Hinge device and electronic apparatus

Abstract

To provide a hinge device that can generate a sufficient torque even with a small diameter and suppress vibration between chassis.SOLUTION: A hinge device 10 includes: a shaft 28 that is pivotally supported by a bearing portion 26 and is rotatable; a first torque application unit 30 configured to apply a frictional force to a peripheral surface of the shaft 28 by fitting the shaft 28 thereto; and a second torque application unit 32 configured to apply a frictional force to the shaft 28 in an axial direction. The second torque application unit 32 includes: a flange 28d that is formed on the shaft 28 and abuts onto one end of the bearing portion 26; and a nut 46 that is screwed to a male screw portion 28b of the shaft 28 and is tightened to the other end of the bearing portion 26 via washers 38, 40, 42 and a disc 44.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinge device that rotatably connects a first housing and a second housing, and to an electronic device in which the first housing and the second housing are rotatably connected by the hinge device. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic devices such as notebook PCs use a hinge device that connects two housings so that they can rotate relative to one another. This type of electronic device must be able to stably hold the housings at a desired angular position while ensuring smooth rotation between the housings. For this reason, the hinge device must be able to generate an appropriate rotational torque. One example of a mechanism for generating rotational torque is a mechanism that generates sliding resistance by sandwiching a leaf spring between a bracket and a shaft (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2019-190518 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The configuration described in Patent Document 1 is a two-axis type in which a shaft is provided in each of the first and second housings. Furthermore, this configuration requires a large diameter to generate sufficient rotational torque, which is not desirable for further slimming down of electronic devices.

[0005] Another torque-generating mechanism involves curling one end of a bracket attached to the housing and wrapping it around the hinge shaft to generate sliding resistance. However, to generate sufficient rotational torque, this configuration requires a long curled portion in the axial direction and high-precision straightness of the corresponding shaft, making it difficult to manufacture. Furthermore, this configuration has elasticity in the curled portion, which makes it prone to vibration between the two housings.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a hinge device and an electronic device that can generate sufficient torque despite a small diameter and suppress vibration between housings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a hinge device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a hinge device that rotatably connects a first housing and a second housing, and includes a rotatable shaft that is journaled on a bearing portion, a first torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to the circumferential surface of the shaft by fitting the shaft into the first torque applying portion, and a second torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to the shaft in the axial direction.

[0008] Furthermore, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device in which a first housing and a second housing are rotatably connected by a hinge device, and the hinge device has a rotatable shaft supported by a bearing portion, a first torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to the circumferential surface of the shaft by engaging with the shaft, and a second torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to the shaft in the axial direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the above aspect of the present invention, rotational torque is applied to the shaft in a shared manner by the first torque application portion and the second torque application portion, so sufficient torque can be generated. Furthermore, since the first torque application portion covers the circumferential surface, it does not need to be large in diameter, and the second torque application portion does not need to be large in diameter according to the amount of torque it applies, so a small diameter is sufficient, resulting in a small diameter hinge device. The second torque application portion hardly expands or contracts in the circumferential direction, so vibration is less likely to occur between the housings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic device equipped with a hinge device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge device and its surroundings. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a hinge device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic device 12 equipped with a hinge device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. As shown in Fig. 1, the electronic device 12 is a clamshell notebook PC in which a first housing 14 and a second housing 16 are connected by the hinge device 10 so that they can rotate relative to each other. The electronic device according to the present invention may be a flip-type mobile phone, a smartphone, a portable game console, or the like, other than a notebook PC.

[0013] First, we will explain the overall configuration of the electronic device 12. In the electronic device 12, a rear end 14a of a first housing 14 and a lower end 16a of a second housing 16 are connected by a pair of left and right hinge devices 10, 10 so that the electronic device 12 can be opened and closed. The hinge devices 10 do not have to be a pair, but one or three or more may be installed.

[0014] The first housing 14 is a flat box formed by an upper cover material 14b and a lower cover material 14c. The upper surface of the first housing 14 is formed by the upper cover material 14b, and the lower surface is formed by the lower cover material 14c. The four circumferential side surfaces of the first housing 14 are formed by a standing wall 14d provided on one of the cover materials 14b, 14c (see FIG. 2, etc.). A keyboard 20 and a touchpad 22 are provided on the top surface of the first housing 14. Various electronic components such as a motherboard, a computing device, a memory, and a battery device are housed inside the first housing 14.

[0015] The second housing 16 is a flat box-like body that is thinner than the first housing 14. A display 18 is provided on the front surface of the second housing 16. The display 18 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic light emitting diode (EL) display. The display 18 is a touch panel type that can be operated by hand or with a pen, as shown by the imaginary line.

[0016] Next, a specific configuration example of the hinge device 10 will be described. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge device 10 and its surrounding area. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge device 10. The left and right hinge devices 10 have the same configuration except that they are symmetrical, so the following will describe one of the hinge devices 10, and a description of the other hinge device 10 will be omitted. The left and right orientation of the hinge device 10 will be described based on Figs. 2 and 3.

[0017] 2 and 3, the hinge device 10 is based on a bracket 24 fixed to the first housing 14, and a rotatable shaft 28 supported by a bearing 26 provided on the bracket 24. The bracket 24 is fixed to the first housing 14 by inserting screws into three screw holes 24b in the main body 24a, and is further positioned by inserting a pin into the pin hole 24c. The main body 24a has an appropriate left-right width.

[0018] The bearing portion 26 is integral with the bracket 24 and comprises a first bearing portion 26a and a second bearing portion 26b formed to protrude rearward from both the left and right ends of the main body portion 24a. In other words, the first bearing portion 26a and the second bearing portion 26b are connected via the main body portion 24a. The first bearing portion 26a and the second bearing portion 26b are spaced apart by an appropriate distance, allowing for stable support of the shaft 28. The first bearing portion 26a is on the left side, and the second bearing portion 26b is on the right side.

[0019] The shaft 28 has a solid structure and includes a shaft portion 28a, a male thread portion 28b provided at the right end of the shaft portion 28a, serrations 28c provided on the left side, and a moderately thick flange 28d provided between the shaft portion 28a and the serrations 28c. The shaft 28 is supported such that the shaft portion 28a passes through bearing holes 26aa, 26ba formed in the first bearing portion 26a and the second bearing portion 26b. The serrations 28c are coupled to a portion of the second housing 16. Depending on the load conditions, the hinge device 10 may be connected to the first housing 14 and the second housing 16 using either brackets or serrations.

[0020] The hinge device 10 further has a first torque applying portion 30 and a second torque applying portion 32. The first torque applying portion 30 is fitted with the axial portion 28a of the shaft 28, thereby applying a frictional force to the circumferential surface of the axial portion 28a, thereby generating a rotational torque. The second torque applying portion 32 applies a frictional force to the shaft 28 in the axial direction, thereby generating a rotational torque.

[0021] The first torque application portion 30 is constituted by a band 34. The band 34 is integral with the bracket 24 and is provided behind the main body portion 24a. The first torque application portion 30 is disposed between the first bearing portion 26a and the second bearing portion 26b, with narrow gaps 35a, 35b between the first bearing portion 26a and the second bearing portion 26b.

[0022] The band 34 has a C-shaped cross section composed of a first arc portion 34a and a second arc portion 34b, and a slit 34c is formed between the first arc portion 34a and the second arc portion 34b. The first arc portion 34a has a larger arc angle than the second arc portion 34b. The provision of the slit 34c creates a difference in the torque generated during the opening and closing operations between the housings 14 and 16, allowing the opening torque and the closing torque to be set differently. The band 34 is not limited to a C-shape and may have any shape that can impart friction to the mating shaft portion 28a, such as a cylindrical shape. The band 34 may be formed by bending a portion of the bracket 24 into an arc shape, by molding, or by CNC machining.

[0023] The second torque application portion 32 includes a fitting member 36, a first washer 38, a second washer 40, a third washer 42, multiple disks (elastic members) 44, and a nut 46. The fitting member 36 is cam-shaped, with a portion that protrudes rearward from a main portion in which an axial hole 36a is formed, and a protrusion 36b protruding to the left from the end of the fitting member 36. The protrusion 36b is inserted into a hole 24d formed in the side surface of the bracket 24 to prevent rotation of the fitting member 36. The depth of the hole 24d is greater than the protruding length of the protrusion 36b. The disks 44 are leaf springs formed from dish-shaped metal plates, and in this embodiment, four of them are stacked.

[0024] The shaft 28 has a shaft portion 28a that passes through the first bearing portion 26a, the band 34, and the second bearing portion 26b and protrudes to the right. The flange 28d abuts against the end face of the first bearing portion 26a. From left to right, a first washer 38, a fitting member 36, a second washer 40, multiple disks 44, and a third washer 42 are tightly inserted into the portion of the shaft portion 28a that protrudes from the second bearing portion 26b. A nut 46 is threaded onto the male threaded portion 28b at the right end, and is tightened with an appropriate force to the right end of the second bearing portion 26b via the fitting member 36, washers 38, 40, 42, and disk 44. It is recommended that the nut 46 be treated to prevent loosening.

[0025] The second torque application portion 32 applies an axial force to the shaft 28 by tightening the nut 46, which elastically compresses the disk 44, thereby generating an axial frictional force on the shaft 28. The second torque application portion 32 applies a rotational torque to the shaft 28 through frictional resistance at the sliding surfaces between the flange 28d and the first bearing portion 26a, and at the sliding surfaces of the second bearing portion 26bb, the fitting member 36, the washers 38, 40, and 42, and the disk 44. In this embodiment, providing many sliding surfaces is preferable because the frictional force is dispersed, but the number of sliding surfaces may be increased or decreased depending on the conditions. The number of sliding surfaces can be increased or decreased, for example, by increasing or decreasing the number of disks 44 or by including or not including the fitting member 36.

[0026] As described above, in the hinge device 10 and electronic device 12 according to the present embodiment, the rotational torque is applied to the shaft 28 by the first torque application unit 30 and the second torque application unit 32, so that the torque generated by each unit is basically half, and sufficient torque can be generated by adding them together. However, the torque distribution amounts between the first torque application unit 30 and the second torque application unit 32 do not have to be equal, and may differ to some extent.

[0027] The first torque application portion 30 does not need to have a large diameter because the band 34 covers the circumferential surface. Also, since only half of the torque is distributed, it does not need to be long in the axial direction, and the straightness required for the portion of the shaft 28 that fits in it can be relatively low precision, making it easy to manufacture.

[0028] Since the second torque application portion 32 only needs to share half the torque, it does not need to be large in the radial direction and a small diameter is sufficient. Furthermore, while the first torque application portion 30 can expand and contract slightly in the circumferential direction due to the elasticity of the band 34, the second torque application portion 32 hardly expands and contracts in the circumferential direction, making it less likely that vibration will occur between the first housing 14 and the second housing 16, and particularly in a touch panel type electronic device 12, making it easier to stably touch the display 18. In the hinge device 10, the first torque application portion 30 and the second torque application portion 32 each have a small diameter, which contributes to a thinner first housing 14 in which the shaft 28 is provided.

[0029] The bearing unit 26 is composed of a first bearing unit 26a and a second bearing unit 26b connected via a bracket 24, and the first torque application unit 30 is provided between the first bearing unit 26a and the second bearing unit 26b, resulting in good space efficiency. Furthermore, because the first torque application unit 30 is disposed with gaps 35a and 35b between it and the first bearing unit 26a and the second bearing unit 26b, no axial force is applied to the band 34, and an appropriate frictional force can be applied to the circumferential surface of the shaft 28. The band 34 of the first torque application unit 30 is integral with the bracket 24, resulting in a simple configuration. The hinge device 10 is a single-axis type in which the shaft 28 is provided only within the first housing 14, and therefore requires less space than a dual-axis type.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can of course be freely modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10 Hinge device 12 Electronic equipment 22 Touchpad 24 Bracket 24a Main body 26 Bearing section 26a 1st bearing part 26b 2nd bearing part 28 shaft 28a Shaft 28b Male thread 28c serration 28d flange 30 First torque applying section 32 Second torque applying section 34 bands 35a, 35b gap 36 Cam 38, 40, 42 Washers 44 discs 46 Nut

Claims

1. A hinge device that rotatably connects a first housing and a second housing, a rotatable shaft supported by a bearing portion; a first torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to a circumferential surface of the shaft by fitting the shaft thereto; a second torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to the shaft in an axial direction; have A hinge device characterized by the above.

2. The hinge device according to claim 1, The second torque applying portion is a flange formed on the shaft and abutting against one end of the bearing portion; a nut that is screwed onto the threaded portion of the shaft and fastened between the other end of the bearing portion and the nut via an elastic member; have A hinge device characterized by the above.

3. The hinge device according to claim 1, the bearing portion comprises a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion connected via a bracket, The first torque applying portion is disposed between the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion with a gap therebetween. A hinge device characterized by the above.

4. The hinge device according to claim 3, The first torque applying portion is integral with the bracket. A hinge device characterized by the above.

5. An electronic device in which a first housing and a second housing are rotatably connected by a hinge device, The hinge device includes: a rotatable shaft supported by a bearing portion; a first torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to a circumferential surface of the shaft by fitting the shaft thereto; a second torque applying portion that applies a frictional force to the shaft in an axial direction; have An electronic device characterized by:

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