MAGNETIC LATCHING MECHANISM FOR USE IN MATING A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE TO AN ACCESSORY DEVICE

• US 20100081377A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kumar, Mukul, Corbridge, Mark, Chatterjee, Manjirnath, Liu, Eric, Crooijmans, Wim
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A mobile computing device and an accessory device are individually equipped with features and components that enable magnetic coupling of the two devices. Specific embodiments provide for the use of one or more horseshoe magnets for use in the magnetic coupling mechanisms. As an addition or alternative, electromagnetic coupling may be used to selectively maintain and/or orient the two devices in a mated position.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a mobile computing device;

an accessory device having a receiving surface to magnetically couple to the mobile computing device; and

wherein at least one of the mobile computing device or the accessory device includes a magnetic component configured to retain the other of the mobile computing device or the accessory device, the magnetic component including at least one horseshoe magnet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the horseshoe magnet is unitarily formed from a single piece of magnetized material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the horseshoe magnet corresponds to a horseshoe magnet assembly, comprising:

first and second bar magnets coupled in parallel;

a nonmagnetic spacer element coupled between the first and second bar magnets; and

a base layer coupled to a first pole of each of the first and second bar magnets, wherein the first pole of the first bar magnet is opposite in polarity than the first pole of the second bar magnet.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein either the first or second bar magnets is longer than the other.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving surface is configured to magnetically couple to a housing element of the mobile computing device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the housing element at least partially forms a faç

ade of the mobile computing device, and is removably coupled to the mobile computing device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a surface of the housing element is substantially flush or uniform in appearance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein only one of the mobile computing device or accessory device includes the magnetic component, and wherein the other of the mobile computing device or accessory device has material that is attracted to the magnetic component.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the accessory device includes the magnetic component, and wherein the at least one horseshoe magnet is provided a distance below the receiving surface of the accessory device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the magnetic component comprises a plurality of horseshoe magnets arranged in a circular configuration.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiving surface includes a plurality of proud regions surrounding the plurality of horseshoe magnets, respectively.

12. A system comprising:

a mobile computing device;

an accessory device having (i) a receiving surface to magnetically couple to the mobile computing device and (ii) circuitry to communicate with the mobile computing device when magnetically coupled; and

wherein at least one of the mobile computing device or the accessory device includes a magnetic component configured to retain the other of the mobile computing device or accessory device while reducing magnetic interference, from the magnetic component, during communications between the mobile computing device and the accessory device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the magnetic component comprises a plurality of magnets arranged in a manner which reduces magnetic flux through the center of at least one of the mobile computing device or the accessory device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets is a horseshoe magnet.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the horseshoe magnet is unitarily formed from a single piece of magnetized material.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the horseshoe magnet corresponds to a horseshoe magnet assembly, comprising:

first and second bar magnets coupled in parallel;

a nonmagnetic spacer element coupled between the first and second bar magnets; and

a base layer coupled to a first pole of each of the first and second bar magnets, wherein the first pole of the first bar magnet is opposite in polarity than the first pole of the second bar magnet.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein either the first or second bar magnets is longer than the other.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of magnets is a horseshoe magnet, and wherein the magnets are arranged in a circular configuration.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiving surface is configured to magnetically couple to a housing element of the mobile computing device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the housing element at least partially forms a faç

ade of the mobile computing device, and is removably coupled to the mobile computing device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the magnetic component comprises one or more electromagnets.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the magnetic component further comprises a proximity sensor coupled to the one or more electromagnets, the proximity sensor being configured to:

detect a proximity of the housing element of the mobile computing device to the receiving surface of the accessory device; and

control the one or more electromagnets based, at least in part, on the detected proximity.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the proximity sensor is further configured to activate the one or more electromagnets upon determining that the housing element is within a first range of the receiving surface.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the proximity sensor is further configured to deactivate the one or more electromagnets upon determining that the housing element is beyond a second range of the receiving surface.

25. The system of claim 12, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to inductively transmit or receive at least one of a power or data signal, and wherein the circuitry to communicate with the mobile computing device includes circuitry to inductively communicate with the mobile computing device in order to transmit or receive the at least one power or data signal.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the magnetic component further comprises a proximity sensor coupled to the one or more electromagnets, the proximity sensor being configured to:

detect a proximity of the mobile computing device to the receiving surface of the accessory device; and

control the one or more electromagnets based, at least in part, on the detected proximity.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the proximity sensor is further configured to activate the one or more electromagnets upon determining that the housing element is within a first range of the receiving surface.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the proximity sensor is further configured to deactivate the one or more electromagnets upon determining that the housing element is beyond a second range of the receiving surface.

25-1. A system comprising:

a mobile computing device;

an accessory device having a receiving surface; and

wherein at least one of the mobile computing device or accessory device includes one or more electromagnets to selectively retain the other of the mobile computing device or accessory device in one or more orientations.