Back in 2019, MacRumors posted an interesting report that revealed Apple's 2019 16" MacBook Pro having a new "lid angle sensor." The report noted that "Apple's service document does not provide any clues as to why the sensor was redesigned, but iFixit speculates that it could provide a clever way for Apple to track how often the lid was opened, closed, or adjusted in cases where the display or frayed flex cables need to be repaired — think "Flexgate."

Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent for this lid angle sensor system and provides us with Apple's true reasoning behind the invention.

Integrated Sensor in Clutch Assembly for Determining Angle of Display

Apple's granted patent generally relates to a sensor for determining an angle of a display of a MacBook. In particular, the various embodiments relate to a sensor that is integrated into a clutch assembly of the portable electronic device for determining the angle of the display. As described herein, the clutch assembly may also be referred to as a hinge assembly.

Although portable electronic devices include multiple operational components for performing complex functions, performing these complex functions (e.g., word processing, media streaming, graphic design, etc.) may consume a large amount of power from a battery.

In order to limit usage of the battery's power, these portable electronic devices may adjust a power usage scheme based on whether the portable electronic device is in an open configuration or a closed configuration. However, the detection mechanism utilized by the portable electronic device may consume a large amount of space. Especially as portable electronic devices incorporate additional components, the amount of available space to carry such a detection mechanism becomes significantly limited. Additionally, the detection mechanism utilized by the portable electronic device may be susceptible to external magnetic interference, thereby negatively impacting the accuracy of determine whether the portable electronic device is in the open or closed configuration.

To cure the aforementioned deficiencies, the systems and technique described in the patent relate to a sensor system that is incorporated into and/or integrated within a clutch assembly of the portable electronic device. In particular, the sensor system includes a magnetic element that may rotate with a lid portion of the portable electronic device, and a magnetic sensor that may rotate with a base portion of the portable electronic device. Furthermore, the magnetic sensor is capable of determining a magnetic orientation and/or absolute angle between the lid and base portions.

The portable electronic device (MacBook) includes a housing having (i) a first case, and (ii) a second case, where the housing is capable of carrying components that include a processor capable of providing instructions, an operational component in communication with the processor, where the operational component is capable of executing a function, and an angular detection system in communication with the processor. The angular detection system includes a magnetic element capable of generating a magnetic field, where the magnetic field is characterized as having a magnetic field orientation, and a magnetic sensor capable of determining an angle between the first case and the second case based on the magnetic field orientation.

Apple's patent FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-B below illustrate side views and a cross-sectional views of a sensor system for determining a display angle;  FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate a top view and a cross-sectional view of a sensor system for determining a display angle. 

For further details, review Apple's granted patent 11853129