PORTFOLIO WITH EMBEDDED MOBILE ACCESSORY

• US 20080251338A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Lam, Hue V., Golden, Stuart A., Trethewey, James R., Egger, Ron D.
• Application Number:
  US11/735,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20080251338A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 190/100
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/025 for holding portable computers or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and system for a portfolio with an embedded mobile accessory. The portfolio may include a communication interface to communicatively couple the mobile accessory to a mobile computing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first cover configured to mechanically couple to a first surface of a mobile computing device and having a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the apparatus to the mobile computing device; and

a second cover configured to mechanically couple to a second surface of the mobile computing device and having a mobile accessory communicatively coupled to the communication interface, the first cover coupled to the second cover in a manner to allow a first rotation between the first cover and the second cover to complement a second rotation between the first surface and the second surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cover is configured to mechanically couple to the first surface by one or more fasteners.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second cover is configured to mechanically couple to the second surface by one or more additional fasteners.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more fasteners include a button, a pin, a snap and/or a magnetic fastener.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile accessory is configured to transmit one or more control signals to the mobile computing device through the communication interface to power-up the mobile computing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile accessory includes a display, a charging pad, solar panel, and/or a graphics module.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second cover comprise a flexible material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second cover is further configured to be mechanically decoupled from the second surface while the first cover is mechanically coupled to the first surface.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the apparatus to a mobile accessory within a portfolio;

a first portion having an input device;

a second portion having a display;

a hinge connected to the first and second portions and configured to allow the first and second portions to rotate with respect to one another; and

a plurality of fasteners configured to mechanically couple the apparatus to the portfolio.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more fasteners include a button, a pin, a snap and/or a magnetic fastener.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication interface comprises a connector.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication interface comprises a control channel to receive one or more control signals from the mobile accessory to power-up the mobile computing device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a laptop computing device.

17. A system comprising:

a first cover configured to mechanically couple to a first surface of a mobile computing device and having a connector configured to communicatively couple the system to the mobile computing device, the connector further configured to provide a power channel interface to the mobile computing device; and

a second cover configured to mechanically couple to a second surface of the mobile computing device and having a mobile accessory communicatively coupled to the connector, the first cover coupled to the second cover in a manner to allow a first rotation between the first cover and the second cover to complement a second rotation between the first surface and the second surface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile accessory comprises a solar panel and the system is further configured to provide power to the mobile computing device via the power channel interface.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile accessory is configured to receive power from the mobile computing device via the power channel interface.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile accessory includes a display, a charging pad, a solar panel, and/or a graphics module.