Battery case for mobile devices

• US 9,406,913 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel, Brand, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/749,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20150295439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.41, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 206/308.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• 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: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A battery pack is provided for a mobile communication device, comprising a casing defining a cavity that conforms, at least partially, to the outer shape of the mobile communication device and one or more rechargeable power cells housed within the thickness of the casing. An internal interface engages a corresponding interface on the mobile communication device to provide power from the one or more rechargeable cells to the mobile communication device. An external interface is electrically coupled to the internal interface in order to transmit signals from the mobile communication device to an external device and may further serve to recharge the one or more rechargeable power cells. The battery pack may also serve as an extendible platform by providing additional integrated communication interfaces and/or processors that can be utilized by the mobile communication device to extend its communication and/or processing capabilities.

Claims

1. A case for a mobile device comprising:

a bottom section comprising;

a back wall upon which at least a portion of a back of a housing of the mobile device will be placed against, wherein the back wall comprises a top edge;

a battery cell, enclosed in the bottom section;

electronic circuitry, coupled to the battery cell;

a bottom sidewall, connected to the back wall at an end opposite of the top edge, that will be positioned against at least a portion of a bottom side edge of the mobile device;

an internal interface, on the bottom sidewall, positioned to connect to an interface on the mobile device, and coupled through the electronic circuitry to the battery cell; and

an external interface, positioned on an outside of the bottom section, coupled through the electronic circuitry to the battery cell and internal interface; and

a top section comprising;

a top side that will be positioned against at least a portion of a top side edge of the mobile device when the top section is seated against the bottom section; and

an open side end, opposite of the top side,

wherein the top section slides onto the bottom section through the open side end,

wherein when the top section is seated against the bottom section, the top and bottom sections meet at and form a seam, which extends across a back of the case, and

when the top section is seated against the bottom section, a first open-polygon-shaped opening for the bottom section merges with a second open-polygon-shaped opening for the top section to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the mobile device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein when the top section is seated against the bottom section to form the back of the case, the top section overlaps at least one portion of the bottom section to hold the top section to the bottom section.

3. The case of claim 1, wherein when the interface of the mobile device is connected to the internal interface of the bottom section and the screen of the mobile device faces up, the battery cell is positioned under the back of the housing of the mobile device.

4. The case of claim 1, wherein the bottom section comprises a plurality of lights, coupled to the electronic circuitry, and wherein the lights indicate a power or charge level for the battery cell.

5. The case of claim 1, further comprising a button on a back surface of the bottom section and coupled to the electronic circuitry.

6. The case of claim 1, wherein the bottom section comprises:

a guide on a sidewall; and

an insert section;

wherein when the top section slides on the guide of the bottom section and over the insert section to attach to the bottom section, an edge of the top section overlaps with an edge of the bottom section to form the seam, and exterior surfaces of the bottom section and top section at the seam are flush with each other.

7. The case of claim 1, wherein the top section and the bottom section together substantially replicate an external shape of the mobile device.

8. The case of claim 1, wherein the bottom section comprises:

a button, coupled to the electronic circuitry; and

a plurality of lights, coupled to the electronic circuitry, and wherein the lights indicate a power or charge level for the battery cell.

9. The case of claim 1, wherein the battery cell can be charged via the external interface and wherein the mobile device, when coupled to the internal interface, can communicate with an external device via the external interface.

10. The case of claim 1, wherein the first open-polygon-shaped opening comprises a U shape and the second open-polygon-shaped opening comprises an upside-down U shape.

11. The case of claim 1, wherein the external interface comprises a micro USB port.

12. The case of claim 1, wherein the closed shape comprises a contoured rectangle shape.

13. A case for an electronic device comprising:

a first case portion comprising;

a base surface upon which at least a portion of a back of a housing of the electronic device will be placed against, wherein the base surface comprises a top edge;

a battery, enclosed in the first case portion;

electronic circuitry, coupled to the battery;

a bottom sidewall, connected to the base surface at an end opposite of the top edge, that will be positioned against at least a portion of a bottom side edge of the electronic device;

an inner connector, on the bottom sidewall, positioned to connect to a connector of the electronic device, and coupled through the electronic circuitry to the battery; and

an outer connector, positioned on an outside of the first case portion, coupled through the electronic circuitry to the battery and the inner connector; and

a second case portion comprising;

an upper sidewall that will be positioned against at least a portion of a top side edge of the electronic device when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion; and

an open side end, opposite of the upper sidewall,

wherein the second case portion slides onto the first case portion through the open side end,

wherein when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions meet at and form a seam, which extends across a back of the case, and

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the electronic device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

14. The case of claim 13, wherein the first case portion is a lower case portion and the second case portion is an upper case portion.

15. The case of claim 13, wherein when the connector of the electronic device is connected to the inner connector of the first case portion and the screen of the electronic device faces up, the battery is positioned under the back of the housing of the electronic device.

16. The case of claim 13, wherein the first case portion comprises a plurality of lights, coupled to the electronic circuitry, wherein the lights indicate a power or charge level for the battery.

17. The case of claim 13, wherein the first case portion comprises a button on a base back surface of the first case portion and coupled to the electronic circuitry.

18. The case of claim 13, wherein the first case portion comprises:

a guide on a sidewall; and

an insert section;

wherein when the second case portion slides on the guide of the first case portion and over the insert section through the open side end to attach to the first case portion, an edge of the first case portion overlaps with an edge of the second case portion to form the seam, and exterior surfaces of the first case portion and second case portion at the seam become flush with each other.

19. The case of claim 13, wherein the second case portion and the first case portion together substantially replicate an external shape of the electronic device.

20. A case for a mobile device, the case comprising:

(i) a first case portion comprising;

(1) a base comprising

(a) a base front surface; and

(b) a base back surface;

Wherein at least a portion of a housing of a mobile device will be placed against the base front surface;

(2) a battery cell, enclosed within a thickness of the base and between the base front surface and base back surface;

(3) electronic circuitry, coupled to the battery cell, to an internal interface, and to an external interface, wherein the internal interface connects to an interface of the mobile device;

(4) a guide on a sidewall; and

(5) an insert section; and

(ii) a second case portion, slideable onto the first case portion;

wherein, when the second case portion slides on the guide of the first case portion and over the insert section to attach to the first case portion, edges of the first and second case portions overlap with each other to form a seam, and exterior surfaces of the first and second case portions at the seam become flush with each other;

wherein, when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, the first and second case portions form the seam, which extends across a back of the case;

when the second case portion is seated against the first case portion, a first open-shaped opening for the first case portion merges with a second open-shaped opening for the second case portion to form a front opening of the case through which a screen of the mobile device will be visible, the front opening having a closed shape.

21. The case of claim 20, wherein when the interface of the mobile device is connected to the internal interface of the first case portion and the screen of the mobile device faces up, the battery cell is positioned under the back of the housing of the mobile device.

22. The case of claim 20, wherein the first case portion comprises a plurality of lights, coupled to the electronic circuitry, and wherein the lights indicate a power or charge level for the battery cell.

23. The case of claim 20, further comprising a button on a back surface of the first case portion and coupled to the electronic circuitry.

24. The case of claim 20, wherein the top first case portion and the second case portion together substantially replicate an external shape of the mobile device.

25. The case of claim 20, wherein the battery cell can be charged via the external interface and wherein the mobile device, when coupled to the internal interface, can communicate with an external device via the external interface.

26. The case of claim 20, wherein the first case portion is a lower case portion and the second case portion is an upper case portion.