Abstract: A foldable computing device comprises a first portion, a second portion, a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first portion to the second portion, and a flexible display. The flexible display extends at least partially across the first portion and at least partially across the second portion, and spans the hinge assembly between the first portion and the second portion. The hinge assembly includes a hinge core, a first linkage component rotatably coupling the hinge core to the first portion and forming a portion of a backing support for the flexible display, and a first hinge guide rotatably coupling the hinge core to the first portion. The hinge assembly further includes a second linkage component rotatably coupling the hinge core to the second portion and forming another portion of the backing support for the flexible display, and a second hinge guide rotatably coupling the hinge core to the second portion.

Abstract: Examples of kickstand assemblies for foldable computing devices are provided. In one example, in a foldable computing device comprising a first frame rotatably coupled to a second frame, a method of using a kickstand assembly to release the first frame and the second frame from a closed orientation comprises sliding an upper kickstand plate of the kickstand assembly in a lateral direction relative to the first frame. The method includes, at least on condition of sliding the upper kickstand plate in the lateral direction, biasing the first frame and the second frame to rotate open from the closed orientation.

Abstract: Examples of kickstand assemblies for foldable computing devices are provided. In one example, in a foldable computing device comprising a first frame rotatably coupled to a second frame, a method of using a kickstand assembly to release the first frame and the second frame from a closed orientation comprises sliding an upper kickstand plate of the kickstand assembly in a lateral direction relative to the first frame. The method includes, at least on condition of sliding the upper kickstand plate in the lateral direction, biasing the first frame and the second frame to rotate open from the closed orientation.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part and a second housing part coupled by a hinge assembly having a harness, a harness cover, a first hinge body, and a second hinge body. The harness is configured to accommodate flexible printed circuitry and a cable that extend from the first housing part to the second housing part via the hinge assembly. The hinge bodies include respective friction bands, each friction band being configured to engage a respective shaft formed on the harness and having a gear configured to mesh with a respective cog arranged within the harness cover to coordinate a timing of the rotation of the first and second housing parts between face-to-face and back-to-back orientations. The hinge assembly further includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part with a first display and a second housing part with a second display. The first and second housing parts are coupled by a hinge assembly that includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism configured to bias with a biasing torque the first housing part and second housing part to rotate away from each other when the first and second displays are in a closed face-to-face orientation. An electro-magnetic closure system is configured to retain the first and second displays in the closed face-to-face orientation against the biasing torque of the spring-loaded opening mechanism, and release of the electro-magnetic closure system permits the first housing part to rotationally separate from the second housing part to a predetermined angular orientation due to the biasing force of the spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: A kickstand assembly comprises a backplate including a backplate deploy magnet having a first magnetic pole orientation. An upper kickstand plate is slidably connected to the backplate, and a lower kickstand plate is rotatably coupled to the upper kickstand plate. The lower kickstand plate includes a closing magnet having a second magnetic pole orientation that attracts the backplate deploy magnet, and an opening magnet laterally spaced from the closing magnet and having the first magnetic pole orientation that repels the backplate deploy magnet to cause the lower kickstand plate to rotate about the upper kickstand plate when the upper kickstand plate is laterally translated relative to the backplate.

Abstract: An apparatus allows a device to open from a closed configuration. The device comprises a first frame comprising a first magnet assembly, and a second frame rotatably coupled to the first frame. The apparatus comprises a second magnet assembly rotatably coupled to the second frame and configured to attract the first magnet assembly when the two frames and are in the closed configuration. A biasing member biases the second magnet assembly for rotation in an open direction. An actuator comprises first and second arms extending from an elongated base toward first and second cams that are coupled to the second magnet assembly. Translation of the elongated base toward the second magnet assembly causes the arms to rotate the cams, thereby causing rotation of the second magnet assembly in the open direction to reduce a magnetic force between the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly.

Abstract: A kickstand assembly comprises a backplate including a backplate deploy magnet having a first magnetic pole orientation. An upper kickstand plate is slidably connected to the backplate, and a lower kickstand plate is rotatably coupled to the upper kickstand plate. The lower kickstand plate includes a closing magnet having a second magnetic pole orientation that attracts the backplate deploy magnet, and an opening magnet laterally spaced from the closing magnet and having the first magnetic pole orientation that repels the backplate deploy magnet to cause the lower kickstand plate to rotate about the upper kickstand plate when the upper kickstand plate is laterally translated relative to the backplate.

Abstract: Examples of kickstand assemblies for foldable computing devices are provided. In one example, in a foldable computing device comprising a first frame rotatably coupled to a second frame, a method of using a kickstand assembly to release the first frame and the second frame from a closed orientation comprises sliding an upper kickstand plate of the kickstand assembly in a lateral direction relative to the first frame. The method includes, at least on condition of sliding the upper kickstand plate in the lateral direction, biasing the first frame and the second frame to rotate open from the closed orientation.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to the rotational mounting of a display device to another supporting structure, such as a stand or a wall. One example provides a system comprising a display device, a support structure configured to be mounted to another structure to thereby support the display device on the other structure, and a mechanical interface rotationally connecting the display device and the support structure. The mechanical interface comprises three or more rail segments including a cam rail segment comprising a cam, and for each rail segment, one or more corresponding rollers, a roller for the cam rail segment being a follower and being coupled with a spring configured to bias the follower toward the cam rail segment.

Abstract: A foldable computing device comprises a first portion, a second portion, a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first portion to the second portion, and a flexible display. The flexible display extends at least partially across the first portion and at least partially across the second portion, and spans the hinge assembly between the first portion and the second portion. The hinge assembly includes a hinge core, a first linkage component rotatably coupling the hinge core to the first portion and forming a portion of a backing support for the flexible display, and a first hinge guide rotatably coupling the hinge core to the first portion. The hinge assembly further includes a second linkage component rotatably coupling the hinge core to the second portion and forming another portion of the backing support for the flexible display, and a second hinge guide rotatably coupling the hinge core to the second portion.

Abstract: A foldable computing device comprises a first portion, a second portion, a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first portion to the second portion, and a flexible display. The hinge assembly includes a hinge core, a timing element, a first linkage component rotatably coupling the hinge core to the first portion, 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, and a second hinge guide rotatably coupling the hinge core to the second portion. The first linkage component defines one or more helical surfaces that interface with the timing element, and the second linkage component defines one or more helical surfaces that interface with the timing element. The timing element coordinates rotation of the first linkage component with rotation of the second linkage component.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part with a first display and a second housing part with a second display. The first and second housing parts are coupled by a hinge assembly that includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism configured to bias with a biasing torque the first housing part and second housing part to rotate away from each other when the first and second displays are in a closed face-to-face orientation. An electro-magnetic closure system is configured to retain the first and second displays in the closed face-to-face orientation against the biasing torque of the spring-loaded opening mechanism, and release of the electro-magnetic closure system permits the first housing part to rotationally separate from the second housing part to a predetermined angular orientation due to the biasing force of the spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part with a first display and a second housing part with a second display. The first and second housing parts are coupled by a hinge assembly that includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism configured to bias with a biasing torque the first housing part and second housing part to rotate away from each other when the first and second displays are in a closed face-to-face orientation. An electro-magnetic closure system is configured to retain the first and second displays in the closed face-to-face orientation against the biasing torque of the spring-loaded opening mechanism, and release of the electro-magnetic closure system permits the first housing part to rotationally separate from the second housing part to a predetermined angular orientation due to the biasing force of the spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part and a second housing part coupled by a hinge assembly having a harness, a harness cover, a first hinge body, and a second hinge body. The harness is configured to accommodate flexible printed circuitry and a cable that extend from the first housing part to the second housing part via the hinge assembly. The hinge bodies include respective friction bands, each friction band being configured to engage a respective shaft formed on the harness and having a gear configured to mesh with a respective cog arranged within the harness cover to coordinate a timing of the rotation of the first and second housing parts between face-to-face and back-to-back orientations. The hinge assembly further includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: A device for supporting an electronic display includes a base, a display mount having a first position and a second position relative to the base, and a connection mechanism positioned between the base and the display mount. The connection mechanism is configured to rotate and translate the display mount from the first position to the second position according to a torque curve. The torque curve includes a discovery stage adjacent the first position, an initiation stage rotationally after the discovery stage, and an approach stage rotationally after the initiation stage. The connection mechanism applies a force toward the first position in the discovery stage. The connection mechanism having an initiation force applied toward the first position that is greater than the force in the discovery stage. The approach stage having an approach force applied toward the second position.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part and a second housing part coupled by a hinge assembly having a harness, a harness cover, a first hinge body, and a second hinge body. The harness is configured to accommodate flexible printed circuitry and a cable that extend from the first housing part to the second housing part via the hinge assembly. The hinge bodies include respective friction bands, each friction band being configured to engage a respective shaft formed on the harness and having a gear configured to mesh with a respective cog arranged within the harness cover to coordinate a timing of the rotation of the first and second housing parts between face-to-face and back-to-back orientations. The hinge assembly further includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to the rotational mounting of a display device to another supporting structure, such as a stand or a wall. One example provides a system comprising a display device, a support structure configured to be mounted to another structure to thereby support the display device on the other structure, and a mechanical interface rotationally connecting the display device and the support structure. The mechanical interface comprises three or more rail segments including a cam rail segment comprising a cam, and for each rail segment, one or more corresponding rollers, a roller for the cam rail segment being a follower and being coupled with a spring configured to bias the follower toward the cam rail segment.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part with a first display and a second housing part with a second display. The first and second housing parts are coupled by a hinge assembly that includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism configured to bias with a biasing torque the first housing part and second housing part to rotate away from each other when the first and second displays are in a closed face-to-face orientation. An electro-magnetic closure system is configured to retain the first and second displays in the closed face-to-face orientation against the biasing torque of the spring-loaded opening mechanism, and release of the electro-magnetic closure system permits the first housing part to rotationally separate from the second housing part to a predetermined angular orientation due to the biasing force of the spring-loaded opening mechanism.

Abstract: A hinged mobile computing device includes a first housing part and a second housing part coupled by a hinge assembly having a harness, a harness cover, a first hinge body, and a second hinge body. The harness is configured to accommodate flexible printed circuitry and a cable that extend from the first housing part to the second housing part via the hinge assembly. The hinge bodies include respective friction bands, each friction band being configured to engage a respective shaft formed on the harness and having a gear configured to mesh with a respective cog arranged within the harness cover to coordinate a timing of the rotation of the first and second housing parts between face-to-face and back-to-back orientations. The hinge assembly further includes a spring-loaded opening mechanism.