Patent ID: 7933477

Claim:
An optical transmission hinge apparatus comprising: a first casing including a first optical device; a second casing including a second optical device; a first hinge portion for pivotally interconnecting said first casing and said second casing about a first axis, said first hinge portion including a leg portion fixed to said first casing and a first pivot plate supported to said leg portion to be pivotable about a first axis; a second hinge portion for interconnecting said first casing and said second casing to be pivotable about a second axis which extends normal to said first axis, said second hinge portion including a second pivot plate fixed to said first pivot plate and said second casing, said second hinge portion supporting said first pivot plate to be pivotable about said second axis; and an optical guide path member for interconnecting said first optical device and said second optical device to enable optical transmission therebetween, wherein said optical guide path member includes a bent portion, a straight first portion formed on one side of said bent portion and a second straight portion formed on the other side of said bent portion, wherein said first pivot plate includes a first attaching portion configured to allow insertion and holding therein of said first portion along said first axis and a second attaching portion configured to allow insertion and holding therein of said second portion along said second axis; wherein a first terminal end of said optical guide path member on a side of said first portion is placed in opposition to said first optical device to be rotatable relative thereto and a second terminal end of said optical guide path member on a side of said second portion is placed in opposition to said second optical device to be rotatable relative thereto; and wherein said optical guide path member and at least one of said first attaching portion and second attaching portion together define a gap therebetween acting as a cable layout path extending along either said first axis or said second axis, separately from a clearance needed for insertion of said optical guide path member.