SYSTEMS INVOLVING MAGNETIC ATTACHMENT FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20140035517A1
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Dunko, Gregory A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,368,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0226 PM with variable field strength H01F7/0284 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems involving magnetic attachment for portable electronic devices and related methods are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: a magnetic attachment system operative to generate a magnetic field, the magnetic attachment system being operative to vary a strength of the magnetic field based, at least in part, on a control input such that a portable electronic device is magnetically attached to the electronic apparatus.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus for use with a portable electronic device, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a magnetic attachment system operative to generate a magnetic field, the magnetic attachment system being operative to vary a strength of the magnetic field based, at least in part, on a control input such that the portable electronic device is magnetically attached to the electronic apparatus.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic apparatus further comprises a housing and a wireless charging system, the wireless charging system being operative to charge the portable electronic device via inductive charging, the housing having a charging area on an exterior surface thereof; and

the magnetic attachment system is operative to secure the portable electronic device to the charging area.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the wireless charging system has a coil operative to perform the inductive charging; and

the magnetic attachment system has a variable strength magnet.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 3, wherein the coil and the variable strength magnet are positioned beneath the charging area and spaced laterally from each other.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the variable strength magnet is a first variable strength magnet;

the magnetic attachment system has a second variable strength magnet; and

the coil is positioned between the first variable strength magnet and the second variable strength magnet.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic apparatus further comprises an orientation sensor operative to detect an orientation of the electronic apparatus and to provide the control input corresponding to the orientation detected;

the magnetic attachment system being further operative such that, responsive to the control input corresponding to a first orientation of the electronic apparatus, the magnetic field is set to a first strength and, responsive to the control input corresponding to a second orientation of the electronic apparatus, the magnetic field is set to a second strength.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first strength is stronger than the second strength.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first orientation corresponds to a non-horizontal orientation.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first orientation corresponds to a vertical orientation.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first orientation corresponds to a vertical orientation; and

the second orientation corresponds to a horizontal orientation.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first strength is user selectable.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second strength is user selectable

13. A system involving magnetic attachment between a portable electronic device and an electronic apparatus, the system comprising:

a magnetic attachment system operative to generate a magnetic field, the magnetic attachment system being operative to vary a strength of the magnetic field based, at least in part, on a control input such that a portable electronic device is magnetically attached to the electronic apparatus.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the system further comprises the portable electronic device to which the magnetic attachment system is mounted;

the electronic apparatus has a permanent magnet positioned to align the portable electronic device responsive to the magnetic field.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the system further comprises the electronic apparatus to which the magnetic attachment system is mounted;

the portable electronic device has a permanent magnet positioned to align the portable electronic device responsive to the magnetic field.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the strength of the magnetic field is varied based upon a detected orientation associated with the magnetic attachment system.

17. A method for securing a portable electronic device to an electronic apparatus comprising:

generating a magnetic field with at least one of the electronic apparatus and the portable electronic device; and

varying a strength of the magnetic field based, at least in part, on a control input such that the strength of the magnetic field is sufficient to magnetically attach the portable electronic device to the electronic apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising charging the portable electronic device via inductive charge provided by the electronic apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the method further comprises detecting an orientation of the electronic apparatus; and

the control input corresponds to the orientation detected.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising enabling a user to correlate a selected orientation of the electronic apparatus with the strength of the magnetic field.