AMR Sensor Sleep Mode Detection for Laptop Angle Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sleep mode systems for electronic devices, such as laptop computers, are often inaccurate and prone to false triggering due to external magnets and manufacturing tolerances, leading to inefficient battery conservation.

Innovation Solution

A sleep mode system utilizing a magnetic component that generates a rotating magnetic field and a sensitive sensor, like an anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) or giant magneto-resistive (GMR) sensor, to accurately determine the orientation angle of the device, thereby accurately distinguishing between open and closed states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Hall Effect sensors are used to detect magnet position for sleep mode activation, then the device can detect closed state, but the system becomes vulnerable to false triggering by external magnets and suffers from manufacturing tolerance variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleep mode activation accuracyVSAvoidfalse triggering by external magnets

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from simple magnetic field presence (Hall Effect) to magnetic field orientation angle. The AMR sensor measures the angle of the magnetic field vector, which remains consistent for the closed state detection regardless of external magnetic interference. This parameter change from magnitude-based to angle-based detection resolves the false triggering issue while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the Hall Effect sensor system with an Anisotropic Magneto-Resistive (AMR) sensor system. This substitution introduces a new sensing mechanism that measures magnetic field orientation through resistance changes in magnetized material, providing immunity to external magnetic interference that plagues the Hall Effect approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If Hall Effect sensors are used for sleep mode detection, then the system can function with simple magnet proximity detection, but the measurement accuracy varies due to manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemagnet position detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor sensitivity variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes from detecting magnetic field strength or presence to detecting magnetic field orientation angle. The AMR sensor's angle measurement capability provides a reference frame that is independent of manufacturing tolerances in magnet placement and sensor positioning, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing sensitivity to manufacturing variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If conventional sleep mode systems are used, then the device can enter low energy state, but battery conservation efficiency is reduced due to inaccurate mode switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery conservation efficiencyVSAvoidmode switching accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the AMR sensor to continuously monitor magnetic field orientation and provides feedback to the controller about the actual device state. This accurate feedback ensures that sleep mode is activated only when truly closed and deactivated when opened, eliminating wasteful energy consumption from incorrect mode switching and improving overall battery conservation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides a more accurate and reliable method for activating and deactivating sleep mode, reducing false triggers and improving battery conservation by accurately detecting the device's state, thus enhancing the overall performance and energy management of electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic component generating a magnetic field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

a sensor disposed proximate the magnetic component and configured to detect magnetic field properties that vary according to a variable rotation of the magnetic component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS9897465B2Portable computer sleep mode system with angle sensor

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 APPLE INC

AI summary

A sleep mode system for an electronic device can include a magnetic component and a proximately located sensor configured to detect magnetic field properties that vary with a variable rotation of the magnetic component. The magnetic component can rotate with one device component, such as a laptop lid, while the sensor remains stationary with another device component, such as a laptop base. A controller can determine the orientation angle of the magnetic component based on the detected properties, and can put the device into or remove the device from a sleep mode based on the angle, which can reflect an open state or closed state for the electronic device.