Cover for an electronic device

1. A protective cover suitable for releasable attachment to an electronic device having a display with an outer protective layer and configured to present visual content, a sensor, and a processor coupled to the display and the sensor, comprising:

a flexible flap having a size and shape in accordance with the display and foldable into a folded state with respect to the electronic device comprising:

a first surface and a second surface most of which is configured to come into direct contact with the outer protective layer in a closed configuration, and

a magnet disposed within the flap between the first and second surfaces and configured to provide a magnetic field at least through the second surface that is detectable by the sensor, wherein the processor uses the detectability of the magnetic field by the sensor to determine a folded state of the cover with respect to the electronic device and subsequently alter an operation of the electronic device in accordance with the folded state.

2. The protective cover as recited in claim 1 , the processor altering the operation of the electronic device in accordance with the folded state comprising causing the display to present visual content in accordance with an amount of that display that is viewable.

3. The protective cover as recited in claim 2 , the flap further comprising:

a plurality of independently foldable segments comprising a first segment at the first side of the flap and a second segment at the second side of the flap, the second segment comprising the magnet, wherein the plurality of independently foldable segments fold with respect to each other and the electronic device to form the folded state of the protective cover.

4. The protective cover as recited in claim 3 , a first folded state comprising the first and second segments folded in such a way that the magnetic field is not detected by the sensor and the first segment is in substantial contact with the outer protective layer such that only a first portion of the display is viewable.

5. The protective cover as recited in claim 4 , the magnetic field is not detected when the second segment is folded away from the outer protective layer.

6. The protective cover as recited in claim 5 , the flap further comprising:

a third independently foldable segment disposed between the first segment and the second segment.

7. The protective cover as recited in claim 6 , the electronic device further comprising a second sensor disposed in the housing and coupled to the processor and configured to detect the third foldable segment.

8. The protective cover as recited in claim 7 , a second folded state comprising the flap folded in such a way that the first segment is in substantial contact with the outer protective layer, the sensor does not detect the magnetic field and the second sensor does not detect the third segment.

9. The protective cover as recited in claim 8 , the protective cover configured in the second folded state reveals a second viewable portion of the display that includes at least the first viewable portion.

10. The protective cover as recited in claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a Hall Effect sensor arranged to detect the magnetic field when the magnet is in proximity to the outer protective layer.

11. The protective cover as recited in claim 10 wherein the second sensor is an optical sensor configured to detect an amount of ambient light only in accordance with the third segment being folded away from the outer protective layer of the display.

12. The protective cover as recited in claim 10 , wherein the third segment comprises a second magnet and the second sensor comprises a second Hall Effect sensor arranged to detect the second magnet indicating that that the third segment is at least in proximity to the outer protective layer.

13. The protective cover as recited in claim 1 , the flap further comprising an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit in communication with the processor and operable in accordance with the folded state of the flap.

14. The protective cover as recited in claim 13 , the electronic circuit comprising an input device arranged to receive a tactile input and pass a corresponding input signal to the processor for interpretation.

15. The protective cover as recited in claim 14 , wherein processor interprets the input signal as a control signal used to control an associated operation of the electronic device.

16. The protective cover as recited in claim 15 , wherein the input device is a keyboard apparatus.

17. The protective cover as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the closed configuration, the processor causes the electronic device to enter a low power operating state.

18. The protective cover as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism used to releasably attach the protective cover to the electronic device.

19. The protective cover as recited in claim 18 , the attachment mechanism comprising at least a magnetic element, the magnetic element magnetically configured to form a magnetic attachment to a corresponding magnetic element disposed in the electronic device.

20. The protective cover as recited in claim 1 , the flap further comprising another magnet separate from the magnet arranged to form a magnetic attachment with a magnet disposed beneath the outer protective layer that is used to secure the flap to the outer protective layer.