BATTERY REPLACEMENT TECHNIQUES AND ENHANCEMENT FEATURES FOR A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20170208159A1
• Filed: 03/11/2017
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Romain
• Original Assignee: Joseph Romain
• Inventors: Romain, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,356,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Battery replacement techniques and enhancement features for a mobile computing device are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed techniques may be implemented in structural device features that provide for easily and rapidly accessing and removing a battery from a mobile computing device. The disclosed techniques may be used, for example, in replacing a depleted mobile phone battery efficiently with an energized replacement battery. Various enhancement features also may be implemented, facilitating operation of the mobile computing device by the user. Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

an outer housing;

a first battery disposed within the outer housing;

a battery compartment disposed at least one of on and within the outer housing and configured to receive a second battery;

electronics disposed within the outer housing and configured to provide electrical coupling of the first battery and the second battery in parallel such that, upon removal of the second battery from the battery compartment, the mobile computing device draws power from the first battery; and

a battery replacement mechanism configured to provide for removal of the second battery from the battery compartment.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the battery replacement mechanism comprises:

a locking mechanism configured to engage and retain the second battery within the battery compartment; and

a biasing mechanism comprising at least one of a compression spring arm, a helical coil spring, and a compression piston, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to bias the second battery against the locking mechanism within the battery compartment such that at least one of;

when the locking mechanism is engaged, the second battery is prevented from moving within the battery compartment in at least one of a horizontal manner and a vertical manner; and

when the locking mechanism is disengaged from the second battery, the biasing mechanism assists in ejecting the second battery from the battery compartment.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the outer housing includes an opening defined in a side thereof; and

the battery replacement mechanism comprises a tray configured to receive and retain the second battery and to be inserted through the opening such that the second battery resides within the battery compartment.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the battery replacement mechanism comprises a base portion of the outer housing configured to be operatively coupled to a remainder of the outer housing; and

in removing the base portion from the remainder of the outer housing, the battery compartment is exposed.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 4, wherein the base portion is configured to receive and retain the second battery such that in removing the base portion from the remainder of the outer housing, the second battery is removed from the battery compartment in tandem.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 4, wherein the battery replacement mechanism further comprises a tether configured to operatively couple the base portion to the remainder of the outer housing.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the battery replacement mechanism comprises a base portion of the outer housing configured to be operatively coupled to a remainder of the outer housing via a hinge configured to permit the base portion to flip away from the remainder of the outer housing so as to expose the battery compartment.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the outer housing is configured to permit the second battery to be mounted on the outer housing and to at least one of slide into the battery compartment and snap onto the battery compartment.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising an emergency distress call (EDC) button configured to call an emergency services provider upon activation of the button and at least one of turn on a global positioning system (GPS) element and alert a contact, wherein the EDC button is accessible from an exterior of the outer housing.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, further comprising a safety guard disposed over the EDC button and configured to prevent unintentional activation of the EDC button.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a button configured to disable and enable short message service (SMS) capabilities of the mobile computing device upon activation of the button, wherein the button is accessible from an exterior of the outer housing.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 11, wherein the mobile computing device is further configured such that at least one of:

when SMS capabilities are disabled and the mobile computing device receives SMS data from a remote source, the mobile computing device automatically transmits SMS data to the remote source indicating that at least one of SMS capabilities are currently disabled and a user of the mobile computing device is currently unavailable for reply; and

times during which SMS capabilities are disabled are logged.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a button configured to access a camera of the mobile computing device immediately upon activation of the button and capture image data immediately upon activation, wherein the button is accessible from an exterior of the outer housing.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a media slot accessible from an exterior of the outer housing, wherein the media slot is configured to receive and retain at least one of a subscriber identity module (SEM) card and a secure digital (SD) memory card.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a barcode scanner device disposed at an end of the outer housing; and

a payment scanner device disposed on a back of the outer housing.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a light output device disposed at an end of the outer housing and configured to cast light out from the end of the outer housing in a direction along a length of the outer housing, wherein the light output device comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

17. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a photovoltaic cell configured to be electrically coupled with the electronics to provide for at least one of:

electrical charging of the first battery;

electrical charging of the second battery; and

electrical powering of the mobile computing device directly.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising an input port disposed at an end of the outer housing and configured to interface with at least one of a charging cable and a data transfer cable via a bayonet-style connection.

19. A system comprising:

the mobile computing device of claim 1; and

a case comprising a retainer portion configured to receive and retain the second battery, wherein the case is configured to be interfaced with the outer housing of the mobile computing device such that the second battery is disposed within the battery compartment and electrically coupled with the electronics of the mobile computing device to provide for at least one of;

electrical charging of the first battery;

electrical charging of the second battery; and

electrical powering of the mobile computing device directly.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the case further comprises a photovoltaic cell configured to be electrically coupled with the electronics of the mobile computing device to provide for at least one of:

electrical charging of the first battery;

electrical charging of the second battery; and

electrical powering of the mobile computing device directly.