Magnetic docking base for handset

• US 9,083,111 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Riering-Czekalla, Peter, Mehin, Afshin, Oberwelz, Elger, Vollmer, Adam, Yurchenco, James, Adams, Matthew Robert, Switky, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US13/722,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20130164949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 47/00 Suction cups for attaching purposes; Equivalent means using adhesives devices using adhesives, suction or magnetism for hanging or supporting pictures or the like A47G1/17; vacuum work holders B25B11/005; anchoring of ships using suction B63B21/27; suction cups for handling glass B65G49/061; load-engaging elements for cranes using suction means B66C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 47/003 using adhesives for attaching purposes using adhesives for connecting constructional elements F16B11/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 47/006 the suction cups being activated by the rotation of a cranked lever arm
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/00 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/00 Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/00 Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are described for coupling electronic devices with docking stations. In one aspect, a coupling system comprises a first material in the docking station and a second material in the electronic device. The first material and the second material may each comprise at least one magnet and/or at least one ferromagnetic material that interact magnetically to align the electronic device in an appropriate position with respect to the docking station. The docking station comprises a first set of electrical contacts and the electronic device comprises a second set of electrical contacts. When in the appropriate position, the first set of electrical contacts electrically couples with the second set of electrical contacts. The shapes of the first and second electrical contacts, and the polarities of the magnets/ferromagnetic materials, may be configured to facilitate electrical coupling while avoiding mismatching of the positive/negative terminals of the electrical contacts.

Claims

1. A coupling system for a docking station, the coupling system comprising:

a first material in the docking station; and

a second material in the electronic device;

wherein the first material and the second material interact magnetically to align the electronic device in an appropriate position with respect to the docking station,

wherein the docking station comprises a first set of electrical contacts and a first set of elastomeric diaphragms, wherein a surface of the docking station comprises one or more openings, and wherein each elastomeric diaphragm of the first set of elastomeric diaphragms fills and forms a seal about each of said one or more openings,

wherein the first set of elastomeric diaphragms comprises an opening corresponding to each electrical contact and a pocket forming a pocket seal about each opening of the first set of elastomeric diaphragms.

2. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises one or more magnets, and wherein the second material comprises a ferromagnetic material.

3. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises one or more magnets, and wherein the first material comprises a ferromagnetic material.

4. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises one or more first magnets and the second material comprises one or more second magnets, wherein a portion of the one or more first magnets that is proximate to the one or more second magnets comprises magnets of a first magnetic polarity and a portion of the one or more second magnets that is proximate to the one or more first magnets comprises magnets of a second magnetic polarity, wherein the first magnetic polarity and the second magnetic polarity are opposite magnetic polarities.

5. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a second set of electrical contacts, and wherein the appropriate position of the electronic device provides for electrical coupling between the first set of electrical contacts and the second set of electrical contacts.

6. The coupling system of claim 5, wherein the first set of electrical contacts comprises the first material, and wherein the second set of electrical contacts comprises the second material.

7. The coupling system of claim 5, further comprising:

a first plate in the docking station, the first plate comprising the first material; and

a second plate in the electronic device, the second plate comprising the second material.

8. The coupling system of claim 5, wherein the docking station further comprises a flat top surface above which the first set of electrical contacts protrudes from an interior portion of the docking station.

9. The coupling system of claim 8, wherein each elastomeric diaphragm forms a seal about each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the flat top surface includes the surface of the docking station that comprises the one or more openings, and wherein the electronic device is configured to rest on the first set of elastomeric diaphragms when in the appropriate position.

10. The coupling system of claim 9, wherein the first set of elastomeric diaphragms comprises a first portion having a first flexibility and a second portion having a second flexibility, the second portion forming the seal about each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts, the first portion filling and forming the seal about each of said one or more openings in the flat top surface, wherein the first flexibility is less than the second flexibility.

11. The coupling system of claim 9, wherein the first set of elastomeric diaphragms comprises a second elastomeric diaphragm having openings therein corresponding to each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts and a third elastomeric diaphragm corresponding to each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts formed in the openings of the second elastomeric diaphragm, wherein the second elastomeric diaphragm has a first flexibility and each of the third elastomeric diaphragm has a second flexibility, the third elastomeric diaphragm forming the seal about each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts, the second elastomeric diaphragm filling and forming the seal about each of said one or more openings in the flat top surface, wherein the first flexibility is less than the second flexibility.

12. The coupling system of claim 11, wherein the second elastomeric diaphragm has a first thickness and each of the third elastomeric diaphragms has a second thickness, wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are different.

13. The coupling system of claim 9, wherein each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts comprises a groove about a perimeter of a middle portion thereof and wherein the first set of elastomeric diaphragms comprises an opening corresponding to each electrical contact, each opening having a width smaller than a width of each groove so as to form the seal about each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts.

14. The coupling system of claim 5, wherein the first set of electrical contacts comprises a first positive terminal contact having a first shape and a first negative terminal contact having a second shape, wherein the second set of electrical contacts comprises a second positive terminal contact having a third shape and a second negative terminal contact having a fourth shape, wherein the first shape matches and complements the third shape, and wherein the second shape matches and complements the fourth shape, such that the first set of electrical contacts mates with the second set of electrical contacts.

15. The coupling system of claim 14, wherein the first shape and the second shape are the same shape, and wherein the third shape and the fourth shape are the same shape.

16. The coupling system of claim 14, wherein the first shape and the second shape are different shapes, and wherein the third shape and the fourth shape are different shapes.

17. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein each pocket has a shape that conforms to a shape of a portion of each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts that is positioned between the first set of elastomeric diaphragms and an inner bottom portion of the docking station, so as to form the seal about each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein each pocket includes an opening to allow electrical communication between each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts and corresponding terminals of a power source that are located within an interior portion of the docking station.

18. A docking station for an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a first set of electrical contacts;

a coupling system configured to magnetically align an electronic device in an appropriate position relative to the docking station, the electronic device comprising a second set of electrical contacts, the appropriate position providing for electrical coupling between the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts;

a surface comprising one or more openings; and

a first set of elastomeric diaphragms, wherein each elastomeric diaphragm of the first set of elastomeric diaphragms fills and forms a seal about each of said one or more openings,

wherein the first set of elastomeric diaphragms comprises an opening corresponding to each electrical contact of the first set of electrical contacts and a pocket forming a pocket seal about each opening of the first set of elastomeric diaphragms.

19. The docking station of claim 18, wherein the coupling system comprises:

a first material configured to interact magnetically with a second material in the electronic device, to align the electronic device in the appropriate position.

20. The docking station of claim 18, further comprising:

a first data transfer contact configured to interact electrically with a second data transfer contact in the electronic device, to transfer data between the docking station and the electronic device.