Portable electronic device case with battery

• US 8,531,833 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Incase Designs Corporation (Incipio Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Diebel, Markus, Johnson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/026,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20120106037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.41, 361/679.56
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A case for an electronic device protects and extends the battery life of the electronic device. The case has a lower case portion and an upper case portion, which assemble together to protect the top, side, and bottom edges of the electronic device. The lower case portion includes a battery to extend the battery life of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface;

forming a cushioning material on the base front surface that is a different material from the base front surface, wherein a surface of the cushioning material is raised slightly compared to the base front surface, and a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the surface of the cushioning material on the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface, wherein the battery between the base front surface and base back surface comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a battery housed within the electronic device,

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery;

coupling a second printed circuit board to an inner connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, the inner connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board, and the inner connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the electronic device;

providing a second case portion for the electronic device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case; and

forming in the first case portion a raised lip and an insert section, wherein the second case portion slides over the insert section and an edge of the second case portion meets at the raised lip to form the seam, and exterior surfaces of first and second case portions at the seam become flush with each other, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape,

wherein the battery is housed within a first compartment of the electronic device case that is a separate compartment from a second compartment housing the first and second printed circuit boards, and

the first printed circuit board is coupled to the battery via positive and negative electrical connections.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, on a back side of the case, the second case portion overlaps at least a portion of the first case portion to hold the second case portion to the first case portion.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the raised lip extends from a first edge of the case along a back of the case to a second edge of the case, opposite the first edge.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first camera opening of the first case portion aligns with a second camera opening of the second case portion.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the raised lip comprises a curved line, extending from one side of the case to an opposite side of the case.

21. The method of claim 1 comprising:

coupling the electronic circuitry on the first printed circuit board to an outer connector wherein the outer connector is a different connector type from the inner connector, and the outer connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector type.

22. The method of claim 1 comprising:

mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes on the first printed circuit board.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the first printed circuit board is coupled to the second printed circuit board using wires.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery between the base front surface and base back surface comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating of at least 1150 milliamp hours.

25. The method of claim 1 comprising:

coating exterior surfaces of the case with a soft-touch coating.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device case is for a mobile phone device.

27. The method of claim 1 comprising:

forming first and second audio openings on either side of the inner connector; and

forming audio openings on the exterior surface of the case, wherein first and second audio openings are acoustically coupled to the audio openings on the exterior of the case,

whereby sound from the first and second audio openings passes through an enclosed space of the case to the audio openings on the exterior of the case.

28. The method of claim 1 comprising:

forming frame edges along a border of the front opening of the case, wherein the frame edges retain the electronic device in the case against the surface of the cushioning material on the base front surface,

whereby when the case is placed in a face-down position against a surface, the frame edges raise the screen of the electronic device slightly off the surface.

6. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface;

forming a cushioning material on the base front surface that is a different material from the base front surface, wherein a surface of the cushioning material is raised slightly compared to the base front surface, and a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the surface of the cushioning material on the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface, wherein the battery comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a battery housed within the electronic device;

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a plurality of battery gauge indicators, wherein the battery gauge indicators are visible from an exterior of the case;

coupling a second printed circuit board to an inner connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, the inner connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board, and the inner connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the electronic device;

providing a second case portion for the electronic device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape;

providing a button coupled to the electronic circuitry of the first printed circuit board, wherein the button is accessible from the exterior of the case; and

when the button is depressed, using the electronic circuitry to detect a charge level of the battery and indicating a detected charge level by activating a number of the battery gauge indicators.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the indicating a detected charge level by activating a number of the battery gauge indicators comprises:

lighting none of the battery gauge indicators to indicate a discharged battery.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the indicating a detected charge level by lighting a number of the battery gauge indicators comprises:

lighting at least one of the battery gauge indicators to indicate a charge level battery is greater than when none of the battery gauge indicators are lit.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the battery gauge indicators comprise light emitting diodes, and the method comprises:

mounting the electronic circuitry and light emitting diodes on the first printed circuit board; and

enclosing the first printed circuit board in an interior of the case.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of battery gauge indicators comprises at least four light emitting diodes (LEDs).

29. The method of claim 6 comprising:

coating exterior surfaces of the case with a soft-touch coating.

30. The method of claim 6 comprising:

forming first and second audio openings on either side of the inner connector; and

forming audio openings on the exterior surface of the case, wherein first and second audio openings are acoustically coupled to the audio openings on the exterior of the case,

whereby sound from the first and second audio openings passes through an enclosed space of the case to the audio openings on the exterior of the case.

31. The method of claim 6 comprising:

coupling the electronic circuitry on the first printed circuit board to an outer connector wherein the outer connector is a different connector type from the inner connector, and the outer connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector type.

32. The method of claim 6 wherein the first printed circuit board is coupled to the second printed circuit board using a wire cabling.

33. The method of claim 6 wherein the battery is housed within a first compartment of the electronic device case that is a separate compartment from a second compartment housing the first and second printed circuit boards, and

the first printed circuit board is coupled to the battery via positive and negative electrical connections.

34. The method of claim 6 wherein the battery between the base front surface and base back surface comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating of at least 1150 milliamp hours.

35. The method of claim 6 wherein the electronic device case is for a mobile phone device.

11. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface, wherein a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface;

connecting electronic circuitry to the battery, an inner connector, and an outer connector, wherein the inner connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the electronic device;

providing a second case portion for the electronic device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape;

forming a sound box in the case between the inner connector and the outer connector; and

forming audio openings on either side of the inner connector, wherein the audio openings are coupled to the sound box.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a distance from the inner connector to a bottom edge of the case is 20 millimeters or less.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the sound box is enclosed between the base front surface and base back surface.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the audio openings are coupled to an enclosure of the sound box, which is coupled to audio output ports of the sound box.

36. The method of claim 11 comprising:

coating exterior surfaces of the case with a soft-touch coating.

37. The method of claim 11 comprising:

forming first and second audio openings on either side of the inner connector; and

forming audio openings on an exterior of the case, wherein first and second audio openings are acoustically coupled to the audio openings on the exterior of the case,

whereby sound from the first and second audio openings passes through an enclosed space of the case to the audio openings on the exterior of the case.

38. The method of claim 11 wherein the battery between the base front surface and base back surface comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating of at least 1150 milliamp hours.

39. The method of claim 11 comprising:

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery; and

coupling a second printed circuit board to an inner connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, the inner connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board, and the inner connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the electronic device.

15. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a first end and a second end, opposite of the first end, and a base front surface and base back surface;

forming a cushioning material on the base front surface that is a different material from the base front surface, wherein a surface of the cushioning material is raised slightly compared to the base front surface, a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the surface of the cushioning material on the base front surface, and the electronic device comprises a device connector for supplying power to the electronic device;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and the base back surface,

wherein the battery is rectangular comprising a third end and a fourth end, opposite of the third end;

positioning a first connector of the first case portion closer to the third end of the battery than the fourth end,

wherein the fourth end is closer to the first end of the first case portion than it is to the second end, and

the first end will be closer than the second end is to a side edge of the electronic device that is opposite of the device connector;

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery;

coupling a second printed circuit board to the first connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, the first connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board, and the first connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the electronic device; and

coupling the electronic circuitry to a second connector; and

providing a second case portion of the electronic device case that slideably couples to the first case portion,

wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the first case portion is seated against the second case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first connector is closer to the second end of the first case portion than the third end of the battery.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the second connector is positioned on an exterior side of the case.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the third and fourth ends of the battery comprise side edges having a shorter length than two longer side edges of the rectangular battery.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the second connector comprises a USB connector.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the second connector comprises a USB connector, and the first connector couples to the device connector, which is a different type from the USB connector.

40. The method of claim 15 wherein the battery is housed within a first compartment of the electronic device case that is a separate compartment from a second compartment housing the first and second printed circuit boards, and

the first printed circuit board is coupled to the battery via positive and negative electrical connections.

41. The method of claim 15 wherein the battery comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a battery housed within the electronic device, and the battery between the base front surface and base back surface comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating of at least 1150 milliamp hours.

42. The method of claim 15 wherein the electronic device case is for a mobile phone device.

43. The method of claim 15 comprising:

forming first and second audio openings on either side of the first connector; and

forming audio openings on an exterior surface of the case, wherein first and second audio openings are acoustically coupled to the audio openings on the exterior of the case,

whereby sound from the first and second audio openings passes through an enclosed space of the case to the audio openings on the exterior of the case.

44. The method of claim 15 comprising:

coating exterior surfaces of the case with a soft-touch coating.

45. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface;

forming a cushioning material on the base front surface that is a different material from the base front surface, wherein a surface of the cushioning material is raised slightly compared to the base front surface, and a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the surface of the cushioning material on the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface, wherein the battery comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a battery housed within the electronic device;

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery;

coupling a second printed circuit board to an outer connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, and the outer connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board;

providing a second case portion for the electronic device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case; and

forming in the first case portion a raised lip and an insert section, wherein the second case portion slides over the insert section and an edge of the second case portion meets at the raised lip to form the seam, and exterior surfaces of first and second case portions at the seam become flush with each other, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

46. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface;

forming a cushioning material on the base front surface that is a different material from the base front surface, wherein a surface of the cushioning material is raised slightly compared to the base front surface, and a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the surface of the cushioning material on the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface, wherein the battery comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a battery housed within the electronic device;

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery;

coupling a second printed circuit board to an outer connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, and the outer connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board;

providing a second case portion for the electronic device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape;

providing a button coupled to the electronic circuitry of the first printed circuit board, wherein the button is accessible from the exterior of the case; and

when the button is depressed, using the electronic circuitry to detect a charge level of the battery and indicating a detected charge level by activating a number of the battery gauge indicators.

47. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface, wherein a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface, wherein the battery comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a battery housed within the electronic device;

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a plurality of battery gauge indicators, wherein the battery gauge indicators are visible from an exterior of the case;

coupling a second printed circuit board to an inner connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, the inner connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board, and the inner connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the electronic device;

providing a second case portion for the electronic device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape;

providing a button coupled to the electronic circuitry of the first printed circuit board, wherein the button is accessible from the exterior of the case;

when the button is depressed, using the electronic circuitry to detect a charge level of the battery and indicating a detected charge level by activating a number of the battery gauge indicators;

forming first and second audio openings on either side of the inner connector; and

forming audio openings on the exterior surface of the case, wherein first and second audio openings are acoustically coupled through an enclosure of the case to the audio openings on the exterior of the case.

48. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of an electronic device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface, wherein a housing of an electronic device will be placed against the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface, wherein the battery comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a battery housed within the electronic device;

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a plurality of battery gauge indicators, wherein the battery gauge indicators are visible from an exterior of the case;

coupling a second printed circuit board to an inner connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, the inner connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board, and the inner connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the electronic device;

providing a second case portion for the electronic device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape;

coating exterior surfaces of the first and second case portions of the case with a soft-touch coating;

providing a button coupled to the electronic circuitry of the first printed circuit board, wherein the button is accessible from the exterior of the case; and

when the button is depressed, using the electronic circuitry to detect a charge level of the battery and indicating a detected charge level by activating a number of the battery gauge indicators.

49. A method comprising:

providing a first case portion of a mobile phone device case comprising a base front surface and base back surface;

forming a cushioning material on the base front surface that is a different material from the base front surface, wherein a surface of the cushioning material is raised slightly compared to the base front surface, and a housing of a mobile phone device will be placed against the surface of the cushioning material on the base front surface;

enclosing a battery between the base front surface and base back surface, wherein the battery comprises a milliamp-hour capacity rating greater than a milliamp-hour capacity rating of a phone battery housed within the mobile phone device;

coupling electronic circuitry on a first printed circuit board to the battery, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a plurality of battery gauge indicators, wherein the battery gauge indicators are visible from an exterior of the case;

coupling a second printed circuit board to an inner connector and the first printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is a separate printed circuit board from the first printed circuit board, the inner connector is coupled to the battery through the first printed circuit board, and the inner connector is adapted to interface with a connector of the mobile phone device;

coupling the electronic circuitry on the first printed circuit board to an outer connector, wherein the outer connector is a different connector type from the inner connector, and outer connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector type;

providing a second case portion for the mobile phone device case that slides onto the first case portion, wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form a seam which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the mobile phone device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape;

forming first and second audio openings on either side of the inner connector;

forming audio openings on the exterior surface of the case, wherein first and second audio openings are acoustically coupled to the audio openings on the exterior of the case;

providing a button coupled to the electronic circuitry of the first printed circuit board, wherein the button is accessible from the exterior of the case;

coating exterior surfaces of the case with a soft-touch coating; and

when the button is depressed, using the electronic circuitry to detect a charge level of the battery and indicating a detected charge level by activating a number of the battery gauge indicators,

wherein the battery is housed within a first compartment of the mobile phone device case that is a separate compartment from a second compartment housing the first and second printed circuit boards, and

the first printed circuit board is coupled to the battery via positive and negative electrical connections.