Multi-peek mode tablet device

• US 8,884,730 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Lauder, Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Elvis M. Kibiti, Florence W. Ow, Jiang Ai, John P. Ternus, Jonathan P. Ive, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Sean D. Lubner
• Original Assignee: Andrew Lauder, Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Elvis M. Kibiti, Florence W. Ow, Jiang Ai, John P. Ternus, Jonathan P. Ive, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Sean D. Lubner
• Inventors: Lauder, Andrew, Rohrbach, Matthew D., Coster, Daniel J., Stringer, Christopher J., Ow, Florence W., Ai, Jiang, Ive, Jonathan P., Kibiti, Elvis M., Ternus, John P., Lubner, Sean D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MUSLEH, MOHAMAD A
• Application Number:
  US13/621,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 787 Days
• Field of Search: 335/219, 335/285, 335302-306, 335205-207, 439/38, 439/218, 439/217, 439/39, 243/03, 361/807, 361/679.01, 361/600, 206/45.2, 206/45.23, 206/45.24, 206/305, 206/320, 206/764, 206/765, 345/111
• US Class Current: 335/219
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0205 Magnetic circuits with PM in general
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/04 Means for releasing the attractive force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A tablet device, comprising:

a processor;

a display configured for presenting visual content coupled to the processor;

an outer protective layer overlaying the display and having a size and a shape;

a first sensor; and

a second sensor independent of the first sensor, the first and second sensors used in combination by the processor to detect a folded state of a single piece flap pivotally attached to the tablet device and having the size and the shape of the outer protective layer, and wherein a first folded state comprises a first portion of the single piece flap folded up and away from the outer protective layer about a first folding line revealing a first portion of the outer protective layer that corresponds to a first viewable portion of the display, and only a second portion of the single piece flap being in direct contact with the outer protective layer and being detectable by the second sensor, wherein the processor causes the tablet device to operate in accordance with the first folded state.

2. The tablet device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor causes the tablet device to present visual content only by the first viewable portion.

3. The tablet device as recited in claim 2, wherein the second portion is opposite the first portion and wherein the second portion is pivotally attached to the tablet device such that the second portion pivots with respect to the outer protective layer about a pivot line.

4. The tablet device as recited in claim 3, wherein the second portion carries the first portion such that the first portion moves with respect to the outer protective layer in accordance with the second portion pivoting about the pivot line.

5. The tablet device as recited in claim 4, wherein the folding of the first portion about the first folding line is independent of the pivoting of the second portion about the pivot line.

6. The tablet device as recited in claim 5, wherein a position of the first portion with respect to the outer protective layer comprises a first component associated with the folding of the first portion about the first folding line and a second component associated with the pivoting of the second portion about the pivot line.

7. The tablet device as recited in claim 5, wherein the single piece flap further comprises a third portion disposed between the first and second portions that moves with respect to the outer protective layer in accordance with a second folding line different than the first folding line.

8. The tablet device as recited in claim 7, wherein the second portion carries the third portion and the first portion, and wherein the third portion carries the first portion.

9. The tablet device as recited in claim 8, wherein a position of the first portion with respect to the outer protective layer comprises a first component associated with the folding of the first portion about the first folding line and a second component associated with the pivoting of the second portion about the pivot line and a third component associated with the folding of the third portion about the second folding line.

10. The tablet device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion folds with respect to the outer protective layer only in accordance with the first folding line.

11. The tablet device as recited in claim 1, wherein the display presents visual content in accordance with an amount of the outer protective layer that is in contact with the single piece flap.

12. The tablet device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

13. The tablet device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second sensor is an image capture device.

14. The tablet device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second sensor is an ambient light sensor (ALS).

15. The tablet device as recited in claim 1, wherein the single piece flap comprises an electronic circuit that cooperates with an electronic element in the tablet device.

16. The tablet device as recited in claim 15, a signal is passed between the electronic circuit and the electronic element.

17. The tablet device as recited in claim 16, wherein the signal is used to modify an operation of the tablet device.

18. The tablet device as recited in claim 16, wherein signal is used to modify an operation of the electronic circuit.