US 12,306,671 B2
Timing mechanism for foldable computing device
Devin Samuel Jacob Caplow-Munro, Seattle, WA (US); Daniel Clark Park, Woodinville, WA (US); Eric Paul Witt, Redmond, WA (US); Karsten Aagaard, Monroe, WA (US); Denys V Yaremenko, Bellevue, WA (US); Brett Andrew Tomky, Seattle, WA (US); Errol Mark Tazbaz, Bellevue, WA (US); and Tung Yuen Lau, Hong Kong (CN)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/062,925.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/365,832, filed on Jun. 3, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0393633 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1652 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1641 (2013.01); G06F 1/1681 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A foldable computing device, comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion;
a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first portion to the second portion; and
a flexible display extending at least partially across the first portion, at least partially across the second portion, and spanning the hinge assembly between the first portion and the second portion;
the hinge assembly including:
a hinge core;
a helical timing element defining a first set of one or more helical surfaces and a second set of one or more helical surfaces, wherein the helical timing element forms a portion of a backing support for the flexible display;
a first linkage component rotatably coupling the hinge core to the first portion, the first linkage component defining one or more helical surfaces that interface with the first set of helical surfaces of the helical timing element, wherein the first linkage component forms another portion of the backing support for the flexible display;
a first hinge guide rotatably coupling the hinge core to the first portion;
a second linkage component rotatably coupling the hinge core to the second portion, the second linkage component defining one or more helical surfaces that interface with the second set of helical surfaces of the helical timing element, wherein the second linkage component forms another portion of the backing support for the flexible display; and
a second hinge guide rotatably coupling the hinge core to the second portion, wherein
a backing support surface of the first linkage component for the flexible display is angled relative to a backing support surface of the first portion for the flexible display in a folded configuration of the foldable computing device, and is coplanar with the backing support surface of the first portion in an unfolded configuration of the foldable computing device; and wherein
a backing support surface of the second linkage component for the flexible display is angled relative to a backing support surface of the second portion for the flexible display in the folded configuration of the foldable computing device, and is coplanar with the backing support surface of the second portion in the unfolded configuration of the foldable computing device.