Magnetic slider mechanism for electronic devices and methods of use

Abstract

A portable processing device that includes a base portion and a main portion. The base portion includes a magnet and guides. The main portion includes a magnetic area. The base portion and the main portion are separable and configured to be held together by a magnetic force between the magnetic area and the magnet. The main portion is configured to be slideably movable with respect to the base portion in a sliding direction defined by the guides. The base portion may further include a cavity adjacent to the top end of the base portion, with a second magnet disposed proximate the cavity. At the end of a sliding motion, the bottom of the main portion is pulled into the cavity by magnetic attraction between the second magnet and the magnetic area. In some embodiments the main portion may be capable of a flip with respect to the base portion.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A portable processing device, comprising:
 a base portion including guides and a magnet; and   a main portion separable from the base portion, the main portion including a magnetic area,   the base portion and the main portion being configured to be held together by a magnetic force between the magnetic area and the magnet, and the main portion being configured to be slideably movable with respect to the base portion in a sliding direction defined by the guides,   wherein an end of the magnetic area defines an area of greater magnetic attraction than a remainder of the magnetic area.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the base portion further includes a cavity disposed adjacent to a top end of the base portion, and a second magnet disposed proximate the cavity, and   wherein a bottom of the main portion is configured to be pulled into the cavity by a magnetic force between the magnetic area and the second magnet when a sliding movement of the main portion brings the bottom of the main portion near the cavity.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , the main portion further comprising:
 a first planar surface including a first output apparatus; and   a second planar surface including a second output apparatus,   the first planar surface and the second planar surface being on opposite sides of the main portion, and the main portion being configured to be flipped with respect to the base portion, such that the main portion moves from a first position in which the first planar surface generally faces the base portion to a second position in which the second planar surface generally faces the base portion.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the main portion is configured to operate as a portable processing device when separated from the base portion. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 ,
 wherein one planar surface of the main portion comprises a touchscreen display.   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 24 ,
 wherein one planar surface of the main portion comprises at least one of a display, input members, or an input device.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the main portion further comprises an additional magnetic area of greater magnetic attraction than the magnetic area, the additional magnetic area being disposed at an end of the magnetic area. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the guides include guide rails positioned parallel to each other along respective sides of the base portion. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the main portion is further configured to be slideably movable with respect to the base portion in a second sliding direction defined by the guides. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the base portion and the main portion communicate with each other via shortwave wireless communication means. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the one planar surface of the main portion comprises a display, further comprising:
 one or more sensors located proximal to the magnet;   a memory containing instructions; and   one or more processors,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to:
 determine, via the one or more sensors, whether or not the magnet is coupled to the magnetic area; and 
 display different information on the display based on whether or not the magnet is coupled to the magnetic area. 
   
     
     
         32 . A method of operating a portable processing device, comprising:
 sliding a main portion with respect to a base portion in a direction defined by guides associated with the base portion,   wherein the main portion is separable from the base portion and wherein the main portion is connectable with the base portion by a magnetic force between a magnet associated with the base portion and a magnetic area associated with the main portion, and   wherein an end of the magnetic area defines an area of greater magnetic attraction than a remainder of the magnetic area.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 sliding a bottom of the main portion near a cavity disposed adjacent to a top end of the base portion; and   pulling the bottom end of the main portion into the cavity by magnetic attraction between a second magnet disposed proximate the cavity and the magnetic area.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 flipping the main portion with respect to the base portion, such that the main portion moves from a first position in which a first planar surface of the main portion generally faces the base portion to a second position in which a second planar surface of the main portion generally faces the base portion.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 separating the main portion from the base portion; and   operating the main portion as a portable processing device.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the guides include guide rails positioned parallel to each other along respective sides of the base portion. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the main portion is further configured to be slideably movable with respect to the base portion in a second sliding direction defined by the guides. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the base portion and the main portion communicate with each other via shortwave wireless communication means. 
     
     
         39 . A method of operating a portable processing device, comprising:
 sliding a main portion with respect to a base portion in a direction defined by guides associated with the base portion,   wherein the main portion is separable from the base portion and wherein the main portion is connectable with the base portion by a magnetic force between a magnet associated with the base portion and a magnetic area associated with the main portion,   wherein an end of the magnetic area defines an area of greater magnetic attraction than a remainder of the area,   wherein the main portion comprises a display, and   wherein one or more sensors is located proximal to the magnet;   determining, via the one or more sensors, whether or not the magnet is coupled to the magnetic area; and   displaying different information on the display based on whether or not the magnet is coupled to the magnetic area.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 sliding a bottom of the main portion near a cavity disposed adjacent to a top end of the base portion; and   pulling the bottom end of the main portion into the cavity by magnetic attraction between a second magnet disposed proximate the cavity and the magnetic area.   
     
     
         41 . A portable processing device, comprising:
 a main portion including guides and a magnet; and   a base portion separable from the main portion, the base portion including a magnetic area,   the main portion and the base portion being configured to be held together by a magnetic force between the magnetic area and the magnet, and the main portion being configured to be slideably movable with respect to the base portion in a sliding direction defined by the guides,   wherein an end of the magnetic area defines an area of greater magnetic attraction than a remainder of the magnetic area.