Magnetically coupled waterproof hinge with integrated multi-stage button and state detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9529201-B1
Application number	US-201615018356-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 6, 2014
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

An example of a waterproof hinge and button configuration for a head mounted device is provided. A magnet may be attached to the button, and a sensor may be positioned adjacent to the button to detect movement of the button. For example, the sensor may detect when the button is fully pressed, partially pressed, or not pressed at all by the level of magnetic flux density detected by the sensor. In addition, the sensor may detect an opened or closed position of the hinge based on the magnetic field polarity of the magnet. Due to the implementation of the sensor, the electrical components of the button are able to be removed so as to make the button-hinge configuration waterproof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a side arm having a first end coupled to a first end of a central support;
a hinge positioned between the first end of the side arm and the first end of the central support, the hinge adapted to act as a pivot point in moving the side arm with respect to the central support;
a button positioned on the hinge;
a magnet positioned within the hinge in relation to the button; and
a sensor adjacent the button, wherein the sensor is configured to detect at least one of magnetic field polarity and magnetic flux density from the magnet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an outer housing of the side arm is comprised of non-porous material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein electrical circuitry of the button is disposed within the side arm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is located on an exterior of the side arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned in a first orientation with respect to the magnet when the hinge is in an open position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned in a second orientation with respect to the magnet when the hinge is in a closed position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the button is at least partially encapsulated in a button housing, and the button housing is configured to protect internal components of the button from damage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the button is moving among a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions at least including being fully pressed, half-pressed, and not pressed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the magnet is configured to move with the movement of the button.

10. A method comprising:
measuring, using a sensor coupled to at least one processor, at least one of magnetic field polarity and magnetic flux density of a magnet coupled to a button;
generating, using the at least one processor, a value based on the measurement, wherein the value indicates the position of the sensor with respect to the magnet;
determining whether the value satisfies one of a plurality of threshold levels, each threshold level being associated with a different function; and
performing the function associated with the highest satisfied threshold level.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining, based on the value, a position of the button.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the position corresponds to a level of depression of the button.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the function includes at least one of capturing an image using a camera, previewing an image using the camera, and initializing operation of the camera.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the function includes at least one of waking-up an electronic device or placing the electronic device in a sleep-mode.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising powering off the sensor for periods of time.

16. A system comprising:
a sensor;
one or more processors in communication with the sensor;
memory coupled to the one or more processors;
wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
receive from the sensor a measurement of at least one of magnetic field polarity and magnetic flux density of a magnet coupled to a button, the magnet moving in tandem with the button;
generate a value based on the measurement, wherein the value indicates the position of the sensor with respect to the magnet;
determine whether the value satisfies one of a plurality of threshold levels, each threshold level being associated with a different function; and
perform the function associated with the highest satisfied threshold level.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine, based on the value, a position of the button.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the position corresponds to a level of depression of the button.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the function includes at least one of capturing an image using a camera, previewing an image using the camera, and initializing operation of the camera.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the function includes at least one of waking-up an electronic device or placing the electronic device in a sleep-mode.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Blum Jeremy Evan
• Cazalet Peter Michael

Classifications

• H04N23/651

  for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera · CPC title

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title

• H04N5/232

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G01B7/14

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B7/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H9/04

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings · CPC title