Frictionless pen ejector mechanism

• US 20020190823A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Yap, Beng Tiek
• Granted Patent: US 6,545,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 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 Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for locking and removing a pen using electromagnetism are provided. The apparatus includes a pen housing, a DC source, a coil, a first magnetic element attached to the pen, a second magnetic element and a switch. In some embodiments, a third magnetic element is included. To remove the pen from the pen housing, a user activates a button to magnetize one of the magnetic elements to mutually repel the other. Consequently, the pen is displaced by the repulsion of either the pen from its housing or the pen housing carrying the pen. The pen thus has a protruding end which the user grips to remove the pen from the housing. To lock the pen, the pen is inserted into the housing to be mutually attracted with a magnetic element to be retracted to a locked position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing and locking a pen in a portable device, wherein the pen has a first magnetic element, comprising:

a second magnetic element in the portable device; and

means for generating a mutually repulsive or attractive force between the first and the second magnetic elements to respectively eject or lock the pen in a pen housing.

2. An apparatus for removing and locking a pen having a first magnetic element attached thereto when the pen is locked in a pen housing within a portable device, comprising:

a coil, proximate to the pen housing, having a predetermined number of windings in a predetermined direction and connected to a DC source; and

a switch for closing a circuit which includes the coil and the DC source, whereby closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity the first magnetic element or a second magnetic element, which is placed within the coil, for repelling the first magnetic element to displace at least a portion of the pen from the pen housing.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein the pen is retracted and locked in the pen housing, through a mutually attractive force between the first and the second magnetic elements, when the circuit is open.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity the second magnetic element.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the first magnetic element is a permanent magnet and the second magnetic element is an electromagnet.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein the coil pre-winds around at least a section of the pen housing and closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity the first magnetic element.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein the first magnetic element is an electromagnet and the second magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein the switch is one of momentary-contact, maintained-contact and time delay.

9. An apparatus for removing and locking a pen in a portable device, wherein the pen has a first magnetic element, comprising:

a second and a third magnetic element in the portable device; and

means for generating a mutually repulsive or attractive force between the second and the third magnetic elements to respectively eject or lock a movable pen housing within the portable device for respectively locking or removing the pen.

10. An apparatus for removing and locking a pen having a first magnetic element attached thereto when the pen is locked in a movable pen housing within a portable device, comprising:

a coil, proximate to the pen housing, having a predetermined number of windings in a predetermined direction and connected to a DC source; and

a switch for closing a circuit which includes the coil and the DC source, whereby closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity at least the second magnetic element, which is placed within the coil and is proximate to a third magnetic element for mutual repulsion, to displace the pen and the pen housing.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein on inserting the pen into the pen housing, the pen is retracted and locked in the pen housing, through a mutually attractive force between the first and the third magnetic elements, when the circuit is open.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the first magnetic element is one of a temporary magnet, an electromagnet and a permanent magnet, the second magnetic element is an electromagnet and the third magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein the switch is one of momentary-contact, maintained-contact and time delay.

15. The method recited in claim 14 further comprising retracting and locking the pen in the pen housing, through a mutually attractive force between the first and the second magnetic elements, when the circuit is open.

16. The method recited in claim 15 further comprising closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity the second magnetic element.

17. The method recited in claim 16 further comprising providing the first magnetic element as a permanent magnet and the second magnetic element as an electromagnet.

18. The method recited in claim 15 further comprising pre-winding the coil around at least a section of the pen housing and closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity the first magnetic element.

19. The method recited in claim 18 further comprising providing the first magnetic element as an electromagnet and the second magnetic element as a permanent magnet.

20. The method recited in claim 14 further comprising providing the switch as one of momentary-contact, maintained-contact and time delay.

14. A method for removing and locking a pen having a first magnetic element attached thereto when the pen is locked in a pen housing within a portable device, comprising:

placing a coil, proximate to the pen housing, having a predetermined number of windings in a predetermined direction and connected to a DC source; and

activating a switch for closing a circuit which includes the coil and the DC source, whereby closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity the first magnetic element or a second magnetic element, which is placed within the coil, for repelling the first magnetic element to displace at least a portion of the pen from the pen housing.

21. A method for removing and locking a pen having a first magnetic element attached thereto when the pen is locked in a movable pen housing within a portable device, comprising:

placing a coil, proximate to the pen housing, having a predetermined number of windings in a predetermined direction and connected to a DC source; and

activating a switch for closing a circuit which includes the coil and the DC source, whereby closing the circuit magnetizes with a predetermined polarity at least the second magnetic element, which is placed within the coil and is proximate to a third magnetic element for mutual repulsion, to displace the pen and the pen housing.

22. The method recited in claim 21 further comprising retracting and locking the pen in the pen housing, through a mutually attractive force between the first and the third magnetic elements, when the circuit is open.

23. The method recited in claim 22 further comprising providing the first magnetic element as one of a temporary magnet, an electromagnet and a permanent magnet, the second magnetic element as an electromagnet and the third magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

24. The method recited in claim 21 further comprising providing the switch as one of momentary-contact, maintained-contact and time delay.