Active electronic media device packaging

• US 9,371,155 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblatt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasri, Javid
• Application Number:
  US14/179,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 439/536, 455/500, 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 220/660, 307/104, 307/116, 715/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A method of operating an electronic media device, the method comprising receiving power at the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within retail packaging.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving power at the electronic media device comprises receiving power at the electronic media device via a radio frequency power receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving power at the electronic media device includes receiving power from a wire trace on the packaging.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wire trace is electrically coupled to a corresponding pin or connector of the electronic, media device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, whether power should be received by the electronic media device based on predetermined charging rules,

wherein receiving power at the electronic media device takes place based on the determination.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic media device is not removable from the retail packaging without breaking a seal of the retail packaging while the electronic media device is sealed within the retail packaging.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving media content with the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the retail packaging,

wherein receiving the media content with the electronic media device comprises receiving the media content via a wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving media content with the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the retail packaging,

wherein receiving the media content with the electronic media device comprises receiving the media content via a wire trace on the packaging.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wire trace is electrically coupled to a corresponding pin or connector of the electronic media device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving media content with the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the retail packaging;

and

storing the media content on the electronic media device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving media content with the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the retail packaging;

and

displaying the media content on the electronic media device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an indication of distance of the packaged electronic media device from at least one object using a sensor of the packaged electronic media device;

comparing the indication of distance to a threshold value; and

enabling or disabling a display of the packaged electronic media device based on the comparison of the indication of distance to the threshold value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold proximity value.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor is an ambient light sensor, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold ambient light intensity value.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a movement value of the packaged electronic media device using a motion sensor of the packaged electronic media device;

comparing the movement value to a threshold movement value; and

enabling or disabling a display of the packaged electronic media device based on the comparison of the movement value to the threshold value.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a position of the first packaged electronic media device relative to a position of a second packaged electronic media device; and

displaying a first portion of media content on the first packaged electronic media device, wherein the first portion of the media content is determined based on the position of the first packaged electronic media device relative to the second packaged electronic media device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining the position of the second packaged electronic media device relative to the position of the first packaged electronic media device; and

displaying a second portion of the media content on the second packaged electronic media device, wherein the second portion of the media content is determined based on the position of the second packaged electronic media device relative to the first packaged electronic media device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the media content is different from the second portion of the media content.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the position of the first packaged electronic media device is determined relative to the position of the second packaged electronic media device based on the positions of the first packaged electronic media device and the second packaged electronic media device in a grid.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging comprises a housing defining a device area for the electronic media device,

wherein the housing comprises an electrical component configured to receive power from an exterior of the housing and to transmit the power to the device area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrical component is a wire trace.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the wire trace terminates at a connector at the device area.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the wire trace is integrated with the housing.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrical component is configured to transfer the power through a wall of the housing.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrical component is configured to power the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the active retail packaging.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the packaging further comprises a radio frequency power receiver coupled to the housing.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the packaging further comprises a radio frequency power receiver integrated with the housing.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging comprises:

a housing defining a device area for the electronic media device and

a wire trace extending between an exterior of the housing and the device area.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the wire trace is integrated with the housing.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the housing comprises a first exterior side and a second exterior side, and

wherein the first wire trace extends between the exterior of the housing at the first exterior side and the device area, and

wherein a second wire trace extends between the exterior of the housing at the second exterior side and the device area.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the housing comprises a first exterior side and a second exterior side,

wherein the first wire trace extends between the exterior of the housing at the first exterior side and the device area,

wherein a second wire trace extends between the exterior of the housing at the second exterior side and the device area, and

wherein at least one of the first wire trace and the second wire trace comprises a power connector at the device area, the power connector configured to provide power to an electronic device in the device area.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the housing comprises a first exterior side and a second exterior side,

wherein the first wire trace extends between the exterior of the housing at the first exterior side and the device area,

wherein a second wire trace extends between the exterior of the housing at the second exterior side and the device area, and

wherein at least one of the first wire trace and the second wire trace comprises a data connector at the device area, the data connector configured to provide data to an electronic device in the device area.