Connector assembly for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10067538-B2
Application number	US-201715414765-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

Particular examples described herein provide for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer or laptop, which includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which includes any type of hardware, elements, circuitry, etc.). The electronic device may also include a connector assembly that is positioned within at least a portion of a recess of the electronic device, where the connector assembly includes: a first assembly that is to receive a connector; and a second assembly that is to receive an identification module that is to provide an association between a user and the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a computing device casing including a barrel portion, wherein the barrel portion is at least partially cylindrical;
a first metallic ring and a second metallic ring, wherein the first and second metallic rings are aligned and integrated with the barrel portion, and wherein the first metallic ring is disposed in a location near the second metallic ring, the relative positions of the first and second metallic rings to define a first slot between the two rings to provide access to at least a location within the diameter of the barrel portion;
a multi-toothed wheel aligned with and housed within the barrel portion, wherein the multi-toothed wheel is disposed approximately at the first slot location, the multi-toothed wheel to receive and engage one or more teeth external to the multi-toothed wheel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a computing device base including a scoop, wherein the scoop is a concave partially cylindrical section of a similar diameter and length as the barrel portion, and wherein at least a first concave metallic partial band is integrated with the scoop;
wherein the first and second metallic rings and the first concave metallic partial band to magnetically attach in response to the barrel portion being placed in the scoop at a location where the first metallic ring is adjacent to the first metallic partial band.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first concave metallic partial band further comprising a rib segment protruding out from the surface of the band, the rib segment approximately as wide as the first slot between the first and second metallic rings.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a magnetic attachment force between the first metallic partial band and the first and second metallic rings to guide the rib segment into the first slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the rib segment further comprises at least a first tooth protruding out of the rib segment.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first tooth protruding out of a location at the center of the rib segment.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, in response to the rib segment entering the first slot, the first tooth to engage the multi-toothed wheel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein, when the first tooth is engaged with the multi-toothed wheel, the barrel portion to be located in the scoop, and wherein the computing device casing to be capable of a rotational motion around an axis of the barrel portion when the barrel portion is located in the scoop.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the multi-toothed wheel to rotate in relation to the barrel portion in response to the barrel portion rotating around its axis when in the scoop and the first tooth engaged with the multi-toothed wheel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the multi-toothed wheel to provide an amount of resistance to barrel portion rotation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computing device casing further includes a flat portion to house a display.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the computing device base further includes a keyboard on a first side, the first side including the scoop.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Sharma Sameer
• Satzger Douglas
• Amit Gadi
• Hoshino Yoshikazu
• Harber Chadwick
• Clifton Daniel
• Houdek Ii Philip J
• Moiseyenko Stanislav
• Jauvtis Nathan Isaiah

Classifications

• G06F1/1669 Primary

  Detachable keyboards · CPC title

• G06F21/34

  involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards · CPC title

• G06F1/189

  Power distribution · CPC title

• G06F1/16 Primary

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title

• G06F1/1633

  Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626 · CPC title