Accessory for portable electronic device

• US 9,939,850 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hoellwarth, Quin C., Alten, Brett Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US15/153,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• 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: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A cover for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The cover can include at least one electrical component. For example, in one embodiment, an electrical component can be embedded in the cover. When the cover is placed on or mated with the portable electronic device, the electrical component embedded in the cover is able to interact with electrical circuitry of the portable electronic device. Advantageously, the cover can not only provide a protective and/or ornamental covering for the portable electronic device but can also augment the electrical capabilities of the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. An accessory for a portable electronic device having a display, a device connector, and a housing that carries electrical circuitry, the accessory comprising:

a body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive the portable electronic device, the body having access openings including a first opening capable of providing access to the display;

an alphanumeric keypad having user input buttons, the alphanumeric keypad being carried by the body and accessible at an outer surface of the body, wherein the user input buttons are capable of receiving user input for entering alphanumeric characters, and the user input buttons includes a first input button positioned at a first side of the first opening and a second input button positioned at a second side of the first opening that is opposite to the first side;

a data capture sensor;

a power module including a rechargeable battery;

a male connector extending from the body and into the cavity and configured to mate with the device connector, the male connector including at least one data pin; and

a controller carried by the body and electrically coupled to the alphanumeric keypad and the male connector, the controller configured to, in response to receiving the user input, transmit data associated with the user input to the portable electronic device through the at least one data pin.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device further includes an input device, and the accessory further comprises:

a second opening capable of providing access to the input device.

3. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a joystick input device carried by the body and accessible at the outer surface of the body,

wherein the joystick input device is electrically coupled to the controller and the controller is configured to transmit signals to the portable electronic device through the at least one data pin.

4. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless antenna embedded within the body.

5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein the wireless antenna supports access to Bluetooth signals.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the data capture sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a force sensor, an image sensor, a microphone, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, or a proximity sensor.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the body is formed of a deformable material, and a shape of the body is conformable to the housing of the portable electronic device.

8. The accessory of claim 7, wherein the body is formed of rubber.

9. A detachable keyboard for a portable electronic device having a display, a device connector, and a housing that carries electrical circuitry, the detachable keyboard comprising:

a body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive the portable electronic device, the body having an access opening to provide access to the display;

an alphanumeric keypad carried by and accessible at an outer surface of the body, the alphanumeric keypad including keys that are capable of receiving user input for entering alphanumeric characters, wherein the keys include a first key and an opposing second key that are positioned on the body and at opposite ends of the access opening;

a wireless antenna embedded within the body;

a power module including a rechargeable battery;

a male connector extending from the body and into the cavity and configured to mate with the device connector, the male connector including at least one data pin; and

a controller embedded within the body and electrically coupled to the alphanumeric keypad and the male connector, the controller configured to transmit data associated with the user input to the portable electronic device through the male connector and the at least one data pin.

10. The detachable keyboard of claim 9, wherein the body is formed of a deformable material, and a shape of the body is conformable to the housing of the portable electronic device.

11. The detachable keyboard of claim 9, further comprising:

a data capture sensor, wherein the data capture sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a force sensor, an image sensor, a microphone, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, or a proximity sensor.

12. An accessory for a portable electronic device having a display, a device connector, and a housing that carries electrical circuitry, the accessory comprising:

a body configured to carry the portable electronic device, the body including a first opening to provide access to the display;

a connector integral with the body;

a user input device carried by the body, wherein the user input device includes a first input button and an opposing second input button that are positioned at opposite ends of the first opening, and the user input device is capable of receiving user input;

a data capture sensor; and

an electronic subassembly coupled to the user input device and embedded within the body, the electronic subassembly including;

a memory configured to store instructions, and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute the instructions to carry out operations associated with an exchange of data between the accessory and the portable electronic device in response to receiving user input from the user input device, wherein the user input device and the processor are configured to interact with the electrical circuitry to augment capabilities of the portable electronic device.

13. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the body defines a cavity capable of carrying the portable electronic device within the cavity.

14. The accessory of claim 13, further comprising:

a male plug connector that extends into the cavity and is configured and positioned to mate with the device connector when the portable electronic device is carried by the body.

15. The accessory of claim 14, further comprising:

a receptacle connector.

16. The accessory of claim 15, wherein the receptacle connector is compatible with the male plug connector.

17. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the body further includes a second opening to provide access to an input device of the portable electronic device.

18. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the user input device comprises a force feedback device.

19. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the data capture sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a force sensor, an image sensor, a microphone, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, or a proximity sensor.

20. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the body is formed of a deformable material, and a shape of the body is conformable to the housing of the portable electronic device.