Switch with magnetic prongs for docking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9966788-B2
Application number	US-201615185335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, one or more tactile control buttons, and one or more magnetic prongs. The magnetic prongs are contained within prong slots in a switch body. The prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the switch body, and the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs when the prongs extend outwards from the switch body. The dock includes one or more metallic holes, where the number of holes matches the number of prongs. The prongs extend from the switch body and fit in the holes when brought near enough to the holes that the holes exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a battery-powered wireless switch having a microcontroller, a wireless transmitter, and one or more magnetic prongs contained within prong slots in a switch body, wherein the prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the switch body, and wherein the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs as the prongs extend outwards from the switch body; and
a switch dock comprising one or more ferromagnetic slots, wherein the number of ferromagnetic slots matches the number of prongs, and wherein the prongs extend from the switch body and fit in the ferromagnetic slots as the prongs are brought near enough to the ferromagnetic slots that the ferromagnetic slots exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring, and
the magnetic prongs and the prong slots comprise mating incident angles of between about 15 degrees and 75 degrees.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prongs are each coupled to the same spring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prong slots comprise a closed end, an open end, and one or more sidewalls extending from the open end to the closed end, and wherein the prongs are each coupled to separate springs.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the springs are coupled to the prongs by a spring coupler, wherein the spring coupler exerts a force on each prong slot sidewall and maintains an orientation of the prong with regard to the prong slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the prong slot comprises a notch along at least one of the one or more sidewalls, and wherein the prong comprises a groove that fits over the notch and maintains an orientation of the prong with regard to the prong slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prongs are coupled to the switch battery, wherein the prong slots are coupled to a power source, and wherein the prongs transfer energy between the switch and the dock and charge the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , the dock further comprising hardware memory, one or more hardware processors, and a transceiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the prongs are coupled to the switch microcontroller, and wherein the prong slots are coupled to one or more of the hardware memory or hardware processors, wherein the switch communicates information with the dock via the prongs and prong slots.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , the switch further comprising two or more device type LED indicator lights and two or more device status LED indicator lights, wherein the device type indicator lights indicate to a user one or more groups of devices selected for control by the switch, and wherein the device status indicator lights indicate to a user a selected-device operation level.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the two or more device type indicator lights are aligned parallel to a top portion of the switch, and wherein the two or more device status indicator lights are aligned parallel to a side portion of the switch.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a battery-powered wireless switch having a microcontroller, a wireless transmitter, and one or more magnetic slots in a back face of the switch; and
a switch dock comprising one or more ferromagnetic prongs contained within prong slots in a dock body, wherein the prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the dock body, wherein the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs as the prongs extend outwards from the dock body, wherein the number of magnetic slots matches the number of prongs, and wherein the ferromagnetic prongs fit in the magnetic slots and mount the switch to the dock, wherein the prongs extend from the dock body and fit in the magnetic slots as the prongs are brought near enough to the magnetic slots that the magnetic slots exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring, and the magnetic prongs and the prong slots comprise mating incident angles of between 15 degrees and 75 degrees.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the prongs are each coupled to the same spring.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the prong slots comprise a closed end, an open end, and one or more sidewalls extending from the open end to the closed end, and wherein the prongs are each coupled to separate springs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the springs are coupled to the prongs by a spring coupler, wherein the spring coupler exerts a force on each prong slot sidewall and maintains an orientation of the prong with regard to the prong slot.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the prong slot comprises a notch along at least one of the one or more sidewalls, and wherein the prong comprises a groove that fits over the notch, and maintains an orientation of the prong with regard to the prong slot.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic slots are coupled to the switch battery, and wherein the dock is coupled to a power source, wherein the prongs and magnetic slots transfer energy between the switch and the dock and charge the battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , the dock further comprising hardware memory, one or more hardware processors, and a transceiver.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the magnetic slots are coupled to the switch microcontroller, wherein the prongs are coupled to one or more of the hardware memory or hardware processors, wherein the switch communicates information with the dock via the prongs and magnetic slots.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , the switch further comprising two or more device type LED indicator lights and two or more device status LED indicator lights, wherein the device type indicator lights indicate to a user one or more groups of devices selected for control by the switch, and wherein the device status indicator lights indicate to a user a selected-device operation level.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the two or more device type indicator lights are aligned parallel to a top portion of the switch, and wherein the two or more device status indicator lights are aligned parallel to a side portion of the switch.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Hall Mark
• Cook Clint
• Hyer Davido
• Fox Joe
• Knight Jedediah

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Hall Mark
• Cook Clint
• Hyer Davido
• Fox Joe
• Knight Jedediah

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/751 Primary

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• G06F1/26

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

• G06F1/1632

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