Self-leveling system with auto feedback control

• US 9,423,828 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sprenger, Mark, Gwin, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US13/931,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20150001368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,151 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188.2, 248/188.3, 248/188.4, 248/188.5, 248/550, 248/677, 248/688, 36167926-6793, 361/679.59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 using an electroactive polymer actuator to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.

2. The leveling system of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator turns a screw to balance the pressures, and the first foot includes a plurality of stacked electroactive polymer actuators.

3. 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 electroactive polymer actuator that extends from the anchor to the second shaft.

4. The leveling system of claim 3, wherein the anchor includes a ratchet gear that permits the first electroactive polymer actuator to retract and prevents the first electroactive polymer actuator from extending until a release is activated.

5. The leveling system of claim 3, wherein the first foot includes a first wheel, the second shaft includes a third axle, and the first wheel rotates about the third axle.

6. The leveling system of claim 3, 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 electroactive polymer actuator that extends from the anchor to the third shaft.

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

8. 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 using an electroactive polymer actuator to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.

9. The leveling method of claim 8, wherein the retracting or extending is performed with a plurality of stacked electroactive polymer actuators included in the first foot.

10. The leveling method of claim 9, further comprising:

turning a screw with the electroactive polymer actuator to balance the pressures.

11. The leveling method of claim 8, 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 electroactive polymer actuator that extends from an anchor on the first shaft to the second shaft.

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

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

13. The leveling method of claim 11, 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.

14. The leveling method of claim 11, 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 electroactive polymer actuator that extends from the anchor to the third shaft.

15. The leveling method of claim 14, wherein 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.

16. 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 electroactive polymer actuator mechanism to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.

17. The device of claim 16, 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 electroactive polymer actuator that extends from the anchor to the second shaft.