Magnetic hinge for electronic devices
View Patent ↗The invention broadly contemplates an apparatus that makes it possible to easily lift up and open a notebook type computer cover irrespective of a weight of the cover and stop the cover at a predetermined opened/closed position. A portable electronic apparatus includes: a main body provided with an input operating portion, a cover provided with a display unit, a hinge mechanism including a rotary shaft fixed to the cover and a support member fixed to the main body. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic mechanism having a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, in which the permanent magnet and the electromagnet are disposed with respect to the rotary shaft so that when the current is applied or not applied to the electromagnet, a repulsive or attractive force is generated which allows the rotary shaft to be in a rotatable state, and thereby allow an opening/closing torque to act on the cover.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a main body of an electronic device;
a cover of an electronic device;
a hinge mechanism of the electronic device, the hinge mechanism comprising:
a rotary shaft fitted between the main body and the cover; and
an electromagnetic mechanism, the electromagnetic mechanism being disposed to selectively adjust a rotational resistance of the rotary shaft.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism comprises a permanent magnet configured to selectively adjust the rotational resistance in cooperation with an electromagnet.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism is configured selectively adjust the rotational resistance when a current is applied to the electromagnet.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism is configured such that the permanent magnet and the electromagnet create a repulsive force with respect to one another after the current is applied to the electromagnet.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises:
at least one support member; and
a frictional resistance imparting portion that imparts a frictional resistance to the rotary shaft, the frictional resistance imparting portion being disposed in a fitting portion between the rotary shaft and the at least one support member.
6. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a control unit that controls the current; and
an electromagnet switch that delivers an electromagnet excitation signal to the control unit.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the cover comprises:
the electromagnet switch; and
a latch hook configured to latch the cover to the main body and switch the electromagnet switch between an on state and an off state.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a rotation angle sensor configured to detect an opening/closing angle of the cover and deliver a current to the control unit when the opening/closing angle corresponds to a predetermined opening/closing angle;
wherein the control unit is configured to execute a current control function.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism further comprises:
a pair of divided support members;
a holding member configured to hold at least one of the pair of divided support members so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft;
the permanent magnet being disposed about one of the pair of divided support members;
the electromagnet being disposed about another of the pair of divided support members so as to oppose the permanent magnet, wherein the rotary shaft is disposed between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet; and
a latch mechanism comprising a set of gears configured to interlock with an inner circumferential surface of each of the pair of divided support members and an outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft.
10. An apparatus comprising:
a hinge mechanism fitted between a main body and a cover of an electronic device, the hinge mechanism comprising:
a rotary shaft; and
an electromagnetic mechanism, the electromagnetic mechanism being disposed to selectively adjust a rotational resistance of the rotary shaft.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism comprises a permanent magnet configured to selectively adjust the rotational resistance in cooperation with an electromagnet.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism is configured selectively adjust the rotational resistance when a current is applied to the electromagnet.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism is configured such that the permanent magnet and the electromagnet create a repulsive force with respect to one another after the current is applied to the electromagnet.
14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises:
at least one support member; and
a frictional resistance imparting portion that imparts a frictional resistance to the rotary shaft, the frictional resistance imparting portion being disposed in a fitting portion between the rotary shaft and the at least one support member.
15. The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a control unit that controls the current; and
an electromagnet switch that delivers an electromagnet excitation signal to the control unit.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the cover comprises:
the electromagnet switch; and
a latch hook configured to latch the cover to the main body and switch the electromagnet switch between an on state and an off state.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a rotation angle sensor configured to detect an opening/closing angle of the cover and deliver a current to the control unit when the opening/closing angle corresponds to a predetermined opening/closing angle;
wherein the control unit is configured to execute a current control function.
18. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic mechanism further comprises:
a pair of divided support members;
a holding member configured to hold at least one of the pair of divided support members so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft;
the permanent magnet being disposed about one of the pair of divided support members;
the electromagnet being disposed about another of the pair of divided support members so as to oppose the permanent magnet, wherein the rotary shaft is disposed between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet; and
a latch mechanism comprising a set of gears configured to interlock with an inner circumferential surface of each of the pair of divided support members and an outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft.