Computing device hinge assembly

A computing device, comprising:

• a first display substrate;
• and
• a second display substrate rotatably coupled to the first display substrate via at least one hinge assembly, where the at least one hinge assembly comprises:
• a first hinge bracket configured to be affixed to the first substrate and comprising a first drive gear and first drive gear shaft;
• a second hinge bracket configured to be affixed to the second substrate and comprising a second drive gear and second drive gear shaft;
• a first idler gear engaging the first drive gear and a second idler gear, the second idler gear engaging the second drive gear, wherein the first idler gear comprises a first idler gear shaft and the second idler gear comprises a second idler gear shaft;
• a first friction band comprising a first arcuate contacting surface, an opposing second arcuate contacting surface, and a first biasing portion between the first arcuate contacting surface and the second arcuate contacting surface, wherein the first biasing portion is biased in a first direction to operatively press the first arcuate contacting surface against a first portion of the first drive gear shaft and the second arcuate contacting surface against a third portion of the second drive gear shaft;
• and
• a second friction band separate to the first friction band, the second friction band comprising a third arcuate contacting surface, an opposing fourth arcuate contacting surface, and a second biasing portion between the third arcuate contacting surface and the fourth arcuate contacting surface, wherein the second biasing portion is biased in a second direction opposite to the first direction to operatively press the third arcuate contacting surface against a second portion of the first drive gear shaft and the fourth arcuate contacting surface against a fourth portion of the second drive gear shaft.

A method of rotatably coupling a first display substrate of a computing device to a second display substrate, the method comprising:

• engaging a first idler gear with a second idler gear and a first drive gear of a first hinge bracket, wherein the first idler gear comprises a first idler gear shaft and the second idler gear comprises a second idler gear shaft;
• engaging the second idler gear with a second drive gear of a second hinge bracket;
• biasing in a first direction a first biasing portion of a first friction band to press a first arcuate contacting surface of the first friction band against a first portion of a first drive gear shaft of the first hinge bracket, and press a second arcuate contacting surface of the first friction band opposite to the first arcuate contacting surface against a third portion of a second drive gear shaft of the second hinge bracket;
• biasing in a second direction opposite to the first direction a second biasing portion of a second friction band to press a third arcuate contacting surface of the second friction band against a second portion of the first drive gear shaft, and press a fourth arcuate contacting surface of the second friction band opposite to the third arcuate contacting surface against a fourth portion of the second drive gear shaft, wherein the second friction band is separate to the first friction band;
• affixing the first hinge bracket to the first display substrate;
• and
• affixing the second hinge bracket to the second display substrate.

A method of operating a hinge assembly to rotate a first substrate of a computing device relative to a second substrate of the computing device, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a first hinge bracket affixed to the first substrate and comprising a first drive gear and first drive gear shaft;
• a second hinge bracket affixed to the second substrate and comprising a second drive gear and second drive gear shaft;
• a first idler gear engaging the first drive gear and a second idler gear, the second idler gear engaging the second drive gear, wherein the first idler gear comprises a first idler gear shaft and the second idler gear comprises a second idler gear shaft;
• a first friction band comprising a first arcuate contacting surface, an opposing second arcuate contacting surface, and a first biasing portion between the first arcuate contacting surface and the second arcuate contacting surface, wherein the first biasing portion is biased in a first direction to operatively press the first arcuate contacting surface against a first portion of the first drive gear shaft and the second arcuate contacting surface against a third portion of the second drive gear shaft;
• and
• a second friction band separate to the first friction band, the second friction band comprising a third arcuate contacting surface, an opposing fourth arcuate contacting surface, and a second biasing portion between the third arcuate contacting surface and the fourth arcuate contacting surface, wherein the second biasing portion is biased in a second direction opposite to the first direction to operatively press the third arcuate contacting surface against a second portion of the first drive gear shaft and the fourth arcuate contacting surface against a fourth portion of the second drive gear shaft;
• the method comprising:
• rotating the first substrate relative to the second substrate about the hinge assembly to an orientation between the first substrate and the second substrate;
• and
• utilizing frictional resistance to rotation of the first drive gear shaft and the second drive gear shaft to maintain the orientation between the first substrate and the second substrate.