second housing portions being movable between a closed state and an open state;
a cable electrically coupling the display assembly to the circuit component, the cable having a first side surface configured to bend about a curved surface of the rotatable hinge mechanism and having a second side surface positioned on the cable opposite the first side surface, the first side surface configured to be positioned below the second side surface when the first and second housing portions are in the closed state;
a cover contacting the second side surface of the cable and extending between the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
a shaft coupled to a retraction spring positioned in the second housing portion, the shaft coupled with an end of the cover, the retraction spring exerting a rotational torque on the shaft to draw the cover over an outer surface of the shaft.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Silvanto Mikael M
• Andre Bartley K
• Garelli Adam T
• Lancaster-Larocque Simon Regis Louis
• Cao Robert Y
• Mathew Dinesh C
• Kononiuk Jacob S
• Lockwood Robert J
• Posner Bryan W
• Keeler Kevin M
• Berg Bruce E
• Kuo Yi-Chen
• Robinson Kevin M
• Farahani Houtan R

Classifications

• E05D11/1028

  for maintaining the hinge in two or more positions, e.g. intermediate or fully open · CPC title

• E05D11/0054

  Covers, e.g. for protection · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• E05D11/0081

  for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

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