EP0248156A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus with torsionly stressed conductors routed through a hollow articulated hinge
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1987-03-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-20
Abstract
Abstract Conductors (19) of a flexible printed circuit (16,18) routed through a hollow two axis articulated hinge (7) allow a calculator (1) with rotating case halves (2,3) to possess a keyboard portion (4,5) in each half of the case. The conductors (19) routed through the hollow articulated hinge (7) are generally centered about one axis of hinge rotation for approximately half the length of the axis, whereupon they transition by either a U-turn or a jog to continue as centered about the other axis of hinge rotation. The conductors (19) may be an integral part of a flexible membrane keyboard assembly having portions located in both halves of the calculator's case. Strain reliefs at the locations (28-31) where the conductors traverse the case halves, and two in the hinge, at about the center thereof, limit and apportion the torsional flexing experienced by the conductors. The torsional flexing experienced by the flexible conductors increases the number of cycles of rotation they can undergo without breaking, as compared to conventional bending. The hollow articulated hinge (7) allows one case half (2) to rotate one full revolution about the other (3), so that the calculator (1) can be opened and held in one hand. By being within the hollow hinge the conductors (19) are protected from injury.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph W. Kinser
- 👤 Judith A. Layman
- 👤 David L. Shriver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:53
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0277; H05K1/028; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/702; H01H2207/00; H01H2207/004; H01H2223/00; H01H2223/046; H01H2223/05; H01H2231/00; H01H2231/042; H05K1/18; H05K1/189; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/20; H05K2201/2027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A handheld calculator (1) or the like having a first case portion (2), a display (6) mounted in the first case portion, a first keyboard (4) mounted in the first case portion, a second case portion (3), and a second keyboard (5) mounted in the second case portion, characterized in that a hollow articulated hinge (7) couples the first and second case portions (2,3) for relative motion of one about the other by one full revolution and flexible conductors (19) for electrically interconnecting the first and second keyboards (2,3) by passing through the hollow articulated hinge (7).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A handheld calculator (1) or the like having a first case portion (2), a display (6) mounted in the first case portion, a first keyboard (4) mounted in the first case portion, a second case portion (3), and a second keyboard (5) mounted in the second case portion, characterized in that a hollow articulated hinge (7) couples the first and second case portions (2,3) for relative motion of one about the other by one full revolution and flexible conductors (19) for electrically interconnecting the first and second keyboards (2,3) by passing through the hollow articulated hinge (7).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A handheld calculator as in claim 1 wherein the flexible conductor means comprises traces upon a flexible printed circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A handheld calculator as in claim 2 wherein the first and second case portions (2,3) and the hollow articulated hinge (7) each include a strain relief means for lightly gripping the flexible conductor means and causing the flexible conductor means to undergo torsional flexing as the first and second case portions experience relative motion of one about the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly for interconnecting first and second assemblies, one of which is rotatable relative to the other, the flexible printed circuit comprising: a first portion for mounting to the first assembly; a second portion for mounting to the second assembly; an interconnecting portion having first and second parallel sections spaced a distance apart and joined to each other at one end by a transition section traversing the distance apart and each joined to a respective one of the first and second portions at the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly for interconnecting first and second assemblies, one of which is rotatable relative to the other, the flexible printed circuit comprising: a first portion for mounting to the first assembly; a second portion for mounting to the second assembly; an interconnecting portion having first and second parallel sections spaced a distance apart and joined to each other at one end by a transition section traversing the distance apart and each joined to a respective one of the first and second portions at the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly as in claim 4 wherein the first and second parallel sections and the transition section comprise a U-shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly as in claim 4 wherein the first and second parallel sections approach each other from opposite directions and are joined by an abrupt jog formed by the transition section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly as in claim 4 further comprising sheets of polyester upon which have been deposited flexible conductors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly as in claim 7 wherein the flexible conductors are traces of etched copper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly as in claim 7 wherein the flexible conductors are traces of silver-bearing paste.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A flexible printed circuit assembly as in claim 4 further comprising resilient domes for making electrical connections in response to collapsing the domes through the application of mechanical pressure.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of routing conductors from a first assembly to a second assembly, rotatable about the first, comprising the steps of: hinging the first and second assemblies together with a hollow articulated hinge; passing the conductors from the first assembly into the hollow articulated hinge through an orifice in the first assembly centered about a first axis of hinge rotatation; clamping the conductors to the first assembly in close proximity to where they exit therefrom into the hollow articulated hinge; routing the conductors within the hollow articulated hinge along the first axis of hinge rotation for a portion of the length of that first axis; abruptly routing the conductors from running along the first axis to running along a second axis of hinge rotation; routing the conductors within the hollow articulated hinge along the second axis of hinge rotation for a portion of the length of that second axis; clamping the conductors to the hollow articulated hinge at the location where the abruptly routing step routes the conductors from the first axis and at the location where abruptly routing step routes the conductors to the second axis; passing the conductors from the hollow articulated hinge into the second assembly through an orifice therein centered about the second axis of hinge rotation; and clamping the conductors to the second assembly in close proximity to where they enter therein from the hollow articulated hinge.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of routing conductors from a first assembly to a second assembly, rotatable about the first, comprising the steps of: hinging the first and second assemblies together with a hollow articulated hinge; passing the conductors from the first assembly into the hollow articulated hinge through an orifice in the first assembly centered about a first axis of hinge rotatation; clamping the conductors to the first assembly in close proximity to where they exit therefrom into the hollow articulated hinge; routing the conductors within the hollow articulated hinge along the first axis of hinge rotation for a portion of the length of that first axis; abruptly routing the conductors from running along the first axis to running along a second axis of hinge rotation; routing the conductors within the hollow articulated hinge along the second axis of hinge rotation for a portion of the length of that second axis; clamping the conductors to the hollow articulated hinge at the location where the abruptly routing step routes the conductors from the first axis and at the location where abruptly routing step routes the conductors to the second axis; passing the conductors from the hollow articulated hinge into the second assembly through an orifice therein centered about the second axis of hinge rotation; and clamping the conductors to the second assembly in close proximity to where they enter therein from the hollow articulated hinge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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