MULTIPLE-APPLICATION ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20120329292A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NICE North America LLC
• Original Assignee: BlueLibris, LLC (Innova Pure Water Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fish, Ram David Adva, Dardashti, Soroush Salehian
• Granted Patent: US 8,907,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery

Abstract

A portable computing device may include a set of magnetic elements and a set of electrical contacts. An electronic device may include a sensor may also include a set of magnetic elements and a set of electrical contacts. The portable computing device may attach to the electronic device using the set of magnetic elements and may exchange data with the electronic device using the set of electrical contacts. A power source may also include a set of magnetic elements and a set of electrical contacts. The power source may couple with the portable computing device using the set of magnetic elements and may provide power to the portable computing device using the electrical contacts.

Claims

1. A health monitoring device comprising:

a portable computing device having an outer surface comprising a contact portion with a first set of magnetic elements disposed thereon; and

an electronic device comprising a sensor and a second set of magnetic elements, the electronic device being attachable to the portable computing device using the first set of magnetic elements and the second set of magnetic elements, wherein the contact portion further comprises a first electrical contact configured to provide power to the electronic device, and a second electrical contact configured to exchange data with the electronic device.

2. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a health sensor.

3. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact is further configured to receive an electrical current from a power source.

4. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the each magnetic element in the first set of magnetic elements is positioned within a recessed area having a size and shape substantially similar to the magnetic element.

5. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact have a circular shape or a rectangular shape.

6. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the contact portion is recessed within the outer surface of the portable computing device.

7. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first set of magnetic elements is magnetically attracted to the second set of magnetic elements on the electronic device and wherein the magnetic attraction maintains an electrical connection between the second electrical contact and a third electrical contact on the health electronic device.

8. The health monitoring device of claim 7, wherein health data is transmitted via the electrical connection between the second electrical contact and the third electrical contact.

9. The health monitoring device of claim 3, wherein the power source comprises a recessed portion having a size and shape substantially similar to a portion of the outer surface of the portable computing device.

10. The health monitoring device of claim 3, wherein the first set of magnetic elements is magnetically attracted to a third set of magnetic elements on the power source and wherein the power source provides an electrical current to the portable computing device via the first electrical contact.

12. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein an edge of the contact portion is substantially parallel with an edge of the portable computing device.

13. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first set of magnetic elements, the first electrical contact, and the second electrical are all parallel to an edge of the portable computing device.

14. The health monitoring device of claim 6, wherein a surface of the electronic device has a size and shape substantially similar to the recessed contact portion, and wherein the external electronic component fits within the recessed contact portion.

15. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the health monitoring device is configured to transmit sensor data received from the electronic device, to a server.

16. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the portable computing devices comprise internal sensors configured to generate sensor data, and wherein the health monitoring device is configured to transmit the sensor data to a server.

17. The health monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, wherein the first set of magnetic elements is aligned with the second set of magnetic elements, wherein the first electrical contact is aligned with the third electrical contact and the second electrical contact is aligned with the fourth electrical contact.

18. The health monitoring device of claim 17, wherein the third electrical contact is configured to receive power from the portable computing device and wherein the fourth electrical contact is configured to exchange data with the portable computing device.

19. The health monitoring device of claim 3, wherein the power source is coupled to an external computing device, and the health monitoring device is configured to exchange data with the external computing device via the power source.

20. The health monitoring device of claim 15, further comprising a wireless communication interface configured to transmit the sensor data to the server.

21. The health monitoring device of claim 3, wherein the portable computing device is positioned in a charging position on the power source using one or more of a gravitational force and a magnetic force between the first set of magnetic elements and the second set of magnetic elements.