Interior connector scheme for accessorizing a mobile computing device with a removeable housing segment

• US 8,305,741 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Manjirnath
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/652,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20100172090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A panel segment is structured to be attachable and detachable from the computing device in order to form a portion of the overall housing for the computing device. The panel segment includes a panel connector, positioned on an interior surface of the panel segment to electrically mate with an interior connector of the computing device when the panel segment is attached. The panel segment includes one or more electrical components that are operable to send an electrical output to, or receive an electrical output from a component of the computing device.

Claims

1. A computing device assembly comprising:

a computing device that contains a plurality of components, including a processor of the computing device;

a panel segment that is attachable and detachable to the computing device to provide a portion of a housing for the computing device;

a panel connector positioned on an interior surface of the panel segment;

a device connector on the computing device positioned to (1) form an electrical connection with the panel connector, and (2) be encased by the panel segment when the panel segment is attached to the computing device; and

electrical components that are (1) provided with the panel segment, and (2) operable to send or receive an electrical output to or from the one or more components of the computing device, using the electrical connection formed by the panel connector and the device connector;

wherein the electrical components include an inductive signal interface and a panel processor, wherein the panel processor and the computing device processor are operable to send data to each other; and

wherein the inductive signal interface is to provide, to another device, power received by the panel segment from a battery module of the computing device via the electrical connection formed by the device connector and the panel connector.

2. The computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the computing device and the panel segment are configured to (i) operate in a device power input mode in which the computing device is to receive power from the panel segment using the electrical connection formed by the device connector and the panel connector;

and (ii) operate in a device power output mode in which the computing device is to send power to the panel segment using the electrical connection formed by the device connector and the panel connector.

3. The computing device assembly of claim 2, wherein the panel segment is configured to provide, to the computing device via the electrical connection formed by the panel connector and the device connector, power received from a power supply device with the inductive signal interface in the device power input mode.

4. The computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel segment further comprises magnetically attractive material to enable the panel, when attached to the computing device, to magnetically couple to another device.

5. The computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel segment includes a display provided on an exterior surface of the panel segment, and wherein the panel segment is to receive at least one of power or data from the computing device across the electrical connection formed by the panel connector and the device connector, in order to operate the display.

6. The computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the computing device processor is operable to send to the panel processor information regarding at least one of a power level of the computing device, power requirements of the computing device, and power requirements of the battery module.

7. The computing device assembly of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a computer telephony device.

8. The computing device assembly of claim 7, wherein the panel segment is to form a battery cover to overlay the battery module of the computing device when the panel segment is attached to the computing device such that the electrical connection is formed by the panel connector and the device connector.

9. The computing device assembly of claim 8, wherein the computing device is a cellular phone.

10. The computing device assembly of claim 8, wherein the computing device is a smart phone.

11. An accessory device for a computing device, the accessory device comprising:

a panel segment that is removable and re-attachable to the computing device to provide a portion of a housing for the computing device; and

a panel connector positioned on an interior surface of the panel segment to electrically mate and form an electrical connection with a device connector of the computing device when the computing device and the accessory device are attached;

wherein the panel segment includes components to signal power to and/or receive power from the computing device across the electrical connection formed by the device connector and the panel connector, the components including an inductive signal interface and a panel processor;

wherein the panel processor and a processor of the computing device are operable to send data to each other; and

wherein the inductive signal interface is to provide, to another device, power received by the panel segment from a battery module of the computing device via the electrical connection formed by the device connector and the panel connector.

12. The accessory device of claim 11, wherein the inductive signal interface is operable to receive power from the another device, and provide the received power to the computing device across the electrical connection formed by the panel connector and the device connector.

13. The accessory device of claim 11, wherein one or more of the components of the panel segment are to signal sufficient power to the computing device to recharge a battery module of the computing device.

14. The accessory device of claim 11, wherein one or more of the components of the panel segment are to receive data from the computing device, wherein said data indicates power consumption or power requirements of the computing device.

15. The accessory device of claim 11, further comprising magnetically attractive material to enable the panel segment to attach to the another device when connected to the computing device.

16. The accessory device of claim 11, wherein the computing device is a computer telephony device.

17. The accessory device of claim 16, wherein the panel segment is to form a battery cover to overlay the battery module of the computing device when the panel segment is attached to the computing device such that the electrical connection is formed by the panel connector and the device connector.