Magnetic sensors for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10571973-B2
Application number	US-201715582107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

An electronic device can include a first and second portions that are pivotally coupled to each other so that the electronic device can have at least a closed configuration and an open configuration. A magnetic sensor system can be carried by the electronic device to detect the closed configuration so that the electronic device can automatically turn to a mode, such as a sleep mode, when the electronic device is bought to the closed configuration. A magnetic sensor can have a detection axis that targets a horizontal component of a magnetic field. A triggering magnetic element can be laterally offset relative to the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor can also be a magneto-resistive sensor. The electronic device can also include a second set of magnetic sensor system to confirm when the electronic device is brought to the closed configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laptop computer comprising:
first and second housing portions that are coupled to each other and capable of pivoting relative to each other between an open configuration and a closed configuration such that in the closed configuration edges of the first and second housing portions are parallel to each other; and
a magnetic sensor system including:
first and second triggering magnetic elements carried by the first housing portion;
first and second magnetic sensors carried by the second housing portion, the first and second magnetic sensors being laterally displaced from the first and second triggering magnetic elements when the first and second housing portions are in the closed configuration, wherein the first magnetic sensor has a first magnetic detection axis capable of interacting with the first triggering magnetic element, and the second magnetic sensor has a second magnetic detection axis capable of interacting with the second triggering magnetic element;
the first triggering magnetic element has a magnetic polarity oriented parallel to the first magnetic detection axis and the second triggering magnetic element has a magnetic polarity oriented perpendicular to the second magnetic detection axis in the closed configuration; and
the laptop computer automatically changes from an active mode to a sleep mode when the first magnetic sensor detects a first magnetic field strength above a first threshold and the second magnetic sensor detects a second magnetic field strength above a second threshold.

2. The laptop computer as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first magnetic sensor or the second magnetic sensor is a Hall effect sensor, an anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) sensor, a giant magneto-resistive (GMR) sensor, or a tunnel magneto-resistive (TMR) sensor.

3. The laptop computer as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic sensor is carried on a motherboard of the laptop computer.

4. The laptop computer as recited in claim 1 , further including a processor in communication with the first and second magnetic sensors.

5. The laptop computer as recited in claim 1 , wherein the laptop computer automatically wakes from the sleep mode when, during the sleep mode, the first magnetic field strength detected by the first magnetic sensor is less than the first threshold or the second magnetic field strength detected by the second magnetic sensor is less than the second threshold.

6. A method operable by a processor of altering an operational state of a laptop computer using two magnetic sensor systems in communication with the processor;
the first magnetic sensor system including a first triggering magnetic element and a first magnetic sensor that are disposed at a first side of the laptop computer;
the second magnetic sensor system including a second triggering magnetic element and a second magnetic sensor that are disposed at a second side of the laptop computer different than the first;
the laptop having a closed configuration and an open configuration and the first and second magnetic sensors being laterally displaced from the first and second triggering magnetic elements when the laptop is in the closed configuration;
the first triggering magnetic element having a magnetic polarity oriented perpendicular to a magnetic detection axis of the first magnetic sensor and the second triggering magnetic element having a magnetic polarity oriented parallel to a magnetic detection axis of the second magnetic sensor when the laptop computer is in the closed configuration, the method comprising:
receiving a first detection signal from the first magnetic sensor associated with a detected first magnetic field strength and receiving a second detection signal from the second magnetic sensor associated with a detected second magnetic field strength; and
in response to determining that the first detection signal exceeds a first threshold and the second detection signal exceeds a second threshold, altering an operational state of the laptop from an active mode to a sleep mode, otherwise, maintaining a current operational state of the laptop computer.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the laptop includes a first housing portion that carries a motherboard and a second housing portion that carries a display.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Xu Chi
• Farahani Houtan R
• Kosoglow Richard D
• Difonzo John C

Classifications

• G01R33/098

  comprising tunnel junctions, e.g. tunnel magnetoresistance sensors · CPC title

• G06F1/3206

  Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality · CPC title

• G06F1/1677 Primary

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• G01R33/093

  using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors (thin magnetic films H01F10/00) · CPC title

• G01R33/06

  using galvano-magnetic devices · CPC title