Patent Publication Number: US-2021181805-A1

Title: Accessory pivots with transfer bars

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices such as computing devices may include or he used in conjunction with computing device accessories. Such accessories may include digital cameras or other computing device accessories. Such accessories may be attached to, disposed within, or otherwise engaged with computing devices, in some situations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example accessory pivot. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an example computing device having an example accessory pivot. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of an example computing device having an example accessory pivot. 
         FIG. 2C  is a detail perspective view of an example accessory pivot. 
         FIG. 2D  is a detail cutaway view of an example accessory pivot. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an example computing device having an example accessory pivot. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of an example computing device having an example accessory pivot. 
         FIG. 4A  is a bottom detail view of an example accessory pivot. 
       FIG.  FIG. 4B  is a bottom detail view of an example accessory pivot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may include or be utilized in conjunction with accessories. Such electronic devices may be computing devices, in some situations, and such accessories may be considered computing device accessories. Such computing device accessories may be integrated into computing devices, or may be attached to or installed on computing devices. In some situations, computing device accessories may be mounted or installed on top of a display of a computing device. Computing device accessories may include digital cameras, video cameras, microphones, electrical connectors or ports, speakers, or other accessories for use with a computing device. As computing devices become smaller, thinner, and/or lighter weight, it may be difficult to mount or install such computing device accessories on top of a display of the computing device or another exterior portion. As such, it may be desirable for a computing device to integrate a computing device accessory into a chassis or housing of the computing device, so that the accessory does not need to be mounted on an external portion of the computing device. 
     In some situations, it may be desirable to utilize a computing device accessory with a convertible computing device, or, in other words, a computing device which may be used in a clamshell or notebook-style manner, and, alternatively, in a tablet-style manner. It may be difficult to mount or install a computing device accessory on to such a convertible computing device in a way that the computing device accessory may be used with the computing device when the computing device is disposed in both the notebook orientation and in the tablet orientation. Therefore, in sonic situations, it may be desirable to integrate a computing device accessary into a computing device such that the accessory may be utilized with the computing device regardless of the computing device being disposed in a notebook or tablet orientation. 
     Further, in sonic situations, it may be desirable for a computing device accessory to extend from an edge of the computing device such that the accessory may achieve a large or wide line of sight of the environment within which the computing device may be disposed. It may be difficult to attach a computing device accessory to a computing device such that the accessory extends from the computing device in an appropriate manner due to thinness of the computing device, and/or the convertible nature of the computing device. Therefore, it may also be desirable, in some situations, to enable an integrated computing device accessory to extend from an edge or side of the computing device when such functionality is desired. 
     Implementations of the present disclosure provide accessory pivots that enable an integrated accessory of an electronic device, for example a computing device accessory, to be used with the electronic device in a convertible manner. Example accessory pivots disclosed herein enable a computing device accessory to automatically deploy for use upon conversion of the computing device from one orientation to another. Additionally, examples of accessory pivots disclosed herein may enable the accessory of the electronic device to pivot from a stowed position to a deployed position, in which the accessory may extend from the electronic device to be able to obtain a desirable line or field of sight. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an example accessory pivot  100  is illustrated. In some implementations, the accessory pivot  100  may include a driven gear  102  fixed or otherwise attached to an electronic device accessory  104 , a hinge gear  106  engaged with a hinge  108  of an electronic device  101 , and a transfer bar  110  engaged with the driven gear  102  and the hinge gear  106  to actuate the driven gear  102  upon the transfer bar  110  being actuated by the hinge gear  106 . 
     In some implementations, the electronic device  101  may be a computing device. The computing device may be a notebook or laptop computer, in some implementations, or may be another type of computing device in other implementations. In further implementations, the electronic device may he a convertible computing device, which may be able to be utilized in a notebook or clamshell-style fashion, resembling a traditional notebook or laptop computer, and also may be physically reoriented to resemble a tablet-style computing device. In order to enable such a switch in physical layout and/or orientation, the computing device  101  may have a hinge or hinges  108  that may allow or enable a display portion of the computing device  101  to rotate relative to and/or around a user input portion of the computing device  101  and to lay against a rear surface of such a user input portion such that the computing device resembles a tablet or slate, in other implementations, electronic device  101  may be another type of electronic device, other than a computing device. It should be noted that, for clarity, only a portion of electronic device  101  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The illustrated portion of the computing device  101  may be a portion of a panel, housing, or other surface of the computing device  101 . 
     The electronic device accessory  104  may be a peripheral device which may be used in conjunction with the electronic device  101 . As such, the function of the electronic device accessory  104  may supplement parts of the function or the overall function of the electronic device  101 . In implementations Wherein the electronic device  101  is a computing device, the electronic device accessory  104  may be referred to as a computing device accessory. In some implementations, the electronic device accessory  104  may be a digital camera and/or a video camera. In further implementations, the electronic device accessory  104  may be a microphone, a speaker, a connector and/or port, or may be another type of accessory that may be suitable for use with the electronic device  101 . In further implementations, the electronic device accessory  104  may be a 180 degree or a 360 degree camera which may be capable of having a field of view of an entire. environment within which the electronic device  101  may be located, or a substantial portion thereof. In other words, such an electronic device accessory may be capable of scanning and/or viewing an entire room, or a significant portion thereof In order to enable such a 180 degree and/or 360 degree viewing function of such an electronic device accessory  104 , it may be desirable for the electronic device accessory  104  to extend from an edge or side of the electronic device  101  during operation or utilization of the electronic device accessory  104  in order to prevent obstructing or blocking a viewing angle of the accessory  104 . 
     The example accessory pivot  100  may have a driven gear  102  attached to or fixed to the electronic device accessory  104 . The electronic device accessory  104  may be pivot ably attached to or engaged with the electronic device  101 , or a frame, chassis, housing, or another portion thereof, and, as such, the driven gear  102  may enable or cause the electronic device accessory  104  to rotate or pivot relative to the electronic device  101 . In order to cause such a rotation or pivot, the driven gear  102  may be engaged with another gear, cog, or other transmission component for transmitting motion which may drive or cause motion of the driven gear  102 . In some implementations, the driven gear  102  may be directly attached to or fixed to the electronic device accessory  104  so as to effect movement of the accessory. In other implementations, the driven gear  102  may be indirectly engaged with the electronic device accessory  104 , for example, through an intermediary component or components such as other gears, belts, chains, gear racks, or other suitable components for transmitting motion to the accessory  104 . 
     The accessory pivot  100  may further include a hinge gear  106 . The hinge gear  106  may be directly or indirectly (e.g., through other intermediary components) engaged with a hinge  108  of the electronic device  101 . The hinge  108 , in some implementations, may be one of multiple hinges of the electronic device  101 . Further, the hinge  108  may be a double pivot hinge. In other words, the hinge  108  may have a first pivot attached to a user input portion of the electronic device  101  and may also have a second pivot attached to a display portion of the electronic device  101 . The first pivot may also be attached to or engaged with the hinge gear  106  such that rotation of the hinge gear  106  is dependent on rotation of the first pivot. Such a double pivot hinge may enable the display portion to rotate around the user input portion in order to convert the electronic device  101  from a notebook-style computing device to a tablet-style computing device, in some implementations. In further implementations, the double pivot hinge may enable the display portion to rotate about 360 degrees around the user input portion. The hinge gear  106  may be engaged with the hinge  108  such that the hinge gear  106  rotates along with the hinge  108  upon the binge  148  being rotated relative to a portion of the electronic device  101 . In some implementations, the hinge gear  106  may rotate with the hinge  108  upon the hinge  108  being rotated relative to the user input portion of the electronic device  101 . In some implementations, in order to rotate with the hinge  108 , the hinge gear  106  may be fixed to the hinge  108 . In further implementations, the hinge gear  106  may be spaced away from the hinge  108  and attached to the hinge through a hinge shaft or drive shaft. In yet further implementations, the hinge gear  106  may be disposed coaxially to a pivot of the hinge  108 , e.g., the first pivot attached to the user input portion of the electronic device  101 . 
     The accessory pivot  100  may further include a transfer bar  110 . The transfer bar  110  may be a motive or motion-transmitting component such as a gear. Further, the transfer bar  110  may be engaged with, or removably engageable with the driven gear  102  and the hinge gear  106 . The transfer bar  110  may transfer motion from the hinge gear  106  to the driven gear  102 , in some implementations. Upon the hinge  108  rotating, the hinge gear  106  may also rotate. Such rotation of the hinge gear  106  may be transferred to the transfer bar  110  through operable engagement of the transfer bar  110  with the hinge gear  106 . The transfer bar  110  may transfer such motion to the driven gear  102  through operable engagement of the transfer bar  110  with the driven gear  102 . The driven gear  102  may transfer such motion to the electronic device accessory  104 . Thus, in some implementations of the present disclosure, the accessory pivot  100  may transfer motion from the hinge  108  to the electronic device accessory  104 . 
     In some implementations, the driven gear  102  and/or hinge gear  106  may be spur gears. In further implementations, the transfer bar  110  may also be a spur gear, and, in other implementations, the transfer bar  110  may be a rack gear, and the hinge gear  106  may be or may operate as a pinion gear. In yet further implementations, the hinge gear  106 , the driven gear  102 , and the transfer bar  110  may all be bevel gears with complementary geometries to each other. Complementary geometries may refer to a physical structure (e.g., bevel angle, number of teeth, diameter) of each of the bevel gears that may enable the bevel gears to operate with one another. It should be noted that, although described and illustrated as gears, any of the driven gear  102 , the hinge gear  106 , and/or the transfer bar  110  may be another type of transmission component (e.g., a friction wheel or roller). It is contemplated that other implementations of the accessory pivot may include additional gears, cogs, belts, chains, or other motive components to accomplish the transfer of motion from the hinge  108  to the electronic device accessory  104 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a perspective view of an example electronic device  201  having an example accessory pivot  200  is illustrated. Example accessory pivot  200  may be similar to other example accessory pivots described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example accessory pivot  200  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example accessory pivots, as they are described above. Accessory pivot  200  may be disposed within a housing of electronic device  201 , and, as such, may be represented by dotted box  200  on  FIG. 2A . Further, accessory pivot  200  may be located or disposed in other locations and/or orientations in other implementations. 
     Electronic device  201  may be a computing device and, as such, may be referred to as computing device  201 . Computing device  201  may include a user input portion  214  having a computing device accessory  204 , and may also include a display portion  212  pivotably engaged with the user input portion  214 . Computing device  201  is illustrated as being disposed or oriented in a clamshell or notebook-style orientation, resembling a notebook computer. Computing device accessory  204  may be a rotatable camera, in some implementations, and may be disposed at a first end  224  of the user input portion  214 . Additionally, the user input portion  214  may include user input devices  218 , for example, a keyboard, trackpad, and/or other user input devices to enable a user to interact with the electronic device  201 . The user input portion  214  may further include a housing  216  within which additional components of the computing device  201  may be disposed. The first end  224  of the user input portion may also be referred to as a first end  224  of the housing  226 . The electronic device  201 , or the user input portion  214  or the housing  216  thereof, may further include a hinge  208  pivotably engaged with the first end  224  of the housing  216 , and pivotally engaged with a base portion  226  of the display portion  212  of the computing device  201 . Stated differently, the hinge  208  may be attached to the user input portion  214  at the first end  224 , and may be attached to the display portion  212  at the base portion  226 . The display portion  212  may also include a display housing  220  and a screen  222  mechanically supported by the display housing  220 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , a perspective view of the example computing device  201  is illustrated wherein the computing device has been flipped to show an underside of the user input portion  214 . The computing device  201  is still illustrated as being in a notebook-style orientation. Referring additionally to  FIG. 2C , a detail view of the example accessory pivot  200  of the computing device  201  is illustrated. In implementations wherein the computing device accessory  204  is a rotatable camera, the accessory pivot  200  may be referred to as a camera pivot  200 .  FIG. 2C  illustrates a close-up view of a portion of the first end  224  of the housing  216  of the user input portion  214 . The computing device accessory  204  may be rotatably disposed within the first end  224  of the housing  216 , and is illustrated as being disposed in a stowed position within the housing  216 . Further, the housing  216  may include an accessory window  216   a.  The accessory window  216   a  may provide clearance for the computing device accessory to rotate or pivot out of the housing  216  to a deployed position so as to extend from a side or edge of the computing device  201 . In some implementations, the accessory window  216   a  may also enable the computing device accessory  204  to at least partially function (e.g., record, scan, and/or take pictures) while still disposed within the housing  216 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2D , a detail cutaway view of the example accessory pivot  200  is illustrated. A portion of the housing  216  is shown as cut away in order to clearly illustrate the accessory pivot  200  disposed within the first end of the housing  216 . The accessory pivot  200  may include a driven gear  202  fixed to or engaged with the computing device accessory  204 , a hinge gear  206  engaged with or operably attached to the hinge  208  of the computing device  201 , and a transfer bar  210  to actuate the driven gear  202  and rotate the computing device accessory  204  relative to the housing  216  upon the transfer bar  210  being actuated by the hinge gear  206 . 
     In sonic implementations, the display portion  212  of the computing device  201  may be pivoted or rotated about the hinge  208  relative to the user input portion  214  in order to transition the computing device  201  into a tablet-style use mode. Such a movement of the display portion  212  may cause the hinge  208  to rotate relative to the user input portion  214 , or the first end  216  of the housing  214  thereof, in a direction similar to example direction  203   a  of  FIG. 2D . Such a movement of the display is discussed further below with reference to  FIGS. 3A-3B , with only the motion direction of the hinge  208  illustrated in  FIG. 2D . 
     In some implementations the hinge gear  206  may be fixed or attached to the hinge  208  so as to not be able to rotate relative to the hinge  208 . Thus, movement  203   a  of the hinge  208  about its pivotable attachment to the user input portion  214  may result in similar corresponding movement  203   b  of the hinge gear  206 , or, in other words, may actuate the hinge gear  206 . In some implementations, the hinge gear  206  may be attached to the hinge  208  directly and abut directly against the hinge  208 . In other implementations, the hinge gear  206  may be spaced away from the hinge  208  and connected to the hinge  208  using a drive shaft  206   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 2D . Such a drive shaft  206   a  may have a sufficient rigidity so as to transfer the motion  203   a  of the hinge  208  to the hinge gear  206 . Thus, in the illustrated example, movement  203   b  of the drive shaft may also be representative of movement of the hinge gear  206 . 
     The hinge gear  206  may be operably engaged with the transfer bar  210 . In this context with reference to any of the hinge gear  206 , the transfer bar  210 , and or the driven gear  202 , operably engaged may refer to a state wherein the respective components, or teeth or contact surfaces thereof, are sufficiently mated, meshed, or contacted in order to produce the transfer of motion from one component to another. As such, when operably engaged, the hinge gear  206  may transfer motion  203   b  into corresponding motion  203   c  of the transfer bar  210 . In other words, motion of the hinge  208  relative to the first end of the housing  216  may actuate the hinge gear  206  and cause the hinge gear  206  to actuate the transfer bar  210 . Note, when considering the hinge gear  206  as being stationary relative to hinge  208 , motion  203   c  of the transfer bar  210  effectively results in the transfer bar  210  moving about the hinge gear  206  and around its circumference or periphery. 
     Further, when operably engaged, the transfer bar  210  may transfer motion  203   c  into corresponding motion  203   d  of the driven gear  202 . In other words, the hinge gear  206  may cause the transfer bar  210  to actuate the driven gear  202 . Note, in the illustrated example, motion  203   b  and  203   d  may be opposite rotational directions to motion  203   c.  Motion  203   d  may be transferred by the driven gear  202  to the computing device accessory  204  and result in rotation  203   e  of the computing device accessory  204 . Therefore, operable engagement of the transfer bar  210  with the hinge gear  206  and the driven gear  202  may result in motion being transmitted to the computing device accessory  204  from, ultimately, motion of the hinge  208  relative to the first end of the housing  216 . 
     It should be noted that in other implementations, the hinge gear  206  may have a different movement ratio from the hinge  208 . In other words, the hinge gear  206  may be engaged with the hinge  208  through intermediary gearing or other components so as to move or rotate the hinge gear  206  more or less than the hinge  208  may move relative to the user input portion. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a perspective view of an example computing device  301  having an example accessory pivot  300  is illustrated. Example computing device  301  and accessory pivot  300  may be similar to other example computing devices and accessory pivots described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of computing device  301  and example accessory pivot  300  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example computing devices and accessory pivots, as they are described above. Computing device  301  may include a display portion  312  pivotably attached to a user display portion  314  through hinges  308   a  and  308   b  (referred to collectively as hinges  308 ). In other implementations, the computing device  301  may have a single hinge, or may have more hinges than illustrated. 
     Example computing device  301  is illustrated as being partially transitioned from a notebook-style orientation to a tablet-style orientation. As such, display portion  312  of the computing device  301  has been pivoted or rotated about the hinges  308  relative to the user input portion  314  of the computing device  301 . Such a pivot or rotation is represented by example arrow  305 . Further, such rotation  305  of the display portion  312  may cause the hinges  308  to each rotate relative to the user input portion  314  along example direction  303   a,  similar to the motion  203   a  of hinge  208 , as discussed above. 
     Computing device  301  may also include a computing device accessory  304  and an accessory pivot  300  disposed within the user input portion  314 . The accessory pivot  300  is illustrated as having moved the computing device accessory  304  from a stowed position, and partially towards a deployed position along example direction  303   e.  Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a perspective view of the example computing device  301  is illustrated, wherein the display portion  312  has been fully pivoted along direction  305  about the hinges  308  relative to the user input portion  314  to dispose the computing device  301  in a tablet-style orientation, wherein a screen  322  is facing away from the rest of the computing device  301 . As such, the hinges  308  have further moved relative to the user input portion, causing the accessory pivot to fully move or pivot the computing device accessory  304  along example direction  303   e  to the deployed position. When disposed in the deployed position, the computing device accessory  304  may extend from a side or edge of the computing device  301 , or a housing thereof, such that the computing device accessory  304  can function uninhibited and/or unblocked. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4B , bottom or underside detail views of a computing device  401  having an accessory pivot  400  is illustrated. Example accessory pivot  400  may be similar to other example accessory pivots described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example accessory pivot  400  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example accessory pivots, as they are described above. Example accessory pivot  400  may include a driven gear  402 , a hinge gear  406 , and a transfer bar  410 . In some implementations, transfer bar  410  may include an engagement switch  428  and an axle  430 . The transfer bar  410  may be rotatably disposed on the axle  430 , and the axle  430  may be translatable or otherwise movable relative to the computing device  401 . The engagement switch  428  may move along example direction  409  to transition the transfer bar  410  between an engaged position (illustrated in  FIG. 4A ) and a disengaged position (illustrated in  FIG. 4B ), in other implementations, the engagement switch  428  may move in a different manner in order to transition the transfer bar  410  between the engaged and disengaged positions. The transfer bar  410  may be operably engaged with the driven gear  402  and the hinge gear  406  if disposed in the engaged position. Conversely, the transfer bar  410  may not be operably engaged with the driven gear  402  and the hinge gear  406  if disposed in the disengaged position. Thus, if the computing device  401  is transitioned from a notebook-style orientation to a tablet-style orientation, as described above, and the transfer bar  410  is disposed in the engaged position, then the accessory pivot  400  will rotate a computing device accessory  404  from a stowed position to a deployed position as a display portion of the computing device  401  is rotated around a user input portion. Conversely, if the transfer bar  410  is disposed in the disengaged position, then the accessory pivot  400  will not rotate the computing device accessory  404 , and the accessory will remain disposed in the stowed position within a housing of the computing device  401 . In some implementations, the engagement switch  428  may be disposed, at least partially, on the exterior of the computing device  401  so that a user can selectively move the transfer bar  410  between the engaged and disengaged positions in order to engage or disengage the function of the accessory pivot  400 . 
     Additionally, in some implementations, the driven gear  402  may be operably coaxial with the hinge gear  406 . In further implementations, both the driven gear  402  and the hinge gear  406  may be operably coaxial with the axis of rotation  407  of a first pivot of the hinge  408 , in other implementations, any of the driven gear  402 , the hinge gear  406 , and/or the first pivot of the hinge  408  may have a different axis of rotation from the others, and such a structure may enable the accessory pivot  400  to achieve desired rotation ratios and/or pivoting. function of the computing device accessory  404 .