Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone

• US 9,553,959 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Eckhoff, Philip A., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Tuckerman, David B., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US14/520,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20150141086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A mobile device includes a shell; a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell; and a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a wireless power signal from a remote device and convert the power signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a shell;

a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell; and

a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a wireless power signal from a remote device and convert the power signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile device;

wherein the shell includes an aperture, and wherein the second replaceable hardware component is configured to receive the wireless power signal through the aperture.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second replaceable hardware component includes a power signal receiver configured to receive the wireless power signal.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the power signal receiver includes an antenna configured to receive the wireless power signal and a rectifier configured to convert the wireless power signal to electrical energy.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power signal includes microwaves.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power signal includes a laser beam.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power signal includes an infrared transmission.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power signal includes a magnetic field.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a processing circuit coupled to the first and second replaceable hardware components, wherein the processing circuit is configured to at least one of (i) provide a frequency for the wireless power signal to the remote device, (ii) provide a request for the wireless power signal based on a projected future energy usage of the mobile device, or (iii) provide a request for the wireless power signal based on a current remaining energy level for the mobile device.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

10. A mobile device, comprising:

a shell;

a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell;

a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a wireless power signal from a remote device and convert the power signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile device; and

a retroreflector at least one of coupled to the shell, integrated into the shell, or enclosed by the shell.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

a shell;

a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell;

a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a wireless power signal from a remote device and convert the power signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile device; and

a processing circuit coupled to the first and second replaceable hardware components;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to provide a frequency for the wireless power signal to the remote device.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the shell includes an aperture, and wherein the second replaceable hardware component is configured to receive the wireless power signal through the aperture.

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a shell;

a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell;

a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a wireless power signal from a remote device and convert the power signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile device; and

a processing circuit coupled to the first and second replaceable hardware components;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to provide a request for the wireless power signal based on a projected future energy usage of the mobile device.

14. A mobile device, comprising:

a shell;

a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell;

a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a wireless power signal from a remote device and convert the power signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile device; and

a processing circuit coupled to the first and second replaceable hardware components;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to provide a request for the wireless power signal based on a current remaining energy level for the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine the current remaining energy level for the mobile phone based on an energy level of a battery.

16. A mobile phone, comprising:

a shell;

a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell; and

a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a radio frequency signal from a remote device and convert the radio frequency signal into electrical energy usable by the mobile phone;

wherein the shell includes an aperture, and wherein the second replaceable hardware component is configured to receive the radio frequency signal through the aperture.

17. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the second replaceable hardware component includes a radio frequency receiver configured to receive the radio frequency signal.

18. The mobile phone of claim 17, wherein the radio frequency receiver includes an antenna configured to receive the radio frequency signal and a rectifier configured to convert the radio frequency signal to electrical energy.

19. The mobile phone of claim 18, wherein the antenna includes a plurality of antennas.

20. The mobile phone of claim 18, wherein the antenna includes a microwave antenna.

21. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the second replaceable hardware component is configured to receive the radio frequency signal through the shell.

22. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the first and second replaceable hardware components are selected from a set of interchangeable components having substantially the same size but different functions.

23. The mobile phone of claim 22, wherein the first and second replaceable hardware components are configured to be interchangeably disposed within a first portion of the shell.

24. A mobile phone, comprising:

a shell;

a first replaceable hardware component received within the shell; and

a second replaceable hardware component received within the shell, the second replaceable hardware component configured to receive a laser beam from a remote device and

convert the laser beam into electrical energy usable by the mobile phone;

wherein the second replaceable hardware component is configured to receive the laser beam through the shell; and

wherein at least a portion of the shell includes an infrared-transparent portion.

25. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the second replaceable hardware component includes a photovoltaic cell configured to receive the laser beam.

26. The mobile phone of claim 25, wherein the laser beam includes an infrared transmission.

27. The mobile phone of claim 24, further comprising a retroreflector provided within the shell adjacent the infrared-transparent portion.

28. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein an exterior of the second replaceable hardware component includes an infrared-transparent portion.

29. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the shell includes an aperture, and wherein the second replaceable hardware component is configured to receive the laser beam through the aperture.

30. The mobile phone of claim 29, further comprising a retroreflector, wherein the retroreflector is at least one of coupled to the shell, integrated into the shell, or enclosed by the shell.

31. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the first and second replaceable hardware components are selected from a set of interchangeable components having substantially the same size but different functions.

32. The mobile phone of claim 31, wherein the first and second replaceable hardware components are configured to be interchangeably disposed within a first portion of the shell.