Foldable Magnetic Closure With Balanced Opening Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure mechanisms for foldable electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, require excessive force to open when a screen guard is present, affecting user accessibility, especially for individuals with disabilities, due to increased magnetic force needed to maintain the device in a closed position.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic closure system utilizing two pairs of magnets, where the first pair provides an attractive force to keep the device closed and the second pair offers a repelling force that counteracts the attraction as the device closes, with the second pair's pole size smaller than the first, ensuring balanced closure and easy opening regardless of the presence of a screen guard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an increased closure force mechanism is used to compensate for screen guard presence, then the device can remain closed reliably, but the force required to open the device increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic closure system is divided into two separate magnet pairs with distinct functions: a first magnet pair that provides attractive closure force to keep the device closed, and a second magnet pair that provides repulsive force to assist opening. This segmentation allows each magnet pair to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between reliable closure and easy opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The second magnet pair acts as a magnetic counterweight that provides a repulsive force opposing the attractive force of the first magnet pair. This counteracting magnetic force reduces the net closure force that the user must overcome to open the device, while the first magnet pair ensures sufficient closure reliability when the device is closed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a screen guard is added to protect the screen, then screen protection is improved, but the closure mechanism effectiveness deteriorates due to increased distance
Solution Approach 1:
The solution addresses the distance issue by introducing a second magnetic dimension through the repulsive magnet pair. The first magnet pair compensates for the increased distance caused by the screen guard by providing stronger attractive force, while the second magnet pair provides repulsive force that becomes significant only when the device is nearly closed, ensuring reliable closure regardless of screen guard presence.
3Reliability
If larger pole size magnets are used to increase closure force, then closure reliability improves, but the force curve becomes non-linear and opening becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic closure system transitions from a static single-magnet design to a dynamic two-magnet-pair system where the net magnetic force changes dynamically as the device closes. As the gap decreases, the repulsive force from the second magnet pair increases, automatically adjusting the net closure force to provide strong holding at full closure while reducing the force barrier during the opening process.
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 maintains the device in a closed position with minimal effort and allows easy one-finger opening, providing flexibility and convenience for users with or without a screen guard, while being cost-effective and easy to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
the first magnet pair provides an attractive magnetic force that biases the electronic device in the closed position
Implementation Method 2
the second magnet pair provides a repelling magnetic force that partially counteracts the biasing from the attractive magnetic force as a gap between the first portion and the second portion decreases
Data Source
AI summary
An improved method and system for providing a magnetic closure system for an electronic device (100) may include a first portion (130), a second portion (150), a connecting element (145) pivotally connecting the first portion to the second portion and configured to enable the electronic device to fold between a closed position and an open position, and a magnetic element (160, 165) for providing a closure force to bias the electronic device in the closed position. The magnetic element may include a first magnet pair and a second magnet pair, each of the first magnet pair and second magnet pair including a first magnet housed within the first portion and a second magnet housed within the second portion. The first magnet pair may provide an attractive magnetic force that biases the electronic device in the closed position, while the second magnet pair may provide a repelling magnetic force that partially counteracts the biasing from the attractive magnetic force as a gap between the first portion and the second portion decreases, and a pole size of the second magnet pair is smaller than a pole size of the first magnet pair.