Hinged device conductor pathway

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12164343-B2
Application number	US-202117565805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2021
Priority date	Dec 30, 2021
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include a first portion including an electronic component and a second portion including a second electronic component. A hinge assembly can rotatably secure the first and second portions through a range of rotation from a closed orientation to an open orientation. A dumbbell-shaped shield assembly can be configured to provide an orientation-specific protective pathway between the first portion and the second portion for a conductor extending from the first electronic component to the second electronic component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a first portion including a first electronic component and a second portion including a second electronic component;
first and second spaced apart hinge assemblies rotatably securing the first and second portions through a range of rotation from a closed orientation to an open orientation; and,
a dumbbell-shaped shield assembly spaced between and separate from the first and second spaced apart hinge assemblies and configured to provide an orientation-specific protective pathway between the first portion and the second portion for a conductor extending from the first electronic component to the second electronic component.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second spaced apart hinge assemblies define a spine between the first and second portions.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the orientation-specific protective pathway completely encapsulates the conductor through the spine through the range of rotation.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second spaced apart hinge assemblies rotatably secure the first and second portions around a first hinge axis associated with the first portion and a second hinge axis associated with the second portion.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the dumbbell-shaped shield assembly comprises a first slotted barrel associated with the first portion and that is configured to rotate parallel to the first hinge axis and a second slotted barrel associated with the second portion and that is configured to rotate parallel to the second hinge axis.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the dumbbell-shaped shield assembly further comprises a conduit interposed between the first slotted barrel and the second slotted barrel.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first slotted barrel, the conduit, and the second slotted barrel collectively define the orientation-specific protective pathway.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the first slotted barrel is configured to rotate coincident with the first hinge axis and the second slotted barrel is configured to rotate coincident with the second hinge axis.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the conduit is configured to rotate and/or translate relative to the first slotted barrel and the second slotted barrel.

10. A device, comprising:
a first portion including a first electronic component and a second portion including a second electronic component;
a hinge assembly rotatably securing the first and second portions along first and second hinge axes through a range of rotation from a closed orientation to an open orientation;
a first slotted barrel associated with the first portion and configured to rotate parallel to the first hinge axis and a second slotted barrel associated with the second portion and configured to rotate parallel to the second hinge axis; and,
a conduit including a first pin associated with the first slotted barrel and a second pin associated with the second slotted barrel to collectively define an orientation-specific protective pathway between the first portion and the second portion for a conductor extending from the first electronic component to the second electronic component.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the first slotted barrel is configured to rotate around a first axis that is coincident with the first hinge axis and the second slotted barrel is configured to rotate around a second axis that is coincident with the second hinge axis, or wherein the first slotted barrel is configured to rotate around a first axis that is parallel to and offset from the first hinge axis and the second slotted barrel is configured to rotate around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the second hinge axis.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first slotted barrel defines a first axle that extends along the first axis and that resides in the first portion and the second slotted barrel defines a second axle that extends along the second axis and that resides in the second portion.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first pin is parallel to the first axle and the second pin is parallel to the second axle.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the first pin of the conduit is retained in a first track defined by the first slotted barrel and the second pin of the conduit is retained in a second track defined by the second slotted barrel.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first track and the second track are linear or wherein the first track and the second track are not linear.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein interaction of the first pin and the first track is configured to allow the conduit to both rotate and translate relative to the first slotted barrel, and wherein interaction of the second pin and the second track is configured to allow the conduit to both rotate and translate relative to the second slotted barrel.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the first slotted barrel, the conduit, and the second slotted barrel, define inwardly-facing contact surfaces that collectively define an orientation-specific protective pathway and a minimum bend radius experienced by the conductor through the range of rotation.

18. A device, comprising:
a first portion including a first display and a second portion including a second display;
first and second spaced apart hinge assemblies rotatably securing the first and second portions along first and second hinge shafts through a range of rotation from a zero-degree orientation where the first display and the second display are closed against one another to an open orientation where the first display and the second display form an oblique angle; and,
a dumbbell-shaped shield assembly interposed between the first and second spaced apart hinge assemblies and separate from the first and second hinge shafts and configured to provide an orientation-specific protective pathway between the first portion and the second portion for a conductor extending from the first display to the second display.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the first and second hinge assemblies are positioned at ends of a spine between the first and second portions and the dumbbell-shaped shield assembly is interposed between the first and second hinge assemblies.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the dumbbell-shaped shield assembly extends along an entirety of the spine between the first and second hinge assemblies or wherein the dumbbell-shaped shield assembly extends along less than an entirety of the spine between the first and second hinge assemblies.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Park Daniel C

Classifications

• E05Y2999/00

  Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title

• E05D11/0081

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

• E05D3/18

  with sliding pins or guides · CPC title

• H04M1/0277

  for a printed circuit board assembly · 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