Detachable keyboard and stand with strap hinge
A cover for a tablet or similar computer device equipped with strap hinges is disclosed. In embodiments, the cover may include three strap hinges to allow the tablet to be placed in several different configurations. The cover is equipped with at least two magnets in different polarities, which may be detected by the tablet. Based on the detection of at least one magnet and its polarity, the tablet may cause the interface of its operating system to be placed into a configuration appropriate to the configuration of the cover. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
1 . A detachable stand for a computer device, comprising:
first, second, and third strap hinges;
an input device;
a connector; and
a magnet,
wherein the detachable stand is (i) configured to be positioned between a closed position, a first position, and a second position, (ii) configured to be detachably connected to the computer device by the connector, and (iii) retained to the computer device with the magnet,
wherein the first, second, and third strap hinges comprise a braided metal band and are configured to provide resistance to bending to maintain a position and set angle against the weight of the computer device after being adjusted.
2 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a pogo pin connector.
3 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a keyboard and a pointing device.
4 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises a first magnet, and further comprising:
a second magnet and a third magnet, and wherein:
the second magnet has a different polarity orientation from the third magnet,
the second magnet is positioned so that the second magnet is in proximity to the computer device when the detachable stand is in the first position, and
the third magnet is positioned so that the third magnet is in proximity to the computer device when the detachable stand is in the second position.
5 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the first strap hinge is configured to provide a stylus well.
6 . The detachable stand of claim 5 , wherein the stylus well is further configured to wirelessly charge a stylus when the detachable stand is attached to the computer device and the stylus is placed in the stylus well.
7 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , further comprising:
bridge circuitry configured to connect the input device to the connector.
8 . The detachable stand of claim 7 , wherein the bridge circuitry comprises a microcontroller.
9 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the computer device, when attached to the detachable stand, covers at least a part of the input device when the detachable stand is configured in the first position and/or the second position.
10 . A system, comprising:
a computer device; and
a stand configured to detachably accept the computer device,
wherein the stand comprises:
first, second, and third strap hinges, the first, second, and third strap hinges comprise a braided metal band and are configured to cooperate to retain the computer device, when attached to the stand, in a set orientation;
a keyboard;
a pointing device; and
a plurality of magnets,
wherein the first, second, and third strap hinges are configured to provide resistance to bending to maintain, for the set orientation of the computer device, a position and set angle against the weight of the computer device after being adjusted.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the computer device comprises a tablet.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the tablet is retained to the stand by one of the plurality of magnets.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the tablet, when attached to the stand, receives signals from the keyboard and pointing device over a pogo pin connector.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the plurality of magnets comprise a first magnet having a first orientation and a second magnet having a second orientation, the first orientation of the first magnet being opposite to the second orientation of the second magnet, and
the computer device comprises a hall sensor configured to detect the first orientation of the first magnet and the second orientation of the second magnet.
15 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a wireless charger configured to wirelessly charge a stylus.
16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a near-field communication (NFC) controller configured to be in communication with the wireless charger and to communicate with the stylus.
17 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises a first magnet, and further comprising:
a second magnet and a third magnet,
wherein the second magnet has a different polarity orientation from the third magnet to facilitate the computer device detecting the stand being in the first position or the second position.
18 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises a first magnet, and further comprising:
a second magnet and a third magnet, wherein:
the second magnet is positioned so that the second magnet is in proximity to the computer device when the detachable stand is in the first position,
the third magnet is positioned so that the third magnet is in proximity to the computer device when the detachable stand is in the second position, and
the second magnet is positioned so that the second magnet is not in proximity to the computer device when the detachable stand is in a third position.
19 . The detachable stand of claim 1 , wherein the first strap hinge and the second strap hinge cooperate to create a riser portion that supports the computer device at an elevated angle relative to a plane of the input device.
20 . The detachable stand of claim 3 , wherein the first, second, and third strap hinges are configured, when the detachable stand is in the first position, to raise the computer device above the keyboard and the pointing device.