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US 10,697,505 B2Granted
Clutch control
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsJui Tong Tan, Junzhuo Tian, David Xing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The description relates to devices that include hinged portions and controlling rotation of the hinged portions with smart clutch control. One example can include powering a motor to cause clutch portions to engage in a first instance. The example can also include monitoring an operational parameter during the powering. The method can further include, based at least in part upon the monitoring, adjusting power to cause the clutch portions to engage in a second instance with a force that is different than the first instance.
Claims32
A device, comprising:
- a base assembly;
- a display assembly including a display;
- and
- a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the base assembly and the display assembly, the hinge assembly comprising:
- a clutch that repeatedly transitions between a disengaged position and an engaged position through a plurality of cycles, the clutch in the disengaged position allowing the hinge assembly to rotate, the clutch in the engaged position locking the hinge assembly from rotating,
- a motor that transitions the clutch between the disengaged position and the engaged position, and
- a smart clutch-controller that:
- in a first cycle, controls first power supplied to the motor to cause the motor to transition the clutch from the disengaged position to the engaged position, and monitors one or more operational parameters of the first power when the clutch transitions to the engaged position with first force;
- and
- in a second cycle, adjusts second power based at least in part upon the one or more operational parameters monitored in the first cycle, and controls the second power supplied to the motor to transition the clutch from the disengaged position to the engaged position with second force that is less than the first force.
7 more elements
A device, comprising:
- first and second portions;
- a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first and second portions around an axis;
- a clutch positioned relative to the axis and comprising opposing elements;
- a motor that causes the opposing elements to engage and disengage repeatedly through a plurality of cycles, the opposing elements engaged with one another preventing rotation around the axis, the opposing elements disengaged allowing rotation around the axis;
- and
- a controller that:
- in a first cycle, drives the motor to cause the opposing elements to engage one another and senses a first operational parameter as the opposing elements engage one another with first force, and
- in a second cycle, adjusts driving the motor based at least in part upon the first operational parameter to cause the opposing elements to engage one another with second force.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- powering a motor to cause clutch portions to engage with first force in a first cycle;
- monitoring an operational parameter of the motor during the powering;
- and
- based at least in part upon the monitoring, adjusting power in a second cycle to cause the clutch portions to engage with a second force that is different than the first force.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.