Accessory case with a power supply

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11201484-B2
Application number	US-201916530836-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2019
Priority date	Apr 15, 2019
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

Accessory devices for portable electronic devices are herein described. An accessory device may include a receptacle used to receive and carry an electronic device. Further, the accessory device may include a cover that is pivotally coupled to the receptacle. The cover is designed to protect a front surface of the electronic device, including a cover glass. The accessory device may further include a power supply (such as a battery) that is located on the cover. The power supply is designed to provide power to the electronic device, and subsequently charge a battery of the electronic device. The power supply can also provide power to different devices. In this regard, the accessory device may include an inductive charging coil that can inductively charge a battery of a device located on the accessory device. The inductive charging coil can be integrated into the receptacle or the cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory device for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a single-piece body comprising:
a receptacle having a size and shape to receive the electronic device, and
a cover coupled to the receptacle by a hinge that allows the cover to pivot with respect to the receptacle;

a power supply carried by the cover; and
a flexible circuit embedded in the single-piece body, the flexible circuit electrically coupling the power supply with the electronic device when the electronic device is retained in the receptacle.

2. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein:
the receptacle comprises a wall and a sidewall extending from the wall,
the cover comprises a first surface capable of engaging the sidewall,
the cover comprises a second surface opposite the first surface, and
the power supply is located on the second surface.

3. The accessory device of claim 2 , wherein the single-piece body further comprises a compartment that carries the power supply, wherein the compartment is capable of engaging the wall.

4. The accessory device of claim 3 , wherein the wall comprises an opening for a camera module of the electronic device.

5. The accessory device of claim 1 , further comprising an inductive charging coil carried by the cover and in electrical communication with the power supply.

6. The accessory device of claim 5 , wherein the inductive charging coil is capable of charging the power supply.

7. The accessory device of claim 5 , wherein the inductive charging coil is capable of i) receiving energy from the power supply and ii) charging, using the energy, a battery of a device positioned on the cover.

8. The accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a removable power supply.

9. An accessory device for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a first portion that defines an internal volume that is capable of receiving the electronic device, the first portion comprising a connector configured to electrically coupled to the electronic device;
a second portion coupled to the first portion by a hinge, the second portion comprising:
a compartment that defines an enclosure, and
a power supply disposed in the enclosure, wherein:
a closed position comprises the second portion covering the internal volume, and
an open position comprises i) the first portion being uncovered by the second portion and ii) the power supply being laterally displaced with respect to the first portion; and

a flexible circuit that extends into the first portion, the hinge, and the second portion, the flexible circuit electrically coupled to the power supply and the connector.

10. The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the first portion comprises a sidewall, and the connector extends from the sidewall.

11. The accessory device of claim 9 , further comprising an inductive charging coil located on the second portion.

12. The accessory device of claim 9 , wherein the first portion comprises a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall to define the internal volume, and wherein the second portion comprises a cover capable of engaging the sidewalls.

13. The accessory device of claim 12 , wherein the flexible circuit defines a single-piece flexible circuit.

14. The accessory device of claim 12 , wherein the cover is capable of engaging the sidewalls and the bottom wall.

15. An accessory device for use with an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:
a receptacle comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls that extend from the bottom wall, wherein the sidewalls combine with the bottom wall to define an internal volume capable of receiving the electronic device, and the bottom wall comprises an opening configured to receive a camera of the electronic device;
a front cover pivotally coupled with the receptacle by a hinge;
a power supply embedded in the front cover, the power supply configured to provide power to a battery of the electronic device; and
an electrical contact positioned on the bottom wall and electrically coupled to the power supply, wherein receipt of the electronic device in the receptacle is capable of causing the electronic device to electrically couple to the electrical contact.

16. The accessory device of claim 15 , further comprising a single-piece flexible circuit that extends into the front cover, the hinge, and receptacle, wherein the single-piece flexible circuit electrically couples the power supply to the electrical contact.

17. The accessory device of claim 15 , wherein:
the electrical contact defines a first electrical contact, and
the front cover comprises a second electrical contact configured to receive power.

18. The accessory device of claim 15 , wherein the electrical contact comprises a first electrical contact, and wherein the accessory device further comprises:
a second electrical contact located on the hinge; and
a third electrical contact located on one of the sidewalls, the third electrical contact electrically coupled to the second electrical contact.

19. The accessory device of claim 18 , wherein the front cover is removably coupled to the receptacle, and wherein when the front cover is coupled to the receptacle, the second electrical contact is in electrical communication with the third electrical contact.

20. The accessory device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a carrier located on the front cover, the carrier configured to receive an accessory device for use with the electronic device; and
an inductive charging module disposed in the carrier and configured to charge the accessory device when the accessory device is disposed in the carrier.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Weber Robert V
• Ryan Patrick T
• Kim Min Chul
• Colahan Ian P

Classifications

• H02J7/60

  including safety or protection arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/731 Primary

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/70 Primary

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H02J7/0044 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic