Magnetic actuated attachment mechanisms for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10609990-B2
Application number	US-201715604653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2017
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A band for a wearable device includes first and second band links. The first band link includes one or more magnetic pins and the second band link includes one or more magnets and one or more apertures. In a first position, the first and second band links mechanically and magnetically couple by the magnet pulling the magnetic pin into the aperture. In a second position, the first and second band links mechanically and magnetically decouple by the magnetic pin being forced from the aperture. In this way, the band links may be easily and quickly coupled to and/or decoupled from each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment structure for an electronic system comprising the attachment structure and an electronic device, the attachment structure comprising:
a first aperture having a first opening at a surface of the attachment structure;
a first movable magnetic pin located in the first aperture, the first movable magnetic pin having a first position within the first aperture and a second position where a portion of the first movable magnetic pin extends beyond the surface of the attachment structure and into a first corresponding aperture of the electronic device when the attachment structure is attached to the electronic device;
a second aperture having a second opening at a surface of the attachment structure;
a second movable magnetic pin located in the second aperture, the second movable magnetic pin having a first position within the second aperture and a second position where a portion of the second movable magnetic pin extends beyond the surface of the attachment structure and into a second corresponding aperture of the electronic device when the attachment structure is attached to the electronic device; and
a first actuator operable to, when rotated relative to the surface of the attachment structure, cause a relative rotation between the first movable magnetic pin located in the first aperture and a first magnet positioned within the first corresponding aperture of the electronic device to apply a magnetic force to the first movable magnetic pin to move the first movable magnetic pin between the first position and the second position.

2. The attachment structure of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure further comprises:
a third magnet in the first aperture; and
a fourth magnet in the second aperture.

3. The attachment structure of claim 2 wherein the third magnet attracts the first movable magnetic pin into the first position and the fourth magnet attracts the second movable magnetic pin into the first position when the attachment structure and electronic device are detached.

4. The attachment structure of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure further comprises:
a first spring in the first aperture; and
a second spring in the second aperture.

5. The attachment structure of claim 4 wherein the first spring pulls the first movable magnetic pin into the first position and the second spring pulls the second movable magnetic pin into the first position when the attachment structure and electronic device are detached.

6. The attachment structure of claim 1 wherein the first actuator is a screw.

7. The attachment structure of claim 6 wherein the first actuator is rotated using a tool.

8. The attachment structure of claim 7 wherein the tool is a screwdriver.

9. The attachment structure of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure comprises a first circuit, wherein the first circuit is coupled to a second circuit in the electronic device when the first movable magnetic pin and the second movable magnetic pin are in the second position.

10. The attachment structure of claim 9 wherein the second circuit in the electronic device includes a microphone, a speaker, a haptic component, a display, and a non-transitory storage medium.

11. The attachment structure of claim 1 wherein the attachment structure is electrically connected to the electronic device when the attachment structure is attached to electronic device.

12. The attachment structure of claim 1 wherein the attachment of the attachment structure and the electronic device causes a state change in the electronic device.

13. The attachment structure of claim 1 wherein the attachment of the attachment structure and the electronic device causes the electronic device to generate a notification.

14. The attachment structure of claim 1 further comprising a second actuator operable to, when rotated relative to the surface of the attachment structure, cause a relative rotation between the second movable magnetic pin located in the second aperture and a second magnet positioned within the second corresponding aperture of the electronic device to apply a magnetic force to the second movable magnetic pin to move the second movable magnetic pin between the first position and the second position.

15. The attachment structure of claim 14 wherein the first and second actuators are screws.

16. An electronic system comprising an attachment structure and an electronic device, the attachment structure comprising:
a first aperture having a first opening at a surface of the attachment structure;
a first movable pin located in the first aperture, the first movable pin having a first position within the first aperture and a second position where a portion of the first movable pin extends beyond the surface of the attachment structure and into a first corresponding aperture of the electronic device when the attachment structure is attached to the electronic device;
a second aperture having a second opening at a surface of the attachment structure;
a second movable pin located in the second aperture, the second movable pin having a first position within the second aperture and a second position where a portion of the second movable pin extends beyond the surface of the attachment structure and into a second corresponding aperture of the electronic device when the attachment structure is attached to the electronic device; and
a lever having a lever arm,
wherein the surface of the electronic device is configured to attach with the surface of the attachment structure, and wherein the first movable pin is in the second position when the lever arm is adjacent to the attachment structure and the first movable pin moves to the first position when the lever arm is rotated away from the attachment structure.

17. The electronic system of claim 16 wherein the electronic device includes electronic circuitry that includes a microphone, a speaker, a haptic component, a display, and a non-transitory storage medium.

18. The electronic system of claim 16 wherein a first electronic circuit in the electronic device is electrically connected to a second electronic circuit in the attachment structure when the electronic device is attached to the attachment structure.

19. The electronic system of claim 18 wherein the attachment of the attachment structure and the electronic device causes a state change in the electronic device.

20. The electronic system of claim 16 wherein the first movable pin and the second movable pin are magnetic.

21. The electronic system of claim 16 wherein the attachment structure and the electronic device are electrically connected when the attachment structure and the electronic device are attached.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Rohrbach Matthew D

Classifications

• A44D2203/00

  Fastening by use of magnets · CPC title

• A44C5/105

  with links made of one piece and linked together by one connecting element · CPC title

• A45F5/00

  Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping · CPC title

• A44C5/08 Primary

  having separate links · CPC title

• G04B37/1486

  Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet (building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446) · CPC title