PROTECTIVE COVER WITH WIRELESS CHARGING FEATURE

• US 20160372973A1
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Lay, Carlton R., Fitzgerald, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,164,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A protective cover for a portable electronic device includes a protective shell for receiving and at least partially covering the portable electronic device. The protective cover includes a rechargeable power storage device and an electrical coil proximate a back surface of the shell. The protective cover also includes electrical circuitry configured to transfer first electrical power from the rechargeable power storage device to the installed portable electronic device. The electrical circuitry is also configured to transfer second electrical power from the rechargeable power storage device to the electrical coil. The electrical coil is configured to wirelessly transfer at least a portion of the second electrical power to a second portable electronic device. The protective cover may also include a visual indicator for indicating a status of the wireless transfer of the second electrical power to the second portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A protective cover for a portable electronic device, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell for receiving and at least partially covering the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective cover, the protective shell having a back surface;

a rechargeable power storage device contained in the protective shell;

an electrical coil proximate the back surface of the protective shell;

electrical circuitry configured to;

transfer first electrical power from the rechargeable power storage device to the installed portable electronic device; and

transfer second electrical power from the rechargeable power storage device to the electrical coil, the electrical coil configured to wirelessly transfer at least a portion of the second electrical power to a second portable electronic device that is not in the protective shell when the second portable electronic device is positioned near the back surface of the protective shell proximate the electrical coil, the wireless transfer of the at least a portion of the second electrical power to the second portable electronic device occurring through electrical induction; and

a visual indicator for indicating at least a status of the wireless transfer of the at least a portion of the second electrical power to the second portable electronic device when the second portable electronic device is positioned near the back surface of the protective shell.

2. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connector affixed to an interior surface of the protective shell, the electrical connector configured to engage an electrical interface of the installed portable electronic device, wherein the first electrical power is transferred to the installed portable electronic device through the electrical connector.

3. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising a second electrical coil, wherein the first electrical power is transferred to the installed portable electronic device wirelessly through the second electrical coil.

4. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the first electrical power is transferred to the installed portable electronic device wirelessly through the electrical coil.

5. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connector accessible at an outer surface of the protective shell, the electrical connector configured for receiving charging power from an external power source for charging the rechargeable power storage device.

6. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the electrical coil and the electrical circuitry are further configured for wirelessly receiving charging power from an external power source for charging the rechargeable power storage device.

7. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the wireless transfer of the at least a portion of the second electrical power to the second portable electronic device includes resonant inductive power transfer.

8. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising one or more magnetic elements configured to attract or be attracted by corresponding magnetic elements of the second portable electronic device for aligning the second portable electronic device with the electrical coil.

9. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator further indicates a status of the rechargeable power storage device of the shell.

10. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry includes a microprocessor and communication circuitry for conducting data communications with one or more of the portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device.

11. The protective cover of claim 10 wherein the communication circuitry includes wireless communication circuitry and at least a portion of the data communications is conducted wirelessly.

12. The protective cover of claim 11 further comprising an antenna for the wireless data communications, wherein the antenna is separate from the electrical coil.

13. The protective cover of claim 11 wherein the wireless communications are conducted through the electrical coil using magnetic inductance fluctuations.

14. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising a solar cell for producing charging power to charge the rechargeable power storage device.

15. The protective cover of claim 1 further including ferrite material proximate the electrical coil for increasing an efficiency of the wireless transfer of the at least a portion of the second electrical power to the second portable electronic device.

16. A protective case for a first portable electronic device having a battery, the protective case comprising:

a shell for receiving and at least partially covering the first portable electronic device when the first portable electronic device is in the protective case;

an inductive electrical coil proximate a surface of the shell;

an electrical connector at an interior surface of the shell, the electrical connector for electrically interconnecting to an electrical interface of the first portable electronic device when the first portable electronic device is in the shell;

electrical circuitry including a microprocessor, the electrical circuitry configured to receive electrical power from the battery of the first portable electronic device through the electrical connector when the first portable electronic device is in the protective case, the electrical circuitry and the inductive electrical coil configured to wirelessly transfer at least a portion of the electrical power received from the first portable electronic device to a second portable electronic device positioned outside the protective case and near the inductive electrical coil, the second portable electronic device being a separate device from the first portable electronic device; and

a visual indicator for indicating at least a status of the wireless transfer of the at least a portion of the received power to the second portable electronic device when the second portable electronic device positioned outside the protective case near the inductive electrical coil.

17. The protective case of claim 16 wherein the inductive electrical coil is further configured to wirelessly receive charging power from an external power source and the electrical circuitry is further configured to transfer at least a portion of the received charging power to the first portable electronic device through the electrical connector when the first portable electronic device is in the protective case.

18. A case for a portable electronic device, the case comprising:

a shell for receiving and at least partially covering the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is in the shell;

a rechargeable battery contained in the shell;

an inductive electrical coil contained in the shell, the inductive electrical coil configured for inductive wireless power transfer to an electronic accessory device when the electronic accessory device is positioned proximate the shell; and

electrical circuitry adapted to wirelessly transfer first electrical power from at least one of the rechargeable battery contained in the shell and the portable electronic device to the inductive electrical coil for wireless transfer of the first electrical power to the electronic accessory device when the electronic accessory device is positioned proximate the shell, the electrical circuitry further adapted to transfer second electrical power from the rechargeable battery of the shell to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is in the shell.

19. The case of claim 18 wherein the transfer of the second electrical power from the rechargeable battery of the shell to the portable electronic device includes wireless transfer of the second electrical power to the portable electronic device through the inductive electrical coil.

20. The case of claim 18 further comprising a second inductive electrical coil, wherein the transfer of the second electrical power from the rechargeable battery of the shell to the portable electronic device includes wireless transfer of the second electrical power to the portable electronic device through the second inductive electrical coil.