MAGNETIC HINGE ELECTRONIC MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120170243A1
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Allwright, Julia, Riddiford, Martin, Reeves, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,861,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/810
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge

Abstract

An electronic mobile device includes a base supporting an input panel. A cover pivotally connects to the base and is pivotable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the base. In the closed position the cover covers the input panel, and in the open position the cover is disposed away from the base. A base magnet is supported within the base and has a first magnetic axis. A cover magnet is supported within the cover so as to move with the cover relative to the base. The cover magnet has a second magnetic axis that tends to align with the first magnetic axis to thereby bias the cover towards at least one of the closed position and the open position.

Claims

1. An electronic mobile device, comprising:

a base supporting an input panel;

a cover pivotally connected to the base and being pivotable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the base, in the closed position the cover covering the input panel, and in the open position the cover being disposed away from the base;

a base magnet supported within the base and having a first magnetic axis; and

a cover magnet supported within the cover so as to move with the cover relative to the base, the cover magnet having a second magnetic axis that tends to align with the first magnetic axis to thereby bias the cover towards at least one of the closed position and the open position.

2. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the cover is movable over a pivotal range between the open position and the closed position in which the first magnetic axis and the second magnetic axis are misaligned.

3. The electronic mobile device of claim 2, wherein in the closed position the first magnetic axis is misaligned with the second magnetic axis, and in the open position the first magnetic axis is aligned with the second magnetic axis.

4. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the base has a base longitudinal plane and the cover has a cover longitudinal plane, the first magnetic axis is misaligned relative to the base longitudinal plane in both the open position and the closed position, and the second magnetic axis is generally parallel relative to the cover longitudinal plane in both the open position and the closed position.

5. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the cover is movable over a first pivotal range and a second pivotal range, when pivoted to a position in the first pivotal range the cover magnet and the base magnet bias the cover towards the closed position, and when pivoted to a position in the second pivotal range the base magnet and the cover magnet bias the cover towards the open position.

6. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, wherein the cover is detachable from the base in the open position.

7. The electronic mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

an input panel supported by the base;

a display supported by the cover;

a first wireless transceiver supported within the cover; and

a second wireless transceiver supported within the base, the second wireless transceiver and the first wireless transceiver communicating to operatively connect the input panel to the display.

8. An electronic mobile device, comprising:

a base having an inner surface;

a cover;

a hinge pivotally connecting the cover to the base such that the cover is pivotable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the base, in the closed position the cover disposed proximate the inner surface, and in the open position the cover disposed away from the base;

a base magnet supported by the base proximate the hinge, the base magnet having a first magnetic axis;

a cover magnet supported by the cover proximate the hinge so as to move with the cover relative to the base, the cover magnet interacting with the base magnet and having a second magnetic axis; and

wherein interaction between the base magnet and the cover magnet tends to align the first magnetic axis and the second magnetic axis and thereby bias the cover towards at least one of the closed position and the open position.

9. The electronic mobile device of claim 8, wherein the cover is movable over a pivotal range between the open position and the closed position in which the first magnetic axis and the second magnetic axis are misaligned.

10. The electronic mobile device of claim 9, wherein in the closed position the first magnetic axis is misaligned with the second magnetic axis, and in the open position the first magnetic axis is aligned with the second magnetic axis.

11. The electronic mobile device of claim 8, further comprising:

a second base magnet supported by the base proximate the hinge, the second base magnet having a third magnetic axis;

a second cover magnet supported by the cover proximate the hinge so as to move with the cover relative to the base, the second cover magnet interacting with the second base magnet and having a fourth magnetic axis; and

wherein interaction between the second base magnet and the second cover magnet tends to align the third magnetic axis and the fourth magnetic axis and thereby bias the cover towards the at least one of the closed position and the open position.

12. The electronic mobile device of claim 8, further comprising:

a second base magnet supported by the base proximate the hinge, the second base magnet having a third magnetic axis; and

wherein interaction between the second base magnet and the cover magnet tends to align the second magnetic axis and the third magnetic axis and thereby bias the cover towards the at least one of the closed position and the open position.

13. The electronic mobile device of claim 8, wherein the base magnet is a diametric magnet including:

a north pole half;

a south pole half;

a polarity plane separating the north pole half and the south pole half; and

an attraction plane perpendicular to the polarity plane, an intersection of the polarity plane and the attraction plane defining the first magnetic axis.

14. The electronic mobile device of claim 8, wherein the base magnet and the cover magnet are diametric magnets, each of the diametric magnets including:

a north pole half;

a south pole half;

a polarity plane separating the north pole half and the south pole half;

an attraction plane perpendicular to the polarity plane; and

wherein interaction between the base magnet and the cover magnet tends to align the attraction planes and thereby bias the cover towards the at least one of the closed position and the open position.

15. The electronic mobile device of claim 8, wherein the cover is detachable from the base in the open position.

16. An electronic mobile device, comprising:

a base having an inner surface;

a cover pivotable about a hinge axis that is substantially parallel to the inner surface of the base, the cover being movable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the base, in the closed position the cover being disposed proximate the base, and in the open position the cover being disposed away from the base;

a hinge including;

a first magnet housed within the base, the first magnet having a first magnetic axis;

a second magnet housed within the cover so as to move together with the cover relative to the base, the second magnet having a second magnetic axis; and

wherein the first magnet and the second magnet interact to provide a tendency to align the first magnetic axis and the second magnetic axis and thereby bias the cover towards at least one of the closed position and the open position.

17. The electronic mobile device of claim 16, wherein the hinge further includes:

a third magnet housed within the base, the third magnet having a third magnetic axis;

a fourth magnet housed within the cover so as to move together with the cover relative to the base, the fourth magnet having a fourth magnetic axis, and the fourth magnet and the third magnet interacting to provide a tendency to align the fourth magnetic axis and the third magnetic axis and thereby bias the cover towards the at least one of the closed position and the open position.

18. The electronic mobile device of claim 16, wherein the cover is movable over a first pivotal range and a second pivotal range, when pivoted to a position in the first pivotal range the first magnet and the second magnet bias the cover towards the closed position, and when pivoted to a position in the second pivotal range the first magnet and the second magnet bias the cover towards the open position.

19. The electronic mobile device of claim 16, wherein the base has a base longitudinal plane and the cover has a cover longitudinal plane, the first magnetic axis is misaligned relative to the base longitudinal plane in both the open position and the closed position, and the second magnetic axis is generally parallel relative to the cover longitudinal plane in both the open position and the closed position.

20. The electronic mobile device of claim 16, wherein the hinge further includes:

a third magnet housed within the base, the third magnet having a third magnetic axis;

wherein the second magnet and the third magnet interact to provide a tendency to align the second magnetic axis and the third magnetic axis and thereby bias the cover towards the other of the closed position and the open position.