Magnetic closure mechanism for a portable computer

• US 6,366,440 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Kung, Shao-Tsu
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERRY, MICHAEL JUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/488,640
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 361/139, 361/142, 361/143, 361/144, 361/147, 361/680, 220/230, 713/300, 713/320
• US Class Current: 361/147
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/16 Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction E05C17/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/166 electromagnetic
• 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence

Abstract

A magnetic closure mechanism is adapted for use with a portable computer. The portable computer has a first housing part and a second housing part connected pivotally to the first housing part. The first housing part has a first major surface. The second housing part has a second major surface that confronts the first major surface when the second housing part is in a closed position. The magnetic closure mechanism includes a first magnet unit adapted to be provided on the first major surface, a second magnet unit adapted to be provided on the second major surface at a position corresponding to the first magnet unit, and a control unit adapted to provided be on the second housing part. The control unit is connected to the second magnet unit and is operable selectively so as to enable the second magnet unit to attract with the first magnet unit, thereby retaining the second housing part in the closed position, and so as to enable the second magnet unit to repel from the first magnet unit, thereby facilitating movement of the second housing part to an open position away from the first housing part.

Claims

1. A magnetic closure mechanism for a portable computer, the portable computer having a first housing part and a second housing part connected pivotally to the first housing part, the first housing part having a first major surface, the second housing part having a second major surface that confronts the first major surface when the second housing part is in a closed position, said magnetic closure mechanism comprising:

a first magnet unit adapted to be provided on the first major surface;

a second magnet unit adapted to be provided on the second major surface at a position corresponding to said first magnet unit; and

a control unit adapted to be provided on the second housing part, said control unit being connected to said second magnet unit and being operable selectively so as to enable said second magnet unit to attract with said first magnet unit, thereby retaining the second housing part in the closed position, and so as to enable said second magnet unit to repel from said first magnet unit, thereby facilitating movement of said second housing part to an open position away from the first housing part,

wherein said first magnet unit is a permanent magnet having opposing first and second portions with opposite magnetic polarities, and has an axis transverse to said first major surface, said first end portion of said first magnet unit providing a magnetic force that emanates from the first major surface, and

wherein said second magnet unit is a permanent magnet having opposing first and second sections with opposite magnetic polarities, said second magnet unit having an axis parallel to a plane of the second major surface and being constructed and arranged so as to be received in a slide groove in the second major surface such that said second magnet unit is movable therein along the axis of said second magnet unit, said control unit having a connecting portion connected to said second magnet unit and adapted to be disposed inside the second housing part, and a driving portion connected to said connecting portion and adapted to be extended outwardly of the second housing part.

2. The magnetic closure mechanism of claim 1, wherein said driving portion is operable so as to move said second magnet unit via said connecting portion from a retaining position, where said first end section of said second magnet unit having a different magnetic polarity as said first end section of said second magnet unit is registered with said first end portion of said first magnet unit to enable attraction between said first and second magnet units, to an opening position, where said second end section of said second magnet unit having the same magnetic polarity as said first end section of said second magnet unit is registered with said first end portion of said first magnet unit to enable said first and second magnet units to repel from each other.

3. A magnetic closure mechanism for a portable computer, the portable computer having a first housing part and a second housing part connected pivotally to the first housing part, the first housing part having a first major surface, the second housing part having a second major surface that confronts the first major surface when the second housing part is in a closed position, said magnetic closure mechanism comprising:

a first magnet unit adapted to be provided on the first major surface;

a second magnet unit adapted to be provided on the second major surface at a position corresponding to said first magnet unit; and

a control unit adapted to be provided on the second housing part, said control unit being connected to said second magnet unit and being operable selectively so as to enable said second magnet unit to attract with said first magnet unit, thereby retaining the second housing part in the closed position, and so as to enable said second magnet unit to repel from said first magnet unit, thereby facilitating movement of said second housing part to an open position away from the first housing part,

wherein said first magnet unit is a permanent magnet having opposing first and second portions with opposite magnetic polarities, and has an axis transverse to said first major surface, said first end portion of said first magnet unit providing a magnetic force that emanates from the first major surface, and

wherein said second magnet unit is an electromagnet, and said control unit includes a control circuit connected to said second magnet unit and operable so as to energize said second magnet unit.

4. The magnetic closure mechanism of claim 3, wherein said second magnet unit includes a metal core and a conductive wire around said metal core.

5. The magnetic closure mechanism of claim 3, wherein said control unit includes a power source and a power switch interconnecting said power source and said second magnet unit.

6. The magnetic closure mechanism of claim 5, wherein said power switch has an operating knob that is adapted to be disposed outside the second housing part and that is operable so as to enable operation of said control circuit from a de-energizing state, where said power source is disconnected from said second magnet unit to enable said second magnet unit to attract with said first magnet unit, to an energizing state, where said power source is connected to said second magnet unit to enable said second magnet unit to repel from said first magnet unit.