Universal Hinge Mount for Notebook and Tablet Base Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manufacturers face challenges in meeting consumer demand for various portable computing devices while maintaining low inventories and manufacturing costs, as existing devices often require separate units for different functionalities, increasing inventory and tooling costs.

Innovation Solution

A configure-to-order (CTO) computer system with a base unit featuring hinge posts and swivel hinge assemblies that allow for attachment of either notebook or tablet PC display assemblies, using shaft-in-shaft hinges for clamshell functionality and swivel hinges for tablet operation, enabling flexible configuration based on desired functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate portable computing devices are manufactured for different functionalities (notebook and tablet), then consumer demand for specific functionalities is met, but inventory and tooling costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidinventory quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base unit is designed with universal hinge mounts that can accommodate both shaft-in-shaft hinges for notebook functionality and swivel hinges for tablet functionality, allowing a single base unit to serve multiple functions and reducing the need for separate devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The display assembly is segmented from the base unit through interchangeable hinge mechanisms, allowing the display assembly to be detached and replaced with different configurations (notebook or tablet) depending on consumer demand, thereby reducing inventory requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate portable computing devices are manufactured for different functionalities, then consumer demand for specific functionalities is met, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The base unit incorporates universal hinge mounts that can accommodate both shaft-in-shaft and swivel hinges, eliminating the need for separate tooling for different device types and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining functional versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The base unit is pre-configured with mounting structures that can accommodate both hinge types, allowing manufacturers to prepare universal base units in advance that can be quickly configured for different functionalities through simple hinge attachment rather than complex manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If a single base unit supports multiple display configurations, then inventory and manufacturing costs are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory quantityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge mount is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate both shaft-in-shaft and swivel hinges through standardized mounting features, reducing structural complexity compared to having separate dedicated mounts for each hinge type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7463481B2Computer with hinge post and hinge mount and related methods

Publication Date: 2008.12.09 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

A computer base unit is disclosed, among other apparatus and methods. One embodiment of a computer base unit has a panel, the panel comprising a hinge post and a hinge mount, the hinge post configured to couple to a shaft-in-shaft hinge and the hinge mount configured to couple to a swivel hinge assembly.