Wireless communication accessory for a mobile device

• US 9,123,935 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anthony, Julian
• Application Number:
  US13/492,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 429/96, 429/100, 429/188, 429/98, 361/679.56
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• 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: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A wireless communication accessory for a mobile communication device comprising: a casing that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device; a processing circuit housed within the casing and configured to process a first data; and a wireless transmitter coupled to the processing circuit, where the transmitter is configured to transmit the first data. The wireless communication accessory may further comprise a wireless receiver that is configured to receive a second data from an external wireless device. The first data may be associated with any or all of the following: payment card information for processing purchase transactions; public transportation account information for processing travel credits on public transportation systems; and access card information for gaining access into restricted areas.

Claims

1. A wireless communication accessory for a mobile device, comprising:

a first portion comprising;

a back portion, wherein the back portion comprises a terminating edge;

a first sidewall connected to the back portion that will be positioned against a first side edge of the mobile device; and

a second sidewall connected to the back portion at an end opposite the first sidewall that will be positioned against a second side edge of the mobile device;

a second portion comprising;

a third sidewall that will be perpendicular to the first sidewall and the second sidewall and positioned against a third side edge of the mobile device when the second portion is seated against the first portion; and

an open side end, opposite of the third sidewall wherein the second portion slides onto the first portion through the open side end and when the second portion is seated against the first portion, the mobile device is secured in place by the back portion, the first sidewall the second sidewall and the third sidewall, and the screen of the mobile device will be visible from a direction opposite the back portion;

a battery cell;

a processor configured to receive power from the battery cell;

an external interface coupled to the processor;

a wireless communication module coupled to the processor, the wireless communication module configured to receive power from the battery cell; and

an internal interface positioned to connect to a device interface on the mobile device and coupled through the processor to the wireless communication module.

2. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein:

the battery cell is coupled through the processor to the internal interface;

the processor is also configured to receive power from the mobile device through the internal interface; and

the wireless communication module is configured to receive power from the mobile device through the internal interface.

3. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein the battery cell is rechargeable.

4. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive and execute an instruction received through the internal interface, the internal interface being positioned to connect to the device interface on the mobile device.

5. The wireless communication accessory of claim 4 wherein the wireless communication accessory is configured to:

transmit a first signal via the external interface when a first instruction is sent from the mobile device through the internal interface;

transmit a second signal via the wireless communication module when a second instruction is sent from the mobile device through the internal interface;

transmit a third signal via the internal interface to the mobile device when a first data is received at the external interface; and

transmit a fourth signal via the internal interface to the mobile device when a second data is received by the wireless communication module.

6. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication module provides a different wireless interface than provided or supported by an internal system of the mobile device.

7. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication module provides a different wireless interface than provided or supported by an internal system of the mobile device.

8. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication module is an infrared port.

9. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication module operates at a radio frequency.

10. The wireless communication accessory of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication module is a Bluetooth wireless interface.

11. The wireless communication accessory of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication module is a nearfield communication (NFC) interface.

12. The wireless communication accessory of claim 9, the wireless communication module comprising:

a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit a first data; and

a receiver coupled to the processor, the receiver configured to receive a second data.

13. The wireless communication accessory of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is a nearfield communication (NFC) transmitter and the receiver is a nearfield communication (NFC) receiver.

14. The wireless communication accessory of claim 12, wherein the first data is associated with a payment account information, and the first data is transmitted by the transmitter to execute a purchase transaction.

15. The wireless communication accessory of claim 14, further comprising a cryptography module configured to encrypt the first data prior to transmission by the transmitter.

16. The wireless communication accessory of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to log, a time, date, and location associated with the purchase transaction upon an execution of the purchase transaction.

17. The wireless communication accessory of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to receive a password or personal identification number (PIN) prior to the execution of the purchase transaction by the wireless communication accessory.

18. The wireless communication accessory of claim 14, wherein the second data is coupon data associated with a merchant.

19. The wireless communication accessory of claim 12, wherein the first data is associated with restricted area access information, and the first data is transmitted by the transmitter to allow access to a restricted area.

20. The wireless communication accessory of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication module is a radio frequency identification (RFID) module.

21. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 further comprising a display interface, coupled to the processor, the display interface configured to display information to a user of the mobile device.

22. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 wherein the internal interface comprises an antenna that is electromagnetically coupled to but not otherwise connected to the mobile device.

23. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 further comprising a memory module configured to couple to the mobile device through the internal interface, the internal interface being positioned to connect to a device interface on the mobile device.

24. The wireless communication accessory of claim 23 wherein the memory module is removable from the wireless communication accessory.

25. The wireless communication accessory of claim 23 wherein the wireless communication module is removable from the wireless communication accessory.

26. The wireless communication accessory of claim 23 wherein when the second portion is seated against the first portion, a first open-polygon-shaped opening for the first portion merges with a second open-polygon-shaped opening for the second portion to form a cavity of the wireless communication accessory through which a screen of the mobile device will be visible, the cavity closed on at least 4 sides.

27. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1 further comprising a transparent screen opposite the back portion, through which a screen of the mobile device will be visible.

28. The wireless communication accessory of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication accessory is configured to be powered by the mobile device via the internal interface.

29. A wireless communication accessory for a mobile device, comprising:

a first portion comprising;

a back portion, against which a back of a housing of a mobile device will be placed, wherein the back portion comprises a terminating edge;

a first sidewall, connected to the back portion, that will be positioned against a first side edge of the mobile device;

a second sidewall, connected to the back portion at an end opposite the first sidewall, that will be positioned against a second side edge of the mobile device;

a third sidewall connected to the back portion at an end opposite of the terminating edge, that will be positioned against a third side edge of the mobile device;

a battery cell;

a wireless communication module, enclosed in the first portion, the wireless communication module configured to receive power from the battery cell;

a processor coupled to the wireless communication module, the processor configured to receive power from the battery cell;

an external interface coupled to the processor; and

an internal interface positioned to connect to a device interface on the mobile device and coupled through the processor to the wireless communication module; and

a second portion comprising;

a fourth sidewall that will be perpendicular to the first sidewall and the second sidewall and positioned against a fourth side edge of the mobile device opposite the third side edge when the second portion is seated against the first portion; and

an open side end, opposite the fourth sidewall, wherein the second portion slides onto the first portion through the open side end and when the second portion is seated against the first portion, the mobile device is secured in place by the back portion, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall, and the fourth sidewall, and the screen of the mobile device will be visible from a direction opposite the back portion.

30. The wireless communication accessory of claim 29 wherein the battery cell is enclosed in the first portion and coupled through the processor to the internal interface.

31. A wireless communication accessory or a mobile device, comprising:

a first portion comprising;

a back portion, against which a back of a housing of a mobile device will be placed, wherein the back portion comprises a terminating edge;

a first sidewall connected to the back portion that will be positioned against a first side edge of the mobile device; and

a second sidewall connected to the back portion at an end opposite the first sidewall that will be positioned against a second side edge of the mobile device;

a second portion comprising;

a third sidewall that will be perpendicular to the first all and the second sidewall and positioned against a third side edge of the mobile device when the second portion is seated against the first portion;

an open side end, opposite of the third sidewall, wherein the second portion slides onto the first portion through the open side end and when the second portion is seated against the first portion, the mobile device is secured in place by the back portion, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall, and the screen of the mobile device will be visible from a direction opposite the back portion;

a battery cell;

a processor configured to receive power from the battery cell;

a wireless communication module coupled to the processor, the wireless communication module configured to receive power from the battery cell;

an internal interface positioned to connect to a device interface on the mobile device and coupled through the processor to the wireless communication module; and

an external interface coupled to the processor.

32. The wireless communication accessory of claim 31 wherein the first portion and second portion are communicatively coupled when the second portion is seated against the first portion.

33. The wireless communication accessory of claim 32 wherein the battery cell is enclosed in the first portion and communicatively coupled through the processor to the internal interface when the second portion is seated against the first portion.