BATTERY PACK, HOLSTER, AND EXTENDIBLE PROCESSING AND INTERFACE PLATFORM FOR MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20090186264A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,367,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/96
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A battery pack is provided for a mobile communication device, comprising a casing defining a cavity that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device and one or more rechargeable power cells housed within the thickness of the casing. An internal interface engages a corresponding interface on the mobile communication device to provide power from the one or more rechargeable cells to the mobile communication device. An external interface is electrically coupled to the internal interface in order to transmit signals from the mobile communication device to an external device and may further serve to recharge the one or more rechargeable power cells. The battery pack may also serve as an extendible platform by providing additional integrated communication interfaces and/or processors that can be utilized by the mobile communication device to extend its communication and/or processing capabilities.

Claims

1. A battery pack for a mobile communication device, comprising:

a casing defining a cavity that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device; and

one or more rechargeable power cells housed within the thickness of the casing.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the casing secures the mobile communication device within the cavity while at least one surface of the mobile communication device remains exposed.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal interface that engages a corresponding interface on the mobile communication device to provide power from the one or more rechargeable cells to the mobile communication device.

4. The battery pack of claim 3, further comprising:

an external interface electrically coupled to the internal interface to transmit signals from the mobile communication device to an external device.

5. The battery pack of claim 4, wherein the external interface further serves to recharge the one or more rechargeable power cells.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the casing further defines one or more access openings to permit access to integrated interfaces of the mobile communication device.

7. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising:

a recharging device integrated within the battery pack that wirelessly recharges the one or more rechargeable power cells.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces coupled to the internal interface, wherein the mobile communication device can transmit and receive signals via the communication interfaces.

9. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one processor coupled to the internal interface and adapted to collect information via one or more interfaces of the battery pack and provide the collected information to the mobile communication device.

10. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is adapted to execute one or more instructions under the control of the mobile communication device.

11. The battery pack of claim 9, further comprising:

a display interface integrated into the battery pack to display information to a user.

12. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the battery pack is less than twice the thickness of the mobile communication device.

13. A battery pack for a mobile device, comprising:

a back plane,

a first and second sides,

a bottom side,

wherein the back plane and first, second and bottom sides define a cavity for mounting the mobile device; and

one or more battery cells housed within the thickness of the back plane.

14. The battery pack of claim 13 wherein the one or more battery cells are rechargeable while a mobile device is mounted in the cavity.

15. The battery pack of claim 13 further comprising:

an internal interface that electrically couples the one or more battery cells to the mobile device.

16. The battery pack of claim 13 further comprising:

one or more speakers housed within the thickness of the back plane and electrically coupled to an interface to allow a mobile device mounted in the cavity to send audio signals through the one or more speakers.

17. The battery pack of claim 13 further comprising:

one or more microphones housed within the thickness of the back plane and electrically coupled to an interface to allow a mobile device mounted in the cavity to receive audio signals from the one or more microphones.

18. The battery pack of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces coupled to the internal interface, wherein the mobile communication device can transmit and receive signals via the communication interfaces;

at least one processor coupled to the internal interface and adapted to collect information via one or more of the plurality of communication interfaces and provide the collected information to the mobile communication device.

19. The battery pack of claim 13, wherein the thickness of the battery pack is less than twice the thickness of the mobile communication device.

20. A battery pack for a mobile communication device, comprising:

a holster defining a cavity that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device;

one or more rechargeable power cells; and

an electrical connector to provide power from the one or more rechargeable power cells to the mobile communication device.