Integrated inductive charging in protective cover

• US 10,007,312 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wodrich, Justin Richard, McClure, Stephen Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhou, Zixuan
• Application Number:
  US14/532,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20150061589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 307104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/00 Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00

Abstract

Accurate and reliable techniques for wirelessly powering a tablet device are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method operable by a portable electronic device having a housing that includes a back-side having a radio frequency (RF) transmissive portion, the housing arranged to carry a first magnetic element, a battery, an inductive power receiver, and a display assembly having a touch sensitive display that occupies substantially all of a front-side of the housing, the method comprising:

in a presence of a charging device having a body (i) that is characterized as having a size and shape in accordance with the RF transmissive portion and (ii) that carries a second magnetic element and an inductive power transmitter that is coiled in accordance with a shape of the RF transmissive portion;

creating a magnetic circuit between the first and second magnetic elements, wherein the magnetic circuit aligns and secures the body to the housing of the portable electronic device; and

receiving an operable amount of power from the inductive power transmitter by the inductive power receiver in accordance with a current battery state,

wherein the magnetic circuit is of sufficient strength such that, when the portable electronic device moves, the portable electronic device carries along the magnetically secured charging device while maintaining an inductive connection between the inductive power transmitter and the inductive power receiver.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least some of the operable amount of power received at the inductive power receiver is passed to the battery when the current battery state is other than a full battery state.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, the charging device further comprising:

an external power connector suitable for receiving external power from an external power supply.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the operable amount of power received by the inductive power receiver comprises at least some of the external power received from the external power connector.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF transmissive portion is formed of a non-metallic material selected from a group consisting of ceramic, plastic, and glass.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF transmissive portion has a size and the shape in accordance with the inductive power receiver.

7. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing arranged to carry a display, a battery, a first magnetic element and an inductive power receiver, the housing having a back-side having a radio frequency (RF) transmissive portion,

wherein in a presence of a charging device having a body (i) that is characterized as having a size and a shape in accordance with the RF transmissive portion and (ii) that carries a second magnetic element and an inductive power transmitter, the portable electronic device is capable of coupling with the charging device such that;

a magnetic circuit is created between the first and second magnetic elements, the magnetic circuit secures the body to the housing of the portable electronic device;

the inductive power receiver receives an operable amount of power from the inductive power transmitter in accordance with a current battery state; and

the magnetic circuit is of sufficient strength such that, when the portable electronic device moves, the portable electronic device carries along the magnetically secured charging device while maintaining an inductive connection between the inductive power transmitter and the inductive power receiver.

8. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein when the current battery state is full, the inductive power receiver is not enabled to receive power from the inductive power transmitter.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein at least some of the operable amount of power received at the inductive power receiver is passed to the battery when the current battery state is not full.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the charging device further comprising:

an external power connector suitable for receiving external power from an external power supply.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the inductive power transmitter is coiled in accordance with a shape of the RF transmissive portion.

12. An accessory device arranged to inductively provide power to a portable electronic device having a housing carrying a display, a battery, a first magnetic element, and an inductive power receiver unit, the housing having a back-side having a radio frequency (RF) transmissive portion, the accessory device comprising:

a body characterized as having a size and a shape in accordance with the RF transmissive portion, the body carrying;

(i) an inductive power transmitter arranged to inductively pass an operable amount of power in accordance with a current battery state of the battery to the portable electronic device by inductive coupling with the inductive power receiver unit, wherein the inductive power transmitter is coiled in accordance with a shape of the RF transmissive portion, and

(ii) a second magnetic element used to secure the body to the portable electronic device, wherein the second magnetic element is of sufficient strength such that, when the second magnetic element is coupled to the first magnetic element and when the portable electronic device moves, the portable electronic device carries along the magnetically secured accessory device while maintaining an inductive connection between the inductive power transmitter and the inductive power receiver unit.

13. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, wherein when the current battery state is full, the inductive power receiver unit is not enabled to receive the power from the inductive power transmitter.

14. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, wherein at least some of the power passed from the inductive power transmitter to the inductive power receiver unit is sent to the battery when the current battery state is not full.

15. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, the body further comprising:

an external power connector suitable for receiving external power from an external power supply.

16. The accessory device as recited in claim 15, wherein the operable amount of power received by the inductive power receiver unit comprises at least some of the external power received from the external power connector.

17. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable electronic device receives external power only from the inductive power transmitter.

18. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, wherein the inductive power transmitter has a annular shape.

19. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, wherein the body is capable of being secured to the housing of the portable electronic device at least in a first configuration and in a second configuration different than the first configuration, and the inductive connection is maintained in the first configuration and in the second configuration.

20. The accessory device as recited in claim 12, wherein the body is capable of continuously rotate relative to the portable electronic device while the second magnetic element is coupled to the first magnetic element.