Controlling of a magnetic connection between an electrical device and a cable

• US 9,767,949 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bengtsson, Erik, Thorn, Ola, Agardh, Kare
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Danny
• Application Number:
  US14/739,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20160365185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 361139, 361144, 361160
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/143 for signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 15/00 Holding or levitation devices using magnetic attraction or repulsion, not otherwise provided for electric or magnetic devices for holding work on machine tools B23Q3/15 ; monorail vehicle propulsion or suspension B60L13/00; sliding or levitation devices for railway systems B61B13/08; material handling devices associated with conveyors incorporating devices with electrostatic or magnetic grippers B65G47/92; separating thin or filamentary articles from piles using magnetic force B65H3/16; delivering thin or filamentary articles from magnetic holders by air blast or suction B65H29/24; bearings using magnetic or electric supporting means F16C32/04; relieving bearing loads using magnetic means F16C39/06; magnets H01F7/00; dynamo-electric clutches or brakes H02K49/00 ; electric furnaces with simultaneous levitation and heating H05B6/32

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical device comprising: a first connector (102) being magnetically connectable to a second connector (202) of an accessory (200) for forming a magnetic connection between the first and second connectors, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet; a sensor (120) comprising at least one of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor and a microphone, wherein the sensor is arranged to output a sensor signal (121); and a electromagnetic controller (108) connected to the electromagnet and arranged to control the magnetic field of the electromagnet based on the sensor signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a magnetic connection between a first connector of an electrical device and a second connector of a cable used to connect the electrical device to a power source for charging a battery of the electrical device, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet, the method comprising:

checking a battery level of the battery;

receiving a sensor signal from at least one of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor and a microphone of the electrical device; and

controlling the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector based on the sensor signal;

wherein when the battery level is below a predetermined threshold the controlling does not comprise weakening the magnetic field of the electromagnet.

2. A method for controlling a magnetic connection between a first connector of an electrical device and a second connector of an accessory arranged to be connected to the electrical device, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet, the method comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from at least one of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor and a microphone of the electrical device; and

controlling the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector based on the sensor signal,

wherein, at least one of;

when the sensor signal corresponds to a falling movement of the electrical device, the controlling comprises strengthening the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector, or

when the sensor signal corresponds to a lifting movement of the electrical device, the controlling comprises weakening the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector, or

when the sensor signal corresponds to a user holding the electrical device, the controlling comprises weakening the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector.

3. An electrical device comprising:

a first connector being magnetically connectable to a second connector of an accessory for forming a magnetic connection between the first and second connectors, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet;

a sensor comprising at least one of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor and a microphone, wherein the sensor is arranged to output a sensor signal; and

an electromagnetic controller connected to the electromagnet and arranged to control the magnetic field of the electromagnet based on the sensor signal;

a battery; and

a battery level sensor arranged to check a battery level of the battery and to output a battery level signal to the electromagnetic controller.

4. The electrical device according to claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic controller is arranged to, when the battery level is below a predetermined threshold, not weakening the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon software code portions for implementing a method when executed on a device having processing capabilities, the computer-readable recording medium including:

instructions to control a magnetic connection between a first connector of an electrical device and a second connector of a cable used to connect the electrical device to a power source for charging a battery of the electrical device, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet;

instructions to check a battery level of the battery;

instructions to receive a sensor signal from at least one of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor and a microphone of the electrical device; and

instructions to control the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector based on the sensor signal, wherein when the battery level is below a predetermined threshold the instructions to control the magnetic field are to not weaken the magnetic field of the electromagnet.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon software code portions for implementing a method when executed on a device having processing capabilities, the computer-readable recording medium including:

instructions to control a magnetic connection between a first connector of an electrical device and a second connector of an accessory arranged to be connected to the electrical device, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet;

instructions to receive a sensor signal from at least one of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor and a microphone of the electrical device; and

instructions to control the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector based on the sensor signal,

wherein, at least one of;

when the sensor signal corresponds to a falling movement of the electrical device, the instructions to control the magnetic field are to strengthen the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector, or

when the sensor signal corresponds to a lifting movement of the electrical device, the instructions to control the magnetic field are to weaken the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector, or

when the sensor signal corresponds to a user holding the electrical device, the instructions to control are to weaken the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector.

7. An electrical device comprising:

a first connector being magnetically connectable to a second connector of an accessory for forming a magnetic connection between the first and second connectors, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet;

a battery;

a battery level sensor arranged to check a battery level of the battery and to output a battery level signal to the electromagnetic controller; and

an electromagnetic controller connected to the electromagnet and arranged to control the magnetic field of the electromagnet based on the battery level signal.

8. The electrical device according to claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic controller is arranged to, when the battery level is below a predetermined threshold, not weaken the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector.

9. A method for controlling a magnetic connection between a first connector of an electrical device and a second connector of a cable used to connect the electrical device to a power source for charging a battery of the electrical device, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises an electromagnet, the method comprising:

checking a battery level of the battery; and

controlling the magnetic field of the electromagnetic connector based on the battery level, wherein when the battery level is below a predetermined threshold the controlling does not comprise weakening the magnetic field of the electromagnet.