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Google patents smart dock that adjusts screen tilt automatically

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Google has filed a patent for a docking station that uses sensors to detect when a user moves a connected device. The system adjusts the resistance of the hinge to allow the screen to move smoothly and then locks it in place once the user stops.

Why it mattersThis could make desk setups more comfortable by allowing screens to stay at a preferred angle without needing manual adjustments or stiff hinges.

In the filing’s own words

Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement docking station (dock) articulation, including a method of controlling an articulation of a dock that includes determining a hinge torque setting, applying the hinge torque setting to a hinge assembly of the dock to support the angular position of the device relative to the dock, receiving position sensor data from a position sensor, utilizing the position sensor data to determine a user-induced motion to change the angular position of the device to a new angular position, changing the hinge torque setting to permit the change in the angular position of the device to the new angular position, receiving updated position sensor data from the position sensor, utilizing the updated position sensor data to determine a cessation of the user induced motion, and changing the hinge torque setting to support the new angular position of the device relative to the dock.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method for controlling an articulation of a docking station, the method comprising: determining a hinge torque setting for supporting an angular position of a mobile computing device mounted in the docking station relative to the docking station; applying the hinge torque setting to a hinge assembly of the docking station to support the angular position of the mobile computing device relative to the docking station; receiving position sensor data from a position sensor; determining, utilizing the position sensor data, a user-induced motion to change the angular position of the mobile computing device to a new angular position; changing the hinge torque setting to permit the change in the angular position of the mobile computing device to the new angular position; receiving updated position sensor data from the position sensor; determining, utilizing the updated position sensor data, a cessation of the user-induced motion; and changing the hinge torque setting to support the new angular position of the mobile computing device relative to the docking station.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Docking Station Articulation
Publication number
US20260329352A1
Application number
18993484
Filed
Nov 1, 2023
Published
Oct 22, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
22

Classified under

G06F 1/1681 Physics & computingH01F 7/064 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.