Rotating magnet assembly in a foldable device
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsNicholas Benjamin Wendt, Karsten Aagaard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A foldable computing device comprises a first frame comprising a first magnet assembly and a second frame rotatably coupled to the first frame via a hinge. The second frame comprises a second magnet assembly operatively configured for rotation with respect to the second frame. The second magnet assembly attracts the first magnet assembly of the first frame when the first frame and the second frame are in a closed configuration. The second frame further comprises an actuator operatively configured to rotate the second magnet assembly to thereby reduce a magnetic force between the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly and allow the foldable computing device to open.
Claims20
A foldable computing device, comprising:
- a first frame comprising a first magnet assembly;
- a second frame rotatably coupled to the first frame via a hinge;
- and
- a spring located at the hinge and operatively configured to bias the first frame and the second frame away from a closed configuration;
- wherein the second frame comprises,
- a second magnet assembly operatively configured for rotation with respect to the second frame, the second magnet assembly attracting the first magnet assembly of the first frame when the first frame and the second frame are in the closed configuration, and
- an actuator operatively configured to rotate the second magnet assembly to thereby reduce a magnetic force between the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly such that the spring overcomes the magnetic attraction between the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly and the first frame and the second frame rotate away from the closed configuration.
An apparatus for allowing a foldable computing device to open from a closed configuration, the foldable computing device comprising a first frame comprising a first magnet assembly and a second frame rotatably coupled to the first frame via a hinge, the apparatus comprising:
- a spring located at the hinge and operatively configured to bias the first frame and the second frame away from the closed configuration;
- a second magnet assembly rotatably coupled to the second frame, the second magnet assembly operatively configured to attract the first magnet assembly of the first frame when the first frame and the second frame are in the closed configuration;
- and
- an actuator mounted for translation relative to the second frame, wherein translation of the actuator causes rotation of the second magnet assembly to thereby reduce a magnetic force between the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly such that the spring overcomes the magnetic attraction between the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly and the first frame and the second frame rotate away from the closed configuration.
A method for opening a foldable computing device from a closed configuration, the foldable computing device comprising a first frame comprising a first magnet assembly, a second frame rotatably coupled to the first frame via a hinge, and a spring located at the hinge and operatively configured to bias the first frame and the second frame away from the closed configuration, the method comprising:
- translating an actuator mounted for translation relative to the second frame to cause rotation of a second magnet assembly rotatably coupled to the second frame and thereby reduce a magnetic force between the second magnet assembly and the first magnet assembly of the first frame;
- and
- biasing the first frame to rotate away from the second frame via the hinge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.