Wireless Gimbal Carriage for Pivoting Device Chip Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with pivotable components, such as clamshell notebooks and two-in-one tablets, face challenges in establishing reliable wireless connections between their angularly displaceable parts, as traditional wired connectors can fail or complicate assembly, and existing wireless solutions lack efficient dynamic alignment.

Innovation Solution

A wireless connection gimbal assembly utilizing magnetic and gravitational forces to dynamically align transmitter and receiver chips, ensuring a line-of-sight path and reducing power consumption by maintaining alignment even as the device's components pivot, thereby facilitating efficient short-range wireless communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired connectors are used to establish electrical connections between lid and base, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connector system with a wireless communication system. The wireless transceiver components eliminate the need for physical electrical connections between the lid and base, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining connection reliability through wireless data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If wireless connection is implemented without dynamic alignment, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection structure complexityVSAvoidwireless communication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic alignment mechanism where the wireless transceiver components are mounted on a rotatable carriage that can dynamically adjust its orientation. This allows the system to maintain optimal line-of-sight alignment between transmitter and receiver as the lid pivots, ensuring communication reliability without requiring complex fixed positioning structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms to monitor the alignment status of the wireless transceiver components and automatically adjusts the carriage rotation to maintain optimal communication alignment. This closed-loop control ensures reliable wireless communication while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional fixed alignment method is used, then manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but power consumption increases due to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidwireless communication power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable carriage enables dynamic realignment of the wireless transceiver components during operation, compensating for misalignment caused by device movement or manufacturing tolerances. This reduces the need for extremely precise fixed mounting while minimizing power consumption through optimal signal alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If wireless connection is implemented without gimbal mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but alignment capability deteriorates when device orientation changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment mechanism complexityVSAvoidalignment adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gimbal-style rotatable carriage provides dynamic alignment capability that allows the wireless transceiver components to adapt to various device orientations and pivot angles. This mechanical degrees-of-freedom system enables the components to maintain line-of-sight alignment regardless of whether the device is held horizontally, vertically, or at intermediate angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 gimbal assembly ensures reliable and power-efficient wireless communication between pivotable device components by maintaining alignment through magnetic and gravitational forces, enhancing data transmission rates and reducing power usage, even in non-horizontal orientations.

Implementation Method 1

The carriage is attracted by a magnet such that the chips are brought into alignment with one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

A wireless connection gimbal assembly utilizing magnetic and gravitational forces to dynamically align transmitter and receiver chips

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3198358B1Wireless gimbal connection for electronic devices
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 INTEL CORP
  • EP3198358B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3198358B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3198358B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A

AI summary

A wireless gimbal connection of use with electronics devices such as computer notebooks relatively pivotable portions such as a lid and base. The gimbal includes a carriage on which transmitter and receiver chips are mounted, and further has a magnet whose magnetic forces may be used to bring the gimbaled carriage into a predetermined alignment with the base, which may be used to arrange the chips and any sensors as may be used into alignment as well. As the orientation of the lid varies with respect to the base, the carriage within seeks alignment with the base due to the magnetic forces present. Where the base is located on a flat surface, gravitational forces also contribute to the alignment.