Variable friction hinge for electronic devices
An embodiment provides a method, including detecting, using a touch sensor, a touch input; and operating, using a control unit, a variable friction hinge to achieve a low friction mode in response to the touch input. Other aspects are described and claimed.
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a touch sensor;
a main body;
a cover; and
a hinge connecting the cover and the main body, comprising:
a rotary shaft; and
an electromechanical coupler that selectively adjusts a rotational resistance of the rotary shaft in response to a signal derived from the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor comprises a touch sensitive layer and is coupled to the cover.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive layer is disposed in an outer surface of the cover.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive layer is disposed in a bottom surface of the cover.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive layer is disposed in a top surface of the cover.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive layer is disposed in a side surface of the cover.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensitive layers.
7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of touch sensitive layers is disposed in the main body.
8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of touch sensitive layers is disposed about a periphery of a display screen disposed within the cover.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical coupler adjusts the rotational resistance in response to a detection of a predetermined user.
10. A method, comprising:
detecting, using a touch sensor, a touch input, wherein the detecting comprises detecting the touch input while the lid is in a closed state; and
operating, using a control unit, a variable friction hinge to achieve a low friction mode in response to the touch input.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting a contact input.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting a biometric input.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the biometric input comprises fingerprint data.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the detecting comprises detecting a number of touch inputs; and
the operating comprises variably adjusting the variable friction hinge based on the number of touch inputs.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the detecting comprises detecting the touch input for less than a predetermined time.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the operating comprises providing an electromagnet excitation signal.
17. A program product, comprising:
a storage device comprising computer readable program code, the code being executable by a processor and comprising:
code that detects, from a touch sensor, a touch input, wherein the code that detects comprises code that detects the touch input while the lid is in a closed state: and
code that operates a variable friction hinge to achieve a low friction mode in response to the touch input.