Patent ID: 7230191

Claim:
A hinge apparatus for connecting a first housing and a second housing of an electronic apparatus so that the first and the second housings are rotatable with respect to each other, the hinge apparatus comprising: a first rotating portion adapted to be connected to the first housing; a second rotating portion adapted to be connected to the second housing and rotatable with respect to the first rotating portion; a switch unrotatably held by the second rotating portion; and a cam member disposed to face the switch, the cam member being rotatable with respect to the second rotating portion and adapted to be engaged with the second housing in a rotating direction of the hinge apparatus; wherein the switch includes a conductive first contact and a conductive second contact faced to the first contact and adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the first contact; wherein the cam member has a cam portion for pressing the second contact following rotation of the cam member to connect and disconnect the second contact to and from the first contact; and wherein the second rotating portion has a receiving portion, and the switch is removably received in the receiving portion.