PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETACHABLY ATTACHING THE SAME USING MAGNETIC ATTACHMENT DEVICE

• US 20080284586A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Appro Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Appro Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Ching-Shan
• Application Number:
  US11/748,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284586A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

A portable electronic device for both vehicle and home use is provided. The portable electronic device includes a magnetic attachment device having a magnetic element. Another magnetic element is disposed on the support inside the vehicle or home. When the portable electronic device is placed on the support, the controller in the electronic device may be activated in response to the interaction between the first and second magnetic elements and generates a controlling signal to operate the electronic elements in the electronic device. The controller may be deactivated in response to separation of the first magnetic element from the second magnetic element when the portable electronic device is detached from the support.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, suitable for detachably attaching on a support inside a vehicle or home, comprising:

a magnetic attachment device, comprising a first magnetic element and a base, wherein the base comprises a space to accommodate the magnetic element, and wherein the magnetic element is suitable for interacting with a second magnetic element disposed on the support inside the vehicle or home; and

a body, comprising a housing, a controller and a plurality of electronic elements, wherein the controller generates a control signal in response to the interaction between the first and second magnetic elements to operate the electronic elements.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic elements comprises at least one of an image sensor, a location detector, a driving logger, a radar detector, a satellite navigator, a video camera and a video/audio player.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller has a magnetic sensing circuit for sensing a magnetic force between the first and second magnetic elements.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a displacement sensing circuit for sensing a displacement between the first and second magnetic elements.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a signal detecting module for detecting whether a switch signal is sent in via the magnetic attachment device.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an interior rearview mirror body, and the magnetic attachment device is disposed on the back of the interior rearview mirror body.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a power jack for receiving a vehicle or home power supply.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least an input/output interface unit for receiving an input signal or transmitting an output signal.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the input/output interface unit comprises at least one of a card reader, a bus port and a video/audio port.

10. A method for detachably attaching an electronic device on a support inside a vehicle or home, comprising:

disposing a first magnetic element in a base of the electronic device;

disposing a second magnetic element on the support inside the vehicle or home;

placing the electronic device on the support, wherein a controller in the electronic device may be activated and generates a control signal in response to interaction between the first and second magnetic elements to operate at least one electronic element in the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic element comprises at one of the image sensor, location detector, driving logger, radar detector, GPS, video camera and video/audio player.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller of the electronic device is deactivated when the electronic device is detached from the support by separating the first magnetic element from the second magnetic element.