Magnetic Support Frame for Portable Device Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with detachable displays and keyboards face instability when the angle between the display and keyboard exceeds a certain limit, leading to potential falling, and existing solutions compromise on usability and aesthetics with auxiliary structures.

Innovation Solution

A portable electronic device equipped with a pivoting mechanism, electromagnetic components, and a control unit that detects excessive angles and adjusts the supporting frame to prevent falling by magnetically repulsing or attracting a moving magnetic component, allowing the supporting frame to unfold and stabilize the device without external actuators or structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a supporting structure is disposed on the back side of the tablet computer to prevent falling, then the tablet computer can be supported on a supporting surface, but it is not easy for the user to find the position of the supporting structure when it is desired to operate the supporting structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of tablet computerVSAvoidease of operation of supporting structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting frame is inverted from the conventional hidden back-side structure to a front-side visible structure. The supporting frame is disposed on the front side of the tablet computer, making it easily visible and accessible to users while maintaining the prevention function against falling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If an auxiliary structure, such as a slot or a pin, is formed on the back side and located at a position near the supporting structure so that the user can use his/her finger to operate the auxiliary structure to actuate the supporting structure, then the user can easily operate the supporting structure, but it impacts on integrity and aesthetics appearance of the tablet computer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operation of supporting structureVSAvoidaesthetics appearance of tablet computer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The operating mechanism is merged with the supporting frame itself. The supporting frame integrates both the support function and the operation interface, eliminating the need for separate auxiliary structures like slots or pins that would compromise aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting frame is designed to be self-operating through magnetic interaction. The moving magnetic component interacts with the electromagnetic component to automatically actuate the supporting frame, eliminating the need for manual operation through auxiliary structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the tablet computer is pivotally unfolded away from the external keyboard at an excessive angle, then the user can use the tablet at different angles, but assembly of the tablet computer and the external keyboard may be driven by the tablet computer to fall rearwardly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of angle between tablet computer and external keyboardVSAvoidstability of assembly of tablet computer and external keyboard

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting frame proactively counteracts the falling tendency before it occurs. When the tablet computer is pivotally unfolded at an excessive angle, the supporting frame is driven to protrude and provide preliminary support, preventing the assembly from falling rearwardly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 solution effectively prevents the device from falling at excessive angles while maintaining ease of operation and enhancing aesthetics by eliminating the need for auxiliary structures like slots or pins.

Implementation Method 1

the electromagnetic component generates a first active magnetic property for magnetically repulsing or magnetically attracting the moving magnetic component with the first magnetic property to a first position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic repulsion: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 3

The pivoting mechanism provides a torsional resilient force for the supporting frame to bias the supporting frame to pivotally unfold away from the second module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsional resilient force: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentUS9864402B1Portable electronic device capable of preventing a display from falling

Publication Date: 2018.01.09 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

A portable electronic device utilizes a control unit for controlling a power unit to provide electricity for an electromagnetic component to generate a first active magnetic property for magnetically repulsing or magnetically attracting a moving magnetic component with a first magnetic property, so as to drive the moving magnetic component to move to a first position when the control unit determines an included angle between a first module and a second module is greater than a predetermined angle. When the moving magnetic component is located at the first position, a pivoting mechanism disposed between a supporting frame and the second module drives the supporting frame to pivotally unfold relative to the second module, so as to support the second module on a supporting surface, which prevents the second module from falling.