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US 8,964,379 B2Granted
Switchable magnetic lock
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsBernard K. Rihn, Paul Henry Dietz, Steven Nabil Bathiche, Joseph B. Gault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This document describes techniques using, and apparatuses including, switchable magnetic locks. These techniques and apparatuses can enable low or no power consumption and a seamless design for locking and unlocking of devices one to the other, such as computing devices and peripherals.
Claims8
An apparatus comprising:
- a retention structure;
- a diametrically magnetized magnet having a magnetic field;
- magnetic-field directors proximate the diametrically magnetized magnet and the retention structure;
- an actuator capable of rotating the diametrically magnetized magnet between a first position and a second position, the first position causing the magnetic-field directors to null or substantially weaken the magnetic field and the second position causing the magnetic-field directors to direct the magnetic field to the retention structure;
- and
- a controller capable of powering the actuator to rotate the diametrically magnetized magnet between the first position and the second position, the rotation capable of releasing a device having a magnetically permeable material from the retention structure or locking the device having the magnetically permeable material to the retention structure.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.