Cover for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9954571-B2
Application number	US-201615142639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Aug 8, 2012
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

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. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing with a full front opening and a back opposite the full front opening;
a display carried by the housing arranged to present visual content;
an outer protective layer overlaying the display that is disposed within the front opening and carried by the housing; and
a sensor carried by the housing and coupled to a processor, the sensor configured to detect energy that is emitted by an element and that passes through the back of the housing,
wherein in response to detecting the energy from the element that passes through the back of the housing, the sensor provides a signal including detection information indicating a spatial relationship between the sensor and the element that is used by the processor to operate the electronic device in a pre-defined manner based on the spatial relationship between the sensor and the element.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the element is a magnet and the emitted energy is magnetic energy.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the magnet is movable with respect to the electronic device.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnetic energy that passes through back of the housing.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the spatial relationship indicates a position of the movable magnet with respect to the electronic device.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a battery that provides power at least to the display.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined manner of operation comprises operating the electronic device to conserve power.

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

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a media player.

10. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing including a front surface and a rear surface;
a display carried by the housing arranged to present visual content;
a processor; and
a sensor carried by the housing and coupled to the processor, the sensor configured to detect a magnetic field produced by an element external to the housing, the magnetic field emanating from the rear surface of the housing,
wherein the sensor is triggered by the magnetic field produced by the element when the magnetic field exceeds a minimum detection threshold, and
wherein, when the sensor is triggered, the sensor provides a signal including detection information to the processor to alter operation of the electronic device in a pre-defined manner based on the detection information.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic field exceeds the minimum detection threshold when the element is moved toward to the sensor.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the element is carried by an accessory device separate from the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the sensor is triggered when at least a portion of the accessory device is placed into contact with the rear surface of the housing of the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine, from the detection information, a spatial relationship between the electronic device and the element such that the processor alters operation of the electronic device based on the determined spatial relationship.

Assignees

• 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

• G06F1/16

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• H04M1/0206

  Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings · CPC title

• H01F7/02

  Permanent magnets {[PM]} · CPC title