Protective cover for a wireless device

• US 9,172,134 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Penumbra Brands, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Antenna79, Inc.
• Inventors: McCaughey, Ryan Gerard, Shields, Karl Richard, Nilakantan, Nikhil
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/659,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20130109435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/872, 455/556.1, 455/575.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/24 by varying capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/00 Devices for absorbing waves radiated from an antenna; Combinations of such devices with active antenna elements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/005 Patch antenna using one or more coplanar parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/28 using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements log- periodic antennas H01Q11/10; constituting a reflecting surface H01Q19/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a protective cover configured to attach to a wireless device having a surface including a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion. The second portion of the surface is associated with a proximity sensor of the wireless device. The protective cover is configured to cover the first portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device. The protective cover is configured to not cover the second portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that the proximity sensor is not triggered by the protective cover when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is operational.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a protective cover configured to attach to a wireless device having a surface including a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the surface being associated with a proximity sensor of the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to cover the first portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to not cover the second portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that the proximity sensor is not triggered by the protective cover when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is operational.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is transparent such that the first portion of the surface is visible to a user of the wireless device when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the surface includes at least one of a screen of the wireless device or a touchscreen of the wireless device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is disposed between the first portion of the surface of the wireless device and a user of the wireless device when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is used by the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is substantially planar, the wireless device is a tablet computer device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the protective cover is configured to not cover a third portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that a user can operate the wireless device by touching the third portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device and when the wireless device is operational,

the third portion of the surface being mutually exclusive from the first portion and the second portion of the surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is configured to be removably attached to the wireless device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is configured to attach to the wireless device such that a total radiated power (TRP) of the wireless device is not reduced when the proximity sensor is not triggered and the TRP of the wireless device is reduced when the proximity sensor is triggered.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second portion of the surface is associated with a camera of the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to not cover the second portion of the surface when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device such that a direct access to the camera is not blocked by the protective cover when the protective cover is attached to the wireless device.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a protective cover configured to be disposed with a wireless device having a proximity sensor such that the protective cover is disposed between the wireless device and a user of the wireless device during use without triggering the proximity sensor or reducing a total radiated power (TRP) of the wireless device during use,

the protective cover having a size and a shape that substantially correspond to a size and a shape of a portion of the wireless device that includes at least a screen of the wireless device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the wireless device has an outer surface with a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the outer surface of the wireless device including an aperture for the proximity sensor,

the protective cover has an outer boundary that substantially corresponds to an outer boundary of the first portion of the outer surface of the wireless device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the wireless device has an outer surface with a first portion and a second portion mutually exclusive from the first portion, the second portion of the outer surface of the wireless device including an aperture for the proximity sensor,

the protective cover configured to cover the first portion of the outer surface of the wireless device when the protective cover is disposed with the wireless device,

the protective cover configured to not cover the second portion of the outer surface of the wireless device when the protective cover is disposed with the wireless device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the wireless device has an outer surface that is substantially planar,

the protective cover is substantially planar.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the wireless device has a camera,

the protective cover is configured to be disposed with the wireless device without blocking a direct access to the camera.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the protective cover is configured to removably attach to the portion of the wireless device when the protective cover is disposed with the wireless device.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a planar sheet of material having a first surface and a second surface, the planar sheet configured to be disposed with a wireless device having a screen and a proximity sensor such that the second surface of the planar sheet is disposed between the first surface of the planar sheet and the wireless device, the planar sheet of material defining an outer boundary that surrounds the screen of the wireless device and excludes the proximity sensor of the wireless device when the planar sheet is disposed with the wireless device.

17. The apparatus of 16, wherein the screen of the wireless device is a touchscreen.

18. The apparatus of 16, wherein the wireless device is a tablet computer device.

19. The apparatus of 16, wherein the planar sheet is configured to be disposed with the wireless device such that the planar sheet is disposed between the wireless device and a user of the wireless device during use.

20. The apparatus of 16, wherein the planar sheet is configured to be disposed with the wireless device such that the second surface of the planar sheet is removably attached to the screen of the wireless device when the planar sheet is disposed with the wireless device.