FLEXIBLE KEYBOARD ACCESSORY FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20170068282A1
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: SMITH, Samuel Gilkison, COSTER, Daniel J., CORBIN, Sean. S., KUNA, Melody L., HEGDE, Siddhartha, COUSINS, Benjamin A., MURPHY, Robert Sean
• Granted Patent: US 9,946,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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 1/1669 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 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

An accessory device for use with an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device may include a cover configured to overlay an electronic device (or device) or fold to form a support structure for the electronic device. The cover may include an attachment feature that electrically couples with the device, and a keyboard foldable with respect to the cover. Further, the keyboard may include a retention feature designed to receive the attachment feature in a folded configuration of the cover. The accessory device may further include an electrically conductive fabric that folds with the cover. The accessory device may include an array of magnets throughout the attachment feature, the cover, and the keyboard. The magnets may be used to magnetically couple together 1) segments of the cover, 2) the cover and the keyboard assembly, 3) and/or the device with the cover.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An accessory device for an electronic device having a device magnet, the accessory device comprising:

a foldable cover comprising a first magnet that magnetically couples with the device magnet; and

a keyboard assembly hingedly coupled with the foldable cover allowing the keyboard assembly to rotate with respect to the foldable cover, the keyboard assembly comprising a second magnet that magnetically couples with the first magnet to define a magnetic coupling, wherein when the foldable cover is folded and engaged with the electronic device, the first magnet magnetically couples with the second magnet such that the electronic device is supported at least partially by the magnetic coupling.

3. The accessory device of claim 2, wherein the foldable cover comprises an attachment feature that carries the first magnet, and wherein the keyboard assembly comprises a retention features that receives the attachment feature.

4. The accessory device of claim 3, wherein:

the attachment feature comprises a third magnet engaged with the first magnet,

the first magnet includes a first magnetic polarity, and

the third magnet includes a second magnetic polarity opposite the first magnetic polarity.

5. The accessory device of claim 4, wherein:

the keyboard assembly comprises a fourth magnet,

the first magnet magnetically couples with the second magnet, and

the third magnet magnetically couples with the fourth magnet.

6. The accessory device of claim 3, further comprising an electrically conductive fabric embedded in the foldable cover and the keyboard assembly, wherein the electrically conductive fabric extends from the attachment feature to the keyboard assembly.

7. The accessory device of claim 2, further comprising a support layer embedded in the foldable cover and the keyboard assembly, wherein the support layer 1) allows the keyboard assembly to fold onto the foldable cover and 2) limits the keyboard assembly to a rotation of no more than 180 degrees with respect to the foldable cover.

8. The accessory device of claim 7, further comprising a cover layer that extends across the foldable cover and the keyboard assembly, wherein when the keyboard assembly is rotated to 180 degrees, the cover layer is positioned between the foldable cover and the keyboard assembly.

9. The accessory device of claim 2, wherein the foldable cover comprises:

a first segment;

a second segment adjacent to the first segment; and

a third segment adjacent to the second segment, the third segment offset with respect to the first segment and the second segment.

10. An accessory device for an electronic device having an electronic device magnet, the accessory device comprising:

an attachment feature that includes an attachment feature magnet that magnetically couples with the electronic device magnet;

a cover secured with the attachment feature, the cover including;

a first segment having a first segment magnet,

a second segment having a second segment magnet, and

a third segment having a third segment magnet, wherein the first segment magnet is capable of magnetically coupling with the third segment magnet when the cover is folded;

a keyboard assembly secured with the cover, the keyboard assembly including;

a first keyboard magnet that magnetically couples with the second segment magnet when the keyboard assembly is folded onto the cover, and

a second keyboard magnet that magnetically couples with the attachment feature magnet to support the electronic device.

11. The accessory device of claim 10, wherein:

the third segment includes a fourth magnet that emits an external magnetic field, and

the keyboard assembly includes a magnetic field sensor that detects the external magnetic field when the keyboard assembly is folded onto the cover.

12. The accessory device of claim 10, wherein the cover is folded to support both the electronic device and the keyboard assembly.

13. The accessory device of claim 11, wherein the first keyboard assembly magnetically couples with the electronic device magnet.

14. The accessory device of claim 10, wherein the keyboard assembly comprises:

multiple keys;

a vent to each key of the multiple keys; and

an opening, wherein the vent opens to the opening.

15. The accessory device of claim 10, further comprising a support layer embedded in the third segment and the keyboard assembly, the support layer limiting movement of the keyboard assembly relative to the cover.

16. The accessory device of claim 10, wherein the keyboard assembly comprises a retention feature that combines with the second keyboard magnet to support the electronic device.

17. The accessory device of claim 10, further comprising a cover layer that extends along the attachment feature, the cover, and the keyboard assembly.

18. An accessory device for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:

an attachment feature that includes a first magnet that magnetically couples with the electronic device;

a cover secured with the attachment feature, the cover including;

a first segment,

a second segment separated from the first segment by a first foldable region, and

a third segment separated from the second segment by a second foldable region; and

a keyboard assembly secured with the cover, the keyboard assembly including a second magnet, wherein when the cover folds at the first foldable region and the second foldable region to define a support structure, the first magnet is positioned on the keyboard assembly such that the first magnet magnetically couples with the second magnet and the support structure supports the electronic device

19. The accessory device of claim 18, wherein the third segment is offset with respect to the first segment and the second segment such that when the keyboard assembly is folding onto the cover, the keyboard assembly is co-planar with respect to the third segment.

20. The accessory device of claim 18, further comprising a cover layer that extends along the attachment feature, the cover, and the keyboard assembly.

21. The accessory device of claim 18, wherein the attachment feature comprises:

a protective component that carries the first magnet, the protective component formed from a metal;

a coating that covers the protective component;

a shunt positioned between the first magnet and the metal.