US 12,411,558 B2
Keyboard accessory for electronic device
Santhana K. Balaji, Campbell, CA (US); Jaime G. Chavez Ruiz Garza, San Francisco, CA (US); Blake R. Marshall, San Jose, CA (US); Robert U. Liu, San Jose, CA (US); Chen Zheng, Santa Clara, CA (US); Ramon Villar Ramirez, Cupertino, CA (US); Jonathan M. Beard, San Jose, CA (US); Adam S. Howell, Oakland, CA (US); Taylor H. Gilbert, Los Gatos, CA (US); Alexander L. Jackson, San Francisco, CA (US); and Qigen Ji, Fairfield, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/430,375.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/503,382, filed on May 19, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0385697 A1, Nov. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 3/023 (2006.01); G06F 3/02 (2006.01); G06F 3/042 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/0231 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0213 (2013.01); G06F 3/0426 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modular electronic device system, comprising:
a computing device including a first sensor, a processor, and a memory device; and
an input device comprising a frame and a flexible elongated tail positioned on a perimeter edge of the frame, the flexible elongated tail including an attachment portion at an end of the flexible elongated tail, the attachment portion being removably connected to the computing device and configured to suspend the computing device above a support surface, the input device including a second sensor;
wherein the memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
determine an angle of the computing device relative to a gravitational direction based on a first signal from the first sensor;
determine an angle of the input device relative to the gravitational direction based on the second signal from the second sensor;
determine a hinge angle between the computing device and the input device at the flexible elongated tail based on the angle of the computing device and the angle of the input device; and
change an input setting in response to determining the hinge angle; and
wherein:
the processor is configured to set the input setting to a first state based on the hinge angle being within a first range of hinge angles, the first range of hinge angles comprising 30 degrees to 120 degrees; and
the processor is configured to set the input setting to a second state based on the hinge angle being within a second range of hinge angles different from the first range of hinge angles, the second range of hinge angles comprising angles outside the first range of hinge angles.