Patent Publication Number: US-2017371372-A1

Title: User Input Peripheral

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/353,978, filed Jun. 23, 2016 and titled “User Input Peripheral” and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/361,356, filed Jul. 12, 2016 and titled “User Input Peripheral”, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     One existing type of peripheral for use with a mobile phone is a docking station which acts as a speaker phone when the phone is docked in the docking station. This may operate in conjunction with the native dialler of the phone (e.g. a cellular dialler) or a separate application such as a VoIP application. Either way, when the phone is docked the audio to be transmitted from the near-end user to the far end-user(s) is captured by a microphone in the docking station instead of the phone&#39;s internal microphone, and transferred from that microphone though the docking connection to the phone, then on to the far-end user terminal(s). And/or, the audio received from the far-end user terminal(s) is not played out through the phone&#39;s internal speaker, but rather is transferred from the phone to the docking station via the docking connection and played out through a speaker in the docking station. The docking station usually also supplies power to the phone during the call and charges its battery. The user can answer and control the call in the normal way by navigating through the graphical user interface presented on the display screen of the phone (nowadays typically a touchscreen). 
     SUMMARY 
     It is identified herein that existing peripherals such as user terminal docking stations may not provide a suitably stable base for a user terminal (e.g. mobile phone, tablet) docked thereon. This can make it difficult for a user to operate the user terminal while it is in its docked state, since contact with the user terminal (for example contact on a touchscreen thereof), may cause the user terminal and docking station to move or topple over. Docking stations which do provide a stable base tend to be heavy, bulky items that cannot be easily transported. 
     It would be desirable to provide a peripheral device which can provide a stable base for a user terminal docked thereon, and which peripheral device is relatively compact for easy transport. 
     According to one aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a peripheral device for use with a user terminal, the peripheral device comprising: a first section; a second section; the first and second sections being arranged relative to each other in a clamshell manner, and the first and second sections being movable relative to each other between a first, closed configuration of the peripheral device, and a second, open configuration of the peripheral device; the peripheral device comprising a flexible tether portion connecting the first section to the second section; the flexible tether portion being biased so as to maintain a tension in the tether. 
     Thus there is provided a peripheral device which can open and close in a clamshell manner between fully closed and fully open states. In its fully closed state the peripheral device is compact and can be easily transported, for example in a rucksack, handbag, user&#39;s hand etc. Once opened out in to its fully open state the peripheral device provides a stable base for a user terminal (e.g. phone, tablet) that is docked thereon. The biased tether helps to hold the two sections of the clamshell together, whether that is in the closed state or the open state of the peripheral device. Therefore, the retractable connector mechanism, in the form of the biased flexible tether, ensures that both sections of the device can assume a closed stack configuration, as well as an open flat configuration. Where the first and second sections have generally circular or circular outer peripheries then both sections can touch each other in a tangential manner when the device is in an open configuration. In some embodiments the mechanism is facilitated by magnets on the first and second sections (and optionally cavities and/or undercuts on the two sections) to ensure that the retractable tether mechanism can interlock both sections of the peripheral device in the fully open and fully closed configurations listed above. 
     In some embodiments, the flexible tether is biased by a biasing arrangement located in one or both of the first section and the second section. 
     In some embodiments, the biasing arrangement comprises a clamping arrangement which clamps the tether. 
     In some embodiments, the clamping arrangement comprises first and second plates which clamp the tether therebetween. 
     In some embodiments, the clamping arrangement is configured to translate back and forth in response to the peripheral device being moved between its first and second configurations. 
     In some embodiments, the clamping arrangement has a first position when the peripheral device is in its first, closed configuration, and the clamping arrangement has a second position when the peripheral device is in its second, open configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the clamping arrangement is configured to move with a biasing force of the biasing arrangement when the clamping arrangement is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     In some embodiments, the clamping arrangement is configured to move against a biasing force of the biasing arrangement when the clamping arrangement is moved from the second position to the first position. 
     In some embodiments, the biasing arrangement is comprised in the first section, and the biasing arrangement is configured to allow the flexible tether to be drawn in a direction in to the first section when the peripheral device is moved from its closed configuration to its open configuration, and wherein the biasing arrangement is configured to allow the flexible tether to be drawn in a direction out of the first section when the peripheral device is moved from its open configuration to its closed configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the biasing arrangement comprises a helical spring. 
     In some embodiments, the tether comprises a flat electrical cable, configured for electrically connecting the first and second sections. 
     In some embodiments, when the peripheral device is in its open configuration the tether assumes a generally straight profile, and when the peripheral device is in its closed configuration at least a portion of the tether assumes a generally U-shaped profile. 
     In some embodiments, the first and second sections each have a generally circular outer periphery. 
     In some embodiments, one of the first and second sections has a crescent shaped indentation therein, the crescent shaped indentation configured to receive the generally circular outer periphery of the other of the first and second sections when the peripheral device is in its open configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the peripheral device comprises at least one magnet arrangement arranged to assist in holding the peripheral device in its closed configuration, and at least one further magnet arrangement arranged to assist in holding the peripheral device in its open configuration. 
     In some embodiments, an interface projects from one or other of the first and second sections for communicatively connecting to a user terminal. 
     In some embodiments, the peripheral device comprises a cavity located in the other of the first and second sections, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the interface when the peripheral device is in its closed configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the interface projects at an angle from a surface of the first or second section, the cavity extending in to the other of the first or second surface at the same angle. 
     In some embodiments, the interface is connected to the flexible tether for electrical communication therewith. 
     In some embodiments, the peripheral device comprises control logic for interfacing with the user terminal via said interface, in order to control a communication client application running on the user terminal, and to thereby control a voice or video call that is conducted over a packet-based network from the user terminal using the communication client application. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Nor is the claimed subject matter limited to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages noted herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To assist understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments may be put in effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a communication system, 
         FIG. 2  shows an example design of a docking station, 
         FIG. 3  shows a user terminal docked with a docking station, 
         FIG. 4  shows a docking station in a partially open configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a docking station; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a docking station in a fully closed configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a side, partially sectioned view of a docking station; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric, partially sectioned view of a docking station; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan, partially sectioned view of a docking station; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view showing some components of a docking station; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric, partially sectioned view of a docking station; 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a docking station. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example communication system in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. The system comprises a user terminal  102  such as a mobile phone, tablet, laptop computer or desktop computer; and a peripheral device  108  configured to connect to the user terminal  102 . As will be discussed in more detail later, the peripheral  108  may be a docking station. The peripheral device  108  may also be referred to as a hardware accessory in that, while it may in embodiments run embedded firmware, it is a relatively simple device with a dedicated purpose and only a single or a small number of user input controls (e.g. no more than the buttons) and preferably no screen (though in embodiments it is not excluded that the peripheral  108  could have a small screen for some simple or dedicated purpose). 
     The user terminal  102  comprises an operating system  110 , a communication client application  112 , and one or more other applications  114  (e.g. in embodiments over one hundred applications, or “apps”, and even up to hundred to three hundred applications or more). The operating system  110 , communication client  112  and other application(s)  114  are stored on a storage means of the user terminal  102  and arranged to be run (either executed or interpreted) on a processor of the user terminal  102 , and to thereby perform the various operations attributed to them herein. The storage on which the operating system  110 , communication client application  112  and other application(s)  114  are stored may comprise any one or more storage media implemented in one or more memory units. E.g. the storage means may comprise an electronic storage medium such as an EEPROM (or “flash” memory) and/or a magnetic storage medium such as a hard disk. Note also that the term “processor” as used herein does not exclude that the processor may comprise multiple processing units. The communication client application  112  and other application(s)  114  are each separate applications from one another, individual applications at least in that they are scheduled independently by the operating system  110 , and/or can be launched, run and closed independently of one another. 
     The user terminal  102  also comprises one or more input devices for outputting information to the user  103  and one or more output devices for receiving information from the user  103  (which may be referred to collectively as i/o devices). These include one or more media output devices for outputting audio and visual information from the applications  112 ,  114  to the user  103 , i.e. at least one speaker  126  and a screen  122 , respectively. The i/o devices also include one or more media input devices for receiving audio and optionally video information from the user  103 , i.e. as a microphone  128  and optionally a camera  125 . Furthermore, the i/o devices comprise one or more user input devices enabling the applications  112 ,  114  to receive user selections from the user  103 , such as a mouse or trackpad  123 , a set of keys  124  (e.g. a keyboard or keypad), and/or a touchscreen  122  (the screen  122  may or may not be a touchscreen capable of both outputting visual information and receiving inputs form the user  103 ). The operating system  110  running on the user terminal  102  is an end-user operating system, i.e. designed for user terminals to provide an interface to the end user  103 , to present information from applications  112 ,  114  to a user  103  through a graphical user interface presented on a screen  122 , and to receive back inputs to the applications  112 ,  114  from the user  103  through one or more user input devices  122 ,  123 ,  124 ,  125 ,  128 . As such the user operating system  110  comprises a presentation layer  116 . The presentation layer  116  is the layer disposed between the application layer  112 ,  114  and lower layers (not shown), which formats data from the lower layers to be presented to the application layer  112 ,  114 , and formats data from the application layer  112 ,  114  to be presented to the lower layers. This includes responsibility for painting graphical user interface on the screen, and receiving inputs from the user selections from the user input devices  122 ,  124  in relation to the graphical user interface. 
     Note that each of the i/o devices  122 ,  123 ,  124 ,  125 ,  126 ,  128  may be internal or external to the main housing in which the processor running the applications  112 ,  114  is housed, e.g. as follows. In embodiments the screen  122  may be an integral screen of a smartphone, tablet or laptop or an external screen of a desktop computer. The set of keys  124  may be an integral key set of a smartphone or tablet, an integral keyboard of a laptop or an external keyboard of a desktop computer. The (at least one) speaker  126  may be an internal or external speaker of a smartphone, tablet or laptop, or an external speaker of a desktop computer. The microphone  128  may be an internal or external microphone or a smartphone, tablet or laptop, or an external microphone of a desktop computer. And/or, the camera  125  may be an internal camera of a smartphone, tablet or laptop, or an external camera connected to a laptop or desktop computer. If used, a mouse  123  is an external device, but this could instead be an integral trackpad or tracker ball of, say, a laptop computer. 
     The user terminal  102  further comprises a network interface  120  and a peripheral interface  118 . 
     The network interface  120  enables the user terminal  102  to connect to a packet-based network  101  comprising one or more constituent networks. E.g. in embodiments the network  101  may comprises a wide area internetwork such as that commonly referred to as the Internet. Alternatively or additionally, the network  101  may comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wired or wireless private intranet (such as within a company or an academic or state institution), and/or the data channel of a mobile cellular network. To connect to such a network, the network interface  120  may comprise any of a variety of possible wired or wireless means as will be familiar to a person skilled in the art. For example, if the network  101  comprises the Internet, the network interface  120  may comprise a wired modem configured to connect to the Internet via a wired connection such as a PSTN phone socket or cable or fibre line, or via an Ethernet connection and a local wired network. Or alternatively the network interface  120  may comprise a wireless interface for connecting to the Internet via a wireless access point or wireless router and a local (short-range) wireless access technology such as Wi-Fi), or a mobile cellular interface for connecting to the Internet via a mobile cellular network. 
     The connection to the network  101  via the network interface  120  allows applications  112 ,  114  running on the user terminal  102  to conduct communications over the network. This includes enabling the communication client application  112  to conduct a voice or video call with another instance of the client application running on a remote user terminal  106 , being used by a remote user  107 . As a matter of terminology the user terminal  102  from the perspective of which a given communication scenario is being described may be referred to as the near-end terminal, whilst the other, remote user terminal  106  with which the near-end terminal  102  is communicating may be referred to as the far-end terminal (and similarly for the near-end user  103  and far-end user  107  respectively). Not also that the call could in fact be a conference call conducted with multiple remote user terminals and their respective users. By way of illustration the following will be described in terms of a given remote-user terminal  106 , but it will be appreciated that the same teachings can be readily extended to multiple remote user terminals in a similar manner. 
     The communication client  112  on the near-end user terminal  102  is configured so as, when run on the near-end user terminal  102 , to receive audio data from the microphone  128  and optionally also video data from the camera  125  and to send this data over the network  101 , via the network interface  120 , to be played out at the far-end terminal as part of a call conducted between the near-end user  103  and far-end user  107 . Further, the communication client  112  is configured so as when run on the user terminal  102  to receive via the network interface audio and optionally video data from the client on the far-end terminal  106  to be played out through the speaker  126  and screen  122 , respectively, on the near-end terminal  102 . 
     In embodiments the communication client  112  is a VoIP client configured to conduct the call in the form of a VoIP call (which may also comprise a video element). The VoIP client may optionally also provide additional functionality such as instant messaging (IM). In some embodiments the audio and/or video content of the call may be routed via a server  104  of a provider of a communication service used to conduct the call (where a server as referred to herein may comprise one or more physical server units at one or more geographical sites). Alternatively, some or all of the audio and/or video content of the call may be sent directly over the network  101  between the near-end and far-end user terminals  102 ,  106 , i.e. without being relayed by the server  104 . In the latter case the server  104  may nonetheless provide some supporting functions such as: to provide address look up (or this could be done in a P2P fashion); to issue digital authentication certificates by which users  103   107  may prove their identities to one another; to store respective contact lists of the users  103   107 , being a list of other users the respective user has agreed to accept as contacts for communicating with within the communication service; to store profile information of each user which is viewable by other users within the communication service; and/or to maintain presence information indicating to other users whether the respective user&#39;s availability to be communicated with within the communication service. 
     In embodiments, the communication client application (e.g. VoIP application)  112  may be an application other than the native dialler of the operating system  110 , i.e. the default dialler user for telephone calls, which is either one of the other applications  114  or an integrated function of the operating system  110  itself 
     An example implementation of the peripheral device  108  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the user terminal  102  comprises a peripheral interface  118 , and the peripheral device  108  comprises a user terminal interface  134  for connecting the peripheral  108  to the peripheral interface  118  of the user terminal, thus enabling the peripheral device  108  to control the communication client application  112  running on the user terminal  102 . This connection could be any suitable wired or wireless means. For instance, the peripheral interface  118  may comprise a physical port comprising a mechanical connector for forming a wired connection with the user terminal interface  134  on the peripheral device  108  (the user terminal interface  134  on the peripheral  108  comprising the complimentary mechanical connector). E.g. the peripheral interface  118  may comprise a USB port, mini USB port micro USB port, and the user terminal interface  134  may comprise the corresponding USB plug. As another example, the connection may be by any of a variety of wireless means. For instance, the peripheral interface  118  and corresponding user terminal interface  134  may comprise a pair of wireless interfaces arranged to connect together via a local RF technology such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee or Thread. Note also that in the case where both the peripheral interface  118  and network interface  120  comprise a wireless interface, these may or may not comprise the same physical interface. For example, these may comprise the same physical wireless interface using the same wireless access technology (e.g. Wi-Fi) and simply comprise different logic (e.g. software) for interfacing with the peripheral  108  and network  101  respectively. Alternatively, the peripheral interface  118  and network interface  120  may comprise different physical interfaces arranged to use different wireless access technologies, e.g. the peripheral interface  118  may be a Bluetooth interface whilst the network interface  120  may be a Wi-Fi interface. 
     The peripheral device  108  comprises control logic in the form of an embedded companion application running on an embedded operating system  130  on the peripheral, to act as a companion to the communication client application  112 . The embedded operating system  130  and companion application  132  are stored on a storage means of the peripheral device  108  and arranged to be run (either executed or interpreted) on a processor of the user peripheral device  108 , and to thereby perform the various operations attributed to them herein. The storage on which the embedded operating system  130  and companion application  138  are stored may comprise any one or more storage media implemented in one or more memory units. E.g. the storage means may comprise an electronic storage medium such as an EEPROM (or “flash” memory) and/or a magnetic storage medium such as a hard disk. Also, note again that the term “processor” as used herein does not exclude that the processor may comprise multiple processing units. 
     As an alternative (or in addition) to the embedded companion application  132 , the control logic may be implemented (or partially so) in the form of dedicated hardware circuitry, or configurable or reconfigurable hardware circuitry such as a PGA (programmable gate array) or FPGA (field programmable gate array). 
     Either way, whether implemented in software, hardware circuitry or a combination of the two, the peripheral  108  may be described as a “hardware accessory” in that it is a simple, low-level peripheral device that cannot be used as a standalone user terminal without being connected as a peripheral to a user terminal  102 . For example, in embodiments the operating system on the peripheral  108  does not comprise a user operating system designed to provide a graphical user interface to the user  103 , but instead comprises an embedded operating system that does not comprise a presentation layer. Furthermore, preferably the peripheral device  108  does not comprise any display screen. 
     Preferably the peripheral device comprises very few buttons, e.g. no more than three buttons. In embodiments the sensor  136  is the only user-operable sensor or button on the whole peripheral  108 , or in embodiments that use motion or audio actuation, then the peripheral  108  could even comprise no buttons. 
     In some embodiments the peripheral  108  may additionally be configured to provide the function of a speaker phone, comprising at least one integrated speaker  138  and/or at least one integrated microphone  140 . Thus the peripheral may be configured such that, when connected to the user terminal  102 , then one or both of: (a) the received audio of the call from the far-end user  107  can be played out through the speaker  138  of the peripheral  108  instead of the speaker  126  of the user terminal  102 , and/or the audio of the call captured from the near-end user  103  to be transmitted to be played out to the far-end user  107  is captured through the microphone  140  on the peripheral  108  instead of the microphone  128  of the user terminal  102 . 
     As will now be exemplified with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 3 , the peripheral device  108  will be explained in more detail. Note that the particular aesthetic design of the user terminal  102  and its GUI shown in  FIG. 3  is purely an example for illustrative purposes and does not form part of any subject matter to be claimed herein. 
     In embodiments the user terminal may take the form of a mobile user terminal such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop, and the peripheral device  108  may take the form of a docking station into which the mobile terminal  102  can be docked in order to form said connection between the peripheral interface  118  of the mobile terminal  102  and the user terminal interface  134  of the peripheral  108 . The docking station may also be configured to charge a battery of the mobile terminal  102  when so docked. 
     An example of this is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 3 . In this example the docking station  108  is also arranged to act as a speaker phone (see above) when the mobile terminal  102  is docked with the docking station  108 .  FIGS. 2 to 3  show different views of the same example design. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the docking station  108  may comprise a base segment  142  and a cover or top segment  144 , movably connected as explained in more detail below so that the cover segment  144  can be opened to reveal the port  134  for connecting to the mobile terminal  108  (e.g. this may comprise a mechanical port such as a USB port, mini USB port or micro USB port). The base segment  142  may be considered a first section, and the cover segment  144  may be considered a second section, and vice versa. Thus when the cover  144  is opened, the mobile terminal  102  can be docked with the docking station in order to provide the various functionality described herein. 
     In embodiments the speaker (or speakers)  138  may be incorporated in the cover segment  144  while the microphone (or microphones)  140  may be incorporated in the base segment  142 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of the peripheral device  108 . From this view it can be appreciated that the first or base portion  142  is approximately the same size as the second or top portion  144  (“top” and “base” referencing their orientation in the given FIGs, when the peripheral device is in its closed configuration). Of course, when in its closed configuration the peripheral device can also be held or stood the other way around, such that the “first” portion or section  142  becomes the “top”, and the “second” portion or section  144  becomes the “base”. Therefore, in some embodiments the first and second sections may be considered to each comprise a half of the device i.e. a first and second half respectively. The first and second sections  142  and  144  are connected to each other with a flexible tether  146 . The term “tether” can be used interchangeably with terms such as “connector”, “cable” etc. The flexible tether  146  will be explained in more detail further below. 
     The first and second sections  142  and  144  are arranged in a clamshell fashion or manner. That is the first and second sections are movable (e.g. pivotable or rotatable) relative to each other between a first, closed configuration of the peripheral device, and a second, open configuration of the peripheral device.  FIG. 4  shows the peripheral device in an intermediate configuration, between the fully closed and fully open positions. The flexible tether may therefore be considered to act as a hinge to control movement of the first and second sections towards and away from each other, between the fully closed and fully open configurations. 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the peripheral device  108  when in its fully open configuration. The first section  142  is positioned adjacent to the second section  144 . It can be appreciated from this FIG that the first and second sections have generally circular outer profiles. Of course in other embodiments outer profiles of other shapes may be provided (e.g. square, rectangular etc.). The outer profile of the peripheral device  108  may also vary across its surface. For example, the outer profile may be coned. In this embodiment the first section  142  comprises a crescent shaped indentation  148  which receives the outer periphery of the generally circular outer periphery of the second section  144 . This enables the first and second sections to lie flat next to each other in a space efficient manner, when the device is open. Of course in other embodiments the indentation  148  may be formed in the second section  144 , to receive the generally circular outer periphery of the first section  142 . 
     In other embodiments there is no such crescent shaped indentation on either the first section or the second section, both sections having generally circular outer profiles. In such embodiments both the first and second sections tangentially abut each other when the peripheral device is in its open configuration. 
     In some embodiments one or more magnets or magnetic materials may be provided in the peripheral device  108 . For example, a rim  150  (or a portion thereof) of the first section  142 , and a rim (or a portion thereof) of the rim  152  of the second section  144  may comprise one or more magnets. The magnet(s) on rim  150  are configured to attract the magnet(s) on rim  152 . This helps to ensure that the first and second sections sit correctly relative to each other in a desired fashion when the peripheral device  108  is in a closed configuration, for example so that the rim  150  of the first section is contiguous with the rim  152  of the second section. This also helps ensure that the peripheral device  108  remains closed when necessary, for example during transport. 
     One or more magnets may additionally be provided on a side (or a portion of the side) of the first and second sections  142  and  144 . For example, a magnet may be positioned on side  154  of first section  142 , and a corresponding magnet may be provided on a side  156  of second section  144 . These magnets are configured to attract each other, such that when in the open configuration of the peripheral device  108  the two sections of the peripheral device are attracted to each other. These magnets may also, in conjunction with the flexible tether  146 , act to guide the first and second sections to a correct configuration when open (e.g. a configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 ) where the first section  142  abuts the second section  144 , so that the tether  146  is fully enclosed within the first and sections when the peripheral device is open. 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view showing the peripheral  108  in its closed configuration. As shown in this FIG the first section  142  comprises an aperture  158  for receiving the tether  146  in the first section  142 . The second section  144  comprises an aperture  160  for receiving the tether  146  in the second section  144 . The apertures  158  and  160  are each shaped to conform to an outer profile of the tether  146 . The aperture  158  is located approximately mid-way down a side surface of first section  142 . The aperture  160  is located approximately mid-way down a side surface of second section  144 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the peripheral device  108  in its open state. Note that in this embodiment the two sections  142  and  144  both have generally circular outer peripheries around their entire perimeters. Also of note are interface  134  which projects from first section  142  at an angle, and corresponding aperture  135  and cavity  137  for receiving the interface  134  in the second section  144  when the peripheral device is closed. This is discussed in more detail with respect to  FIG. 11 . 
     In some embodiments the tether  146  comprises an electrical cable. As shown in the FIGs the cable  146  is in the form of a flat or ribbon type of electrical cable. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  the first section  142  does not comprise an indentation for receiving the circular periphery of the second section  144 , in contrast with the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . Therefore, the flexible tether  146 , acting as an electrical cable, can electrically connect the first section  142  to the second section  144 . In embodiments the user terminal interface  134  is electrically connected to the flexible tether  146 , so that electrical signals can be passed from the user terminal to the peripheral device  108  via the interface  134  and flexible tether  146 . In some embodiments the interface  134  and/or flexible tether  146  comprises a lightning cable. 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of the peripheral device  108  in cross section, when in a closed configuration. This FIG shows the first and second apertures  158  and  160 . The aperture  158  provides an opening for the tether  146  into an interior  162  of the first section  142 . The aperture  160  provides an opening for the flexible together  146  into an interior  164  of the second section  144 . 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the peripheral device  108  in its open configuration. In  FIG. 8  certain parts are shown in phantom so that a biasing and clamping arrangement for clamping and biasing the flexible tether  146  can be seen. 
     The flexible tether  146  comprises a first end  166  which is connected to the first section  142  in the interior  162  of the first section  142 . The tether  146  also comprises a second end  168  which is connected to the second section  144  in the interior  164  of the second section  144 . The peripheral device  108  comprises a biasing and clamping arrangement shown generally at  170 . In this example the biasing and clamping arrangement  170  is located in the first section  142 . It will of course be understood that the biasing and clamping arrangement could alternatively be located in the second section  144 . In a further embodiment both sections  142  and  144  may comprise a biasing and clamping arrangement of the type shown. 
     The arrangement  170  comprises a clamping arrangement  172  which clamps the tether  146 . In the embodiment shown the clamping arrangement comprises a first clamping part or first plate  174  and a second clamping part or second plate  176 , between which the tether  146  is clamped. The first and second plates may be connected by any means, for example by screws or adhesive. The clamping arrangement  172  further comprises an anchor  178 . A further anchor  180  is provided in the interior  162  of the peripheral device  108 . 
     A biasing means  182  is fixed to anchor  178  at a first end of the biasing means, and to anchor  180  at a second end of the biasing means  182 . In this embodiment the biasing means comprises a helical spring. In this embodiment the helical spring  182  is attached to anchor points  178  and  180  by a hook at each end of the helical spring. Of course any other connection means may be used in other examples. Therefore, the flexible tether  146  may be considered to be spring-loaded, for example via the clamping arrangement  172 . 
     The second end  168  of the tether  146  is clamped to the second section  144  between a first plate  184  and a second plate (second plate not shown in  FIG. 8  for clarity). In the embodiment of  FIG. 8  the second section  144  does not comprise a biasing arrangement for biasing the tether in the second section  144 . 
     The first section  142  comprises a channel portion  188  in which the clamping arrangement  172  can translate, or slide, back and forth as shown by bi-directional of arrow X (see  FIG. 9 ). That is when viewing  FIG. 9  the clamping arrangement can slide from left to right and from right to left. 
     The biasing means or mechanism acts to maintain a tension force within the flexible tether  146  at all times. For example, the biasing mechanism causes there to be tension within the flexible together  146  whether the peripheral device is in its fully closed configuration, its fully open configuration, or any position in between. The components of the peripheral device (e.g. length of tether; position of clamping arrangements within the first and second sections; positioning of, strength and length of spring  182  etc.) are selected so as to provide this function. 
     Viewing  FIG. 9 , when the peripheral device is at rest in its open configuration the tether is being pulled in the direction of Arrow A by the spring  182 . This creates a tension force in the tether  146  which, due to the clamping of the tether  146  within second section  144 , also causes the second section  144  to be drawn towards the first section  142 . This acts to create a connection between the first and second sections such that a deliberate force is required to pull them apart, thus leading to a peripheral device which provides a stable base for a user terminal mounted thereon. To this end the tether  146  may be considered a retractable connector. More specifically the tether  146  may be considered a spring loaded retractable connector. By way of example only and for the purposes of comparison, if the flexible tether were to be considerably longer than strictly necessary and there was no biasing arrangement then the two sections would not be drawn towards each other and would be able to move freely relative to each other, which would not provide as stable a base for a user terminal mounted thereon. 
     When the peripheral device  108  is moved between its fully open configuration towards its fully closed configuration by an external force (e.g. a user closing the device with their hands) the tether  146  is caused to move in a direction out of the first section  142 . That is the flexible tether  146  is pulled in the direction of Arrow B when viewing  FIG. 9 . The spring  182  tries to counteract this force by providing a tension force acting in the opposite direction (i.e. acting in direction A when viewing  FIG. 9 ). The spring  182  is chosen to have a spring force (or spring rate) such that its force can be relatively easily overcome by a user closing the peripheral device, but which spring force is sufficiently high such that it can maintain tension in the tether  146 . Therefore, when the peripheral device is in its closed configuration (see for example  FIG. 6 ) the tether  146  remains in tension. Not only does this help to hold the first and second sections  142  and  144  in their closed configuration, it also keeps the tether  146  tight against the side of the peripheral device  108  giving a neat and compact overall profile and reduces the chance of snagging. For example, the tether  146  is more compact than a traditional, hard clamshell hinge. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded isometric view of some components of the peripheral device  108 , viewed from the opposite side from  FIG. 8 . That is  FIG. 8  may be considered to be looking at the peripheral device from the top when in its open configuration, whereas  FIG. 10  may be considered to be looking at the peripheral device from its underside when in its open configuration. Therefore, more clearly shown in  FIG. 10  are caps or covers  190  and  192 . Cover  190  is configured to be attached to first section  142 . Cover  192  is configured to be attached to second section  144 . When the device is in its open configuration the covers  190  and  192  form a base surface of the device. The covers  190  and  192  may be made from any material. In some embodiments the covers  190  and  192  are formed from plastic. In some embodiments one or more of the caps may also be coated in another material, such as a fabric. 
     In some embodiments the flexible tether may define a generally straight or horizontal profile when the peripheral device is in its open configuration (see for example  FIGS. 8 to 10 ). The flexible tether, or at least a portion thereof, may define a generally U-shaped profile when the peripheral device is in its closed configuration (see for example  FIG. 6 ). 
     It will of course be understood that the tethering and biasing mechanisms described herein are by way of example only and that modifications may be made in other embodiments. For example, the biasing mechanism need not include a helical spring. In some embodiments the spring may be another type of spring, such as a leaf spring. In some embodiments the biasing may be provided by a resilient material, such as rubber or foam. In some embodiments the biasing may be provided by the flexible tether itself. For example, the flexible tether may comprise an elastic material. 
     It can be appreciated from  FIG. 10 , and also for example from  FIGS. 2, 8, 11 and 12 , that when the device is in its fully open configuration the first and second sections  142  and  144  provide a generally flat bottom surface for mounting on a generally flat surface such as a table. In some embodiments, when in its open, flat configuration the two sections  142  and  144  of the peripheral device touch each other in a tangential manner. 
       FIG. 11  shows an embodiment which is a slight alternative to that of  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment the tether arrangement is such that when the device is in its fully open configuration (such as shown in  FIG. 11 ) the tether is not completely straight or horizontal i.e. there is a step or ramped portion  147  between the first and second ends of the tether. Also visible in  FIG. 11  is speaker unit  138 . Speaker unit  138  comprises a first speaker  138 ′ and a second speaker  138 ″. These speakers may be powered by virtue of electrical connection to flexible electrical tether  146 . 
     Also visible in  FIG. 11  is projection  134  for connecting the peripheral device to a user terminal, as explained above with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In some embodiments the projection  134  projects from the first section  142  at an angle α (see  FIG. 4 ). In embodiments α is less than 90 degrees so that the user terminal is tilted when docked thereon. Preferably α is between about 45 degrees and about 85 degrees. This provides an optimum viewing angle for a user. 
     An aperture  135  is comprised in the second section  144 . The aperture  135  is configured to correspond with projection  134 , so that when the device is in its closed configuration the projection  134  is contained within and is substantially enclosed by cavity  137  extending into the second section  144  from aperture  135 . The cavity  137  is disposed in the second section  144  at an angle which corresponds with or equals the angle α at which the projection  134  projects from the first section  142 . This provides a compact overall arrangement and also provides protection for the projection  134  when the peripheral device is in its closed configuration. 
     The combination of the flexible tether which holds the first and second sections together, and the angle α at which the projection  134  projects (which controls an angle at which a user terminal is mounted thereon, and consequently a turning moment on the peripheral device caused by the tilted user terminal) ensures that the user terminal is stably held on the peripheral device  108  when mounted thereon. 
     In embodiments the projecting interface  134  is electrically connected to the flexible tether  146 , which tether  146  comprises an electrical cable in at least some embodiments. Therefore, electrical signals can be transmitted from the user terminal through the peripheral device via the interface  134  and tether  146 , for example to send signals to speaker apparatus  138 . 
     It will be appreciated that the above embodiments have been described only by way of example. Other variants may become apparent to a person skilled in the art once given the disclosure herein. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the described embodiments but only by the accompanying claims.