Electronic device and hinge device

Abstract

To improve the appearance quality and suppress rattling and damage to the chassis during use.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus includes a hinge device 14L that connects a first chassis 11 and a second chassis 12. The hinge device includes: a support member configured to support a first shaft 24 and a second shaft 26 so as to be rotatable relative to each other with their axial directions parallel to each other; a first slider 42 having a first end portion facing a first shaft side and a second end portion facing a second shaft side and configured to be slidable between the first shaft and the second shaft; a second slider 43 having a first end portion facing the first shaft side and a second end portion facing the second shaft side and configured to be slidable between the first shaft and the second shaft; a first cam member 38 fixed to the first shaft and having an outer peripheral surface provided with a locking part to which the first end portion of the second slider can be locked, and a second cam member 39 fixed to the second shaft and having an outer peripheral surface provided with a first recessed portion into which the second end portion of the first slider is fittable and a second recessed portion into which the second end portion of the second slider is fittable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device including a hinge device that rotatably connects two housings, and to the hinge device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a convertible PC electronic device in which a second housing having a display is connected to a first housing having a keyboard so that the second housing can rotate within an angle range from 0 to 360 degrees. This configuration uses a hinge device with a two-axis structure having two rotation axes corresponding to each housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5976052 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The hinge device in Patent Document 1 has a cam member with a recess fixed to each of two rotation shafts, and one floating pin selectively fits into each recess. This allows the hinge device to selectively rotate each rotation shaft depending on the angular range between the housings. Specifically, only the rotation shaft on the second housing side with the display rotates from 0 degrees to 180 degrees, and only the rotation shaft on the first housing side with the keyboard rotates from 180 degrees to 360 degrees. As a result, the housings rotate smoothly from 0 degrees to 360 degrees.

[0005] In this way, the configuration of Patent Document 1 switches which of the two rotation axes rotates at the 180-degree position. Therefore, with this configuration, when the housings are set at an angle of about 120 degrees and the device is used as a notebook PC, the bottom edge of the second housing is positioned above the first housing. As a result, with this configuration, the lower bezel of the display on the second housing is largely exposed to the outside, degrading the appearance quality of the entire device.

[0006] To solve this problem, it is possible to reverse the rotation timing of each axis. Specifically, it is possible to rotate only the rotation axis of the first housing containing the keyboard from 0 to 180 degrees, and only the rotation axis of the second housing containing the display from 180 to 360 degrees. However, in this case, the bottom edge of the second housing is positioned lower than the first housing at angles greater than 90 degrees, such as the 120 degrees used in notebook PCs. As a result, the bottom edge of the second housing may come into contact with the desk surface, causing rattles and damage. Furthermore, if the bottom edge of the second housing comes into contact with the desk surface, the first housing containing the keyboard may be lifted, and the two housings may not be positioned flat when viewed from the side at the 180-degree angle.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and aims to provide an electronic device and hinge device that can improve the appearance quality and suppress rattling and damage to the housing during use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An electronic device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first housing having a first surface and a second surface; a second housing adjacent to the first housing, also having the first surface and the second surface; and a hinge device that rotatably couples adjacent edges of the first housing and the second housing relative to each other, thereby rotatably coupling the first housing and the second housing from a first stacked state in which their first surfaces face each other to a second stacked state in which their second surfaces face each other, wherein the hinge device has a first shaft fixed relatively to the first housing, a second shaft fixed relatively to the second housing, and the first shaft and the second shaft being rotatable relative to each other with their axial directions parallel to each other. a first slider having a first end facing the first axis and a second end facing the second axis and slidable between the first axis and the second axis; a second slider having a first end facing the first axis and a second end facing the second axis and slidable between the first axis and the second axis; a first cam member fixed to the first axis and having an engaging portion on its outer circumferential surface that can engage with the first end of the second slider; and a second cam member fixed to the second axis and having an outer circumferential surface that can engage with a first recess into which the second end of the first slider can be fitted and a second recess into which the second end of the second slider can be fitted.

[0009] A hinge device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a hinge device for rotatably connecting a first housing and a second housing of an electronic device, the hinge device including: a first shaft fixed relatively to the first housing; a second shaft fixed relatively to the second housing; a support member supporting the first shaft and the second shaft in a state in which the axial directions of the first shaft and the second shaft are parallel to each other and are rotatable relative to each other; and a first slide having a first end portion facing the first shaft side and a second end portion facing the second shaft side, the first slide being slidable between the first shaft and the second shaft. the second cam member is fixed to the first shaft and has an engaging portion on its outer circumferential surface that can engage with the first end of the second slider; and the second cam member is fixed to the second shaft and has an engaging portion on its outer circumferential surface that can engage with the second end of the first slider, and a first recess that can engage with the second end of the second slider. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the above-described aspects of the present invention, it is possible to improve the appearance quality and suppress rattles and damage to the housing during use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic device according to an embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the hinge device and its surroundings when the first housing and the second housing are in the first stacked configuration. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first housing and the second housing shown in FIG. 2 at a first angular position. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the first and second housings shown in FIG. 3 at the 120 position. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the first and second housings shown in FIG. 4 at a 180° position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the first housing and the second housing shown in FIG. 5 at a second angular position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the first housing and the second housing shown in FIG. 6 in a second stacked configuration. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hinge device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view of the hinge device. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device in the first stacked form, where Figure 10(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 10(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 10(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device at a 60 degree position, where Figure 11(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 11(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 11(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. [Figure 12]Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device at the first angle position, where Figure 12(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 12(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 12(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device at a 120 degree position, where Figure 13(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 13(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 13(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device at a 180 degree position, where Figure 14(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 14(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 14(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device at the second angle position, where Figure 15(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 15(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 15(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device at the 300 degree position, where Figure 16(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 16(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 16(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device at a 360 degree position, where Figure 17(A) shows a cross-section along line AA in Figure 9, Figure 17(B) shows a cross-section along line BB in Figure 9, and Figure 17(C) shows a cross-section along line CC in Figure 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an electronic device and a hinge device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic device 10 according to one embodiment, viewed from above. The electronic device 10 of this embodiment has a configuration in which a first housing 11 and a second housing 12 are connected by left and right hinge devices 14L, 14R so that they can rotate relative to each other. Hereinafter, the hinge devices 14L, 14R may be collectively referred to as "hinge device 14."

[0014] The electronic device 10 of this embodiment is a so-called convertible PC that can be used as a notebook PC (notebook mode) or a tablet PC (tablet mode) depending on the angular position between the housings 11 and 12. The notebook mode is a state in which the second housing 12 is rotated, for example, at an angle of about 120 degrees relative to the first housing 11. The tablet mode is a state in which the second housing 12 is rotated, for example, at an angle of 360 degrees relative to the first housing 11. The electronic device 10 may be a mobile phone, a smartphone, an electronic organizer, a game console, or the like.

[0015] During the opening operation, the hinge device 14 according to this embodiment can move downward while causing the edge 11c of the second housing 12 on the hinge device 14 side to protrude rearward. As a result, in the notebook mode, a so-called drop-down structure is achieved in which part or all of the lower bezel 11d of the display 20 is hidden behind the first housing 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0016] 2 to 7 are schematic side views of hinge device 14 and its surroundings at each angular position when second housing 12 of electronic device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated relative to first housing 11 from 0 degrees to 360 degrees.

[0017] In the following description, the direction as seen from an operator using electronic device 10 in notebook mode as shown in FIG. 4 is used as a reference, and the depth direction is referred to as front and rear, the width direction as left and right, and the thickness direction as up and down.

[0018] For ease of explanation, the angular positions of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are referred to as a 0-degree position (see FIG. 2) when the second housing 12 is closed relative to the first housing 11 and the front (first surface) 12a of the second housing 12 faces the top (first surface) 11a of the first housing 11. Hereinafter, the description will be based on the 0-degree position and will be made by rotating the second housing 12 in the opening direction. For example, a position in which the second housing 12 and the first housing 11 are substantially perpendicular to each other is referred to as a 90-degree position. A position in which the front surface 12a of the second housing 12 and the top surface 11a of the first housing 11 face the same direction (upward) and are parallel to each other is referred to as a 180-degree position (see FIG. 5). A position in which the back surface (second surface) 12b of the second housing 12 faces the bottom surface (second surface) 11b of the first housing 11 is referred to as a 360-degree position (see FIG. 7). It should be noted that the 0 degree position, 90 degree position, 120 degree position, 180 degree position, 360 degree position, etc. may naturally be angle positions that are slightly deviated from the accurate angle positions indicated by the angle numbers, depending on the structure of the housings 11, 12 or the hinge device 14. In this embodiment, for convenience, these deviated angle positions will also be referred to as the 0 degree position, etc.

[0019] 1 to 7, in electronic device 10, rear edge (one edge) 11c of first housing 11 and lower edge (one edge) 12c of second housing 12 are adjacent to each other. These edges 11c, 12c are connected by a pair of left and right hinge devices 14L, 14R so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

[0020] The first housing 11 is a flat box having a rectangular outer shape in a plan view. Inside the first housing 11, various electronic components such as a motherboard equipped with a CPU, a battery device, memory, and an antenna device are housed. A keyboard 16 and a touchpad 17 face the top surface 11a of the first housing 11. Reference numeral 18 in FIG. 2 denotes rubber feet that serve as feet when the bottom surface 11b is placed on a support surface 19 such as a desk.

[0021] The second housing 12 has a rectangular outer shape in a plan view, and is a flat box that is thinner than the first housing 11. A display surface 20a of a display 20 faces a front surface 12a of the second housing 12. The display 20 can be configured as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display surface 20a can display videos and images. Substantially the entire front surface 12a of the second housing 12, including the display surface 20a of the display 20, is covered with a glass plate 21. The glass plate 21 can be configured as a touch glass that supports touch operations. Reference numeral 22 in FIG. 1 denotes a camera.

[0022] 2 to 7, hinge device 14 has a two-axis structure that allows rotation between housings 11 and 12 from a 0-degree position (first stacked configuration) to a 360-degree position (second stacked configuration). Fig. 2 shows the 0-degree position, Fig. 3 shows the 100-degree position, Fig. 4 shows the 120-degree position, Fig. 5 shows the 180-degree position, Fig. 6 shows the 280-degree position, and Fig. 7 shows the 360-degree position.

[0023] The hinge devices 14L, 14R include a first shaft 24, a second shaft 26, and a hinge housing 28. The first shaft 24 is fixed relatively to the first housing 11. The second shaft 26 is fixed relatively to the second housing 12. In other words, the first shaft 24 rotates integrally with the first housing 11. The second shaft 26 rotates integrally with the second housing 12. The hinge housing 28 supports the shafts 24, 26 so that they can rotate relative to each other. The hinge housing 28 may also be in the form of a single long bar extending between the left and right hinge devices 14L, 14R.

[0024] The hinge housing 28 is arranged substantially along the vertical direction at the 0-degree position (see FIG. 2) and the 360-degree position (see FIG. 7). At the 0-degree position, the second axis 26 is arranged above the first axis 24. At the 360-degree position, the second axis 26 is arranged below the first axis 24. As a result, in the electronic device 10, the front-to-rear positions of the edge portions 11c, 12c of the housings 11, 12 substantially coincide at the 0-degree position and the 360-degree position. At the 0-degree position and the 360-degree position, the front-to-rear positions of the other edge portions (front edge portions) opposite the edge portions 11c, 12c of the housings 11, 12 also substantially coincide.

[0025] The hinge device 14 includes a rotation axis selection mechanism 30 that selects one of the first axis 24 and the second axis 26 and rotates only the selected axis. Between the 0-degree position and the 100-degree position (first angle position), the hinge device 14 allows rotation of the first axis 24 and stops rotation of the second axis 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Between the 100-degree position and the 280-degree position (second angle position), the hinge device 14 allows rotation of the second axis 26 and stops rotation of the first axis 24 (see FIGS. 3 to 6). Between the 280-degree position and the 360-degree position, the hinge device 14 allows rotation of the first axis 24 and stops rotation of the second axis 26 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). In this way, the first axis 24 or the second axis 26 is selected at two switching angle positions (in this embodiment, the 100-degree position and the 280-degree position) of the hinge device 14. As a result, the hinge device 14 rotates around only one of the selected axes as the rotation axis between the housings 11 and 12, and the rotation of the other axis is locked.

[0026] Next, a specific example of the configuration of the hinge device 14 will be described.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hinge device 14L. FIG. 9 is a front view of the hinge device 14L. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the internal structure of the hinge device 14L with the hinge housing 28 removed. FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the hinge device 14L at the 0-degree position. Similarly, FIG. 11 shows the 60-degree position, FIG. 12 shows the 100-degree position, FIG. 13 shows the 120-degree position, FIG. 14 shows the 180-degree position, FIG. 15 shows the 280-degree position, FIG. 16 shows the 300-degree position, and FIG. 17 shows the 360-degree position. In FIG. 10, FIG. 10(A) shows a cross section along line AA in FIG. 9, FIG. 10(B) shows a cross section along line BB in FIG. 9, and FIG. 10(C) shows a cross section along line CC in FIG. 9. Similarly, Figures 11(A), 11(B), 11(C), etc. in Figures 11 to 17 show cross sections along lines AA, BB, and CC in Figure 9, respectively, and also show the state in which the hinge device 14L has been operated from Figures 10(A), 10(B), and 10(C).

[0028] In this embodiment, the right-side hinge device 14R can have the same or similar configuration as the left-side hinge device 14L, except that the right-side hinge device 14R has a symmetrical structure. Therefore, the left-side hinge device 14L will be described below as a representative example, and a specific description and illustration of the right-side hinge device 14R will be omitted.

[0029] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the hinge device 14L of this embodiment includes a first axis 24 and a second axis 26 whose axial directions are parallel to each other, a hinge housing 28 (see Figure 2) that supports each axis 24, 26 so that they can rotate relative to each other, and a rotation axis selection mechanism 30 that selectively switches the rotation timing of each axis 24, 26.

[0030] The first shaft 24 and the second shaft 26 are cylindrical shafts. The axial direction of each shaft 24, 26 is aligned along the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the edge portions 11c, 12c. Cut surfaces are formed at appropriate locations on the outer circumferential surface of each shaft 24, 26 to prevent rotation of components (cam members 38, 39, etc.) that are fitted and fixed to the shaft.

[0031] A first bracket 32 ​​is connected to one end (left end) of the first shaft 24 so as to be non-rotatable relative to the first housing 11. The first bracket 32 ​​is a metal plate for fixing the first shaft 24 to the first housing 11 so as not to be rotatable. The first bracket 32 ​​is screwed to the inner surface of the first housing 11. A first torque generating unit 33 is attached to the other end (right end) of the first shaft 24. The first torque generating unit 33 is configured, for example, by stacking multiple dish-shaped leaf springs 33a in a skewered manner in the axial direction of the first shaft 24 and pressing these with nuts 33b. The first torque generating unit 33 can apply a predetermined rotational torque to the rotation of the first shaft 24.

[0032] A second bracket 34 is connected to one end (left end) of the second shaft 26 so as to be non-rotatable relative to the second housing 12. The second bracket 34 is a metal plate that fixes the second shaft 26 to the second housing 12 so as to be non-rotatable. The second bracket 34 is screwed to the inner surface of the second housing 12. A second torque generating unit 35 is attached to the other end (right end) of the second shaft 26. The second torque generating unit 35 is configured, for example, by stacking multiple dish-shaped leaf springs 35a in a skewered manner in the axial direction of the second shaft 26 and pressing these with nuts 35b. The second torque generating unit 35 can apply a predetermined rotational torque to the rotation of the second shaft 26.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 , the rotation axis selection mechanism 30 may include, in order from one end to the other end of the first shaft 24, support plates 36 and 37, a first cam member 38, and a stopper cam member 40. Hereinafter, the rotation axis selection mechanism 30 may also be simply referred to as the "mechanism 30." The mechanism 30 may include, in order from one end to the other end of the second shaft 26, support plates 36 and 37, a second cam member 39, and a stopper cam member 40. The mechanism 30 may include, in order from one end to the other end of the space between the first shaft 24 and the second shaft 26 (the inter-shaft space), support plates 36 and 37, a first slider 42, a second slider 43, and the stopper cam member 40.

[0034] Hinge housing 28 is provided so as to cover shafts 24, 26 and each component of mechanism section 30. Hinge housing 28 can rotate around the axis of first shaft 24 or second shaft 26 selected by mechanism section 30 (see FIGS. 2 to 7). During this rotation, hinge housing 28 rotates integrally with support plates 36, 37, stopper cam member 40, etc.

[0035] The support plates 36, 37 are metal plates with a generally oblate elliptical shape that span the first shaft 24 and the second shaft 26. The support plates 36, 37 have shaft holes at both ends through which the shafts 24, 26 are inserted so as to be rotatable relative to each other. As a result, the support plates 36, 37 function as support members that support the shafts 24, 26 so as to be rotatable relative to each other while maintaining the inter-axial distance between the shafts 24, 26. In the configuration example shown in Figures 8 and 9, the support plates 36, 37 are arranged in pairs, but only one support plate 36, 37 may be used.

[0036] The first cam member 38 is a cylindrical metal member. The first cam member 38 is fixed to the outside of the first shaft 24 in a non-rotatable state relative to the first cam member 38. A first arc-shaped groove portion 38b and a second arc-shaped groove portion 38c may be formed in an outer peripheral surface 38a of the first cam member 38. The arc-shaped groove portions 38b and 38c are aligned in the axial direction of the first shaft 24. The first arc-shaped groove portion 38b and the second arc-shaped groove portion 38c may be offset from each other by, for example, 100 degrees in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 38a. This 100 degrees is the angle difference between the 0-degree position and the first angular position (100-degree position). More specifically, the first arc-shaped groove portion 38b may be offset from the second arc-shaped groove portion 38c by 100 degrees in the open direction (from 0 degrees to 360 degrees). In other words, the second arcuate groove 38c can be offset from the first arcuate groove 38b by 100 degrees in the closing direction (direction from 360 degrees to 0 degrees).

[0037] The first arc-shaped groove 38b is positioned so as to face the first end 42a of the first slider 42 in the axial direction of the first shaft 24. The second arc-shaped groove 38c is positioned so as to face the first end 43a of the second slider 43 in the axial direction of the first shaft 24. The first ends 42a, 43a of the sliders 42, 43 can be inserted into the arc-shaped grooves 38b, 38c. The inserted first ends 42a, 43a can move relatively in the circumferential direction within the arc-shaped grooves 38b, 38c. The second arc-shaped groove 38c has a locking portion 38c1 which is a wall surface on one side in the circumferential direction of the second arc-shaped groove 38c. The locking portion 38c1 can lock the first end 43a of the second slider 43 when the second shaft 26 rotates from the 0 degree position to the first angle position (100 degree position) in the open direction (see Figure 12).

[0038] The second cam member 39 is a cylindrical metal member. The second cam member 39 is fitted and fixed to the outside of the second shaft 26 in a state where it cannot rotate relative to the second shaft 26. A first recess 39b, a second recess 39c, and a stopper groove 39d may be formed in an outer peripheral surface 39a of the second cam member 39. The recesses 39b, 39c and the stopper groove 39d are aligned in this order in the axial direction of the second shaft 26. The recesses 39b, 39c may be offset from each other by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 39a, for example.

[0039] The first recess 39b is positioned so as to face the second end 42b of the first slider 42 in the axial direction of the second shaft 26. The second recess 39c is positioned so as to face the second end 43b of the second slider 43 in the axial direction of the second shaft 26. The second ends 42b, 43b of the sliders 42, 43 can be fitted into the recesses 39b, 39c. The recesses 39b, 39c can stop relative movement of the fitted second ends 42b, 43b in the circumferential direction. The recesses 39b, 39c can have, for example, a substantially arc-shaped cross section into which the arc-shaped second ends 42b, 43b can be fitted and removed.

[0040] The stopper groove 39d is positioned opposite the stopper portion 40c of the stopper cam member 40 in the axial direction of the second shaft 26. The stopper portion 40c is inserted into the stopper groove 39d and is relatively movable in the circumferential direction within the stopper groove 39d. The stopper groove 39d has stopper surfaces 39d1 and 39d2, which are wall surfaces on one and the other sides of the stopper groove 39d in the circumferential direction. The stopper surface (open stopper surface) 39d1 abuts against the stopper portion 40c when the second shaft 26 rotates in the open direction from the first angular position (100-degree position) to the second angular position (280-degree position). The stopper surface (close stopper surface) 39d2 abuts against the stopper portion 40c when the second shaft 26 rotates in the close direction from the second angular position (280-degree position) to the first angular position (100-degree position).

[0041] The stopper cam member 40 can have a support plate 40a, a pair of guide plates 40b, 40b, a stopper portion 40c, and a protrusion 40d.

[0042] The support plate 40a is a metal plate with a generally oblate elliptical shape that spans the first shaft 24 and the second shaft 26. The support plate 40a has shaft holes at both ends through which the shafts 24, 26 are inserted so as to be rotatable relative to each other. As a result, the support plate 40a functions as a support member that supports the shafts 24, 26 so as to be rotatable relative to each other while maintaining the inter-axial distance between the shafts 24, 26. The support plate 40a holds the sliders 42, 43 between itself and the support plate 37. As a result, the sliders 42, 43 are prevented from moving in the axial direction of the shafts 24, 26.

[0043] The pair of guide plates 40b, 40b are protruding pieces that protrude from the support plate 40a toward the support plate 37. The pair of guide plates 40b, 40b can be arranged line-symmetrically with respect to a direction connecting the axial centers of the shafts 24, 26 (hereinafter also referred to as the "interaxial direction D"). The pair of guide plates 40b, 40b can guide the sliders 42, 43 slidably along the interaxial direction D between their opposing surfaces.

[0044] A protrusion 40b1 is formed on the end face of each guide plate 40b facing the support plate 37. The protrusion 40b1 fits into a groove formed on the outer peripheral end face of the support plate 37. This prevents each guide plate 40b from shifting in the interaxial direction D. Furthermore, each guide plate 40b is also prevented from shifting in a direction perpendicular to its surface direction.

[0045] The stopper cam member 40 has a thick portion 40e formed by bulging the side surface of the support plate 40a facing the guide plate 40b. The thick portion 40e is positioned between the shafts 24 and 26. The stopper portion 40c is a protrusion projecting from the upper surface of the thick portion 40e. The stopper portion 40c is inserted into the stopper groove portion 39d of the second cam member 39. When the second cam member 39 rotates together with the second shaft 26, the stopper portion 40c comes into contact with the stopper surfaces 39d1 and 39d2 of the stopper groove portion 39d, thereby stopping further rotation of the second shaft 26.

[0046] Protrusion 40d protrudes from the side surface of support plate 40a opposite to thick portion 40e, and is disposed between torque generating portions 33 and 35. Protrusion 40d has a female thread formed therein for fastening a screw that fastens hinge housing 28.

[0047] The first slider 42 and the second slider 43 are metal members having a substantially oblate elliptical cross section. The first slider 42 has a first end 42a facing the first shaft 24 and a second end 42b facing the second shaft 26. The second slider 43 has a first end 43a facing the first shaft 24 and a second end 43b facing the second shaft 26. The ends 42a, 42b, 43a, and 43b may be arc-shaped.

[0048] The sliders 42, 43 are each independently slidable along the inter-axial direction D. With respect to the axial direction of the shafts 24, 26 as the reference, the first slider 42 is disposed in a position capable of opposing the first arc-shaped groove portion 38b of the first cam member 38 and the first recessed portion 39b of the second cam member 39. The second slider 43 is disposed in a position capable of opposing the second arc-shaped groove portion 38c of the first cam member 38 and the second recessed portion 39c of the second cam member 39.

[0049] A rectangular hollow portion 42c, 43c extending in the interaxial direction D is formed at the center of the sliders 42, 43, respectively. A guide rod 46 extending along the axial direction between the shafts 24, 26 is inserted into the hollow portion 42c, 43c. One longitudinal end of the guide rod 46 is fitted and supported by the support plates 36, 37, and the other end is fitted and supported by the thick-walled portion 40e. The width (height) of the guide rod 46 in the interaxial direction D is shorter than the width (height) of the hollow portions 42c, 43c in the interaxial direction D. The outer peripheral side surfaces of the sliders 42, 43 are guided by a pair of guide plates 40b, 40b, and the hollow portions 42c, 43c are further guided by the guide rod 46. This allows the sliders 42, 43 to slide smoothly along the interaxial direction D.

[0050] Next, the rotational operation of the housings 11 and 12 by the hinge device 14 will be described.

[0051] The operation and function of the hinge device 14 when the second housing 12 is opened from the 0-degree position to the 360-degree position will be described. This operation is performed, for example, by the user gripping the upper end portion (the end portion opposite to the edge portion 12c) of the second housing 12 and applying an external force in the opening direction.

[0052] The operation from the 0 degree position to the first angle position (100 degree position) will be described.

[0053] In this case, the first end 42a of the first slider 42 is positioned so as to be slidable on the outer peripheral surface 38a of the first cam member 38 (see FIG. 10(A)). The first end 43a of the second slider 43 is positioned so as to be relatively movable in the circumferential direction within the second arc-shaped groove portion 38c of the first cam member 38 (see FIG. 10(B)). This allows rotation of the first shaft 24. Meanwhile, the second end 42b of the first slider 42 is fitted into the first recess 39b of the second cam member 39 (see FIG. 10(A)). In other words, the first slider 42 is unable to slide in the interaxial direction D. This stops rotation of the second shaft 26.

[0054] Between the 0-degree position and the first angle position, the stopper portion 40c of the stopper cam member 40 abuts against the stopper surface 39d2 of the second cam member 39 (see FIG. 10(C)). The stopper portion 40c is in a position where it can move relatively in the opening direction within the stopper groove portion 39d.

[0055] 10 to 12, between the 0 degree position and the first angle position, the first shaft 24 serves as the rotation axis, and the second shaft 26 is locked. As a result, the second housing 12 rotates around the first shaft 24. At this time, the hinge housing 28 also rotates around the first shaft 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0056] As a result, at the first angle position, which is assumed to be used in notebook mode, the center of the second shaft 26 is positioned lower in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the first housing 11 than the center of the first shaft 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 12). In other words, the edge 12c of the second housing 12 is positioned lower in the vertical direction than the top surface 11a of the first housing 11 (drop-down). As a result, the electronic device 10 can hide part or all of the lower bezel 11d of the display 20 behind the first housing 11, improving its appearance. In this case, the edge 12c of the second housing 12 does not contact the placement surface 19 (see FIG. 3). In other words, the electronic device 10 can employ rubber feet 18 that ensure a height that prevents the edge 12c from contacting the placement surface 19 at the first angle position shown in FIG. 3.

[0057] In the first stacked configuration (0-degree position), the stopper portion 40c is in a position where it cannot move relative to the stopper groove portion 39d in the closing direction (see FIG. 10(C)). That is, in the electronic device 10 in the first stacked configuration, the first slider 42 is fitted into the first recess 39b, and at the same time, the stopper portion 40c is locked by the stopper surface 39d2. This more reliably stops rotation of the second housing 12 in the closing direction. Therefore, in the first stacked configuration, which is intended for carrying around the electronic device 10, the positional relationship between the housings 11 and 12 is more firmly maintained. This reduces rattling between the housings 11 and 12 when the electronic device 10 is being carried around, etc.

[0058] The operation from the first angle position (100 degree position) to the 120 degree position will be described.

[0059] In the first angular position shown in FIG. 12, the first end 42a of the first slider 42 is positioned so that it can be inserted into the first arc-shaped groove 38b of the first cam member 38 (see FIG. 12(A)). That is, the first slider 42 is slidable in the interaxial direction D. Meanwhile, the first end 43a of the second slider 43 is locked by the locking portion 38c1 of the second arc-shaped groove 38c (see FIG. 12(B)). The second end 43b is positioned so that it can slide on the outer peripheral surface 39a of the second cam member 39. That is, the second slider 43 is unable to slide in the interaxial direction D. This stops the rotation of the first shaft 24. In other words, further rotation of the second housing 12 (hinge housing 28) around the first shaft 24 is stopped.

[0060] When the second housing 12 receives a rotational force moving from the first angle position toward the 120-degree position, the second shaft 26 also receives the rotational force. Then, the edge wall of the first recess 39b of the second cam member 39 presses the second end 42b of the first slider 42. This causes the first slider 42 to slide toward the first shaft 24. The first end 42a is inserted into the first arc-shaped groove 38b (see FIG. 13(A)). At this time, the second end 42b of the first slider 42 is positioned so that it can slide on the outer circumferential surface 39a of the second cam member 39. This allows the second shaft 26 to rotate. Between the first angle position and the 120-degree position, the stopper 40c moves relatively within the stopper groove 39d.

[0061] 12 and 13, between the first angle position and the 120-degree position, the second shaft 26 serves as the rotation axis, and the first shaft 24 is locked. As a result, the second housing 12 rotates around the second shaft 26. At this time, the hinge housing 28 does not rotate (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0062] As a result, even at the 120-degree angle position, where use in notebook mode is expected, the height relationship between the second axis 26 and the first axis 24 is maintained at the same level as at the first angle position. That is, the axis center of the second axis 26 is lower than the axis center of the first axis 24 (see FIGS. 4 and 13). Generally, the angle range between the 100-degree and 120-degree positions is most suitable for the electronic device 10 in notebook mode. In this angle range, the electronic device 10 of this embodiment maintains a state in which the edge 12c is lower than the top surface 11a. That is, the electronic device 10 maintains a dropped-down state at least within this angle range, resulting in a high appearance quality. Furthermore, between the first angle position and the 120-degree angle position, the edge 12c of the second housing 12 does not move vertically (see FIGS. 3, 4, 12, and 13). Therefore, the edge 12c of the electronic device 10 is prevented from contacting the placement surface 19 within the angle range where use in notebook mode is expected. As a result, the electronic device 10 is prevented from rattling on the placement surface 19, and the second housing 12 is prevented from being damaged by the placement surface 19.

[0063] The operation from the 120 degree position to the second angle position (280 degree position) will be described.

[0064] The operation in this case is the same as the operation from the first angle position to the 120-degree position described above (see FIGS. 13 to 15). That is, the first end 43a of the second slider 43 is locked by the locking portion 38c1 of the first cam member 38. Therefore, rotation of the first shaft 24 is stopped. Meanwhile, the second ends 42b, 43b of the sliders 42, 43 are both positioned so as to be slidable on the outer peripheral surface 39a of the second cam member 39. Therefore, rotation of the second shaft 26 is permitted. Note that, from the 120-degree position to the second angle position, the stopper portion 40c moves relatively within the stopper groove portion 39d.

[0065] The operation from the second angle position (280 degree position) to the 360 ​​degree position will be described.

[0066] 15, the second recess 39c of the second cam member 39 is positioned opposite the second end 43b of the second slider 43 (see FIG. 15(B)). That is, the second slider 43 is slidable in the interaxial direction D. Meanwhile, the first end 42a of the first slider 42 is positioned so as to be relatively movable within the arc-shaped groove 38b of the first cam member 38 (see FIG. 15(A)). The second end 42b is positioned so as to be slidable on the outer peripheral surface 39a of the second cam member 39.

[0067] When the second housing 12 receives a rotational force from the second angle position toward the 360-degree position, the first shaft 24 receives the rotational force. This causes the locking portion 38c1 of the first cam member 38 to press the first end 43a of the second slider 43. This causes the second slider 43 to slide toward the second shaft 26. The second end 43b is fitted into the second recess 39c (see FIG. 16(B)). At this time, the first end 43a of the second slider 43 is released from the second arc-shaped groove portion 38c and is positioned so that it can slide on the outer circumferential surface 38a of the first cam member 38. This stops the rotation of the second shaft 26 and allows the rotation of the first shaft 24.

[0068] At the second angular position, the stopper portion 40c abuts against the stopper surface 39d1 of the stopper groove portion 39d, which more reliably stops further rotation of the second shaft 26. As a result, when the second slider 43 rotates in the open direction from the second angular position, it slides more smoothly.

[0069] 15 to 17, from the second angle position to the 360-degree position, the first axis 24 again serves as the rotation axis, and the second axis 26 is locked. As a result, the second housing 12 rotates around the first axis 24. At this time, the hinge housing 28 also rotates around the first axis 24 (see FIGS. 6 to 7). This allows the electronic device 10 to be set in the second stacked configuration (360-degree position) and used in tablet mode.

[0070] Between the second angle position and the 360-degree position, the stopper portion 40c abuts against the stopper surface 39d1. That is, the stopper portion 40c is in a position where it can move relatively in the closing direction within the stopper groove portion 39d.

[0071] On the other hand, in the second stacked configuration (360-degree position), the stopper portion 40c is in a position where it cannot move relative to the electronic device 10 in the opening direction within the stopper groove portion 39d. That is, in the electronic device 10 in the second stacked configuration, the second slider 43 is fitted into the second recess 39c, and at the same time, the stopper portion 40c is locked by the stopper surface 39d1. In the electronic device 10, rotation of the second housing 12 in the opening direction is more reliably stopped in the second stacked configuration. Therefore, in the electronic device 10 in the second stacked configuration, which is intended for use in tablet mode, the positional relationship between the housings 11 and 12 is more firmly maintained. In the electronic device 10, rattles and shaking of the second housing 12, for example, when a touch operation is performed on the display 20, are suppressed.

[0072] The operation of the hinge device 14 when closing the second housing 12 from the 360-degree position to the 0-degree position is the reverse of the opening operation described above, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In other words, the hinge device 14 operates as shown in FIGS. 17 to 10.

[0073] As described above, the electronic device 10 and the hinge device 14 according to this embodiment may include the first slider 42 slidable between the first shaft 24 and the second shaft 26, and the second slider 43 slidable between the first shaft 24 and the second shaft 26. The electronic device 10 and the hinge device 14 may further include the first cam member 38 fixed to the first shaft 24 and having an outer circumferential surface 38a provided with a locking portion 38c1 capable of locking the first end 43a of the second slider 43, and the second cam member 39 fixed to the second shaft 26 and having an outer circumferential surface 39a provided with a first recess 39b into which the second end 42b of the first slider 42 can be fitted, and a second recess 39c into which the second end 43b of the second slider 43 can be fitted.

[0074] Therefore, the hinge device 14 can select the shaft 24, 26 to act as the rotation shaft at the desired rotation timing by the stopping action of the cam members 38, 39 by the two sliders 42, 43. Therefore, the electronic device 10 can easily switch the shaft 24, 26 to serve as the rotation shaft, for example, at the first angle position, which is closer to the closed position than the 120-degree position, which is assumed to be the most suitable position for use in notebook mode. This prevents the second housing 12 from contacting the placement surface 19 and causing rattle or damage when used in notebook mode. Furthermore, the electronic device 10 prevents the first housing 11 from lifting up due to the second housing 12 contacting the placement surface 19 in notebook mode. Furthermore, the electronic device 10 has two housings 11, 12 arranged substantially flat in a side view at the 180-degree position, further improving the appearance quality. Furthermore, the electronic device 10 has an edge 12c of the second housing 12 arranged behind and below the first housing 11 in notebook mode, achieving even higher appearance quality.

[0075] In particular, the hinge device 14 includes two sliders 42 and 43 that slide between the shafts 24 and 26, and two cam members 38 and 39 with which the sliders 42 and 43 engage and slide. With this configuration, the hinge device 14 can selectively switch the rotation axis between a first angular position and a second angular position. In other words, the hinge device 14 switches the rotation axis twice without requiring any members that move in the axial direction of the shafts 24 and 26. This simplifies the configuration of the hinge device 14, and also reduces the axial width of the entire device, making it easy to reduce its size. Furthermore, because the hinge device 14 does not have any members that move in the axial direction of the shafts 24 and 26, it is possible to prevent any interference with the rotation of the shafts 24 and 26, enabling smoother rotational movement.

[0076] The hinge device 14 can include a stopper surface 39d1 formed on the outer peripheral surface 39a of the second cam member 39 and facing in the circumferential direction, and a stopper portion 40c against which the stopper surface 39d1 abuts. For example, the stopper portion 40c can be configured to abut against the stopper surface 39d1 at the second angular position (280 degrees) during the opening operation (see FIG. 15(C)). This allows the second slider 43 to slide more smoothly, and allows for smoother switching from the second shaft 26 to the first shaft 24.

[0077] The hinge device 14 may further include a stopper surface 39d2 formed on the outer peripheral surface 39a of the second cam member 39 and located on the opposite side of the outer peripheral surface 39a from the stopper surface 39d1 in the circumferential direction. For example, the stopper portion 40c may be configured to abut against the stopper surface 39d2 at the first angular position (100 degrees) during the closing operation (see FIG. 12(C)). This allows the first slider 42 to slide more smoothly, and allows for smoother switching from the second shaft 26 to the first shaft 24.

[0078] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be freely modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 10 Electronic equipment 11 First cabinet 12 Second enclosure 14L, 14R hinge device 16 keyboards 20 Display 24 1st axis 26 2nd axis 28 Hinge housing 30 Rotation axis selection mechanism 36, 37, 40a Support plate 38 First cam member 38a,39a Outer surface 38b First arc-shaped groove 38c Second arc-shaped groove 39 Second cam member 39b First recess 39c Second recess 39d1, 39d2 Stopper surface 40 Stopper cam member 40c Stopper part 42 First slider 43 Second slider

Claims

1. An electronic device, a first housing having a first surface and a second surface; a second housing having a first surface and a second surface and adjacent to the first housing; a hinge device that rotatably couples adjacent edges of the first housing and the second housing relative to each other, thereby rotatably coupling the first housing and the second housing from a first stacked state in which first surfaces of the first housing and the second housing face each other to a second stacked state in which second surfaces of the first housing and the second housing face each other; Equipped with The hinge device includes: a first shaft fixed relatively to the first housing; a second shaft fixed relatively to the second housing; a support member that supports the first shaft and the second shaft so that the first shaft and the second shaft are rotatable relative to each other with their axial directions parallel to each other; a first slider having a first end facing the first axis and a second end facing the second axis, the first slider being slidable between the first axis and the second axis; a second slider having a first end facing the first axis and a second end facing the second axis, the second slider being slidable between the first axis and the second axis; a first cam member fixed to the first shaft and having an engaging portion on its outer circumferential surface that can engage with the first end of the second slider; a second cam member fixed to the second shaft, the second cam member having a first recess on its outer circumferential surface into which the second end of the first slider can be fitted, and a second recess on which the second end of the second slider can be fitted; Equipped with The first cam member is a first arcuate groove portion extending in a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, along which a first end portion of the first slider is relatively movable; a second arc-shaped groove portion that extends in a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, along which a first end of the second slider is relatively movable, and a wall surface on one end side in the extending direction that serves as the locking portion; have An electronic device characterized by:

2. 10. The electronic device according to claim 1, the first housing and the second housing sequentially pass through a first angular position and a second angular position when rotating from the first stacked configuration to the second stacked configuration, The hinge device includes: When the first housing and the second housing are between the first stacked configuration and the first angular position, a first end of the first slider is disposed at a position where it can slide on the outer circumferential surface of the first cam member, and a first end of the second slider is disposed at a position where it can move relatively within the second arc-shaped groove portion, thereby allowing rotation of the first shaft, while a second end of the first slider is fitted into the first recess, thereby stopping rotation of the second shaft, When the first housing and the second housing are between the first angular position and the second angular position, a first end of the second slider is locked by the locking portion, thereby stopping the rotation of the first shaft, while a second end of the first slider and a second end of the second slider are both disposed at positions where they can slide on an outer circumferential surface of the second cam member, thereby allowing the rotation of the second shaft, When the first housing and the second housing are between the second angular position and the second stacked configuration, a first end of the first slider is disposed at a position where it can move relatively within the first arc-shaped groove, and a first end of the second slider is disposed at a position where it can slide on the outer circumferential surface of the first cam member, thereby allowing rotation of the first shaft, and on the other hand, a second end of the second slider is fitted into the second recess, thereby stopping rotation of the second shaft. An electronic device characterized by:

3. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, The first axis and the second axis are When the first housing and the second housing are in the first stacked configuration, an axis center of the second axis is disposed above an axis center of the first axis with respect to a thickness direction of the first housing; When the first housing and the second housing are in the first angular position, the center of the second axis is located lower than the center of the first axis with respect to the thickness direction of the first housing. An electronic device characterized by:

4. 4. The electronic device according to claim 2, the first housing is equipped with a keyboard facing the first surface, The second housing is equipped with a display facing the first surface. An electronic device characterized by:

5. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the second cam member has a stopper surface on its outer circumferential surface facing in the circumferential direction, The hinge device further includes a stopper portion against which the stopper surface abuts. An electronic device characterized by:

6. A hinge device that rotatably connects a first housing and a second housing of an electronic device, a first shaft fixed relatively to the first housing; a second shaft fixed relatively to the second housing; a support member that supports the first shaft and the second shaft so that the first shaft and the second shaft are rotatable relative to each other with their axial directions parallel to each other; a first slider having a first end facing the first axis and a second end facing the second axis, the first slider being slidable between the first axis and the second axis; a second slider having a first end facing the first axis and a second end facing the second axis, the second slider being slidable between the first axis and the second axis; a first cam member fixed to the first shaft and having an engaging portion on its outer circumferential surface that can engage with the first end of the second slider; a second cam member fixed to the second shaft, the second cam member having a first recess on its outer circumferential surface into which the second end of the first slider can be fitted, and a second recess on which the second end of the second slider can be fitted; Equipped with The first cam member is a first arcuate groove portion extending in a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, along which a first end portion of the first slider is relatively movable; a second arc-shaped groove portion that extends in a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, along which a first end of the second slider is relatively movable, and a wall surface on one end side in the extending direction that serves as the locking portion; have A hinge device characterized by the above.

7. The hinge device according to claim 6, The hinge device rotatably connects adjacent edge portions of the first housing and the second housing relative to each other, thereby rotatably connecting the first housing and the second housing from a first stacked configuration in which first surfaces of the first housing face each other to a second stacked configuration in which second surfaces of the first housing face each other, and when the first housing and the second housing are rotated from the first stacked configuration to the second stacked configuration, the first housing and the second housing sequentially pass through a first angular position and a second angular position, When the first housing and the second housing are between the first stacked configuration and the first angular position, a first end of the first slider is disposed at a position where it can slide on the outer circumferential surface of the first cam member, and a first end of the second slider is disposed at a position where it can move relatively within the second arc-shaped groove portion, thereby allowing rotation of the first shaft, while a second end of the first slider is fitted into the first recess, thereby stopping rotation of the second shaft, When the first housing and the second housing are between the first angular position and the second angular position, a first end of the second slider is locked by the locking portion, thereby stopping the rotation of the first shaft, while a second end of the first slider and a second end of the second slider are both disposed at positions where they can slide on an outer circumferential surface of the second cam member, thereby allowing the rotation of the second shaft, When the first housing and the second housing are between the second angular position and the second stacked configuration, a first end of the first slider is disposed at a position where it can move relatively within the first arc-shaped groove, and a first end of the second slider is disposed at a position where it can slide on the outer circumferential surface of the first cam member, thereby allowing rotation of the first shaft, and on the other hand, a second end of the second slider is fitted into the second recess, thereby stopping rotation of the second shaft. A hinge device characterized by the above.

Images