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.

An inlet apparatus includes: a locking pin; a holder configured to accommodate the locking pin; and a first electromagnet provided at a lower portion of the holder. The first electromagnet includes a lower coil for generating a repulsive force or an attractive force in a vertical direction with respect to the locking pin. The inlet apparatus also includes a second electromagnet provided at a side of the holder, the second electromagnet including a side coil for fixing the locking pin. The inlet apparatus also includes a controller configured to control a current of the lower coil of the first electromagnet and a current of the side coil of the second electromagnet.

An inlet apparatus includes: a locking pin; a holder configured to accommodate the locking pin; and a first electromagnet provided at a lower portion of the holder. The first electromagnet includes a lower coil for generating a repulsive force or an attractive force in a vertical direction with respect to the locking pin. The inlet apparatus also includes a second electromagnet provided at a side of the holder, the second electromagnet including a side coil for fixing the locking pin. The inlet apparatus also includes a controller configured to control a current of the lower coil of the first electromagnet and a current of the side coil of the second electromagnet.

A lock that includes a motor driven pin, a first motor connected to the motor driven pin, and a body housing the first motor and the motor driven pin. The motor driven pin is moveable from an open position where it is inside the body to a closed position where it is at least partially outside the body. The body includes a hook member. When the motor driven pin is in the closed position, the hook member and the motor driven pin create a closed loop.

A latch and lock assembly includes a lever pivotable between a latched and unlatched position. A first actuator selectively moves a locking tab between a locked and unlocked position. In the locked position, the locking tab blocks pivotable movement of the lever from the latched position to the unlatched position. In the unlocked position, the locking tab allows pivotable movement of the lever from the latched position to the unlatched position. A second actuator selectively rotates a door opening tab between a first and second position when the locking tab is in the unlocked position is included. When the door opening tab is in the first position the lever is in a latched position, and when the door opening tab is rotated from the first position to the second position, the door opening tab abuts the lever and urges the lever from the latched position to the unlatched position.

A latch and lock assembly includes a lever pivotable between a latched and unlatched position. A first actuator selectively moves a locking tab between a locked and unlocked position. In the locked position, the locking tab blocks pivotable movement of the lever from the latched position to the unlatched position. In the unlocked position, the locking tab allows pivotable movement of the lever from the latched position to the unlatched position. A second actuator selectively rotates a door opening tab between a first and second position when the locking tab is in the unlocked position is included. When the door opening tab is in the first position the lever is in a latched position, and when the door opening tab is rotated from the first position to the second position, the door opening tab abuts the lever and urges the lever from the latched position to the unlatched position.

A lock that includes a motor driven pin, a first motor connected to the motor driven pin, and a body housing the first motor and the motor driven pin. The motor driven pin is moveable from an open position where it is inside the body to a closed position where it is at least partially outside the body. The body includes a hook member. When the motor driven pin is in the closed position, the hook member and the motor driven pin create a closed loop.

The method includes: switching (1202), in a magnetically-operated actuator, between a first mechanical state and a second mechanical state using either a first internal magnetization configuration or a second internal magnetization configuration; after the switching (1202), measuring (1204), by a magnetic sensor, a prevailing magnetic field caused by the magnetically-operated actuator, testing (1206) the prevailing magnetic field against a predetermined condition, and based on the testing (1206), detecting (1208) whether the switching between the first mechanical state and the second mechanical state was completed or not completed.

An electromagnetically actuated, bistable locking device is disclosed. The locking device has a lock pin that is moveable substantially along a longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position, at least one permanent magnet with two pole ends, at least one electromagnet having first and second ends and electromagnetically actuated in one of the extended and retracted positions of the lock pin, a mechanical interconnection between the pin lock and the at least one permanent magnet for moving said pin lock between the extended and the retracted positions of the lock pin at the actuation of the electromagnet. The inventive idea lies in that if the permanent magnet abuts by one of its faces on the end of the magnetic core of the electromagnetic solenoid, then this configuration allows the exploitation of the magnetic forces at a maximum efficiency in both the energized state and the de-energized state.

The method includes: switching (1202), in a magnetically-operated actuator, between a first mechanical state and a second mechanical state using either a first internal magnetization configuration or a second internal magnetization configuration; after the switching (1202), measuring (1204), by a magnetic sensor, a prevailing magnetic field caused by the magnetically-operated actuator, testing (1206) the prevailing magnetic field against a predetermined condition, and based on the testing (1206), detecting (1208) whether the switching between the first mechanical state and the second mechanical state was completed or not completed.