Hinged Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022035419-A1
Application number	US-202017104595-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2020
Priority date	Aug 3, 2020
Publication date	Feb 3, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably secured to a hinge assembly that define a first hinge axis that the first portion rotates around and a second hinge axis that the second portion rotates around. The hinge assembly can also include a first timing gear associated with the first portion and a second timing gear associated with the second portion. The first timing gear can rotate around a first timing axis that is parallel to and offset from the first hinge axis. The second timing gear can rotate around a second timing axis that is parallel to and offset from the second hinge axis. The first and second timing gears can directly intermesh with one another to synchronize rotation around the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis.

First claim

1 . A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably secured around first and second hinge axes through a range of rotation from a closed orientation to an open orientation; and, first and second timing arms that define first and second timing gears that intermesh through the range of rotation to synchronize rotation around the first and second hinge axes, the timing gears rotating around first and second timing axes that are parallel to and not co-extensive with the hinge axes, the first and second timing arms configured to be biased toward the timing axes relative to the first and second portions at the closed orientation and to create a pop up force on the first and second portions from the bias.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is secured to a first friction arm and the second portion is secured to a second friction arm, and wherein the first friction arm is rotationally secured around a first hinge shaft that defines the first hinge axis and the second friction arm is rotationally secured around a second hinge shaft that defines the second hinge axis.

3 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a communication member that defines the first and second hinge shafts.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the first and second timing gears are positioned within the communication member that defines the first and second hinge shafts.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the first timing arm can move linearly relative to the first friction arm toward and away from the first hinge axis and the first timing arm can rotate axially relative to the first friction arm within a defined angular range.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the first timing arm defines a first travel slot and the first friction arm defines a first travel pin and interaction of the first travel pin in the first travel slot allows the relative linear movement and defines the relative axial rotation, or wherein the first timing arm defines a first travel pin and the first friction arm defines a first travel slot and interaction of the first travel pin in the first travel slot allows the relative linear movement and defines the relative axial rotation.

7 . A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably secured to a hinge assembly that defines a first hinge axis that the first portion rotates around and a second hinge axis that the second portion rotates around; and, the hinge assembly further comprising a first timing gear associated with the first portion and a second timing gear associated with the second portion, the first timing gear rotating around a first timing axis that is parallel to and offset from the first hinge axis, the second timing gear rotating around a second timing axis that is parallel to and offset from the second hinge axis, the first and second timing gears directly intermeshing with one another to synchronize rotation around the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a communication member that defines both the first and second hinge axes and the first and second timing axes.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the first timing gear defines a first travel slot and the second timing gear defines a second travel slot, or wherein the first timing gear defines a first travel pin and the second timing gear defines a second travel pin.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the first travel slot allows relative linear movement between the first timing gear and the first portion and defines and limits relative rotational movement between the first timing gear and the first portion, and wherein the second travel slot allows relative linear movement between the second timing gear and the second portion and defines and limits relative rotational movement between the second timing gear and the second portion.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the first timing pin comprises a first tang that defines a first cam surface and the second timing pin comprises a second tang that defines a second cam surface.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the first tang allows and defines an extent of relative linear movement between the first timing gear and the first portion and allows and defines relative rotational movement between the first timing gear and the first portion, and wherein the second tang allows and defines relative linear movement between the second timing gear and the second portion and allows and defines relative rotational movement between the second timing gear and the second portion.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the first cam surface acts on a first cam follower at a range of orientations that includes zero degrees to store pop-up energy relative to the first portion, and wherein the second cam surface acts on a second cam follower at a range of orientations that includes zero degrees to store pop-up energy relative to the second portion.

14 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a first biasing member to store the pop-up energy relative to the first portion, and a second biasing member to store the pop-up energy relative to the second portion.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a first spring, and wherein the second biasing member comprises a second spring.

16 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the first cam follower is defined by a first crank and the second cam follower is defined by a second crank, and wherein engagement of the first cam surface on the first cam follower surface causes the first crank to compress the first spring to store the pop-up energy relative to the first portion, and wherein engagement of the second cam surface on the second cam follower surface causes the second crank to compress the second spring to store the pop-up energy relative to the second portion.

17 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the first timing gear is part of a first timing arm and the second timing gear is part of a second timing arm.

18 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the first timing gear includes an element that at least in part allows the first timing gear to move linearly relative to the first portion in a direction perpendicular to the first hinge axis and defines relative rotational movement between the first timing gear and the first portion.

19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the element is a pin or a slot.

20 . The device of claim 7 , further comprising a first plunger positioned in the first portion, the first plunger associated with a spring, and wherein when rotation of the first and second portions approaches a zero-degree orientation, the plunger engages a stop on the hinge assembly and compresses the spring to store pop-up energy.

21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the stop is defined by a communication member that defines both the first hinge axis and the first timing axis, and wherein engagement with the stop forces the plunger away from the first hinge axis and the first timing axis.

22 . A device, comprising:
a hinge assembly that rotatably secures a first portion relative to a first hinge axis and a second portion relative to a second hinge axis to allow the first and second portions to rotate from a closed orientation to an open orientation; and, the hinge assembly including first and second timing arms configured to both synchronize rotation around the first and second hinge axes and to convey a pop-up force on the first and second portions in the clo

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Park Daniel C
• Yaremenko Denys V

Classifications

• G06F1/1679

  for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence) · 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

• H04M1/022

  The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes · 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