Sensor detection of magnetic support system for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11672089-B2
Application number	US-202017031364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2020
Priority date	Sep 24, 2020
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

Support systems for electronic devices such as display screens are described and have support connector portions configured to connect to support devices such as adjustable mount supports. The support devices have magnetic elements, and the display devices have magnetic sensors configured to detect the magnetic fields emitted from the support devices. A relationship between the magnetic fields detected and target magnetic field values is determined to provide an output signal or indicator of the propriety of the support device used or the propriety of its connection to the display device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support system for an electronic device, the support system comprising:
a housing structure comprising a support connector portion configured to magnetically couple the housing structure to a support device;
an electronic circuit; and
a magnetic sensor in the housing structure and in electronic communication with the electronic circuit, wherein the magnetic sensor is configured to output a signal to the electronic circuit based on a magnetic field sensed from the support connector portion;
wherein the signal is used to notify a user, via the electronic circuit, that the coupling of the support device and the housing structure is not complete.

2. The support system of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing structure is part of a display screen;
the support connector portion comprises a recess configured to receive the support device;
the magnetic sensor is positioned adjacent the recess; and
the magnetic sensor is configured to detect the magnetic field emitted from the support device while the support device is received by the recess.

3. The support system of claim 1 , wherein the housing structure is part of a display screen.

4. The support system of claim 1 , wherein the signal is variable based on a magnitude of the magnetic field.

5. The support system of claim 1 , wherein the support connector portion comprises a recess to receive the support device.

6. The support system of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic sensor is positioned adjacent the recess.

7. The support system of claim 1 , wherein the signal is emitted when the magnetic sensor senses that the magnetic field is within a range of values through which output of the magnetic sensor is proportional to the magnetic field sensed.

8. The support system of claim 7 , wherein the range of values comprises a lower boundary and an upper boundary, with the lower boundary being non-zero, and with output of the magnetic sensor at the upper boundary being proportional to the magnetic field sensed.

9. The support system of claim 1 , wherein the signal indicates an orientation of the support connector portion relative to the support device.

10. A support system for an electronic device, the support system comprising:
a support mount having a magnetic structure;
a display device housing having a magnetic sensor configured to sense a magnetic field emitted from the magnetic structure, the display device housing being mountable to the support mount;
a computing device in electronic communication with the magnetic sensor and configured to:
detect an output signal by the magnetic sensor; and
output an indicator signal indicating a direction to move the display device housing relative to the support mount.

11. The support system of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is further configured to output a second indicator signal indicating that the sensed magnetic field is within or not within a range of values.

12. The support system of claim 10 , wherein outputting the indicator signal comprises displaying a graphic via a display device in the display device housing.

13. The support system of claim 10 , wherein the indicator signal indicates an offset of the magnetic structure relative to the display device housing.

14. The support system of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic sensor comprises Hall effect sensors and the support mount comprises permanent magnets.

15. A support system for an electronic device, the support system comprising:
a support mount having a magnetic structure;
a display device housing having a magnetic sensor configured to sense a magnetic field emitted from the magnetic structure, the display device housing being mountable to the support mount;
a computing device in electronic communication with the magnetic sensor and configured to:
detect an output signal by the magnetic sensor; and
output an indicator signal indicating whether the sensed magnetic field is within a range of values;

wherein the magnetic sensor comprises Hall effect sensors and the support mount comprises permanent magnets, wherein the Hall effect sensors are spatially arranged in a first pattern in the display device housing, and wherein the permanent magnets are spatially arranged in a second pattern in the support mount such that when the display device is mounted to the support mount the first pattern is superimposed over the second pattern with the Hall effect sensors interposed between the permanent magnets.

16. A display support system, comprising:
a support stand having a connector end, the connector end having a magnetic element configured to output a magnetic field;
a display, including:
a housing having a connector portion configured to receive the connector end of the support stand when the support stand supports the display;
a display screen positioned in the housing; and
a magnetic sensor having an electrical property configured to change in response to a change in position of the connector end of the support stand relative to the connector portion of the display housing.

17. The display support system of claim 16 , wherein the support stand further includes a set of latches configured to hold the connector end to the connector portion.

18. The display support system of claim 16 , further comprising an indicator to output a signal in response to the connector end of the support stand being attached to the connector portion of the housing.

19. The display support system of claim 18 , wherein the indicator is output via the display screen.

20. The display support system of claim 16 , wherein the electrical property is a voltage of the magnetic sensor.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Lee Simon S

Classifications

• F16B5/128 Primary

  a strip with a C-or U-shaped cross section being fastened to a plate such that the fastening means remain invisible, e.g. the fastening being completely enclosed by the strip · CPC title

• F16M11/105

  the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation · CPC title

• H05K5/0234 Primary

  Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor · CPC title

• F16B5/0642

  the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other · CPC title

• F16B5/121

  fastened over the edge(s) of the sheet(s) or plate(s) · CPC title