Connectors to connect electronic devices and other devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9680253-B2
Application number	US-201415035332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

An example electronic device is provided in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The electronic device includes a housing having at least a front section and a rear section that is opposite to the front section, a connector embedded in a center of the rear section, wherein the connector includes a connection portion to electronically connect the electronic device to an external system and an attachment portion to mechanically attach the connector to an external system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing including at least a front section including a display and a rear section that is opposite to the front section; and
a connector embedded in a center of the rear section,
wherein the connector includes a connection portion to electronically connect the electronic device to an external system and an attachment portion to mechanically attach the connector to the external system.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the connector is recessed into the rear section of the electronic device to define a female connector portion of the connector.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the connector is to engage an extended male connector portion positioned on the external system.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the attachment portion of the connector includes at least one magnet to attach the connector to the extended male connector portion of the external system.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the connector is to support the electronic device in at least a first orientation and a second orientation when the electronic device is attached to the external system.

6. A docking station comprising:
a first housing;
a rotating member mounted to the first housing and rotatable with respect to the first housing;
a male connector mounted to the rotating member; and
a fastener embedded in the male connector,
wherein the male connector is to connect to a recessed female connector of an electronic device, and rotation of the rotating member causes corresponding rotation of the electronic device relative to the docking station when the male connector is connected to the recessed female connector of the electronic device.

7. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the male connector is to electronically connect to a connection portion of the recessed female connector, and the fastener is to mechanically attach to an attachment portion of the recessed female connector.

8. The docking station of claim 7 , wherein the fastener includes a magnet to attach to a magnet of the attachment portion of the recessed female connector.

9. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the male connector is protruded from the rotating member of the docking station to engage the recessed female connector.

10. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the rotating member is to rotate the electronic device between a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation when the electronic device is attached to the docking station.

11. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the first housing is circular in shape.

12. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the rotating member is rotatable relative to the first housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the male connector has a width that extends along a first direction when the rotating member is rotated to the first position, and wherein the width of the male connector extends along a different second direction when the rotating member is rotated to the second position.

13. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein the male connector is rotatable with the rotating member as the rotating member is rotated relative to the first housing.

14. The docking station of claim 6 , wherein rotation of the rotating member causes corresponding rotation of the electronic device relative to the docking station while the docking station remains fixed in position when the male connector is connected to the recessed female connector of the electronic device.

15. A system comprising:
an electronic device comprising:
a display section,
a rear section that is opposite to the display section, and
a recessed female connector positioned at a center of the rear section; and

an electronic device accessory to support the electronic device in a plurality of positions, the electronic device accessory comprising:
a base,
a first elongated section connected to the base and to a second section,
a male connector extending from the second section to attach to the female connector of the electronic device when the electronic device is attached to the electronic device accessory, and
a rotational mechanism connecting the first elongated section and the second section, the rotational mechanism adjusting an angle between the first elongated section and the second section to support the electronic device in the plurality of positions.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the female connector includes a connection portion to electronically connect the electronic device to the electronic device accessory, and an attachment portion to mechanically attach the female connector to the male connector of the electronic device accessory.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the attachment portion of the female connector includes at least one magnet to attach the female connector to the male connector.

18. The system claim 15 , wherein the female connector is recessed into the rear section of the electronic device and the male connector is protruded from the second section of the electronic device accessory to engage the female connector.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the rotational mechanism comprises a hinge that pivotally connects the first elongated section and the second section.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp

Inventors

• Mehandjiysky Dimitre
• Laine Aki
• Delpier Michael

Classifications

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

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

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H01R13/6205 Primary

  Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet · CPC title