Switchable magnetic lock

• US 9,824,808 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Rihn, Bernard K., Dietz, Paul Henry, Bathiche, Steven Nabil, Gault, Joseph B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojas, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US14/543,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0067 for portable computers, e.g. for locking the screen panel to the keyboard panel
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/16 Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction E05C17/56 takes precedence
• 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 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/04 Means for releasing the attractive force

Abstract

This document describes techniques using, and apparatuses including, switchable magnetic locks. These techniques and apparatuses can enable low or no power consumption and a seamless design for locking and unlocking of devices one to the other, such as computing devices and peripherals.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a base having a first surface and a switchable magnetic lock or a magnetically permeable material;

a display having a second surface and whichever of the switchable magnetic lock or the magnetically permeable material that is not in the base;

a hinge connecting the base and the display, the hinge configured to rotate the display relative to the base effective to rotate the second surface to and from the first surface;

an actuator capable of rotating a magnet of the switchable magnet lock between a lock state and an unlock state; and

a controller capable of receiving a selection and controlling the actuator, the selection initiating a switch of the switchable magnetic lock between the lock state and the unlock state;

the lock state locking the first surface to the second surface by completing a first magnetic circuit between a permanent magnet of the switchable magnetic lock and the magnetically permeable material using magnetic-field directors when the first surface and the second surface are made proximate by the hinge; and

the unlock state not locking the first surface to the second surface by completing a second magnetic circuit between the permanent magnet and the magnetic-field directors without the magnetically permeable material.

2. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the switchable magnetic lock is capable of locking and unlocking the first surface to and from the second surface without mechanical dents, detents, or latches.

3. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the switchable magnetic lock draws power when switching between the lock state and the unlock state but does not draw power to maintain the lock state or the unlock state.

4. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the hinge is further configured to include a spring, the spring configured to cause the display to separate the first surface from the second surface through a hinge force caused by the spring, and wherein the hinge force is insufficient to separate the first surface and the second surface when the switchable magnetic lock is in the lock state.

5. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the selection is received through a capacitive sensor capable of sensing contact with the computing device.

6. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the switchable magnetic lock is disposed in the base or the display and is not visible.

7. A computing device as described in claim 6, wherein the switchable magnetic lock is disposed beneath a smooth, seamless surface of the base or the display.

8. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the selection is received implicitly by bringing the first surface and the second surface near to each other.

9. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the controller is embodied as part of the switchable magnetic lock.

10. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises computer-executable instructions stored on computer-readable storage media and executable by one or more processors.

11. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the counter-balance allows a user to almost effortlessly move the display relative to the base.

12. A computing device as described in claim 1, the display further comprising a counter-balance, and wherein the counter-balance allows for separation of the first surface from the second surface using minimal force in the unlock state.

13. A computing device as described in claim 1, wherein the magnet of the switchable magnetic lock comprises a diametrically magnetized magnet and the switchable magnetic lock further comprises magnetic-field directors, the magnetic-field directors configured to direct a magnetic field of the diametrically magnetized magnet to and away from the magnetically permeable material.

14. A computing device comprising:

a base having a first surface and a switchable magnetic lock or a magnetically permeable material;

a display having a second surface and whichever of the switchable magnetic lock or the magnetically permeable material that is not in the base;

a hinge connecting the base and the display, the hinge configured to rotate the display relative to the base effective to rotate the second surface to and from the first surface;

an actuator capable of rotating a magnet of the switchable magnet lock between a lock state and an unlock state;

a sensor configured to indicate a state of the switchable magnetic lock; and

a controller capable of sensing the state of the switchable magnetic lock, receiving a selection, and controlling the actuator, the selection initiating a switch of the switchable magnetic lock between the lock state and the unlock state;

the lock state locking the first surface to the second surface by completing a first magnetic circuit between a permanent magnet of the switchable magnetic lock and the magnetically permeable material using magnetic-field directors when the first surface and the second surface are made proximate by the hinge; and

the unlock state not locking the first surface to the second surface by completing a second magnetic circuit between the permanent magnet and the magnetic-field directors without the magnetically permeable material.

15. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a hall-effect sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a proximity sensor.

16. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the magnet of the switchable magnetic lock comprises a diametrically magnetized magnet and the switchable magnetic lock further comprises magnetic-field directors, the magnetic-field directors configured to direct a magnetic field of the diametrically magnetized magnet to and away from the magnetically permeable material.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a base having a first surface and a switchable magnetic lock or a magnetically permeable material, the switchable magnetic lock comprising;

a diametrically magnetized magnet;

magnetic-field directors, the magnetic-field directors configured to direct a magnetic field of the diametrically magnetized magnet to and away from the magnetically permeable material; and

an actuator capable of rotating the diametrically magnetized magnet between a lock state and an unlock state;

a display having a second surface and whichever of the switchable magnetic lock or the magnetically permeable material that is not in the base;

a hinge connecting the base and the display, the hinge configured to rotate the display relative to the base effective to rotate the second surface to and from the first surface; and

a controller capable of receiving a selection and controlling the actuator, the selection initiating a switch of the switchable magnetic lock between the lock state and the unlock state;

the lock state locking the first surface to the second surface by using the magnetic-field directors to direct the magnetic field effective to attract the magnetically permeable material to the diametrically magnetized magnet; and

the unlock state not locking the first surface to the second surface by using the magnetic-field directors to direct the magnetic field effective to null the magnetic field between the diametrically magnetized magnet the magnetically permeable material.

18. An electronic device as described in claim 17, wherein the lock state completes a first magnetic circuit between the diametrically magnetized magnet and the magnetically permeable material and the unlock state completes a second magnetic circuit between the diametrically magnetized magnet and the magnetic-field directors without the magnetically permeable material.

19. An electronic device as described in claim 17, wherein each of the magnetic-field directors has an isolated magnetic circuit.

20. An electronic device as described in claim 17, wherein the actuator further comprises a mechanical device that may be manually operated by a user to switch the switchable magnetic lock between the lock state and the unlock state without requiring power.

21. An electronic device as described in claim 17, wherein the controller comprises computer-executable instructions stored on computer-readable storage media and executable by one or more processors.

22. An electronic device as described in claim 17, wherein the selection is received implicitly by bringing the first surface and the second surface near to each other.

23. An electronic device as described in claim 17, wherein the actuator comprises an electro-mechanical device, a solenoid, or a geared vibrator motor.