Peripheral retention device

• US 9,513,671 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Huston, Dave, Gault, Joseph B., Singla, Aseem, Raken, Jan, Hill, Andrew William, Thuvara, Vineet
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Gene W
• Application Number:
  US14/450,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20160034001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 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 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• 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 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

Peripheral retention device techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a peripheral retention device includes a computing device securing portion and a peripheral securing portion. The computing device securing portion is configured to removably engage a computing device such that the computing device securing portion is securable to and removable from a first side of a housing the computing device using one or more hands of a user. The peripheral securing portion is connected to the computing device securing portion and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via a second side of the housing that opposes the first side of the housing such that the peripheral device is securable to and removable from the peripheral securing portion using one or more hands of a user.

Claims

1. A peripheral retention device comprising:

a computing device securing portion configured to removably engage a computing device such that the computing device securing portion is securable to and removable from a cavity on a first side of a housing of the computing device using one or more hands of a user; and

a peripheral securing portion connected to the computing device securing portion and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via a second side of the housing that opposes the first side of the housing such that the peripheral device is securable to and removable from the peripheral securing portion using one or more hands of a user, the computing device securing portion configured to be secured to the cavity on the first side of the housing by pulling the peripheral securing portion from the first side of the housing through the cavity to the second side of the housing that opposes the first side of the housing.

2. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 1, wherein the computing device securing portion is securable to and removable from the housing using a magnetic attachment or an adhesive.

3. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 1, wherein the computing device securing portion, when secured to the housing, has a retention force to the housing that is sufficient to remain secured when the peripheral device, secured to the peripheral securing portion, is grasped by the one or more hands of the user and used to lift the computing device without the computing device being otherwise supported.

4. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 1, wherein the computing device has a slate configuration that is configured to be held by the one or more hands of a user.

5. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 1, wherein the housing is part of a kickstand of the computing device that is moveable between a retracted position and an extend position suitable to support the computing device in an upright configuration when placed on a surface.

6. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 1, wherein the computing device securing portion is securable to and removable from the housing using a mechanical attachment.

7. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 6, wherein the mechanical attachment is accomplished through flexing of the computing device portion within the cavity of the housing such that the flexing causes edges of the computing device securing portion to engage edges of the cavity.

8. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 1, wherein the peripheral retention device is formed from a flexible material.

9. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 8, wherein the flexible material is elastic.

10. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 8, wherein the flexible material is configured to be disposed between the housing and a surface on which the computing device is placed and flex to assume a flattened configuration in response.

11. A peripheral retention device as described in claim 8, wherein the peripheral device is a stylus.

12. A computing device comprising:

a display device;

a housing having a form factor configured to be held by one or more hands of a user, the housing including a kickstand that is movable to support different viewing positions of the display device as secured to the housing, the kickstand configured to removably engage a peripheral retention device such that the peripheral retention device is securable to and removable from the kickstand using one or more hands of a user, the peripheral device is securable to and removable from the peripheral retention device using the one or more hands of a user, the peripheral retention device configured to be secured to a cavity on a first side of the kickstand by pulling a peripheral securing portion of the peripheral retention device from a first side of the kickstand through the cavity to a second side of the kickstand that opposes the first side of the kickstand; and

one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to perform one or more operations responsive to inputs received from the peripheral device.

13. A computing device as described in claim 12, wherein the kickstand is configured to removably engage the peripheral retention device via a first side of the kickstand and secure the peripheral device via an opposing second side of the kickstand.

14. A computing device as described in claim 12, wherein the peripheral retention device is securable to and removable from the kickstand using a mechanical attachment.

15. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the mechanical attachment is accomplished through flexing of a computing device securing portion of the peripheral retention device within the cavity of the kickstand such that the flexing causes edges of the computing device securing portion to engage edges of the cavity.

16. A computing device as described in claim 15, wherein the computing device securing portion, when secured to the housing, has a retention force to the housing that is sufficient to remain secured when the peripheral device, secured to the peripheral retention device, is grasped by the one or more hands of the user and used to lift the computing device without the computing device being otherwise supported.

17. A system comprising:

a stylus; and

a computing device including a housing having a hand-held configuration, the housing including a kickstand that is movable to support different viewing positions of a display device as secured to the housing, the kickstand configured to removably engage a peripheral retention device such that the peripheral retention device is securable to and removable from the kickstand using one or more hands of a user, the stylus is securable to and removable from the peripheral retention device using the one or more hands of a user, the peripheral retention device configured to be secured to a cavity on a first side of the kickstand by pulling a peripheral securing portion of the peripheral retention device from a first side of the kickstand through the cavity to a second side of the kickstand that opposes the first side of the kickstand.

18. A system as described in claim 17, wherein the computing device is a mobile phone or tablet computer.

19. A system as described in claim 17, wherein the stylus is configured to support user interaction with a user interface output by the display device of the computing device.

20. A system as described in claim 19, wherein the interaction is supported using touchscreen functionality.