System for integrated magnetic retention

A portable information handling system (IHS), including a housing having a main housing portion, a lid housing portion, and a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the main housing portion and the lid housing portion to rotate the lid housing portion through a plurality of angular positions relative to the main housing portion is disclosed. The plurality of positions include a closed position and a tablet position. The portable IHS further includes a lid magnet assembly in the lid housing portion including a point on the lid magnet assembly closest to the hinge assembly in the tablet position at a first position on a y-axis; and a main magnet assembly in the main housing portion including a point on the main magnet assembly closest to the hinge assembly in the tablet position at a second position on a y-axis, wherein the second position is approximately the same as the first position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to information handling systems and, more particularly, to a system for integrated magnetic retention.

BACKGROUND

A portable information handling system includes a housing having a main housing portion and a lid housing portion a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the main housing portion and the lid housing portion to rotate the lid housing portion through a plurality of angular positions relative to the main housing portion. The plurality of positions includes a closed position where the lid housing portion is rotated approximately 0 degrees relative to the main housing portion, and a tablet position where the lid housing portion is rotated approximately 360 degrees relative to the lid housing portion. The portable information handling system further includes a lid magnet assembly in the lid housing portion, and a main magnet assembly in the main housing portion, wherein, in the closed position, the display is located between the lid magnet assembly and the main magnet assembly.

SUMMARY

A portable information handling system, including a housing having a main housing portion and a lid housing portion, and a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the main housing portion and the lid housing portion to rotate the lid housing portion through a plurality of angular positions relative to the main housing portion is disclosed. The plurality of positions including a closed position where the lid housing portion is rotated approximately 0 degrees relative to the main housing portion, and a tablet position where the lid housing portion is rotated approximately 360 degrees relative to the lid housing portion. The portable information handling system further includes a lid magnet assembly in the lid housing portion including a point on the lid magnet assembly closest to the hinge assembly in the tablet position that is located at a first position on a y-axis; and a main magnet assembly in the main housing portion including a point on the main magnet assembly closest to the hinge assembly in the tablet position that is located at a second position on a y-axis, wherein the second position is approximately the same as the first position. The portable information handling system includes a z-axis is defined to be parallel to the hinge assembly and to run through a rotational axis of the hinge assembly, the y-axis is defined to be perpendicular to the z-axis and parallel to the main housing portion; and an x-axis is defined to be perpendicular to the z-axis and perpendicular to the y-axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, calculate, determine, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, communicate, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer (e.g., desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a consumer electronic device, a network storage device, or another suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, read only memory (ROM), and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports (e.g., network ports) for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen and/or a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communication between the various hardware components.

Particular embodiments are best understood by reference to the following figures, wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of information handling system100, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular embodiments, one or more information handling systems100perform one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, one or more information handling systems100provide the functionality described or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, software running on one or more information handling systems100performs one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein or provides functionality described or illustrated herein. Particular embodiments include one or more portions of one or more information handling systems100. Herein, reference to an information handling system may encompass a computing device, and vice versa, where appropriate. Moreover, reference to an information handling system may encompass one or more information handling systems, where appropriate.

This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of information handling systems100. This disclosure contemplates information handling system100taking any suitable physical form. As an example and not by way of limitation, information handling system100may be an embedded information handling system, a system-on-chip (SOC), a single-board information handling system (SBC) (such as, for example, a computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop information handling system, a laptop or notebook information handling system, an interactive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh of information handling systems, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, a tablet information handling system, or a combination of two or more of these. Where appropriate, information handling system100may include one or more information handling systems100, be unitary or distributed, span multiple locations, span multiple machines, span multiple data centers, or reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one or more networks. Where appropriate, one or more information handling systems100may perform without substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. As an example and not by way of limitation, one or more information handling systems100may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. One or more information handling systems100may perform at different times or at different locations one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein, where appropriate.

In particular embodiments, information handling system100includes processor102, memory104, storage106, input/output (I/O) interface108, communication interface110, and bus112. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular information handling system having a particular number of particular components in a particular arrangement, this disclosure contemplates any suitable information handling system having any suitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement.

In particular embodiments, processor102includes hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an example and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions, processor102may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory104, or storage106; decode and execute them; and then write one or more results to an internal register, an internal cache, memory104, or storage106. In particular embodiments, processor102may include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosure contemplates processor102including any suitable number of any suitable internal caches, where appropriate. As an example and not by way of limitation, processor102may include one or more instruction caches, one or more data caches, and one or more translation look aside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in the instruction caches may be copies of instructions in memory104or storage106, and the instruction caches may speed up retrieval of those instructions by processor102. Data in the data caches may be copies of data in memory104or storage106for instructions executing at processor102to operate on; the results of previous instructions executed at processor102for access by subsequent instructions executing at processor102or for writing to memory104or storage106; or other suitable data. The data caches may speed up read or write operations by processor102. The TLBs may speed up virtual-address translation for processor102. In particular embodiments, processor102may include one or more internal registers for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosure contemplates processor102including any suitable number of any suitable internal registers, where appropriate. Where appropriate, processor102may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs); be a multi-core processor; or include one or more processors102. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, this disclosure contemplates any suitable processor.

In particular embodiments, memory104includes main memory for storing instructions for processor102to execute or data for processor102to operate on. As an example and not by way of limitation, information handling system100may load instructions from storage106or another source (such as, for example, another information handling system100) to memory104. Processor102may then load the instructions from memory104to an internal register or internal cache. To execute the instructions, processor102may retrieve the instructions from the internal register or internal cache and decode them. During or after execution of the instructions, processor102may write one or more results (which may be intermediate or final results) to the internal register or internal cache. Processor102may then write one or more of those results to memory104. In particular embodiments, processor102executes only instructions in one or more internal registers or internal caches or in memory104(as opposed to storage106or elsewhere) and operates only on data in one or more internal registers or internal caches or in memory104(as opposed to storage106or elsewhere). One or more memory buses (which may each include an address bus and a data bus) may couple processor102to memory104. Bus112may include one or more memory buses, as described below. In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units (MMUs) reside between processor102and memory104and facilitate access to memory104requested by processor102. In particular embodiments, memory104includes random access memory (RAM). This RAM may be volatile memory, where appropriate. Where appropriate, this RAM may be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Moreover, where appropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM. This disclosure contemplates any suitable RAM. Memory104may include one or more memories104, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular memory, this disclosure contemplates any suitable memory.

In particular embodiments, storage106includes mass storage for data or instructions. As an example and not by way of limitation, storage106may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these. Storage106may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate. Storage106may be internal or external to information handling system100, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, storage106is non-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular embodiments, storage106includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may be mask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory or a combination of two or more of these. This disclosure contemplates mass storage106taking any suitable physical form. Storage106may include one or more storage control units facilitating communication between processor102and storage106, where appropriate. Where appropriate, storage106may include one or more storages106. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular storage, this disclosure contemplates any suitable storage.

In particular embodiments, I/O interface108includes hardware, software, or both, providing one or more interfaces for communication between information handling system100and one or more I/O devices. Information handling system100may include one or more of these I/O devices, where appropriate. One or more of these I/O devices may enable communication between a person and information handling system100. As an example and not by way of limitation, an I/O device may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanner, speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen, trackball, video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination of two or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors. This disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any suitable I/O interfaces108for them. Where appropriate, I/O interface108may include one or more device or software drivers enabling processor102to drive one or more of these I/O devices. I/O interface108may include one or more I/O interfaces108, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular I/O interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O interface.

In particular embodiments, communication interface110includes hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) between information handling system100and one or more other information handling systems100or one or more networks. As an example and not by way of limitation, communication interface110may include a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network. This disclosure contemplates any suitable network and any suitable communication interface110for it. As an example and not by way of limitation, information handling system100may communicate with an ad hoc network, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of the Internet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more portions of one or more of these networks may be wired or wireless. As an example, information handling system100may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination of two or more of these. Information handling system100may include any suitable communication interface110for any of these networks, where appropriate. Communication interface110may include one or more communication interfaces110, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular communication interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable communication interface.

In particular embodiments, information handling system100may be a wireless-enabled, portable device that may include one or more processors102(e.g., dual core ARM processors), volatile memory104(e.g., RAM), non-volatile memory104(e.g., flash memory), input/output interfaces108(e.g., for display, for data, and for audio), networking/communications interfaces110, and one or more operating systems (e.g., stored in memory104and operated on by processors102). The input/output interfaces108may include display interfaces that support one or more of the Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) standard, the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard, or the Display Port (DP) standard. The input/output interfaces108may also include one or more USB ports (e.g., standard, mini or micro USB), one or more removable memory slots (e.g., SD card slots), and audio capabilities through the MHL, HDMI, or DP interfaces. Information handling system100may include networking or communication interfaces110that support IEEE 802.11 WLAN protocols (including a, b, g, n, or ac), single or dual band WiFi, BLUETOOTH communication, and near field communication (NFC). Information handling system100may include one or more operating systems, including versions of Android, Windows, Wyse ThinOS, Linux, or Apple iOS. Information handling system100may include one or more native applications, including, for example, a browser, a media player and recorder, voice over IP and video communication software, and software for remote access to cloud services or other remote content or services.

Information handling system100may include display114. Display114may be electrically coupled to information handling system100with a cable, wireless, or using any suitable electrical interconnection between display114and information handling system100. Display114may be physically coupled to information handling system100or may be remote from information handling system100. For example, in some embodiments, display114may be integrally formed with information handling system100. In some embodiments, display114may be coupled to information handling system100with a hinge. In further embodiments, display114may be remote from information handling system100. In yet further embodiments, components of information handling system100may be distributed between multiple physical housings, including, for example, a housing of display114.

FIG. 2depicts a blown-up view of a portable information handling system having rotationally-coupled housing portions. For convenience, a common set of axes are illustrated onFIGS. 2-4. These axes are for the purpose of illustrating how various components may be arranged with respect to one another, and are not intended to define particular measurements of components. The z-axis runs parallel to and lengthwise along hinge assembly34, and in a rotational axis of hinge assembly34. The y-axis is perpendicular to the z-axis and runs parallel to main housing portion12. The x-axis is perpendicular to both the z-axis and y-axis.

In the example embodiment, a main housing portion12rotationally couples to a lid housing portion14to support various configurations for interact with an end user. Main housing portion12may hold one or more components of the portable information handling system, including but not limited to processor102, bus112, memory104, I/O interface108, storage106, and communications interface110discussed above with respect toFIG. 1. Main housing portion12may further include a portable power source, such as battery32. Main housing upper surface24couples to main housing portion12, and may include an integrated keyboard26or other I/O devices, such as a mouse or microphone (not shown).

Main housing portion12may further include main magnet assemblies38aand38b(collectively “main magnet assemblies38”). Main magnet assemblies38may include one or more magnets. Magnets may be formed from a ferrous material, may be neodymium magnets, or may be formed from any other suitable magnetic material. In embodiments where a magnet is a neodymium magnet, neodymium 35 to neodymium 52 may be used. In some embodiments, magnets may be formed from neodymium 45.

Lid housing portion14may rotationally couple to main housing portion12via hinge assembly34. Hinge assembly34may include cable36for communicably coupling one or more components within main housing portion12to one or more components within lid housing portion14. Lid housing portion14includes display28that visually presents information to the user. Display28may be retained within recess52in lid housing portion14. Recess52may be formed by a back portion and sidewall portions. Display28may be a touch panel with circuitry enabling touch functionality in conjunction with a display. Lid housing portion14may include bezel30, which may operate to retain display28within lid housing portion14. Bezel30may include a rim that partially overlaps display28. Bezel30may connect to sidewall portion50of lid housing portion14.

Lid housing portion14may further include lid magnet assemblies40aand40b(collectively “lid magnet assemblies40”). Lid magnet assemblies40may include one or more magnets. Magnets may be formed from a ferrous material, may be neodymium magnets, or may be formed from any other suitable magnetic material. In embodiments where a magnet is a neodymium magnet, neodymium 35 to neodymium 52 may be used. In some embodiments, magnets may be formed from neodymium 45.

Hinge assembly34may allow main housing portion12and lid housing portion14to rotate between a plurality of positions. For example, when portable information handling system10is not in use, lid housing portion14may be closed over the top of main housing portion12so that display28and keyboard26are protected from unintended use or damage. In this closed position, lid housing portion14may be rotated by approximately 0 degrees from main housing portion12. Rotation of lid housing portion14by approximately 90 degrees from main housing portion12brings display28to a raised “clamshell” position relative to keyboard26so that an end user can make inputs to keyboard26and/or a touch panel portion of display28while viewing display28. In some embodiments, clamshell position may include positions where lid housing portion14is rotated between approximately 1 and 179 degrees from main housing portion12. Rotation of lid housing portion14between approximately 181 and 359 degrees from main housing portion12may place portable information handling system10in “tablet stand” and/or “tent” positions. In tablet stand and tent positions, a user can make inputs via touch panel portion of display28while viewing display28. Rotation of lid housing portion14at approximately 180 degrees from main housing portion12may place portable information handling system10in a “flat” position. A full 360 degree rotation of main housing portion12relative to lid housing portion14provides a “tablet” configuration having display28exposed to accept touch inputs. In any position, user inputs may be communicated to an I/O subsystem and/or processor subsystem of the portable information handling system for processing, and then updated information may be communicated back via cable36to display28for displaying to the user.

Generally, a length (in the y-axis) and width (in the z-axis) of main housing portion12and lid housing portion14are driven by the size of display28, which is integrated in lid housing portion14. End users tend to prefer housings that are otherwise as minimal and non-intrusive as possible. Although end users generally understand that system length and width are driven by the end user's display size preference, one way to reduce a length and width of main housing portion12and lid housing portion14without reducing a size of display28may be to reduce a width of bezel30. Furthermore, end users may prefer to minimize system height (in the x-axis) so that an information handling system remains as portable as possible when in a closed position or in a tablet position. Minimizing system height may include minimizing a thickness of both main housing portion12and lid housing portion14, and components therein.

Minimizing system height may also include minimizing a size of hinge assembly34. Even in reduced height systems, hinge assembly34must provide sufficient functionality to provide a reliable end user experience. For example, hinge assembly34should be robust enough to withstand repeated rotational cycles of the main and lid housing portions relative to each other. Additionally, hinge assembly34should also have sufficient internal friction or mechanical resistance to retain lid housing portion14in a particular angular position relative to main housing portion12so that the lid housing portion14will generally stay in a position set by the end user.

In order to implement these functions of hinge assembly34while also reducing size of hinge assembly34for use in reduced height systems, other functions of hinge assembly may be omitted or diminished. For example, in larger form factor systems, a hinge assembly may include a detent mechanism. A detent mechanism may operate to mechanically resist or arrest rotation to retain a lid housing portion in particular positions relative to a main housing portion. For example, a detent mechanism may provide increased rotational resistance when lid housing portion is in a closed position. Increased resistance in a closed position may operate to prevent a lid housing portion from undesirably opening (e.g., not staying flush against the main housing portion) when a system has be closed for storage. Similarly, a detent mechanism may provide increased rotational resistance when lid housing portion is in a tablet position. Increased resistance in a tablet position may improve the ability of an end user to hold a portable information handling system in tablet mode in one hand without a lid housing portion rotating relative to a main housing portion.

In a reduced height system, a detent mechanism may be optionally be removed to minimize a size of hinge assembly34. However, it may still desirable for a portable information handling system10to include components operable to retain lid housing portion14in a closed position and in a tablet position. Accordingly, portable information handling system10may include a magnetic retention system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may magnetically couple lid housing portion14to main housing portion12. The force exerted by this magnetic coupling may operate to retain lid housing portion14in either a closed position or a tablet position.

FIG. 3Ais a side cross sectional view of a portable information handling system10in a closed position, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Portable information handling system10may include lid housing portion14and main housing portion12, which may be rotationally coupled by hinge assembly34. As discussed above with reference toFIG. 2, various components of portable information handling system10may be adapted for small form factor and reduced height systems. In some larger systems, lid magnet assemblies may be located in a portion of lid housing assembly covered by a bezel. In small bezel systems, however, there may be no room for lid magnet assemblies in portion of lid housing assembly covered by a bezel. Accordingly, in some embodiments, lid magnet assemblies40may be located behind display28within lid housing portion14, or behind any other components retained within lid housing portion14. In some embodiments, lid magnet assemblies40may be located in a portion of lid housing assembly covered by a bezel.

Locations of main magnet assemblies38may correspond to locations of lid magnet assemblies40. A position of a main magnet assembly or a lid magnet assembly may be measured on the y-axis from a point on the magnet assembly closest to the hinge assembly in a particular rotational position. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, main magnet assemblies38may be located at the same y-axis position as lid magnet assemblies40. In other embodiments, main magnet assemblies38may be located at a different y-axis position from lid magnet assemblies40. Main magnet assemblies38may be above battery32, or behind any other suitable component retained within main housing portion12, or may not be behind any other components. Distance44shows that, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3A, main magnet assemblies38have a y-axis offset from lid magnet assemblies40. In some embodiments, distance44may be between 0 mm and 10 mm. In some embodiments, distance44may be approximately 4.8 mm. Likewise, distance42corresponds to an x-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40. In some embodiments, distance42may be between 0 mm and 10 mm. In some embodiments, distance42may be approximately 4.0 mm.

Main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may experience a magnetic force between the magnets when in the closed position (“closed magnetic coupling force”). A closed magnetic coupling force may be correlated with a y-axis offset between a main magnet assembly and a lid magnet assembly. For example, if an x-axis offset and z-axis offset are fixed, the closed magnetic coupling force between a main magnet assembly and a lid magnet assembly may decrease as a y-axis offset increases. Accordingly, a y-axis offset may be selected to provide a suitable level of closed magnetic coupling force so that lid housing portion14generally remains in a closed position unless changed by a user. Similarly, closed magnetic force may be correlated with an x-axis offset between a main magnet assembly and a lid magnet assembly. For example, if a y-axis offset and an x-axis offset are increased, the closed magnetic coupling force between these assemblies may reduce. Accordingly, an x-axis offset may be selected to provide a suitable level of closed magnetic coupling force so that lid housing portion14generally remains in a closed position unless changed by a user.

FIG. 3Bis a side cross sectional view of a portable information handling system in a tablet position, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar toFIG. 3A, portable information handling system10may include lid housing portion14and main housing portion12, which may be rotationally coupled by hinge assembly34. The relative position for lid housing portion14is approximately 360 degrees so that portable information handling system10is configured as a tablet. Accordingly, display28may be exposed so that a user can interact with display28.

In some embodiments, hinge assembly34may operate to change a y-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40when lid housing portion14is rotated from a closed position to a tablet position. This type of hinge assembly may be used in reduced height and small form factor systems. Distance54represents a y-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40. In some embodiments, distance54may be between 0 mm and 10 mm. In some embodiments, distance54may be approximately 0 mm. Likewise, distance42corresponds to an x-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40. In some embodiments, distance42may be between 0 mm and 10 mm. In some embodiments, distance42may be approximately 4.0 mm. Similarly, distance56corresponds to an x-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40. In some embodiments, distance56may be between 0 mm and 10 mm. In some embodiments, distance56may be approximately 6.0 mm.

By comparingFIGS. 3A and 3Bit may be seen that a y-axis offset may increase as lid housing portion14is rotated from a closed position to a tablet position.

In some embodiments, depending on the configuration of hinge assembly34, hinge assembly34may operate to change a y-axis position of lid magnet assembly40in the opposite direction than that illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a y-axis offset may decrease as lid housing portion14is rotated from a closed position to a tablet position. Whether a y-axis offset is increased or decreased may depend on how hinge assembly changes the relative y-axis offset, and on the relative locations of main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40in a closed position. For example, if lid magnet assemblies40were farther away than main magnet assemblies38from hinge assembly34in a closed position, and if hinge assembly34operated to move lid magnet assemblies40closer to hinge assembly34relative to main magnet assemblies38, a y-axis offset may be reduced.

As a y-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40increases, a magnetic coupling force in the tablet position (“tablet magnetic coupling force’”) between these assemblies may reduce. Accordingly, a y-axis offset may be selected to provide a suitable level of tablet magnetic coupling force so that lid housing portion14generally remains in a tablet position unless changed by a user. Similarly, as an x-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40increases, the tablet magnetic coupling force between these assemblies may reduce. Accordingly, an x-axis offset may be selected to provide a suitable level of tablet magnetic coupling force so that lid housing portion14generally remains in a tablet position unless changed by a user.

A comparison ofFIGS. 3A and 3Billustrates two changes in relative positioning of main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40. For example, in a tablet position, a y-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may be larger than in a closed position. Similarly, in a tablet position, an x-axis offset between main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may be smaller than in a closed position. Accordingly, when transitioning from a closed position to a tablet position, main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may move farther away in along the y-axis and closer together along the x-axis. Accordingly, main magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may be located so that closed magnetic coupling force is approximately the same as tablet magnetic coupling force or so that at least both magnetic coupling forces are sufficient to retain the respective housing portions in the proper position. In other embodiments, magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may be located so that closed magnetic coupling force is larger than tablet magnetic coupling force. In other embodiments, magnet assemblies38and lid magnet assemblies40may be located so that closed magnetic coupling force is smaller than tablet magnetic coupling force.

FIG. 4is a top cross sectional view of a portable information handling system in a flat position, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar toFIG. 3A, portable information handling system10may include lid housing portion14and main housing portion12, which may be rotationally coupled by hinge assembly34. Lid magnetic assemblies40and main magnetic assemblies38may each include different numbers of magnets, the poles of those magnets may have different orientations, and each of the magnets may be formed from different materials. Lid magnet assemblies may include one or more magnets. For example, lid magnet assembly40aincludes magnet46aand magnet46b. Lid magnet assembly40bincludes magnet46c. Likewise, main magnet assemblies may include one or more magnets. For example, main magnet assembly38aincludes magnet48aand magnet48b. Main magnet assembly38bincludes magnet38c.

Each magnet in a lid magnet assembly may be associated with a corresponding magnet in a main magnet assembly. For example, each magnet may include two poles (commonly referred to as a “north” and “south” pole). A magnet in a lid magnet assembly may be installed so that the “north” and “south” poles are oriented in the opposite direction as the associated magnet in a main magnet assembly. Accordingly, associated magnets will attract, rather than repel, each other.