Computing device with magnetic hinge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10345866-B2
Application number	US-201715426348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2017
Priority date	Feb 7, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus can include a processor; memory accessible by the processor; a first housing that includes the processor and a first magnetic edge that includes a first engagement surface; and a second housing that includes an electronic component accessible by the processor and a second magnetic edge that includes a second engagement surface that engages the first engagement surface to pivotably couple the first housing and second housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a processor;
a memory accessible by the processor;
a first housing, defined by a width, that comprises the processor and a first magnetic edge that comprises a geared first engagement surface formed integral to and along the width of the first housing and along the first magnetic edge; and
a second housing, defined by a width, that comprises an electronic component accessible by the processor and a second magnetic edge that comprises a geared second engagement surface formed integral to and along the width of the second housing and along the second magnetic edge that engages the geared first engagement surface to pivotably couple the first housing and the second housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first magnetic edge comprises at least one magnet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second magnetic edge comprises a ferromagnetic material.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second magnetic edge comprises at least one magnet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second magnetic edge comprises at least one magnet.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first magnetic edge comprises a ferromagnetic material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first magnetic edge and the second magnetic edge apply a magnetic force that imparts a frictional force between the geared first engagement surface and the geared second engagement surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first housing and second housing are pivotable via meshing of the geared first engagement surface and the geared second engagement surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first magnetic edge comprises a first cylindrical magnet with a first longitudinal axis, wherein the second magnetic edge comprises a second cylindrical magnet with a second longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are parallel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the geared first engagement surface and the geared second engagement surface are formed of non-magnetic material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first geared first engagement surface and the geared second engagement surface are formed of aluminum.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the geared first engagement surface and the geared second engagement surface are formed of plastic.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first housing and the second housing form a clamshell.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first housing comprises a keyboard and wherein the second housing comprises a display and/or wherein the first housing comprises a display and wherein the second housing comprises a keyboard.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first housing and the second housing are pivotably coupled without moving parts.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first housing and the second housing are detachable and reattachable via the geared first engagement surface and the geared second engagement surface.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Tucker Matthew Ian
• Plunkett Joseph David
• Truong Cuong Huy

Classifications

• G06F1/1654

  the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use · CPC title

• E05Y2201/46

  Magnets · CPC title

• E05D1/06 Primary

  consisting of two easily-separable parts · CPC title

• G06F1/1681 Primary

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

• E05D3/122

  Gear hinges · CPC title