Smart variable torque display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016259369-A1
Application number	US-201615155272-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one example an electronic device comprises a controller, a chassis comprising a first section and a second section, and a hinge assembly to connect the first section of the chassis to the second section of the chassis comprising a shaft rotatable about a first axis, a brake selectively engageable with a portion of the shaft, and an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator coupled to the brake, wherein the EAP actuator selectively engages the brake with a portion of the shaft in response to a signal from the controller. Other examples may be described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A controller for an electronic device, comprising logic, at least partially including hardware logic, to:
receive a torque/position profile for a hinge assembly of the electronic device; store the torque/position profile in a memory communicatively coupled to the controller; receive a rotational position of the hinge assembly; receive torque information for the hinge assembly; determine, from the torque/position profile, a torque corresponding to the rotational position; and selectively actuate an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator coupled to a brake assembly to generate the torque corresponding to the rotational position.

2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the rotational position information is received from a rotational position sensor to determine a rotational position of the shaft about the first axis, wherein the rotational position sensor is communicatively coupled to the controller.

3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the EAP actuator selectively engages the brake with a portion of the shaft in response to a signal from the controller in order to apply a pressure to the brake which varies across a range of angular rotation of the shaft about the first axis to achieve a predetermined torque profile across the range of angular rotation in response to a signal from a controller.

4 . The controller of claim 1 , further comprising logic, at least partially including hardware logic, to:
configure the EAP actuator to apply a pressure to the brake which varies across a range of angular rotation.

5 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
the EAP actuator expands in response to the signal to the signal from the controller.

6 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
the EAP actuator contracts in response to the signal to the signal from the controller.

7 . An electronic device, comprising:
a chassis comprising a first section and a second section; and a hinge assembly to connect the first section of the chassis to the second section of the chassis, comprising:
a shaft rotatable about a first axis;
a brake selectively engageable with a portion of the shaft; and
an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator coupled to the brake, wherein the EAP actuator selectively engages the brake with a portion of the shaft in response to a signal from the controller; and
a controller comprising logic, at least partially including hardware logic, to:
receive a torque/position profile for the hinge assembly;
store the torque/position profile in a memory communicatively coupled to the controller;
receive a rotational position of the hinge assembly;
receive torque information for the hinge assembly;
determine, from the torque/position profile, a torque corresponding to the rotational position; and
selectively actuate the electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator coupled to a brake assembly to generate the torque corresponding to the rotational position.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the rotational position information is received from a rotational position sensor to determine a rotational position of the shaft about the first axis, wherein the rotational position sensor is communicatively coupled to the controller.

9 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the EAP actuator selectively engages the brake with a portion of the shaft in response to a signal from the controller in order to apply a pressure to the brake which varies across a range of angular rotation of the shaft about the first axis to achieve a predetermined torque profile across the range of angular rotation in response to a signal from a controller.

10 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the controller further comprises logic, at least partially including hardware logic, to:
configure the EAP actuator to apply a pressure to the brake which varies across a range of angular rotation.

11 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the EAP actuator expands in response to the signal to the signal from the controller.

12 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the EAP actuator contracts in response to the signal to the signal from the controller.

13 . A method to manage a torque for a hinge on an electronic device, comprising:
receiving, in a controller of the electronic device, a torque/position profile for a hinge assembly of the electronic device; storing the torque/position profile in a memory communicatively coupled to the controller; receiving, in the controller, a rotational position of the hinge assembly; receiving, in the controller, torque information for the hinge assembly; determining, from the torque/position profile, a torque corresponding to the rotational position; and selectively actuating an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator coupled to a brake assembly to generate the torque corresponding to the rotational position.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the rotational position information is received from a rotational position sensor to determine a rotational position of the shaft about the first axis, wherein the rotational position sensor is communicatively coupled to the controller.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the EAP actuator selectively engages the brake with a portion of the shaft in response to a signal from the controller in order to apply a pressure to the brake which varies across a range of angular rotation of the shaft about the first axis to achieve a predetermined torque profile across the range of angular rotation in response to a signal from a controller.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising logic, at least partially including hardware logic, to:
configure the EAP actuator to apply a pressure to the brake which varies across a range of angular rotation.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the EAP actuator expands in response to the signal to the signal from the controller.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the EAP actuator contracts in response to the signal to the signal from the controller.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Sprenger Mark E
• Aoki Russell S
• Gwin Paul J
• Miele Ralph V
• Mceuen Shawn
• Macdonald Mark
• Pidwerbecki David

Classifications

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  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

• H02P3/04

  Means for stopping or slowing by a separate brake, e.g. friction brake or eddy-current brake · CPC title

• G06F12/0813

  with a network or matrix configuration · CPC title

• G06F12/084

  with a shared cache · CPC title

• H02N2/06

  Drive circuits; Control arrangements {or methods} · CPC title