Switchable magnetic array
US10031559B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01F13/003
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronic device (such as a laptop) may selectively latch a base to a lid using a switchable magnet array. In particular, a drive circuit in the electronic device may apply at least a current pulse to a conductor that generates a magnetic field to reverse a direction of a remnant magnetization in the switchable magnet array. By reversing the direction of the remnant magnetization, the electronic device may selectively increase or decrease a magnetic field generated by the switchable magnet array at an attraction plate in the electronic device. This magnetic field may, in turn, result in an attractive force between the switchable magnet array and the attraction plate, thereby selectively latching the base and the lid when the base and the lid are proximate to each other.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.