IP Library › Granted Patent US 12675138
Granted Patent B2
US 12675138 · App. 18/780,307 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Electronic devices that detect accessory devices at multiple locations

Inventors: Leyi Zhu (San Jose, CA); Hao Zhu (San Jose, CA); Yunhe Huang (Pleasanton, CA); Fernando F. Cunha (Santa Clara, CA); Travis C. Pedley (Los Gatos, CA); Guangtao Zhang (Cupertino, CA); Annie T. Zhang (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F1/1675G01R33/0047G06F1/1686
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12675138
App. No.
18/780,307
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electronic device uses a sensor to determine whether an accessory device covers a housing or the housing and a display. When the electronic device determines, based on the sensor, the housing and display are covered by the accessory device, the electronic device may deactivate the display. Further, when the electronic device determines, based on the sensor, the housing is covered by multiple sections of the accessory device, the electronic device may permit a processor to run at a higher temperature limit, as opposed to a single section covering the housing. In this regard, the accessory device functions as a thermal buffer to absorb thermal energy from the processor(s) running at the higher temperature limit. Additionally, based on the position of the accessory device relative to the electronic device, the electronic device may further activate applications, animations, production information (e.g., regarding the accessory device), or a combination thereof.

Claims (54)

1 . An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display carried by the housing;

a sensor positioned between the housing and the display, the sensor configured to detect:

a first magnetic flux, in a first direction, from a first magnet and from a second magnet of an accessory device, and

a second magnetic flux, in a second direction, from the first magnet and from the second magnet, the second direction different from the first direction; and

one or more processors, wherein;

in response to detection, by the sensor, of the first magnetic flux, the one or more processors determines the accessory device is covering the display and the housing, and

in response to detection, by the sensor, of the second magnetic flux, the one or more processors determines the accessory device is covering the housing and not the display.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine, based on detection by the sensor of the second magnetic flux in the second direction, the accessory device is covering the housing and not the display.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to deactivate the display based on detection by the sensor of the first magnetic flux in the first direction.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

at least one processor of the one or more processors is configured to operate in accordance with a first temperature limit based on detection by the sensor of the first magnetic flux in the first direction, and

based on detection by the sensor of the second magnetic flux in the second direction, the at least one processor is configured to operate in accordance with a second temperature limit different from the first temperature limit.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the second temperature limit is greater than the first temperature limit.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a single magnetic field sensor.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , in response to detection, by the sensor, of a third magnetic flux based on the second magnet, the one or more processors determines the accessory device is covering the housing and not the display.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

9 . An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display carried by the housing;

a sensor positioned between the housing and the display; and

one or more processors electrically coupled to the display and the sensor, the one or more processors configured to:

determine, based on a first output from the sensor, an accessory device is covering the display and the housing, and

determine, based on a second output from the sensor, the accessory device is covering the housing and not the display, wherein:

at least one processor of the one or more processors is configured to operate in accordance with a first temperature limit, and

based on the second output, the at least one processor is configured to operate in accordance with a second temperature limit different from the first temperature limit.

10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is configured to:

provide the first output based on detection of a first magnetic field from a first magnet and from a second magnet of the accessory device, and

provide the second output based on detection of a second magnetic field from the first magnet and from the second magnet.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is configured to:

detect the first magnetic field in a first direction, and

detect the second magnetic field in a second direction different from the first direction.

12 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to deactivate the display based on receiving the first output from the sensor.

13 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine, based on the second output from the sensor, a first section of the accessory device is covered by a second portion of the accessory device.

14 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor configured to determine magnetic flux in different directions.

15 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the second temperature limit is greater than the first temperature limit.

16 . An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display carried by the housing;

a camera assembly;

a sensor positioned between the housing and the display; and

one or more processors configured to:

determine, based on a first output from the sensor, an accessory device is covering the display, the camera assembly, and the housing,

determine, based on a second output from the sensor, the accessory device is covering the housing and not the display and not the camera assembly, and

activate, based on the second output, a software application configured to utilize the camera assembly, wherein;

at least one processor of the one or more processors is configured to operate in accordance with a first temperature limit based on the first output, and

based on the second output, the at least one processor is configured to operate in accordance with a second temperature limit greater than the first temperature limit.

17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the camera assembly comprises a front camera configured to capture an image of an environment facing the display.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the camera assembly comprises a rear camera configured to capture an image of an environment facing the housing.

19 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the front camera is configured to capture a user and an object.

20 . The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the display is configured to, one or more processors, present;

the user in a first window, and

the object in a second window different from the first window.