Locking mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computing device comprising:
- a first portion;
a second portion separably connected to the first portion;
a locking mechanism configured to lock the first portion to the second portion, the locking mechanism includes a locking receptacle connected to the first portion and a locking protrusion connected to the second portion, the locking receptacle including a rotating lock and having an aperture through which the locking protrusion is insertable;
an actuator mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to transition the first portion and the second portion between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the actuator includes a SMA wire and wherein transitioning the locking mechanism further comprises heating the SMA wire to transition the locking mechanism; and
a thermistor to measure ambient temperature near the SMA wire and wherein heating the SMA wire to unlock transition the locking mechanism further comprises heating the SMA wire based on the ambient temperature near the SMA wire.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computing device is described. The computing device may include a first portion and a second portion separably connected to the first portion. A locking mechanism may be configured to lock the first portion to the second portion. The locking mechanism may include a locking receptacle connected to the first portion and a locking protrusion connected to the second portion. The locking receptacle may include a rotating lock and may have an aperture through which the locking protrusion is insertable. The computing device may include an actuator mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to unlock the first portion from the second portion.
34 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computing device comprising:
-
a first portion; a second portion separably connected to the first portion; a locking mechanism configured to lock the first portion to the second portion, the locking mechanism includes a locking receptacle connected to the first portion and a locking protrusion connected to the second portion, the locking receptacle including a rotating lock and having an aperture through which the locking protrusion is insertable; an actuator mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to transition the first portion and the second portion between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the actuator includes a SMA wire and wherein transitioning the locking mechanism further comprises heating the SMA wire to transition the locking mechanism; and a thermistor to measure ambient temperature near the SMA wire and wherein heating the SMA wire to unlock transition the locking mechanism further comprises heating the SMA wire based on the ambient temperature near the SMA wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A computing device comprising:
-
a first portion; a second portion separably connected to the first portion; a locking mechanism configured to lock the first portion to the second portion; an actuator mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to transition the first portion and the second portion between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the actuator includes an SMA wire and wherein transitioning the locking mechanism further comprises heating the SMA wire to transition the locking mechanism; a processor in electronic communication with the actuator; and memory including instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the actuator to transition the locking mechanism upon receipt of an instruction to transition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computing device, comprising:
-
a first portion that includes a display screen; a second portion that includes an input device and that is separably connected to the first portion; a locking mechanism configured to lock the first portion to the second portion, the locking mechanism includes a locking receptacle connected to the first portion and a locking protrusion connected to the second portion, the locking receptacle including a rotating lock and having an aperture through which the locking protrusion is insertable; an actuator mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to transition the first portion and the second portion between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the actuator including a SMA wire and a power source connected to the SMA wire, wherein transitioning the locking mechanism further comprises heating the SMA wire to transition the locking mechanism; one or more magnets proximate the locking mechanism; and a processor in electronic communication with the actuator and programmed to cause the actuator to transition the locking mechanism upon receipt of an instruction to transition by heating the SMA wire. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification