Magnetic connection and alignment of connectible devices
First Claim
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing defining a connection surface;
a receiving component positioned proximate to the connection surface and within the housing, the receiving component comprising a coil of wire and a coil shield, wherein the coil shield is positioned along a surface of the coil of wire opposing the connection surface and along sides of the coil of wire transverse to the connection surface; and
a magnetic element positioned proximate to the connection surface and within the housing, the magnetic element comprising a magnet and a magnet shield positioned along a surface of the magnet opposing the connection surface, the magnet shield having sides covering sides of the magnet transverse to the connection surface and separated from the sides of the magnet by gaps, wherein the magnet shield is configured to direct a magnetic field of the magnet toward the connection surface.
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Abstract
A first and second electronic device each including a connection surface and a magnetic element. The first and second devices may be in contact along the respective connection surfaces. The magnetic elements may be configured to align the first and second devices by moving either or both of the first and second devices relative to each other to achieve an aligned position. The magnetic element may also be operative to resist disconnection of first and second electronic devices when in the aligned position.
54 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing defining a connection surface; a receiving component positioned proximate to the connection surface and within the housing, the receiving component comprising a coil of wire and a coil shield, wherein the coil shield is positioned along a surface of the coil of wire opposing the connection surface and along sides of the coil of wire transverse to the connection surface; and a magnetic element positioned proximate to the connection surface and within the housing, the magnetic element comprising a magnet and a magnet shield positioned along a surface of the magnet opposing the connection surface, the magnet shield having sides covering sides of the magnet transverse to the connection surface and separated from the sides of the magnet by gaps, wherein the magnet shield is configured to direct a magnetic field of the magnet toward the connection surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for magnetic connection and alignment, comprising:
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a first electronic device, comprising; a first housing; a receiving component positioned proximate to the connection surface and within the housing, the receiving component comprising a coil of wire and a coil shield, wherein the coil shield is positioned along a surface of the coil of wire opposing the connection surface and along sides of the coil of wire transverse to the connection surface; and a first magnetic element, positioned within the first housing, the first magnetic element comprising a magnet and a magnet shield, the magnet having a face surface, an opposite surface, and multiple side surfaces, the magnet shield covering at least a part of the opposite surface and the multiple side surfaces, wherein the magnet shield is separated from the multiple side surfaces by a gap and is configured to direct a magnetic field of the magnet toward the face surface; and a second electronic device, comprising; a second housing; and a second magnetic element positioned within the second housing;
wherein;the first and second magnetic elements generate a magnetic force operative to move the first and second electronic devices with respect to one another from an initial position to an aligned position; and the first housing and second housing contact each other in both the initial position and the aligned position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for magnetic connection and alignment of connectible electronic devices, the method comprising:
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magnetically moving a first electronic device, with respect to a second electronic device, from a contact position to an aligned position; directing a magnetic flux from a magnet of a first magnetic element of the first electronic device toward the second electronic device using a magnet shield that is coupled to a first surface of the magnet and is positioned apart from additional surfaces of the magnet that are transverse to the first surface such that a first receiving component in the first electronic device is aligned with a second receiving component in the second electronic device, the first receiving component comprising a coil of wire and a coil shield; and holding the first electronic device and the second electronic device in the aligned position utilizing a magnetic force between the first magnetic element of the first electronic device and a second magnetic element of the second electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification