Active pop-up finger access in a portable information handling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10324499-B1
Application number	US-201816046024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 26, 2018
Priority date	Jul 26, 2018
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for active pop-up finger access in a portable information handling system. The portable system may include a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion rotationally coupled by a hinge. The first housing portion may include an electromagnet disposed proximate a front portion of the first housing portion. The second housing portion may include a finger access feature proximate a front portion of the second housing portion and a second magnet disposed proximate the front portion of the second housing portion. The processor may, when a sensor detects a finger of a user proximate the finger access feature, activate the electromagnet to create a magnetic repulsion force with the first magnet. The magnetic repulsion force may cause the portable information handling system to move from a closed position to a finger access open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable information handling system, comprising:
a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion rotationally coupled by a hinge,
the first housing portion including:
an electromagnet disposed proximate a front portion of the first housing portion,

the second housing portion including:
a finger access feature proximate a front portion of the second housing portion; and
a second magnet disposed proximate the front portion of the second housing portion;

a sensor disposed proximate a front portion of the housing; and
a processor to:
when the sensor detects a finger of a user proximate the finger access feature, activate the electromagnet to create a magnetic repulsion force with the first magnet, wherein the magnetic repulsion force causes the portable information handling system to move from a closed position to a finger access open position.

2. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein activation of the electromagnet further comprises the processor to:
control a level of current supplied to the electromagnet for a duration of time to cause the magnetic repulsion force to move the portable information handling system to the finger access open position; and
when the duration of time expires, deactivate the electromagnet.

3. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the finger access open position corresponds to a displacement between the front portion of the first housing portion and the front portion of the second housing portion.

4. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein activation of the electromagnet further comprises the processor to:
control a level of current supplied to the electromagnet between a first level of current and a second level of current over a duration of time to reduce the magnetic repulsion force,
wherein the first level of current is greater than the second level of current, and
wherein the reduction of the magnetic force causes the portable information system to move from the finger access open position to the closed position.

5. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein, when the portable information handling system is in the finger access open position, the portable information handling system is enabled to be opened by the finger of the user.

6. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the front portion of the first housing portion and the finger access feature.

7. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the front portion of the second housing portion and the finger access feature.

8. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor, a human presence sensor, or a contact sensor.

9. The portable information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the first magnet comprises a neodymium magnet, a rare earth magnet, or a ferromagnetic magnet.

10. A method, comprising:
in a portable information handling system comprising:
a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion rotationally coupled by a hinge,
the first housing portion including:
an electromagnet disposed proximate a front portion of the first housing portion,

the second housing portion including:
a finger access feature proximate a front portion of the second housing portion; and
a second magnet disposed proximate the front portion of the second housing portion;

a sensor disposed proximate a front portion of the housing; and
a processor,

detecting, by the sensor, a finger of a user proximate the finger access feature;
activating, by the processor, the electromagnet to create a magnetic repulsion force with the first magnet, in response to detecting the finger of the user proximate the finger access feature; and
causing, by the magnetic repulsion force, the portable information handling system moving from a closed position to a finger access open position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein activating the electromagnet further comprises:
controlling a level of current supplied to the electromagnet for a duration of time causing the magnetic repulsion force to move the portable information handling system to the finger access open position; and
when the duration of time expires, deactivating the electromagnet.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the finger access open position corresponds to a displacement between the front portion of the first housing portion and the front portion of the second housing portion.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein activation of the electromagnet further comprises:
controlling a level of current supplied to the electromagnet between a first level of current and a second level of current over a duration of time reducing the magnetic repulsion force,
wherein the first level of current is greater than the second level of current, and
wherein reducing the magnetic force causes the portable information system to move from the finger access open position to the closed position.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein, when the portable information handling system is in the finger access open position, the portable information handling system is enabled to be opened by the finger of the user.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the front portion of the first housing portion and the finger access feature.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the front portion of the second housing portion and the finger access feature.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor, a human presence sensor, or a contact sensor.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first magnet comprises a neodymium magnet, a rare earth magnet, or a ferromagnetic magnet.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Kaya Giray
• Hom Bo

Classifications

• E05B47/0006

  having a non-movable core; with permanent magnet · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1679

  for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1656 Primary

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title