Electronic devices and fool-proof methods

• US 9,257,785 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Sip, Kim Yeung
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baxter, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US13/415,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20130076328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

An electronic device having a fool-proof feature is provided, including a first magnet, an output terminal, a hall sensor and a power supply unit. The first magnet generates a magnetic field. The output terminal is disposed in the range of the magnetic field and is mated with an input terminal of a second electronic device. The hall sensor generates a hall voltage according to the magnetic field. The power supply unit is coupled to the output terminal and provides power to the output terminal according a control signal outputted from the hall sensor, in which the hall sensor outputs the control signal when the output terminal is coupled to the input terminal and the hall voltage exceeds a specific voltage, such that the power supply unit provides power to the output terminal according to the control signal, and the second electronic device receives power from the output terminal.

Claims

1. An electronic device having a fool-proof feature, comprising:

a first magnet, generating a magnetic field;

an output terminal, disposed in the range of the magnetic field and mated with an input terminal of a second electronic device, wherein the input terminal and the output terminal are detachable;

a hall sensor, generating a hall voltage according to the magnetic field; and

a power supply unit, coupled to the output terminal in order to provide power to the output terminal according to a control signal outputted from the hall sensor,

wherein the hall sensor outputs the control signal when the output terminal is coupled to the input terminal and the hall voltage exceeds a specific voltage, such that the power supply unit provides power to the output terminal according to the control signal, and the second electronic device receives power from the output terminal, wherein the hall sensor stops outputting the control signal when the hall voltage does not exceed the specific voltage, such that the power supply unit is unable to provide power to the output terminal, wherein a second magnet of the second electronic device increases the hall voltage to the specific voltage when the output terminal is coupled to the input terminal correctly, such that the hall sensor outputs the control signal, and the power supply unit provides power to the output terminal according to the control signal.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hall sensor outputs the control signal when the hall voltage has exceeded the specific voltage for a predetermined period.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnet is repelled by a third magnet of the second electronic device and the third magnet decreases the hall voltage when the input terminal is connected to the output terminal abnormally, such that the hall sensor stops outputting the control signal.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hall sensor is disposed on the first magnet.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input terminal is a male connector and the output terminal is a female connector.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second magnet of the second electronic device attracts the first magnet, and the hall sensor generates the hall voltage according to the magnetic field between the first magnet and the second magnet.

7. A fool-proof method, suitable for a first electronic device and a second electronic device, comprising:

generating a hall voltage in a hall sensor according to a magnetic field of a first magnet of the first electronic device;

determining whether the hall voltage exceeds a specific voltage when an output terminal of the first electronic device is coupled to an input terminal of the second electronic device, wherein the input terminal and the output terminal are detachable;

providing power to the output terminal according to a control signal outputted from the hall sensor when the output terminal is coupled to the input terminal and the hall voltage exceeds the specific voltage, such that the second electronic device receives power from the output terminal; and

stopping the providing of power to the output terminal when the hall voltage does not exceed the specific voltage, such that the second electronic device receives no power from the output terminal,

wherein a second magnet of the second electronic device increases the hall voltage to the specific voltage when the input terminal is coupled to the output terminal normally, such that the hall sensor outputs the control signal, thereby a power supply unit of the first electronic device provides power to the output terminal according to the control signal.

8. The fool-proof method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hall sensor outputs the control signal when the hall voltage has exceeded the specific voltage for a predetermined period.

9. The fool-proof method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first magnet is repelled by a third magnet of the second electronic device and the third magnet decreases the hall voltage when the output terminal is connected to the input terminal abnormally, such that the hall sensor stops outputting the control signal.

10. The fool-proof method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hall sensor is disposed on the first magnet.

11. The fool-proof method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the input terminal is a male connector and the output terminal is a female connector.

12. The fool-proof method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second magnet of the second electronic device attracts the first magnet, and the hall sensor generates the hall voltage according to the magnetic field between the first magnet and the second magnet.