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

• US 9,088,028 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• 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): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLUCCI RIOS, JOSE A
• Application Number:
  US14/494,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20150010806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 a mobile electronic device, the battery case comprising:

a lower portion 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 lower right side wall configured to extend along a lower right side of the mobile electronic device;

a lower left side wall configured to extend along a lower left side of the mobile electronic device;

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

a device interface extending upward 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 wherein the device interface is configured to permit transfer of data to or from the mobile electronic device;

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; and

a charge indicator configured to indicate the charge status of the battery; and

an upper portion that is configured to be movably separated from the lower portion to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the battery case, the upper portion comprising;

a top wall configured to extend along a top of the mobile electronic device;

an upper right side wall configured to extend along an upper right side of the mobile electronic device; and

an upper left side wall configured to extend along an upper left side of the mobile electronic device;

wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are configured to slide together to a closed position to form a cavity for housing the mobile electronic device, and wherein a front opening of the battery case is configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening.

2. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the charge indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the charge indicator is disposed on a back side of the back wall.

4. The battery case of claim 1, wherein the external interface is on a bottom side of 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 external interface comprises a wireless interface.

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

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

9. The battery case of claim 1, further comprising a stopper configured to prevent the upper portion from completely separating from the lower portion.

10. The battery case of claim 1, wherein an opening in the battery case is configured to provide access to a button on the mobile electronic device.

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

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

a device interface extending upward 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 wherein the device interface is configured to permit transfer of data to or from the mobile electronic device;

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; and

a charge indicator configured to indicate the charge status of the battery; and

a second portion configured to engage the first portion in a closed position and configured to be movably separated from the first portion in an open position, wherein the closed position forms a cavity for housing the mobile electronic device, wherein a front opening of the battery case is configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening in the closed position, and wherein the open position is configured to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the battery case, the second portion comprising;

a top wall configured to extend along a top of the mobile electronic device;

a right side wall configured to extend along a right side of the mobile electronic device; and

a left side wall configured to extend along a left side of the mobile electronic device.

12. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the charge indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

13. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the charge indicator is disposed on a back side of the back wall.

14. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the external interface is on a bottom side of the bottom wall.

15. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the external interface comprises a USB port.

16. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the external interface comprises a wireless interface.

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

18. The battery case of claim 17, wherein the battery case is shaped to conform to the external shape of the mobile phone without significantly affecting the size and usability of the mobile phone.

19. The battery case of claim 11, wherein an opening in the battery case is configured to provide access to a button on the mobile electronic device.

20. The battery case of claim 11, wherein the first portion comprises a lower portion and wherein the second portion comprises an upper portion.