Locking mechanisms and electronic devices having locking mechanisms are described herein. In one example, a locking mechanism includes a latch configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein a component of the electronic device is secured in the locked position and removable in the unlocked position. The locking mechanism further includes a memory wire in communication with the latch, wherein the memory wire is configured to contract in length to move the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position to release the component of the electronic device.

A dual-contact electro-permanent magnet (EPM) assembly of an information handling system may comprise a plurality of high-coercivity magnets situated on opposite ends of a low-coercivity magnet, a first EPM magnetic contact disposed between a first of the plurality of high-coercivity magnets and the low-coercivity magnet, and a second EPM magnetic contact disposed between a second of the plurality of high-coercivity magnets and the low-coercivity magnet. The low-coercivity magnet polarity may correlate to a direction of current pulse applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around the low-coercivity magnet, and dependent upon the low-coercivity magnet polarity, the first EPM magnetic contact is capable of operating in an attractive magnetic state to attract a ferromagnetic contact of a peripheral device while the second EPM magnetic contact is magnetically neutral with respect to the ferromagnetic contact.

A latch structure includes a moving member, a nut and a screw. The moving member includes a base plate, a receiving portion and a limiting portion. The receiving portion has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is connected to the base plate. The limiting portion is disposed at the second end portion of the receiving portion. The nut is fixed into the receiving portion and positioned proximate to the first end portion. The screw is received in the receiving portion and confined to between the limiting portion and the nut.

A device can include a hinge mechanism rotatably coupling a first portion of the device to a second portion of the device. The hinge mechanism is configured to automatically open the device. The device can also include a damper configured to control a rate at which the hinge mechanism automatically opens the device. The hinge mechanism can include a spine hinge, a rolling contact hinge, a film hinge, or a geared link hinge.

The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include a hinge assembly that rotatably secures a first portion and a second portion relative to a hinge axis and defines a planar conductor path between the first and second portions through the hinge assembly. The example can also include a pop-up arm that compresses a spring when the first portion and the second portion are rotated to a closed orientation, and wherein the compressed spring creates a bias to rotate the first and second portions from the closed orientation to an open orientation.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for locking a computing device includes an actuator, a locking protrusion connected to a first portion of the computing device, a locking receptacle connected to a second portion of the computing device, a shape memory material (SMM) wire, and a force conditioner. The SMM wire has a first state and a second state and is movable between states by the actuator. The first state and the second state have first and second lengths, respectively. Moving from the first state to the second state applies a contraction force along a longitudinal direction of the SMM wire. The force conditioner is configured to apply a return force to the SMM wire that opposes the contraction face. The return force returns the SMM wire toward the first state while moving a maximum available force of the SMM wire to the second state of the SMM wire.

A lock mechanism including a main body, a base, a rotating component and a position limiting component is provided. The base is slidably connected to the main body, and the main body is sleeved on the base. The rotating component is pivoted to the main body, and the rotating component is configured to drive the base to slide relative to the main body. The position limiting component is coupled to the rotating component so as to lock the rotating component with one of the main body and the base. A holding structure of an electronic device is also provided.

A display device (10) includes a main body (1), a sliding cover (2) and a lock cover structure (3). The main body (1) has a display screen (11) and a perforation (12); the sliding cover (2) is slidably mounted onto the main body (1) and capable of sliding in a moving direction (d1) between a covering position and an exposed position; the sliding cover (2) has a slot (21) corresponding to the perforation (12) when the slot (21) is situated at the exposed position; the lock cover structure (3) is accommodated in the main body (1) and includes a hammer unit (31) and a moving plunger (32); the hammer unit (31) is pivotally coupled to the main body (1) and defines a direction of gravity (d2); and the moving plunger (32) has an end passing through the perforation (12) and the other end connected to the hammer unit (31).

In an example, an enclosure lock may include a lock port disposed in a device enclosure, the lock port to receive a device lock. The enclosure lock may also include a lock latch, which may be disposed within such a device enclosure. The lock latch may be movable from a released position to a locked position by the device lock if the device lock is engaged with the lock port. The lock latch may engage with an enclosure ledge of the device enclosure if the lock latch is disposed in the locked position such that the device enclosure is not able to be disassembled.

A method for securing a portable electronic device having a housing to a substantially immovable object utilizing a locking assembly having a security rod or spike formed with an anchoring end separated axially by a protruding end, a locking device with an internal locking mechanism and a cable permanently attached to the locking device at one end, includes several steps. The steps include securedly fixing the anchoring end of the security rod or spike to the portable electronic device upon or through the housing, attaching an other end of the cable to the substantially immovable object and inserting the protruding end of the security rod into an opening in the locking device to actuate the internal locking mechanism and lock the locking device to the captive security rod. Locking the security rod to the locking device concurrently locks the portable electronic device to which it is anchored to the substantially immovable object.