Movable Stylus Magnet Attachment for Low Flux Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Magnetic attachment systems for electronic devices face challenges in providing strong attachment forces while minimizing external magnetic fields, which can attract unwanted objects or interfere with other devices, often requiring a trade-off between attachment strength and magnetic flux leakage.

Innovation Solution

The use of movable magnets within the device that transition between a rest position and an attachment position, allowing for increased magnetic flux when an accessory is attached and reducing flux when detached, utilizing a magnetic return component to manage the magnet's movement and minimize external leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If stronger magnets are used to increase attachment force, then attachment strength is improved, but external magnetic flux leakage increases causing unwanted object attraction and interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment forceVSAvoidmagnetic flux leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet is made movable between a rest position and an attachment position. When the accessory is attached, the magnet moves to the attachment position to provide strong magnetic attraction. When detached, it returns to the rest position to minimize external magnetic flux leakage. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing strong magnets to be used without continuous harmful field leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic attachment system is divided into separate functional components: a movable magnet within the device, a magnetic return component to guide movement, and a magnetic component in the accessory. This segmentation allows the magnet to be positioned optimally for attachment while minimizing leakage when detached, resolving the contradiction between attachment strength and magnetic flux leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If a fixed magnet is positioned close to the exterior surface to maximize attachment force, then attachment strength is improved, but magnetic flux leakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment forceVSAvoidmagnetic flux leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of a fixed magnet position, the system uses a movable magnet that can be dynamically positioned. The magnet moves close to the exterior surface only when needed for attachment, and returns to a deeper rest position when detached. This dynamic behavior maintains strong attachment force when required while minimizing magnetic flux leakage during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the magnet is positioned far from the exterior surface to minimize magnetic flux leakage, then magnetic field containment is improved, but attachment force decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic flux leakageVSAvoidattachment force
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The movable magnet design allows the system to achieve both goals at different times. When detached, the magnet remains far from the exterior surface (in the rest position) to minimize magnetic flux leakage. When attachment is needed, the magnet moves close to the exterior surface to maximize attachment force. This temporal separation resolves the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic return component is pre-positioned to guide the magnet back to the rest position that optimizes magnetic field containment. This preliminary positioning arrangement ensures that when the accessory is detached, the magnet automatically returns to the optimal position for minimizing magnetic flux leakage, preparing the system for the next attachment cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary 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

This approach enhances the attachment force between the device and accessory without increasing external magnetic interference, maintaining strong attachment while minimizing unwanted interactions with other objects or devices.

Implementation Method 1

The magnet may be moved from the rest position to the attachment position due to magnetic attraction between the magnet and a magnetic component in the stylus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

The magnet may be moved from the attachment position to the rest position due to magnetic attraction between the magnet and a magnetic return component coupled to the frame structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS20240085947A1Magnetic attachment system for input device
Publication Date: 2024.03.14 APPLE INC
  • US20240085947A1 patent drawing
  • US20240085947A1 patent drawing
  • US20240085947A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A tablet computing system may include a display, and an enclosure enclosing the display. An exterior surface of the enclosure may define a stylus charging region, a stylus attachment region, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface. The tablet computing system may further include a magnetic attachment mechanism positioned along the interior surface opposite the stylus attachment region and configured to releasably couple a stylus to the tablet computing system. The magnetic attachment mechanism may include a frame structure, and a magnet positioned in a recess of the frame structure and configured to move from a rest position in the frame structure to an attachment position proximate the interior surface of the housing member in response to the stylus being positioned on the stylus attachment region of the exterior surface of the housing member.