External processing accessory for mobile device

• US 9,319,501 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• 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:
  US14/546,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, wherein 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 case for use with a mobile electronic device, the case comprising:

a two-piece casing having a first module and a second 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 the mobile electronic device is in the casing;

the first module comprising;

a battery; and

an electrical connector; and

the second module comprising;

an electrical connector configured to electrically couple with the electrical connector of the first 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 first module, through the electric connectors to the second module, and through the internal interface to the mobile electronic device.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein the second 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 second module, through the electrical connectors, to the battery of the first module to recharge the battery.

3. The case of claim 1, 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.

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

5. The case of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a top module of the case, and wherein the second module comprises a bottom module of the case.

6. The case of claim 1, wherein the first 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.

7. The case of claim 1, wherein the second 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.

8. The case of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to perform at least one of a first input, output, and processing task, and wherein the second module is configured to perform at least one of a second input, output, and processing task.

9. The case of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to perform a first processing task, and wherein the second module is configured to perform a second processing task.

10. The case of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises a user input element configured to toggle between a charging configuration and a non-charging configuration, wherein the case is configured to deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when in the charging configuration and to not deliver electrical power from the battery to the mobile electronic device when in the non-charging configuration.

11. The case of claim 10, wherein the user input element comprises a switch.

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

a battery;

a two-piece casing having first and second modules configured to mechanically couple to each other to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device, wherein the first and second modules are configured to electrically couple to each other to transfer power from the battery between the first and second modules; and

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

13. The case of claim 12, further comprising 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 to the battery.

14. The case of claim 12, 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.

15. The case of claim 12, wherein the case has approximately the same size and shape as the external contour of the mobile electronic device.

16. The case of claim 12, wherein the first module includes the battery and the second module includes the internal interface.

17. The case of claim 16, wherein the first module is configured to perform a first processing task, and wherein the second module is configured to perform a second processing task.

18. The case of claim 12, wherein the first module comprises a top module of the case, and wherein the second module comprises a bottom module of the case.

19. The case of claim 12, wherein the first 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.

20. The case of claim 12, wherein the second module comprises a user input element configured to enable a user to start and stop charging from the battery to the mobile electronic device.