Apple Inc.

Nathan P Bosscher

Craig Matthew Stanley

Phillip Michael Hobson

Brad G Boozer

John J Baker

Eric Steven Jol

Albert John Golko

Jeffrey J Terlizzi

Erik L Wang

Jahan C Minoo

Stephen Brian Lynch

Stephen Paul Zadesky

Ethan Larry Huwe

Todd K Moyer

Trent K Do

Jeffrey C Olson

An accessory device used with an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device may provide a protective cover for the electronic device. The accessory device may include a first part and a second part. The accessory device may also include one or more detection mechanisms, some of which may be used to determine whether the first part and the second part are properly aligned with respect to each other. Further, the detection mechanisms may generate an indication whether the first and second parts are properly aligned. The detection mechanism may be in communication with the electronic device such that the electronic device can receive the indication. In this manner, the indication may cause the electronic device to generate and present a message on a display of the electronic device. The message may provide a statement whether the parts are properly aligned.

Protective enclosure for an electronic device

An electronic device may be provided with electrical components such as a power supply that produce heat. Speakers and other components may be controlled using control circuitry within the electronic device. The electronic device may play audio signals through the speakers. Audio data may be received from external equipment or may be maintained locally within the device. A speaker such as a subwoofer may be mounted in a device housing above the power supply so that airflow from the speaker cools the power supply. To enhance cooling, the control circuitry may supply inaudible signals to the speaker that enhance airflow produced by the speaker. The inaudible signals may be supplied in response to detecting current heat-producing audio playback conditions, to predicting future heat-producing conditions, or real-time temperature measurements.

Electronic device with diaphragm cooling

An electronic device may have a housing. The housing may enclose an interior cavity. A speaker may be mounted in an opening in the housing. The interior cavity may serve as a sealed back volume for the speaker during normal operation of the speaker. During normal operation, control circuitry in the interior cavity plays audio content through the speaker. When it is desired to cool the control circuitry and the speaker, the control circuitry supplies a subaudible signal to the speaker. Airflow regulators having one-way valves and valves that are controlled by the control circuitry are mounted in the housing. Movement of a diaphragm in the speaker when the subaudible speaker is applied causes the diaphragm to pump air through the airflow regulators, creating a cooling airflow through the interior cavity.

Electronic device with speaker cavity cooling

A stackable connector interface with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories can allow power and data to be transferred between one or more stacked connectors. Each interconnected stackable connector includes one or more magnetic elements, which magnetic elements have poles arranged to facilitate mating with other stackable connectors. The magnetic elements provide a magnetic retention force that holds mated connectors in contact with each other. In some embodiments, the connectors include connection detection circuitry for determining whether the connectors are mated with other connectors, thereby allowing the connectors to prevent live contacts from being exposed at an unmated surface of the connectors. In some embodiments, routing circuitry is included to determine how signals should be transferred between the interconnected stackable connectors and/or corresponding devices.

Stackable, magnetically-retained connector interface

An array of electrical components may be mounted in openings in an electronic device housing. The housing may have a cylindrical shape or other curved shape. A support structure such as a hollow cylindrical tube may be mounted within the interior of the housing. The electrical components may have terminals that mate with corresponding contacts on a flexible printed circuit. Interconnect paths on the flexible printed circuit may be used to route signals for the electrical components. The flexible printed circuit may be wrapped into the shape of a cylindrical tube and may be mounted on an interior surface of the cylindrical housing or on the exterior surface of the support structure.

Interconnect structures for electronic devices with component arrays

An array of electrical components may be mounted in openings in an electronic device housing. Gaskets may be used to seal the electrical components to a housing wall. The housing wall may be planar or may have a cylindrical shape or other curved shape. The electrical components may be mounted to the housing wall by rotating the electrical components so that portions of the components bear against an inner surface of the housing wall. Component mounting structures that receive the electrical components may be used in mounting the electrical components. Component cover structures with openings may overlap the components. Engagement features may help prevent relative rotational motion between the electrical components and the housing wall of the electronic device.

Electronic device with array of rotationally mounted components

A mesh network of printed circuit boards (PCBs) including a first PCB coupled to a second rigid PCB by way of an interlocking connection is provided. The interlocking connection has a degree of freedom that allows the first and second PCBs to form a twist angle between each other; the interlocking connector configured to provide electrical coupling between active components disposed in each of the first and second PCBs. A method of forming a substrate fabric including a mesh network as above is also provided. Further provided is a method of activating the mesh network of printed circuit boards as above.

Printed circuit board connector for non-planar configurations

An array of electrical components may be mounted in openings in an electronic device housing. Gaskets may be used to seal the electrical components to a housing wall. The housing wall may be planar or may have a cylindrical shape or other curved shape. A support structure such as a hollow tube may be mounted within the interior of a cavity region defined by the housing wall. The electrical components may be radially deployed into the openings. Mating ramped structures may be translated with respect to each other to push elongated strips of components outward or each electrical component may be pushed outward using a threaded nut that engages threads on the electrical component.

Electronic device with radially deployed components

An array of electrical components may be mounted in openings in an electronic device housing. Gaskets may be used to seal the electrical components to a housing wall. The housing wall may be planar or may have a cylindrical shape or other curved shape. The electrical components may be mounted to the housing wall using screws and nuts. Each nut may have a central member with opposing stops at the ends of the central member. An opening in each central member may receive a screw to allow the nut to rotate between an installation position and a locked position. The openings in the housing wall may have scalloped extensions that allow the nuts to clear the housing wall while the components are being inserted into the housing. Following installation, the nuts may be rotated into the locked positions.

Electronic device with array of reworkable components

An inductive charging interface with magnetic retention can be used for charging electronic devices and accessories. For example, a magnetic core of an inductive charging configuration may be divided into two magnetic elements, one element can be housed within a receptacle or receiving connector of housing of an electric device and the other element can be housed within a plug or transmission connector. The poles of the two elements of the magnetic core may create a magnetic field to retain the plug connector in an aligned, mated position with the receptacle connector of the electronic device in addition to directing magnetic flux to flow in a circular path around and between the two elements of the magnetic core, thereby inducing a current for charging the internal battery of a device.

Inductive charging interface with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories

An electronic device may have a rigid support structure to which electrical components are mounted. The rigid support structure may be an electronic device housing structure such as a housing wall having openings that receive the electrical components. The electrical components may have electrical component connectors. A printed circuit board may be used to convey signals for the electrical components. Connectors may be mounted to the printed circuit board. Lateral shift accommodation structures may be formed between the electrical component connectors and the electrical components or in the vicinity of the connectors on the printed circuit to allow the connectors on the printed circuit to mate with the electrical component connectors of the rigidly mounted electrical components.

Connection structures for electrical components in an electronic device

A stackable connector interface with magnetic retention for electronic devices and accessories can allow power and data to be transferred between one or more stacked connectors. Each interconnected stackable connector may include one or more magnetic elements, which magnetic elements may have poles arranged to facilitate mating with other stackable connectors. The magnetic elements may also provide a magnetic retention force that holds mated connectors in contact with each other. The connectors can also include connection detection circuitry for determining whether the connectors are mated with other connectors, thereby allowing the connectors to prevent live contacts from being exposed at an unmated surface of the connectors. In addition to connection detection circuitry, routing circuitry may also be included to determine how signals should be transferred between the interconnected stackable connectors and/or corresponding devices.

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Campbell, CA, United States of America

Nathan P Bosscher