CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/530,367, filed Aug. 2, 2019, entitled “Gear Synchronized Dual Axis Pivot Hinge” by inventors Christopher A. Torres, Kevin M. Turchin, Enoch Chen, Anthony J. Sanchez, Kai-Cheng Chao, Chia-Hao Hsu, and Chia-Huang Chan, describes exemplary methods and systems and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of portable information handling system hinges, and more particularly to an information handling system synchronized dual axis pivot hinge.

Description of the Related Art

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 system configurations typically include multiple separate housing portions that couple to each other so that the system converts between closed and open positions. The closed position provides a smaller footprint for storing, protecting and carrying the information handling system. In some conventional systems, the open position holds a display in a viewing position and expose a keyboard for accepting keyed inputs. 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 configuration, 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.

Recently, the availability of organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays has generated interest is convertible information handling systems that fold an OLED display to achieve a closed position. OLED displays integrate OLED material in a film that is flexible so that an OLED display disposed over both the main and lid housing portions can fold at the hinge that rotationally couples the housing portions together. In an unfolded configuration with the housing portions in a parallel plane, the OLED display provides a tablet configuration with a larger surface area for viewing information. In a partially folded configuration with the housing portions in a perpendicular orientation, one portion of the OLED display is positioned vertically to present visual images while the other portion is positioned horizontally to accept typed inputs at a virtual keyboard presented by the display. Avoiding the use of an integrated keyboard tends to reduce the thickness and weight of the system for improved mobility.

One difficulty that arises with integration of a foldable OLED display in a convertible information handling system is that OLED films are susceptible to breakage if folded at too sharp of an angle. A variety of display support arrangements exist that attempt to alleviate such breakages by avoiding tensile and compressive stresses on the OLED film during folding and unfolding. One technique is to use a conventional dual axis gear-synchronized hinge that forms a space between the axes in which the OLED film may fold at a natural angle. A difficulty with this approach is that a large space between the axes increases the thickness of the information handling system. Another difficulty with this approach is that the circumference of the display on the inside of a folded housing shrinks relative to the circumference of the outside of the housing. To correct for this effect, the hinge area has to provide room for the OLED film to expand or the OLED film has to slide relative to the housing at each housing end opposite the hinge. In addition, some support typically has to be added under the OLED film so that presses on the OLED film over the hinge, such as finger or stylus touch inputs, will not create stress at the OLED film.

One alternative to using a dual axle geared hinge is a single axis pivot hinge. The single axis pivot hinge has a central body that acts as a support under the OLED film in the open position and two arms that rotate about a central axis of the central body between closed and open positions. In the closed position, the two arms leave space between each other to allow the OLED film to fold. To support motion of the two arms about the single axis, the base of the arms follow an arc path at the backside of the central body. Although a single axis pivot hinge provides a support surface to hold the OLED film in the open configuration, the support surface remains fixed in position relative to the OLED film, which limits the room available for the OLED film to expand as the housing inner circumference is reduced in the closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which provides a synchronized dual axis pivot hinge to rotationally couple information handling system housing portions having flexible display film.

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 supporting a flexible display over a hinge that rotationally-couples portable housing portions together. A hinge assembly rotates opposing brackets about dual axes to define a pivot motion that translates opposing housing portions up and away from the hinge assembly to maintain a fold radius of a flexible display film disposed over the hinge assembly. A fold region defined below the dual axes provides additional room for a flexible display film to fold below the plane on which the display film rests in an open position.

More specifically, an information handling system processes information with processing components disposed in a housing, such as central processing unit (CPU) that executes instructions and a random access memory (RAM) that stores the information and instructions. The housing has first and second portions rotationally coupled to each other by a dual axis pivot hinge assembly that has opposing brackets coupled to opposing housing portions and pivotally rotating about a hinge main body. In one embodiment, the hinge main body has first and second adjacent semicircular portions along a length with each semicircular portion defining a rotation path of an adjacent bracket through a helical member extending from the bracket and engaging a helical guide defined within the semicircular portion. Rotation of a bracket synchronizes with rotation of an opposing bracket by translating rotational movement through a sliding motion of the helical guide. In an alternative embodiment, a gear subassembly synchronizes rotation of opposing brackets through a gear member that extends from each bracket and into the hinge main housing. The gear member has gear teeth formed along an inner circumference and a smooth surface along an outer circumference. As motion of a bracket slides the smooth portion about a semicircular portion formed in the hinge main housing, teeth of the inner circumference engage with the gear subassembly to translate motion to the other bracket. Translation of motion to synchronize brackets relies upon a planetary gear arrangement that effectively increases the distance of the bracket from the main hinge during rotation to adapt a flexible display film disposed over the hinge assembly to the inner circumference formed by the housing portions. The helical member and helical guide interaction provides similar bracket synchronization and pivotal rotation about dual axes without including gears.

The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that a portable information handling system rotationally couples separate housing portions to rotate with dual pivot arms, each about a separate axis. The hinge reduces system height with a concealed synchronized sliding cam mechanism and integrated variable torque elements. In an open position, hinge support portions raise to the OLED film height to provide support against touch inputs made at the display touchscreen. In the closed position, the hinge support portions rotate to a lower height that provides room for the flexible display film to fold without inducing tensile or compressive stress. The mono-hinge construction provides a robust solution that withstands repeated open and close cycles and that offers stable cable routing between the housing portions, such as for routing flexible cables to communicate information and power.

