Latch with magnetically-assisted operation for information handling systems (IHSS)

Abstract

A latch with magnetically-assisted operation is described. In some embodiments, a latch may include: a first magnetic device fixedly coupled to a first portion of an Information Handling System (IHS); a second magnetic device coupled to a second movable portion of the IHS; and a carrier, comprising: a compression bracket fixedly coupled to the first portion of the IHS, the compression bracket having a slot configured to accommodate the second magnetic device, at least one guidepost configured to receive a return spring, and at least one stopping pin; and a actuator bracket movably coupled to compression bracket, the actuator bracket having a button configured to translate the second magnetic device with respect to the first magnetic device, at least one orifice configured to engage with the at least one guidepost, and at least one detent configured to engage with the at least one stopping pin.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A latch An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:
 a first magnetic device fixedly coupled to a first portion of an Information Handling System (IHS); 
 a second magnet coupled to a carrier magnetic device coupled to a movable second portion of the IHS; and 
 a carrier, comprising:
 a compression bracket fixedly coupled to the first portion of the IHS, the compression bracket having a surface configured to accommodate the second magnetic device, at least one guidepost configured to receive a return spring, and at least one stopping pin; and 
 an actuator bracket coupled to the compression bracket, the actuator bracket having a button configured to translate the second magnetic device with respect to the first magnetic device, at least one orifice configured to engage with the at least one guidepost, and at least one detent configured to engage with the at least one stopping pin 
 
 a chassis; 
 a kickstand coupled to the chassis; and 
 an assembly coupled to the chassis, wherein the assembly comprises a first magnetic device coupled to an actuator and a guidepost coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator comprises a button, and wherein the actuator is configured to:
 translate the first magnetic device from a first position to a second position with respect to a second magnetic device coupled to the kickstand; and 
 compress a spring having the guidepost inserted therein, wherein the guidepost is insertable into an orifice in the assembly through the spring, and wherein the spring is configured to return the first magnetic device to the first position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The latch IHS of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device have a same polarity orientation. 
     
     
       3. The latch of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic device translates in response to operation of the button. 
     
     
       4. The latch IHS of claim  3  1, wherein when the actuator bracket first magnetic device is in a the first position, the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device interact under a predominantly attractive force. 
     
     
       5. The latch IHS of  claim 4 , wherein when the actuator bracket first magnetic device is in the first position, a first portion of the first magnetic device having a first polarity is aligned with a first portion of the second magnetic device having a second polarity opposite the first polarity. 
     
     
       6. The latch IHS of  claim 4 , wherein when the actuator bracket first magnetic device is in a the second position, the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device interact under a predominantly repulsive force. 
     
     
       7. The latch IHS of  claim 6 , wherein when the actuator bracket first magnetic device is in the second position: (i) a first portion of the first magnetic device having a first polarity is aligned with a second portion of the second magnetic device having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, and (ii) a second portion of the first magnetic device having the second polarity is aligned with a first portion of the second magnetic device having the first polarity. 
     
     
       8. The latch of  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the IHS includes a kickstand. 
     
     
       9. The latch IHS of claim  8  1, wherein the actuator bracket is operated in response to physical contact of the button with of the actuator, wherein the button of the actuator comprises a surface perpendicular to the first portion guidepost. 
     
     
       10. The latch IHS of claim  3  1, wherein the second portion of the IHS kickstand is coupled to the first portion chassis via a spring-loaded hinge. 
     
     
       11. The latch IHS of claim  3  10, wherein the first portion of the IHS includes chassis comprises one or more clamping magnets, and wherein the second portion of the IHS includes kickstand comprises a corresponding set of one or more clamping magnets. 
     
     
       12. The latch IHS of  claim 11 , wherein when the first magnetic device is in a the first position, forces applied to the second portion kickstand by the spring-loaded hinge are smaller than a sum of: (i) attractive forces between the first and second magnetic devices, and (ii) attractive forces between the clamping magnets, wherein when the first magnetic device is in a second an intermediate position, the attractive forces between the clamping magnets are equal to a sum of: (i) the forces applied to the second portion kickstand by the spring-loaded hinge, and (ii) repulsive forces between the first and second magnetic devices, and wherein when the first magnetic device is in a third the second position, the attractive forces between the clamping magnets is are smaller than a sum of: (i) repulsive forces between the first and second magnetic devices, and (ii) the forces applied to the second portion kickstand by the spring-loaded hinge. 
     
     
       13. The latch of  claim 1 , wherein the second distance is zero. 
     
     
       14. The latch IHS of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second magnetic devices includes comprises an electromagnetic coil. 
     
     
       15. An assembly carrier coupled to an Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:
 a first magnetic device;  
 an actuator bracket having a button configured to translate a second the first movably coupled to an Information Handling System (IHS) magnetic device from a first position to a second position with respect to a first second magnetic device fixedly coupled to a kickstand, wherein the actuator bracket further comprises: at an orifice configured to engage with; and  
 a guidepost and a detent configured to engage with a stopping pin; and a compression bracket fixedly coupled to the IHS, wherein the compression bracket further comprises: a surface configured to accommodate the second magnet, the guidepost, and the stopping pin, coupled to the actuator, wherein the guidepost is inserted insertable into an orifice in the assembly carrier through a return spring, wherein the return spring is configured to be compressed when the first magnetic device is translated to the second position, and wherein the return spring is configured to return the first magnetic device from the second position to the first position. 
 
     
     
       16. The assembly carrier of  claim 15 , wherein the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device have a same polarity orientation, and wherein the first magnetic device translates in response to operation of the button actuator. 
     
     
       17. The assembly carrier of  claim 16 , wherein when the actuator bracket is in a first position, a first portion of the first magnetic device having a first polarity is aligned with a first portion of the second magnetic device having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, and the first magnetic device and the second magnet magnetic device interact under a predominantly attractive force. 
     
     
       18. The assembly carrier of  claim 16 , wherein when the actuator is in a second position: (i) a first portion of the first magnetic device having a first polarity is aligned with a second portion of the second magnetic device having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, (ii) a second portion of the first magnetic device having the second polarity is aligned with a first portion of the second magnetic device having the first polarity, and (iii) the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device interact under a predominantly repulsive force. 
     
     
       19. A method, comprising:
 operating an actuator of a carrier an assembly coupled to a chassis of an Information Handling System (IHS), wherein the carrier holds assembly comprises a first magnet that is movable relative to the chassis by operation of the actuator magnetic device; and 
 supporting at least a portion of the IHS using a kickstandcoupled to the chassis, wherein the kickstand holds comprises a second magnet fixed relative to the kickstand magnetic device, wherein the chassis includes IHS comprises one or more clamping magnets and the kickstand includes comprises a corresponding set of one or more clamping magnets, wherein when the first magnetic device is in a first position, forces applied to the kickstand by a spring-loaded hinge coupling the kickstand to the chassis IHS are smaller than a sum of: (i) attractive forces between the first and second magnets magnetic devices, and (ii) attractive forces between the clamping magnets, wherein when the first magnetic device is in a second position, the attractive forces between the clamping magnets are equal to a sum of: (i) the forces applied to the kickstand by the spring-loaded hinge, and (ii) repulsive forces between the first and second magnets magnetic devices, and wherein when the first magnetic device is in a third position, the attractive forces between the clamping magnets is smaller than a sum of: (i) repulsive forces between the first and second magnets magnetic devices, and (ii) the forces applied to the kickstand by the spring-loaded hinge. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein the actuator is configured to: (a) translate the first magnetic device with respect to the second magnetic device; and (b) compress a return spring having a guidepost inserted therein.  
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, wherein the guidepost is configured to travel with respect to an orifice in the assembly through the return spring.