Portable electronic device connector

• US 9,445,633 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tulloch, Brandon B., Cameron, Gordon C., Danby, John, Heresztyn, Amaury J., Kalyanasundaram, Nagarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US14/703,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20160088880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 368/282, 368/10, 368/204, 368/281, 368/37, 439/37, 439/345, 439/660, 343/718
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/777 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts H01R12/78, H01R12/79 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/621 Bolt, set screw or screw clamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

In various embodiments, an affixing structure of a connector is configured to attach to an affixing structure interface of a portable electronic device that is configured to also couple to an attachment member. A connector plug including conductors coupled to an electrical conduit is coupled to the affixing structure. The conductors are configured to electrically connect to one or more electric components of the portable electronic device and the electrical conduit is configured to electrically connect to one or more diagnostic devices. In some embodiments, an attachment member may include one or more electronic components and spring pins or other conductors connectable to a wearable device. The attachment member additionally includes a connector operable to connect the wearable device to another electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic band for a wearable device, comprising:

a band segment including an electronic component;

an affixing structure, coupled to the band segment, that couples the band segment to a wearable device when inserted into a channel of the wearable device; and

a conductor, coupled to the affixing structure, electrically connected to the electronic component of the band segment;

wherein the conductor electrically connects the electronic component of the band segment to an electronic component of the wearable device when the affixing structure is inserted into the channel.

2. The electronic band of claim 1, further comprising a connector coupled to the band segment and electrically connected to at least one of the conductor or the electronic component of the band segment, the connector electrically connects the band segment to an electronic device when the connector is coupled to the electronic device.

3. The electronic band of claim 2, wherein the connector is movable between an obscured position and a revealed position.

4. The electronic band of claim 3, wherein the band segment comprises a first portion and a second portion that are removably attachable.

5. The electronic band of claim 4, wherein the connector is in the obscured position when the first portion is attached to the second portion and the connector is in the revealed position when the first portion is detached from the second portion.

6. The electronic band of claim 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion are removably attachable via a magnet.

7. The electronic band of claim 6, wherein the magnet electrically connects the connector and the electronic device when the connector is connected to the electronic device.

8. The electronic band of claim 6, wherein the magnet electrically connects the first portion and the second portion when the first portion is attached to the second portion.

9. The electronic band of claim 4, wherein the connector is coupled to the first portion and is at least partially positioned in an aperture of the second portion in the obscured position.

10. The electronic band of claim 2, wherein the electronic band transfers at least one of power or data between the electronic device and the wearable device when the conductor is connected to the electronic component of the wearable device and the connector is connected to the electronic device.

11. A connector for a wearable electronic device, comprising:

a band that couples to a user to attach the wearable electronic device to the user, the band including an electrical conduit; and

an affixing structure coupled to the band, the affixing structure;

inserts into an interface of the wearable electronic device when coupling to the wearable electronic device; and

includes conductors coupled to the electrical conduit;

wherein;

the conductors electrically connect to an electronic component of the wearable electronic device when the affixing structure is inserted into the interface; and

the electrical conduit electrically connect to an additional electronic component when the electrical conduit is coupled to the additional electronic component.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the conductors comprise spring pins.

13. The connector of claim 11, wherein the conductors electrically connect to the electronic component of the wearable electronic device when the affixing structure is inserted into the interface by projecting into an aperture of the interface to contact pads positioned in the aperture.

14. The connector of claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

a retraction mechanism that retracts the conductors at least partially into the affixing structure;

or

an extender mechanism that extends the conductors at least partially from the affixing structure.

15. The connector of claim 11, further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the affixing structure in place when attached to the interface.

16. The connector of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one of:

tabs that frictionally engage the interface;

or

a structure that extends from a first hole defined in the interface into the affixing structure.

17. The connector of claim 11, wherein the interface comprises a channel and the affixing structure slides into the channel when coupling to the wearable electronic device.

18. The connector of claim 11, wherein the other electronic component is included in the band.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the band further includes a band connector that electrically connects an electronic device to at least one of the other electronic component or the electronic component of the wearable electronic device.

20. The connector of claim 11, wherein the wearable electronic device includes a metal housing and the conductors are electrically isolated from the metal housing when the affixing structure is inserted into the interface.

21. The connector of claim 11, wherein the electrical conduit and conductors are usable by the other electronic component to at least one of:

obtain data stored by the electronic component of the portable electronic device;

instruct the electronic component of the portable electronic device to perform an operation;

or

write data to the electronic component of the portable electronic device.

22. A wearable device connector, comprising:

an affixing structure that slides into a channel of the wearable device when coupling to the wearable electronic device;

an electrical conduit coupled to the affixing structure; and

a terminal coupled to electrical conduit;

wherein the terminal electrically connects to an electronic component of the wearable device and the electrical conduit electrically connect to the electronic component when the affixing structure is slid into the channel.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrical conduit comprises a band.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the band includes a connector that is electrically connected to the terminal and connects to the electronic component.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the band includes a first band portion that is releasably attachable to a second band portion.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein:

the connector is coupled to the first band portion;

the second band portion includes a cavity; and

the connector at least partially inserts into the cavity when the first band portion is attached to the second band portion.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein first band portion is releasably attachable to the second band portion using a magnet.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the band transmits power between the wearable device and the electronic device when the affixing structure is slid into the channel and the connector is connected to the electronic component.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the band transmits communications between the wearable device and the electronic device when the affixing structure is slid into the channel and the connector is connected to the electronic component.