Patent Application
20210048853
Electronic devices such as laptop computers, tablet computers, convertible devices, mobile phones, and the like may include a first housing, a second housing, and a hinge assembly mounted between the first housing and the second housing. For example, the first housing may house a keyboard, a motherboard, and/or other components. The second housing may house a display. The hinge assembly may be pivotally connected to the first housing and the second housing along at least one axis.
Examples are described in the following detailed description and in reference to the drawings, in which:
Hinged electronic devices, such as laptop computers, tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and flip mobile phones, may include a base housing and a display housing connected by a hinge. The display housing may include a display (e.g., a touchscreen) and the base housing may include input devices, such as a keyboard, a pointing stick, mouse buttons, a touchpad, and/or a trackpad. The display housing may be attached to the base housing such that the display housing can be moved and/or rotated with respect to the base housing along at least one axis to hold the display at multiple positions. To achieve such rotation, the display housing can be attached to the base housing using at least one hinge that allows the display housing to be rotated about the base housing. The hinge can be of a double-axis construction wherein two shafts are separately attached to the device parts and a coupling is engaged with the two shafts to allow the shafts to be used as two pivot axes.
For example, the hinges may include a pair of brackets and shafts to pivotally connect the pair of brackets. The shafts may be coupled to a gear unit. The gear unit may enable rotation of the display housing with respect to the base housing. During rotation of the display housing, the display housing may be held at multiple angular positions by the resistance force generated between the gears of the gear unit and the shafts. However, such electronic devices may have the issue of gear backlash which can affect smooth rotation of gears.
The term “gear backlash” may refer to a problem in bi-directional transmission systems in which, on reversal of the drive, the driven gear, which now becomes the driving gear, may rotate, albeit by a small amount equivalent to the backlash, before drive in the reverse direction can be established. The movement of the driven gear (i.e., now the driving gear) prior to establishment of transmission drive may be referred to as the gear backlash. Gear backlash may not be desirable as the gear backlash can create transmission shocks which can result in damage of the gear teeth. Electronic devices that use gear mechanisms for enabling bi-directional rotation (e.g., during opening and closing of the display housing) may have the issue of gear backlash which may affect smooth rotation of the housings with respect to each other. The gear backlash may also result in wear and tear of moving parts of the electronic device.
Examples described herein may reduce the gear backlash in hinge assemblies. Examples described herein may seal the gear unit with a sealant that holds a viscous fluid, such as damping grease, to provide a resistance force on the gears of the gear unit. Further, examples described herein may enhance reliability as the damping grease can share a part of torque consumption.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present techniques. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, devices and systems may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described may be included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples.
Examples described herein may provide a hinge assembly for an electronic device, which may include a first bracket, a second bracket, and at least one shaft to pivotally connect the first bracket and the second bracket. Further, the hinge assembly may include a gear unit coupled to the at least one shaft. Furthermore, the gear unit may be sealed with a sealant that holds a viscous fluid, such as damping grease.
Referring now to figures,
In one example, first bracket 102 may engage with a first housing of an electronic device and second bracket 104 may engage with a second housing of the electronic device. Example first housing may be a base housing and example second housing may be a display housing. For example, in the single-axis hinge assembly, gear unit 108 coupled to shaft 106 may provide a resistance force between the first housing and the second housing.
In one example, sealant 110 may include a pair of side walls with each side wall defining at least one opening to receive shaft 106. For example, sealant 110 disposed around gear unit 108 may be made up of an elastic material (e.g., a rubber material). Sealant 110 may ensure that viscous fluid 112 does not leak out of gear unit 108. Example viscous fluid 112 may be a damping grease. Examples described herein can also be implemented in a dual-axis hinge assembly for an electronic device, as shown in
In one example, hinge assembly 200 may enable first shaft 206 and second shaft 208 to rotate in a synchronous manner in reverse directions upon rotating the first housing with respect to the second housing (e.g., while opening and closing of the first housing relative to the second housing). Hinge assembly 200 may allow the first housing to rotate through about 360 degrees with respect to the second housing or vice versa.
In one example, viscous fluid (e.g., viscous fluid 214 of
In one example, while opening the electronic device, first guide threaded portion 402 may act as a driving gear and gear wheel 306 may act as a driven gear. On changing directions (e.g., during closing of the electronic device), a reversal of drive happens, and the driven gear, which now becomes the driving gear, may rotate, albeit by a small amount equivalent to the backlash, before drive in the reverse direction may be established. In this example, viscous fluid 214 may fill the gap between gear wheel 306 and first and second threaded portions 402 and 404 to reduce gear backlash. By filling the gaps between the gear teeth upon reversal of drive, viscous fluid may reduce the gear backlash and also potential wear and tear to components of gear unit 210.
Further, sealant (e.g., sealant 212 as shown in
Furthermore, hinge assembly 200 may include a casing 410. Casing 410 may have at least one side wall 412 defining a pair of slots 414. In one example, pair of slots 414 may be aligned with corresponding openings 406 and 408 of side walls 212A and 212B. Pair of slots 414 may be aligned with openings 406 and 408 such that first and second shafts 206 and 208 are received through respective one of openings 406 and 408 and slots 414, and engaged with the first housing and the second housing of the electronic device.
In one example, casing 410 may be formed using a single-piece structure. In another example, casing may be formed by a hinge cap (e.g., 410) and a pair of hinge brackets (e.g., 412) connected to the hinge cap at both sides such that slots 414 may be defined in at least one of the hinge brackets (e.g., 412). Example casing 410 may be made up of a metallic substance, plastic material, fiber based material, polymer material, and the like.
In one example, sealant (e.g., sealant 212 as shown in
For example, first housing 502 may house a keyboard, a battery, a touchpad, and so on. Second housing 504 may house a display (e.g., a touchscreen display). Example display may include liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED), electro-luminescent (EL) display, or the like. Electronic device 500 may be equipped with other components such as a camera, audio/video devices, and the like, depending on the functions of electronic device 500. Hinge assembly 200 may be pivotally connected to first housing 502 and second housing 504. Hinge assembly 200 may allow second housing 504 to rotate in directions about the pivot axis relative to first housing 502.
Example hinge assembly 200 may include first shaft 206 coupled to first housing 502, second shaft 208 coupled to second housing 504, a gear unit (e.g., 210 as shown in
Examples described herein can also be implemented in hinge assemblies of non-electronic devices/apparatus such as suitcases, foldable chairs, foldable tables, hinged doors, and the like, which includes a gear mechanism for enabling bi-directional rotation. It may be noted that the above-described examples of the present solution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solution has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Other substitutions, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present solution. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
The terms “include,” “have,” and variations thereof, as used herein, have the same meaning as the term “comprise” or appropriate variation thereof. Furthermore, the term “based on,” as used herein, means “based at least in part on.” Thus, a feature that is described as based on some stimulus can be based on the stimulus or a combination of stimuli including the stimulus.
The present description has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms, details, and examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter that is defined in the following claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2018/015632 | 1/29/2018 | WO | 00 |
