SELF-LEVELING SYSTEM WITH AUTO FEEDBACK CONTROL

• US 20150001368A1
• Filed: 06/29/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gwin, Paul J., Sprenger, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,423,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/550
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle

Abstract

A leveling system includes a chassis and a first foot protruding from the chassis. The leveling system also includes a plurality of pressure sensors to measure pressure at a first location at the first foot and a second location separated from the first foot. In addition, the leveling system includes a processor that retracts or extends the first foot using an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.

Claims

1. A leveling system, comprising:

a chassis;

a first foot protruding from the chassis;

a plurality of pressure sensors to measure pressure at a first location at the first foot and a second location separated from the first foot; and

logic, at least a portion of which is partially implemented in hardware, the logic configured to retract or extend the first foot.

2. The leveling system of claim 1, wherein the logic configured to retract or extend the first foot includes using an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.

3. The leveling system of claim 2, wherein the EAP actuator turns a screw to balance the pressures, and wherein the first foot includes a plurality of stacked EAP actuators.

4. The leveling system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first shaft including a first axle at one end of the first shaft, and an anchor;

a second shaft attached to the first axle at one end of the second shaft, the first foot attached to the other end of the second shaft; and

a first EAP actuator that extends from the anchor to the second shaft.

5. The leveling system of claim 4, wherein the anchor includes a ratchet gear that permits the first EAP actuator to retract and prevents the first EAP actuator from extending until a release is activated.

6. The leveling system of claim 4, wherein the first foot includes a first wheel, the second shaft includes a third axle, and the first wheel rotates about the third axle.

7. The leveling system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second axle at the other end of the first shaft;

a second foot;

a third shaft attached to the second axle at one end of the third shaft, the second foot attached to the other end of the third shaft; and

a second EAP actuator that extends from the anchor to the third shaft.

8. The leveling system of claim 7, wherein the second foot includes a second wheel, the third shaft includes a fourth axle, and the second wheel rotates about the fourth axle.

9. A leveling method, comprising:

measuring, with a plurality of pressure sensors, pressure at a first location at a first foot protruding from a chassis and at a second location separated from the first foot; and

retracting or extending the first foot.

10. The leveling method of claim 9, wherein the retracting includes using an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator to balance pressures at the first location and the second location, and wherein the retracting or extending is performed with a plurality of stacked EAP actuators included in the first foot.

11. The leveling method of claim 10, further comprising:

turning a screw with the EAP actuator to balance the pressures.

12. The leveling method of claim 9, wherein the retracting or extending the first foot further comprises:

rotating, about a first axle in one end of a first shaft, a second shaft attached to the first axle at one end of the second shaft, the other end of the second shaft attached to the first foot; and

retracting or extending a first EAP actuator that extends from an anchor on the first shaft to the second shaft.

13. The leveling method of claim 12, further comprising:

permitting the first EAP actuator to retract, and preventing the first EAP actuator from extending until a release of a ratchet gear is activated.

14. The leveling method of claim 12, wherein the rotating includes rotating, about a third axle, a first wheel included in the first foot, and the second shaft includes the third axle.

15. The leveling method of claim 12, further comprising:

rotating, about a second axle in the other end of the first shaft, a third shaft attached to the second axle at one end of the third shaft, the other end of the third shaft attached to a second foot; and

retracting or extending a second EAP actuator that extends from the anchor to the third shaft.

16. The leveling method of claim 15, wherein the rotating the third shaft includes the rotating the third shaft includes rotating, about a fourth axle, a second wheel included in the second foot, and the third shaft rotates about the fourth axle.

17. A leveling system, comprising:

a chassis;

a first foot protruding from the chassis;

means for measuring pressure at a first location at the first foot and a second location separated from the first foot; and

means for retracting or extending the foot to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.

18. The leveling system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for rotating the first foot to balance the pressures.

19. The leveling system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for permitting the means for retracting or extending to retract, or to prevent extending until a release is activated.

20. The leveling system of claim 17, further comprising:

a second foot; and

means for rotating the second foot to balance the pressures.

21. A device, comprising:

leveling logic, at least a portion of which is partially implemented in hardware, the logic configured to;

receive a plurality of pressure measurements from a plurality of pressure sensors, the plurality of pressure measurements including a measurement at a first location at a first foot protruding from a chassis and a measurement at a second location separated from the first foot; and

retract or extend the first foot using an actuator mechanism to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.