Low impedance hinge for notebook computer

A portable computing apparatus, comprising:

• a microcomputer compartment having a microcomputer, a first conductive path, a system ground and a first interface, the microcomputer having a first length;
• a display compartment attached to the microcomputer compartment, the display compartment having a display panel, a second conductive path, a ground path and a second interface, the display compartment having a second length approximating the first length;
• and
• a hinge coupling the display compartment to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge enabling the display compartment to rotate relative to the microcomputer compartment between an open position for viewing the display panel and a closed position at which the display panel is held to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge comprising a capacitative structure extending longitudinally relative to the display compartment and microcomputer compartment for a third length which is at least one-third the first length, the first interface and the second interface being connected to the capacitative structure;
• wherein the first conductive path is electrically coupled to the second conductive path;
• wherein the ground path is electrically coupled to the system ground through the second interface, capacitative structure and first interface;
• in which the second interface is planar having a length approximating the third length and having a width extending away from the hinge.

A portable computing apparatus, comprising:

• a microcomputer compartment having a microcomputer, a first conductive path, a system ground and a first interface, the microcomputer having a first length;
• a display compartment attached to the microcomputer compartment, the display compartment having a display panel, a second conductive path, a ground path and a second interface, the display compartment having a second length approximating the first length;
• and
• a hinge coupling the display compartment to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge enabling the display compartment to rotate relative to the microcomputer compartment between an open position for viewing the display panel and a closed position at which the display panel is held to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge comprising a first, generally cylindrical structure and a second generally cylindrical structure, the first generally cylindrical structure concentrically surrounding the second generally cylindrical structure over at least a portion of a circumference of the second cylindrical structure to form an overlapping arc, said overlapping arc defining a capacitative structure, the capacitative structure extending longitudinally relative to the display compartment and microcomputer compartment for a third length which is at least one-third the first length, the first interface and the second interface being connected to the capacitative structure;
• wherein the first conductive path is electrically coupled to the second conductive path;
• wherein the ground path is electrically coupled to the system ground through the second interface, capacitative structure and first interface;
• in which the capacitative structure is of low impedance at frequencies at least as high as 30 MHz.

A portable computing apparatus, comprising:

• a microcomputer compartment having a microcomputer, a first conductive path, a system ground and a first interface, the microcomputer having a first length;
• a display compartment attached to the microcomputer compartment, the display compartment having a display panel, a second conductive path, a ground path and a second interface, the display compartment having a second length approximating the first length;
• and
• a hinge coupling the display compartment to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge enabling the display compartment to rotate relative to the microcomputer compartment between an open position for viewing the display panel and a closed position at which the display panel is held to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge comprising a first, generally cylindrical structure and a second generally cylindrical structure, the first generally cylindrical structure concentrically surrounding the second generally cylindrical structure over at least a portion of a circumference of the second cylindrical structure to form an overlapping arc, said overlapping arc defining a capacitative structure, the capacitative structure extending longitudinally relative to the display compartment and microcomputer compartment for a third length which is at least one-third the first length, the first interface and the second interface being connected to the capacitative structure;
• wherein the first conductive path is electrically coupled to the second conductive path;
• wherein the ground path is electrically coupled to the system ground through the second interface, capacitative structure and first interface;
• in which the capacitative structure further comprises a dielectric between the first generally cylindrical structure and a second generally cylindrical structure.

A portable computing apparatus, comprising:

• a microcomputer compartment having a microcomputer, a first conductive path, a system ground and a first interface, the microcomputer having a first length;
• a display compartment attached to the microcomputer compartment, the display compartment having a display panel, a second conductive path, a ground path and a second interface, the display compartment having a second length approximating the first length;
• and
• a hinge coupling the display compartment to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge enabling the display compartment to rotate relative to the microcomputer compartment between an open position for viewing the display panel and a closed position at which the display panel is held to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge comprising a first, generally cylindrical structure and a second generally cylindrical structure, the first generally cylindrical structure concentrically surrounding the second generally cylindrical structure over at least a portion of a circumference of the second cylindrical structure to form an overlapping arc, said overlapping arc defining a capacitative structure, the capacitative structure extending longitudinally relative to the display compartment and microcomputer compartment for a third length which is at least one-third the first length, the first interface and the second interface being connected to the capacitative structure;
• wherein the first conductive path is electrically coupled to the second conductive path;
• wherein the ground path is electrically coupled to the system ground through the second interface, capacitative structure and first interface;
• in which the third length extends approximately the first length;
• and
• in which the first interface is planar having a length approximating the third length and having a width extending away from the hinge.

A portable computing apparatus, comprising:

• a microcomputer compartment having a microcomputer, a first conductive path, a system ground and a first interface, the microcomputer having a first length;
• a display compartment attached to the microcomputer compartment, the display compartment having a display panel, a second conductive path, a ground path and a second interface, the display compartment having a second length approximating the first length;
• and
• a hinge coupling the display compartment to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge enabling the display compartment to rotate relative to the microcomputer compartment between an open position for viewing the display panel and a closed position at which the display panel is held to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge comprising a first, generally cylindrical structure and a second generally cylindrical structure, the first generally cylindrical structure concentrically surrounding the second generally cylindrical structure over at least a portion of a circumference of the second cylindrical structure to form an overlapping arc, said overlapping arc defining a capacitative structure, the capacitative structure extending longitudinally relative to the display compartment and microcomputer compartment for at third length which is at least one-third the first length, the first interface and the second interface being connected to the capacitative structure;
• wherein the first conductive path is electrically coupled to the second conductive path;
• wherein the ground path is electrically coupled to the system ground through the second interface, capacitative structure and first interface;
• in which the third length extends approximately the first length;
• and
• in which the second interface is planar having a length approximating the third length and having a width extending away from the hinge.

A portable computing apparatus, comprising:

• a microcomputer compartment having a microcomputer, a first conductive path, a system ground and a first interface, the microcomputer having a first length;
• a display compartment attached to the microcomputer compartment, the display compartment having a display panel, a second conductive path, a ground path and a second interface, the display compartment having a second length approximating the first length;
• and
• a hinge coupling the display compartment to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge enabling the display compartment to rotate relative to the microcomputer compartment between an open position for viewing the display panel and a closed position at which the display panel is held to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge comprising a capacitative structure extending longitudinally relative to the display compartment and microcomputer compartment for a third length which is at least one-third the first length, the first interface and the second interface being connected to the capacitative structure;
• wherein the first conductive path is electrically coupled to the second conductive path;
• wherein the ground path is electrically coupled to the system ground through the second interface, capacitative structure and first interface;
• and
• wherein the capacitative structure is of low impedance over a frequency range between 30 MHz and 1 GHz.

A method for reducing electromagnetic interference emissions attributable to an interface between a display compartment and a microcomputer compartment of a portable computing apparatus, the microcomputer compartment having a microcomputer, a first conductive path, a system ground and a first interface, the microcomputer having a first length, the display compartment attached to the microcomputer compartment, the display compartment having a display panel, a second conductive path, a ground path and a second interface, the display compartment having a second length approximating the first length, the display compartment being attached to the microcomputer compartment by a hinge, the hinge enabling the display compartment to rotate relative to the microcomputer compartment between an open position for viewing the display panel and a closed position at which the display panel is held to the microcomputer compartment, the hinge including a first, generally cylindrical structure and a second generally cylindrical structure, the first generally cylindrical structure concentrically surrounding the second generally cylindrical structure over at least a portion of a circumference of the second cylindrical structure, the method comprising:

• opening the display compartment relative to the microcomputer compartment during which the hinge first generally cylindrical structure and second generally cylindrical structure form an overlapping arc, said overlapping arc defining a capacitative structure, the capacitative structure extending longitudinally relative to the display compartment and microcomputer compartment for a third length which is at least one-third the first length, the first interface and the second interface being connected to the capacitative structure;
• transmitting a display signal from the first conductive path to the second conductive path, wherein the first conductive path is electrically coupled to the second conductive path;
• and
• forming a return-to-ground path for the display signal to reduce electromagnetic interference emissions, the return-to-ground path formed between the ground path and the system ground through the second interface, capacitative structure and first interface.