Information handling system hinge with integrated coaxial cable connection
View Patent ↗An information handling system dual axis hinge integrates a coaxial conductor and coaxial dielectric in a U-shaped sheath that provides first and second axles about which first and second bracket gears rotate. The coaxial conductor supports shielded and grounded signal communications between opposing portions of an information handling system housing. First and second torque brackets insert over the sheath and couple to the opposing housing portions to generate friction during housing rotation by interaction of the torque bracket rotating around the sheath.
1. A hinge comprising:
a sheath having a U-shape terminating at first and second parallel lengths;
a first gear bracket inserted on the first parallel length to rotate about a first axis defined by the first parallel length;
a second gear bracket inserted on the second parallel length to rotate about a second axis defined by the second parallel length; and
a coaxial conductor and a coaxial dielectric disposed in the sheath, the conductor extending from the first and second lengths to communicate signals through the sheath.
2. The hinge of claim 1 wherein the first and second lengths terminate with a male thread configured to couple with a female coaxial connector.
3. The hinge of claim 2 further comprising:
a first torque bracket inserted over the first length to generate friction that resists rotation of the first torque bracket about the first length; and
a second torque bracket inserted over the second length to generate friction that resists rotation of the second torque bracket about the second length.
4. The hinge of claim 3 further comprising a gear box containing a gear portion of the first gear bracket and the second gear bracket to translate rotational movement between the first and second gear brackets.
5. An information handling system comprising:
a housing having first and second housing portions;
processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;
a hinge rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions, the hinge having a gear box, the gear box having a first axis gear with a first opening and a second axis gear with a second opening, the hinge further having a torque sheath bent to insert through the first and second openings with a first length disposed along the first axis and a second length disposed along the second axis, a first bracket inserted over the first length and coupled to the first axis gear and the first housing portion, and a second bracket inserted over the second length and coupled to the second axis gear and the second housing portion; and
a coaxial conductor integrated in a coaxial dielectric and disposed within the torque sheath to communicate signals between the first and second housing portions.
6. The information handling system of claim 5 further comprising:
a radio disposed in the first housing portion and interfaced with the coaxial conductor at the first length; and
an antenna disposed in the second housing and interfaced with the coaxial conductor at the second length, the coaxial conductor communicating signals between the radio and antenna.
7. The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising a ground of the torque sheath shared with the radio.
8. The information handling system of claim 7 further comprising:
a first liquid crystal display disposed over the first housing portion to present the information as visual images; and
a second liquid crystal display disposed over the second housing portion to present the information as visual images.
9. The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising:
a first threaded portion terminating the first length and coupled to a female coaxial cable connector of the radio; and
a second threaded portion terminating the second length and coupled to a female coaxial cable connector of the antenna.
10. The information handling system of claim 9 further comprising:
a first torque bracket inserted over the first length and coupled to the first housing portion, the first torque bracket compressing the first length to resist rotation about the first length; and
a second torque bracket inserted over the second length and coupled to the second housing portion, the second torque bracket compressing the second length to resist rotation about the second length.
11. The information handling system of claim 10 further comprising:
a first retainer coupled to a first retainer groove formed at the first length, the first retainer restraining the torque bracket on the first length; and
a second retainer coupled to a second retainer groove formed at the second length, the second retainer restraining the torque bracket on the second length.
12. The information handling system of claim 10 further comprising a cover coupled over the gear assembly and the torque sheath bent portion.
13. A method for assembly of an information handling system, the method comprising:
bending a torque sheath to have a U-shape terminating at first and second lengths;
integrating a coaxial conductor and coaxial dielectric in an interior of the torque sheath;
inserting the first and second lengths through first and second gears of a gear assembly, the first gear having a first bracket, the second gear having a second bracket;
coupling the first bracket to a first housing portion;
coupling the second bracket to a second housing portion; and
interfacing a component disposed in the first housing portion with a component disposed in the second housing portion through the coaxial conductor.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the component disposed in the first housing portion comprises a radio and the component disposed in the second housing portion comprises an antenna.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
integrating a first liquid crystal display in the first housing portion; and
integrating a second liquid crystal display in the second housing portion.
16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
rotating the first housing portion about a first axis defined by the first length; and
translating the rotating from the first gear to the second gear to rotate the second housing portion about a second axis defined by the second length.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
inserting a first torque bracket over the first length;
coupling the first torque bracket to the first housing portion;
inserting a second torque bracket over the second length;
coupling the second torque bracket to the second housing portion;
in response to the rotating, generating torque by rotating the first torque bracket relative to the first length and rotating the second torque bracket relative to the second length.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
forming a groove in each of the first and second lengths; and
inserting a retainer in each groove to retain the first and second torque brackets between the first and second brackets and the ends of the first and second lengths.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
forming a thread at the end of each of the first and second lengths; and
coupling a female coaxial connector to each thread.