Locking hinge arrangement for electronic device

Abstract

Device with: a hinge arrangement (200) that can be attached to a first sub-area (160, 260) of a housing of an electronic device (110); a rotary motion control arrangement (300) for controlling the rotary motion of the hinge arrangement (200); and a control unit (176) for activating the rotary motion control arrangement in response to a detection of a force state at a second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110), where: the rotary motion control arrangement (300) comprises a piezoelectric disk (316) mounted on a shaft (310) of the hinge arrangement (200) close to a brake (314) attached to the shaft (310); and the control unit (176) is to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric disc (316) in response to the detection of a state at a second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110), the voltage being intended to cause a part of the piezoelectric disc (316) to extend against the brake (314) in order to control the rotational movement of the hinge arrangement (200).

Description

STATE OF THE ART

[0001] The subject area discussed here generally concerns the sub-area of ​​electronic devices and, in particular, a locking hinge arrangement for one or more electronic devices.

[0002] Some electronic devices use a "folding" case. For example, many laptop computers and mobile electronic devices use a folding case in which a keyboard is located on one section and a display is located on a second section, which is connected to the first section by a hinge. Alternatively, a "folding device" can consist of display units: a display on a first section, which can also be used as a touch keyboard, and a display on a second section, which is connected to the first section by a hinge.

[0003] The use of touch-sensitive displays is becoming increasingly common in mobile devices. In some cases, actions performed on the touchscreen can cause the display to rotate due to the force exerted on the screen during these actions. Accordingly, devices for locking or at least inhibiting the rotation of a display on a hinged housing can be used.

[0004] US 7,140,071 B2 describes an electrically driven hinge device in which a preload device maintains a concave-convex engagement state between a third rotating part and a second engagement section in a second rotating part, causing the second rotating part to rotate to follow the third rotating part. Additionally, the preload device maintains a concave-convex holding state between a first engagement section in the second rotating part and a first rotating part, causing the first rotating part to rotate to follow the second rotating part. As the first rotating part rotates, a cover part also rotates. During manual rotation of the cover part, a motor is kept off, and the second rotating part is held in a stop position by a locking device.Therefore, the engagement state at the first concave-convex engagement part is released by manually rotating the cover part, so that the cover part can be freely rotated by hand.

[0005] US 2009 / 0273899A1 describes a computer device comprising a first computer part that is pivotally connected to a second computer part by a hinge. The computer device further comprises an element that is movable between a first position in which the hinge is freely rotatable and a second position in which the hinge is substantially constrained from rotation. A locking mechanism selectively controls the movement of the element between the first and second positions.

[0006] US 2007 / 0054709A1 describes a foldable multimode electronic device. The foldable multimode electronic device comprises a first case, a second case, a first hinge, a second hinge, and a system. The first hinge and the second hinge serve to connect the first case and the second case. A first magnet and a second magnet are arranged in the first case, and their magnetic state changes when the first and second magnets are moved. A first magnetic sensor, arranged in the second case, serves to detect the changes in the magnetic state of the first magnet, thereby generating a first signal. A second magnetic sensor, arranged in the second case, serves to detect the

[0007] Changes in the magnetic state of the second magnet generate a second signal. The system controls the device in one of several modes in response to receiving the first and second signals. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for locking or inhibiting the rotational movement of a part of the housing of an electronic device. This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The detailed description is presented with reference to the attached figures. Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an example of an electronic device that can be modified to include a locking hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective image of a hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. The Fig. 3A and Fig. 3C are schematic top views and the Fig. 3B and Fig. 3D schematic cross-sectional views of a locking hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. The Fig. 3E and Fig. 3G are schematic top views and the Fig. 3F and Fig. Figure 3H are schematic cross-sectional views of a locking hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. The Fig. Figures 4A-4D are schematic representations of a locking hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. The Fig. Figures 5A-5C are schematic representations of a locking hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. Fig. Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operations of a control unit in a method for operating a locking hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic representation of an example of an electronic device which can be modified to include a locking hinge arrangement according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Examples of systems and methods for locking or at least inhibiting the rotational movement of a display device on a hinged housing are described below. Numerous specific details are presented in the following description to contribute to a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the various embodiments can be implemented without these specific details. In other examples, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been shown or described in detail so as not to obscure the specific embodiments.

[0011] Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an example of an electronic device 110, which can be adapted to include systems and methods for blocking or at least inhibiting the rotational movement of a display device on a hinged housing, which, according to some embodiments, has a first sub-section 160 and a second sub-section 162. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the electronic device 110 can be a conventional mobile device, such as a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a portable tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The specific device configuration is not crucial.

[0012] In various embodiments, the electronic device 110 may include or be coupled to one or more associated input / output devices, including a display device, one or more loudspeakers, a keyboard, one or more other I / O devices, a mouse, a camera, or the like. Other examples of I / O devices may include a touchscreen, a voice-activated input device, a trackball, a positioning device, an accelerometer / gyroscope, biometric input devices, and any other device that enables the electronic device 110 to receive input from a user.

[0013] The electronic device 110 comprises system hardware 120 and memory 140, which can be configured as random access memory and / or read-only memory. A file storage device can be communicatively linked to the computer device 110. The file storage device can be located internally within the computer device 110, such as an eMMC, an SSD, one or more hard drives, or other types of storage devices. The file storage device 180 can also be located externally within the computer device 110, such as one or more external hard drives, network-attached storage, or a separate storage network.

[0014] The system hardware 120 can include one or more processors 122, graphics processors 124, network interfaces 126, and bus structures 128. In one embodiment, the processor 122 can be an Intel® Atom processor, an Intel® Atom™-based system-on-a-chip (SoC), an Intel® Core™ Duo®, or an i3 / i5 / i7 series processor available from Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, California, USA. The term "processor" here refers to, but is not limited to, any type of computing element, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a complex instruction set (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, or any other type of processor or processing circuit.

[0015] The graphics processor(s) 124 can operate as an additional processor that manages the graphics and / or video operations. The graphics processor(s) 124 can be integrated on the mainboard of the electronic device 110, connected via an expansion slot on the mainboard, or located on the same semiconductor chip or assembly as the processing unit.

[0016] In one embodiment, the network interface 126 could be a wired interface, such as an Ethernet interface (see, for example, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers / IEEE 802.3-2002), or a wireless interface, such as one compliant with IEEE 802.11a, b, or g (see, for example, the IEEE standard for IT telecommunications and information exchange between systems LAN / MAN—Part II: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications Amendment 4: Further Higher Data Rate Extension in the 2.4 GHz Band, 802.11G-2003). Another example of a wireless interface would be a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) interface (see, for example, Guidelines on GPRS Handset Requirements, Global System for Mobile Communications / GSM Association, Version 3.0.1, December 2002).

[0017] Bus structures 128 connect various components of the system hardware 128. In one embodiment, the bus structures 128 can be one or more types of bus structures, including a memory bus, a peripheral bus or external bus, and / or a local bus, using any selection of available bus architectures, including but not limited to 11-bit bus, Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA (EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) bus, Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), a High Speed ​​Synchronous Serial Interface (HSI), a Serial Low-power Interchip Media Bus (SLIMbus®), or the like.

[0018] The electronic device 110 can include an RF transceiver 130 for transmitting and receiving RF signals, a near-field communication (NFC) radio 134, and a signal processing module 132 for processing signals received by the RF transceiver 130. The RF transceiver can establish a local wireless connection using a protocol such as Bluetooth or 802.11X, an interface compliant with IEEE 802.11a, b, or g (see, for example, the IEEE standard for IT telecommunications and information exchange between systems LAN / MAN--Part II: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications Amendment 4: Further Higher Data Rate Extension in the 2.4 GHz Band, 802.11G-2003). Another example of a wireless interface would be WCDMA, LTE, or a general packet-oriented radio service (GPRS) interface (see e.g.Guidelines on GPRS Handset Requirements, Global System for Mobile Communications / GSM Association, Version 3.0.1, December 2002).

[0019] The electronic device 110 may further have one or more input / output interfaces, such as a keypad 136 and a display device 138. In some embodiments, the electronic device 110 need not have a keypad, and the screen keypad can be used for input.

[0020] The memory 140 can contain an operating system 142 to manage the operations of the computer device 110. In one embodiment, the operating system 142 includes a hardware interface module 154 that provides an interface to the system hardware 120. The operating system 140 can also include a file system 150 that manages the files used during the operation of the computer device 110, and a process control subsystem 152 that manages the processes running on the computer device 110.

[0021] The operating system 142 can contain (or manage) one or more communication interfaces 146 that can work in conjunction with the system hardware 120 to send and receive data packets and / or data streams to and from a remote source. The operating system 142 can also include a system call interface module 144 that provides an interface between the operating system 142 and one or more application modules located in memory 130. The operating system 142 can be a UNIX operating system or any derivative thereof (e.g., Linux, Android, etc.), or a current Windows® operating system, or another operating system.

[0022] In some embodiments, an electronic device may include a handling machine 170, which may comprise one or more control units that are separate from the primary execution environment. The separation may be physical in the sense that the handling machine may be implemented in control units that are physically separate from the main processors. Alternatively, the trusted execution environment may be logical in the sense that the handling machine may be located on the same chip or chipset that houses the main processors.

[0023] In some embodiments, the handling machine 170 can, for example, be configured as an independent integrated circuit located on the mainboard of the electronic device 110, such as an associated processor block on the same SOC semiconductor wafer. In other embodiments, the trusted execution machine can be implemented using hardware-enforced mechanisms on a sub-area of ​​the processor(s) 122 that is separate from the rest of the processor(s).

[0024] In the embodiment described in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the handling machine 170 comprises a processor 172, a memory module 174, a control module 176, and an I / O interface 178. In some embodiments, the memory module 174 may include a permanent flash memory module, and the various function modules may be executed as logic instructions encoded in the permanent memory module, e.g., firmware or software. The I / O module 178 may be a serial I / O module or a parallel I / O module. Since the handling machine 170 is separate from the main processor(s) 122 and the operating system 142, the handling machine 170 can be operated securely, i.e., inaccessible to hackers who typically launch software attacks from the host processor 122.

[0025] In some embodiments, the electronic device 100 may have a locking arrangement that blocks or at least inhibits the rotational movement of a display device on a hinged housing of the electronic device 100. In some embodiments, the locking arrangement consists of a locking hinge assembly. In short, a locking hinge assembly comprises a hinge assembly that can be attached to a first sub-area of ​​a housing of an electronic device 110, a rotation control arrangement for controlling the rotational movement of the hinge assembly, and a control device for activating the rotation control arrangement in response to the detection of a condition, wherein it is desirable that the second sub-area of ​​the housing of an electronic device be locked relative to the first sub-area of ​​the housing of the electronic device.In some embodiments, the condition consists of detecting the user's proximity to the second part of the housing. In some embodiments, the condition consists of detecting a touch signal on the second part of the housing. In some embodiments, the control unit can be, for example, by means of a [missing information]. Fig. The control module 176 shown in Figure 1 can be implemented as follows. Thus, in some embodiments, the control unit can be implemented as software that resides in the memory 140 of the device, or that acts on the processor(s) 122 of the device 110, or that resides in the memory 174 of the device and acts on the processor(s) 172 of the handling machine 170. In alternative embodiments, the control unit can be reduced to firmware or hard-wired logic in associated circuits. The specific implementation of the logic is not crucial.

[0026] With reference to Fig. 2 and the Fig. Sections 3A-5C describe embodiments of a locking hinge arrangement. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of an example of a hinge arrangement 200, which, according to some embodiments, can be used in a hinged housing of an electronic device. With reference to Fig. 2 comprises a hinge arrangement 200, in some embodiments at least one hinge pin arrangement 210, which can be attached to a first partial area 260 of a housing of the electronic device 100. In the embodiment described in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the hinge pin arrangement 210 comprises a pin 212 which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position and connectable to a first sub-section 260 of the housing and a second sub-section 262 of the housing. In some embodiments, the first sub-section 260 may correspond to the base of an electronic device, while the second sub-section 262 may correspond to the display of an electronic device.

[0027] The hinge pin assembly 210 can be mounted on the first section 260 of the housing by means of a base plate 240. The base plate 240 can be made of a suitable metal or polymer material and can be attached to the first section 160 of the housing using an adhesive or suitable fasteners, e.g., threaded studs, rivets, or the like. The specific technique for attaching the base plate 240 to the first section 160 of the housing is not critical.

[0028] The hinge pin assembly 210 can be designed as a multi-part component and includes a bearing section 214 for supporting the pin 212. The pin 212 can rotate about its longitudinal axis within the bearing section 214. A brake section 216 serves to limit the free angular rotation of the pin within the bearing section 214, but allows the pin to rotate further by overcoming a frictional force to adjust the relative position of the housing sections. The bearing section 214 extends on both sides of the brake section 216.

[0029] The bearing section 214 and the braking section 216 define a shaft into which the bolt 212 is inserted.

[0030] Following the description of details of the construction of the hinge assembly 200, the description now proceeds to embodiments of the rotary motion control assembly and its operation in conjunction with the control unit. In some embodiments, the rotary motion control assembly can be attached to parts of the hinge assembly 200 or integrated with them in some other way. In various embodiments, the rotary motion control assemblies can serve to block or at least inhibit the rotary motion of a display device on a hinged housing, according to some embodiments.

[0031] With reference to the Fig. Section 3A-3D describes a first embodiment of a rotary motion control arrangement 300. First on Fig. Referring to 3A, a rotary motion control arrangement 300 can comprise a brake 314 and a piezoelectric disc 316 mounted on a hinge pin 310. The brake 314 can be positioned close to a first collar 312A, and the piezoelectric disc 316 can be positioned adjacent to the brake 314. The piezoelectric disc 316 can be connected to a power source, the output of which can be controlled by one or more control modules 176 operating on the electronic device. A mounting bracket 318 can be positioned close to a second collar 312B. The mounting bracket 318 can be used to attach the hinge arrangement to a base part of an electronic device, as described above.

[0032] With reference to the Fig. 3A-3D and Fig. Section 6 describes the operation of the rotary motion control arrangement 300. Fig. Figure 3A shows the assembly of the rotary motion control arrangement 300 in a non-actuated state, in which the brake 314 is displaced from the collar 312A, thus allowing free movement of the hinge arrangement. With reference to Fig. 6. During operation (operation 610), the control unit 176 detects a state near the sub-area 162 of the electronic device 110. The term "force state," as used here, should be interpreted as including states in which a force is exerted on the second sub-area 162 of the electronic device, for example, by a user pressing on a touchscreen of the second sub-area 162 of the electronic device 110. In such an embodiment, the control module 176 can detect an input to the touchscreen. However, in alternative embodiments, various input / output devices can be used to detect or predict a force exerted on the second sub-area 162 of the electronic device 110.For example, in some embodiments, a strain gauge or other force measuring device can be integrated into the electronic device to detect the application of forces to the second sub-area 162. In alternative embodiments, the touchscreen sensor can be used to detect an object approaching the second sub-area 162 of the electronic device 110. In alternative embodiments, a camera or other input device can detect an object approaching the second sub-area 162 of the electronic device 110 and generate a signal in response, which can then be forwarded to the control module 176.Thus, the term “force state” as used here should be interpreted as encompassing states in which a real force is exerted on the second sub-area 162 of the electronic device 110, or states that anticipate a force to be exerted on the second sub-area 162 of the electronic device 110.

[0033] In response to the detection of a force state, the control unit applies a voltage in operating procedure 615 to actuate the rotary motion control arrangement. In the embodiment described in the Fig. As shown in Figures 3A to 3D, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric disk 316. Applying the voltage to the piezoelectric disk 316 causes a deformation of the disk 316, whereby the piezoelectric disk expands, as shown in Figure 3A. Fig. The diagram is shown in 3D. The expansion of the piezoelectric disc 316 presses the brake 314 against the first collar 312A, generating friction that inhibits the rotational movement of the hinge assembly. If sufficient force is applied, the movement can be completely stopped, thus locking the hinge assembly.

[0034] In some embodiments, a pattern, such as teeth, can be pressed into the opposing surfaces of the brake 314 and the first collar 312A, which then, when the brake 314 engages the first collar 312A, interlocks in such a way that the hinge arrangement is effectively locked.

[0035] In some embodiments, the control module 176 keeps the rotary motion control arrangement in the operating state for a specific period of time, e.g., a period between approximately 1 second and 60 seconds, and preferably between 1 second and 5 seconds. If the predetermined period has not elapsed during operation 620, the control module 176 continues to apply a voltage to the rotary motion control arrangement. Conversely, if the predetermined period has elapsed during operation 620, the control system transitions to operation 625, and the control module 176 switches off the voltage to the rotary motion control arrangement. In the embodiment described in the Fig. As shown in 3A-3D, switching off the voltage causes the dielectric disk 316 to return to its original shape and the arrangement to the state shown in Fig. Figure 3A shows the hinge assembly allowing free rotation. In some embodiments, the control unit keeps the locking mechanism engaged until a force is detected on the back of the display unit or at its edge, indicating that the user is attempting to adjust the screen angle or close the hinged housing.

[0036] In the Fig. Figures 3E to 3H show a further embodiment of the rotary motion control arrangement 300. In the embodiment shown in the Fig. As shown in Figures 3E to 3H, a second brake assembly 320 is added, which is arranged close to the second collar 312B. The second brake assembly 320 can be used instead of or in conjunction with the first brake 314. The design and operation of the second brake assembly 320 are described in the Fig. 3F and Fig. 3H is shown. First, with reference to Fig. 3F has the second brake arrangement comprising a ring-shaped ring 322 that surrounds the hinge pin 310 and a pair of opposing legs 324, 326 that are dependent on the ring-shaped ring 322. A piezoelectric disc 328 is arranged between the legs 324, 326. If the rotary motion control arrangement is in an unactuated state, as in Fig. 3E and Fig. As shown in Figure 3F, the piezoelectric disc 328 pushes the legs apart, opening the ring-shaped ring 322 and allowing the hinge pin 310 to rotate freely within the ring. Conversely, when the brake assembly 320 is actuated, the piezoelectric disc 328 extends, allowing the opposing legs 324 and 326 to close, thus exerting a frictional force on the hinge pin 310.

[0037] In the Fig. Figures 4A to 4D show another embodiment of a rotary motion control arrangement 400. In short, in the embodiment which the Fig. As shown in Figures 4A to 4D, a hinge pin is used that displaces along a first axis in response to a rotational movement of the hinge assembly. A hydraulic assembly is coupled to the hinge pin such that the displacement of the hinge pin along the first axis forces a fluid from a first chamber through a channel into a second chamber. A coil assembly coupled to the channel is displaceable between a first position, in which the fluid flows freely through the channel, and a second position, in which the fluid cannot flow through the channel.

[0038] With reference to the Fig. In sections 4A to 4D, the rotary motion control arrangement 400 can be attached to a housing by means of mounting brackets 410, 412, 414. A hinge pin 420 extends through the mounting brackets 412, 414. The hinge pin 420 has threads 422 and is anchored in the mounting brackets 412, 414 such that the rotary motion of the hinge arrangement causes the hinge pin 420 to displace along its longitudinal axis through the mounting brackets.

[0039] The hinge pin 420 is coupled to a hydraulic assembly 430. The hydraulic assembly 430 has a first chamber 432, which communicates with a second chamber 436 via a channel 434. One end of the hinge pin 420 is located in the first chamber 432. When the hinge pin 420 moves along its longitudinal axis towards the second chamber 436, fluid is forced from the first chamber 432 into the second chamber 436 via the channel 434. Conversely, when the hinge pin 420 moves along its longitudinal axis away from the second chamber, fluid is drawn from the second chamber 436 into the first chamber 432 via the channel 434.

[0040] A coil arrangement 440 is arranged such that the coil core 442 can be moved between a first position in which the core 442 rests against the channel 434 but is outside of it, and a second position in which the core 442 is arranged in the channel, thereby preventing the fluid flow through the channel 434, which in turn prevents the movement of the hinge arrangement, so that the arrangement is effectively locked.

[0041] The arrangement 400 can essentially function according to the work processes described in Fig. Figure 6 shows the application of a voltage in the working process 615 actuates the coil arrangement 440.

[0042] In the Fig. Figures 5A to 5D show another embodiment of a rotary motion control arrangement 500. In short, in the embodiment which the Fig. As shown in Figures 5A to 5C, a friction housing that defines a shaft and a friction bolt located inside the friction housing are used. A coil assembly is coupled to the friction bolt to move it between a first position, in which the friction bolt rotates freely within the friction housing, and a second position, in which parts of the friction bolt engage with parts of the friction housing to restrain its rotation.

[0043] With reference to the Fig. 5A to 5C, the rotary motion control arrangement 500 can be attached to a housing by a mounting bracket 510. A friction housing 520 is attached between the blocks 530A, 530B. A friction bolt 550 is coupled to the core 542 of a coil arrangement 540 and is displaceable within the shaft of the friction housing 520 between a first position ( Fig. 5B), in which the friction bolt can rotate freely in the shaft, and a second position ( Fig. 5C), in which the friction bolt engages with the friction housing to inhibit the rotational movement of the friction bolt 550 relative to the friction housing 520.

[0044] The 500 arrangement can essentially function according to the work processes described in Fig. 6 are shown, wherein the application of a voltage in the working process 615 actuates the coil arrangement 540, so that the friction bolt is pulled into the friction housing 520.

[0045] As described above, in some embodiments the electronic device can be implemented as a computer system. Fig.Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a computer system 700, corresponding to several embodiments. The computer system 700 comprises a computer device 702 and a power supply 704 (e.g., for powering the computer device 702). The computer device 702 can be any suitable computer device, such as a laptop (or notebook) computer, a personal digital assistant, a desktop computer (e.g., a workstation or desktop computer), a rack-mounted computer device, and the like.

[0046] Electrical power can be supplied to the various components of the computer device 702 (e.g., via a computer device power supply 706) from one or more of the following sources: one or more battery packs, an alternating current (AC) wall outlet (e.g., via a transformer and / or adapter, such as a power supply unit 704), automotive power supplies, aircraft power supplies, and the like. In some embodiments, the power supply unit 704 can convert the output of the power supply source (e.g., the AC output voltage of approximately 110 V to 240 V) into a direct current (DC) voltage in a range of approximately 5 V to 12.6 V. Accordingly, the power supply unit 704 can be an AC-to-DC adapter.

[0047] The computer device 702 may also include one or more central processing units (CPUs) 708. In some embodiments, the CPU 708 may be one or more processors in the Pentium® processor family, including the Pentium® II, Pentium® III, Pentium® IV, or CORE2 Duo processors, available from Intel® Corporation, Santa Clara, California. Alternatively, other CPUs may be used, such as Intel's Itanium®, XEON, and Celeron® processors. One or more processors from other manufacturers may also be used. Furthermore, the processors may have a single-core or multi-core configuration.

[0048] A chipset 712 can be coupled to or integrated with the CPU 708. The chipset 712 can include a memory control node (MCH) 714. The MCH 714 can contain a memory control unit 716, which is coupled to a main system memory 718. The main system memory 718 stores data and sequences of instructions executed by the CPU 708 or any other device included in the system 700. In some embodiments, the main system memory 718 includes random access memory (RAM); however, the main system memory 718 can be implemented using other types of memory, such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), and the like. Additional devices, such as multiple CPUs and / or multiple system memories, can also be coupled to the bus 710.

[0049] The MCH 714 can also have a graphics interface 720 coupled to a graphics accelerator 722. In some embodiments, the graphics interface 720 is coupled to the graphics accelerator 722 via an accelerated graphics port (AGP). In some embodiments, a display device (such as a flat panel display device) 740 can be coupled to the graphics interface 720, for example, via a signal converter that converts a digital representation of an image stored in the storage device, such as video memory or system memory, into display signals that are interpreted and displayed by the display device. The display signals 740 generated by the display device can pass through various control units before being interpreted and subsequently displayed on the display device.

[0050] A node interface 724 connects the MCH 714 to a platform control node (PCH) 726. The PCH 726 provides an interface to the input / output (I / O) devices connected to the computer system 700. The PCH 726 can be connected to a peripheral component (PCI) bus. Thus, the PCH 726 includes a PCI bridge 728, which provides an interface to a PCI bus 730. The PCI bridge 728 provides a data path between the CPU 708 and peripheral devices. Furthermore, other types of I / O interconnects can be used, such as the PCI Express architecture, available from Intel® Corporation of Santa Clara, California.

[0051] The PCI bus 730 can be connected to an audio device 732 and to one or more disk drives 734. Other devices can also be connected to the PCI bus 730. Furthermore, the CPU 708 and the MCH 714 can be combined to form a single chip. Additionally, the graphics accelerator 722 can be incorporated into the MCH 714 in other embodiments.

[0052] Furthermore, other peripheral devices connected to the PCH 726 may include, in various configurations, integrated drive electronics (IDE) or small computer system interface (SCSI) hard disk drive(s), Universal Serial Bus (USB) port(s), a keyboard, a mouse, parallel port(s), serial port(s), floppy disk drive(s), digital output support (e.g., digital video interface (DVI)), and the like. Thus, the PCH 702 may contain volatile and / or non-volatile memory.

[0053] The term "logic instructions," used here, refers to expressions that can be understood by one or more machines to perform one or more logical operations. Logic instructions can, for example, include instructions that a processor compiler can interpret to perform one or more operations on one or more data objects. However, this is only one example of machine-readable instructions, and the possible forms are not limited in this respect.

[0054] The term "computer-readable medium," used here, refers to media capable of supporting expressions that can be recognized by one or more machines. A computer-readable medium might, for example, include one or more storage devices for storing computer-readable instructions or data. Such storage devices may incorporate storage media such as optical, magnetic, and / or semiconductor storage media. However, this is only one example of a computer-readable medium, and the embodiments are not limited in this respect.

[0055] The term "logic," as used here, refers to a structure for performing one or more logical operations. For example, logic can include circuits that produce one or more output signals based on one or more input signals. Such circuits might include a finite automaton that takes a digital input and produces a digital output, or circuits that produce one or more analog output signals in response to one or more analog input signals. Such circuits can be implemented in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The logic can also include machine-readable instructions stored in memory in combination with processing circuitry to execute such machine-readable instructions.However, these are only examples of structures that can provide logic, and the embodiments are not limited in this respect.

[0056] Some of the procedures described here can be implemented as logic instructions on a computer-readable medium. When executed on a processor, these logic instructions cause the processor to be programmed as a specialized machine that implements the described procedures. Once the processor is configured by the logic instructions to execute the described procedures, it forms the necessary structure to carry them out. Alternatively, the procedures described here can be reduced to logic, for example, on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like.

[0057] In the description and claims, the terms coupled and connected, along with their derivatives, may be used. In specific embodiments, connected may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. Coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, coupled may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but can nevertheless cooperate or interact with each other.

[0058] A reference in the description to "one embodiment" or "several embodiments" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one realization. The appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" at different points in the description may or may not refer entirely to the same embodiment.

[0059] Although embodiments were described in a language specific to the structural features and / or methodological procedures, it is understandable that the claimed subject matter need not be limited to the described specific features or procedures. Rather, the specific features and procedures are disclosed as examples of embodiments for the realization of the claimed subject matter.

Claims

[1] Device with: a hinge arrangement (200) that can be attached to a first sub-area (160, 260) of a housing of an electronic device (110); a rotary motion control arrangement (300) for controlling the rotary motion of the hinge arrangement (200); and a control unit (176) for activating the rotary motion control arrangement in response to a detection of a force state at a second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110), where: the rotary motion control arrangement (300) comprises a piezoelectric disk (316) mounted on a shaft (310) of the hinge arrangement (200) close to a brake (314) attached to the shaft (310); and the control unit (176) is to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric disc (316) in response to the detection of a state at a second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110), the voltage being intended to cause a part of the piezoelectric disc (316) to extend against the brake (314) in order to control the rotational movement of the hinge arrangement (200). [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of the brake (314) has teeth such that the expansion of the piezoelectric disc (316) must cause the teeth on the opposing surface to lock the hinge arrangement (200) in place. [3] Device according to claim 1, wherein: The rotary motion control arrangement further includes: a brake collar (320) mounted on the shaft (310) of the hinge assembly (200), the brake collar (320) having a collar-shaped ring (322) and a first leg (324) and a second leg (326) extending from the collar-shaped ring (322) and defining a gap between them; and a further piezoelectric disk (328) arranged in the gap between the first leg (324) and the second leg (326); and the control unit (176) is to apply a voltage to the further piezoelectric disk (328) in response to the detection of a force state on the second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110), wherein the voltage is to cause a flattening of a part of the further piezoelectric disk (328) in order to enable the brake to control the rotational movement of the hinge assembly (200). [4] Device according to claim 1, further comprising a detector arrangement for detecting a force state at the second part (162, 262) of the housing. [5] Device according to claim 4, wherein the detector arrangement comprises at least one of the following: a touchscreen; a pressure sensor; a proximity sensor; a stereo camera setup; a strip light camera array; a time-of-flight camera setup; or a video input. [6] Electronic device (110) with: a housing comprising a first sub-area (160, 260) and a second sub-area (162, 262) which includes a display device (138), wherein the second sub-area (162, 262) is coupled to the first sub-area (160, 262) by a hinge arrangement (200); a rotary motion control arrangement (300) for controlling the rotary motion of the hinge arrangement (200); and a control unit (176) for activating the rotary motion control arrangement (300) in response to the detection of a force state at the second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110) where: the rotary motion control arrangement (300) comprises a piezoelectric disk (316) mounted on a shaft (310) of the hinge arrangement (200) close to a brake (314) attached to the shaft (310); and the control unit (176) is to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric disc (316) in response to the detection of a state at the second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110), the voltage being intended to cause a part of the piezoelectric disc (316) to expand against the brake in order to control the rotational movement of the hinge arrangement (200). [7] Electronic device (110) according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of the brake (314) has teeth such that the expansion of the piezoelectric disc (316) must cause the teeth on the opposing surface to lock the hinge arrangement (200) in place. [8] Electronic device (110) according to claim 6, wherein: The rotary motion control arrangement further includes: a brake collar (320) mounted on the shaft (310) of the hinge assembly (200), the brake collar (320) having a collar-shaped ring (322) and a first leg (324) and a second leg (326) extending from the collar-shaped ring (322) and defining a gap between them; and a further piezoelectric disk (328) arranged in the gap between the first leg (324) and the second leg (326); and the control unit (176) is to apply a voltage to the further piezoelectric disk (328) in response to the detection of a force state on the second sub-area (162, 262) of the housing of the electronic device (110), wherein the voltage is to cause a flattening of a part of the further piezoelectric disk (328) in order to enable the brake to control the rotational movement of the hinge assembly (200). [9] Electronic device (110) according to claim 6, further comprising a detector arrangement for detecting a force state at the second part (162, 262) of the housing. [10] Electronic device (110) according to claim 9, wherein the detector arrangement comprises at least one of the following: a touchscreen; a pressure sensor; a proximity sensor; a stereo camera setup; a strip light camera array; a time-of-flight camera setup; or a video input.

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