Mobile device case for receiving wireless signals

• US 10,516,431 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: DiLella, Mark Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US15/820,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20190158136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 455573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers

Abstract

A wireless case for use with a mobile electronic device can include a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a right side wall, a left side wall. The case can include a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals. The case can further include a device interface that can be electrically coupled to the wireless receiver. The device interface can move between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the device interface can be configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device to deliver the electrical signals from the wireless receiver to the mobile electronic device. In the disengaged position the device interface can be configured to disengage from the corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the case or removal of the mobile electronic device from the case.

Claims

1. A wireless case for use with a mobile electronic device, the wireless case comprising:

a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back of a mobile electronic device;

a top wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device;

a right side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device;

a left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device;

a front opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening;

a wireless receiver configured to extend across at least a portion of the back wall such that the wireless receiver is configured to be behind the back of the mobile electronic device, the wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals; and

a device interface electrically coupled to the wireless receiver by a flexible connector, wherein the device interface is movable relative to at least the bottom wall of the case between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the device interface is configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device to deliver the electrical signals from the wireless receiver to the mobile electronic device, wherein in the disengaged position the device interface is configured to disengage from the corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the case or removal of the mobile electronic device from the case, and wherein the device interface in the disengaged position is movable by bending the flexible connector to expose the corresponding interface of the mobile electronic device.

2. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive a wireless charging signal such that the device interface delivers electrical power to the mobile electronic device based on the wireless charging signal.

3. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a wireless charging receiver coil.

4. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver moves with the device interface as the device interface moves between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

5. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the device interface slides in a direction away from the top wall to move to the disengaged position, and wherein the device interface slides in a direction towards the top wall to move to the engaged position.

6. The wireless case of claim 1, further comprising an opening through the bottom wall, wherein the device interface passes through the opening in the bottom wall to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

7. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the case comprises an interior area between the back wall, the front opening, the top wall, the bottom wall, the right side wall, and the left side wall, and wherein the device interface is positioned outside the interior area when in the disengaged position.

8. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the case provides access for an external interface to engage the corresponding interface of the mobile electronic device when the device interface is in the disengaged position.

9. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein one or more of the back wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, the right side wall, and the left side wall is flexible such that the mobile electronic device can pass through the front opening and be securely disposed within the wireless case.

10. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the wireless case is configured to house a smartphone, and wherein the wireless case has an external shape that generally corresponds to an external shape of the smartphone.

11. The wireless case of claim 1, comprising an opening on a back side of the case that provides access to an actuator for moving the device interface from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

12. The wireless case of claim 11, wherein the actuator comprises a grip configured to be manipulated by a user'"'"'s finger.

13. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is removable and reinsertable through the front opening.

14. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the device interface is removable and reinsertable through the front opening.

15. The wireless case of claim 1, further comprising one or more guides that define a direction of motion and/or range of motion for the device interface.

16. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the back wall comprises one or more tabs and wherein a housing containing the wireless receiver comprises one or more slots that allow the one or more tabs to pass therethrough.

17. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein a housing contains the wireless receiver, wherein the back wall comprises a recess for receiving the wireless receiver, wherein the recess is larger than the housing to permit the wireless receiver and housing to move with the device interface.

18. The wireless case of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is positioned forward of the back wall so that the wireless receiver is between the back wall and the back of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is in the case.

19. A system for transferring wireless signals to or from a mobile electronic device, the system comprising:

a case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device;

a wireless antenna external to the case so that the wireless antenna is between a back of the mobile electronic device and the case when the mobile electronic device is in the case; and

a device interface electrically coupled to the wireless antenna and configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device;

wherein one or both of the device interface and the wireless antenna is movable relative to the case;

wherein the wireless antenna and the device interface are coupled by a flexible connector; and

wherein the device interface is movable by bending the flexible connector to expose the corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device through the case, such that an external interface can engage the corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system is configured for wireless charging of a battery of the mobile electronic device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless antenna is a wireless charging receiver coil.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless antenna is movable with respect to the case.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless antenna is disposed in a housing, wherein the case comprises a recess configured to receive the wireless antenna and housing, and wherein the recess is larger than the housing so that the housing and wireless antenna can move within the recess.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the device interface is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the wireless antenna moves with the device interface between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the device interface moves through an opening through the case when moving from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein at least a majority of the device interface is positioned inside an interior area of the case when in the engaged position, and wherein at least a majority of the device interface is positioned outside of the interior area of the case when in the disengaged position.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the case is flexible.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the case is configured to house a smartphone, and wherein the case has an external shape that generally corresponds to an external shape of the smartphone.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein an opening through the case provides access to an actuator configured to move the device interface.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the actuator is configured to be engaged by a user'"'"'s finger to pull the device interface out of the corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein one or both of the device interface and the wireless antenna is movable relative to a bottom wall of the case that is configured to extend along a bottom portion of the mobile electronic device.