Foldable electronic device and hinge mechanism thereof

This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application Ser. No. 107123469, filed on Jul. 6, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The application relates in general to a hinge mechanism, and in particular, to a hinge mechanism that can be applied in a foldable electronic device.

Conventional laptop computers usually include a display unit and an input unit foldable with respect to each other. To enhance the cooling efficiency of the laptop computer, a movable bottom cover may be provided on the lower side of the input unit, so that a gap can be formed between the bottom cover and the input unit for rapid heat dissipation.

However, when the display unit rotates over 180 degrees with respect to the input unit, mechanical interference may occur and influence convenience of usage. It has therefore become a challenge to design a hinge mechanism for a foldable electronic device that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages.

In view of the aforementioned problems, an object of the invention is to provide a hinge mechanism that includes a fixed member, a rotary member pivotally connected to the fixed member, a pin, a first gear set, and a second gear set. The first gear set has a first teeth-uncompleted gear and a first driven gear coupled to each other, wherein the first teeth-uncompleted gear is affixed to the rotary member, and the first driven gear is affixed to the pin. The second gear set has a second teeth-uncompleted gear and a second driven gear coupled to each other, wherein the second teeth-uncompleted gear is affixed to the rotary member, and the second driven gear is affixed to the pin.

In some embodiments, when the rotary member rotates relative to the fixed member from an initial angle to a first angle, the first and second teeth-uncompleted gears rotate along with the rotary member around a first axis, the second driven gear is disengaged from the second teeth-uncompleted gear, and the first teeth-uncompleted gear drives the first driven gear and the pin to rotate in a first direction around a second axis from a predetermined position to an open position.

In some embodiments, when the rotary member rotates relative to the fixed member from the first angle to a second angle, the first and second teeth-uncompleted gears are rotated along with the rotary member around the first axis, the first driven gear is disengaged from the first teeth-uncompleted gear, and the second teeth-uncompleted gear drives the second driven gear and the pin to rotate in a second direction around the second axis from the open position to the predetermined position, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

In some embodiments, the first gear set further has an intermediate gear coupling the first teeth-uncompleted gear with the first driven gear.

In some embodiments, the first teeth-uncompleted gear has a first no-teeth portion, and when the rotary member rotates relative to the fixed member from the first angle to a second angle, the intermediate gear is in a location that corresponds to the first no-teeth portion.

In some embodiments, the second gear set further has an intermediate gear coupling the second teeth-uncompleted gear with the second driven gear.

In some embodiments, the second teeth-uncompleted gear has a second no-teeth portion, and when the rotary member rotates relative to the fixed member from the initial angle to a first angle, the intermediate gear is in a location that corresponds to the second no-teeth portion.

In some embodiments, the first teeth-uncompleted gear has a first no-teeth portion, and the second teeth-uncompleted gear has a second no-teeth portion, wherein the first and second no-teeth portions are located on opposite sides of a plane defined by the first and second axes.

In some embodiments, the hinge mechanism further includes a third gear set having a driving gear and a fixed gear coupled with each other, wherein the driving gear and the fixed gear are respectively connected to the rotary member and the fixed member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable electronic device including a display unit, an input unit, and the hinge mechanism as mentioned above. In some embodiments, the rotary member of the hinge mechanism is connected to the display unit, and the fixed member of the hinge mechanism is connected to the input unit.

In some embodiments, when the rotary member rotates relative to the fixed member from the initial angle to the first angle, the pin rotates from the predetermined position to the open position and protrudes from a lower side of the input unit.

In some embodiments, the foldable electronic device further includes a bottom cover connected to the input unit, wherein when the rotary member rotates relative to the fixed member from the initial angle to the first angle, the pin pushes the bottom cover to form a gap between the bottom cover and the input unit.

In some embodiments, when the foldable electronic device includes a laptop computer.

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a foldable electronic device 10 in a closed state in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the foldable electronic device 10 of FIG. 1 in an unfolded state.

FIG. 3 shows the foldable electronic device 10 of FIG. 1 in a flipped state.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective diagram of the hinge mechanism 13 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective diagram of the hinge mechanism 13 in FIG. 4 with the housings H, the torque resistance elements W and the nuts B omitted therefrom.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 1 -X 1 of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 2 -X 2 of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 3 -X 3 of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 9 shows the rotary member 131 rotates from 0 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 .

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 4 -X 4 of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 5 -X 5 of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 6 -X 6 of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 13 shows the rotary member 131 rotates 360 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 .

FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 7 -X 7 of FIG. 13 .

FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 8 -X 8 of FIG. 13 .

FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 9 -X 9 of FIG. 13 .

The making and using of the embodiments of the foldable electronic device and hinge mechanism thereof are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that each term, which is defined in a commonly used dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning conforming to the relative skills and the background or the context of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner unless defined otherwise.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and in which specific embodiments of which the invention may be practiced are shown by way of illustration. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the figures being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for the purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a foldable electronic device 10 in a closed state in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 shows the foldable electronic device 10 of FIG. 1 in an unfolded state, and FIG. 3 shows the foldable electronic device 10 of FIG. 1 in a flipped state. Referring in FIGS. 1-3 , the foldable electronic device 10 may be a laptop computer that primarily comprises a display unit 11 , an input unit 12 , and a hinge mechanism 13 pivotally connecting the display unit 11 and the input unit 12 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , when the foldable electronic device 10 is in the closed state, a pin P of the hinge mechanism 13 is situated in a predetermined position and accommodated in the input unit 12 . When the display unit 11 rotates 180 degrees relative to the input unit 12 , the foldable electronic device 10 can be switched to the unfolded state, wherein the pin P rotates from the predetermined position of FIG. 1 and pushes the bottom cover 14 downwardly, so that a gap is generated between the input unit 12 and the bottom cover 14 . Therefore, heat inside the foldable electronic device 10 can be rapidly dissipated through the gap.

Furthermore, when the display unit 11 rotates 360 degrees relative to the input unit 12 ( FIG. 3 ), the foldable electronic device 10 can be switched to the flipped state, wherein the display surface of the display unit 11 faces downward toward the −Z direction. In this embodiment, when the display unit 11 rotates over 180 degrees relative to the input unit 12 , the pin P of the hinge mechanism 13 can retract into the input unit 12 to prevent mechanical interference between the pin P and the display unit 11 . The detailed configuration of the hinge mechanism 13 is described below.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective diagram of the hinge mechanism 13 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 5 shows a perspective diagram of the hinge mechanism 13 in FIG. 4 with the housings H, the torque resistance elements W and the nuts B omitted therefrom. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the hinge mechanism 13 in this embodiment primarily comprises a rotary member 131 , a fixed member 132 , a pin P, a first gear set G 1 , a second gear set G 2 , and a third gear set G 3 . The rotary member 131 and the fixed member 132 are respectively affixed to the display unit 11 and the input unit 12 shown in FIGS. 1-3 . The first, second, and third gear sets G 1 , G 2 , and G 3 are disposed in the housings H. The housings H are affixed to each other and separate the first, second, and third gear sets G 1 , G 2 , and G 3 from each other.

As shown in FIG. 4 , at least a torque resistance element W is disposed between the rotary member 131 and one of the housings H. Similarly, at least a torque resistance element W is disposed between the fixed member 132 and one of the housings H. The torque resistance elements W may comprise sheet metal spring or washer with high friction coefficient, so as to provide appropriate torque resistance during the rotation of the rotary member 131 relative to the fixed member 132 . In this embodiment, the rotary member 131 and the fixed member 132 can be firmly secured to a side of the torque resistance elements W by the nuts B.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the first gear set G 1 has a first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 , a first driven gear G 12 , and two intermediate gears G 13 and G 14 . The first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 and the first driven gear G 12 can be coupled to each other by the intermediate gears G 13 and G 14 . The second set G 2 has a second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 , a second driven gear G 22 , and an intermediate gear G 23 . The second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 and the second driven gear G 22 can be coupled to each other by the intermediate gear G 23 .

It should be noted that the rotary member 131 and the first and second teeth-uncompleted gears G 11 and G 21 are affixed to a shaft S 1 , and they can rotate around a first axis C 1 of the shaft S 1 . Moreover, the pin P and the first and second driven gears G 11 and G 12 are affixed to another shaft S 2 , and they can rotate around a second axis C 2 of the shaft S 2 .

Still referring to FIG. 5 , the third gear set G 3 has a driving gear G 31 , a fixed gear G 32 , and two intermediate gears G 33 and G 34 . The driving gear G 31 and the fixed gear G 32 are coupled to each other by the intermediate gears G 33 and G 34 . Here, the driving gear G 31 is affixed to the shaft S 1 and rotatable around the first axis C 1 . Additionally, the fixed member 132 and the fixed gear G 32 are mounted to a fixed shaft S 3 .

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 1 -X 1 of FIG. 4 , FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 2 -X 2 of FIG. 4 , and FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 3 -X 3 of FIG. 4 . Referring to FIGS. 4-8 , when the foldable electronic device 10 is in the closed state of FIG. 1 , the rotary member 131 , the fixed member 132 , and the pin P of the hinge mechanism 13 are substantially parallel to the XY plane ( FIG. 4 ), wherein the pin P is situated in a predetermined position and concealed by the input unit 12 . In this state, the intermediate gear G 13 of the first gear set G 1 is located close to an end of a first no-teeth portion G 10 of the first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 ( FIG. 7 ), and the intermediate gear G 23 of the second gear set G 2 is located close to an end of a second no-teeth portion G 20 of the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 ( FIG. 8 ), wherein the first and second no-teeth portions G 10 and G 20 are situated on opposite sides of a plane that is defined by the first and second axes C 1 and C 2 and parallel to the XZ plane.

Referring to FIGS. 9-12 , FIG. 9 shows the rotary member 131 rotates from 0 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 4 -X 4 of FIG. 9 , FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 5 -X 5 of FIG. 9 , and FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 6 -X 6 of FIG. 9 . When the foldable electronic device 10 is switched from the closed state of FIG. 1 to the unfolded state of FIG. 2 , the rotary member 131 rotates from 0 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 (as the arrow indicates in FIG. 9 ), and the pin P rotates downward to protrude from the bottom of the input unit 12 . Thus, the bottom cover 14 is pushed to form a gap between the input unit 12 and the bottom cover 14 ( FIG. 2 ), and heat inside the foldable electronic device 10 can be rapidly dissipated through the gap.

During the rotation of the rotary member 131 from 0 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , as shown in FIG. 9 , the first, second, third gear sets G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , and the housings H rotate 90 degrees along with the gears to an angle parallel to the XY plane. As the arrow indicates in FIG. 11 , since the rotary member 131 forces the driving gear G 31 and the first and second teeth-uncompleted gears G 11 and G 21 to rotate around the first axis C 1 of the first shaft S 1 , the first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 can drive the first driven gear G 12 and the pin P to rotate around the second axis C 2 of the second shaft S 2 with its teeth. Therefore, the pin P rotates to an open position toward the −Z direction and protrudes downward from the input unit 12 .

As shown in FIG. 12 , during the rotation of the rotary member 131 from 0 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , the intermediate gear G 23 of the second gear set G 2 is in a location that corresponds to the second no-teeth portion G 20 of the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 , so that the intermediate gear G 23 and the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 remain disengaged with each other. In this stage, the second driven gear G 22 can only rotate along with the first driven gear G 12 in a first direction A 1 around the second axis C 2 ( FIG. 12 ), and it cannot be driven by the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 . That is, during the rotation of the rotary member 131 from 0 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , the pin P can only be driven to rotate around the second axis C 2 by the first gear set G 1 , and it is not influenced by the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 of the second gear set G 2 .

Referring to FIGS. 13-16 , FIG. 13 shows the rotary member 131 rotates 360 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 7 -X 7 of FIG. 13 , FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 8 -X 8 of FIG. 13 , and FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view along line X 9 -X 9 of FIG. 13 . When the foldable electronic device 10 is switched from the unfolded state of FIG. 2 to the flipped state of FIG. 3 , the rotary member 131 of the hinge mechanism 13 rotates from 180 degrees to 360 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 (as the arrow indicates in FIG. 13 ). In this stage, the pin P returns back to the predetermined position and is concealed in the input unit 12 ( FIG. 3 ), thereby preventing mechanical interference between the pin P and the display unit 11 .

As shown in FIG. 13 , during the rotation of the rotary member 131 from 180 degrees to 360 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , owing to the fixed gear G 32 and the fixed shaft S 3 mounted to the fixed member 132 , the first, second, third gear sets G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , and the housings H are rotated 180 degrees (upside down) along with the gears to an angle perpendicular to the XY plane. Moreover, as the arrow indicates in FIG. 16 , since the rotary member 131 forces the driving gear G 31 and the first and second teeth-uncompleted gears G 11 and G 21 to rotate around the first axis C 1 of the first shaft S 1 , the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 can drive the second driven gear G 22 and the pin P to rotate around the second axis C 2 in a second direction A 2 with its the teeth. Therefore, the pin P can retract into the input unit 12 to be substantially parallel to the XY plane, wherein the second direction A 2 is opposite the first direction A 1 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 .

Referring to FIG. 15 , during the rotation of the rotary member 131 from 180 degrees to 360 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , the intermediate gear G 13 of the first gear set G 1 is in a location that corresponds to the first no-teeth portion G 10 of the first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 , so that the intermediate gear G 13 and the first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 remain disengaged with each other. In this stage, the first driven gear G 12 can only rotate along with the second driven gear G 22 in the second direction A 2 around the second axis C 2 ( FIG. 15 ), and it cannot be driven by the first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 . That is, during the rotation of the rotary member 131 from 180 degrees to 360 degrees relative to the fixed member 132 , the pin P can only be driven to rotate around the second axis C 2 to the predetermined position by the second gear set G 2 , and it is not influenced by the first gear set G 1 .

In summary, when the rotary member 131 rotates relative to the fixed member 132 from 0 degrees (initial angle) to 180 degrees (first angle), the rotary member 131 drives the first and second teeth-uncompleted gears G 11 and G 21 to rotate around the first axis C 1 , so that the first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 drives the first driven gear G 12 and the pin P to rotate in a first direction A 1 around the second axis C 2 from a predetermined position to an open position, wherein the second driven gear G 22 is disengaged with the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 .

Additionally, when the rotary member 131 further rotates relative to the fixed member 132 from 180 degrees (first angle) to 360 degrees (second angle) relative to the fixed member 132 , the rotary member 131 drives the first and second teeth-uncompleted gears G 11 and G 21 to rotate around the first axis C 1 , so that the second teeth-uncompleted gear G 21 drives the second driven gear G 22 and the pin P to rotate in a second direction A 2 around the second axis C 2 from the open position to the predetermined position, wherein the first driven gear G 12 is disengaged with the first teeth-uncompleted gear G 11 . In this configuration, once the rotary member 131 rotates over 180 degrees (first angle) relative to the fixed member 132 , the pin P can automatically return to the predetermined position and retract into the input unit 12 ( FIG. 3 ), so that mechanical interference between the pin P and the display unit 11 can be efficiently avoided.

Although some embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many of the features, functions, processes, and materials described herein may be varied while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. Moreover, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.