Hinge apparatus and portable electronic device
View Patent ↗A hinge apparatus includes a hinge unit that pivotably links a first housing and a second housing about a pivot axis, and a slide mechanism that enables the hinge unit to slide with respect to the second housing in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of the hinge unit on one face of the second housing. A portable electronic device includes the first housing, the second housing, and the hinge apparatus.
1. A hinge apparatus comprising:
a hinge unit that pivotably links a first housing and a second housing about a pivot axis; and
a slide mechanism that enables the hinge unit to slide with respect to the second housing in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of the hinge unit, on one face of the second housing;
wherein the hinge unit comprises a double-axis hinge that enables the first and second housings to mutually rotate around a rotational axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of the hinge unit.
2. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the slide mechanism comprises at least one rail disposed on an upper face of the second housing and the hinge unit engages with the at least one rail and slides along the at least one rail.
3. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
at least either of a pivot detection unit that detects relative pivot position of the first and second housings around the pivot axis, and a slide detection unit that detects relative slide position of the first and second housings; and
a control unit that controls a predetermined function of electronic circuits contained in the first and second housings in accordance with a detection result of at least either of the pivot detection unit and the slide detection unit.
4. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a display unit is provided on an upper face of the first housing.
5. The hinge apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a second display unit is provided on an upper face of the second housing.
6. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a rotation detection unit that detects a relative rotation position of the first and second housings around the rotational axis.
7. The hinge apparatus according to claim 6 , comprising a control unit that controls a predetermined function of electronic circuits contained in the first and second housings in accordance with a detection result of the rotation detection unit.
8. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the slide mechanism enables the hinge unit to be stationary at a position halfway through a slide stroke thereof.
9. The hinge apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge unit enables the first and second housings to pivot at any position of a slide stroke thereof.
10. The hinge apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a lead wire provided between the first and second housings passes through the at least one rail.
11. The hinge apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the lead wire passes through the hinge unit.
12. A portable electronic device comprising the first and second housings and the hinge apparatus, which are as set forth in claim 1 .