Patent Description:
Computing devices, such as personal computers, laptops, tablets, mobile computing devices, and the like, may include portions connected by hinges to allow the portions to rotate relative to each other. For example, computing devices may include a base and a display housing connected by a hinge. In some examples, the base may include a keyboard and trackpad, while the display housing houses a screen or a display. In other examples, both the base and the display housing may house screens or displays. Such computing device may be unfolded to a flat configuration to provide a larger, combined display area. The hinges of such computing devices may cause the base and the display housing to be separated by a distance, thereby interrupting the combined display area.

Some computing devices may therefore be rotated to form a flat configuration, and then, while in the flat configuration, brought together so that the hinge is retracted to bring the two portions adjacent each other. Other computing devices may employ a hinge in between the portions of the device, around which the portions rotate. The hinge protrudes from the device in the flat configuration to allow the portions to be adjacent each other, thereby still interrupting a portion of the combined display area.

The invention is defined in the independent claim and various embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. In the embodiment covered by the claims, a computing device includes a display housing and a base rotatably coupled by a hinge and rotatable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In response to the display housing rotating to the open configuration, the hinge is retracted into a first recess of the display housing and a second recess of the base. The hinge includes a central bar, a first link coupled to the central bar to rotate the display housing about a first pivot point, and a second link coupled to the central bar to rotate the base about a second pivot point. In response to the display rotating, respective sliding ends of the first and second links slide into the respective recesses of the display housing and the base. The computing device is thus able to rotate around a virtual pivot point external to the hinge to allow the base and the display housing to be flush against one another when in flat in the open configuration.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of an example computing device <NUM> including an example retractable hinge <NUM>. The computing device <NUM> includes a display housing <NUM> and a base <NUM> coupled by the hinge <NUM>. The hinge <NUM> allows the computing device <NUM> to be rotated from a closed configuration, in which the display housing <NUM> is closed against the base <NUM>, to an open configuration, in which the display housing <NUM> is opened apart from the base <NUM>. In other words, the hinge <NUM> rotates the display housing <NUM> from the closed configuration against the base <NUM> to the open configuration apart from the base <NUM>.

The hinge <NUM> has a central bar <NUM> including a first pivot point <NUM>-<NUM> and a second pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>. The hinge <NUM> is coupled to the display housing <NUM> such that the display housing <NUM> rotates relative to the central bar <NUM> about the first pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>. The hinge <NUM> is coupled to the base <NUM> such that the base <NUM> rotates relative to the central bar <NUM> about the second pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>. The hinge <NUM> includes a first link <NUM>-<NUM> coupled to the central bar <NUM> at the first pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>. The first link <NUM>-<NUM> is to couple the hinge <NUM> to the display housing <NUM> and is rotatable about the first pivot point <NUM>-<NUM> to allow the display housing <NUM> to rotate relative to the central bar <NUM> about the first pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>. The hinge <NUM> further includes a second link <NUM>-<NUM> coupled to the central bar <NUM> at the second pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>. The second link <NUM>-<NUM> is to couple the hinge <NUM> to the base <NUM> and is rotatable about the second pivot point <NUM>-<NUM> to allow the base <NUM> to rotate relative to the central bar <NUM> about the second pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>.

When the display housing <NUM> is rotated about the first pivot point <NUM>-<NUM> and the base <NUM> is about the second pivot point <NUM>-<NUM>, the hinge <NUM> rotates the display housing <NUM> relative to the base <NUM> about a main pivot point <NUM>. The main pivot point <NUM> is external to the hinge <NUM> and has a fixed spatial position. In other words, the main pivot point <NUM> is a virtual pivot point about which the computing device <NUM> rotates. In particular, the main pivot point <NUM> may be at adjacent corners of the base <NUM> and the display housing <NUM>, as depicted in <FIG>.

In particular, to enable rotation about the main pivot point <NUM>, the first link <NUM>-<NUM> has a first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> which retracts into a first recess <NUM>-<NUM> of the display housing <NUM> in response to the display housing <NUM> rotating to the open configuration. Similarly, the second link <NUM>-<NUM> has a second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> which retracts into a second recess <NUM>-<NUM> of the display housing <NUM> in response to the display housing <NUM> rotating to the open configuration. In other words, the first link <NUM>-<NUM> slides along the display housing <NUM> into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and the second link <NUM>-<NUM> slides along the base <NUM> into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM> when the display housing <NUM> is rotated relative to the base <NUM> to maintain the fixed spatial position of the main pivot point <NUM>.

For example, the hinge <NUM> may thus rotate the computing device <NUM> from a folded configuration (i.e., from the closed configuration, or an open configuration wherein there is an angle of less than <NUM>" between the base <NUM> and the display housing <NUM>) to a flat configuration (i.e., wherein there is an angle of <NUM>° between the base <NUM> and the display housing <NUM>). In response to the computing device <NUM> rotating to the flat configuration, the hinge <NUM> is retracted into the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> to enable the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> to be flush against one another.

<FIG> depicts a cross sectional view of the hinge <NUM> when the computing device <NUM> is in the closed configuration. In particular, <FIG> depicts the central bar <NUM>, the first and second links <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, in greater detail.

The central bar <NUM> is shaped to be received in the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. In particular, a first portion of the central bar <NUM> is to be received in the first recess <NUM>-<NUM>, and a second portion is to be received in the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. Thus, a width W of the central bar <NUM> may be smaller than a height H of the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> to allow the central bar <NUM> to be received therein. Further, the central bar <NUM> may have a curved exterior surface to facilitate being received in the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> as the computing device <NUM> is rotated to the open configuration.

The first and second links <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are rotatably coupled to the central bar <NUM> and, respectively, to the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM>. In some examples, the first link <NUM>-<NUM> and the second link <NUM>-<NUM> may be <NUM>-degree hinges. That is, the first and second links <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may have two connection points about which the connected components are to rotate, to allow for <NUM>-degree rotation of the connected components. In particular, first and second links <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are connected at a first of the two connection points at, respectively, the first and second pivot points <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> of the central bar <NUM>. The first and second links <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> may also be connected at a second of the two connection points in the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In particular, the second of the two connection points may act as the respective sliding ends <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> of the first and second links <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

In some examples, the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> may include a first track <NUM>-<NUM> to guide the first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM>. Similarly, the second recess <NUM>-<NUM> may include a second track <NUM>-<NUM> to guide the second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. The first link <NUM>-<NUM>, and in particular, the first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM>, may be received in the first track <NUM>-<NUM> to position the first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> within the first recess <NUM>-<NUM>. The second link <NUM>-<NUM>, and in particular the second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM>, may be received in the second track <NUM>-<NUM> to position the second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> within the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, the first and second tracks <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> may reduce lateral movement of the first and second sliding ends <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> as they are retracted into the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. In other examples, the first track <NUM>-<NUM> and the second track <NUM>-<NUM> may have a curved shape, a zig-zag shape, or other suitable shapes to guide the first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> within the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

The computing device <NUM> includes a cover <NUM> extending between the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> around an exterior of the hinge <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is to protect the central bar <NUM>, the first link <NUM>-<NUM>, and the second link <NUM>-<NUM>. The cover <NUM> includes a central portion <NUM> disposed around the central bar <NUM>, the first link <NUM>-<NUM>, and the second link <NUM>-<NUM>. The cover <NUM> also includes a first extension <NUM>-<NUM> extending into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and a second extension <NUM>-<NUM> extending into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. In response to the display housing <NUM> rotating to the open configuration, the first extension <NUM>-<NUM> retracts into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and the second extension <NUM>-<NUM> retracts into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. Accordingly, the cover <NUM> may be formed of a durable, flexible material to provide protection to the hinge <NUM>, while allowing the cover <NUM> to conform to the shape of the hinge <NUM> and the shapes of the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> in the open and closed configurations, respectively.

Additionally, the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> includes a first cover track <NUM>-<NUM> to guide the first extension <NUM>-<NUM> in the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and the second recess <NUM>-<NUM> includes a second cover track <NUM>-<NUM> to guide the second extension <NUM>-<NUM> in the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. In some examples, the computing device <NUM> may include two singly formed recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> including (i) the first and second tracks <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> to guide the first and second links <NUM>- <NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and (ii) the first and second cover tracks <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> to guide the first and second extensions <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. In other examples, the computing device <NUM> may include separate recesses for the first and second tracks <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and the first and second cover tracks <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. That is, in some examples, the first and second cover tracks <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> may be formed separate recesses from the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

In operation, in response to the computing device <NUM> rotating to an open configuration, the first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> slides in a direction <NUM> along the first track <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> slides in a direction <NUM> along the second track <NUM>-<NUM>. Similarly, in response to the computing device <NUM> rotating to the open configuration, the first extension <NUM>-<NUM> slides along the first cover track <NUM>-<NUM> and the second extension <NUM>-<NUM> slides along the second cover track <NUM>-<NUM>.

For example, as depicted in <FIG>, the first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> is partially retracted into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM>, as guided by the first track <NUM>-<NUM>. The second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> is partially retracted into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>, as guided by the second track <NUM>-<NUM>. Additionally, a first portion <NUM>-<NUM> of central bar <NUM> is partially received in the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and a second portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the central bar <NUM> is partially received in the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>.

The rotation of the display housing <NUM> about the first pivot point <NUM>- <NUM> and the rotation of the base <NUM> about the second pivot point <NUM>-<NUM> in combination with the retraction of the hinge <NUM> into the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> thus allows the computing device <NUM> to be rotated about the virtual main pivot point <NUM>, while maintaining the main pivot point <NUM> in a fixed spatial position. For example, the hinge <NUM> may thus rotate the computing device <NUM> about the main pivot point <NUM> at adjacent corners of the base <NUM> and the display housing <NUM>.

Further, as the computing device <NUM> is rotated to the open configuration, the first extension <NUM>-<NUM> retracts into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM>, as guided by the first cover track <NUM>-<NUM> and the second extension <NUM>-<NUM> retracts into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>, as guided by the second cover track <NUM>-<NUM>. The central portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> may also begin to flatten out as the portions adjacent the first and second extensions <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are received into the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the computing device <NUM> is depicted in a flat configuration. In response to the computing device <NUM> rotating to the flat configuration, the hinge <NUM> is retracted into the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> to enable the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> to be flush against one another in the flat configuration. In particular, the hinge <NUM> may continue to rotate the computing device <NUM> about the main pivot point <NUM> at the adjacent corners of the base <NUM> and the display housing <NUM> until the ends of the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> are flush against one another.

Accordingly, the first sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> is fully retracted into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sliding end <NUM>-<NUM> is fully retracted into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. Additionally, the first portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the central bar <NUM> is received in the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and the second portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the central bar <NUM> is received in the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. Further, in response to the computing device <NUM> rotating to the flat configuration, the first extension <NUM>-<NUM> retracts into the first recess <NUM>-<NUM> and the second extension <NUM>-<NUM> retracts into the second recess <NUM>-<NUM>. The central portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> may also flatten out as it is received into the first and second recesses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. The hinge <NUM> and the cover <NUM> are thus fully retracted into the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an example computing device <NUM> including a retractable hinge <NUM> is depicted. The computing device <NUM> includes a display housing <NUM> and a base <NUM>. The hinge <NUM> is to rotate the computing device <NUM> from a folded configuration to a flat configuration. In response to the computing device <NUM> rotating to the flat configuration, the hinge <NUM> is retracted into the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> to enable the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> to be flush against one another in the flat configuration.

In particular, the hinge <NUM> is to rotate the computing device <NUM> about a pivot point <NUM> at adjacent corners of the base <NUM> and the display housing <NUM>. The hinge <NUM> retracts into the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> to maintain a fixed spatial position of the pivot point <NUM>. Accordingly, the computing device <NUM> may further include a flexible display <NUM> supported on and extending over the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM>. Since the computing device <NUM> rotates about the spatially fixed pivot point <NUM>, the flexible display <NUM> may extend across both the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> without damaging the flexible display <NUM> when the computing device <NUM> is rotated between the flat configuration and folded configurations. Additionally, maintaining the spatial position of the pivot point <NUM> allows the flexible display <NUM> to be supported in the same position on the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM> without moving or sliding when the computing device <NUM> is rotated to different configurations. The computing device <NUM> thus reduces the mechanical complexity of having the flexible display <NUM> extending over the display housing <NUM> and the base <NUM>.

As described above, an example computing device includes a display housing and a base are coupled by a hinge to rotate the computing device from an open configuration to a closed configuration. The display housing and the base include recesses to allow the hinge to be retracted therein. In particular, links coupling a central bar of the hinge to the display housing and the base slide along the display housing and the base into the recesses. The computing device may thus maintain its pivot point to allow the display housing and the base to be flush against one another when in a flat configuration. The computing device with the retractable hinge allows the base and the display housing to be adjacent in response to rotation of the computing device. A combined display area of the base and the display housing may therefore be provided with a smaller space therebetween. The computing device with the retractable hinge may further allow a flexible display to extend across the display housing and the base by maintaining the pivot point at a fixed spatial position.

Claim 1:
A computing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a display housing (<NUM>) including a first recess (<NUM>-<NUM>) and a base (<NUM>) including a second recess (<NUM>-<NUM>); and
a hinge (<NUM>) to rotate the display housing (<NUM>) from a closed configuration to an open configuration, the hinge (<NUM>) comprising:
a central bar (<NUM>);
a first link (<NUM>-<NUM>) coupled to the central bar (<NUM>) at a first pivot point (<NUM>-<NUM>), the first link (<NUM>-<NUM>) rotatable about the first pivot point (<NUM>-<NUM>); and
a second link (<NUM>-<NUM>) coupled to the central bar (<NUM>) at a second pivot point (<NUM>-<NUM>), the second link (<NUM>-<NUM>) rotatable about the second pivot point (<NUM>-<NUM>); and
wherein in response to the display housing (<NUM>) rotating to the open configuration, a first sliding end (<NUM>-<NUM>) of the first link (<NUM>-<NUM>) is to retract into the first recess (<NUM>-<NUM>) and a second sliding end (<NUM>-<NUM>) of the second link (<NUM>-<NUM>) is to retract into the second recess (<NUM>-<NUM>),
the computing device (<NUM>) characterized by comprising a cover (<NUM>) extending between the display housing (<NUM>) and the base (<NUM>) around an exterior of the hinge (<NUM>),
wherein the cover (<NUM>) comprises:
a central portion disposed around the central bar (<NUM>), the first link (<NUM>-<NUM>), and the second link (<NUM>-<NUM>);
a first extension (<NUM>-<NUM>) extending into the first recess (<NUM>-<NUM>); and
a second extension (<NUM>-<NUM>) extending into the second recess (<NUM>-<NUM>); and wherein in response to the display housing (<NUM>) rotating to the open configuration, the first extension (<NUM>-<NUM>) is to retract into the first recess (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the second extension (<NUM>-<NUM>) is to retract into the second recess (<NUM>-<NUM>),
wherein the first recess (<NUM>-<NUM>) comprises a first cover track (<NUM>-<NUM>) to guide the first extension (<NUM>-<NUM>) in the first recess (<NUM>-<NUM>);
and wherein the second recess (<NUM>-<NUM>) comprises a second cover track (<NUM>-<NUM>) to guide the second extension (<NUM>-<NUM>) in the second recess (<NUM>-<NUM>).