Information Handling System Dual Axis Mono-Barrel Hinge

Abstract

A dual axis hinge assembly couples first and second hinges to each other with a central barrel and routes cables across hinge axles with cable channels formed in the axles. The dual axis hinge assembly rotationally couples information handling system housing portions to each other and routes cables between the housing portions distal the barrel by running the cables through a channel formed in each axle of one of the hinges with the cable entering one axle distal the barrel, routing through the axle to a position proximate the barrel, crossing the hinge to enter the other hinge axle proximate the barrel and routing though the other axle to exit distal the barrel.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising: a main housing portion; a lid housing portion; processing components disposed in the main housing portion that cooperate to process information; a hinge rotationally coupling the main and lid housing portions, the hinge having first and second parallel axles coupled to each other by a synchronizing mechanism, the first and second axles each having an internal channel; and a cable interfaced with the processing components in the main housing portion and routing through the hinge first and second channels to the lid housing portion.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: first and second hinges rotationally coupling the main and lid housing portions, each hinge having first and second parallel axles coupled to each other by a synchronizing mechanism, at least the first hinge having the first and second channels; and a barrel coupling the first and second hinges to each other at the synchronizing mechanisms.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the cable comprises a graphics cable that connects a graphics controller in the main housing portion to a display in the lid housing portion.

4. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the cable comprises an antenna cable that connects a radio in the main housing portion to a radio in the lid housing portion.

5. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the second hinge has first and second channels formed in the first and second axles.

6. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein each hinge axle integrates with a connection plate, the connection plate joined to the axle with torsional reinforcement.

7. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the first and second hinges rotate the main and lid housing portions 360 degrees relative to each other.

8. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the synchronizing mechanisms comprise gears.

9. A method for rotationally coupling information handling system housing portions to each other, the method comprising: coupling first and second hinges to each other with a barrel disposed between the hinges, each hinge having first and second axles, each axle having a channel; coupling the first and second hinges to first and second housing portions; and routing a cable between the first and second housing portions, the cable routed through one of the first or second hinges, the cable inserting into the first and second channel of the one of the first and second hinges.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: communicating pixel information from the first to the second housing portion through the cable; and presenting visual images at a display in the second housing portion with the pixel information.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising: communicating radio frequency information between the first and second housing portions through the cable; and wirelessly communicating the radio frequency information at an antenna integrated in the second housing portion.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein routing a cable further comprises: routing the cable from the first housing portion to the first axle, the cable entering the first axle channel distal the barrel; inserting the cable into the first axle channel towards the barrel; exiting the cable from the first axle channel proximate the barrel; inserting the cable into the second axle channel proximate the barrel to route away from the barrel; and exiting the cable from the second axle channel distal the barrel to route into the second housing portion.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising routing a second cable between the first and second housing portions, the second cable routed through the other of the first or second hinges, the second cable inserting into the first and second channel of the other of the first and second hinges.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling first and section hinges to first and second housing portions further comprises: coupling a connection plate of each first axle to the first housing portion; coupling a connection plate of each second axle to the second housing portion; and reinforcing each axle against torsional forces at a joint of each axle with the axle's associated connection plate.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising rotating the housing portions 360 degrees relative to each other between a closed configuration and a tablet configuration.

16. An information handling system hinge assembly comprising: first and second hinges; a barrel coupled at a first end to the first hinge and at a second end to the second hinge; first and second axles extending from each of the first and second hinges and away from the barrel, each of the first and second hinges coordinating orientation of the associated axles during rotation of the hinge assembly; a connection plate coupled to each axle and configured to couple to an information handling system housing; and a cable channel formed in each axle, the cable channel routing cables from proximate the associated axle's connection plate to proximate the associated hinge.

17. The information handling system hinge of claim 16 further comprising a cable routed into the cable channel of the first axle distal the first hinge, through the cable channel of the first axle to exit proximate the first hinge and into the second axle cable channel proximate the first hinge.

18. The information handling system hinge of claim 17 wherein the cable further routes through the second axle cable channel from proximate the first hinge to exit the cable channel distal the first hinge.

19. The information handling system hinge of claim 18 wherein the cable comprises a graphics cable.

20. The information handling system hinge of claim 17 wherein the cable comprises a coaxial cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.

[0011] FIGS. 1A and 1B, generally referred to as FIG. 1, depict a prior art portable information handling system having a separate hinge configuration with cables traversing the housing portions between the hinges;

[0012] FIG. 2A and 2B, generally referred to as FIG. 2, depict a portable information handling system having a mono-barrel hinge with cables routed through hinge axle channels to the outside of the hinge assembly;

[0013] FIG. 3 depicts a side perspective view of a portable information handling system dual axis hinge having integrated cable channels;

[0014] FIG. 4 depicts a top view of a portable information handling system dual axis hinge having in integrated cable channels;

[0015] FIG. 5 depicts a front side view of a dual axis hinge having cables routed through integrated cable channels;

[0016] FIG. 6 depicts a rear side perspective view of a dual axis hinge having integrated cable channels;

[0017] FIG. 7 depicts a side cutaway view of a hinge axle having an integrated cable channel with reinforced torsional support; and

[0018] FIGS. 8A and 8B, generally referred to as FIG. 8, depict a side perspective view of a hinge axle having an integrated cable channel and twist generated by an example torque.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] An information handling system rotationally couples housing portions with a mono-barrel hinge having cables routed through hinge axle channels to provide reduced vertical height and robust hinge rotation and cable protection. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1, a prior art portable information handling system 10 is depicted having a separate hinge 32 configuration with cables 36 and 38 traversing the housing portions 12 and 14 between the hinges 32. Portable information handling system 10 has a convertible configuration with a main housing portion 12 rotationally-coupled to a lid housing portion 14 by first and second hinges 32. Main housing portion 12 contains processing components that cooperate to process information. In the example embodiment, a motherboard 16 interfaces a central processing unit (CPU) 18 and random access memory (RAM) 20 that cooperate to execute instructions that process information. For instance, CPU 18 retrieves an operating system and applications from persistent memory of a solid state drive (SSD) 22 to create visual information that an end user interacts with. A chipset 24 coordinates CPU 18 interactions with input/output (I/O) devices, such as by providing visual information to a graphics processing unit (GPU) 26, which processes the visual information into pixel values for presentation at a display 30. In the example embodiment, a keyboard 28 cover the processing components and accepts end user inputs. In addition, display 30 my accept touch inputs, such as by rotating 360 degrees to a tablet configuration.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, a portable information handling system 10 is depicted having a mono-barrel hinge assembly 42 with cables 36 and 38 routed through hinge axle channels to the outside of the hinge assembly. In FIG. 1, information handling system 10 has free space between the separate hinges 32 so that cables may route from a starting point located between the hinges 32, then through the protected area defined by each hinge 32, then out to a destination located between the hinges 32. In contrast, with the mono-barrel hinge assembly 42 of FIG. 2, the central barrel 42 couples to each individual hinge 32 so that no room is available for routing cables between the two hinges 32. In the example embodiment, each hinge 32 is a dual axle hinge synchronized by a gear assembly located on the inner portion of each hinge 32 while a connection plate connected to the outer portion of each axle couples the hinge 32 to the housing portions. As shown in FIG. 1B, routing a graphics cable 36 and an RF coaxial cable 38 near the gear portion of each hinge 32 instead of the axles 34 provides a protected space for cables 36 and 38. In contrast, as shown by FIG. 2B, cable travel at the outside of the housing portions risks cable binding at rotating axles 32, especially in low profile housings where little room is provided for cable routing. Although the example embodiment in FIG. 2 illustrates cable routing through a dual axis hinge, in one example embodiment similar routing may be supported with a one axis hinge configuration having two single axis hinges connected with a mono-barrel. For instance, a cable channel formed in the single axles has sufficient diameter to route the cable both towards and away from the mono-barrel. The cable routing provides a secure and protected path that manages cable position and protection during rotation of housing portions. Alternatively, cable routing may proceed through the hinge axle channel and into the mono barrel to exit through a second hinge axle channel at an opposing end of the mono barrel. In various embodiments, different types of cable routing may be supported in both single and dual axis hinges that provide less than 360 degrees of rotation. For instance, where housing portions rotate only between closed and clamshell configurations, such as a limit of approximately 135 degrees of rotation, less risk of cable binding exists so that single or dual axle cable channel routing may take various formats.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, a side perspective view depicts a portable information handling system dual axis hinge 32 having integrated cable channels 48. FIG. 4 depicts a top view of the portable information handling system dual axis hinge 32 having integrated cable channels 48. In the example embodiment, cable channels 48 run along each axle 34 from the connection plate 46 to the gear assembly 44. Each cable channel is sized to accept a cable that inserts at a connection plate 46 to run through the channel to a location proximate gear assembly 44 where the cable crosses to the parallel axle 34 channel 48 to run out to that connection plate 46. In the example embodiment, a guide formed proximate gear assembly 44 helps to maintain a cable on its intended routing during rotation of hinge 32. In addition, axles 34 include additional material along axles 34 that resist torsional twisting forces, such as related to the reduce axle material where the channel is formed.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 5, a front side view depicts a dual axis hinge 32 having a cable 36 routed through an integrated cable channel 48. FIG. 6 depicts a rear side perspective view of the dual axis hinge 32 having the integrated cable channels 48. Each channel 48 provides room to route cable 36 within axle 34 and a guide portion of each axle 34 proximate gear assembly 44 routes cable 36 between axles 34. As hinge 32 rotates, axles 34 remain parallel to each other and rotate about cable 36 so that cable 36 is protected from damage and binding. The guide portion of each axle 34 proximate gear assembly 44 provides room for a full 360 degrees of rotation of hinge 32 with each axle 34 avoiding contact against cable 36 at the crossover location during the rotation. In one embodiment, each axle 34 has torsional reinforcement in the form of additional material added at the coupling of connection plate 46 to each axle 34. In an alternative example embodiment, a cover may be placed over top of channel 48 after installation of cable 36 to hold cable 36 in place and add torsional support against twisting that occurs during hinge 32 rotation.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 7, a side cutaway view depicts a hinge axle 34 having an integrated cable channel 48 with reinforced torsional support 50. In the example embodiment, formation of cable channel 48 about a central axis distributes material across an arc that defines a relatively large moment of inertia to increase mechanical strength against torsional forces. Connection plate 46 couples to axle 34 at the high moment of inertia cross section 50 to add structural support against torsional twisting during hinge rotation. For example, connection plate 46 welds to axle 34 to add material along the support axis and further resist twisting.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 8, a side perspective view depicts a hinge axle 34 having an integrated cable channel 48 and twist generated by an example torque. Each individual axle 34 is formed to integrate a gear and guide portion that assembles into the gear assembly 44. Rotation of a hinge 32 introduces torsional force to an axle 34 resulting in some twisting. In the example embodiment, a 6.6 kg-cm torque produces approximately 0.33 degrees of twist in axle 34. The amount of twist is managed by defining the size of the high moment of inertia cross section 50 and material thickness for anticipated force. In addition, adjustment of torque provided by friction members within a hinge 32 may reduce torsional forces where low system weight calls for less torque to maintain housing portions in a desired rotational alignment. In low Z-height systems, including cable channels 48 in hinge axles 34 provide efficient cable routing with a mono-rail hinge configuration while maintaining robust hinge construction to resist torsional damage over repeated closing and opening hinge cycles.

[0026] Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.