Apple Inc.
KEYBOARD ACCESSORY FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Abstract:

An accessory device for an electronic device is described. The accessory device may include a cover section and a keyboard section. The cover section may include a receiving surface that engages the electronic device. The cover section may include electrical contacts designed to electrically couple with contacts on the electronic device. The cover section may include several magnets designed to magnetically couple with magnets within the electronic device. The keyboard section may include a keyboard and one or more channels designed to receive and position the electronic device in a usable configuration with the keyboard. Several magnets may surround each channel, and may magnetically couple with magnets within (and along an edge of) the electronic device. The magnetic circuits formed between the channel magnets and the device magnets may counter, or offset, forces that otherwise remove the electronic device from the channel in an undesired manner.