Connectible component identification

Abstract

A connectible component is connected to a housing. A sensor of the housing is utilized to detect an identity element of the at connectible component. The connectible component is identified utilizing the at least one sensor. In some implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify whether or not a connectible component is connected to the housing. In other implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify the type of connectible component that is connected. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronic device and the electronic device may be configured based on the type of connectible component that is connected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic system comprising:
 a connectable component comprising:
 an identity element, wherein the identity element comprises a magnetic element; and 
   an electronic device comprising:
 a housing; 
 a magnet in the housing; and 
 a sensor in the housing, the sensor configured to provide an indication of a strength of a magnetic field, 
 wherein the electronic device determines, based on the indication of the strength of the magnetic field, an identity of the connectable component from a group of different connectable components, where each different connectable component includes a different identity element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic system of  claim 1  wherein the magnetic element assists in positioning the connectable component with the electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic system of  claim 2  wherein the sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic system of  claim 3  wherein the magnetic element is formed of a ferrous metal. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic system of  claim 4  wherein the identity element comprises a plurality of magnetic elements. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic system of  claim 5  wherein the identity element comprises a plurality of individually controllable magnetic elements. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic system of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic system of  claim 7  wherein the connectable component comprises a cover. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic system comprising:
 a connectable component comprising:
 a plurality of identity elements, wherein each identity element comprises a magnetic element; and 
   an electronic device comprising:
 a housing; 
 a plurality of magnets in the housing; and 
 a plurality of sensors in the housing, each sensor configured to provide an indication of a strength of a magnetic field, 
 wherein the electronic device determines, based on the indication of the strength of the magnetic field from each of the plurality of sensors, an identity of the connectable component from a group of different connectable components, where each different connectable component includes a different identity element. 
   
     
     
         10 . The electronic system of  claim 9  wherein the magnetic elements assist in positioning the connectable component with the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic system of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of sensors comprise Hall-effect sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic system of  claim 11  wherein the magnetic elements are each formed of a ferrous metal. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic system of  claim 12  wherein the identity element comprises a plurality of individually controllable magnetic elements. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic system of  claim 9  wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic system of  claim 14  wherein the connectable component comprises a cover. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic system comprising:
 a connectable component comprising:
 a plurality of identity elements, wherein each identity element comprises a magnetic element; and 
   an electronic device comprising:
 a housing; 
 a plurality of magnets in the housing; and 
 a plurality of Hall-effect sensors in the housing, each Hall-effect sensor configured to provide an indication of a strength of a magnetic field, 
 wherein the electronic device determines, based on the indication of the strength of the magnetic field from each of the plurality of Hall-effect sensors, an identity of the connectable component from a group of different connectable components, where each different connectable component includes a different identity element. 
   
     
     
         17 . The electronic system of  claim 16  wherein the magnetic elements assist in positioning the connectable component with the electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic system of  claim 17  wherein the magnetic elements are each formed of a ferrous metal. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic system of  claim 18  wherein the identity element comprises a plurality of individually controllable magnetic elements. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic system of  claim 16  wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile computing device and the connectable component comprises a cover.