Patent Application
20220357776
The present invention relates in general to the field of portable information handling systems, and more particularly to an information handling system motorized dual clutch.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Portable information handling systems integrate processing components, a display and a power source in a portable housing to support mobile operations. Portable information handling systems allow end users to carry a system between meetings, during travel, and between home and office locations so that an end user has access to processing capabilities while mobile. Convertible information handling systems typically include multiple separate housing portions that couple to each other so that the system converts between closed and open positions. For example, a main housing portion integrates processing components and a keyboard and rotationally couples with hinges to a lid housing portion that integrates a display. In a clamshell position, the lid housing portion rotates approximately ninety degrees to a raised position above the main housing portion so that an end user can type inputs while viewing the display. After usage, convertible information handling systems rotate the lid housing portion over the main housing portion to protect the keyboard and display, thus reducing the system footprint for improved storage and mobility.
Conventionally, portable information handling systems have had limited capabilities relative to desktop and other fixed systems due to the limited housing interior, which constrains power and thermal management. More recently, powerful and efficient processing components have come to market that have increased the capabilities of portable systems. In particular, gamers have adopted such portable systems as an option for having gaming capability when mobile. These systems tend to have a larger footprint and weight than enterprise or consumer portable systems, however, gamers appreciate the additional capabilities resulting in increased adoption of such gaming portable systems by the community. Such high end portable systems tend to include greater flexibility for personalization by the end user, such as with high performance graphics and memory. Gamers have an affinity for specialized features that stand out, such as a motorized hinge that automatically transitions the housing between open and closed positions.
One difficulty with a motorized hinge is that gaming portable systems tend to have more heavy housing portions. For example, a lid housing portion might weigh in excess of two kilograms. In order to rotate a housing with that weight, the motor, encoder and hinge assembly tends to have a substantial size that can consume all available space on one side of the housing. Such as large assembly and ID constraints can limit the width of the hinge, making integration of a motorized hinge a challenge.
Generally, information handling system hinges, whether or not motorized, tend to include a clutch (a gripping forced) that generates torque to resist rotation of the housing. Torque generation provides a smoother hinge rotation and helps keep the housing in a fixed position when a desired open or close configuration is achieved. One common torque generator is a set of Belleville washers in alternating series around a shaft that creates friction normal to a rotating shaft. Advantages of this approach are low cost and a simple adjustment of torque levels by tightening a bolt that compresses the washers. A disadvantage of this approach is a degradation of torque over time as friction wears the washer surfaces. Another less common torque generator is a clamping force around the shaft by using a wrap design “roll pin” or spring clips. An advantage of this approach is a slower degradation of torque over time, however, such clamping forces are more difficult to calibrate at manufacture. Wide values in torque can impact the effectiveness and life of a motorized hinge.
Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which manages an information handling system motorized hinge with a dual clutch.
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for rotating information handling system housing portions with a motorized hinge. A hinge axle rotationally couples housing portions through a clutch having a compressive mechanism and a clamping mechanism to generate torque that resists housing portion rotation. For instance, a clutch housing interior keys clamping clips around an axle and has compressive washers at opposing sides of the clutch housing to generate torque normal the axle as the clutch housing rotates about the axle.
More specifically, a portable information handling system processes information with processing components disposed in a portable housing, such as processor and memory. The portable housing has first and second housing portions rotationally coupled by a motorized hinge that automatically rotates the housing portions relative to each other about an axle disposed at one side of the housing portions. A clutch hinge at an opposite side of the housing interfaces the housing portions through a clutch that provides torque in resistance to housing portion rotation about an axle. The clutch includes a compressive mechanism that provides friction normal the axle and a clamping mechanism that provides friction with a gripping force around the axle. For example a clutch housing interior accepts C-clips keyed to an orientation and aligned to fit over the axle. Washers inserted over the axle on both sides of the clutch housing are compressed against the clutch housing to resist rotation relative to the axle. By relying on the clamping mechanism for a greater part of the torque, such as 70% to 90%, the clutch mechanism has reduced degradation in torque over time, and the compressive mechanism offers greater precision for dialing in a desired torque level.
The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that an information handling system portable housing that opens and closes with a motorized hinge has a well-regulated and consistent torque across the housing rotation axis provided by a dual clutch. A rugged clamping mechanism provides enhanced wear at the clutch for reduced torque degradation over time while a compressive mechanism offers more precise torque calibration through an accessible adjustment nut. As a result, manufacture of a portable information handling system having a motorized hinge with a well calibrated and robust torque response is simplified and less expensive. The clutch hinge distributes torque across the housing with the motorized hinge providing rotational force at an opposite side of the housing, allowing a more compact solution and reduced hinge width.
The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.
A portable information handling system regulates rotation of a motorized hinge with a clutch hinge having compressive and clamping torque mechanisms. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
Referring now to
In the example embodiment, a motherboard 30 couples to main housing portion 16 to provide communication between processing components that cooperate to process information. For example, a central processing unit (CPU) 32 executes instructions that process information. A random access memory 34 interfaced with CPU 32 stores the instructions and information for access by CPU 32. A solid state drive (SSD) 36 provides non-transient memory that stores an operating system, applications and information during power down states for retrieval to CPU 32 and RAM 34 at power up. An embedded controller 38 manages operating conditions at the system, such as application of power and maintaining thermal constraints. In addition, embedded controller manages inputs from peripheral devices, such as a keyboard and mouse, that are communicated to CPU 32. In the example embodiment, embedded controller provides control and power to motorized hinge 18, such as by commanding an open position at power up and a closed position at power down. A graphics processing unit (GPU) 40 interfaces with CPU 32 to further process information for presentation as visual images at a display 42 integrated in lid housing portion 14, such as by generating pixel values that define visual images. A keyboard cover 44 fits over main housing portion 16 and integrates a keyboard that provides key inputs to embedded controller 38. In alternative embodiments, a second display may be used as a cover for main housing portion 16. The displays may be separate liquid crystal display (LCD) panels or organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panels. One alternative embodiment disposes a flexible OLED display film across both housing portions.
Referring now to
Referring now to
During manufacture, clutch hinge 20 is calibrated to provide a desired torque by using compression at Belleville washers 60 to tune torque over a fixed torque of clamping mechanisms 62. For example, C-clips are selected that provide 70% to 90% of the torque desired from the clutch. An advantage of using the C-clips to generate the majority of the torque is that clamping torque tends to degrade more slowly with use over time compared with compressive torque. However, clamping torque tends to be more difficult to tune to a desired level as variance between different assemblies may be beyond desired constraints. By supplementing clamping torque with 10% to 30% compressive torque, a more exact calibration of total torque is possible. That is, at manufacture nut 50 is tightened to threads 57 to achieve the desired total torque as an addition to the portion provided by clamping torque. Over the life of the clutch, greater wear on the clamping mechanism relative to the compressive mechanism provides a more reliable torque response with less impact by degradation of the friction surfaces.
Referring now to
Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
