Patent Description:
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficienlly the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

Portable information handling systems integrate processing components, a display and a power source in a portable housing to support mobile operations. Portable information handling systems allow end users to carry a system between meetings, during travel, and between home and office locations so that an end user has access to processing capabilities while mobile. Tablet configurations typically expose a touchscreen display on a planar housing that both outputs information as visual images and accepts inputs as touches. Convertible configurations typically include multiple separate housing portions that couple to each other so that the system converts between closed and open positions. For example, a main housing portion integrates processing components and a keyboard and rotationally couples with hinges to a lid housing portion that integrates a display. In a clamshell configuration, the lid housing portion rotates approximately ninety degrees to a raised position above the main housing portion so that an end user can type inputs while viewing the display. After usage, convertible information handling systems rotate the lid housing portion over the main housing portion to protect the keyboard and display, thus reducing the system footprint for improved storage and mobility.

Recently, convertible information handling systems have started integrating touchscreen displays over top of both housing portions so that a larger display footprint is available when the housing portions rotate <NUM> degrees to a flat tablet mode. In the clamshell mode, the touchscreen display oriented as a base presents a keyboard for the end user, or, a peripheral keyboard may rest near or over the base to accept keyed inputs. In addition to offering an increased touchscreen display footprint in the tablet mode, the dual display configuration reduces system thickness (i.e., Z height) by eliminating the keyboard, as well as system weight. Reduced system thickness improves system portability.

One difficulty with the dual display configuration is that lower Z height of the housing portions tends to decrease hinge size and the amount of space available for routing communications wires between the housing portions. For example, a graphics processor typically resides in one housing portion to generate pixel values that define visual images at both housing portions. A graphics cable generally is used to transmit pixel values across the hinges to the display. In some low Z height systems, processing components can be disposed across both housing portions with a system link providing communication, such as a PCIe link. In order to provide a robust communication interface, cable routing has to protect against damage that can arise due to rotation of housing portions about a hinge. Portable information handling systems that support <NUM> degrees of rotational movement typically have a dual axis hinge that compounds cable routing difficulties where the cable routes through each axis and is subject to motion about each axis. <CIT> relates to a signal connecting apparatus for a folder type mobile terminal.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which provides a signal path across a dual axle pivot of a portable information handling system.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for transferring signals between rotationally-coupled housing portions. A signal conduit slides onto dual axles of a hinge to rotate with the axles and includes a conductive surface that conducts signals across the axles. Contact fingers extend from each of opposing housing portions that are rotationally coupled by the dual axes hinge to contact the conductive surface for defining a signal pathway between the housing portions that maintains communication during rotation of the housing portions.

More specifically, a portable information handling system processes information with processing components disposed in housing portions rotationally coupled to each other by a dual axes hinge, such as to support <NUM> degrees of rotation. The processing components communicate across the dual axes hinge through a signal communication system that maintains communication through <NUM> degrees of rotation of the housing portions relative to each other. Each housing portion couples plural signal wirelines to a signal contact element with each wireline interface to a contact finger terminating at a conductive tip. The contact fingers insert into openings formed between supports of a signal conduit that integrates a conductive surface for transmitting communication signals. In one example embodiment, the signal conduit supports have a non-conductive surface formed at predetermined rotational orientations so that a function is initiated at the rotational orientations, such as powering down the system, powering up the system, presenting a keyboard, removing a keyboard, powering down a display, establishing or removing tension at a flexible display, and powering down a portion of a display.

The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that a signal path is provided through a dual axis hinge without a cable that can bind during hinge movement. Conductive plates integrated in each of plural double-disc shaped supports communicate signals with contact fingers located at each of the housing portions in the place of a cable passing through the hinge. The double-disc shaped supports conform to parallel axles of a dual axis hinge to readily rotate about the axles as the housing portions move through <NUM> degrees of relative rotation. In some instances, open portions formed in the conductive plates control signal passage based upon rotational orientation of the housing portions, such as to power on or off the system, or to command a keyboard at a display of a housing portion when a clamshell configuration is realized. Reliable and robust signal transfer is achieved across rotationally-coupled housing portions with an inexpensive and readily manufactured structure.

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.

A portable information handling system communicates signals across a dual axis hinge through a signal communication system that interfaces conductive surfaces coupled to hinge axles with contact fingers extending from rotationally coupled housing portions. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.

Referring now to <FIG>, an exploded view depicts a portable information handling system <NUM> having a signal conduit <NUM> integrated with a dual axle <NUM> hinge <NUM> to transfer information between rotationally coupled housing portions <NUM>. In the example embodiment, information handling system <NUM> processes information with processing components disposed across both housing portions <NUM> that communicate through signal conduit <NUM>. For example, in one of the housing portions <NUM> a first motherboard <NUM> interfaces a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM> with a random access memory (RAM) <NUM> and a solid state drive (SSD) <NUM>. CPU <NUM> executes instructions, such as from an operating system and/or application, that are recalled to RAM <NUM> from SSD <NUM>, such as through a boot process that powers up the system. The other housing portion <NUM> integrates a motherboard <NUM> that interfaces a graphics processor unit (GPU) <NUM> and embedded controller (EC) <NUM>. GPU <NUM> processes information provided by CPU <NUM>, such as through cooperation with a chipset, to create pixel values that define visual images at first and second displays <NUM> that couple over top of housing portions <NUM>. Embedded controller <NUM> manages information handling system interactions with input/output devices, such as a keyboard, mouse and/or touchscreen, and also manages power applied to the processing components, such as power provided from an integrated power source like battery <NUM>. The example embodiment shows one example disposition of processing components in housing portions <NUM>, however, a variety of factors may drive different types of dispositions, such as thermal management, power consumption, communication latency between components, Z-height and other factors.

In the example embodiment, housing portions <NUM> rotationally couple to each other by one or more dual axis hinges <NUM>. A bracket <NUM> couples to each housing portion <NUM> relative to an axle <NUM> with hinge <NUM> including a synchronization mechanism, such as gears, so that housing portions <NUM> rotate in a synchronized manner <NUM> degrees relative to each other. Thus, information handling system <NUM> rotates from a closed position having displays <NUM> facing each other to a variety of open positions. At approximately <NUM> degrees of rotation, a clamshell configuration allows one housing portion <NUM> to rest as a base while the other housing portion <NUM> elevates its display <NUM> to a viewing position. In this clamshell configuration, presentation of a keyboard at the display <NUM> of the base housing portion <NUM> allows an end user to type inputs while viewing the other display <NUM>. At <NUM> degrees of rotation, both displays <NUM> rest in a shared plane to provide a tablet mode with an increased display footprint. Complete rotation of <NUM> degrees of the housing portions <NUM> relative to each other puts a display <NUM> on opposing faces of information handling system <NUM>, such as may be convenient for a user to view information while mobile. Dual axis hinge <NUM> supports rotation between these configurations by synchronizing housing motion.

Supporting communication of processing components across a dual axis hinge presents a difficulty since cables that route through hinge <NUM> tend to bind unless adequate spacing is provided but increased spacing tends to increase the Z-height of information handling system <NUM>. In the example embodiment, communication of processing components between housing portions <NUM> is routed through signal conduit <NUM>, which includes two openings <NUM> aligned to fit over the two axles <NUM> of hinge <NUM>. Signal conduit <NUM> integrates plural conductive surfaces that each carry signals across axles <NUM>. Communication signals at each motherboard <NUM> proceeds through wirelines <NUM> to signal contact elements <NUM>, which extend contact fingers <NUM> that interface with conductive surfaces of signal conduit <NUM>. Thus, for example, communication signals proceed from a first wireline <NUM> to a first signal contact element <NUM> contact finger <NUM>, which maintains an electrical interface with conductive surfaces of signal conduit <NUM> at <NUM> degrees of rotational orientation. Signal conduit <NUM> transfers the communications signals across hinge <NUM> axles <NUM> to transfer the signals to a contact finger <NUM> of the signal contact element <NUM> of the opposing housing portion. Contact fingers <NUM> interface with wirelines <NUM> to transfer communication signals received from signal conduit <NUM> to motherboard <NUM> and the processing components that it supports. The example embodiment depicts wirelines <NUM> as a cable that terminates on one end at motherboard <NUM> and at the opposite end at signal contact element <NUM>, however, in alternative embodiments, signal contact elements <NUM> may mount directly to motherboard <NUM> aligned so that contact fingers <NUM> insert into signal conduit <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an exploded view depicts a signal communication system that transfers communication signals across a dual axis hinge. In the example embodiment, signals conduit <NUM> is a stackable and overmolded set of twin-disc-shaped supports formed with two openings <NUM> collinear to hinge pivot axles of a <NUM> degree dual axis hinge. Each of the twin-disc-shaped supports stack in a contiguous body to form signal conduit <NUM> with space defined between each support for insertion of contact fingers <NUM> from opposing signal contact elements <NUM>. In the example embodiment, a full conductive surface <NUM> or a partial conductive surface <NUM> is inserted in each opening to provide a conductive medium that conducts signals between contact fingers <NUM> of the opposing signal contact elements <NUM>. Thus, for instance, each space formed in signal conduit <NUM> provides a single signal transmission pathway from a single contact finger <NUM> of each of opposing signal contact elements <NUM>. Partial conductive surface <NUM> supports signal communication over only a predetermined range of rotational orientations by interceding a non-conductive surface that aligns with a conductive finger <NUM> over a defined rotational orientation range. In contrast, full conductive surface <NUM> maintains electrical signal transmission through a full <NUM> degrees of rotational orientation.

In the example embodiment, conductive surfaces are overmolded into signal conduit <NUM>. In alternative embodiments, conductive surfaces may instead be insert molded or other manufacture techniques may be used as appropriate. Forming signal conduit <NUM> as a single contiguous piece offers efficiency in manufacture, however, in alternative embodiments individual twin-disc-shaped supports may be assembled into a signal conduit <NUM> of desired size. In one example embodiment, signal conduit <NUM> may be integrated with a torque element that applies friction in resistance to rotational movement around the dual axis hinge, which can aid in maintaining electrical contact by biasing supports together and against contact fingers <NUM>. In one alternative example, a conductive surface may integrate on both sides of each support of signal conduit <NUM> so that each contact finger <NUM> carries two electrical signals, with an electrical signal communicated from each of opposing sides. In one example embodiment, differential signal pairs are communicated through opposing sides of a shared contact finger <NUM> and through opposing sides of a space within signal conduit <NUM> to aid in efficient communication. Alternatively, a differential signal pair may communicate through separate contact fingers to a single support of signal conduit <NUM> so that differential signals travel on opposing sides of the same support through conductive surfaces that are separated by a non-conductive material, such as plastic. In various embodiments, various arrangements of signals may be made as desired to improve signal transmission efficiency.

Referring now to <FIG>, a side cutaway perspective view depicts an information handling system <NUM> that communicates signals between housing portions <NUM> through a signal conduit <NUM>. In the example embodiment, information handling system <NUM> has rotated housing portions <NUM> slightly greater than <NUM> degrees to a clamshell configuration. A horizontal orientation of one housing <NUM> acts as a base that holds the other housing portion in a vertical orientation with display <NUM> in a viewing position. Contact fingers <NUM> extending from both housing portions <NUM> interface with a conductive surface of signal conduit <NUM> to define a signal pathway between the housing portions <NUM>. As apparent in the example embodiment, a full conductive surface <NUM> will maintain a signal transmission interface through a full <NUM> degrees of rotation. In the example embodiment, full conductive surface <NUM> is a palladium-nickel (<NUM>-<NUM>) alloy with a hard gold flashed surface wear-resistant surface coating. In the example embodiment, a blown-up view of contact finger <NUM> depicts a spring surface <NUM> that biases towards a physical interface with conductive surface <NUM> by flexing spring surface <NUM> in response to a compression force that is perpendicular or normal to the conductive surface of the support in signal conduit <NUM>. In an example embodiment in which contact finger <NUM> communicates two signals to opposing conductive surfaces, a spring surface <NUM> is exposed on opposing sides of contact finger <NUM> with a separate wireline interface to each spring surface <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a side cutaway perspective view depicts an information handling system <NUM> that communicates signals between housing portions <NUM> at predetermined rotational orientations through a signal conduit <NUM> having a partial conductive surface <NUM>. In the example embodiment, a transition is depicted of the information handling system <NUM> from a closed position to an open position where contact of a contact finger <NUM> relative to a partial conductive surface <NUM> determines application of power to information handling system <NUM>. As depicted, in the closed position contact finger <NUM> aligns with a non-conductive portion <NUM> of signal conduit <NUM> so that a communication signal, such as power, is not transmitted between housing portions <NUM>. Once the housing portions transition to an open position, contact finger <NUM> establishes signal communication with conductive surface <NUM>, which indicates to information handling system <NUM> that a rotational orientation has been achieved at which power is to be applied to the processing components. In the example embodiment, alignment of contact finger <NUM> with a conductive surface triggers a signal transmission to indicate a function, such as by applying "high" at an embedded controller GPIO. In an alternative embodiment, alignment of contact fingers <NUM> with a non-conductive surface may trigger a function, such as by setting a GPIO "low.

In various embodiments, a variety of functions may be associated with defined rotational orientation ranges by alignment of one or more contact fingers <NUM> with conductive and/or non-conductive surfaces. For instance, in one example, alignment of a conductive or non-conductive surface may initiate a cutoff and/or re-connect of a battery with a power supply, such as to preserve battery life in an off mode. In another alternative embodiment, detection of a clamshell orientation may automatically apply a keyboard presentation at a display of one housing portion and remove a keyboard when a tablet mode is indicated. In yet another alternative embodiment, a display at one housing portion may be shutoff to preserve power, such as when only one display can be viewed at a time at <NUM> degrees of rotation. In another example embodiment, a flexible display, such as a plastic organic light emitting diode (POLED) display, may have tension automatically released at predetermined rotational orientations, such as in a closed position.

Referring now to <FIG>, an upper perspective view depicts a signal communication system integrated in an information handling system <NUM> in a closed configuration. In the example embodiment, signal contact element <NUM> couples to motherboard <NUM> to accept signals from wirelines embedded in motherboard <NUM> and transmit the signals through signal conduit <NUM>. Axles <NUM> of a dual axis hinge pass through openings <NUM> of signal conduit <NUM>. In the example embodiment, signal conduit <NUM> is located at a central location of information handling system <NUM>. In alternative embodiments, one or plural signal conduits <NUM> may be disposed along axles <NUM> at locations selected based upon processing component disposition or other design factors.

Claim 1:
A signal communication system comprising:
first and second signal contact elements (<NUM>), each signal contact element (<NUM>) having plural contact fingers (<NUM>), each of the plural contact fingers (<NUM>) configured to interface with one or more communication wirelines (<NUM>); and
a signal conduit (<NUM>) having plural supports, each support having first and second openings (<NUM>) formed to align with first and second axles (<NUM>) of a dual axle hinge, each support further having at least one conductive surface (<NUM>, <NUM>);
wherein:
each of the plural contact fingers (<NUM>) of the first signal contact element (<NUM>) interfaces with a different one of the plural support conductive surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>);
each of the plural contact fingers (<NUM>) of the second signal contact element (<NUM>) interfaces with a different one of the plural support conductive surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
signals communicate from the first signal contact element communication wirelines (<NUM>) to the second signal contact element communication wirelines (<NUM>) through associated of the contact fingers (<NUM>) and conductive surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>).