Active electronic media device packaging

• US 8,376,776 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblatt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US13/323,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 439/536, 455/575.1, 455/90.1
• US Class Current: 439/536
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2201/00 Means or constructions for testing or controlling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/52 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/566 Hand holes or suspension apertures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

Active packaging for supplying power, data, or both power and data to an electronic media device while the device is housed within the active packaging is provided. The active packaging may include one or more electrical traces in-molded or printed onto the packaging that couple to a suitable connector on the device. Power may also be provided via one or more wireless power techniques. Multiple active packages may be conductively stacked to transmit power, data, or both power and data to a row or stack or devices. POM sensors integrated with or attached to the device (or the active packaging itself) may detect various movement events. Coordinated and synchronized display effects may be presented while the devices are housed within the active packaging.

Claims

1. Active packaging for an electronic media device comprising:

a housing for packaging the electronic media device for shipping, storage, consumer handling or retail display, wherein the housing comprises;

at least one wire trace configured to supply power to the electronic media device; and

at least one electrical contact coupled to the at least one wire trace; and

a connector mated to an interface on the electronic media device, wherein the connector is coupled to the at least one wire trace.

2. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the housing is at least partially transparent.

3. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the connecter is integral with the housing.

4. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the at least one wire trace is printed onto the housing.

5. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the at least one wire trace is in-molded with the housing.

6. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the at least one wire trace comprises one wire trace configured to supply power to the electronic media device and one wire trace configured to supply ground to the electronic media device.

7. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least one electrical contact on both the front and tack sides of the housing.

8. An active packaging row comprising at least a first and second instance of the active packaging of claim 7, the first instance of the active packaging being positioned in front of the second instance of the active packaging such that the electrical contact on the back of the first instance of active packaging is aligned with the electrical contact on the front of the second instance of active packaging.

9. The active packaging row of claim 8 wherein the at least one electrical contact of the first instance of the active packaging is coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the second instance of the active packaging to allow an electrical current to pass between the first and second instances of active packaging.

10. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises at least one wire trace configured to supply data to the electronic media device.

11. The active packaging of claim 10 wherein the at least one wire trace configured to supply data to the electronic media device comprises two traces configured to supply a differential data signal to the electronic media device.

12. The active packaging of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an antenna for receiving RF energy.

13. The active packaging of claim 12 wherein the antenna comprises a coiled conductor integrated with the housing.

14. A method for displaying media content on an electronic media device housed in active packaging, the method comprising:

receiving power from the active packaging;

after receiving the power, enabling a wireless network interface on the device and receiving media content via the wireless network interface;

accessing a POM sensor integrated with the electronic media device;

determining, at least in part from data obtained from the POM sensor, if the electronic media device is in a first position in a stack or row;

in response to determining that the electronic media device is in the first position in the stack or row, automatically displaying the received media content.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the POM sensor comprises an ambient light sensor and wherein determining if the electronic media device is in the first position in the stack or row comprises:

measuring the intensity of ambient light using the ambient light sensor; and

comparing the measurement to a threshold intensity value.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the POM sensor comprises a proximity sensor and wherein determining if the electronic media device is in the first position in the stack or row comprises:

measuring the distance to at least one nearby object using the proximity sensor; and

comparing the measurement to a threshold distance value.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving power from the active packaging comprises receiving power from an RF power receiver.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving power from the active packaging comprises receiving power from at least one wire trace on the active packaging.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving media content over a wireless network comprises receiving at least one video clip over a Wi-Fi network.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving media content over a wireless network comprises receiving advertising over the wireless network.

21. Packaging of an electronic media device, the packaging comprising:

a packaging body configured to package the electronic media device within an interior of the packaging body;

a connector disposed within the interior of the packaging body, wherein the connector is configured to be removably connected to a connector interface on the electronic media device to pass an electrical current to the electronic media device through the connector; and

an electrical contact disposed on the packaging body, wherein the electrical contact is electrically coupled to the connector and is configured to be electrically coupled to an external current source,

wherein the packaging is capable of passing an electrical current from the external current source to the electronic media device through the electrical contact and connector while the electronic media device is within the interior of the packaging body.

22. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the packaging body is configured to enclose the electronic media device within the interior of the packaging body.

23. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the connector is in the form of a dock connector.

24. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the electrical contact is disposed on an exterior surface of the packaging body opposite the interior of the packaging body.

25. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the electrical contact is printed directly on the packaging body.

26. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the electrical contact is configured to be wirelessly electrically coupled to the external current source.

27. Packaging of an electronic media device, the packaging comprising:

a packaging body configured to package the electronic media device;

a connector connected to the packaging body, wherein the connector is configured to be connected to the electronic media device to pass an electrical current to the electronic media device through the connector;

a protrusion extending from the backing, the protrusion being configured to extend over the electronic media device in a first configuration to prevent removal of the electronic media device from the packaging; and

an electrical contact connected to the packaging body, wherein the electrical contact is electrically coupled to the connector and configured to be electrically coupled to an external current source,

wherein the packaging is capable of passing an electrical current from the external current source to the electronic media device through the electrical contact and connector while the electronic media device is packaged by the packaging body, and

wherein a portion of the packaging is configured to bend into a second configuration that allows removal of the electronic media device from the packaging when a force is applied and is configured to return to the first configuration when the force is removed.

28. The packaging of claim 27, wherein the portion of the packaging configured to bend into a second configuration is the packaging body.

29. The packaging of claim 27, wherein the portion of the packaging configured to bend into a second configuration is the protrusion.

30. The packaging of claim 27, wherein the connector is in the form of a dock connector.

31. The packaging of claim 27, wherein the dock connector is configured to restrict relative movement of the electronic media device in a first direction and the protrusion is configured to restrict relative movement of the electronic media device in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

32. Packaging for an electronic media device, the packaging comprising:

a packaging body configured to package the electronic media device;

a connector connected to the packaging body, wherein the connector is configured to be connected to the electronic media device to pass an electrical current to the electronic media device through the connector;

a first electrical contact disposed on a first outside surface of the packaging body, wherein the electrical contact is electrically coupled to the connector and configured to be electrically coupled to an external current source; and

a second electrical contact disposed on a second outside surface that is on an opposite side of the packaging body from the first outside surface, the second electrical contact being electrically coupled to the first electrical contact,

wherein the packaging is capable of passing an electrical current from the external current source to the second electrical contact through the first electrical contact, and

wherein the packaging is capable of passing an electrical current from the external current source to the electronic media device through the first electrical contact and dock connector while the electronic media device is packaged by the packaging body.

33. The packaging of claim 32, wherein one or more of the electrical contacts are printed directly on the packaging body.

34. A row of packaging comprising at least a first and second instance of the packaging of claim 32, the first instance of packaging being positioned adjacent to a second instance of packaging such that an electrical contact on the first instance of packaging is coupled with an electrical contact on the second instance of packaging to allow an electrical current to pass between the first and second instances of active packaging.

35. The row of packaging of claim 32, wherein a back of the first instance of packaging is adjacent to a front of the second instance of packaging.