Bistable Hinge With Determinant Motion for Controlled Pivot Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hinges in hybrid computers lack control over active pivot points, leading to potential damage and instability when the device is not flat on a surface, and existing hinges fail to provide a full range of motion control, and existing hinges fail to provide a stable and predictable range of motion beyond 180 degrees.

Innovation Solution

A hinge with multiple pivot points, where each pivot point has a different rotational resistance, allowing controlled determinant motion, ensuring that only one pivot point is active at a time, and the resistance changes based on direction and position, providing stable motion from 0 to 180 degrees.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single pivot point hinge is used, then the hinge structure is simple, but the range of motion is limited and cannot exceed 180 degrees

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motionVSAvoidhinge structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge is divided into multiple pivot points (first pivot point and second pivot point) with separate rotational capabilities. The first pivot point enables motion from 0-180 degrees while the second pivot point enables motion from 90-270 degrees, allowing the combined system to achieve a full 0-270 degree range of motion that exceeds what a single pivot point could provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a multiple pivot hinge is used to allow motion past 180 degrees, then the range of motion is improved, but control over which pivot point is active is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motionVSAvoidcontrol over active hinge

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different pivot points are assigned different rotational resistance characteristics. The first pivot point has higher rotational resistance than the second pivot point, creating a local quality difference that determines which pivot point becomes active based on the hinge's position and applied forces, providing predictable control over motion behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If multiple pivot points with different rotational resistance are used, then deterministic motion control is achieved, but the hinge structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeterministic motion controlVSAvoidhinge structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge system dynamically transitions between different active pivot points based on position and applied forces. The system automatically selects which pivot point to rotate around (first or second) depending on the current configuration, providing adaptive motion control that simplifies the overall system behavior despite the multiple pivot points available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12554288B2Bistable hinge with determinant motion

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

An electronic device hinge includes a first body, a second body, and a link. The link is rotatable relative to the first body around a first pivot point and rotatable relative to the second body around a second pivot point. The first pivot point has a first rotational resistance and the second pivot point has a second rotational resistance that is different from the first rotational resistance. The hinge further includes a third body that is selectively positionable relative to the first body in a first configuration. The third body limits a first rotational range of motion around the first pivot point when positioned in the first configuration.