Hinge for a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016378145-A1
Application number	US-201514752920-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2015
Priority date	Jun 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for device that includes a first housing, a cradle, and a hinge that rotatable couples the first housing to the cradle. The hinge includes a switch bolt configured to selectively provide friction torque to the hinge, a torsion spring configured to provide spring torque to the hinge, and a switch mechanism to activate and deactivate the switch bolt, wherein the friction torque provided by the switch bolt is greater than the spring torque provided by the torsion spring.

First claim

1 . A device, comprising:
a first housing; a cradle; and a hinge that rotatable couples the first housing to the cradle, wherein the hinge includes: a switch bolt configured to selectively provide friction torque to the hinge; a torsion spring configured to provide spring torque to the hinge, and a switch mechanism to activate and deactivate the switch bolt, wherein the friction torque provided by the switch bolt is greater than the spring torque provided by the torsion spring.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge further includes a switch bolt receptacle to couple with the switch bolt and provide the friction torque.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the hinge further includes a switch plate, wherein the switch mechanism selectively moves the switch plate to couple and decouple the switch bolt and the switch bolt receptacle.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the switch mechanism is activated when a second housing is inserted into the cradle.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the second housing is a standalone tablet.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the switch mechanism is a magnet.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spring torque causes the hinge to be in default position.

8 . A method, comprising:
activating a switch mechanism in a hinge, wherein the hinge includes: a switch bolt configured to selectively provide friction torque to the hinge upon activation of the switch; and a torsion spring configured to provide spring torque to the hinge, wherein the friction torque provided by the switch bolt is greater than the spring torque provided by the torsion spring; and deactivating the switch mechanism, wherein the deactivation causes the hinge to return to a default position.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the hinge further includes a switch bolt receptacle to couple with the switch bolt and provide the friction torque.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the hinge further includes a switch plate, wherein the switch mechanism selectively moves the switch plate to couple and decouple the switch bolt and the switch bolt receptacle.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the switch mechanism is activated when a second housing is inserted into the cradle.

12 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second housing is a standalone tablet.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the switch mechanism is a magnet.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the spring torque causes the hinge to be in default position.

15 . A system, comprising:
a first housing; a cradle configured to accept a second housing; and a hinge that rotatable couples the first housing to the cradle, wherein the hinge includes: a switch bolt configured to selectively provide friction torque to the hinge; a torsion spring configured to provide spring torque to the hinge, and a switch mechanism to activate and deactivate the switch bolt, wherein the friction torque provided by the switch bolt is greater than the spring torque provided by the torsion spring.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the hinge further includes a switch bolt receptacle to couple with the switch bolt and provide the friction torque.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the hinge further includes a switch plate, wherein the switch mechanism selectively moves the switch plate to couple and decouple the switch bolt and the switch bolt receptacle.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the switch mechanism is activated when the second housing is inserted into the cradle.

19 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the second housing is a standalone tablet.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the spring torque causes the hinge to be in default position.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Sung Pei-Yang
• Ku Jeff
• Lee Ming-Che
• Tsai Simon

Classifications

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• E05F1/1207

  with a coil spring parallel with the pivot axis · 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

• 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

• G06F1/1601

  Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64) · CPC title