ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MOVEABLE CONTACTS AT AN EXTERIOR SURFACE

• US 20170068286A1
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Esmaeili, Hiva, Ross, Oliver, Degner, Brett, Wagman, Daniel, Jol, Eric S., Kamei, Ibuki, Amini, Mahmoud R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,778,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery

Abstract

An accessory device comprising: an enclosure; one or more electrical components positioned within or attached to the enclosure; an attachment feature connected to the enclosure and configured to magnetically couple the accessory device with the electronic device, the attachment feature comprising: an exterior surface; a corresponding plurality of openings formed through the exterior surface; a plurality of movable contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each movable contact extending out of one of the plurality of openings; one or more biasing members operatively coupled to the plurality of movable contacts to bias the contacts such that a contacting portion of each contact protrudes beyond the exterior surface of the attachment feature through its respective opening; and an alignment feature comprising at least one magnet positioned adjacent to the plurality of openings.

Claims

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

an enclosure;

one or more electrical components positioned within or attached to the enclosure;

an attachment feature connected to the enclosure and configured to magnetically couple the accessory device with the electronic device, the attachment feature comprising;

an exterior surface;

a corresponding plurality of openings formed through the exterior surface;

a plurality of movable contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each movable contact extending out of one of the plurality of openings;

one or more biasing members operatively coupled to the plurality of movable contacts to bias the contacts such that a contacting portion of each contact protrudes beyond the exterior surface of the attachment feature through its respective opening; and

an alignment feature comprising at least one magnet positioned adjacent to the plurality of openings.

2. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment feature is connected to the enclosure by a flexible member.

3. The accessory device set forth in claim 2 wherein the attachment feature has an elongated shape with a back portion extending along a length of the attachment feature and concavely curved front portion opposite the back portion, and wherein the contact structure is exposed at a center location within the front portion.

4. The accessory device set forth in claim 2 wherein the flexible member enables the attachment feature to be rotated with respect to the enclosure around an axis that is parallel to a length of the attachment feature.

5. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the second housing includes a raised portion around the plurality of openings

6. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of contacts comprises a flexible lever arm having first and second ends;

and wherein the contact portion is attached to the first end and a barb is formed on the second end and inserted into the housing.

7. The accessory device set forth in claim 6 wherein each contact includes a wider body portion and a narrowed end.

8. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a surface that is substantially flush with surrounding exterior surfaces and each contact in the plurality of contacts protrudes above the exterior surface by no more than 1 mm.

17. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the attachment feature has an elongated shape with a convexly curved back portion and concavely curved front portion, and wherein the contact structure is exposed at a center location within the front portion.

20. The accessory device set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a surface that is substantially flush with a surrounding exterior surface of the attachment feature and each contact in the plurality of contacts protrudes above the exterior surface of the attachment feature by no more than 1 mm.

9. The accessory device set forth in claim wherein the alignment feature comprises first and second arrays of magnets positioned on opposite sides of the plurality of openings.

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

a cover;

one or more electrical components embedded within or attached to the cover;

an attachment feature connected to the enclosure by a flexible member and configured to couple the accessory device with the electronic device, wherein the attachment feature comprises;

a first housing;

an opening within the housing;

a contact structure positioned within the opening at an exterior surface of the attachment feature, the contact structure including;

(i) a second housing;

(ii) a plurality of openings formed in the second housing;

(iii) a plurality of movable contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each of the plurality of movable contacts having a contacting portion; and

(iv) one or more biasing members positioned within the second housing and operatively coupled to the plurality of movable contacts to bias the contacts such that the contacting portion of each contact protrudes outside of the second housing through its respective opening; and

an alignment feature positioned within the first housing and comprising first and second magnets positioned on opposing sides of the opening, the first magnet positioned adjacent to a first end of the opening and the second magnet positioned adjacent to a second end of the opening;

wherein at least one of the plurality of movable contacts is operatively coupled to the one or more electrical components enabling data to be exchanged between the accessory device and the electronic device.

11. The accessory device set forth in claim 10 wherein the second housing comprises an electrically nonconductive cover attached to a lower housing portion, and wherein the plurality of opening are formed within the cover.

12. The accessory device set forth in claim 11 wherein the cover includes a raised portion sized and shaped to fit within the opening of the first housing.

13. The accessory device set forth in claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of contacts comprises a flexible lever arm having first and second ends;

and wherein the contact portion is attached to the first end and a barb is formed on the second end and inserted into the housing.

14. The accessory device set forth in claim 13 wherein each contact includes a wider body portion and a narrowed end.

15. The accessory device set forth in claim 14 wherein the second housing includes a raised portion around the plurality of openings

16. The accessory device set forth in claim 10 further comprising an exterior layer that extends along an exterior surface of the cover and folds over the attachment feature.

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

an enclosure;

one or more electrical components positioned within or attached to the enclosure;

an attachment feature connected to the enclosure and configured to magnetically couple the accessory device with the electronic device, the attachment feature comprising a housing and an opening formed through the housing;

a contact structure positioned within the opening at an exterior surface of the attachment feature, the contact structure including;

a contact housing;

a cover attached to a top of the contact housing, the cover including a raised portion sized and shaped to fit within the device housing opening;

a plurality of openings formed in the cover;

a plurality of movable contacts corresponding in number to the plurality of openings, each of the plurality of movable contacts having a contacting portion; and

a plurality of biasing members positioned within the contact housing and corresponding in number to the plurality of contacts, each biasing member operatively coupled to one of the plurality of movable contacts to bias the contact such that the contacting portion protrudes outside of the enclosure through its respective opening; and

an alignment feature positioned within the housing and comprising first and second arrays of magnets positioned on opposing sides of the contact area.

19. The accessory device set forth in claim 18 wherein the attachment feature has an elongated shape with the contact structure centered along a length of the attachment feature.