BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of portable information handling systems, and more particularly to an information handling system kickstand 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. Tablet configurations typically expose a touchscreen display on a planar housing that both outputs information as visual images and accepts inputs as touches. Convertible configurations 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 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, thus reducing the system footprint for improved storage and mobility.

Recently, dual display portable information handling systems have increased in popularity. Rather than integrating a keyboard in one of the rotationally coupled housing portions, both housing portions have an integrated display. An end user may still type at the information handling system in a clamshell configuration by presenting a virtual keyboard at one of the displays and typing inputs with touchscreen detection of key touches. Dual display information handling systems offer a greater display viewing area to end users when consuming visual information, such as for web browsing, multimedia presentations, video presentations and book reading. One advantage of a dual display system is that removal of the keyboard helps to minimize housing thickness. End users tend to prefer thinner systems that are more compact and easier to store and transport.

In some instances, end users prefer to rest an information handling system on a desktop surface to consume visual information. In order to accommodate this with a dual display system, a kickstand is typically integrated in the rear of the system housing. With the kickstand extending, an end user can have both displays available for viewing visual information while inputting through a peripheral keyboard, effectively mimicking a clamshell configuration with double the viewing area. A kickstand hinge couples to the kickstand to hold the kickstand when extended and retract the kickstand when the end user completes viewing in the raised configuration. Generally, to obtain sufficient support, kickstand hinges include structures of 3.8 to 4 mm in thickness. In order to fit in a dual display system of minimal thickness, a kickstand hinge solution of 3 mm or less is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which provides a robust kickstand solution of minimal height.

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 extending and retracting kickstand at an information handling system. A kickstand hinge uses linear rail slots to constrain a first axle of a stand member sliding in rail housing and riser arms to couple a second axle of the stand member to the rail housing so that the stand member pivots at multiple axles for extended rotational range within a low height structure.

More specifically, an information handling system processes information with a processor and memory disposed in a housing to present the information as visual images at an integrated display. A kickstand extends from a rear surface of the information handling system housing to hold the display in an elevated viewing position when resting on a support surface. A kickstand hinge couples the kickstand to the housing with a rail housing that rotates a stand member between retracted and extended positions about multiple axes. One axis of the stand member slides in opposing guides between a forward and rear position. Another axis of the stand member rotates about riser arms that rotationally couple at a fixed forward position of the rail housing. In the retracted position, the stand member first axis slides to a rear position to bring the stand member into the rail housing. In the extended position, the first axis slides to a forward position in front of the second axis to provide a space-efficient over rotation of the stand member of approximately 125 degrees. A multi-torque solution integrates a first torque engine in the rail housing that interfaces with a torque member coupled at the first axis and a second torque engine in the stand member coupled at the second axis. A spring aligned with the torque member compresses in the retracted position to aid extension of the stand member.

The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that an information handling system kickstand hinge provides a minimal height footprint to support low profile portable information handling systems, such as dual display systems. In a retracted configuration, all moving parts lay flat in a common plane for minimal structural thickness, such as 3 mm or less. Dual pivot rotation between closed and open positions provides a detent feel for an end user based upon the relative position of the sliding axis and riser arm axis. A multi-torque solution provides a smooth and variable torque profile that readily adopts for systems of different heights and weights.

