IP Library Granted Patent US 7,336,782
Granted Patent B2
US 7,336,782 · App. 10/730,328 · Granted Feb 26, 2008

Wiring structure for folding portable device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,336,782
App. No.
10/730,328
Granted
Feb 26, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wiring device is used in a folding portable device including a hinge unit permitting an upper unit to fold/unfold and/or to rotate with regard to a lower unit. The wiring device comprises a rotative direction wound portion having a first central axis corresponding to a rotating axis of the hinge. A folding/unfolding direction wound portion has a second central axis corresponding to a folding/unfolding axis of the hinge. A FPC fixing member fixes a FPC holding member holding a predetermined part of a FPC to the hinge. The rotative direction wound portion is wound with a first part of a flexible printed cable that is continuous with one end of the predetermined part. The folding/unfolding direction wound portion is wound with a second part of the flexible printed cable that is continuous with the other end of the predetermined part.

Claims (46)

1. A wiring device for use in a folding portable device including an upper unit, a lower unit and a hinge unit mechanically connecting said upper unit to said lower unit, said hinge unit having a rotating axis for rotating said upper unit in relation to said lower unit and a folding/unfolding axis perpendicular to the rotating axis for folding/unfolding said upper unit in relation to said lower unit, said wiring device comprising:

rotative direction wound portion having a first central axis corresponding to the rotating axis for being wound with a first part of a flexible printed cable which electrically connects said upper unit to said lower unit;

a folding/unfolding direction wound portion having a second central axis corresponding to the folding/unfolding axis for being wound with a second part of said flexible printed cable; and

a cable fixing portion for fixing said flexible printed cable to said hinge unit.

2. A wiring device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said rotative direction wound portion has a pair of winding guides for guiding said first part of said flexible printed cable; and wherein

said folding/unfolding direction wound portion has another pair of winding guides for guiding said second part of said flexible printed cable.

3. A wiring device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said hinge unit has a folding/unfolding shaft with a thinner part thinner than the other part thereof to be used for said folding/unfolding direction wound portion.

4. A wiring device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said cable fixing portion comprises:

a holding member for holding a third part of said flexible printed cable; and

a fixing member for fixing said holding member to said hinge unit.

5. A wiring device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said holding member keeps said third part of said flexible printed cable from coming in contact with a moving part of said hinge unit.

6. A wiring device for use in a folding portable device including an upper unit, a lower unit and a hinge unit mechanically connecting said upper unit to said lower unit, said hinge unit having a rotating axis for rotating said upper unit in relation to said lower unit and a folding/unfolding axis perpendicular to the rotating axis for folding/unfolding said upper unit in relation to said lower unit, said wiring device comprising:

a rotative direction wound portion having a first central axis corresponding to the rotating axis for being wound with a first part of a flexible printed cable which electrically connects said upper unit to said lower unit;

a folding/unfolding direction wound portion having a second central axis corresponding to the folding/unfolding axis for being wound with a second part of said flexible printed cable; and

a cable fixing portion for fixing a third part between said first part and said second part of said flexible printed cable.

7. A wiring device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said hinge portion comprises a folding/unfolding shaft having a pair of end portions; and wherein

said folding/unfolding direction wound portion is provided at each of said end portions of said folding/unfolding shaft.

8. A wiring device as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising said flexible printed cable, wherein

said second portion of said flexible printed cable is wound around said folding/unfolding direction wound portion at either of said end portions of said folding/unfolding shaft.

9. A wiring device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said flexible printed cable has a spread shape so that said first part thereof is wound around said rotative direction wound portion, and that said second part thereof is wound around said folding/unfolding direction wound portion, and that said third part is extended from said rotative wound portion to said folding/unfolding direction wound portion through said cable fixing portion.

10. A wiring device as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising said flexible printed cable having a fourth part continuing from said third part thereof, wherein

said second part of said flexible printed cable is wound around said folding/unfolding direction wound portion at one of said end portions of said folding/unfolding shaft while said fourth part of said flexible printed cable is wound around said folding/unfolding direction wound portion at the other of said end portions of said folding/unfolding shaft.

11. A wiring device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said cable fixing portion comprises:

a holding member for holding said third part of said flexible printed cable; and

a fixing member for fixing said holding member to said hinge unit.

12. A wiring device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said cable holding portion has a T shape, and wherein

said fixing member fixes said holding member to said hinge unit so that a horizontal bar of the T shape corresponds to the folding/unfolding axis and that a vertical bar of the T shape corresponds to the rotating axis.

13. A wiring device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said rotative direction wound portion has a pair of winding guides for guiding said first part of said flexible printed cable; and

said folding/unfolding axis winding portion has another pair of winding guides for guiding said second part of said flexible printed cable.

14. A wiring device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said hinge unit has a folding/unfolding shaft with a central axis corresponding to the folding/unfolding axis, said folding/unfolding shaft having a thinner part thinner than the other part thereof to be used for said folding/unfolding direction wound portion.

15. A wiring method for wiring a flexible printed cable between an upper unit and a lower unit of a folding portable device, said upper unit and said lower unit mechanically connected to each other by a hinge unit having a rotating axis for rotating said upper unit in relation to said lower unit and a folding/unfolding axis perpendicular to the rotating axis for folding/unfolding said upper unit in relation to said lower unit, comprising the steps of

winding a first winding part of said flexible printed cable around a rotative direction wound portion having a first central axis corresponding to the rotating axis;

winding a second winding part, of said flexible printed cable around a folding/unfolding direction wound portion having a second central axis corresponding to the folding/unfolding axis, and

fixing a predetermined part of said flexible printed cable that lies between the first and second winding parts to said hinge unit using a cable fixing portion suitable for attachment to the hinge unit.

16. A folding portable device including an upper unit, a lower unit and a hinge unit for mechanically connecting said upper unit to said lower unit, said hinge unit having a rotating axis for rotating said upper unit in relation to said lower unit and a folding/unfolding axis perpendicular to the rotating axis for folding/unfolding said upper unit in relation to said lower unit, said folding portable device comprising:

a flexible printed cable for electrically connecting said upper unit to said lower unit;

a rotative direction wound portion having a first central axis corresponding to the rotating axis for being wound with a first part of said flexible printed cable around the rotating axis; and

a folding/unfolding direction wound portion having a second central axis corresponding to the folding/unfolding axis for being wound with a second part of said flexible printed cable around the folding/unfolding; and

a cable fixing portion for fixing said flexible printed cable to said hinge unit.

17. A wiring device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said rotative direction wound portion has a pair of winding guides for guiding said first part of said flexible printed cable; and

said folding/unfolding direction wound portion has another pair of winding guides for guiding said second part of said flexible printed cable.

18. A wiring device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said hinge unit has a folding/unfolding shaft with a thinner part thinner than the other part thereof to be used for said folding/unfolding axis winding portion.

19. A wiring device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said cable fixing portion comprises:

a holding member for holding a third part of said flexible printed cable; and

a fixing member for fixing said holding member to said hinge unit.

20. A wiring device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said holding member keeps said third part of said flexible printed cable from coming in contact with a moving part of said hinge unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2014
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INNOVATIONS LIMITED (HONG KONG)
Reel/Frame 033720/0767 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2004
From: WATANABE, YOSUKE; MIZUTA, MASATOMO; SENDODA, MITSURU; MATSUNAGA, KOJI; KOMATSU, TAKESHI
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015554/0699 →