Multiple electronic devices having plural sliding surfaces which are urged into connecting engagement with each other
View Patent ↗A data processing system is proposed which comprises two electronic devices, each of them having an electro-magnetic coupler embedded on the exterior casing, at least one of the electronic device having one or more sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the two devices, such that they automatically come into correct alignment during the sliding.
1. A data processing system, comprising:
a first electronic device having one or more first data processors, a first casing enclosing said one or more first data processors and a first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said first casing, and
a second electronic device having one or more second data processors, a second casing enclosing said one or more second data processors and a second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said second casing,
wherein at least one of said first electronic device and said second electronic device comprises a plurality of sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the first electronic device and the second electronic device,
wherein at least two of said plurality of sliding surfaces included in one of said first electronic device and said second electronic device are mutually inclined,
wherein upon the first electronic device and the second electronic device being urged together by a force in a direction inclined to at least one of said plurality of sliding surfaces, one of the electronic devices slides along one or more of said plurality of sliding surfaces to bring said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler and said second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler into alignment,
wherein surface connection is established between the first and the second data transfer electro-magnetic couplers at the point of alignment to enable data communication between the two electronic devices.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the force is gravitational force that said one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device is subject to.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device further comprises one or more magnets for generating a component of said force.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein said one or more magnets are configured such that the electro-magnetic signals communicated between the first and the second data transfer electro-magnetic couplers are shielded from magnetic interference.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said first electronic device has a planar surface and said second electronic device comprises a depression having a sloping side wall and a bottom surface, said sloping side wall and said bottom surface being the plurality of sliding surfaces, said depression having a shape configured to receive said first electronic device.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said second electronic device comprises a face and one or more projections projecting therefrom, said face and the surface of said one or more projections being said plurality of sliding surfaces, said plurality of sliding surfaces being arranged to stop relative movement of the two electronic devices at a position where the first and the second data transfer electro-magnetic couplers are in alignment when the face is upright.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein said one or more projections being arranged in a pattern suitable for said first electronic device to rest thereon when the face is upright and the first and the second data transfer electro-magnetic couplers are in alignment.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more projections have a frustum shape.
9. The system according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more projections have a cross-sectional area that reduces towards said face.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said first electronic device comprises a protrusion having a frustum shape and said second electronic device comprises a depression having a shape being configured to receive said protrusion of the first electronic device.
11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein said depression has a frustum shape.
12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said first electronic device comprises a protrusion having a curved surface and said second electronic device comprises a depression having a shape configured to receive said protrusion of said first electronic device.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said first electronic device comprises a protrusion having a hemispherical shape.
14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said depression has a smooth concave shape.
15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second data transfer electro-magnetic couplers are flat.
16. A first electronic device for connection to a second electronic device, the first electronic device having one or more data processors, a first casing enclosing said one or more data processors and a first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler located on said first casing,
wherein said first electronic device comprises a plurality of sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the first electronic device and the second electronic device,
wherein at least two of said plurality of sliding surfaces in said first electronic device are mutually inclined,
wherein upon the first electronic device and the second electronic device being urged together by a force in a direction inclined to at least one of said plurality of sliding surfaces, the second electronic device slides along the at least two of said plurality of sliding surfaces to bring said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler into alignment with a second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler of the second electronic device,
wherein surface connection is established between the first and the second data transfer electro-magnetic couplers at the point of alignment to enable data communication between the two electronic devices.