Cover for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326576-B2
Application number	US-201213612208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2012
Priority date	Aug 8, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments where the first segment includes a first plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a first edge of the flap and where a second segment includes a second plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a second edge of the flap opposite the first edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective cover suitable for attaching to and protecting an electronic device having a housing with a back and a full front opening opposite the back, a processor coupled to a display for presenting visual content, an outer protective layer overlaying the display that is disposed within the front opening and carried by the housing, and a sensor coupled to the processor and carried by the housing, the protective cover comprising
a single piece flap having a size and shape in accordance with the outer protective layer and pivotally attachable to the housing and arranged to pivot in a first direction towards the full front opening and pivot in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the back of the housing such that at least a portion of the single piece flap is in contact with the back of the housing, wherein when the sensor detects that at least the portion of the single piece flap is in contact with the back of the housing, a signal from the sensor to the processor causes the processor to operate the electronic device in a predefined manner.

2. The protective cover as recited in claim 1 , wherein the single piece flap comprises a magnetic element.

3. The protective cover as recited in claim 2 , wherein the electronic device uses the magnetic element to detect that at least the portion of the single piece flap is in contact with the back of the housing.

4. The protective cover as recited in claim 3 , wherein the single piece flap comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally attached to the electronic device and opposite the first portion.

5. The protective cover as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first portion comprises the magnetic element.

6. The protective cover as recited in claim 1 , the electronic device further comprising an image capture device.

7. The protective cover as recited in claim 6 , wherein the detection of the magnetic element by the sensor through the back of the housing causes the processor to operate the display as a viewfinder that displays images captured by the image capture device.

8. A method operable by an electronic device having a housing with a back and a full front opening opposite the back, a processor coupled to a display for presenting visual content, an outer protective layer overlaying the display that is disposed within the front opening and carried by the housing, and a sensor coupled to the processor and carried by the housing, the method comprising:
detecting an element that is external to the housing that emits energy that passes through the back of the housing and is detectable by the sensor;
sending a detection signal from the sensor to the processor in accordance with the detecting; and
operating the electronic device by the processor in accordance with the detection signal.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
a single piece flap having a size and shape in accordance with the outer protective layer and pivotally attachable to the housing and arranged to pivot in a first direction towards the full front opening and pivot in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the back of the housing such that at least a portion of the single piece flap is in contact with the back of the housing.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the element is a magnet carried by the single piece flap and the emitted energy is magnetic energy.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the single piece flap comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally attached to the electronic device and opposite the first portion.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 the electronic device further comprising an image capture device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the detection of the magnetic element through the back of the housing causes the processor to operate the display as a viewfinder that displays images captured by the image capture device.

14. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing with a back and a full front opening opposite the back;
a processor coupled to a display for presenting visual content, an outer protective layer overlaying the display that is disposed within the front opening and carried by the housing; and
a magnetic sensor carried by the housing and coupled to the processor and configured to detect a magnet external to the housing through the back of the housing, the external magnet being movable with respect to the electronic device, wherein when the external magnet is detected at the back of the housing by the magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor provides a signal that is used by the processor to operate the electronic device in a pre-defined manner.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:
an attachment mechanism carried by the housing and arranged to releasably attach a single piece flap having a size and shape in accordance with the outer protective layer to the housing and arranged to pivot in a first direction towards the full front opening and pivot in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the back of the housing such that at least a portion of the single piece flap is in contact with the back.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the magnet is carried by the single piece flap at the portion of the single piece flap that is in contact with the back.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 16 , the electronic device is a tablet computer.

Assignees

• Sartee Jared A
• Smith Samuel G
• Balaji Santhana K
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Sartee Jared A
• Smith Samuel G
• Balaji Santhana K

Classifications

• G06F1/1677 Primary

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• A45C11/003

  for storing portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators · CPC title

• H04M1/0266

  for a display module assembly · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H01F41/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties · CPC title