The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2012
Qwest Communications International Inc., Denver, CO (US);
Peter Riering-Czekalla, Oakland, CA (US);
Afshin Mehin, North Vancouver, CA;
Elger Oberwelz, San Francisco, CA (US);
Adam Vollmer, San Francisco, CA (US);
James Yurchenco, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Matthew Robert Adams, Mountain View, CA (US);
Andrew Switky, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Qwest Communications International Inc., Denver, CO (US);
Abstract
Novel tools and techniques are described for coupling electronic devices with docking stations. In one aspect, a coupling system comprises a first material in the docking station and a second material in the electronic device. The first material and the second material may each comprise at least one magnet and/or at least one ferromagnetic material that interact magnetically to align the electronic device in an appropriate position with respect to the docking station. The docking station comprises a first set of electrical contacts and the electronic device comprises a second set of electrical contacts. When in the appropriate position, the first set of electrical contacts electrically couples with the second set of electrical contacts. The shapes of the first and second electrical contacts, and the polarities of the magnets/ferromagnetic materials, may be configured to facilitate electrical coupling while avoiding mismatching of the positive/negative terminals of the electrical contacts.