Battery pack, holster, and extendible processing and interface platform for mobile devices

• US 9,077,013 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel, Brand, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/517,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20150093623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.41, 206/308.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• 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 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

Embodiments of this disclosure relate to battery packs and/or holsters and, more particular, to an external battery pack and/or holster for mobile electronic devices.

Claims

1. A battery case for use with a mobile electronic device, the battery case comprising:

a battery;

a back wall configured to be positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a back side of a mobile electronic device;

a bottom wall configured to be positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device;

an upper wall configured to be positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

a right side wall configured to be positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device;

a left side wall configured to be positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device;

a front opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening;

a device interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device, wherein the battery is coupled to the device interface to provide electrical power to the mobile electronic device through the device interface, and wherein the device interface is configured to permit transfer of data to or from the mobile electronic device; and

an external interface configured to recharge the battery, wherein the external interface is configured to enable the mobile electronic device to communicate with an external device;

wherein the upper wall is flexible to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the battery case.

2. The battery case of claim 1, further comprising a charge indicator configured to indicate the charge status of the battery.

3. The battery case of claim 2, wherein the charge indicator is disposed on a back side of the back wall.

4. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the device interface extends from the bottom wall.

5. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the external interface comprises a USB port.

6. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the battery case is configured to receive a mobile phone.

7. The battery case of claim 6, wherein the battery case is shaped to conform to the external shape of the mobile phone without significantly affecting the usability of the mobile phone.

8. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the upper wall comprises an upper flange, wherein the upper flange is configured to flex to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the battery case.

9. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the battery case includes a single-piece casing.

10. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the battery is housed within a thickness of the back wall.

11. A battery case for use with a mobile electronic device, the battery case comprising:

a back wall configured to extend across at least a portion of a back side of a mobile electronic device;

a battery housed within a thickness of the back wall;

a front opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening;

a bottom wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device;

a device interface extending from the bottom wall, the device interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device, wherein the battery is coupled to the device interface to provide electrical power to the mobile electronic device through the device interface; and

an external interface configured to recharge the battery; and

an upper wall configured to extend along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, wherein the upper wall is flexible to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the battery case.

12. The battery case of claim 11, further comprising a charge indicator configured to indicate the charge status of the battery.

13. The battery case of claim 12, wherein the charge indicator is disposed on a back side of the back wall.

14. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the device interface is configured to permit transfer of data to or from the mobile electronic device, and wherein the external interface is configured to enable the mobile electronic device to communicate with an external device.

15. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the battery case is configured to receive a mobile phone.

16. The battery case of claim 15, wherein the battery case is shaped to conform to the external shape of the mobile phone without significantly affecting the usability of the mobile phone.

17. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the upper wall comprises an upper flange, wherein the upper flange is configured to flex to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the battery case.

18. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the battery case includes a single-piece casing.