Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Michael Gordon Oldani

Daniel Clark Park

Joseph Benjamin Gault

David Michael Lane

Brian David Bitz

Thomas Joseph Longo

David Paul Platt

Michael Francis Deily

Yajing Liu

Anthony Ernest Hillyerd

Le Chang

Christina Ashley Yee

Jordan David Little

Benjamin Alexander Davids

Whitney Anne Reed

Bernard T Selting

Ryan Behn

Beau Squire

An electronic device includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. A torque-optional hinge connects the third portion to the second portion, and a support hinge connects the third portion to the first portion. The torque-optional hinge has a hinge axis and a means for selectively generating a torque around the hinge axis. The means for selectively generating the torque has a high-torque state and a low-torque state. The high-torque state provides a greater rotational resistance around the hinge axis than the low-torque state. The support hinge rotatably connects the first portion and the third portion and provides a torque around a support axis.

Electronic device with torque-optional hinge

Examples of kickstand assemblies for foldable computing devices are provided. In one example, in a foldable computing device comprising a first frame rotatably coupled to a second frame, a method of using a kickstand assembly to release the first frame and the second frame from a closed orientation comprises sliding an upper kickstand plate of the kickstand assembly in a lateral direction relative to the first frame. The method includes, at least on condition of sliding the upper kickstand plate in the lateral direction, biasing the first frame and the second frame to rotate open from the closed orientation.

Kickstand for opening foldable computing device

This patent relates to hinged devices, such as computing devices. One example includes a first portion and a second portion. A dynamic fulcrum hinge includes a flexible material extending between the first portion and the second portion and configured to begin rotation proximate to the first portion and finish rotation proximate to the second portion when the first portion is rotated toward the second portion.

Fabric hinged device

A kickstand assembly comprises a backplate including a backplate deploy magnet having a first magnetic pole orientation. An upper kickstand plate is slidably connected to the backplate, and a lower kickstand plate is rotatably coupled to the upper kickstand plate. The lower kickstand plate includes a closing magnet having a second magnetic pole orientation that attracts the backplate deploy magnet, and an opening magnet laterally spaced from the closing magnet and having the first magnetic pole orientation that repels the backplate deploy magnet to cause the lower kickstand plate to rotate about the upper kickstand plate when the upper kickstand plate is laterally translated relative to the backplate.

Kickstand for foldable computing device

The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include first and second portions that rotate around a hinge shaft that is fixedly secured to the first portion and rotationally secured to the second portion. The second portion defining a first contact surface spaced apart from a second contact surface. Multiple friction clips friction fit around the hinge shaft and rotating with the hinge shaft between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

Variable friction hinged device

Examples are disclosed relating to friction hinges. In one example, a friction hinge comprises a first stub and adjacent second stub extending from a stub substrate. A first finger extends from a finger substrate between the first stub and the second stub and comprises a distal contacting face that is biased into contact with a first biasing face of the first stub. A second finger adjacent to the first finger extends from the finger substrate between the first stub and the second stub and comprises a distal contacting face that is biased into contact with a second biasing face of the second stub. A pin extends through apertures in the first stub, first finger, second finger, and second stub.

Friction hinge

Conventional laptop computers may utilize a door-hinge style or bezel-behind-base style hinge to connect a display with a keyboard of the laptop computer. Typically, these hinges present an undesirable discontinuous visual impression to the user. In the disclosed technology, a leading edge of a display abuts a leading edge of a keyboard. The disclosed sliding double-pivot hinge places a pivot axis parallel and coincident with the abutting interface, the leading edges of the display and the keyboard remain abutting throughout a rotational range of motion of the display with reference to the keyboard. The resulting visual impression to the user is that the display is contiguous with the keyboard regardless of the display angle. Further, the disclosed sliding double-pivot hinge may be used in a kickstand to permit the kickstand to rotate up to 180 degrees to fold back on itself and lay flat against an associated computing device.

Sliding double-pivot hinge

Low-profile keysets and input devices having such low-profile keysets are described. In one example, the input device includes a support structure having a first and second surface; a bezel having a first and second surface, wherein the first surface of the bezel is adjacent to the first surface of the support structure, and the bezel comprises at least one opening; at least one key cap positioned within the at least one opening of the bezel, wherein each key cap is configured to move between a first and second position to trigger a function of the input device; and a fabric cover layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the bezel, such that the bezel and the at least one key cap are positioned between the fabric cover layer and the support structure, the fabric cover layer is only adhered to the second surface of the bezel.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Michael Gordon Oldani