Abstract:
Embodiments described herein disclose a conductive hinge that is configured to transfer power across a hinge regardless of the orientation of the faces of the hinge. In embodiments, the conductive hinge may be configured to be a conductive conduit to transfer constant power across the hinge. The conductive hinge may be used in conjunction with a conventional hinge, retrofitted to an existing hinge, and/or disposed within a hinge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims a benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Provisional Application No. 61/757,184 filed on Jan. 27, 2013, entitled “CONDUCTIVE HINGE,” which is fully incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for a conductive hinge. Specifically, this disclosure relates to a hinge that is conductive regardless of the position of the hinge. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Electrical components disposed on or within doors such as locks, actuators, lights, etc. require power. To supply power to these electrical components, conventional systems use hardwires to transfer power from a power supply directly to the electrical components. Other conventional systems use contacts positioned on both sides of a hinge that complete a circuit if the door is in a closed position. 
         [0004]    Hardwires transferring power from a power supply to the components are subject to stress, wear, pinching, binding, breaking, bending, etc. from normal use. Normal wear and tear may cause the hardwires to lose conductivity or break. Hardwires may also impede the movement of a hinge and/or accidently catch on a foreign object causing lost conductivity within the hardwire. 
         [0005]    Hinges that transfer power via contact points lose conductivity if the contact points are not adjacent to one another because a circuit will not be formed. Therefore, if the hinge is in an open position or ajar, a circuit will not be completed between the contact points. Accordingly, the contact points will not transfer power across the hinge. Further, contact points on the door are unreliable, may be accidently covered, and can be damaged due to regular use and the environment. 
         [0006]    To this end, needs exist for an improved conductive hinge that efficiently transfers power across the faces of the hinge regardless of the positing of the hinge while also conserving space. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments described herein disclose a conductive hinge that is configured to transfer power across a hinge regardless of the orientation of the faces of the hinge. In embodiments, the conductive hinge may be configured to be a conductive conduit to transfer power across the hinge from an electrical power supply positioned on a first side of the conductive hinge to an electrical component positioned on a second side of the conductive hinge. The conductive hinge may be coupled to the power supply and the electrical component that requires power to operate. 
         [0008]    In embodiments, the conductive hinge may transfer power from the power supply to the electrical component without an additional wire outside of the hinge. The conductive hinge may be used in conjunction with a conventional hinge, retrofitted to an existing hinge, and/or disposed within a hinge. 
         [0009]    In embodiments, a first face of the hinge may be coupled with a first surface and a second face of the hinge may be coupled with a second surface. The first surface may be any known surface such as a dorm jam, body of refrigerator, table, automobile, recreational vehicle, etc. In further embodiments, the first surface may be fixed, allowing the hinge to rotate, turn or pivot. The second surface may be any known moveable surface such as a door, which may be a door of a refrigerator, door of an automobile, cabinet door, table, etc. 
         [0010]    In embodiments, the power supply may generate and supply power to connectors disposed on the first face of the hinge. Power may be transferred across a pivot of the hinge, to connectors on the second face of the hinge. To transfer power from the connectors on the first face to connectors on the second face, power may traverse the pivot of the hinge. To minimize the power loss across the hinge, the pivot of the hinge may include a threaded fastener configured to receive a threaded bolt. The threaded bolt may couple with the threaded fastener within the hinge to increase the surface area of the points of contact, thus minimizing the loss of power across the hinge. However, in other embodiments the fastener and/or bolt may be unthreaded, ribbed, capped, or any other mechanism to interface a fastener and/or bolt. 
         [0011]    These, and other, aspects of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. The following description, while indicating various embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many substitutions, modifications, additions or rearrangements may be made within the scope of the invention, and the invention includes all such substitutions, modifications, additions or rearrangements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the invention. A clearer impression of the invention, and of the components and operation of systems provided with the invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore nonlimiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings, wherein identical reference numerals designate the same components. Note that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of a conductive hinge in an open position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts one embodiment of a conductive hinge in a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts one embodiment of a conductive hinge coupled to a door frame. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts one embodiment of a conductive hinge supplying power to electronic components. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A-D  depict embodiments of the parts comprising a conductive hinge. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  depicts one embodiment of a method a conductive hinge supplying power to electronic components. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. It should be appreciated that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of the various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. 
         [0021]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         [0022]    The flowcharts and block diagrams in the flow diagrams illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment for transferring power across a conductive hinge  100  is depicted. Conductive hinge  100  is depicted in an open position. Conductive hinge  100  may include projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) on a first side  105  of conductive hinge  100 , projection  120  on a second side  115  of conductive hinge  100 , and pivot  130 . Conductive hinge  100  is in an open position in response to projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) being rotated away from projection  120 . If projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) are rotated towards projection  120 , then conductive hinge may be in the closed position. However, regardless of the orientation of conductive hinge  100 , conductive hinge is configured to transfer power from connectors disposed on projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) to connectors disposed on projection  120 . 
         [0024]    Projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) may be configured to couple with a fixed frame, such as a door jamb. Projection  120  may be configured to couple with a surface, such as a door. In embodiments, the fixed frame may be configured to bear the weight of the surface through conductive hinge  100 . Projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) may be comprised of any electrical insulator that limits or restricts electric charges to freely flow, such as nylon, rubber, plastic, fiber glass, etc. Therefore, in an embodiment, a surface of projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) may not be conductive. 
         [0025]    Projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) may include connectors  111 ( a ) and  111 ( b ), respectively. Connectors  111 ( a ) and  111 ( b ) may be comprised of any conductive material, such as silver, copper, gold, etc. Connectors  111 ( a ) and  111 ( b ) may extend from a surface of projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) to pivot  130 . In an embodiment, a power supply may be configured to couple with connector  111 ( a ) disposed within projection  110 ( a ) and connector  111 ( b ) disposed within projection  110 ( b ). In an embodiment, connector  111 ( a ) may be configured to receive a power signal from the power supply and connector  111 ( b ) may be configured to be grounded. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that either connector  111 ( a ) or connector  111 ( b ) may be connected to a power supply and/or be grounded. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , if conductive hinge  100  is in an open position, then projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) may be angled away from projection  120  by rotating projection  120  or projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) about pivot  130 . 
         [0026]    Pivot  130  may be comprised of any conductive material, and may be configured to electrically interface with connectors  111 ( a ) and  111 ( b ). 
         [0027]    Pivot  130  may receive power supplied by connectors  111 ( a ) and/or  111 ( b ) and transmit the power to a connector  121 ( a ) disposed on a surface of projection  120 , where connector  121 ( a ) may be comprised of any conductive material. Pivot  130  may transfer power supplied from a power source disposed on the first side, which may include a fixed frame, of conductive hinge  100  to power an electrical component on the surface side of conductive hinge  100 . In embodiments, the electrical component may be any device utilizing electrical power, such as power locks, lights, power windows, etc. 
         [0028]    In further embodiments, pivot  130  may be covered by an insulating material, such as rubber, glass, plastic, etc. The insulating material may be configured to protect a user from the electrical current traversing pivot  130 . 
         [0029]    In embodiments, because conductive hinge  100  may transfer power regardless of the orientation of conductive hinge  100 , electrical components may be powered a power supply if desired. For example, a light positioned on a rotating portion of a door may be lite up regardless of the door is opened or closed. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of conductive hinge  100  in a closed position. Because conductive hinge  100  transfers power from a power supply to an electrical component via pivot  130 , conductive hinge  100  can transfer power regardless of whether conductive hinge  100  is in an open position or a closed position without an additional wire extending across conductive hinge  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , if conductive hinge  100  is in a closed position, then projections  110 ( a ) and  110 ( b ) may be adjacent to projection  120 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of conductive hinge  100  coupled with a fixed frame  300  and a surface  310 . Conductive hinge  100  may be coupled to frame  300  and surface  310  via fasteners  320 . Fasteners  320  may be any device configured to extend from a surface of projections  110 ( a ),  110 ( b ), and/or  120 , through projections  110 ( a ),  110 ( b ), and/or  120  and into frame  300  and surface  310  to couple conductive hinge  100  to frame  300  and surface  310 . In embodiments, fasteners  320  may be screws, bolts, nails, etc. 
         [0032]    In further embodiments, a rubber seal  410  may be disposed over pivot  130 , and extending across a plane of rotation to protect against weather and/or mechanical use. Rubber seal  410  may be comprised of any material that is configured to be an electrical insulator. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of topology  400  transferring power across conductive hinge  410 . Topology  400  may include hinges  420  configured to support door  430  to a door jamb (not shown). 
         [0034]    Hinges  420  may be any known conventional hinge configured to couple door to the door jamb. Conductive hinge  410  may be configured to be used in conjunction with hinges  420 , and may be substantially the same size and shape as hinges  420 . Conductive hinge  410  may be configured to transfer power within an inner portion of conductive hinge  410 , while the surface of conductive hinge  410  may be insulated. 
         [0035]    Conductive hinge  410  may include power couplers  440  configured to receive power from a power source (not shown) and transfer power across conductive hinge  410  to output couplers  450 . Output couplers  450  may be configured to supply power to a plurality of components on the door side of conductive hinge  410 . The power used to power the components may be the power received via power couplers  440 . In embodiments output couplers  450  may be configured to supply power to a light  460  and an actuator  470 . Wherein, actuator  470  may control a door lock  480 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  depicts an exploded view of components comprising conductive hinge  100 . Conductive hinge  100  may include projection conductors  520 , conductive pivot  530 , washer  540 , and fastener  550 . 
         [0037]    Projection conductors  520  may be configured to receive power from a power supply. Projection conductors  520  may be any known conductive material, such as copper, and may be coupled with conductive pivot  530 . In an embodiment, projection conductors  520  may be coupled to conductive pivot  530  by extending from surface into a body of conductive pivot  530 . In further embodiments, an end of projection conductors  520  may be bent to project away from the body of the projection conductors  520 . The bent portion of projection conductors  520  may be configured to extend away from the body of the projection conductors  520  to receive power from a power supply and/or distribute power to another component. 
         [0038]    Conductive pivot  530  may be configured to receive power from projection conductors  520 , and transfer power to other projection conductive (not shown) positioned on an opposite side of pivot  530  from projection conductors  520 . Conductive pivot  530  may be comprised of any conductive material, which may or may not be the same material as projection conductors  520 . In one embodiment, pivot  530  may be comprised of brass. In another embodiment, pivot  530  may be positioned perpendicular to projection conductors  520 . Conductive pivot  530  may include a threaded barrel  560  that is configured to receive a threaded fastener  565 . Threaded fastener  565  and treaded barrel  560  may be threaded, ribbed, ridged, or any other mechanism to increase the surface area of contact between the two to minimize the power loss across conductive hinge  110 . In embodiments, if conductive hinge  110  is coupled to a frame (not shown) and a surface (not shown), to support the surface, the surface may apply pressure to conductive hinge  110 . By applying the pressure to conductive hinge  110 , the threads in threaded fastener  565  may be placed adjacent to the grooves in threaded barrel  560 , thus increasing the contact area between them. Accordingly, rotational movement of the surface around conductive pivot  530  may increase the conductivity of conductive hinge  110 . 
         [0039]    A plurality of conductive hinges  110  may be coupled together via fastener  550 . Fastener  550  may be any type of insulating material, such as nylon. Fastener  550  may be configured to interface with the groove of threaded barrel  560  to couple the plurality of conductive hinges  510 . In further embodiments, fastener  550  may be configured to extend through a washer  540 . Washer  540  may be an insulating material, configured to be positioned between a pluralities of conductive hinges  510 . Washer  540  may be utilized to distribute the load of fastener  550  to conductive hinge  110 , and protect against weathering. 
         [0040]    In embodiments, conductive hinge  110  may be disposed in an insulating material, such as fiber glass, plastic, etc. The insulating material may be any desired shape and/or size, such as the shape of any conventional hinge. If conductive hinge  110  is disposed in an insulating material, the bend portions of conductive projections  510  may extend past the insulating material to receive and/or transfer power to and from other components. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a method  600  for transferring power across a conductive hinge. The operations of method  600  presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method  600  may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method  600  are illustrated in  FIG. 6  and described below is not intended to be limiting. 
         [0042]    At operating  610 , connectors positioned on a first side of a conductive hinge may receive power from a power supply. Operation  610  may be performed by a connector that is the same as or similar to connectors  111 ( a ) or  111 ( b ), in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         [0043]    At operation  620 , the conductive hinge may be rotated to be in an open position. Responsive to the conductive hinge being in the open position, a first surface coupled to a first side of the conductive hinge may not be positioned adjacent to a second surface coupled to a second side of the conductive hinge. Operation  620  may be performed by a conductive hinge that is the same as or similar to conductive hinge  100 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         [0044]    At operation  630 , responsive to the conductive hinge being in the open position, the weight of the first surface may cause a threaded bolt to contact a threaded fastener within the conductive hinge to increase the surface area of the contact points between the threaded fastener and the threaded bolt. Operation  630  may be performed by a conductive hinge that is the same as or similar to conductive hinge  100 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         [0045]    At operation  640 , an electrical component positioned on the first surface may receive power from the power supply even if the conductive hinge is in the first position. Responsive to receiving power, the electrical component may be operated. Operation  640  may be performed by a conductive hinge that is the same as or similar to conductive hinge  100 , in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         [0046]    In the foregoing specification, embodiments have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one skilled in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of invention. 
         [0047]    Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive of the invention. The description herein of illustrated embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein (and in particular, the inclusion of any particular embodiment, feature or function is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiment, feature or function). 
         [0048]    Rather, the description is intended to describe illustrative embodiments, features and functions in order to provide a person of ordinary skill in the art context to understand the invention without limiting the invention to any particularly described embodiment, feature or function. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. 
         [0049]    As indicated, these modifications may be made to the invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, while the invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0050]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “a specific embodiment” or similar terminology means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment and may not necessarily be present in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in a specific embodiment” or similar terminology in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0051]    Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any particular embodiment may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0052]    In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment may be able to be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, components, systems, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the invention. While the invention may be illustrated by using a particular embodiment, this is not and does not limit the invention to any particular embodiment and a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments are readily understandable and are a part of this invention. 
         [0053]    It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. 
         [0054]    Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein is generally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated. As used herein, a term preceded by “a” or “an” (and “the” when antecedent basis is “a” or “an”) includes both singular and plural of such term (i.e., that the reference “a” or “an” clearly indicates only the singular or only the plural). Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0055]    Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component.