Communication system and electronic device utilizing the same

A communication system electrically connecting circuits in a hinged cover and base of an electronic device includes an arched first flat cable wrapping around and rotatable with respect to a hinge assembly, a straight second flat cable electrically connected to the first flat cable and disposed in the base, an arched third flat cable wrapping around the first flat cable electrically connected to and rotatable with respect to the first flat cable, and a straight fourth flat cable electrically connected to the third flat cable and disposed in the cover. Also provided is an electronic device including a base, a cover, a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the cover to the base, and the communication system.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to communications, and particularly relates to a communication system and electronic device utilizing the system.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices often include a cover, a base, and a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the cover to the base, which often includes a processing circuit. The cover can include a display screen electrically connected to the processing circuit by cables or wires.

Conventionally, the often flat cables or wires may pass through a hole defined by the hinge assembly to electrically connect the processing circuit to the display screen, or proceed in a circular course bypassing the hinge assembly. However, when the cover rotates with respect to the base around the hinge assembly, the cables or wires frequently bend and can easily break with use.

Therefore, an improved communication system for an electronic device is needed to address the limitations described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS

References will now be made to the drawings to describe certain inventive embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, an electronic device99in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a base20, a cover30, a hinge assembly40pivotally connecting the cover30and the base20, and a communication system60electrically connecting circuits (not shown) disposed in the cover30and the base20.

The base20and the cover30are both substantially cuboid. The base20includes two fastening portions (not shown). The cover30includes a pair of sleeves32formed at a connecting side of the cover30connected to a connecting side of the base20via the hinge assembly40. The two sleeves32have the same axis.

The hinge assembly40includes two first hinge subassemblies42and a second hinge subassembly44coaxially disposed between the two first hinge subassemblies42. The two first hinge subassemblies42are fixed to the connecting side of one of the base20and the cover30. The second hinge subassembly44is fixed to the connecting side of the other of the base20and the cover30. In this embodiment, the two first hinge subassemblies42are fixed to the connecting side of the base20, and adopted as an axle bed. The second hinge subassembly44is fixed to the connecting side of the cover30, and adopted as an axle body.

Each of the two first hinge subassemblies42includes a fastening arm422and a first joint axle424fixed to the fastening arm422. The fastening arm422is fixed to one of the fastening portions of the base20. The fastening arm422includes a first plate with mounting holes defined thereon, and a second plate substantially perpendicular to the first plate. The first plate is secured to the one of the fastening portions of the base20via fastening elements, such as rivets. The second plate is fixed to the first joint axle424. The first joint axle424has substantial cylinder structures, and defines a cylindrical hole in a center of a flat side surface facing the second hinge subassembly44.

Two ends of the second hinge subassembly44extend through the pair of sleeves32of the cover30, and further engage the cylindrical holes of the two first joint axles424respectively. The second hinge subassembly44is non-rotatably fixed to the sleeves32, and rotatably engages the first joint axles424. The second hinge subassembly44and the sleeves32rotate synchronously with respect to the first joint axles424. Thus, the cover30is pivotally connected to the base20via the hinge assembly40. In other embodiments, two poles can be formed at two ends of the second hinge subassembly44correspondingly. The poles engage the cylindrical holes of the two first joint axles424respectively, and rotate with respect to the first joint axles424.

The second hinge subassembly44includes a second joint axle442, and an insulating sleeve444sleeved on the second joint axle442. The second joint axle442is metal. The insulating sleeve444insulates the communication system60from the second joint axle442. In other embodiments, the insulating sleeve444may be omitted, and an outer surface of the second joint axle442may be insulating materials.

The communication system60includes a first signal line62and a second signal line64. The first signal line62includes an arched first flat cable622, and a straight second flat cable624disposed in the base20. An end of the second flat cable624is connected to the circuits in the base20, and the other end of the second flat cable624is connected to the first flat cable622, being non-rotatable with respect to the second flat cable624. The first flat cable622wraps around the second hinge subassembly44, and is rotatable with respect thereto.

The second signal line64includes an arched third flat cable642, and a straight fourth flat cable644disposed in the cover30. The third flat cable642is wrapped around and electrically connected to the first flat cable622. The third flat cable642is non-rotatable with respect to the fourth flat cable644. An end of the fourth flat cable644is connected to the circuits in the cover30, and the other end of the fourth flat cable644is connected to the third flat cable642. When the cover30rotates with respect to the base20around the hinge assembly40, the first flat cable622does not rotate with respect to the first joint axle424, and the third flat cable642rotates with respect to the first flat cable622in accordance with the rotation of the second hinge subassembly44and the cover30, thus the first and second signal lines62,64do not bend or flex when the cover30rotates with respect to the base20.