Granted Patent B2

US 12,265,422 · App. 18/168,279 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Inventors: Jinho Lim (Suwon-si, KR); Heecheul Moon (Suwon-si, KR); Jihoon Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Byounguk Yoon (Suwon-si, KR)

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

G06F1/1632G06F1/1679G06F1/1654

Abstract

Claims (61)

1. A cover device of an electronic device, the cover device comprising:

a cover housing configured to cover at least a portion of the electronic device in a first state in which the electronic device is electrically coupled to the cover device; and

a bracket including a first surface on which a terminal part is disposed and a second surface which faces the cover housing,

wherein the bracket includes at least one first magnet disposed adjacent to the first surface and at least one second magnet disposed adjacent to the second surface,

wherein the cover housing includes at least one third magnet, and

wherein the at least one third magnet is disposed to align with the at least one second magnet in a second state in which the electronic device is electrically isolated from the cover device.

2. The cover device of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one first magnet is magnetically coupled to the electronic device in the first state, and

wherein the at least one third magnet is magnetically coupled to the at least one second magnet in the second state.

3. The cover device of claim 1 , wherein a position of the bracket shifts downward at a time of state change from the first state to the second state.

4. The cover device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a support member including a rail disposed on a side surface adjacent to the bracket,

wherein the bracket includes at least one first protrusion disposed on the first surface and a second protrusion disposed on a third surface facing the support member,

wherein the at least one first protrusion is engaged with at least one groove of the electronic device in the first state, and

wherein the second protrusion is engaged with the rail of the support member.

5. The cover device of claim 4 ,

wherein at a time of state change from the first state to the second state, the at least one first protrusion is engaged with the at least one groove to cause rotation of the bracket, and

wherein a magnetic force acting between the at least one second magnet and the at least one third magnet causes a position of the bracket to shift downward.

6. The cover device of claim 4 , wherein at a time of state change from the first state to the second state, the rail is engaged with the second protrusion of the bracket to guide rotation and position shift of the bracket.

7. The cover device of claim 4 , wherein a height of the at least one first protrusion protruding from the first surface is equal to or greater than a height of the terminal part protruding from the first surface.

8. The cover device of claim 4 , wherein at a time of stage change from the first state to the second state, a length of downward shift of the bracket is equal to or greater than the length of the at least one first protrusion protruding from the first surface.

9. The cover device of claim 1 ,

wherein the cover housing further includes a stopper, and

wherein the stopper limits a rotation angle of the bracket.

10. The cover device of claim 1 ,

wherein a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) on which the terminal part is disposed is disposed inside the bracket,

wherein a fourth side of the bracket includes an opening, and

wherein the FPCB passes through the opening and is connected to the main FPCB.

11. The cover device of claim 10 , further comprising:

a support member including a rail disposed on a side surface adjacent to the bracket,

wherein the bracket further includes a connecting member coupled to the opening, and

wherein, at a time of state change from the first state to the second state, the connecting member is engaged with the rail to guide rotation and position shift of the bracket.

12. The cover device of claim 1 ,

wherein the electronic device further includes at least one fourth magnet disposed to align with the at least one first magnet in the first state, and

wherein a magnitude of a magnetic force acting between the at least one first magnet and the at least one fourth magnet is equal to or greater than a magnitude of a magnetic force acting between the at least one second magnet and the at least one third magnet.

13. The cover device of claim 1 , wherein a coupling direction between a contact part of the electronic device and the terminal part of the bracket is perpendicular to a coupling direction between the electronic device and the cover device.

14. The cover device of claim 1 , wherein the terminal part includes a pogo pin configured to transmit/receive data to/from the electronic device in the first state.

15. An external input device configured to be electrically coupled to an electronic device, the external input device comprising:

a housing; and

a bracket including a terminal part electrically connected to a contact part of the electronic device,

wherein the bracket includes at least one first magnet disposed adjacent to a first surface on which the terminal part is disposed, and at least one second magnet disposed perpendicular to the at least one first magnet,

wherein the housing includes at least one third magnet,

wherein a coupling direction between the contact part of the electronic device and the terminal part of the bracket is perpendicular to a coupling direction between the electronic device and the external input device, and

wherein a circular protrusion disposed on the bracket guides rotation and position shift of the bracket depending on a change in coupling state between the electronic device and the external input device.

16. The external input device of claim 15 ,

wherein the at least one first magnet is disposed to align with at least one fourth magnet of the electronic device in a state in which the electronic device is electrically coupled to the external input device, and

wherein the at least one third magnet is disposed to align with the at least one second magnet in a state in which the electronic device is separated from the external input device.

17. The external input device of claim 15 ,

wherein the bracket further includes at least one auxiliary protrusion disposed on the first surface, and

wherein the at least one auxiliary protrusion is disposed to be engaged with at least one groove in the electronic device in a state in which the electronic device is electrically coupled to the external input device.

18. The external input device of claim 17 ,

wherein, when the electronic device is separated from a state of being electrically coupled to the external input device, the at least one auxiliary protrusion is engaged with the at least one groove to cause rotation of the bracket, and

wherein a magnetic force acting between the at least one second magnet and the at least one third magnet causes downward shift of the position of the bracket.

19. The external input device of claim 18 ,

wherein a height of the at least one auxiliary protrusion protruding from the first surface is equal to or greater than a height of the terminal part protruding from the first surface, and

wherein a length of downward movement of the bracket is equal to or greater than a length of the at least one auxiliary protrusion protruding from the first surface.

20. The external input device of claim 15 ,

wherein the housing further includes a stopper, and

wherein the stopper limits a rotation angle of the bracket.

21. The external input device of claim 18 , wherein the downward shift of the position of the bracket caused by the magnetic force acting between the at least one second magnet and the at least one third magnet causes the bracket to become fixed to the external input device.

22. The external input device of claim 21 , wherein, when the bracket is fixed to the external input device, the bracket is unable to rotate relative to the at least one third magnet.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (31)