Electronic device with moveable contacts at an exterior surface

• US 10,082,840 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Esmaeili, Hani, Ross, Oliver, Degner, Brett, Wagman, Daniel, Jol, Eric S., Kamei, Ibuki, Amini, Mahmoud R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US15/697,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20170364125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

An accessory device including a foldable cover, a keyboard assembly coupled to the foldable cover and including a plurality of individually depressible keys, an attachment feature connected to the enclosure and configured to magnetically couple the accessory device with the electronic device. The attachment feature includes an exterior surface, a plurality of openings formed through the exterior surface, a plurality of movable contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each movable contact extending out of one of the plurality of openings, and an alignment feature comprising at least one magnet positioned adjacent to the plurality of openings.

Claims

1. An accessory device suitable for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:

a foldable cover;

a keyboard assembly coupled to the foldable cover, the keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of individually depressible keys; and

an attachment feature configured to magnetically couple the accessory device with the electronic device, the attachment feature comprising;

a plurality of openings arranged in a line along a length of the attachment feature;

a plurality of movable contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each movable contact extending out of one of the plurality of openings exposing the moveable contact at an exterior surface of the attachment feature;

one or more biasing members operatively coupled to the plurality of movable contacts to bias the contacts such that a contacting portion of each moveable contact protrudes beyond the exterior surface of the attachment feature through its respective opening; and

an alignment feature comprising at least one magnet positioned adjacent to the plurality of openings.

2. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein each contact includes a wider body portion and a narrowed end.

3. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a surface that is substantially flush with surrounding exterior surfaces and each contact in the plurality of contacts protrudes above the exterior surface by no more than 1 mm.

4. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the alignment feature comprises first and second magnets positioned on opposite sides of the plurality of openings.

5. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the alignment feature comprises a first pair of magnets positioned on a first side of the plurality of openings and a second pair of magnets positions on a second side of the plurality of magnets opposite the first side.

6. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the foldable cover comprises a plurality of segments sized and shaped to cover a tablet computer.

7. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein each biasing member in the plurality of biasing members comprises a spring.

8. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment feature is connected to the foldable cover by a flexible member.

9. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the keyboard assembly includes a retention feature disposed across a top surface of the keyboard assembly, the retention feature configured to provide a mechanical stop for an electronic device secured to the accessory device.

10. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment feature can be rotated with respect to the foldable cover around an axis that is parallel to a length of the attachment feature.

11. The accessory device set forth in claim 10 further comprising a flexible disposed between the foldable cover and the attachment feature, flexible member configured to enable rotation of the attachment feature relative to the foldable cover is arranged.

12. The accessory device set forth in 1 wherein each of the plurality of contacts comprises a flexible lever arm having first and second ends;

and wherein the contact portion is attached to the first end and a barb is formed on the second end and inserted into the housing.

19. The accessory device set forth in claim 12 wherein the alignment feature comprises first and second arrays of magnets positioned on opposite sides of the plurality of openings.

13. An accessory device suitable for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:

a foldable cover;

a keyboard assembly coupled to the foldable cover, the keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of individually depressible keys;

an attachment feature configured to magnetically couple the accessory device with the electronic device, the attachment feature comprising;

a plurality of openings arranged in a line along a length of the attachment feature, and a plurality of spring-biased contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each spring-biased contact comprising a contact portion that extends out of its respective opening in the plurality of openings exposing the spring-biased contact at an exterior surface of the attachment feature; and

an alignment feature comprising at least a first magnet positioned adjacent to and on a first side of the plurality of openings and a second magnet positioned adjacent to and on a second side of the plurality of openings opposite the first side.

14. The accessory device set forth in claim 13 wherein the attachment feature can be rotated with respect to the foldable cover around an axis that is parallel to a length of the attachment feature.

15. The accessory device set forth in claim 14 further comprising a flexible member disposed between the foldable cover and the attachment feature, flexible member configured to enable rotation of the attachment feature relative to the foldable cover is arranged.

17. The accessory device set forth in claim 13 wherein each contact includes a wider body portion and a narrowed end.

18. The accessory device set forth in claim 13 wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a surface that is substantially flush with surrounding exterior surfaces and each contact in the plurality of contacts protrudes above the exterior surface by no more than 1 mm.

20. The accessory device set forth in claim 13 wherein the keyboard assembly is coupled to the foldable cover in a manner that allows the keyboard assembly to rotate with respect to the foldable cover.

16. The accessory device set forth in 13 wherein the keyboard assembly includes a retention feature disposed across a top surface of the keyboard assembly, the retention feature configured to provide a mechanical stop for an electronic device secured to the accessory device.