Electronic device with moveable contacts at an exterior surface

• US 10,317,953 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2018
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• 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
• Application Number:
  US16/109,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20180364769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 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 a portable electronic device including a set of electrical contacts disposed at an external surface of the portable 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 electrically couple the accessory device to the portable 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 contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each contact extending out of one of the plurality of openings exposing the contact at an exterior surface of the attachment feature; and

at least one magnet positioned to magnetically couple the accessory device to the electronic device when the plurality of contacts are aligned with and electrically coupled to the set of electrical contacts disposed at the external surface of the portable electronic device.

2. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 further comprising a touch pad.

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 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 in claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet comprises a first magnet positioned on a first side of the plurality of openings and a second magnet positions on a second side of the plurality of openings opposite the first side.

6. The accessory device set forth in 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 in claim 1 wherein the foldable cover comprises at least two panels that are rotatable with respect to each other.

8. The accessory device set forth in claim 7 wherein the keyboard can be folded over at least one of the at least two panels.

9. The accessory device set forth in claim 7 further comprising a fabric layer overlaid upon the foldable cover.

10. 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.

11. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the foldable cover and keyboard can be folded with respect to each other such that, when the portable electronic device is magnetically coupled to the accessory, the portable electronic device extends away from the keyboard at an oblique angle.

12. The accessory device set forth in 1 wherein each of the plurality of contacts comprises a spring contact.

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 electrically 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 contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each contact comprising a contact portion that extends out of its respective opening in the plurality of openings exposing the contact at an exterior surface of the attachment feature; and

an alignment feature comprising at least a first magnet positioned on a first side of the plurality of openings and a second magnet positioned 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 and alignment feature are part of a single structure coupled to the foldable cover.

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

17. The accessory device set forth in claim 13 further comprising a fabric layer overlaid upon the foldable cover.

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.

19. The accessory device set forth in claim 13 wherein the alignment feature comprises first and second arrays of magnets positioned on opposite sides of the plurality of openings.

20. The accessory device set forth in in claim 13 wherein the foldable cover and keyboard can be folded with respect to each other such that, when the portable electronic device is magnetically coupled to the accessory, the portable electronic device is positioned in a landscape mode and extends away from the keyboard at an oblique angle.

16. The accessory device set forth in 13 further comprising a touch pad.