Magnetic latch mechanism

• US 7,486,165 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ligtenberg, Chris A., Degner, Brett William, Banko, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): TALPALATSKI, ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/582,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 163/19, 163/20, 243/03, 292/251.5, 335/212, 335/237, 335/273, 335/298, 335/205, 335/206, 335/207, 361/681, 361/683
• 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 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 latch mechanism for latching a first electronic assembly to a second electronic assembly. The magnetic latch mechanism includes a Halbach array captured by the first electronic assembly. The Halbach array is configured to provide a first magnetic flux in a first direction. The magnetic latch mechanism further includes an attraction plate captured by the second electronic assembly. The attraction plate is configured to be coupled with the first magnetic flux when the first electronic assembly is in a closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly such that there is mutual attraction between the attraction plate and the Halbach array in the closed position.

Claims

1. A magnetic latch mechanism for latching a first electronic assembly to a second electronic assembly, the magnetic mechanism comprising:

a Halbach array captured by the first electronic assembly, the Halbach array configured to provide a first magnetic flux in a first direction;

an attraction plate captured by the second electronic assembly and configured to be coupled with the first magnetic flux when the first electronic assembly is in a closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly such that there is mutual attraction between the attraction plate and the Halbach array in the closed position;

a tuning bumper, the tuning bumper disposed between the first and second electronic assemblies when the first electronic assembly is in the closed position with respect to the second assembly and configured to tune an intensity of a magnetic attraction force between the attraction plate and the Halbach array; and

a second tuning bumper, wherein the tuning bumper is replaceable by the second tuning bumper, the tuning bumper having a first predefined height, the second tuning bumper having a second predefined height, the first predefined height being different from the second predefined height.

2. A magnetic latch mechanism for latching a first electronic assembly to a second electronic assembly, the magnetic mechanism comprising:

a Halbach array captured by the first electronic assembly, the Halbach array configured to provide a first magnetic flux in a first direction;

an attraction plate captured by the second electronic assembly and configured to be coupled with the first magnetic flux when the first electronic assembly is in a closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly such that there is mutual attraction between the attraction plate and the Halbach array in the closed position; and

a tuning bumper, the tuning bumper disposed between the first and second electronic assemblies when the first electronic assembly is in the closed position with respect to the second assembly and configured to tune an intensity of a magnetic attraction force between the attraction plate and the Halbach array, including at least an indicator for indicating the intensity of the magnetic attraction force between the attraction plate and the Halbach array.

3. The magnetic latch mechanism of claim 2 further comprising a second tuning bumper, wherein the tuning bumper is replaceable by the second tuning bumper, the tuning bumper having a first predefined height, the second tuning bumper having a second predefined height, the first predefined height being different from the second predefined height.

4. The magnetic latch mechanism of claim 2 wherein the tuning bumper includes a shank having a user-customizable height.

5. The magnetic latch mechanism of claim 2 wherein the tuning bumper comprises a height-adjustment mechanism, the height-adjustment mechanism being configured to adjust a distance between the Halbach array and the attraction plate.

6. The magnetic latch mechanism of claim 5 wherein the height-adjustment mechanism comprises a screw structure.

7. The magnetic latch mechanism of claim 2 further comprising a magnetic shield, the Halbach array being disposed between the attraction plate and the magnetic shield when the first electronic assembly is in the closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly, the magnetic shield being configured to reduce a second magnetic flux of the Halbach array in a second direction different from the first direction.

8. The magnetic latch mechanism of claim 2 further comprising at least one connecting element, the at least one connecting element pivotally connects the first electronic assembly with the second electronic assembly.

9. The magnetic latch mechanism of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first electronic assembly and the second electronic assembly includes a display screen.

10. An electronic device having a magnetic latch mechanism, the electronic device comprising:

a first electronic assembly;

a second electronic assembly pivotally connected with the first electronic assembly;

a magnetic means for providing an uneven magnetic flux with respect to at least two sides of the magnetic means, a first side of the magnetic means having a first magnetic flux that is higher in intensity relative to a second magnetic flux associated with a second side of the magnetic means, wherein the magnetic means is captured by the first electronic assembly;

an attraction means for magnetically attracting the magnetic means, the attraction means captured by the second electronic assembly and configured to be coupled with the first magnetic flux when the first electronic assembly is in a closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly such that there is mutual attraction between the attraction plate and the magnetic means in the closed position; and

a gap-adjusting means configured to adjust a distance between the magnetic means and the attraction means when the electronic device is in the closed position, the gap-adjusting means including at least an indicator for indicating an intensity of a magnetic attraction force between the attraction means and the magnetic means.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 further comprising a magnetic shield configured to at least partially shield components of the electronic device from the second magnetic flux, the magnetic means being disposed between the attraction means and the magnetic shield when the first electronic assembly is in the closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly.

12. An electronic device having a magnetic latch mechanism, the electronic device comprising:

a first electronic assembly;

a second electronic assembly pivotally connected with the first electronic assembly;

magnetic means for providing an uneven magnetic flux with respect to at least two sides of the magnetic means, a first side of the magnetic means having a first magnetic flux that is higher in intensity relative to a second magnetic flux associated with a second side of the magnetic means, wherein the magnetic means is captured by the first electronic assembly;

an attraction means for magnetically attracting the magnetic means, the attraction means captured by the second electronic assembly and configured to be coupled with the first magnetic flux when the first electronic assembly is in a closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly such that there is mutual attraction between the attraction plate and the magnetic means in the closed position;

a gap-adjusting means configured to adjust a distance between the magnetic means and the attraction means when the electronic device is in the closed position; and

a second gap-adjusting means,

wherein the gap-adjusting means is replaceable by the second gap-adjusting means, the gap-adjusting means having a first predefined height, the second gap-adjusting means having a second predefined height, the first predefined height being different from the second predefined height.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the gap-adjusting means includes a screw.

14. An electronic device having a magnetic latch mechanism, the electronic device comprising:

a first electronic assembly;

a second electronic assembly pivotally connected with the first electronic assembly;

a magnetic unit captured by the first electronic assembly, the magnetic unit configured to provide a first magnetic flux in a first direction;

an attraction plate captured by the second electronic assembly and configured to be coupled with the first magnetic flux when the first electronic assembly is in a closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly such that there is mutual attraction between the attraction plate and the magnetic unit in the closed position; and

a tuning bumper, the tuning bumper configured to adjust a distance between the magnetic unit and the attraction plate in the closed position, thereby adjusting an intensity of a magnetic attraction force between the magnetic unit and the attraction plate, wherein the tuning bumper includes at least an indicator for indicating the intensity of the magnetic attraction force between the attraction plate and the magnetic unit.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the magnetic unit comprises a Halbach array.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 further comprising a second tuning bumper, wherein the tuning bumper is replaceable by the second tuning bumper, the tuning bumper having a first predefined height, the second tuning bumper having a second predefined height, the first predefined height being different from the second predefined height.

17. An electronic device having a magnetic latch mechanism, the electronic device comprising:

a first electronic assembly;

a second electronic assembly pivotally connected with the first electronic assembly;

a magnetic unit captured by the first electronic assembly, the magnetic unit configured to provide a first magnetic flux in a first direction;

an attraction plate captured by the second electronic assembly and configured to be coupled with the first magnetic flux when the first electronic assembly is in a closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly such that there is mutual attraction between the attraction plate and the magnetic unit in the closed position;

a tuning bumper, the tuning bumper configured to adjust a distance between the magnetic unit and the attraction plate in the closed position, thereby adjusting an intensity of a magnetic attraction force between the magnetic unit and the attraction plate; and

a second tuning bumper,

wherein the tuning bumper is replaceable by the second tuning bumper, the tuning bumper having a first predefined height, the second tuning bumper having a second predefined height, the first predefined height being different from the second predefined height.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the tuning bumper includes a shank having a user-customizable height.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 wherein the tuning bumper includes a screw structure.

20. The electronic device of claim 17 further comprising a magnetic shield, the magnetic unit being disposed between the attraction plate and the magnetic shield when the first electronic assembly is in the closed position with respect to the second electronic assembly, the magnetic shield configured to reduce a second magnetic flux of the magnetic unit in a second direction different from the first direction.

21. The electronic device of claim 17 wherein at least one of the first electronic assembly and the second electronic assembly includes an electronic display.