Infinite Holding Pivot Mechanisms for Dual Screen Systems

Abstract

There is disclosed in one example, an encasement for a mobile computer, including: an external casing in a clamshell form factor, the external casing including a base, a secondary display chassis hingedly connected to the base at a secondary hinge, and a primary display chassis hingedly connected to the secondary display chassis at a primary hinge disposed at a removed edge of the secondary display chassis from the secondary hinge, the primary display chassis to substantially overlay the secondary display chassis and the base when the primary hinge is in a closed position; and pivot means disposed to substantially bias the secondary hinge against movement from a selected position in at least one direction in the absence of an electrical input.

1 . An encasement for a mobile computer, comprising:
 an external casing in a clamshell form factor, the external casing comprising a base, a secondary display chassis hingedly connected to the base at a secondary hinge, and a primary display chassis hingedly connected to the secondary display chassis at a primary hinge disposed at a removed edge of the secondary display chassis from the secondary hinge, the primary display chassis to substantially overlay the secondary display chassis and the base when the primary hinge is in a closed position; and   pivot means disposed to substantially bias the secondary hinge against movement from a selected position in at least one direction except in the presence of an electrical input.   
     
     
         2 . The encasement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one direction is downward, and wherein the pivot means are to permit free movement of the secondary hinge in an upward direction. 
     
     
         3 . The encasement of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot means are to bias the secondary hinge against movement in both an upward and a downward direction in the absence of the electrical input. 
     
     
         4 . The encasement of  claim 1 , further comprising an accidental trigger prevention (ATP) mechanism to remove the electrical input in the absence of sufficient minimal user hand-activated inputs. 
     
     
         5 . The encasement of  claim 1 , further comprising an accidental trigger prevention (ATP) mechanism comprising left and right primary switches disposed on left and right edges of the primary display chassis, and left and right secondary switches disposed on left and right edges of the secondary display chassis, and circuitry or logic to provide the electrical input only if the left primary switch and right secondary switch are closed, or if the left secondary switch and right primary switch are closed. 
     
     
         6 . The encasement of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot means comprise a lockable gas spring. 
     
     
         7 . The encasement of  claim 6 , further comprising a rack affixed to a piston of the lockable gas spring, and a pinion gear engaging the rack and disposed to translate horizontal motion of the rack to rotational motion of the secondary display chassis. 
     
     
         8 . The encasement of  claim 6 , wherein the electrical input comprises electrical activation of an actuating trigger of the lockable gas spring. 
     
     
         9 . The encasement of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot means comprise a one-way roller clutch. 
     
     
         10 . The encasement of  claim 9 , wherein the one-way roller clutch is a tapered roller clutch. 
     
     
         11 . The encasement of  claim 9 , wherein the electrical input comprises an electrical activation of a shape metal alloy in opposition to a compression spring of the one-way roller clutch. 
     
     
         12 . The encasement of  claim 9 , wherein the one-way roller clutch comprises a shape metal alloy (SMA) leaf spring. 
     
     
         13 . The encasement of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical input comprises an electrical stimulus of the SMA leaf spring. 
     
     
         14 . The encasement of  claim 9 , further comprising an internal collet release within a shaft of the one-way roller clutch. 
     
     
         15 . A laptop computer, comprising:
 a base of a clamshell casing, the base comprising a keyboard;   a secondary display screen disposed within a secondary lid of the clamshell casing, the secondary lid hingedly connected to the base via a first hinge controlled by an electrically-actuated lockable gas spring (LGS), comprising a gas spring cylinder, a valve, a piston, and an actuating trigger, wherein the valve closes in the absence of an electrical input to the actuating trigger, and opens in the presence of an electrical input to the actuating trigger, and wherein the valve when closed prevents movement of the piston within the gas spring cylinder, and when open permits movement of the piston within the gas spring cylinder; and   a primary display screen hingedly connected to the secondary display screen via a second hinge.   
     
     
         16 . The laptop computer of  claim 15 , further comprising an accidental trigger protection (ATP) circuit, the ATP circuit electrically configured to provide the electrical input when one or more sensors on the clamshell are triggered, and to not provide the electrical input when at least one sensor on the clamshell is not triggered. 
     
     
         17 . The laptop computer of  claim 16 , further comprising a rack affixed to a piston of the lockable gas spring, and a pinion gear engaging the rack and disposed to translate horizontal motion of the rack to rotational motion of the secondary lid of the clamshell casing. 
     
     
         18 . A laptop computer, comprising:
 a foldable casing comprising a base, the base comprising a primary base structure comprising a keyboard and trackpad, and a secondary base structure comprising a secondary display, and a secondary display chassis, the secondary display chassis hingedly connected to the primary base structure at a controlled hinge point; and   a primary display housed in a primary display chassis and hingedly connected to the secondary display chassis via a friction hinge;   wherein the controlled hinge point comprises a one-way roller clutch comprising a shape metal alloy (SMA) spring in opposition to a compression spring of the one-way roller clutch, wherein the one-way roller clutch freely permits rotation up, and biases against rotation down except in the presence of an electrical input.   
     
     
         19 . The laptop computer of  claim 18 , wherein the one-way roller clutch is a tapered roller clutch. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The laptop computer of  claim 18 , further comprising an internal collet release within a shaft of the one-way roller clutch.