Accessory case for wireless electronic device

• US 10,211,871 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Noori, Basim H., Salam, Khan M., Mow, Matthew A., Jiang, Yi, Ouyang, Yuehui
• Primary Examiner(s): Akonai, Olumide Ajibade
• Application Number:
  US14/966,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20170170859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455 903, 455572, 455573, 4555751, 4555758
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming

Abstract

A removable case may have a body that is configured to receive an electronic device. The case may be coupled to the electronic device using wired and wireless paths. The case may include circuitry that receives wireless power from external equipment. The circuitry that receives the wireless power may receive wireless power at microwave frequencies. Received power may be supplied to the electronic device through wired and wireless paths. The removable case may also include circuitry that wirelessly communicates with external equipment. An array of antennas may be used to support beam steering. The array of antennas may support wireless communications in millimeter wave communications bands such as a communications band at 60 GHz or other extremely high frequency communications bands. The case and electronic device may have respective intermediate frequency antenna structures to allow intermediate frequency signals to be wirelessly conveyed between the case and device.

Claims

1. A removable electronic device case that is configured to mate with an electronic device and that supports wireless communications with external equipment, comprising:

a body configured to mate with the electronic device;

millimeter wave transceiver circuitry in the body; and

a phased antenna array with which the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry transmits radio-frequency signals to the external equipment at a frequency between 10 GHz and 400 GHz, wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry performs beam steering operations using the phased antenna array.

2. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 1 wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry and the array of antennas are configured to transmit the radio-frequency signals to the external equipment in an extremely high frequency band.

3. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 1 wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry and the array of antennas are configured to transmit the radio-frequency signals to the external equipment in a 60 GHz frequency band.

4. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 1 further comprising an integrated circuit that includes the antenna array and the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry.

5. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 4 further comprising an intermediate frequency antenna structure and an intermediate frequency transceiver circuit coupled to the intermediate frequency antenna structure, wherein the intermediate frequency antenna structure and intermediate frequency transceiver circuit wirelessly communicate with the electronic device using intermediate frequency wireless signals.

6. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 5 wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry includes upconverter circuitry that converts intermediate frequency signals from the intermediate frequency transceiver circuit to the radio-frequency signals that the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry transmits to the external equipment with the antenna array.

7. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 6 wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry includes downconverter circuitry that converts radio-frequency signals that the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry receives from the antenna array to intermediate frequency signals that are received from the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry by the intermediate frequency transceiver circuit.

8. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 7 wherein the intermediate frequency antenna structure is near field coupled to a corresponding intermediate frequency antenna structure in the electronic device.

9. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 8 further comprising circuitry in the body including at least one antenna and radio-frequency-to-direct-current power conversion circuitry that receive radio-frequency wireless power signals from external circuitry and that convert the received radio-frequency wireless power signals into direct current power that is supplied to the electronic device.

10. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 9 wherein the at least one antenna and radio-frequency-to-direct-current power conversion circuitry are configured to receive radio-frequency power wireless power signals at a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 MHz.

11. A removable electronic device case that is configured to mate with an electronic device and that receives wireless power from external equipment, comprising:

a body configured to mate with the electronic device;

circuitry in the body that includes at least one antenna and radio-frequency-to-direct-current power conversion circuitry that receives radio-frequency wireless power signals from the external equipment and that converts the received radio-frequency wireless power signals into direct current power that is supplied to the electronic device;

a connector in the body that is coupled to the electronic device, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the direct current power to the electronic device through the connector; and

an antenna structure that is wirelessly coupled to the electronic device, wherein the circuitry is configured to wirelessly supply power to the electronic device through the antenna structure.

12. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive wave wireless power signals at a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 MHz from the external equipment.

13. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 12 wherein the at least one antenna comprises an array of antennas.

14. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive wireless power signals from the external equipment at a frequency selected from the group consisting of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

15. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive wireless power signals from the external equipment at a frequency above 60 GHz.

16. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 11 further comprising an integrated circuit that contains a 60 GHz antenna array that wirelessly communicates in a 60 GHz communications band.

17. The removable electronic device case defined in claim 11, further comprising:

a battery, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the direct current power to the battery to charge the battery.

18. A removable electronic device case, comprising:

a millimeter wave transceiver;

an array of antennas coupled to the millimeter wave transceiver that transmit and receive wireless signals in a millimeter wave communications band;

at least one antenna structure that receives wireless power at a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 MHz; and

a battery that is charged using the received wireless power.

19. A removable electronic device case that is configured to mate with an electronic device and that supports wireless communications with external equipment, comprising:

a body configured to mate with the electronic device;

radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in the body;

an array of antennas with which the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry wirelessly communicates with the external equipment; and

an intermediate frequency antenna structure and an intermediate frequency transceiver circuit coupled to the intermediate frequency antenna structure, wherein the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and the array of antennas are configured to wirelessly communicate with the external equipment in a first frequency band and the intermediate frequency antenna structure and intermediate frequency transceiver circuit wirelessly communicate with the electronic device using intermediate frequency wireless signals in a second frequency band that is lower than the first frequency band.