Connection device for computing devices

• US 9,426,905 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven Nabil, Protasio Ribeiro, Flavio, Keam, Nigel Stuart, Rihn, Bernard K., Panay, Panos C., Voth, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US13/891,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20130242495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.78, 361/679.28
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02

Abstract

A connection device for computing devices is described. In one or more implementations, a connection device comprises a plurality of connection portions that are physically and communicatively coupled, one to another. Each of the plurality of connection portions has at least one communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with a respective one of a plurality of computing devices and with at least one other communication contact of another one of the connections portions to support communication between the plurality of computing devices. Each of the plurality of connection portions also includes a magnetic coupling device to form a removable magnetic attachment to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.

Claims

1. A connection device comprising:

a plurality of connection portions that are physically and communicatively coupled, one to another, the plurality of connection portions connected using a flexible hinge, each of the plurality of connection portions having;

at least one communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with a respective one of a plurality of computing devices and with at least one other communication contact of another one of the connections portions to support communication between the plurality of computing devices, the flexible hinge having one or more conductors configured to communicatively couple the at least one communication contact with the at least one other communication contact; and

a magnetic coupling device to form a removable magnetic attachment to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.

2. A connection device described in claim 1, wherein the flexible hinge is configured not to exceed a minimum bend radius that is defined at least in part based on flexibility of the one or more conductors.

3. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connection portions is configured as a projection that is configured to be received within a channel of a housing of the respective one of the plurality of computing devices, the projection including the at least one communication contact and the magnetic coupling device.

4. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of computing devices include housings that support a slate configuration.

5. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one communication contact is configured to support sliding motion as part of a physical coupling of the communication contact to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices, the sliding motion configured to at least partially clean a surface of the at least one communication contact.

6. A connection device as described in claim 5, wherein the sliding motion is configured to be assisted at least in part using magnetic attraction of the magnetic coupling device to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.

7. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one communication contact is configured to include a spring.

8. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connection portions is formed such that the magnetic coupling device causes the respective connection portion to employ a cam action to support rotational movement as part of engagement of the at least one communication contact with the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.

9. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one communication contact includes a dielectric coating in an amount sufficient to form a capacitive connection with a corresponding contact of the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.

10. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one communication contact is configured to support an optical connection.

11. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connection portions includes a rotating cover on an axle that is biased in a closed position and is configured to assume an open position in which the at least one communication contact is exposed responsive to a magnetic field.

12. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one communication contact and the at least one other communication contact are connected using one or more conductors configured as strip lines.

13. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling device has one or more rotatable magnets that have a symmetric magnetic polarity.

14. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one communication contact is configured to be moveable with respect to the respective connection portion between a retracted position and an exposed position responsive to magnetic interaction.

15. A connection device as described in claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling device is configured as a flux fountain.

16. A system comprising:

a first computing device having a housing that assumes a slate configuration; and

a second computing device having a housing that assumes a slate configuration, the second computing device having a removable physical and communicative coupling with the first computing device, the removable physical communicative coupling provided at least in part through use of a flexible hinge physically and communicatively coupling a plurality of connection portions, one to another, each of the plurality of connection portions having at least one communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with the first computing device and at least one other communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with the second computing device, the flexible hinge having one or more conductors configured to communicatively couple the at least one communication contact with the at least one other communication contact.

17. A system as described in claim 16, wherein the flexible hinge has one or more rotatable magnets that have a symmetric magnetic polarity.

18. A system as described in claim 16, wherein the flexible hinge is configured not to exceed a minimum bend radius that is defined at least in part based on flexibility of the one or more conductors.

19. An apparatus comprising a plurality of connection portions that are configured to magnetically and physically communicatively couple a plurality of mobile computing devices having a slate form factor to each other, the plurality of connection portions connected using a flexible hinge having one or more conductors configured to communicatively couple at least one communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with a respective one of the plurality of mobile computing devices with at least one other communication contact of another one of the connections portions.

20. An apparatus as described in claim 19, wherein the magnetic coupling is provided by a magnetic coupling device configured to form a removable magnetic attachment to the respective one of the plurality of mobile computing devices, the removable magnetic attachment configured to provide a zero or negative insertion force of the connection portion to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.