Electrically adaptive mechanical connection for electronic devices
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a. at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined by a mechanical connector at a connection;
b. a circuit having a middle node disposed in close proximity with the mechanical connector, the circuit electrically coupling components disposed within the first portion to components disposed within the second portion;
c. a selectively variable frequency dependent circuit that is selectively connectable to the middle node;
d. a surface current detection circuit; and
e. a controller, wherein when the surface current detection circuit determines that a surface current exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller connects the selectively variable frequency dependent circuit to the middle node.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device, like a mobile telephone, has a first section and a second section. The first section and second section are coupled together by a mechanical connection, for example a hinge, swivel or sliding connector. Electronic components in the first section are coupled to electronic components in the second section by conductors capable of transferring power between the first and second sections. A current detector is capable of detecting currents, like surface currents, while a controller is responsive to the current detector. A plurality of reactive elements, like capacitors for example, are coupled to a plurality of switches such that the controller may selectively couple any of the plurality of reactive elements to the conductors by actuating a corresponding switch. When the current detector detects a current in excess of a predetermined threshold, the controller alters the complex impedance between the first and second sections by actuating one or more of the switches, thereby coupling one or more of the reactive elements to the conductors.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a. at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined by a mechanical connector at a connection;
b. a circuit having a middle node disposed in close proximity with the mechanical connector, the circuit electrically coupling components disposed within the first portion to components disposed within the second portion;
c. a selectively variable frequency dependent circuit that is selectively connectable to the middle node;
d. a surface current detection circuit; and
e. a controller, wherein when the surface current detection circuit determines that a surface current exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller connects the selectively variable frequency dependent circuit to the middle node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A radiotelephone, comprising:
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a. a first section and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section are joined by a separating mechanism;
b. an electrical circuit having conductors capable of transferring current between the first section and the second section, the conductors passing about the separating mechanism;
c. a plurality of complex impedance elements coupled to the conductors;
d. a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of complex impedance elements;
e. a current sensor capable of detecting surface currents on at least one of the first section and the second section; and
f. a controller, responsive to the current sensor, capable of actuating any of the plurality of switches. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A clam-shell style radiotelephone, comprising:
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a. a top section and a bottom section;
b. a hinge mechanically coupling the top section to the bottom section;
c. a flexible substrate electrically coupling an electrical circuit disposed in the top section with an electrical circuit disposed in the bottom section, wherein the flexible substrate includes at least one conductor passing about the hinge;
d. a plurality of capacitors that are selectively connectable to the at least one conductor;
e. a current detector disposed within at least one of the top section and the bottom section; and
f. a controller coupled to the current detector;
wherein when the current detector detects a current in excess of a predetermined threshold, the controller selectively couples any of the plurality of capacitors to the at least one conductor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification