Computer with a rotary module driven by magnetic forces

• US 7,852,621 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Cheng-Hung, Lin, Shih-Jeh
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/349,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.02, 335/207, 292/251.5, 292/DIG.37, 243/03
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic

Abstract

A computer includes a housing whereon an opening is formed, and a containing space is formed inside the housing. The computer further includes a rotary module installed inside the containing space in a rotatable manner, a first magnetic component connected to an end of the rotary module, a second magnetic component disposed on a side of the first magnetic component for attracting or repulsing the first magnetic component so as to switch the rotary module in a first position or in a second position, and a switch for converting magnetic field of the second magnetic component so that the second magnetic attracts or repulses the first magnetic component.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a housing whereon an opening is formed, and a containing space being formed inside the housing;

a rotary module installed inside the containing space in a rotatable manner;

a first magnetic component connected to an end of the rotary module;

a second magnetic component disposed on a side of the first magnetic component for attracting or repulsing the first magnetic component so as to switch the rotary module in a first position or in a second position; and

a switch for converting magnetic field of the second magnetic component so that the second magnetic component attracts or repulses the first magnetic component.

2. The computer of claim 1 wherein the second magnetic component is an electromagnet electrically connected to the switch, and the switch electrifies the second magnetic component with different current directions so that the second magnetic component attracts or repulses the first magnetic component.

3. The computer of claim 2 wherein the second magnetic component attracts the first magnetic component for fixing the rotary module in the first position when the switch electrifies the second magnetic component with a first current direction, and the second magnetic component repulses the first magnetic component for driving the rotary module to rotate from the first position to the second position when the switch electrifies the second magnetic component with a second current direction opposite to the first current direction.

4. The computer of claim 2 wherein the first magnetic component is a permanent magnet.

5. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a third magnetic component installed on the other side of the first magnetic component for attracting or repulsing the first magnetic component so as to switch the rotary module in the first position or in the second position with the second magnetic component together.

6. The computer of claim 5 wherein the third magnetic component is an electromagnet electrically connected to the switch, and the switch electrifies the third magnetic component with different current directions so that the third magnetic component attracts or repulses the first magnetic component.

7. The computer of claim 6 wherein the third magnetic component attracts the first magnetic component for fixing the rotary module in the first position when the switch electrifies the third magnetic component with a first current direction, and the third magnetic component repulses the first magnetic component for driving the rotary module to rotate from the first position to the second position when the switch electrifies the third magnetic component with a second current direction opposite to the first current direction.

8. The computer of claim 5 wherein the first magnetic component is a permanent magnet.

9. The computer of claim 1 wherein the rotary module comprises:

a bar pivoted to the housing, the bar comprising a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and

a pad disposed on the first side of the bar;

wherein the pad is exposed out of the opening on the housing completely when the rotary module rotates to the first position, and the pad is contained inside the containing space of the housing completely and the second side of the bar is exposed out of the opening on the housing completely when the rotary module rotates to the second position.

10. The computer of claim 9 wherein the second side of the bar is level with a surface of the housing substantially when the rotary module rotates to the second position.

11. The computer of claim 9 wherein the second side of the bar and the surface of the housing are made of same material.

12. The computer of claim 9 wherein the pad is made of rubber material.

13. The computer of claim 9 wherein the first magnetic component is connected to an end of the bar.

14. The computer of claim 1 wherein the rotary module comprises:

a bar pivoted to the housing, the bar comprising a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and

an electronic component disposed on the first side of the bar;

wherein the electronic component is exposed out of the opening on the housing completely when the rotary module rotates to the first position, and the electronic component is contained inside the containing space of the housing completely and the second side of the bar is exposed out of the opening on the housing completely when the rotary module rotates to the second position.

15. The computer of claim 14 wherein the second side of the bar is level with a surface of the housing substantially when the rotary module rotates to the second position.

16. The computer of claim 14 wherein the second side of the bar and the surface of the housing are made of same material.

17. The computer of claim 14 wherein the first side of the bar is an arc surface.

18. The computer of claim 14 wherein the second side of the bar is a plane.

19. The computer of claim 14 wherein the first magnetic component is connected to an end of the bar.

20. The computer of claim 14 wherein the electronic component is an image capturing component.