Multi-pivot hinge for head mounted wearable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12158591-B2
Application number	US-202318347987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2023
Priority date	Jul 13, 2022
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

A head mounted wearable computing device includes a frame including arm portions rotatably coupled to a front frame portion, with electronic components housed in and/or on the front frame portion and the arm portions. Cables run through hinge mechanisms rotatably coupling the arm portions and the front frame portion for connection of electronic components in the arm portions and the front frame portion. The hinge mechanism includes a dual pivot structure that guides the bending of cables through the hinge mechanism through approximately 90 degrees of bending through two pivot points. The dual pivot structure reduces localized strain on the cable through the range of motion of the hinge mechanism. The dual pivot structure allows for a rotation through the range of motion with little to no extra cable length to accommodate the bending of the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable computing device, comprising:
a frame, including:
a front frame portion; and
an arm portion coupled to the front frame portion;

a hinge mechanism rotatably coupling the arm portion to the front frame portion of the frame, the hinge mechanism including:
a first pivot pin coupled to the front frame portion;
a second pivot pin coupled to the arm portion; and
a coupling structure coupling corresponding end portions of the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin; and

a flex cable extending through the hinge mechanism, connecting electronic components received in the front frame portion and electronic components received in the arm portion of the frame,
wherein the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin are configured to guide a bending of the flex cable through a substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism, wherein the substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism is approximately 90 degrees, and the first pivot pin provides for approximately 45 degrees of bending of flex cable, and the second pivot pin provides for approximately 45 degrees of bending of the flex cable.

2. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein a length of the flex cable, from a point at which the flex cable enters the hinge mechanism to a point at which the flex cable exits the hinge mechanism, is substantially the same throughout the range of motion of the hinge mechanism.

3. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein
the first pivot pin includes a cam surface that is offset from an axis of rotation of the first pivot pin, wherein the cam surface defines a guide surface for guiding the bending of the flex cable at the first pivot pin, and
the second pivot pin includes a cam surface that is offset from an axis of rotation of the second pivot pin, wherein the cam surface defines a guide surface for guiding the bending of the flex cable at the first pivot pin.

4. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the second pivot pin is positioned at an offset from the first pivot pin, such that the flex cable is positioned between the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin.

5. The wearable computing device of claim 4 , wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises:
a first guide pin; and
a second guide pin,
wherein the first guide pin is positioned such that the flex cable passes between the first pivot pin and the first guide pin, and the second guide pin is concentrically arranged with the second pivot pin.

6. The wearable computing device of claim 5 , wherein
in a fully open configuration of the hinge mechanism, the first guide pin and the second guide pin are separated by a first distance, and
in a fully closed configuration of the hinge mechanism, the first guide pin and the second guide pin are separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance.

7. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first pivot pin or the second pivot pin is a roller.

8. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the wearable computing device is a wearable computing device.

9. A wearable computing device, comprising:
a frame, including:
a front frame portion; and
an arm portion coupled to the front frame portion;

a hinge mechanism rotatably coupling the arm portion to the front frame portion of the frame, the hinge mechanism including:
a first pivot pin coupled to the front frame portion;
a second pivot pin coupled to the arm portion; and
a coupling structure coupling corresponding end portions of the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin; and

a flex cable extending through the hinge mechanism, connecting electronic components received in the front frame portion and electronic components received in the arm portion of the frame,
wherein the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin are configured to guide a bending of the flex cable through a substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism, and wherein
the first pivot pin includes a cam surface that is offset from an axis of rotation of the first pivot pin such that the cam surface defines a guide surface for guiding the bending of the flex cable at the first pivot pin, and
the second pivot pin includes a cam surface that is offset from an axis of rotation of the second pivot pin such that the cam surface defines a guide surface for guiding the bending of the flex cable at the first pivot pin.

10. The wearable computing device of claim 9 , wherein the first pivot pin provides for half of the bending of the flex cable associated with the substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism, and the second pivot pin provides for half of the bending of the flex cable associated with the substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism.

11. The wearable computing device of claim 9 , wherein the substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism is approximately 90 degrees, and the first pivot pin provides for approximately 45 degrees of bending of flex cable, and the second pivot pin provides for approximately 45 degrees of bending of the flex cable.

12. The wearable computing device of claim 9 , wherein a length of the flex cable, from a point at which the flex cable enters the hinge mechanism to a point at which the flex cable exits the hinge mechanism, is substantially the same throughout the range of motion of the hinge mechanism.

13. The wearable computing device of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first pivot pin or the second pivot pin is a roller.

14. The wearable computing device of claim 9 , wherein the wearable computing device is a head mounted wearable computing device.

15. A wearable computing device, comprising:
a frame, including:
a front frame portion; and
an arm portion coupled to the front frame portion;

a hinge mechanism rotatably coupling the arm portion to the front frame portion of the frame; and
a flex cable extending through the hinge mechanism, connecting electronic components received in the front frame portion and electronic components received in the arm portion of the frame, wherein the hinge mechanism includes:
a first pivot pin coupled to the front frame portion;
a second pivot pin coupled to the arm portion and positioned at an offset from the first pivot pin such that the flex cable is positioned between the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin;
a first guide pin;
a second guide pin concentrically arranged concentrically with the second pivot pin; and
a coupling structure coupling corresponding end portions of the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin,

wherein the first pivot pin, the second pivot pin, the first guide pin, and the second guide pin are configured to guide a bending of the flex cable through a substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism.

16. The wearable computing device of claim 15 , wherein the first pivot pin provides for half of the bending of the flex cable associated with the substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism, and the second pivot pin provides for half of the bending of the flex cable associated with the substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism.

17. The wearable computing device of claim 15 , wherein the substantially full range of motion of the hinge mechanism is approximately 90 degrees, and the first pivot pin provides for approximately 45 degrees of bending of flex cable, and the second pivot pin provides for approximately 45 degrees of bending of the flex cable.

18. The wearable computing device of claim 15 , wherein
i

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Adema Daniel

Classifications

• G02C5/2236

  comprising a sliding hinge member and a coil spring · CPC title

• G02C5/2263

  Composite hinges, e.g. for varying the inclination of the lenses · CPC title

• G02C11/10

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• G02B27/0176 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title