Smart variable torque display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9483126-B2
Application number	US-201615155272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

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

• G06F1/1683

  for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling · CPC title

• G06F3/033 Primary

  Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user {, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks}; Accessories therefor (digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041) · CPC title

• E05D11/08

  Friction devices between relatively-movable hinge parts (E05D7/086 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05D11/082

  with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces · CPC title