Spring-loaded pin status detection
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsRoth Kyle Wiedrick, Scott Edmund Stanford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Arrangements herein are directed to pin state detection systems and arrangements for using such systems. A pin detection system can include a pin. The pin can be in one of multiple states, such as a depressed state and an undepressed state. The system can include a transmit coil and a receive coil that encircles the pin. The system can also include a processing system that causes a transmit signal to be transmitted to the transmit coil. The processing system can analyze a signal received from the receive coil to determine a state of the pin.
Claims18
A pin state detection system, comprising:
- a first pin, wherein the first pin can be in one of a plurality of states, the plurality of states comprising:
- a depressed state and an undepressed state;
- a transmit coil that encircles the first pin;
- a receive coil that encircles the first pin;
- and
- a pin state processing system, comprising one or more processors, the pin state processing system configured to:
- cause a transmit signal to be transmitted to the transmit coil;
- receive a signal from the receive coil;
- determine a state of the first pin based on the received signal, wherein the state is selected from the plurality of states;
- determine that electrical continuity between the first pin and a corresponding contact pad of a separate device is not present;
- and
- in response to determining that the state of the first pin is the depressed state and that electrical continuity between the first pin and the corresponding contact pad of the separate device is not present, perform an action.
A method for detecting a state of a pin, the method comprising:
- outputting a transmit signal to a transmit coil, wherein the transmit coil encircles a first pin;
- receiving a signal from a receive coil, wherein the receive coil encircles the first pin;
- determining the state of the first pin based on the received signal, wherein:
- the state is selected from a plurality of states, the plurality of states comprising:
- a depressed state and an undepressed state;
- and
- the state of the first pin is determined to be in the depressed state;
- determining that electrical continuity between the first pin and a corresponding contact pad of a separate device is not present;
- and
- in response to determining that the state of the first pin is the depressed state and that electrical continuity between the first pin and the corresponding contact pad of the separate device is not present, performing an action.
A tablet docking system, comprising:
- a tablet computer;
- a dock that is configured to removably attach with the tablet computer using a plurality of magnets, the dock comprising a pin state detection system, the pin state detection system comprising:
- a first pin, wherein the first pin can be in one of a plurality of states, the plurality of states comprising:
- a depressed state and an undepressed state;
- a transmit coil that encircles the first pin;
- a receive coil that encircles the first pin;
- and
- a pin state processing system, comprising one or more processors, the pin state processing system configured to:
- cause a transmit signal to be transmitted to the transmit coil;
- receive a signal from the receive coil;
- determine a state of the first pin based on the received signal, wherein the state is selected from the plurality of states;
- and
- based at least in part on determining that the first pin is depressed but electrical continuity is not present, output an indication of misalignment of the tablet computer with the dock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.