Electronically controlled variable hinge torque
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsAnthony J. Sanchez, Jason Scott Morrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable information handling system rotationally couples housing portions with a hinge having an adjustable friction device that adjusts a torque resisting rotation of the housing portions between alternate settings by sending an electronic pulse to an electropermanent magnet. For instance, activation of a magnetic field pulls a lever that compresses compression discs coupled to a hinge axle to increase torque, such as to hold the housing portions in position. An electronic pulse deactivates the magnetic field when an end user desires to rotate the housing portions, such as may be indicated by an end user touch at a housing portion.
Claims18
A portable information handling system comprising:
- first and second housing portions;
- processing components disposed in at least one of the first and second housing portions, the processing components cooperating to process information;
- a display disposed in at least one of the first and second housing portions, the display interfaced with the processing components and operable to present the information as visual images;
- a hinge rotationally coupling the first and second housing portions, the hinge having an axle interfaced with a friction device, the friction device resisting rotation of the axle with a first setting having a first friction and a second setting having a second friction;
- an electropermanent magnet interfaced with the friction device to select the first setting when magnetized and the second setting when demagnetized;
- and
- a controller interfaced with the electropermanent magnet, the controller selecting the first or second setting based upon one or more predetermined conditions;
- wherein the friction device comprises compression discs disposed on the axle, the hinge further comprising:
- a compression arm aligned to press against the compression discs;
- and
- a compression lever coupled at a first end with the compression arm and at a second end with the electropermanent magnet, the electropermanent magnet magnetizing to engage the compression lever at the compression arm for compression of the compression discs.
A method for managing portable information handling system housing portion rotational orientation, the method comprising:
- rotating a first housing portion relative to a second housing portion about a hinge having first and second torque settings;
- toggling an electropermanent magnet in response to a first set of predetermined conditions to select the first torque setting with a first magnetic field;
- and
- toggling the electropermanent magnet in response to a second set of predetermined conditions to select the second torque setting with a second magnetic field;
- wherein the first torque setting resists rotation about the hinge with a first torque, the second torque setting resists rotation about the hinge with a second torque, and the first torque is greater than the second torque;
- wherein toggling the electropermanent magnet to select the first torque setting further comprises:
- applying a temporary current to the electropermanent magnet to alter the second magnetic field to the first magnetic field;
- and
- attracting with the first magnetic field a ferromagnetic object towards the electropermanent magnet, the ferromagnetic object interfaced with compression discs that create friction in response to rotation of the hinge.
A hinge comprising:
- a bracket;
- an axle rotationally coupled to the bracket;
- a friction device configured to apply friction that resists rotation of the axle at the bracket, the friction device having plural compression discs;
- and
- a friction adjuster interfaced with the friction device, the friction adjuster alternating between a first and second friction setting in response to an electronic signal pulse, the first friction setting generating a first friction different from a second friction generated with the second friction setting by varying an amount of compression applied to the compression discs by a compression arm interfaced with the compression disc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.