Patent Description:
Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments as set forth hereinafter.

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific implementations thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures. While some of the drawings may be schematic or exaggerated representations of concepts, at least some of the drawings may be drawn to scale. Understanding that the drawings depict some example implementations, the implementations will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:.

This disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for magnetically coupling a display to an underside of a keyboard in an airplane mode. Computing devices may be changeable between multiple different modes or configurations, such as a laptop mode where the keyboard is extended in front of a display, a tablet mode, where the keyboard is located against a back surface of the display, and an airplane mode, where the display is located at an angle with respect to the keyboard. In the airplane mode, the keyboard is underneath the display, with the display supported on the keyboard using a kickstand (e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>). Although this description focuses on a detachable keyboard accessory, the airplane mode configuration teachings are also applicable to other types of accessories, such as device covers that do not include keyboards.

In the airplane mode, the input section of the keyboard is not accessible to the user. To interact with the display, the display is therefore used as a touchscreen display. As the user touches and interacts with the touchscreen display, the force of the user's touches against the display may cause the body of the display to move and bounce around. This may make using the display frustrating for the user. Magnetically securing a keyboard spine to the keyboard enhances the connection between the display and the keyboard, providing additional support to the display during use in airplane mode.

<FIG> is a representation of a perspective view of a computing device <NUM> in an airplane mode, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The computing device includes a display <NUM> (e.g., a tablet computer) and an accessory <NUM> (a keyboard). The display <NUM> is connected to the accessory <NUM> with a hinge <NUM>. The display <NUM> and the accessory <NUM> are rotatable relative to each other about the hinge <NUM>.

The display <NUM> includes a display surface <NUM> and a display back surface <NUM>. The keyboard <NUM> includes a keyboard surface <NUM> and a keyboard back surface <NUM>. In the airplane mode, the display back surface <NUM> and the keyboard back surface <NUM> face each other, e.g., with the display <NUM> propped up against the keyboard <NUM> using a kickstand <NUM> or similar mechanical support. In the airplane mode, the display <NUM> may be oriented relative to the keyboard <NUM> at a viewing angle convenient for the user to use close to the body, such as in a lap, on an airplane tray, on a bus tray, and in other confined locations.

<FIG> is a side view of the computing device <NUM> of <FIG> in the airplane mode. The hinge <NUM> includes a spine <NUM> and a hinge support <NUM> (e.g., a mid-spine component). The hinge support <NUM> may support the hinge <NUM> between the display <NUM> and the keyboard <NUM>. The hinge support <NUM> may also include one or more magnets for coupling to the display in a Longo mode and/or a stylus charging dock. The hinge support <NUM> in conjunction with the flexible hinge portions on either side of it allow for the keyboard to be folded into multiple orientations including closed, laptop mode, Longo mode, and airplane mode. For example, the hinge support <NUM> may help prevent the hinge <NUM> from bending too sharply and damaging any electronic connections between the spine <NUM> and the keyboard. In some embodiments, the hinge <NUM> includes configurations and components not shown in <FIG>. For example, the hinge <NUM> does not include mid-spine and flexible portions, but rather has a more uniform flexibility throughout. Importantly, the hinge <NUM> allows the accessory <NUM> to cover the display in a closed configuration and fold back into an airplane configuration as shown in <FIG>.

The spine <NUM> is a connector to the display <NUM>. For example, the spine <NUM> may magnetically and/or mechanically connect the display <NUM> to the accessory <NUM>. The spine <NUM> may further provide data communication between the keyboard <NUM> and the display <NUM>. In the airplane mode, the spine <NUM> is in contact with the keyboard back surface <NUM>. This provides further support for the display <NUM> as the user interacts with the display <NUM>. As the user interacts with the display <NUM>, the forces caused by touching the display (such as with a finger, a stylus, or other implement) may cause the display to move, slide, bounce, jiggle, shake, or otherwise move relative to the keyboard. This movement may result in imprecise interaction with the display <NUM>, causing the user to enter incorrect inputs and/or not be able to focus on displayed outputs, which decreases user experience.

In airplane mode, the spine <NUM> is connected to the keyboard back surface <NUM>. This secures the display <NUM> to the keyboard <NUM>. In this manner, as a user interacts with the display <NUM>, the display <NUM> may remain fixed relative to the keyboard <NUM>. This may increase the precision of input on the display <NUM>, and improve the user experience. In airplane mode, the spine <NUM> is connected to the keyboard with a magnetic connection. In this manner, the spine <NUM> may be releasably secured to the keyboard <NUM>. Moreover, the same magnets may be used to secure the display to the spine <NUM> and to secure the spine <NUM> to the keyboard back surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, magnets in the hinge support <NUM> may magnetically secure to magnets in the keyboard back surface <NUM> (e.g., in addition to having magnets in the spine <NUM>). In some embodiments, the kickstand <NUM> includes magnets that magnetically secure the kickstand <NUM> to the keyboard back surface <NUM> (e.g., in addition to having magnets in the spine <NUM>).

<FIG> is a representation of the back surface of a keyboard <NUM>, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment shown, the keyboard <NUM> is disconnected from a display (e.g., the display <NUM> of <FIG>). The keyboard <NUM> has a portion of the fabric cover cut out for clarity. In the embodiment shown, the keyboard back surface <NUM> includes magnetic material <NUM>. For example, the magnetic material <NUM> includes a plurality of magnets <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the keyboard <NUM> includes eight magnets <NUM>. The magnets are separated into two groups of four magnets each. The groups of magnets <NUM> may allow for a longer and more stable connection to the spine <NUM>, thereby improving the connection to the display. Although eight magnets are shown in <FIG>, other numbers and grouping of magnets could be used. For example, two magnets could be used, or nine magnets in three groups of three could be used. In some embodiments, the arrangement of magnets in the keyboard <NUM> (or other accessory) is based on the arrangement of magnets in the spine <NUM> (e.g., spine <NUM>) for use with coupling to the display device.

<FIG> is a representation of a portion of a hinge <NUM> (e.g., hinge <NUM>) in the airplane mode, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The hinge <NUM> includes a spine <NUM> magnetically connected to a plurality of keyboard magnets <NUM>. The spine <NUM> includes a first spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM> and a second spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM>. The keyboard magnets <NUM> include a first keyboard magnet <NUM>-<NUM> and a second keyboard magnet <NUM>-<NUM>.

The first spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM> is magnetically attracted to the first keyboard magnet <NUM>-<NUM> and the second spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM> is magnetically attracted to the second keyboard magnet <NUM>-<NUM>. In other words, the first spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM> has an opposite polarity of the first keyboard magnet <NUM>-<NUM>, and the second spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM> has an opposite polarity of the second keyboard magnet <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the first spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM> has a first polarity and the second spine magnet <NUM>-<NUM> has a different polarity (such as the opposite polarity, or a polarity that is rotated by <NUM>°). In other words, the spine magnets <NUM> have alternating polarities (e.g., form a Halbach array). The keyboard magnets <NUM> have opposing alternating polarities. Alternating polarities may increase the strength of the magnetic connection of the hinge <NUM>. Similarly, other types of Halbach arrays could be used to increase the coupling between the spine and keyboard back surface.

<FIG> is a representation of a cross-sectional view of a portion of a hinge <NUM> (e.g., hinge <NUM>), according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The hinge <NUM> includes a spine <NUM> magnetically connected to a keyboard <NUM>. The spine <NUM> includes spine magnets <NUM> that are magnetically attracted and connected to the keyboard magnets <NUM>.

The spine <NUM> is oriented at a spine angle <NUM> relative to the keyboard <NUM>. In the airplane mode, the display is oriented at an angle relative to the keyboard <NUM>. This may make it easier for the user to view and/or interact with the display. The spine may therefore be oriented at a spine angle <NUM> that is approximately <NUM>° less than the viewing angle. Thus, in some embodiments, the spine angle <NUM> may be in a range having an upper value, a lower value, or upper and lower values including any of <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, or any value therebetween. For example, the spine angle <NUM> may be greater than <NUM>°. In another example, the spine angle <NUM> may be less than <NUM>°. In yet other examples, the spine angle <NUM> may be any value in a range between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. In some embodiments, it may be critical that the spine angle <NUM> is approximately <NUM>° to provide the user with the optimal viewing angle. Nevertheless, the magnetic force between the spine magnets <NUM> and the keyboard magnets <NUM> maintains the connection between the spine <NUM> and the keyboard <NUM>. In some embodiments, the spine magnets <NUM> may be oriented within the spine <NUM> to orient the spine magnetic field with the keyboard magnetic field, taking into account the spine angle <NUM>.

The spine <NUM> may be disconnected from the keyboard <NUM> with a disconnection force. The disconnection force may be the force required to overcome the magnetic attraction between the spine magnets <NUM> and the keyboard magnets. In some embodiments, the disconnection force may be in a range having an upper value, a lower value, or upper and lower values including any of <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, <NUM> N, or any value therebetween. For example, the disconnection force may be greater than <NUM> N. In another example, the disconnection force may be less than <NUM> N. In yet other examples, the disconnection force may be any value in a range between <NUM> N and <NUM> N. In some embodiments, it may be critical that the disconnection force is greater than <NUM> N to secure the display to the keyboard while still being easily disconnectable.

This disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for magnetically connecting a display to a keyboard in an airplane mode. Computing devices may be changeable between multiple different modes or configurations, such as a laptop mode where the keyboard is extended in front of a display, a tablet mode, where the keyboard is located against a back surface of the display, and an airplane mode, where the display is located at an angle with respect to the keyboard. In the airplane mode, the keyboard is underneath the display, with the display supported on the keyboard using a kickstand.

In the airplane mode, the input section of the keyboard is not accessible to the user. To interact with the display, the display is therefore used as a touchscreen display. As the user touches and interacts with the touchscreen display, the force of the user's touches against the display may cause the body of the display to move and bounce around. This may make using the display frustrating for the user. Magnetically securing a keyboard spine to the keyboard connects the display to the keyboard. This supports the display during use in airplane mode.

In some embodiments, the keyboard is connected to the display with a hinge. The hinge includes a hinge support and a spine. The spine connects the display to the keyboard. The hinge support supports the hinge during rotation, and may help prevent the hinge from bending too sharply. In some embodiments, the spine magnetically connects the display to the keyboard. In some embodiments, the spine mechanically connects the display to the keyboard. In some embodiments, the spine both magnetically and mechanically connects the display to the keyboard.

In some embodiments, the spine provides communication between the keyboard and the display. For example, the spine may include power and/or data contacts to share power and/or data with the keyboard. In some embodiments, the spine does not communicate between the keyboard and the display, and the keyboard communicates with the display in another manner, such as wirelessly.

The display has a front surface (e.g., the display surface) and a back surface. The keyboard has a front surface (e.g., the surface with the keyboard) and a back surface. The display front surface is on the same side as the keyboard front surface. Thus, when the computing device is rotated into the airplane mode, the display back surface is facing the keyboard back surface.

In some embodiments, the display is secured or connected to the keyboard. In some embodiments, the display is connected to the keyboard with a mechanical connection. For example, the display may be connected to the keyboard with one or more latches, snaps, buttons, bolts, Velcro, mechanical fasteners, other connections, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the display is connected to the keyboard with a magnetic connection.

The keyboard back surface includes keyboard magnetic material. In some embodiments, the keyboard magnetic material may include one or more permanent magnets, such as ferromagnets or rare earth magnets. In some embodiments, the keyboard magnetic material may not be magnetized (e.g., a soft magnetic material), such as iron, steel, and other ferromagnetic materials.

The spine includes spine magnetic material. In some embodiments, the spine magnetic material may include one or more permanent magnets, such as ferromagnets or rare earth magnets. In some embodiments, the spine magnetic material may not be magnetized (e.g., a soft magnetic material), such as iron, steel, and other ferromagnetic materials.

In some embodiments, at least one of the spine magnetic material and the keyboard magnetic material may be a permanent magnet. For example, the spine magnetic material may include one or more permanent magnets and the keyboard magnetic material may be magnetic, but not a permanent magnet. In some examples, the keyboard magnetic material may include one or more permanent magnets and the spine magnetic material may be magnetic, but not a permanent magnet. In some embodiments, both the spine magnetic material and the keyboard magnetic material include permanent magnets.

In some embodiments, the spine magnetic material be located along a length of the spine such that the spine magnetic material aligns with the keyboard magnetic material located along a length of the keyboard back surface. In this manner, when the spine is rotated to contact the keyboard back surface (e.g., into the airplane mode), the spine magnetic material is magnetically attracted to the keyboard magnetic material. In this manner, the spine is magnetically secured to the keyboard in the airplane mode.

In some embodiments, the spine magnetic material may include a single magnet. The keyboard magnetic material may include a single magnet. The magnets may be oriented with opposing polarities such that the spine is magnetically secured to the keyboard. In some embodiments, the spine magnetic material may include more than one magnet and the keyboard magnetic material may include more than one magnet. In some embodiments, the spine and/or the keyboard may include any number of magnets, including <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or more magnets. In some embodiments, the spine may include more magnets than the keyboard, or the keyboard may include more magnets than the spine.

The plurality of spine magnets may be arranged with alternating polarities. The plurality of keyboard magnets may be complementarily arranged with alternating polarities such that individual spine magnets align with a keyboard magnet of the opposite polarity. Including multiple spine magnets and keyboard magnets of opposing polarity may increase the strength and/or stability of the magnetic connection. In some embodiments, the spine magnets and/or the keyboard magnets may be arranged in a Halbach array. A Halbach array may increase the strength of the magnetic connection, and help to prevent extra and unnecessary magnetic fields around the keyboard and/or the spine.

In some embodiments, the spine and/or the keyboard magnets may be exposed. Thus, when the spine magnets are magnetically connected to the keyboard magnets, the spine magnets and the keyboard magnets may contact. In some embodiments, the spine and/or the keyboard magnets may be covered with a material. For example, the spine and/or keyboard magnets may be covered with a fabric material, such as Alcantara fabric and the like. In some embodiments, the spine and/or keyboard may be covered with a magnetically invisible hard material, such as a plastic or a magnetically transparent metal. Thus, when the spine magnets are magnetically connected to the keyboard magnets, the spine magnets and the keyboard magnets may not directly contact, but the magnetic fields may nevertheless maintain a magnetic connection between the spine and the keyboard.

In some embodiments, the spine magnets may include the magnets used to connect the spine to the display. Thus, in some embodiments, the spine magnets may serve a dual purpose, and may simultaneously connect the display to the spine and the spine to the keyboard.

In some embodiments, the spine may rest against the keyboard with an angle. For example, the spine may have a connection surface and a magnetic surface. The connection surface may be the surface that connects to the display, and the magnetic surface may be the surface that connects to the keyboard. Thus, the connection surface may be perpendicular to the display, because the connection surface connects along the long edge of the display. In the airplane mode, the display may be oriented at a display angle with respect to the keyboard.

In some embodiments, the display angle may be in a range having an upper value, a lower value, or upper and lower values including any of <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, or any value therebetween. For example, the display angle may be greater than <NUM>°. In another example, the display angle may be less than <NUM>°. In yet other examples, the display angle may be any value in a range between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. In some embodiments, it may be critical that the display angle is approximately <NUM>° to provide the user with the optimal viewing angle.

The spine angle is the angle between the spine and the keyboard. In some embodiments, the spine angle is <NUM>° less than the display angle. Thus, in some embodiments, the spine angle may be in a range having an upper value, a lower value, or upper and lower values including any of <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, or any value therebetween. For example, the spine angle may be greater than <NUM>°. In another example, the spine angle may be less than <NUM>°. In yet other examples, the spine angle may be any value in a range between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. In some embodiments, it may be critical that the spine angle is approximately <NUM>° to provide the user with the optimal viewing angle. Nevertheless, despite the spine angle, the magnetic force between the spine magnets and the keyboard magnets maintains the connection between the spine and the keyboard. In some embodiments, the spine magnets may be oriented within the spine to orient the spine magnetic field with the keyboard magnetic field, taking into account the spine angle.

In some embodiments the hinge may include a pocket between the display and the keyboard. The pocket may be located on the front side (e.g., the portion of the hinge between the display surface and the keyboard surface). Thus, as the computing device is rotated into the airplane mode, the pocket may be presented to the user. The pocket may include a stylus, which the user may then use to interact with the display. Because of the strong connection between the spine and the display, the user may use the stylus on the display without moving or jostling the display too much.

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual embodiment may be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous embodiment-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one embodiment to another.

For example, any element described in relation to an embodiment herein may be combinable with any element of any other embodiment described herein. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are "about" or "approximately" the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, within <NUM>%, or within <NUM>% of a stated value.

It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function or other functional claiming for any claim except for those in which the words 'means for' appear together with an associated function. Each addition, deletion, and modification to the embodiments that falls within the meaning and scope of the claims is to be embraced by the claims.

Claim 1:
A keyboard (<NUM>), comprising:
a first surface (<NUM>) comprising an input portion;
a back surface (<NUM>) on an opposite side of the keyboard to the first surface;
a spine (<NUM>) configured to connect the keyboard to a computing device, the spine comprising spine magnetic material (<NUM>); and
a hinge (<NUM>) connecting the spine to the keyboard,
characterized in that the keyboard back surface comprises keyboard magnetic material (<NUM>, <NUM>),
and wherein in a first mode the spine is in contact with the keyboard back surface and the keyboard magnetic material is magnetically attracted to the spine magnetic material.