External processing accessory for mobile device

• US 8,954,117 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/111,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20110287726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/572, 455/575.1, 455/575.8, 455/90.3, 455/128, 455/343.1, 455/347, 455/348
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• 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 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Accessories for mobile devices. Embodiments include an external protective case and/or holster for mobile electronic devices, where the external protective case/holster incorporates a battery pack, a payment processing device, television signal receiver, and/or a modular multi-input/output device.

Claims

1. A protective case for use with a mobile electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a top module comprising;

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

a left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of the left side of the mobile electronic device;

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

a back portion irremovably coupled to the right side wall, the left side wall, and the top wall and configured to extend along at least a portion of the back of the mobile electronic device;

a battery disposed inside the back portion;

a mechanical coupler; and

an electrical connector coupled to the battery; and

a bottom module comprising;

a mechanical coupler configured to removably engage the mechanical coupler of the top module to join the bottom module to the top module to form a casing that defines a cavity that is configured to conform, at least partially, to an outer shape of the mobile electronic device;

an electrical connector configured to electrically couple with the electrical connector of the top module to transfer power from the battery of the top module to the bottom module; and

an internal interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device to transfer power received from the battery to the mobile electronic device.

2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the bottom module comprises an external interface configured to receive power from an external power source, and wherein the protective case is configured to transfer power from the external interface on the bottom module, through the electrical connectors, to the battery of the top module to recharge the battery.

3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein a seam between the first module and second module extends across a back of the protective case, and wherein the seam is closer to the bottom of the case than to the top of the case.

4. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the bottom module comprises a memory module, and wherein the internal interface is configured to provide communication between the mobile electronic device and the memory module of the protective case.

5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the protective case has approximately the same size and shape as the external contour of the mobile electronic device.

6. A case for use with a mobile electronic device, the case comprising:

a two-piece casing consisting of a top module and a bottom module that are configured to removably couple to each other to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device, wherein the two-piece casing is configured such that a display screen of the mobile electronic device is visible when in the casing;

the top module comprising;

a battery; and

an electrical connector; and

the bottom module comprising;

an electrical connector configured to electrically couple with the electrical connector of the top module; and

an internal interface configured to engage a corresponding interface on the mobile electronic device;

wherein the case is configured to transfer power from the battery of the top module, through the electric connectors to the bottom module, and through the internal interface to the mobile electronic device.

7. The case of claim 6, wherein the bottom module comprises an external interface configured to receive power from an external power source, and wherein the case is configured to transfer power from the external interface on the bottom module, through the electrical connectors, to the battery of the top module to recharge the battery.

8. The case of claim 6, further comprising a memory module, and wherein the internal interface is configured to provide communication between the mobile electronic device and the memory module of the case.

9. The case of claim 6, wherein the case has approximately the same size and shape as the external contour of the mobile electronic device.

10. The case of claim 6, wherein the top module comprises:

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

a left side wall configured to extend along at least a portion of the left side of the mobile electronic device;

a back portion extending between the right side wall and the left side wall and configured to extend along at least a portion of the back of the mobile electronic device, wherein the back portion is not removable from the right and left side walls, and wherein the battery is disposed in the back portion.

11. The case of claim 6, wherein the bottom module comprises:

an input interface configured to perform one or more tasks to obtain data; and

a processor configured to process the obtained data to produce processed data, wherein the internal interface is configured to communicate the processed data to the mobile electronic device.

12. The case of claim 6, wherein the top module is configured to perform at least one of a first input, output, and processing task, and wherein the bottom module is configured to perform at least one of a first input, output, and processing task.

13. The case of claim 6, wherein the top module is configured to perform a first processing task, and wherein the bottom module is configured to perform a second processing task.