Abstract: There is disclosed magnetic connectors and electronic devices including such connectors. A connector may include a magnet rotatable about at least one axis of the magnet; wherein the magnet rotates to magnetically engage a magnet of another connector to form an electrical connection between the two magnets. A connector may also include a cylindrical magnet to magnetically engage a magnet of another connector; and a sleeve wrapped around at least part of the magnet, the sleeve comprising a contact for forming an electrical connection with a contact on the other connector. A connector may be adapted for selective connection with other connectors. A connector may be adapted such that a moveable magnet may move between an engaged position proximate a contacting surface of the connector and a disengaged position recessed from a contacting surface, wherein the moveable magnet is biased to the disengaged position.

Abstract: A method of configuring an electronic device capable of acting as a host or slave device to other electronic devices, and a corresponding electronic device are disclosed. The method includes determining a metric representative of the electronic device's readiness to assume the host mode among at least two electronic devices; initiating a timer that times an amount of time inversely proportional to the device's readiness to assume the host mode among the at least two electronic devices; prior to expiry of the amount of time, determining if another of the electronic devices has assumed its host mode, and in response thereto assuming the slave mode; and upon expiry of the amount of time, assuming the host mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed magnetic connectors and electronic devices including such connectors. A connector may include a magnet rotatable about at least one axis of the magnet; wherein the magnet rotates to magnetically engage a magnet of another connector to form an electrical connection between the two magnets. A connector may also include a cylindrical magnet to magnetically engage a magnet of another connector; and a sleeve wrapped around at least part of the magnet, the sleeve comprising a contact for forming an electrical connection with a contact on the other connector. A connector may be adapted for selective connection with other connectors. A connector may be adapted such that a moveable magnet may move between an engaged position proximate a contacting surface of the connector and a disengaged position recessed from a contacting surface, wherein the moveable magnet is biased to the disengaged position.

Abstract: There is described a method of operating an electronic device having a housing and a user interface mounted to the housing. The user interface includes force sensor(s) on an edge of the housing and a display screen. The method includes displaying, on the display screen, a graphical element having an edge portion; receiving an input from the force sensor(s) on the edge, the input being a measured value of a force applied on the force sensor(s); and in response to said input received, modifying the graphical element on the display screen in a manner to move, to a destination position, the edge portion depending on a direction of movement of the edge portion, the destination position of the edge portion depending on an amplitude of the measured value.

Abstract: A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.

Abstract: A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.

Abstract: A virtual reality system may facilitate use of a physical smartphone by rendering a corresponding virtual smartphone within a virtual reality environment. Screencast data originating from the physical smartphone may be emulated on a screen of the virtual smartphone in the virtual reality environment. User customizations of the physical smartphone screen, if any, may thus be mirrored on the screen of the virtual smartphone. Indicator or button states of the physical smartphone may also be emulated on the virtual smartphone. The virtual reality system may track a position and orientation of the physical smartphone and may effect analogous changes in position or orientation of the virtual smartphone.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device may comprise a wireless transceiver and at least one magnetic connector. The mobile electronic device may further comprise connectedness detection circuitry operable to dynamically detect a connection event at each of the at least one magnetic connector. A processor, coupled to the connectedness detection circuitry, may be operable to: automatically establish a wireless communications link, via the wireless transceiver, with another electronic device upon detection, by the connectedness detection circuitry, of the connection event at a predetermined set of the at least one magnetic connector evidencing a magnetic attachment of the mobile electronic device to the other electronic device; and access, via the wireless communications link, a hardware resource of the other electronic device. The at least one magnetic connector may be a plurality of magnetic connectors. The predetermined set of magnetic connectors may be all of the magnetic connectors or a subset thereof.

Abstract: A powered wall mount includes a cover plate and a mount head in electrical communication with one another. The cover plate is configured to cover an electrical outlet in a wall without blocking any sockets. The cover plate includes a pair of resilient contacts that resiliently contact respective terminals of a pair of terminals of the electrical outlet upon mating of the cover plate with the electrical outlet. The mount head, which may be attached to the wall near the electrical outlet, includes a device mounting surface, at least one connector configured to hold a portable electronic device at the device mounting surface, and a power transfer mechanism configured to transfer power to the device when held at the device mounting surface. The connector(s) may be magnetic. Conveniently, the device may be attached to the mount head, used indefinitely while drawing power as needed, and then detached.

Abstract: There is described a method of operating an electronic device having a housing and a user interface mounted to the housing. The user interface includes force sensor(s) on an edge of the housing and a display screen. The method includes displaying, on the display screen, a graphical element having an edge portion; receiving an input from the force sensor(s) on the edge, the input being a measured value of a force applied on the force sensor(s); and in response to said input received, modifying the graphical element on the display screen in a manner to move, to a destination position, the edge portion depending on a direction of movement of the edge portion, the destination position of the edge portion depending on an amplitude of the measured value.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a plurality of magnetic guide rails proximate its surface. The electronic device may be interconnected to a second electronic device in a configuration in which the second electronic device is located at a pre-defined position relative to the electronic device. The plurality of magnetic guide rails in the electronic device interact with at least one magnetic element on the second electronic device to magnetically guide relative movement of the two electronic devices. As one electronic device is urged along a surface of the other toward the pre-defined position, the electronic devices are positioned in the configuration of the pre-defined position.

Abstract: A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.

Abstract: There is provided an adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system. The adapter generally has a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges and being adapted to receive the electronic device, each of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler electrically connectable with at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system by magnetically engaging the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter with the at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system, and an internal electric conductor network electrically connected to the magnetic couplers of the adapter and electrically connected to an internal connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing.

Abstract: A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed that includes a body having an external surface; a processor enclosed within the body; and at least one force sensor disposed on the body and connected to the processor, the force sensor being operable to generate at least one signal indicative of a magnitude of a force applied to the external surface of the body, the processor being configured to receive the at least one signal and to determine a user input by processing the received at least one signal. The device may include at least one touch sensing surface and may be operable to receive a touch applied to the external surface of the body and to generate at least one signal indicative of a location of the received touch on the at least one touch sensing surface.

Abstract: A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed magnetic connectors and electronic devices including such connectors. A connector may include a magnet rotatable about at least one axis of the magnet; wherein the magnet rotates to magnetically engage a magnet of another connector to form an electrical connection between the two magnets. A connector may also include a cylindrical magnet to magnetically engage a magnet of another connector; and a sleeve wrapped around at least part of the magnet, the sleeve comprising a contact for forming an electrical connection with a contact on the other connector. A connector may be adapted for selective connection with other connectors. A connector may be adapted such that a moveable magnet may move between an engaged position proximate a contacting surface of the connector and a disengaged position recessed from a contacting surface, wherein the moveable magnet is biased to the disengaged position.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an electronic device may comprise a wireless element and a pair of magnetic connectors. The magnetic connectors may be spaced apart from one another and may be in fixed relation to the wireless element. The pair of magnetic connectors may be configured to self-align with, and interconnect with, a complementary pair of magnetic connectors of another electronic device and to thereby align the wireless element with a complementary wireless element of the other electronic device for ultra short range wireless interaction between the electronic devices via the aligned wireless elements. The wireless elements may for example be antennas, coils, or electric induction couplers. The wireless interaction may for example be wireless communication or wireless power transfer. The magnetic connectors may incorporate cylindrical magnets. In an embodiment, the electronic device may have only one magnetic connector.

Abstract: In an aspect, a device comprises one or more magnetic connectors, a wireless element associated with the one or more magnetic connectors, connectedness detection circuitry operable to dynamically detect a connection event or a disconnection event at the one or more magnetic connectors, and wireless element activation circuitry, coupled to the connectedness detection circuitry, operable to activate or deactivate the wireless element upon dynamic detection of the connection event or the disconnection event, respectively, at the one or more associated magnetic connectors. In an aspect, a method comprises, at a device having one or more magnetic connectors and a wireless element associated with the one or more magnetic connectors, automatically detecting a connection event or a disconnection event at the one or more magnetic connectors, and responsive to the automatic detecting of the connection event or the disconnection event, activating or deactivating, respectively, the associated wireless element.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch sensitive display and a processor in communication with the touch sensitive display. The device detects that a second electronic device is in a defined position proximate the electronic device and detects a touch gesture including a swipe tracing a path across the touch sensitive display between a first position proximate the second electronic device and a second position away from the second electronic device. In response to the detection of the touch gesture, regions of the displayed user interface are updated to include visual attributes of a user interface of the second electronic device.