US20040177477A1

US20040177477A1 - Electronic device and hinge assembly thereof

Info

Publication number: US20040177477A1
Application number: US10/796,633
Authority: US
Inventors: Yung-Tsun Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: BenQ Corp
Priority date: 2003-03-11
Filing date: 2004-03-09
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: US7337498B2; TW566817U; US20060075603A1

Abstract

An electronic device and a hinge assembly thereof. The electronic device includes a base, an elastic member, a first cam, a second cam, and a third cam. The elastic member is disposed on the base. The first cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the first cam is abutted by the elastic member. The first cam rotates in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the second cam is abutted by the first cam. When the first cam rotates in the first direction, the second cam rotates along with the first cam. The third cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the third cam is abutted by the second cam. When the first cam rotates in the second direction, the second cam is blocked by the third cam and does not rotate along with the first cam.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic device and a hinge assembly thereof; in particular, the invention relates to a hinge assembly that can make the operation of an electronic device more convenient.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional hand-held, clamshell type electronic devices are opened and closed by hinge torsion. A clamshell type mobile phone, for instance, comprises a housing with upper and lower portions joined by a hinge. The mobile phone may be manually opened to a predetermined angle, such as 30 degrees, relative to its closed state, by torsion acting on the hinge. The mobile phone may then be further opened automatically to a maximum open angle of 180 degrees relative to its closed state. Conversely, when the upper housing portion is manually returned to a 30-degree angle relative to its closed state, the upper housing is automatically closed to its closed state by torsion acting on the hinge.

The hinge is provided with a plurality of cams to obtain the above function and determine the feature of such a clamshell type device to be opened automatically at a certain angle. The device is automatically opened or closed when the angle of the upper housing portion on the hinge exceeds a critical torsion point. For example, when the cams are designed to manually open the device to a 30 degree angle; the upper housing portion of the device must then be automatically opened to the full open angle of 180 degrees. The device may also be automatically opened to the full open angle of 180 degrees after being manually opened to the initial 30 degree angle. To completely close the device from the full open angle of 180 degrees, however, the upper housing portion must be manually closed to an angle on the hinge of less than 30 degrees to automatically return the device to its original closed state. The manual action required to return the upper housing of the electronic device to the original closed state from the full open angle of 180 degrees could possibly be considered inconvenient, hence, a hinge assembly that simplifies the opening and closing action is called for.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the invention provides an electronic device including a hinge assembly enabling the automatic opening and closing feature to be engaged from several positions, thus simplifying the action.

Specifically, in an electronic device as disclosed in the invention, when the auto-open feature in engaged at an angle of 30 degrees, the auto-close feature is engaged at an angle of 150 degrees. That is, after the upper housing portion is manually opened to an angle of more than 30 degrees, the upper housing portion can then be automatically opened to 180 degrees by the hinge. similarly, when the upper housing portion is closed from 180 degrees, the upper housing portion is manually pushed to 150 degrees so that the upper housing portion can be completely closed automatically. Thus, the operation of the electronic device becomes convenient.

Accordingly, the invention provides an electronic device including a base, an elastic member, a first cam, a second cam, and a third cam. The elastic member is disposed on the base. The first cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the first cam is abutted by the elastic member. The first cam is rotated in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the second cam is abutted by the first cam. When the first cam is rotated in the first direction, the second cam is rotated along with the first cam. The third cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the third cam is abutted by the second cam. When the first cam is rotated in the second direction, the second cam is blocked by the third cam and is not rotated along with the first cam.

The present invention provides a hinge assembly including a base, an elastic member, a first cam, a second cam, and a third cam. The elastic member is disposed on the base. The first cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the first cam is rotated in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the second cam is abutted by the first cam. When the first cam is rotated in the first direction, the second cam is rotated along with the first cam. The third cam is disposed on the base in a manner such that the third cam is abutted by the second cam and the elastic member. When the first cam is rotated in the second direction, the second cam is blocked by the third cam and is not rotated along with the first cam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0010]
FIG. 1[0011] a is a schematic view of an electronic device as disclosed in a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1[0012] b is a schematic view of the electronic device as shown in FIG. 1a, in a closed state with a partial cut away view exposing a portion of the hinge assembly;
FIG. 1[0013] c is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 1b;
FIG. 2[0014] a is an exploded view of a hinge assembly as disclosed in the invention;
FIG. 2[0015] b is a schematic view of the assembled hinge assembly in FIG. 2a;
FIG. 3[0016] a and FIG. 3b are schematic views of a first cam in FIG. 2a;
FIG. 3[0017] c and FIG. 3d are schematic views of a second cam in FIG. 2a;
FIG. 3[0018] e and FIG. 3f are schematic views of a third cam in FIG. 2a:
FIGS. 4[0019] a-4 j are schematic views showing the hinge assembly in different rotating angles;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view in the potential energy of an elastic member when an upper housing portion is rotated; and [0020]
FIGS. 6[0021] a-6 c are schematic views of an electronic device as disclosed in a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

EMBODIMENT

1

FIGS. 1[0022] a-1 c show an electronic device as disclosed in a first embodiment of the invention. The electronic device 1 includes a body 10, an upper housing portion 20, and a hinge assembly 30. The body 10 is the main component of the electronic device 1, and includes a printed circuit board (not shown) therein and a keypad (not labeled) thereon. As shown in FIG. 1c, the body 10 includes a first fixed hole 11 in which the hinge assembly 30 is disposed. The upper housing portion 20 is disposed on the body 10 in a manner such that the upper housing portion 20 can rotate in an opening direction (hereinafter referred as a first direction) and a closing direction (hereinafter referred as a second direction) as shown in FIG. 1a. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. In addition, the upper housing portion 20 may include a screen (not labeled) thereon. As shown in FIG. 1c, the upper housing portion 20 includes a second fixed hole 21 in which the hinge assembly 30 is disposed.
As shown in FIG. 1[0023] b and FIG. 1c, the hinge assembly 30 is disposed in the first fixed hole 11 of the body 10 and the second fixed hole 21 of the upper housing portion 20, and connects the upper housing portion 20 to the body 10 so that the upper housing portion 20 can rotate with respect to the body 10. Referring to FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, the hinge assembly 30 includes a base 31, an elastic member 32, a first cam 33, a second cam 34, a third cam 35, and a pin 36.
As shown in FIG. 1[0024] c, the base 31 is disposed in the first fixed hole 11 and the second fixed hole 21. As shown in FIG. 2a, the base 31 includes a bottom portion 311 and a shaft portion 312. The bottom portion 311 is located in the second fixed hole 21 of the upper housing portion 20, and the elastic member 32 is disposed on the bottom portion 311. The shaft portion 312 is integrally formed with the bottom portion 311 and normal to the bottom portion 311, and passes through the elastic member 32, the first cam 33, the second cam 34, and the third cam 35. The shaft portion 312 includes a fourth through hole 313.
The [0025] elastic member 32 is disposed on the bottom portion 311 of the base 31, and is located in the second fixed hole 21 of the upper housing portion 20. When the first cam 33, the second cam 34, and third cam 35 rotate, their movement is restricted to a predetermined range due to the elastic member 32. It is understood that the elastic member 32 may a spring.
The [0026] first cam 33 is disposed on the base 31 in a manner such that the first cam 33 is abutted by the elastic member 32. As shown in FIG. 1c, the first cam 33 is located in the second fixed hole 21 of the upper housing portion 20. Referring to FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, the first cam 33 includes a first curved surface 331 at a side abutted by the second cam 34, and includes a first fixed coupler 332 opposite to the first curved surface 331. The first curved surface 331 includes a first portion 331 a, a second portion 331 b, a fifth portion 331 c, a sixth portion 331 d, a seventh portion 331 e, and an eighth portion 331 f. Both the first portion 331 a and the second portion 331 b have substantially flat faces, and both the normal directions thereof are perpendicular to a central axis A1 of the first cam 33. The first portion 331 a and the second portion 331 b are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A1.
As shown in FIG. 3[0027] a, the fifth portion 331 c, the sixth portion 331 d, the seventh portion 331 e, and the eighth portion 331 f are inclined faces respectively. The fifth portion 331 c is connected to the first portion 331 a and the sixth portion 331 d. The sixth portion 331 d is connected to the second portion 331 b and the fifth portion 331 c. The seventh portion 331 e is connected to the second portion 331 b and the eighth portion 331 f. The eighth portion 331 f is connected to the first portion 331 a and the seventh portion 331 e. Furthermore, the fifth portion 331 c and the seventh portion 331 e are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A1. The sixth portion 331 d and the eighth portion 331 f are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A1.
Referring to FIG. 1[0028] c, the shape of the first coupler 332 corresponds to that of the second fixed hole 21. Thus, the first cam 33 can slide in the second fixed hole 21, but does not rotate with respect to the second fixed hole 21. That is, the first cam 33 can rotate along with the upper housing portion 20. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3b, the first cam 33 includes a first through hole 333, and is assembled with the base 31 by the shaft portion 312 of the base 31 passing through the first through hole 333 as shown in FIG. 2b.
The [0029] second cam 34 is disposed on the base 31 in a manner such that the second cam 34 is abutted by the first cam 33. As shown in FIG. 1c, the second cam 34 is located in the second fixed hole 21 of the upper housing portion 20. Referring to FIG. 3c and FIG. 3d, the second cam 34 includes a second curved surface 341 at a side abutted by the first cam 33, and includes a third curved surface 342 at a side abutted by the third cam 35.
As shown in FIG. 3[0030] c, the second curved surface 341 includes a third portion 341 a, a fourth portion 341 b, a ninth portion 341 c, a tenth portion 341 d, an eleventh portion 341 e, and a twelfth portion 341 f. Both the third portion 341 a and the fourth portion 341 b have substantially flat faces, and both the normal directions thereof are perpendicular to a central axis A2 of the second cam 34. The third portion 341 a and the fourth portion 341 b are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A2. The first portion 331 a and the second portion 331 b of the first cam 33 are engaged with the third portion 341 a and the fourth portion 341 b of the second cam 34. When the first cam 33 is rotated to a second predetermined angle in the second direction by the upper housing portion 20 as shown in FIG. 4i, the first cam 33 can be rotated automatically to a first predetermined angle, as shown in FIG. 4j, by the first portion 331 a, the second portion 331 b, the third portion 341 a, and the fourth portion 341 b.
As shown in FIG. 3[0031] c, the ninth portion 341 c, the tenth portion 341 d, the eleventh portion 341 e, and the twelfth portion 341 f are inclined faces respectively. The ninth portion 341 c is connected to the third portion 341 a and the tenth portion 341 d. The tenth portion 341 d is connected to the fourth portion 341 b and the ninth portion 341 c. The eleventh portion 341 e is connected to the fourth portion 341 b and the twelfth portion 341 f. The twelfth portion 341 f is connected to the third portion 341 a and the eleventh portion 341 e. Furthermore, the ninth portion 341 c and the eleventh portion 341 e are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A2. The tenth portion 341 d and the twelfth portion 341 f are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A2.
In addition, the [0032] fifth portion 331 c and the seventh portion 331 e of the first cam 33 correspond to the ninth portion 341 c and the eleventh portion 341 e of the second cam 34. The sixth portion 331 d and the eighth portion 331 f of the first cam 33 correspond to the tenth portion 341 d and the twelfth portion 341 f of second cam 34.
As shown in FIG. 3[0033] d, the third curved surface 342 includes a thirteenth portion 342 a, a fourteenth portion 342 b, a seventeenth portion 342 c, an eighteenth portion 342 d, a nineteenth portion 342 e, and a twentieth portion 342 f. Both the thirteenth portion 342 a and the fourteenth portion 342 b have substantially flat faces, and both the normal directions thereof are perpendicular to the central axis A2. The thirteenth portion 342 a and the fourteenth portion 342 b are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A2.
The [0034] seventeenth portion 342 c, the eighteenth portion 342 d, the nineteenth portion 342 e, and the twentieth portion 342 f are inclined faces respectively. The seventeenth portion 342 c is connected to the thirteenth portion 342 a and the eighteenth portion 342 d. The eighteenth portion 342 d is connected to the fourteenth portion 342 b and the seventeenth portion 342 c. The nineteenth portion 342 e is connected to the fourteenth portion 342 b and the twentieth portion 342 f. The twentieth portion 342 f is connected to the thirteenth portion 342 a and the nineteenth portion 342 e. The seventeenth portion 342 c and the nineteenth portion 342 e are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A2, and the eighteenth portion 342 d and the twentieth portion 342 f are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A2.
In addition, when the [0035] upper housing portion 20 is rotated in the first direction, the second cam 34 is rotated by the upper housing portion 20 via the first cam 33. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3c, the second cam 34 includes a second through hole 343, and is assembled with the base 31 by the shaft portion 312 of the base 31 passing through the second through hole 343.
Referring to FIG. 1[0036] c, the third cam 35 is disposed on the base 31 in a manner such that the third cam 35 is abutted by the second cam 34. A portion of the second cam 34 is located in the first fixed hole 11, and another portion of that is located in the second fixed hole 21. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3e and FIG. 3f, the third cam 35 includes a fourth curved surface 351 at a side abutted by the second cam 34, and includes a second fixed coupler 352 opposite to the fourth curved surface 351. The fourth curved surface 351 includes a fifteenth portion 351 a, a sixteenth portion 351 b, a twenty-first portion 351 c, a twenty-second portion 351 d, a twenty-third portion 351 e, and a twenty-fourth portion 351 f. Both the fifteenth portion 351 a and the sixteenth portion 351 b have substantially flat faces, and both the normal directions thereof are perpendicular to a central axis A3 of the third cam 35. The fifteenth portion 351 a and the sixteenth portion 351 b are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A3.
The [0037] thirteenth portion 342 a and the fourteenth portion 342 b of the second cam 34 are engaged with the fifteenth portion 351 a and the sixteenth portion 351 b of the third cam 35. When the second cam 34 is rotated to a fourth predetermined angle in the first direction by the upper housing portion 20 via the first cam 33 as shown in FIG. 4c, the second cam 34 can be automatically rotated to a third predetermined angle, as shown in FIG. 4f, by the thirteenth portion 342 a, the fourteenth portion 342 b, the fifteen portion 351 a, and the sixteenth portion 351 b.
As shown in FIG. 3[0038] e, the twenty-first portion 351 c, the twenty-second portion 351 d, the twenty-third portion 351 e, and the twenty-fourth portion 351 f are inclined faces respectively. The twenty-first portion 351 c is connected to the fifteenth portion 351 a and the twenty-second portion 351 d. The twenty-second portion 351 d is connected to the sixteenth portion 351 b and the twenty-first portion 351 c. The twenty-third portion 351 e is connected to the sixteenth portion 351 b and the twenty-fourth portion 351 f. The twenty-fourth portion 351 f is connected to the fifteenth portion 351 a and the twenty-third portion 351 e. The twenty-first portion 351 c and the twenty-third portion 351 e are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A3, and the twenty-second portion 351 d and the twenty-fourth portion 351 f are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis A3.
The [0039] seventeenth portion 342 c and the nineteenth portion 342 e of the second cam 34 correspond to the twenty-first portion 351 c and the twenty-third portion 351 e of the third cam 35. The eighteenth portion 342 d and the twentieth portion 342 f of the second cam 34 correspond to the twenty-second portion 351 d and the twenty-fourth portion 351 f of the third dam 35.
Referring to FIG. 1[0040] c, the shape of the second fixed coupler 352 corresponds to that of the first fixed hole 11 so that the third cam does not rotate with respect to the first fixed hole 11 of the body 10. Thus, when the upper housing portion 20 is rotated in the second direction, the second cam 34 is blocked by the third cam 35 so that the second cam 34 does not rotate with the upper housing portion 20. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3e, the third cam 35 includes a third through hole 353, and is assembled with the base 31 by the shaft portion 312 of the base 31 passing through the third through hole 353.
As shown in FIG. 3[0041] f, the third cam 35 includes a fifth through hole 354, corresponding to the fourth through hole 313 of the shaft portion 312, in which the pin 36 passes through. That is, the pin 36 passes through the fifth through hole 354 and the fourth through hole 313 so that the third cam 35 is fixed on the base 31. As a result, the elastic member 32, the first cam 33, and the second cam 34 are positioned between the base 31 and the third cam 35 as shown in FIG. 2b and FIG. 4a.
FIGS. 4[0042] a-4 j are schematic views showing the hinge assembly 30 at different angles of rotation, and FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a change in the potential energy of the elastic member 32 when the upper housing portion 20 is rotated. In FIG. 5, a horizontal axis represents an angle between the body 10 and the upper housing portion 20, and a vertical axis represents the potential energy of the elastic member 32. Also, in FIG. 5, a solid line represents the change in the potential energy of the elastic member 32 when the upper housing portion 20 is opened, and the dashed line represents the change in the potential energy of the elastic member 32 when the upper housing portion 20 is closed.
FIG. 4[0043] a shows the hinge assembly 30 in an initial state. In FIG. 4a, the fifteenth portion 351 a of the third cam 35 is engaged with the thirteenth portion 342 a of the second cam 34, and the third portion 341 a of the second cam 34 is engaged with the first portion 331 a of the first cam 33. It is noted that the potential energy of the elastic member 32 in FIG. 4a is shown at a “0” position on the horizontal axis of FIG. 5. To open the upper housing portion 20, the first cam 33 is rotated in a clockwise direction (i.e. first direction) with respect to the third cam 35 as shown in FIGS. 4b-4 f. Since the third portion 341 a of the second cam 34 is engaged with the first portion 331 a of the first cam 33, the first cam 33 does not rotate with respect to the second cam 34. Thus, when the first cam 33 is rotated in the first direction, the second cam 34 is simultaneously rotated along with the first cam 33. In addition, by the curved surfaces 342 and 351 between the second cam 34 and the third cam 35, the second cam 34 is rotated with respect to the third cam 35 so that the elastic member 32 is compressed by the first cam 33 and the second cam 34. Thus, the potential energy of the elastic member 32 is increased as shown in the solid line of FIG. 5. That is, when the first cam 33 is rotated in the first direction, the torsion potential between the first cam 33 and the third cam 35 is determined by the curved surfaces 342 and 351 between the second cam 34 and the third cam 35. When the relationship between the second cam 34 and the third cam 35 is located between the state of FIG. 4b and the state of FIG. 4c, the angle between the body 10 and the upper housing portion 20 is located at a “θ1” position on the horizontal axis of FIG. 5. At this time, the potential energy of the elastic member 32 attains its highest point along the solid line. The second cam 34 can then be engaged with the third cam 35 again by torsion from the elastic member 32 as shown in FIGS. 4d-4 f. As a result, the angle between the body 10 and the upper housing portion 20 is located at 180 degrees.
In contrast, to return the [0044] upper housing portion 20 to a closed state, the first cam 33 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (i.e. second direction) with respect to the third cam 35 as shown in FIGS. 4f-4 i. Since the sixteenth portion 351 b of the third cam 35 is engaged with the thirteenth portion 342 a of the second cam 34, the second cam 34 does not rotate with respect to the third cam 35. Thus, when the first cam 33 is rotated in the second direction, the second cam 34 is blocked by the third cam 35 to prevent it from rotating with the first cam 33. In addition, by the curved surfaces 331 and 341 between the second cam 34 and the first cam 33, the second cam 34 is rotated with respect to the first cam 33 so that the elastic member 32 is compressed by the first cam 33. Thus, the potential energy of the elastic member 32 is changed as shown in the dash line of FIG. 5. That is, when the first cam 33 is rotated in the second direction, the torsional performance between the first cam 33 and the third cam 35 is determined by curved surfaces 331 and 341 between the second cam 34 and the first cam 33. When the relationship between the first cam 33 and the second cam 34 is located in the state between FIG. 4g and FIG. 4h, the angle between the body 10 and the upper housing portion 20 is located at a “180-θ1” position on the horizontal axis of FIG. 5. At this time, the potential energy of the elastic member 32 attains its highest point along the dashed line. The second cam 34 can then be engaged with the first cam 33 again by the torsion of the elastic member 32 as shown in FIG. 4j. As a result, the angle between the body 10 and the upper housing portion 20 is located at 0 degrees.
It is noted that FIGS. 4[0045] a-4 j are illustrated by using the first cam 33 as a focal component. That is, in FIGS. 4a-4 j, the first cam 33 is maintained at a fixed position, and the second cam 34 and the third cam 35 are rotated.
As stated above, when the [0046] upper housing portion 20 is opened, the torsion required between the upper housing portion 20 and the body 10 is determined by the curved surfaces 342 and 351 between the second cam 34 and the third cam 35. When the upper housing portion 20 is closed, the amount of torsion between the upper housing portion 20 and the body 10 is determined by curved surfaces 331 and 341 between the first cam 33 and the second cam 34.
That is, in the hinge assembly of this embodiment, the curved surfaces between the first cam and second cam are different from those between the second cam and the third cam. Thus, the critical torsion points (i.e. points where the automatic opening and closing features are engaged) are different when the upper housing portion is opened and closed. As a result, the automatic opening and closing features of the electronic device can be engaged from different angles on the hinge. [0047]

EMBODIMENT 2

FIGS. 6[0048] a-6 c show an electronic device 1 a as disclosed in a second embodiment of this invention. The electronic device la includes a body 10 a, an upper housing portion 20 a, and a hinge assembly 30. The body 10 a is the main component of the electronic device 1 a, and includes a printed circuit board (not shown) therein and a keypad (not labeled) thereon. As shown in FIG. 6c, the body 10 a includes a first fixed hole 11 a in which the hinge assembly 30 is disposed. The upper housing portion 20 a is disposed on the body 10 a, and includes a screen (not labeled) thereon. As shown in FIG. 6c, the upper housing portion 20 a includes a second fixed hole 21 a in which the hinge assembly 30 is disposed. It is noted that the hinge assembly 30 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Thus, its description is omitted.
The difference between the first embodiment and this embodiment is described as follows. In this embodiment, the [0049] elastic member 32, the first cam 33, and the second cam 34 of the hinge assembly 30 are located in the first fixed hole 11 a of the body 10 a as shown in FIG. 6b and FIG. 6c. In addition, a portion of the third cam 35 is located in the first fixed hole 11 a of the body 10 a, and another portion of the third cam 35 is located in the second fixed hole 21 a of the upper housing portion 20. That is, the shape of the first fixed coupler 332 of the first cam 33 corresponds to that of the first fixed hole 11 a so that the first cam 33 does not rotate with respect to the first fixed hole 11 a of the body 10 a. The shape of the second fixed coupler 352 of the third cam 35 corresponds to that of the second fixed hole 21 a so that the third cam 35 does not rotate with respect to the second fixed hole 21 a of the upper housing portion 20 a.
Thus, unlike the first embodiment, when the [0050] upper housing portion 20 a is rotated with respect to the body 10 a, the third cam 35 is rotated with respect to the first cam 33 by the upper housing portion 20 a.
Since the hinge assembly of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the functions of the first embodiment can also be attained in this embodiment. That is, the electronic device can be opened and closed from different angles. [0051]
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to upper housing portion various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. [0052]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:

a base;

an elastic member disposed on the base;

a first cam disposed on the base in a manner such that the first cam is abutted by the elastic member, wherein the first cam rotates in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;

a second cam disposed on the base in a manner such that the second cam is abutted by the first cam, wherein the second cam rotates along with the first cam when the first cam rotates in the first direction; and

a third cam disposed on the base in a manner such that the third cam is abutted by the second cam, wherein the second cam is blocked by the third cam and is not rotated along with the first cam when the first cam rotates in the second direction:

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cam includes a first curved surface at a side abutted by the second cam, and the first curved surface includes a first portion and a second portion parallel to the first portion, and the second cam includes a second curved surface at a side abutted by the first cam, and the second curved surface includes a third portion and a fourth portion parallel to the third portion, and the first portion and the second portion are engaged with the third portion and the fourth portion, and the first cam automatically rotates to a first predetermined angle by the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion when the first cam rotates to a second predetermined angle in the second direction due to external force.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first curved surface further includes a fifth portion, a sixth portion, a seventh portion, and an eighth portion, and the fifth portion is connected to the first portion, and the sixth portion is connected to the second portion and the fifth portion, and the seventh portion is connected to the second portion, and the eighth portion is connected to the first portion and the seventh portion, and the fifth portion and the seventh portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the first cam, and the sixth portion and the eighth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the first cam.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second curved surface further includes a ninth portion, a tenth portion, an eleventh portion, and a twelfth portion, and the ninth portion is connected to the third portion, and the tenth portion is connected to the fourth portion and the ninth portion, and the eleventh portion is connected to the fourth portion, and the twelfth portion is connected to the third portion and the eleventh portion, and the ninth portion and the eleventh portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the second cam, and the tenth portion and the twelfth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the second cam.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fifth portion and the seventh portion correspond to the ninth portion and the eleventh portion, and the sixth portion and the eighth portion correspond to the tenth portion and the twelfth portion.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first cam further includes a first fixed coupler opposite to the first curved surface.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cam includes a third curved surface at a side abutted by the third cam, and the third curved surface includes a thirteenth portion and a fourteenth portion parallel to the thirteenth portion, and the third cam includes a fourth curved surface at a side abutted by the second cam, and the fourth curved surface includes a fifteenth portion and a sixteenth portion parallel to the fifteenth portion, and the thirteenth portion and the fourteenth portion are engaged with the fifteenth portion and the sixteenth portion, and the first cam and the second cam automatically rotate to a third predetermined angle by the thirteenth portion, the fourteenth portion, the fifteenth portion, and the sixteenth portion when the second cam rotates to a fourth predetermined angle in the first direction by the first cam due to external force.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the third curved surface further includes a seventeenth portion, an eighteenth portion, a nineteenth portion, and a twentieth portion, and the seventeenth portion is connected to the thirteenth portion, and the eighteenth portion is connected to the fourteenth portion and the seventeenth portion, and the nineteenth portion is connected to the fourteenth portion, and the twentieth portion is connected to the thirteenth portion and the nineteenth portion, and the seventeenth portion and the nineteenth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the second cam, and the eighteenth portion and the twentieth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the second cam.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fourth curved surface further includes a twenty-first portion, a twenty-second portion, a twenty-third portion, and a twenty-fourth portion, and the twenty-first portion is connected to the fifteenth portion, and the twenty-second portion is connected to the sixteenth portion and the twenty-first portion, and the twenty-third portion is connected to the sixteenth portion, and the twenty-fourth portion is connected to the fifteenth portion and the twenty-third portion, and the twenty-first portion and the twenty-third portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the third cam, and the twenty-second portion and the twenty-fourth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the third cam.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seventeenth portion and the nineteenth portion correspond to the twenty-first portion and the twenty-third portion, and the eighteenth portion and the twentieth portion correspond to the twenty-second portion and the twenty-fourth portion.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the third cam further includes a second fixed coupler opposite to the fourth curved surface.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base comprises:

a bottom portion on which the elastic member is disposed; and

a shaft portion integrally formed with the bottom portion, for passing through the elastic member, the first cam, the second cam, and the third cam.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first cam includes a first through hole, and the second cam includes a second through hole, and the third cam includes a third through hole, and the first cam, the second cam, and the third cam are disposed on the bottom portion by the shaft portion passing through the first through hole, the second through hole, and the third through hole.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the shaft portion includes a fourth through hole, and the third cam includes a fifth through hole corresponding to the fourth through hole, and the base further includes a pin for passing through the fifth hole and the fourth hole so that the third cam is fixed on the base.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a spring.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a body including a first fixed hole, wherein a portion of the base and a portion of the third cam are disposed in the first fixed hole; and

an upper housing portion, including a second fixed hole, disposed on the body in a manner such that the upper housing portion rotates in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the body, wherein another portion of the base, the elastic member, the first cam, the second cam, and another portion of the third cam are disposed in the second fixed hole, whereby the base and the first cam rotate along with the upper housing portion, and the second cam rotates by the upper housing portion via the first cam when the upper housing portion rotates in the first direction, and the second cam is blocked by the third cam and does not rotate along with the upper housing portion when the upper housing portion rotates in the second direction.

17. A hinge assembly comprising:

a base;

an elastic member disposed on the base:

a first cam disposed on the base in a manner such that the first cam rotates in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;

a third cam disposed on the base in a manner such that the third cam is abutted by the second cam and the elastic member, wherein the second cam is blocked by the third cam and does not rotate along with the first cam when the first cam rotates in the second direction.

18. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first cam includes a first curved surface at a side abutted by the second cam, and the first curved surface includes a first portion and a second portion parallel to the first portion, and the second cam includes a second curved surface at a side abutted by the first cam, and the second curved surface includes a third portion and a fourth portion parallel to the third portion, and the first portion and the second portion are engaged with the third portion and the fourth portion, and the first cam automatically rotates to a first predetermined angle by the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion when the first cam rotates to a second predetermined angle in the second direction due to external force.

19. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first curved surface further includes a fifth portion, a sixth portion, a seventh portion, and an eighth portion, and the fifth portion is connected to the first portion, and the sixth portion is connected to the second portion and the fifth portion, and the seventh portion is connected to the second portion, and the eighth portion is connected to the first portion and the seventh portion, and the fifth portion and the seventh portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the first cam, and the sixth portion and the eighth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the first cam.

20. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second curved surface further includes a ninth portion, a tenth portion, an eleventh portion, and a twelfth portion, and the ninth portion is connected to the third portion, and the tenth portion is connected to the fourth portion and the ninth portion, and the eleventh portion is connected to the fourth portion, and the twelfth portion is connected to the third portion and the eleventh portion, and the ninth portion and the eleventh portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the second cam, and the tenth portion and the twelfth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the second cam.

21. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fifth portion and the seventh portion correspond to the ninth portion and the eleventh portion, and the sixth portion and the eighth portion correspond to the tenth portion and the twelfth portion.

22. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first cam further includes a first fixed coupler opposite to the first curved surface.

23. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second cam includes a third curved surface at a side abutted by the third cam, and the third curved surface includes a thirteenth portion and a fourteenth portion parallel to the thirteenth portion, and the third cam includes a fourth curved surface at a side abutted by the second cam, and the fourth curved surface includes a fifteenth portion and a sixteenth portion parallel to the fifteenth portion, and the thirteenth portion and the fourteenth portion are engaged with the fifteenth portion and the sixteenth portion, and the first cam and the second cam automatically rotate to a third predetermined angle by the thirteenth portion, the fourteenth portion, the fifteenth portion, and the sixteenth portion when the second cam rotates to a fourth predetermined angle in the first direction by the first cam due to external force.

24. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein the third curved surface further includes a seventeenth portion, an eighteenth portion, a nineteenth portion, and a twentieth portion, and the seventeenth portion is connected to the thirteenth portion, and the eighteenth portion is connected to the fourteenth portion and the seventeenth portion, and the nineteenth portion is connected to the fourteenth portion, and the twentieth portion is connected to the thirteenth portion and the nineteenth portion, and the seventeenth portion and the nineteenth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the second cam, and the eighteenth portion and the twentieth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the second cam.

25. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein the fourth curved surface further includes a twenty-first portion, a twenty-second portion, a twenty-third portion, and a twenty-fourth portion, and the twenty-first portion is connected to the fifteenth portion, and the twenty-second portion is connected to the sixteenth portion and the twenty-first portion, and the twenty-third portion is connected to the sixteenth portion, and the twenty-fourth portion is connected to the fifteenth portion and the twenty-third portion, and the twenty-first portion and the twenty-third portion are conjugate to each other with respect to a central axis of the third cam, and the twenty-second portion and the twenty-fourth portion are conjugate to each other with respect to the central axis of the third cam.

26. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 25, wherein the seventeenth portion and the nineteenth portion correspond to the twenty-first portion and the twenty-third portion, and the eighteenth portion and the twentieth portion correspond to the twenty-second portion and the twenty-fourth portion.

27. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein the third cam further includes a second fixed coupler opposite to the fourth curved surface.

28. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base comprises:

a bottom portion on which the elastic member is disposed; and

29. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first cam includes a first through hole, and the second cam includes a second through hole, and the third cam includes a third through hole, and the first cam, the second cam, and the third cam are disposed on the bottom portion by the shaft portion passing through the first through hole, the second through hole, and the third through hole.

30. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 28, wherein the shaft portion includes a fourth through hole, and the first cam includes a fifth through hole corresponding to the fourth through hole, and the base further includes a pin for passing through the fifth hole and the fourth hole so that the first cam is fixed on the base.

31. The hinge assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the elastic member is a spring.