Computing device with stylus retention

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11630489-B2
Application number	US-202117451444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2021
Priority date	Aug 25, 2021
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

A computing device comprises a base that comprises a base surface configured to support the computing device on a supporting surface, and a front wall adjoining and extending away from the base surface. The computing device also includes a chassis adjoining the base, the chassis comprising a planar user interactive surface comprising one or more user input components. The chassis also comprises an overhanging brim that extends beyond at least the front wall of the base and comprises at least one magnet configured to removably retain a stylus underneath the overhanging brim.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computing device, comprising:
a base comprising:
a base surface configured to support the computing device on a supporting surface; and
a front wall adjoining and extending away from the base surface; and

a chassis adjoining the base, the chassis comprising:
a planar user interactive surface comprising one or more user input components; and
an overhanging brim that extends beyond at least the front wall of the base and comprises at least one magnet configured to removably retain a stylus underneath the overhanging brim.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein a planar ceiling of the overhanging brim forms an L-shaped capture feature with the front wall of the base, and the at least one magnet is configured to removably retain the stylus against the planar ceiling.

3. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the overhanging brim is configured to at least partially shield the stylus from view when the stylus is retained against the planar ceiling and is viewed from above the planar user interactive surface.

4. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the planar ceiling extends perpendicularly from the front wall of the base.

5. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the planar ceiling comprises a plastic outer layer that overlies a metallic enclosure layer, the metallic enclosure layer comprising a cutout portion that houses a printed circuit board assembly.

6. The computing device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one magnet is affixed to the printed circuit board assembly.

7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one magnet is two magnets, the computing device further comprising a wireless charging coil affixed to the printed circuit board assembly between the two magnets.

8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the overhanging brim is an enclosure containing additional components.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein a brim width of the overhanging brim is substantially equal to a stylus width of the stylus.

10. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein a wall height of the front wall of the base is substantially equal to a stylus thickness of the stylus.

11. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a display rotatably coupled to the chassis.

12. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user input components comprise a trackpad and a keyboard.

13. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the trackpad is located between the keyboard and the overhanging brim.

14. A computing device, comprising:
a base comprising:
a base surface configured to support the computing device on a supporting surface; and
a front wall adjoining and extending away from the base surface;

a chassis adjoining the base, the chassis comprising:
a planar user interactive surface comprising a trackpad and a keyboard; and
an overhanging brim comprising a planar ceiling that extends perpendicularly from at least the front wall of the base to form an L-shaped capture feature with the front wall, the overhanging brim comprising two magnets configured to removably retain a stylus against the planar ceiling; and

a display rotatably coupled to the chassis.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the planar ceiling comprises a plastic outer layer that overlies a metallic enclosure layer, the metallic enclosure layer comprising a cutout portion that houses a printed circuit board assembly.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the two magnets are affixed to the printed circuit board assembly.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , further comprising a wireless charging coil affixed to the printed circuit board assembly between the two magnets.

18. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the overhanging brim is an enclosure containing additional components.

19. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein a brim width of the overhanging brim is substantially equal to a stylus width of the stylus.

20. A method of removably attaching a stylus to a computing device, the computing device comprising a base that comprises: a base surface configured to support the computing device on a supporting surface, and a front wall adjoining and extending away from the base surface; the computing device comprising a chassis adjoining the base, the chassis comprising: a planar user interactive surface comprising one or more user input components, and an overhanging brim comprising a planar ceiling that extends beyond at least the front wall of the base, the overhanging brim comprising at least one magnet, the method comprising:
setting the computing device on a planar supporting surface to orient the planar ceiling of the overhanging brim parallel to the supporting surface;
placing the stylus on the supporting surface; and
sliding the stylus underneath the planar ceiling of the overhanging brim to cause the at least one magnet to lift the stylus off the supporting surface and retain the stylus against the planar ceiling.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• THOME Nathan Michael
• Mclaughlin Robyn Rebecca Reed
• Schoeck Kaitlyn Marley
• Singla Aseem
• Gault Joseph Benjamin

Classifications

• G06F1/166 Primary

  related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G06F1/1618 Primary

  the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure · CPC title

• G06F1/1643

  the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615) · CPC title

• G06F2200/1632

  Pen holder integrated in the computer · CPC title