Hinge module and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11599157-B2
Application number	US-202017027716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2020
Priority date	Apr 16, 2020
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

A hinge module is provided, including a positioning assembly, a first shaft, a second shaft, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a switching assembly. The first shaft has a first rotating part and a first installing part. The first rotating part is rotatably disposed through the positioning assembly. The second shaft has a second rotating part and a second installing part. The second rotating part is rotatably disposed through the positioning assembly. The first bracket is disposed on the first installing part of the first shaft. The second bracket is disposed on the second installing part of the second shaft. The switching assembly is movably disposed in the positioning assembly and abuts between the first shaft and the second shaft. The hinge module is adapted to switch between a closed state, a first unfolded state, and a second unfolded state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge module, comprising:
a first shaft having a first installing part and a first rotating part;
a second shaft having a second installing part and a second rotating part;
a positioning assembly, wherein the first rotating part is rotatably disposed through the positioning assembly, and the second rotating part is rotatably disposed through the positioning assembly, wherein the positioning assembly has a first positioning bracket and a second positioning bracket that is spaced apart from the first positioning bracket, and the positioning assembly has a third positioning bracket spaced apart from the second positioning bracket;
a first bracket disposed on the first installing part of the first shaft;
a second bracket disposed on the second installing part of the second shaft; and
a switching assembly movably disposed in the positioning assembly to be switched between a closed state, a first unfolded state, and a second unfolded state,
wherein the first shaft has a first actuating part disposed between the first rotating part and the first installing part, and the second shaft has a second actuating part disposed between the second rotating part and the second installing part,
wherein the first positioning bracket has two sleeve openings being respectively sleeved on the first shaft and the second shaft, and being respectively adjacent to the first actuating part and the second actuating part, and the second positioning bracket has two openings respectively sleeved on the first rotating part and the second rotating part,
wherein the first actuating part has a first sliding groove, and the second actuating part has a second sliding groove,
wherein the switching assembly has a pushing lever and a sliding piece abutting each other, the pushing lever is adapted to slide relative to the first positioning bracket and the second positioning bracket along a first direction, and the sliding piece is adapted to be driven by the pushing lever and slide relative to the first positioning bracket and the second positioning bracket along a second direction,
wherein the pushing lever has an active inclined surface and the sliding piece has a passive inclined surface in contact with the active inclined surface.

2. The hinge module as described in claim 1 , wherein the second positioning bracket has a lower blocking piece and an upper blocking piece slidably disposed respectively in the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove.

3. The hinge module as described in claim 1 , wherein the third positioning bracket has two openings respectively sleeved on the first rotating part and the second rotating part.

4. The hinge module as described in claim 3 , further comprising a torque member located between the second positioning bracket and the third positioning bracket.

5. The hinge module as described in claim 4 , wherein the torque member has two openings respectively sleeved on the first rotating part and the second rotating part.

6. The hinge module as described in claim 3 , further comprising a torque member adjacent to the third positioning bracket and a fourth positioning bracket, and being away from the second positioning bracket.

7. The hinge module as described in claim 6 , wherein the torque member has two openings respectively sleeved on the first rotating part and the second rotating part.

8. The hinge module as described in claim 1 , wherein an angle is present between the second direction and the first direction.

9. The hinge module as described in claim 1 , wherein the first positioning bracket has two first direction grooves, and the second positioning bracket also has two first direction grooves.

10. The hinge module as described in claim 9 , wherein the pushing lever has a plurality of pillars slidably disposed in the first direction grooves of the first positioning bracket and the first direction grooves of the second positioning bracket.

11. The hinge module as described in claim 1 , wherein the first positioning bracket has a second direction groove, and the second positioning bracket also has a second direction groove.

12. The hinge module as described in claim 11 , wherein the sliding piece has a plurality of pillars slidably disposed in the second direction groove of the first positioning bracket and the second direction groove of the second positioning bracket.

13. The hinge module as described in claim 1 , wherein
the sliding piece has an engaging portion corresponding to the first actuating part; and
the pushing lever has a driving part corresponding to the second actuating part.

14. The hinge module as described in claim 13 , wherein
the first actuating part has a first engaging slot corresponding to the engaging portion; and
the second actuating part has a second engaging slot corresponding to the driving part.

15. The hinge module as described in claim 14 , wherein in the closed state, the first bracket is parallel to the second bracket.

16. The hinge module as described in claim 15 , wherein the switching assembly is engaged with the second shaft and abuts against the first shaft.

17. The hinge module as described in claim 16 , wherein
the driving part is engaged with the second engaging slot; and
the engaging portion abuts on the outer ring surface of the first actuating part.

18. The hinge module as described in claim 15 , wherein the second positioning bracket has a lower blocking piece and an upper blocking piece;
the upper blocking piece abuts against a side of the second sliding groove adjacent to the driving part; and
the lower blocking piece abuts against a side of the first sliding groove away from the engaging portion.

19. The hinge module as described in claim 15 , wherein a distance is present between the pushing lever and the second positioning bracket.

20. The hinge module as described in claim 15 , wherein an angle of 120 degrees is present between an extension direction of the first engaging slot and the first bracket.

21. The hinge module as described in claim 14 , wherein in the first unfolded state, the second shaft drives the positioning assembly to rotate relative to the first shaft through the switching assembly, such that a first angle is present between the first bracket and the second bracket.

22. The hinge module as described in claim 21 , wherein the switching assembly is engaged with the second shaft.

23. The hinge module as described in claim 22 , wherein
the driving part is engaged with the second engaging slot; and
the engaging portion is aligned with the first engaging slot.

24. The hinge module as described in claim 21 , wherein the second positioning bracket has a lower blocking piece and an upper blocking piece;
the upper blocking piece abuts against a side of the second sliding groove adjacent to the driving part; and
the lower blocking piece abuts against a side of the first sliding groove close to the engaging portion.

25. The hinge module as described in claim 21 , wherein a distance is present between the pushing lever and the second positioning bracket.

26. The hinge module as described in claim 21 , wherein the driving part drives the positioning assembly to rotate relative to the first shaft.

27. The hinge module as described in claim 14 , wherein in the second unfolded state, the second shaft rotates relative to the positioning assembly and propels the switching a

Assignees

• Jan Cheng Shiue
• Tzou Jyh Chyang
• Tsai I Ta
• Wu meng ju
• Compal Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jan Cheng-Shiue
• Tzou Jyh-Chyang
• Tsai I Ta
• Wu meng ju

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

• G06F1/1618

  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 title

• H05K5/0226

  Hinges · CPC title

• G06F1/1624

  with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display · 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