Portable user device with a clip having electrical terminals

• US 9,225,112 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Jeffery T., Krueger, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/987,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 320111-114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for docking a portable user device to a docking device or adapter via a clip mechanism. A portable user device may include two clip members which rotate relative to one another about an axis. A coupling pivot may be coupled to both clip members to facilitate relative rotation, and may provide a clamping force between the clip members. One or more terminals may be located on at least one of the clip members, allowing data transfer, charging, or other functions when the portable user device is docked using the clip mechanism.

Claims

1. A portable user device, comprising:

a first clip member including a protrusion extending from a surface of the first clip member;

a second clip member positioned opposite the first clip member;

a rechargeable battery incorporated in one of the first clip member and the second clip member; and

at least one electrical terminal positioned on a surface of the protrusion and electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery,

wherein when the rechargeable battery is charged by electrically coupling the at least one electrical terminal to a receiving receptacle the first clip member provides a clamping force in cooperation with the second clip member that helps to maintain contact between the receiving receptacle and the at least one electrical terminal.

2. The portable user device of claim 1, further comprising processing equipment electrically coupled to at least one of the electrical terminals.

3. The portable user device of claim 2, wherein the processing equipment is configured to determine whether the at least one electrical terminal is electrically coupled to the receiving receptacle.

4. The portable user device of claim 1, wherein the portable user device is configured to synchronize data with an external device using the at least one electrical terminal.

5. The portable user device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first port that comprises the at least one electrical terminal; and

a second port that comprises at least one other electrical terminal.

6. The portable user device of claim 5, wherein the second port is configured to communicate with a component selected from the list consisting of an audio device, a memory device, a power supply, a portable user device, a computer, and any combination thereof.

15. The portable user device of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical terminal comprises a pin.

7. A portable user device comprising:

a first clip member comprising an energy storage device incorporated within the first clip member;

a second clip member comprising a member protruding from a surface of the second clip member and at least one electrical terminal disposed along a surface of the member, wherein the at least one electrical terminal is electrically coupled to the energy storage device; and

a coupling pivot coupled to both the first and second clip members, wherein the first and second clip members provide a clamping force in part through the at least one electrical terminal.

8. The portable user device of claim 7, wherein the coupling pivot allows the first and second clip members to rotate relative to each other about a pivot axis, and wherein a clamping force is generated by the coupling pivot between the first and second clip members.

9. The portable user device of claim 7, wherein the first clip member further comprises processing equipment.

10. The portable user device of claim 7, wherein the second clip member comprises:

solid state memory circuitry; and

at least one auxiliary electrical terminal on the second clip member, wherein the at least one auxiliary electrical terminal is electrically coupled to the solid state memory circuitry.

11. The portable user device of claim 7, wherein the coupling pivot comprises a spring.

12. The portable user device of claim 7, wherein the coupling pivot comprises a flexural pivot.

13. The portable user device of claim 7, wherein the coupling pivot comprises a hinge.

14. The portable user device of claim 7, wherein the coupling pivot comprises at least one rotating contact electrically coupled to the at least one electrical terminal.

16. A portable user device, comprising:

a first clip member;

a second clip member positioned opposite the first clip member;

a rechargeable battery incorporated in at least one of the first clip member and the second clip member; and

an electrical terminal positioned along a surface of the first clip member that is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery,

wherein when the electrical terminal is directly electrically coupled to a receiving receptacle, the first and second clip members provide a clamping force that compresses a portion of the first clip member that at least partially surrounds the electrical terminal against a portion of the receiving receptacle.

17. The portable user device as recited in claim 16, wherein the electrical terminal is positioned at a distal end of the first clip member.

18. The portable user device as recited in claim 16, wherein the electrical terminal is recessed with respect to an exterior surface of the first clip member.

19. The portable user device as recited in claim 16, when the electrical terminal is electrically coupled to the receiving receptacle, a surface of the electrical terminal contacts and is electrically coupled with an electrical terminal of the receiving receptacle, the surface of the electrical terminal being substantially parallel with the surface of the first clip member along which the electrical terminal is positioned.