IP Library Granted Patent US 10,146,256
Granted Patent B2
US 10,146,256 · App. 15/217,638 · Granted Dec 4, 2018

Electronic device system, electronic device cover, and electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,146,256
App. No.
15/217,638
Granted
Dec 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclose is an electronic device system that includes an electronic device having a display unit on at least one surface, a detector, and a controller. The system includes a cover that is selectively attachable to the electronic device. The cover includes a cover assembly that closes to cover the display unit and opens to expose the display unit when the cover is attached to the electronic device. The cover includes a window of the cover assembly that exposes a portion of the display unit in response to the window being in an open state and the cover being closed. The controller causes the display unit to display device information associated with the electronic device at the portion of the display unit that is exposed by the window in response to the detector detecting that the window is in an open state.

Claims (55)

1. A system comprising:

an electronic device comprising:

a display unit disposed on at least one surface of the electronic device;

a detector; and

a controller; and

a cover that is selectively attachable to the electronic device, the cover comprising:

a cover assembly that closes to cover the display unit and opens to expose the display unit when the cover is attached to the electronic device; and

a window of the cover assembly that exposes a portion of the display unit in response to the window being in an open state and the cover being closed, and covers the portion of the display unit in response to the window being in a closed state and the cover being closed, wherein the cover being selectively attachable to the electronic device comprises the cover being selectively attached to the electronic device or selectively detached from the electronic device, and

wherein the controller causes the display unit to display device information associated with the electronic device at the portion of the display unit that is exposed by the window in response to the detector detecting that the window is in an open state.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device information is selected from the group consisting of:

information regarding a battery charge remaining of the electronic device;

information regarding whether a battery of the electronic device is being charged; and

information regarding arrival of one or more emails.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the cover comprises a cable that selectively connects the electronic device and an external device; and

the cable comprises a first connector for connection with the external device, the first connector being formed at the window, and a second connector for connection with an external input terminal of the electronic device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first connector is formed on a surface disposed on a side opposite the display unit in a state in which the window is closed, the first connector being exposed in a state in which the window is open.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the external device comprises a charging device.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the external input terminal is selected from the group consisting of:

a dedicated external input terminal; and

a general-purpose external input terminal.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the detector detects that the window is in an open state in response to detecting that the external device is connected to the cable.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a cover assembly that closes to cover a display unit of an electronic device and opens to expose the display unit when the cover assembly is attached to the electronic device, wherein the cover assembly is selectively attachable to the electronic device or selectively detachable from the electronic device; and

a window of the cover assembly that exposes a portion of the display unit in response to the window being in an open state and the cover being closed, and covers the portion of the display unit in response to the window being in a closed state and the cover being closed,

wherein the display unit of the electronic device displays information associated with the electronic device at a portion of the display unit that is exposed by the window in response to the window being in an open state.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the display unit exposed in response to the window being in an open state displays device information, the device information being selected from the group consisting of:

information regarding a battery charge remaining of the electronic device;

information regarding whether a battery of the electronic device is being charged; and

information regarding arrival of one or more emails.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a cable that selectively connects the electronic device and an external device, wherein the cable comprises a first connector for connection with the external device, the first connector being formed at the window, and a second connector for connection with an external input terminal of the electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first connector is formed on a surface disposed on a side of the electronic device opposite the display unit in a state in which the window is closed and the first connector is exposed in a state in which the window is open.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the external device comprises a charging device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the external input terminal is selected from the group consisting of:

a dedicated external input terminal; and

a general-purpose external input terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the electronic device comprises a detector that detects that the window is in an open state in response to detecting that the external device is connected to the cable.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a display unit disposed on at least one surface of the electronic device and to which a cover is selectively attachable, the cover comprising a cover assembly that closes to cover the display unit and opens to expose the display unit when the cover is attached to the electronic device, and a window of the cover assembly that exposes a portion of the display unit in response to the window being in an open state and the cover being closed, and covers the portion of the display unit in response to the window being in a closed state and the cover being closed, wherein the cover being selectively attachable to the electronic device comprises the cover being selectively attached to the electronic device or selectively detached from the electronic device;

a detector that detects that the window is in the open state; and

a controller that causes the display unit to display device information regarding the electronic device at the portion of the display unit exposed by the window in response to the window being in the open state.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the device information is selected from the group consisting of:

information regarding a battery charge remaining of the electronic device;

information regarding whether a battery of the electronic device is being charged; and

information regarding the arrival of one or more emails.

17. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein:

the cover comprises a cable that selectively connects the electronic device and an external device; and

the cable comprises a first connector for connection with the external device, the first connector being formed at the window of the cover, and a second connector for connection with an external input terminal of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein:

the first connector is formed on a surface disposed on a side opposite the display unit in a state in which the window of the cover is closed, the first connector being exposed in a state in which the window of the cover is open; and

the detector detects that the window is in an open state in response to detecting that the external device is connected to the cable.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the external device comprises a charging device.

20. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the external input terminal is selected from the group consisting of:

a dedicated external input terminal; and

a general-purpose external input terminal.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049694/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2016
From: SUZUKI, TAKAYUKI; YAMAUCHI, TAKEHITO; ISHIKAWA, KEITA
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 039439/0724 →