Padfolio for electronic tablet with soft corners, inductive charging device and extra battery storage

• US 10,243,390 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QuirkLogic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: QuirkLogic, Inc.
• Inventors: Mabey, Michael Howatt, de la Fuente, Alfonso Fabian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelton, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/976,802
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 320103, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

In general, embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for housing and (re)charging one or two mobile computing device(s). More specifically, in one or more embodiments of the invention, the apparatus includes an inductive (re)charging element, which generates direct current (DC) when proximal to external power sources extending electromagnetic (EM) fields. The generated DC may then be disseminated, through a physical connection, towards (re)charging the one or two mobile computing device(s) and/or a backup battery. Subsequently, the battery provides DC, that had been stored, to (re)charge the one or two mobile computing device(s) whenever the apparatus is not proximal to an EM field inducing external power source.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a back cover assembly comprising a back cover, a back cover shock frame comprising a first opening, a back cover support plate, and an inductive power unit (IPU); and

a front cover assembly comprising a front cover, a front cover shock frame comprising a second opening, and a backup power unit (BPU),

wherein the IPU affixes to an inside surface of the back cover and comprises an inductive receiving (RX) coil operatively connected to an inductive power cable,

wherein the inductive power cable is a physical conduit configured to provide power from the inductive RX coil to a computing device in contact with the inductive power cable,

wherein the back cover shock frame affixes to a perimeter of the inside surface of the back cover,

wherein the first opening of the back cover shock frame exposes an area of the inside surface of the back cover,

wherein the area of the inside surface of the back cover accommodates the IPU and the back cover support plate therein,

wherein the front cover shock frame affixes to a perimeter of an inside surface of the front cover and borders the BPU,

wherein the second opening of the front cover shock frame exposes an area of the inside surface of the front cover,

wherein the area of the inside surface of the front cover accommodates the BPU therein,

wherein a binding spine attaches the back cover assembly to the front cover assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back cover shock frame borders the IPU and the back cover support plate, wherein the IPU is interposed between the back cover and the back cover support plate within the first opening of the back cover shock frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the BPU is operatively connected to the IPU.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a power bridge cable connecting the IPU to the BPU.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the BPU comprises a battery, a battery management device (BMD) configured to manage the battery, and a backup power cable operatively connected to the battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the BPU is configured to provide direct current (DC) to the IPU, wherein the IPU comprises an inductive power cable configured to receive the DC.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the BPU is configured to receive direct current (DC) from the IPU, wherein the IPU comprises an inductive receiving (RX) coil configured to generate DC.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back cover shock frame borders the IPU and the back cover support plate, wherein the back cover shock frame further comprises an inductive power cable cavity that extends through a thickness of the back cover shock frame, wherein at least a portion of the inductive power cable extends through the inductive power cable cavity.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front cover assembly further comprises:

a front cover support plate,

wherein the area of the inside surface of the front cover further accommodates the front cover support plate therein,

wherein the BPU is interposed between the front cover and the front cover support plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the BPU comprises a battery, a battery management device (BMD) configured to manage the battery, and a backup power cable operatively connected to the battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front cover shock frame further comprises a backup power cable cavity that extends through a thickness of the front cover shock frame, wherein at least a portion of the backup power cable extends through the backup power cable cavity.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front cover shock frame further comprises a plurality of corners, wherein at least one of the plurality of corners comprises shock absorbent material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back cover shock frame borders the IPU and the back cover support plate, wherein the back cover shock frame comprises a plurality of corners, wherein at least one of the plurality of corners comprises shock absorbent material.