Active electronic media device packaging

• US 8,092,251 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblatt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US12/008,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20090168088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.1, 455/575.1, 715/203, 439/536
• US Class Current: 439/536
• 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. An encasing for a portable electronic media device having a display, a processor, a first electronic connector, front and back surfaces and first and second pairs of opposing side surfaces that extend between the front and back surfaces, the encasing comprising:

a body that defines a receptacle for housing the portable media device, the body having a back surface sized to cover the back surface of the portable electronic media device and a front surface that partially covers the front surface of the portable electronic media device;

electrical circuitry embedded within the body and operable to receive data from a source external to the encasing; and

a second electronic connector integrated within the body and coupled to the electrical circuitry embedded within the body, the second electronic connector including first and second data contacts and extending from the body in an orientation that, when the portable electronic media device is housed in the receptacle, allows the second electronic connector to mate with the first electronic connector in the portable electronic media device allowing data received from the source external to the encasing to be transmitted to the processor of the portable media device over the first and second data contacts;

wherein when the first and second electronic connectors are mated, the back surface of the body is parallel to the back surface of the portable electronic device and the display is not covered by the body enabling the display to be readily viewed.

2. The encasing set forth in claim 1 wherein the body further includes a surface that, when the encasing is electrically coupled to the portable media device, wraps around one of the side surfaces and extends over a peripheral portion of the front surface of the portable electronic media device.

3. The encasing set forth in claim 1 wherein the circuitry in the encasing comprises electrical traces.

4. The encasing set forth in claim 1 wherein the body is plastic.

5. The encasing set forth in claim 1 wherein the second connector further includes power and ground contacts that electrically couple to respective power and ground contacts in the first connector when the first and second connectors are mated.

6. The encasing set forth in claim 5 wherein the first and second connectors each have 30 contact locations.

7. The encasing set forth in claim 6 wherein the first and second connectors include four pins to communicate over a USB interface.

8. The encasing set forth in claim 1 further comprising an antenna.

9. An encasing for a portable electronic media device having a device housing that defines a shape of the portable electronic media device, includes front and back surfaces and contains a touch screen, an antenna, a first set electrical circuitry and a first electronic connector, wherein the encasing comprises:

a body having a back surface sized to cover the back surface of the device housing and a sleeve, at least partially defined by the back surface, into which the portable media device fits;

a second set of electrical circuitry embedded within the body;

a second antenna integrated with the body and coupled to the electrical circuitry embedded within the body; and

a second electronic connector that is integrated with and extends from the body in a fixed position such that, when the portable electronic media device is properly positioned within the sleeve, the second electronic connector mates with the first electronic connector to electrically couple the second set of electrical circuitry in the encasing to the first set of electrical circuitry in the portable electronic media device.

10. The encasing set forth in claim 9 wherein the body further includes a surface that, when the encasing is electrically coupled to the portable media device, wraps around one of the side surfaces and extends over a peripheral portion of the front surface of the portable electronic media device.

11. The encasing set forth in claim 10 wherein the first and second electronic connectors each include 30 contact locations including contact locations for a first pin designated for a power signal, a second pin designated for a ground signal, and third and fourth pins designated for data signals.

12. The encasing set forth in claim 11 wherein the third pin is designated for a USB data negative differential signal and the fourth pin is designated for a USB data positive differential signal.

13. The encasing set forth in claim 12 wherein the body is plastic.

14. The encasing set forth in claim 9 wherein when the first and second electronic connectors are mated to electrically couple the encasing to the portable media device, the back surface of the body is parallel to the back surface of the portable electronic device and the touch screen is not covered by the body enabling a user to interact with and use the touch screen.

15. An encasing for a portable electronic media device having a display, a processor, a storage device that can store media files, and a first electronic connector, the encasing comprising:

a body that defines a receptacle for housing the portable electronic media device;

an antenna integrated within the body;

antenna circuitry coupled to the antenna and embedded within the body;

a second electronic connector integrated within the body and extending into the receptacle portion of the body in an orientation that, when the portable electronic media device is housed within the receptacle, allows the second electronic connector to mate with the first electronic connector;

wherein the second electronic connector includes data contacts that, when the first and second connectors are mated, allow media files to be transmitted through the second connector to the processor of the portable electronic media device.

16. The encasing set forth in claim 15 wherein the body includes a back surface that generally covers a back of the portable electronic media device when it is housed in the receptacle.

17. The encasing set forth in claim 16 wherein the second electronic connector has 30 contact locations.

18. The encasing set forth in claim 17 wherein the second electronic connector includes four contacts to enable communication with the portable electronic media device over a USB interface.

19. The encasing set forth in claim 17 wherein the second electronic connector is configured to electrically couple to contacts in less than all the 30 contact locations.

20. The encasing set forth in claim 15 wherein the second connector includes first and second data contacts designated for differential data signals.

21. The encasing set forth in claim 15 wherein the second electronic connector is molded within the body.

22. The encasing set forth in claim 15 wherein the receptacle defined by the body is a sleeve.

23. The encasing set forth in claim 15 wherein the body includes a first portion and a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion into an open position where the portable electronic media device can be placed within and removed from the receptacle and a closed position where the portable electronic media device is secured within the receptacle.

24. The encasing set forth in claim 15 wherein a snap-fit arrangement is employed to secure the portable electronic media device in the receptacle.