Control mechanism and method for a hybrid hinge for electronic devices
First Claim
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1. A hybrid hinge assembly for an electronic device, the hybrid hinge assembly comprising:
- a base fixture;
a lid fixture;
a pivot pivotably coupling the lid fixture and the base fixture;
one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply at least a first degree of torque force to facilitate pivoting between the lid fixture and the base fixture and to apply at least a second degree of torque force to resist pivoting between the lid fixture and the base fixture; and
a variable electrical power source to supply first power to cause the one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply the first degree of torque force when the electronic device is operating in a first mode in which a position of the lid fixture relative to the base fixture is to be changed, the variable electrical power source to supply second power to cause the one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply the second degree of torque force when the electronic device is operating in a second mode in which the position of the lid fixture relative to the base fixture is not to be changed.
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Abstract
A control mechanism and method for a hybrid hinge for electronic devices are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: a hybrid hinge for an electronic device, the hybrid hinge comprising: a pivot; and an auxiliary component including one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices and a variable electrical power source, the one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices being configured to apply a variable degree of torque force to the pivot based on a degree of electrical power supplied by the electrical power source.
15 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A hybrid hinge assembly for an electronic device, the hybrid hinge assembly comprising:
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a base fixture; a lid fixture; a pivot pivotably coupling the lid fixture and the base fixture; one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply at least a first degree of torque force to facilitate pivoting between the lid fixture and the base fixture and to apply at least a second degree of torque force to resist pivoting between the lid fixture and the base fixture; and a variable electrical power source to supply first power to cause the one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply the first degree of torque force when the electronic device is operating in a first mode in which a position of the lid fixture relative to the base fixture is to be changed, the variable electrical power source to supply second power to cause the one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply the second degree of torque force when the electronic device is operating in a second mode in which the position of the lid fixture relative to the base fixture is not to be changed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic device system comprising:
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a lid; a base; and a hybrid hinge including; a lid fixture, a base fixture, and a pivot coupled to or captured within the lid fixture and the base fixture; a variable electrical power source; and one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply at least a first degree of torque force to the hybrid hinge to facilitate pivoting between the lid fixture and the base fixture and to apply at least a second degree of torque force to resist pivoting between the lid fixture and the base fixture based on an operating mode of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method to operate an electronic device including a base, a lid, a hinge pivotably coupling the base and the lid, and one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices to apply torque to at least one of the base, the lid or the hinge, the method comprising:
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detecting a user or system action related to the electronic device; determining, based on the user or system action, whether the electronic device is operating in a first mode in which a position of the lid relative to the base is to be changed or is operating in a second mode in which the position of the lid relative to the base is not to be changed; applying one or more of a first range of torque forces to facilitate pivoting between the lid and the base when the electronic device is operating in the first mode; and applying one or more of a second range of torque forces to resist pivoting between the lid and the base when the electronic device is operating in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processing system, cause the processing system to at least:
- detect a user or system action related to an electronic device, the electronic device having a hybrid hinge coupling a lid of the electronic device with a base of the electronic device, the hybrid hinge including a mechanical component including a pivot, a lid fixture, and a base fixture, the pivot being coupled to or captured within the lid fixture and the base fixture, the hybrid hinge including an auxiliary component including one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices and a variable electrical power source, the one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices being configured to apply a variable degree of torque force to the hybrid hinge based on a degree of electrical power supplied by the electrical power source as programmed by the processing system of the electronic device;
determine a current system operating mode of the electronic device associated with the detected user or system action; and
dynamically adjust the torque force applied to the hybrid hinge to conform with the torque force requirements for the current system operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
- detect a user or system action related to an electronic device, the electronic device having a hybrid hinge coupling a lid of the electronic device with a base of the electronic device, the hybrid hinge including a mechanical component including a pivot, a lid fixture, and a base fixture, the pivot being coupled to or captured within the lid fixture and the base fixture, the hybrid hinge including an auxiliary component including one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices and a variable electrical power source, the one or more electro-magnetic or electro-mechanical devices being configured to apply a variable degree of torque force to the hybrid hinge based on a degree of electrical power supplied by the electrical power source as programmed by the processing system of the electronic device;
Specification