Hotspot device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9398637-B2
Application number	US-201314086381-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2013
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a compact device for providing Wi-Fi connectivity for an electronic device. The compact device is rotatably activated and includes interchangeable batteries and indicia indicating activation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A portable wireless access device for communicating with a portable computing device comprising:
a first housing portion including:
a main logic board;
an antenna electrically connected to the main logic board;
a security information management card electrically connected to the main logic board;
a first contact coupled to the main logic board;

a second housing portion rotatably coupled to the first housing and including:
a power source; and
a second contact coupled to the power source; wherein:
the second housing portion is configured to rotate between a deactivated position and an activated position;
in the activated position, the first and second contacts are aligned and the power source and the main logic board are electrically connected; and
in the deactivated position the first and second contacts are misaligned and the power source is disconnected from the main logic board.

2. The portable wireless access device according to claim 1 wherein the first housing portion includes a first cylindrical portion and the second housing portion includes a second cylindrical portion removably connected to the first housing portion.

3. The portable wireless access device according to claim 1 wherein the first housing portion includes a first side and a second side and the second housing portion includes a first side and a second side coplanar with the first side and the second side of the first portion, the second housing portion removably connected to the first housing portion.

4. The portable wireless access device according to claim 1 wherein the power source includes a battery.

5. The portable wireless access device according to claim 1 wherein the first housing portion includes indicia electrically connected to the main logic board indicating that the power source is connected to the main logic board.

6. The portable wireless access device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second housing portions include visual indicia on the external surface of the first and second housing portions that cooperatively indicate that the power source is connected to the main logic board.

7. The portable wireless access device according to claim 1 further including:
the first contact includes first electromagnetic detents;
the second contact includes second electromagnetic detents engageable with the first electromagnetic detents; and
whereby an electromagnetic connection is made between the power source and the main logic board when the first electromagnetic detents are engaged with the second electromagnetic detents.

8. The portable wireless access device according to claim 7 further including:
the first portion including first insulating detents engageable with the second electromagnetic detents;
the second portion including second insulating detents engageable with the first electromagnetic detents; and
whereby an electromagnetic connection is broken between the power source and the main logic board when the first electromagnetic detents are engaged with the second insulating detents and the first insulating detents are engaged with the second electromagnetic detents.

9. The portable wireless access device according to claim 1 wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion include magnetic sensors for detecting rotation of the first housing portion with respect to the second housing portion.

10. A system for use in a wireless communication network comprising:
a computing device;
a portable hotspot device connectible to the computing device, the portable hotspot device including:
a first housing portion, including:
a main logic board;
an antenna electrically connected to the main logic board;
a security information management card electrically connected to the main logic board; and

a second housing portion rotatably coupled to the first housing portion and including:
a power source; and wherein

the second housing portion is configured to rotate between a deactivated position and an activated position;
when in the deactivated position, a first detent mechanism inhibits rotation between the first housing portion and the second housing portion; and
when in the activated position, a second detent mechanism inhibits rotation between the first housing portion and the second housing portion and the power source is electrically connected to the main logic board.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the first housing portion includes a first cylindrical portion and the second housing portion includes a second cylindrical portion removably connected to the first housing portion.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein the first housing portion includes a first side and a second side and the second housing portion includes a first side and a second side coplanar with the first side and second side of the first housing portion, the second housing portion removably connected to the first housing portion.

13. The system according to claim 10 wherein the second housing portion includes a battery.

14. The system according to claim 10 wherein the first housing portion includes indicia electrically connected to the main logic board indicating that power is provided to the main logic board.

15. The system according to claim 10 wherein the first and second housing portions include visual indicia on the external surface of the first and second housing portions that cooperatively indicate that the power source is connected to the main logic board.

16. The system according to claim 10 wherein:
the second detent mechanism includes a first electromagnetic detent engageable with a second electromagnetic detent; and
an electrical connection is broken between the power source and the main logic board when the first electromagnetic detent is disengaged with the second electromagnetic detent.

17. A method for connecting a computing device and an internet service provider comprising the steps of:
electrically connecting a wireless router to the internet service provider and to a wireless service provider;
electrically connecting a portable wireless hotspot device to the router including the steps of:
rotating a first housing portion of the portable wireless hotspot device with respect to a second housing portion of the portable wireless hotspot device from a deactivated position to an activated position such that electrical contacts on the first housing portion align with electrical contacts on the second housing portion in the activated position, the first housing portion including a main logic board and the second housing portion including a power source;
providing power from the power source to the main logic board in the activated position;
receiving an electromagnetic signal from the wireless service provider at the portable wireless hotspot device;

electrically connecting the computing device to the portable wireless hotspot device; and
whereby the computing device is electrically connected to the internet service provider through the portable wireless hotspot device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of rotating includes engaging first electromagnetic detents on the first housing portion with second electromagnetic detents on the second housing portion in the activated position.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of rotating further includes engaging the first electromagnetic detents on the first housing portion with a second set of insulating detents on the second housing portion and engaging a first set of insulating d

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Montevirgen Anthony S
• Havskjold David G

Classifications

• H04W88/04 Primary

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title

• H04M1/0208

  characterized by the relative motions of the body parts · CPC title

• H04M1/0243

  using the relative angle between housings · CPC title