IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,336,067
Granted Patent B2
US 11,336,067 · App. 17/054,534 · Granted May 17, 2022

Hinge adapters

Inventor: Chyun Nan Liu (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
H01R31/06G06F1/1618G06F1/1654G06F1/1681G06F1/1683H01R35/02H01R13/6205
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,336,067
App. No.
17/054,534
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an example, a hinge adapter may include a first connector portion to removably engage with a first electronic device, and a second connector portion to removably operably engage with a second electronic device. Further, the hinge adapter may include a hinge connecting the first connector portion and the second connector portion. The first connector portion may rotate relative to the second connector portion via the hinge.

Claims (30)

1. A hinge adapter, comprising:

a first connector portion comprising a first sleeve and a first electrical connector, wherein the first sleeve is a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first electrical connector is to removably engage with a first electronic device;

a second connector portion comprising a second sleeve and a second electrical connector, wherein the second sleeve is a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, and wherein the second electrical connector is to removably engage with a second electronic device;

a hinge connected to the first end of the first sleeve of the first connector portion and the first end of the second sleeve of the second connector portion, wherein the hinge enables the first connector portion to rotate relative to the second connector portion; and

an electrical cable connecting the first electrical connector of the first connector portion to the second electrical connector of the second connector portion via the second end of the first sleeve and the second end of the second sleeve.

2. The hinge adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first connector portion further comprises a mechanical connector to mechanically engage with a mechanical connector of the first electronic device, and the second connector portion further comprises a mechanical connector to mechanically engage with a mechanical connector of the second electronic device.

3. The hinge adapter of claim 2 , wherein the first connector portion further comprises spring-loaded electrical contacts to electrically engage with an electrical connector of the first electronic device, and the second connector portion further comprises spring-loaded electrical contacts to electrically engage with an electrical connector of the second electronic device.

4. The hinge adapter of claim 3 , wherein the spring-loaded electrical contacts are pogo pins.

5. The hinge adapter of claim 2 , wherein the first connector portion further comprises a magnetic interface to mechanically engage with the mechanical connector of the first electronic device, and the second connector portion further comprises a magnetic interface to mechanically engage with the mechanical connector of the second electronic device.

6. The hinge adapter of claim 1 , wherein the electrical cable enables electrical communication between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.

7. A hinge adapter, comprising:

a first connector portion comprising a first sleeve and a first electrical connector, wherein the first sleeve is a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first electrical connector is to removably engage with a first electronic device;

a second connector portion comprising a second sleeve and a second electrical connector, wherein the second sleeve is a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, and wherein the second electrical connector is to removably engage with a second electronic device;

a hinge engaged with a first end of the first and second sleeves, wherein the first connector portion is to rotate relative to the second connector portion via the hinge; and

an electrical cable connecting the first electrical connector of the first connector portion to the second electrical connector of the second connector portion via a second end of the first and second sleeves.

8. The hinge adapter of claim 7 , wherein the hinge enables the first connector portion and the second connector portion to rotate axially relative to one another.

9. The hinge adapter of claim 8 , further comprising a first hinge cover covering the first end of the first and second sleeves, and a second hinge cover covering the second end of the first and second sleeves.

10. A combined electronic device, comprising:

a first electronic device;

a second electronic device; and

a hinge adapter, comprising:

a first connector portion comprising a first sleeve and a first electrical connector, wherein the first sleeve is a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first electrical connector is to removably engage with the first electronic device;

a second connector portion comprising a second sleeve and a second electrical connector, wherein the second sleeve is a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, and wherein the second electrical connector is to removably engage with the second electronic device;

a hinge connected to the first end of the first sleeve of the first connector portion and the first end of the second sleeve of the second connector portion, wherein the hinge enables the first connector portion to rotate relative to the second connector portion; and

an electrical cable connecting the first electrical connector of the first connector portion to the second electrical connector of the second connector portion via the second end of the first sleeve and the second end of the second sleeve.

11. The combined electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device are each tablet computers.

12. The combined electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first electronic device is to rotate relative to the second electronic device via the hinge.

13. The combined electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first electronic device is to fold against the second electronic device in a closed position, and to fold away from the second electronic device in an open position.

14. The combined electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first electrical connector is to engage with a complementary electrical connector of the first electronic device, and the second electrical connector to engage with a complementary electrical connector of the second electronic device, and wherein the first and second electrical connectors of the first and second connector portions are electrically engaged with one another via the electrical cable to enable electrical communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

15. The combined electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first electronic device is mechanically engaged with the first electrical connector through a first magnetic interface, and the second electronic device is mechanically engaged with the second electrical connector through a second magnetic interface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2020
From: LIU, CHYUN NAN
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 054330/0471 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210313750A1 · Oct 7, 2021