KR20080023574A - Hinge assembly and mobile device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge assembly and a mobile equipment using the same are provided to place a display part at a desired angle easily and stably by enabling a user to slide and rotate or vice versa a rotation part for a base part. A hinge assembly(120) to connect a base part(110) with a rotation part(114) comprises a fixed frame, a rotating frame(126), and a slide plate(128). The fixed frame is installed at the base part(110). The rotating frame(126), installed at the rotation part(114), is relatively rotated for the fixed frame with a hinge shaft in the center. The slide plate(128), formed at the rotating frame(126) in a single unit, has rail guide parts which move along guide rails(130). The rail guide parts guide the rotation part(114) to make a sliding motion for the base part(110).

Description

Hinge assembly and mobile device using the same

Figure 1a is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a portable electronic device having a swivel hinge assembly according to the prior art.

Figure 1b is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a portable electronic device having a swivel hinge assembly of the prior art.

Figure 1c is a perspective view showing that the rear surface of the display unit is overlapped with the base portion in the prior art.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a mobile device employing a preferred embodiment of the hinge assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing the main portion of the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a link mechanism in the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the base portion removed in the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view showing the configuration of the connecting link mechanism constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a partial perspective view showing the main configuration of the connecting link mechanism constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

8A to 8C are operation state diagrams sequentially showing that the rotating part is rotated and rotated with respect to the base part in the embodiment of the present invention.

9A to 9D are operational state diagrams showing that the link link mechanism is operated in the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: base 112: keyboard

114: rotating part 116: display screen

120: hinge assembly 122: fixed frame

124: hinge axis 126: rotation frame

128: slide plate 128 ': rail guide

129: step 130: guide rail

132: connecting link mechanism 134: rotary connecting link

136: rotation center 138: rotation connection

139: wire channel 140: hinge connection link

142: rotation center 144: rotation connection

The present invention relates to a hinge assembly and a mobile device using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hinge assembly and a mobile device using the same, which can be rotated and slid with respect to the base of the mobile device.

In the present specification, a mobile computer will be described with reference to a tablet computer. However, the present invention is not limited to the tablet computer but can be applied to all mobile devices. For example, the present invention can be applied to a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a PDA, and the like.

1 shows a schematic perspective view of a tablet computer with a swivel hinge according to the prior art. As shown in the drawing, various parts such as a main board and a hard disk drive are provided in the base unit 1. The upper surface of the base 1 is provided with a keyboard 3 which is one of the input devices. The display 5 is connected to one end of the base 1. LCD is generally used as the display unit 5.

The display unit 5 is rotated to be folded or unfolded with respect to the base unit 1 and also rotates in the left and right directions when viewed from the front of the base unit 1. To this end, the base 1 and the display 5 are connected by a swivel hinge assembly 7.

The swivel hinge assembly 7 is rotated about the rotating plate 7r so that the display unit 5 rotates left and right, and at one end of the connecting plate 7c connected to the rotating plate 7r. At the edge of 7r, the center of rotation in the front-rear direction is provided in the tangential direction of the arc formed by the rotating plate 7r.

In this conventional technology, the display unit 5 is folded or unfolded with respect to the base unit 1 around the one end of the connecting plate 7c in other words, in other words, when the base unit 1 is viewed from the front. Is rotated. At the same time, the display unit 5 is rotated to the left and right with respect to the left and right rotation center provided in the rotating plate 7r.

Therefore, the display unit 5 may be used by rotating to various positions, and in particular, the rear surface thereof may be used to be in close contact with the upper surface of the base unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1C. Thus, since the back of the display part 5 can be used in close contact with the base part 1, it can also be used by having the function of a tablet computer.

However, the above-described prior art has the following problems.

First, generally, a mobile device is mainly used in the state of FIG. 1A or the state of FIG. 1C. That is, the state of FIG. 1A is for inputting information using the keyboard 3 as if using a notebook computer, and the state of FIG. 1C is for tablet mode, for example, using a stylus pen or the like. will be.

However, in the prior art, switching between the states of FIGS. 1A and 1C presents a very cumbersome problem. For example, in the case of switching from the state of FIG. 1A to the state of FIG. 1C, the display unit 5 is rotated by 180 ° and the rear surface of the display unit 5 is rotated so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of the base unit 1. There is a hassle to do.

1A and 1C, it can be seen that the front, rear, left, and right positions of the display unit 5 are changed from the front end of the keyboard 3 of the base unit 1. That is, in the prior art, when the use mode of the display unit 5 is switched, the front, rear, left and right positions of the display unit 5 are changed. Therefore, the contents of the information displayed on the display unit 5 can be changed back, front, left, and right when viewed by the user. Of course, the direction of the screen displayed on the display unit 5 may vary depending on the mode of use of the display unit 5, but otherwise, the display of the display unit 5 is displayed using a separate sensor and software. There is an inconvenience to change directions.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to facilitate the rotation of the rotating part relative to the base part in the mobile device.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the front, rear, left, and right positions of the display screen from changing when the use state of the mobile device is switched.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a linking mechanism for performing electrical connection between the base portion and the pivoting portion which is relatively moved relative thereto.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the present invention is to connect the base portion and the rotating portion that can be moved relative to each other, the fixed frame is installed on the base portion, the hinge axis relative to the fixed frame Rotation frame relative to the center and provided on the rotating part side, and a rail guide part integrally provided on the rotating frame and moving along the guide rail provided on the rotating part is provided to guide the slide movement relative to the base part. It is configured to include a slide plate.

Both ends of the rail guide portion of the slide plate is provided with a step is guided along the guide rail provided in the rotating part.

The slide plate can be connected to each other when a plurality of hinge assemblies are used.

The present invention includes a hinge part linking end portion rotatably connected to the slide plate, and a rotating part connecting link rotatably connected to the hinge connecting link and rotatably connected to the rotating part. It further comprises a connecting link mechanism for guiding wires electrically connected between the base portion.

The hinge connecting link and the rotating part connecting link are formed with a wire channel on which a wire is seated.

According to another feature of the invention, the present invention is at least a base portion provided with a keyboard; A rotating part which is installed to be movable relative to the base part and has at least a display screen; By connecting the base part and the rotating part, a fixed frame is fixed to the base part, and the rotating part is provided with a rotating frame capable of relative rotation about a hinge axis with respect to the fixed frame. A hinge assembly configured to be integrally provided with a slide plate having a rail guide portion for allowing the slide portion to slide relative to the base portion; A rotating part connecting link rotatably connected to the rotating part, a hinge part connecting link rotatably connected to the rotating part connecting link and rotatably connected to the hinge assembly, and a rotating part connecting link and a hinge part connecting A linkage link mechanism for guiding a wire for electrically connecting the linkage between the pivoting portion and the base portion; It is configured to include.

The rotating part connecting link and the hinge part connecting link constituting the connecting link mechanism are formed with a wire channel on which the wire is seated.

The rotatable connecting link is rotatably connected to the rotatable part at a position corresponding to one of the guide rails and corresponding to the middle of the guide rail between the guide rails at both ends, and has a relatively short length compared to the hinge connecting link. .

The rotating part is provided with a guide rail for guiding the relative movement of the slide plate of the hinge assembly, and the step is provided on both ends of the rail guide portion of the slide plate is guided to the guide rail.

A portion of the rotating frame of the hinge assembly is rotatably connected to the fixed frame at the base portion, and a vertical connection portion orthogonally connected to the slide plate of the rotating frame is located at the rotating portion side.

A seating slit on which the vertical connection part is seated is further formed on one side of the upper surface of the base part.

According to the hinge assembly and the mobile device using the same according to the present invention having the configuration as described above, the rotation of the rotating part with respect to the base of the mobile device is more convenient, so that the use state can be easily switched, and the use state of the mobile device can be switched. When this is done, the front, rear, left, and right positions of the display screen do not change, and there is no need to have a configuration for changing the display direction of the display screen. Since the electrical connection is made between the base part and the rotating part by the link link mechanism, The advantage is that the connection is more stable and more durable.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the hinge assembly and a mobile device using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a mobile device employing a preferred embodiment of the hinge assembly according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the main configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 the present invention A schematic perspective view showing a connecting link mechanism in the configuration of the embodiment is shown, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the base portion is removed in the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in these figures, the base portion 110 is a flat hexahedral plate shape. The keyboard 112 is provided on an upper surface of the base unit 110. The keyboard 112 is composed of a plurality of keys arranged to allow a user to enter information by pressing a key with a finger. The vertical connection portion of the rotating frame 126 of the hinge assembly 120 to be described below is located at the rear end of the upper surface of the base portion 110 provided with the keyboard 112, that is, out of the region where the keyboard 112 is disposed. A mounting slit 113 on which 127 is seated is recessed and formed. Various parts constituting the mobile device may be installed in the base 110. For example, in the case of a tablet computer, a main board, a hard disk drive, or the like may be installed therein.

Rotating portion 114 is connected to the base portion 110 by a hinge assembly 120 to be described below. The pivoting part 114 may be rotated or slid in the front-rear direction when viewed from the tip of the base part 110 by the hinge assembly 120. The display screen 116 is provided on one surface of the rotating unit 114. A liquid crystal display may be used as the display screen 116. The display screen 116 serves to display a variety of information. Of course, in the case of a tablet computer, the display screen 116 may input information by touching a stylus pen. To this end, it is preferable to use a liquid crystal display having a touch screen function as the display screen 116.

For reference, the configuration provided in the base portion 110 and the rotating portion 114 will be described. The base unit 110 should be provided with at least a keyboard (eg, a keypad in the case of a mobile phone), and the display unit 116 should be provided with at least the display screen 116. For example, the main board, the hard disk drive, or the like may be installed at an appropriate position among the base 110 and the pivot 114.

Next, the configuration of the hinge assembly 120 will be described. In the present embodiment, two hinge assemblies 120 are provided, one on each side of the rear end of the keyboard 112 of the base 110. However, when the size of the base 110 and the rotating portion 114 is not large, only one may be provided.

The fixing frame 122 is fixed inside the base part 110. The fixed frame 122 may be designed in shape or size according to the size or weight of the rotating part 114 which is relatively rotated with respect to the base part 110.

The fixed frame 122 is provided with a rotating frame 126 to be rotatable about the hinge axis 124. The rotating frame 126 is provided over the base 110 and the rotating part 114. The fixed frame 122 and the rotating frame 126 are designed such that portions through which the hinge shaft 124 penetrates are located next to each other.

In the present exemplary embodiment, one end of the hinge shaft 124 penetrates the fixing frame 122 and the other end of the hinge shaft 124 penetrates the rotation frame 126, but the present invention is not necessarily such a case. A portion of the fixed frame 122 and the rotating frame 126 through which the hinge shaft 124 penetrates may be alternately positioned. For example, both ends of the hinge shaft 124 may each penetrate a portion of the rotation frame 126, and a middle portion of the hinge shaft 124 may penetrate a portion of the fixed frame 122. Alternatively, both ends of the hinge shaft 124 may pass through the portion of the fixed frame 122 and the middle portion of the hinge shaft 124 may pass through the rotation frame 126.

Portions of the rotating frame 126 of the rotating frame 126 are the vertical connecting portion 127 and the slide plate 128. The slide plate 128 is connected to each other of the hinge assembly 120 at both ends in the present embodiment. The slide plate 128 is not necessarily those of the hinge assembly 120 at both ends are connected to each other. The vertical connection portion 127 is formed orthogonal to the slide plate 128. In FIG. 2, the slide plate 128 and the vertical connection portion 127 are shown to be exposed to the outside, but the slide plate 128 and the vertical connection portion 127 may not be exposed to the outside by being shielded by a separate cover.

The slide plate 128 is provided with a rail guide portion 128 ′ guided along the guide rail 130 to be described below. Stepped portions 129 are formed at both ends of the rail guide portion 128 ′. The stepped portion 129 is seated on both ends of the guide rail 130 to be described below serves to facilitate relative movement without separation between the guide rail 130 and the rail guide portion 128 '. . One such rail guide portion 128 'is provided for each hinge assembly 120.

The guide rail 130 is formed long in the rear or rear surface of the pivot 114. The guide rail 130 guides the movement of the rail guide part 128 'so that the pivot part 114 can be slid relative to the base part 110 as a result. The guide rail 130 is formed to extend from the upper end to the lower end on the rear side of the rotating part 114. The guide rail 130 has a cross-section along the both ends of the 'c' shape is formed to face each other, so that the step portion 129 is seated therein.

The connection link mechanism 132 guides and protects a wire (not shown) for electrical connection between the base 110 and the pivot 114. The connecting link mechanism 132 has a rotatable connecting link 134 and a hinge connecting link 140 are connected to each other rotatably, and the other end is rotatable to the rotating section 114 and the slide plate 128, respectively. Connected to guide the wire between the base 110 and the pivot 114.

The rotating part connecting link 134 is rotatably connected to one side of the rotating center portion 136 of the rotating part 114. The rotation center 136 is provided with a rotation shaft (not shown), and the rotation shaft is rotatably inserted into the pivot 114. An outlet 114 ′ is provided at a position where the rotation center 136 is rotatably connected to the pivot 114. The outlet 114 ′ is a portion in which the wire extends into and out of the pivoting part 114.

The other end of the rotary connection link 134 is provided with a rotary connection 138. The rotation connection part 138 is connected to the rotation connection part 144 of the hinge connection link 140 so as to rotate relative to each other. The pivoting connection link 134 has a long bar shape having a predetermined width, and a wire channel 139 is formed along one surface thereof. The wire channel 139 is provided in plurality. The width and depth of the wire channel 139 may be designed differently according to the type of wire.

On the other hand, the portion in which the rotating part connecting link 134 is connected to the rotating part 114 is a position adjacent to the intermediate position of the guide rail 130. This is to allow the rotatable connection portion 138 to be rotatable while drawing a semicircular trajectory with respect to the rotation center 136. The pivoting link 134 is formed to have a relatively shorter length than the hinge link (140).

Hinge connecting link 134 is rotatably connected to the slide plate (128). To this end, the hinge connection link 134 is provided with a rotation center 142. A rotation shaft is also provided at the rotation center 142 to be rotatably fixed to the slide plate 128. The rotation center portion 142 is connected to the slide plate 128 is a guide rail 130 opposite to the guide rail 130 adjacent to the pivot link link 134.

The hinge connection link 134 is provided with a rotary connection portion 144 at the other end. The rotary connector 144 is a part rotatably connected to the rotary connector 144 of the rotary connection link 134. To this end, for example, the rotary shaft is formed to protrude from the rotary connector 138 and the rotary shaft is inserted into the other rotary connector 144 is formed. An outlet 110 ′ is formed in the base 110 corresponding to a portion in which the hinge connection link 134 is rotatably connected to the slide plate 128. The outlet 110 ′ is a portion where the wire extends into and out of the base 110.

For reference, in the drawings of the present embodiment, the wire channel is not formed in the hinge connecting link 134, but is not necessarily the case. That is, a wire channel may be formed in the hinge connection link 134.

Meanwhile, the pivot part 114 is supported by the rotation frame 126 and the slide plate 128 with respect to the base part 110. Of course, the rotating frame 126 and the slide plate 128 are movable with respect to the pivot 114. Therefore, it is preferable that at least one of the rotating frame 126 or the slide plate 128 is designed to be moved when a predetermined force or more is applied to the rotating part 114 in the rotating part 114.

Hereinafter, the hinge assembly according to the present invention having the configuration as described above and the operation of the mobile device using the same will be described in detail.

8A to 8C show that the mobile device of the embodiment of the present invention is operated. The state of FIG. 8A is a state in which the rotating part 114 is overlapped with respect to the base part 110. In this state, the user may input information using the touch function of the display screen 116.

Next, the state of FIG. 8B illustrates a state in which the pivoting part 114 is slid and moved relative to the base part 110. In this state, the keyboard 112 is no longer obscured by the pivoting part 114, and the rail guide part 128 ′ is positioned at a lower side of the guide rail 130.

In the state of FIG. 8B, the pivot part 114 may be rotated to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the base part 110. That is, as shown in Figure 8c, it is possible to install the rotating part 114 inclined at a predetermined angle. This is possible by the relative rotation of the fixed frame 124 and the rotating frame 126 of the hinge assembly 120.

On the other hand, it is described with reference to Figure 9a to 9d the operation of the connecting link mechanism 132 in the process in which the rotating part 114 is the state of the base portion 110 in Figures 8a to 8b.

First, the state of the connection link mechanism 132 corresponding to the state of FIG. 8A is shown in FIG. 9A. The slat plate 128 is at one end of the pivoting part 114. In this state, when the pivoting unit 114 and the slide plate 128 move relative to each other (the slide plate 128 moves in the direction of the arrow A when the slide plate 128 is referred to), first, the hinge connection link ( 142 pushes the pivot link link 134 so that the pivot link link 134 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow B. FIG. At this time, the hinge connecting link 142 is slightly rotated but hardly rotates, but mainly pushes the pivot linking link 134. This state continues in FIG. 9B.

On the other hand, when the slide plate 128 is at a certain position, as shown in Figure 9c the hinge link link 142 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow C. This is from the time when the pivot link link 134 is to be substantially parallel to the guide rail (130).

Finally, when the slide plate 128 comes to the other end of the pivoting part 114, the slide plate 128 is in the state of FIG. 9D. Such a state may also be a state shown in FIG. 4. In this state, the pivot part 114 may be rotated about the hinge axis 124 with respect to the base part 110.

In addition, when the pivoting part 114 moves to be in an overlapped state with respect to the base part 110, the connecting link mechanism 132 operates in the reverse order of those described in FIGS. 9A to 9D. As such, when the connection link mechanism 132 is operated, a wire for performing electrical connection between the base 110 and the pivot 114 may be guided and protected by the connection link mechanism 132.

The rights of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, but are defined by the claims, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims. It is self-evident.

In the hinge assembly and the mobile device using the same according to the present invention as described in detail above, the following effects can be expected.

First, in the present invention, the rotation mode of the rotating part with respect to the base part is rotated and rotated, or vice versa, so that the use mode of the display screen included in the rotating part can be switched. In other words, the user pushes and slides the pivot back to the rear of the base part and rotates by pulling the upper end of the pivot in the opposite direction. Therefore, in the present invention, the rotation of the pivoting portion relative to the base portion is relatively easy, so that the use state of the display screen can be easily switched.

In the present invention, even if the installation state of the display screen of the rotating unit is changed, the front, rear, left and right directions of the display screen remain unchanged. Therefore, since the configuration may not be provided to change the display direction of the display screen according to the change of the front, rear, left, and right positions of the display screen after changing the use mode of the display screen, the configuration of the mobile device can be expected to be simplified. .

In addition, in the present invention, since the wire electrically connecting the base portion and the rotating portion is guided and protected by the linking mechanism, the electrical connection between the base portion and the rotating portion is stable, and there is an effect of not being damaged.

Claims (11)

By connecting the base part and the rotation part which can move relative to each other, Fixed frame installed in the base portion, A rotation frame which is relatively rotated about a hinge axis with respect to the fixed frame and provided on a rotational side; And a slide plate provided integrally with the rotating frame and provided with a rail guide part moving along the guide rail provided on the rotating part to guide the slide movement with respect to the base part. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the rail guide portion of the slide plate are provided with stepped portions to guide along the guide rails provided on the pivoting portion. The hinge assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slide plate is connectable to each other when a plurality of hinge assemblies are used. According to claim 3, It is configured to include a hinge connecting link, one end of which is rotatably connected to the slide plate, and a rotating part connecting link rotatably connected to the hinge connecting link and rotatably connected to the rotating part. And a linkage link mechanism for guiding wires electrically connecting the pivot portion and the base portion. The hinge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the hinge connection link and the pivot connection link are formed with wire channels on which wires are seated. A base portion provided with at least a keyboard; A rotating part which is installed to be movable relative to the base part and has at least a display screen; By connecting the base part and the rotating part, a fixed frame is fixed to the base part, and the rotating part is provided with a rotating frame capable of relative rotation about a hinge axis with respect to the fixed frame. A hinge assembly configured to be integrally provided with a slide plate having a rail guide portion for allowing the slide portion to slide relative to the base portion; A rotating part connecting link rotatably connected to the rotating part and a hinge part connecting link rotatably connected to the rotating part connecting link and rotatably connected to the hinge assembly, and a rotating part connecting link and a hinge part A linkage link mechanism for guiding a wire for connecting the linkage electrically between the pivoting portion and the base portion; Mobile device, characterized in that configured to include. The mobile device according to claim 6, wherein a wire channel on which the wire is seated is formed in the pivot link link and the hinge link link constituting the link link mechanism. The rotating part connecting link of claim 7, wherein the rotating part connecting link is rotatably connected to the rotating part at a position corresponding to one of the guide rails and corresponding to the middle of the guide rail between the guide rails at both ends, and is relatively relative to the hinge connecting link. Mobile device, characterized in that the length is formed short. The method of claim 8, wherein the rotating part is provided with a guide rail for guiding the relative movement of the slide plate of the hinge assembly, and the step is provided on both ends of the rail guide portion of the slide plate is guided to the guide rail Mobile device. According to claim 7, wherein a portion of the rotating frame of the hinge assembly is rotatably connected to the fixed frame in the base portion, the vertical connecting portion of the rotating frame orthogonally connected to the slide plate is located on the side of the rotating part Mobile device characterized in that. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein a seating slit in which the vertical connection part is seated is further formed on one side of the upper surface of the base part.

Images