Electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9429986-B2
Application number	US-201314035503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2013
Priority date	Sep 26, 2012
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device including a first body, a second body connected with the first body, and a connecting member. The connecting member is hinged with the first body via a first hinge shaft and is hinged with the second body via a second hinge shaft, such as to enable the first body and the second body to be switched between an open state and a closed state. The electronic device is configured in such a manner that, in the closed state, a second housing of the first body snuggles against a first housing of the second body, and in the open state, a lower rim of the first body is located at a front portion of the second body; and the lower rim of the first body keeps abutting against the upper surface of the second body while the state of relative position is switched.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a first body;
a second body connected to the first body; and
a connecting member, wherein the connecting member is hinged with the first body via a first hinge shaft and is hinged with the second body via a second hinge shaft, such as to allow a state of relative position between the first body and the second body to be switched between an open state and a closed state;
wherein the electronic device is configured in such a manner that, in the closed state, a second housing of the first body snuggles against a first housing of the second body, and in the open state, a lower rim of the first body is located at a front portion of the second body; and the lower rim of the first body keeps abutting against an upper surface of the second body while the state of relative position is switched; and
wherein the center of gravity of the first body is located between the lower rim of the first body and a hinge portion of the first body hinged with the connecting member, to allow the lower rim of the first body to keep abutting against the upper surface of the second body while the state of relative position is switched.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first elastic component arranged between a first hinge end of the connecting member hinged with the first body and the first body, wherein the first elastic component is configured in such a manner that the first elastic component in the closed state has an elastic deformation generating a force for switching the first body into the open state, such that the lower rim of the first body keeps abutting against the upper surface of the second body while the state of relative position is switched.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the first elastic component is a first torsion spring arranged to be coaxial with the first hinge shaft.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein matched magnetic components are provided on the upper surface of the second body and the lower rim of the first body, respectively, so that the lower rim of the first body keeps abutting against the upper surface of the second body while the state of relative position is switched.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second elastic component arranged between a second hinge end of the connecting member hinged with the second body and the second body, wherein the second elastic component is configured in such a manner that the second elastic component in the closed state has an elastic deformation generating a force for driving the connecting member to be switched into the open state; and
a lock-release mechanism arranged on the second body and configured to lock or release the connecting member in the closed state.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the lock-release mechanism comprises:
a force applying rod, wherein a force applying end of the force applying rod is located outside a housing of the second body;
a lock-release connecting rod having a middle portion hinged to the second body, and one end hinged with the force applying rod and the other end provided with a position-limiting portion, wherein the lock-release connecting rod is configured in such a manner that, the position-limiting portion in the closed state is located above the connecting member so as to lock the connecting member; a force applied from the force applying end can drive the lock-release connecting rod to rotate till the position-limiting portion is located beside the connecting member so as to release the connecting member.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the lock-release mechanism further comprises:
a third elastic component arranged between the lock-release connecting rod and the second body so as to facilitate returning the lock-release connecting rod.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein two lock-release connecting rods and two third elastic components are provided and arranged symmetrically with respect to the force applying rod.

9. The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein a first shaft segment at one end of the second hinge shaft is pivotally connected and in a clearance fit with the connecting member; a second shaft segment at the other end of the second hinge shaft is pivotally connected with the second body, having a rotating friction therebetween; and
wherein the electronic device is configured in such a manner that, when the connecting member is moved relative to the second body to a critical position between a first half part and a second half part of an opening process, a sum of torques generated under gravities of the first body and the connecting member balances with a torque generated under a force of a second elastic component; and as the connecting member is moved relative to the second body in the second half part of the opening process, a sum of torques generated under the gravities of the first body and the connecting member and under a force of the second elastic component is less than a torque generated under the rotating friction.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein a first rotating position-limiting mechanism is provided between the second hinge shaft and the connecting member, and is configured to stop rotation of the connecting member relative to the first shaft segment when the connecting member rotates to the critical position relative to the second body.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein a second rotating position-limiting mechanism is provided between the second hinge shaft and the second body, and is configured to stop rotation of the second hinge shaft relative to the second body when the connecting member is rotated into the open state relative to the second body.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein
the first rotating position-limiting mechanism comprises:
a first radial protrusion provided at a root portion of the first shaft segment; and
a first arc groove provided in a side face of the connecting member, wherein the first arc groove is configured to be coaxial with the second hinge shaft; and the first radial protrusion is disposed in the first arc groove;
the second rotating position-limiting mechanism comprises:
a second radial protrusion provided at a root portion of the second shaft segment; and
a second arc groove provided in a side face of the second body, wherein the second arc groove is configured to be coaxial with the second hinge shaft; and the second radial protrusion is disposed in the second arc groove;
and wherein the electronic device is configured in such a manner that, in the critical position, the first radial protrusion rotates to abut against the first circumferential side wall of the first arc groove so as to stop further opening the connecting member relative to the second hinge shaft; and in the open state, the second radial protrusion rotates to abut against the first circumferential side wall of the second arc groove, so as to stop further opening the second hinge shaft relative to the second body.

13. The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein the rotating friction arises from a transition fit between the second shaft segment and the second body, or from a friction damping structure between the second shaft segment and the second body.

14. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a signal communication between the first body and the second body is established via the connecting member.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14 , whe

Assignees

• Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd
• Lenovo Beijing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Xia Xiaosong
• Yuan Chunfeng
• Xin Zhifeng

Classifications

• G06F1/162 Primary

  changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user · CPC title

• G06F1/1618 Primary

  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