Protective shroud for handheld device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016191100-A1
Application number	US-201514984887-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2009
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for communicating with a handheld device (e.g., a cellular telephone) is provided herein. A protective shroud is configured to enclose the handheld device and protect it against incidents that commonly cause damage to handheld devices. Integral to the protective shroud is at least one of an input component configured to receive user input and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit signals to and/or receive signals from the handheld device. In one example, where both the input component and the wireless transceiver are integral to the protective shroud, signals related to received user input (e.g., where the shroud serves as a keypad) may be transmitted to the handheld device even if the protective shroud is removed from the handheld device.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An apparatus for a handheld device, comprising:
a selectively removable protective cover configured to protect at least a portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device; a wireless transceiver integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to facilitate selective wireless communication between the selectively removable protective cover and the handheld device; and a power source configured to supply power to the protective cover; wherein the selectively removable protective cover maintains communication between the handheld device and the selectively removable protective cover when the selectively removable protective cover is physically decoupled from the handheld device.

22 . The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
a keypad, wherein the keypad generates a signal, and the signal is wirelessly transmitted to the handheld device via the wireless transceiver.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:
the keypad comprises one or more mechanical keys.

24 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:
the wireless transceiver communicates with the handheld device through IEEE Standard 802.15.1.

25 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:
the wireless transceiver communicates with the handheld device through Bluetooth communications.

26 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:
the selectively removable protective cover comprises a latch.

27 . The apparatus of claim 26 wherein:
the latch is positioned on the selectively removable protective cover so that the selectively removable protective cover opens when the latch is unlatched.

28 . The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
a touch-sensitive surface, wherein the touch-sensitive surface generates a signal, and the signal is wirelessly transmitted to the handheld device via the wireless transceiver.

29 . The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
a touchpad, wherein the touchpad generates a signal, and the signal is wirelessly transmitted to the handheld device via the wireless transceiver.

30 . The apparatus of claim 21 wherein:
the power source is configured to supply power to the wireless transceiver.

31 . An apparatus for a handheld device, comprising:
a selectively removable protective cover configured to protect at least a portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device; a wireless transceiver integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to facilitate selective wireless communication between the selectively removable cover and the handheld device; an input component integral with the selectively removable protective cover and comprising a touch-sensitive surface, wherein the touch-sensitive surface generates a signal, and the signal is wirelessly transmitted to the handheld device via the wireless transceiver; and a power source configured to supply power to the selectively removable protective cover.

32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein:
the touch-sensitive surface comprises a touchpad.

33 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein:
the touch-sensitive surface comprises a handwriting input component.

34 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein:
the selectively removable protective cover transmits signals from the touch-sensitive surface to the handheld device when the selectively removable protective cover is removed from the handheld device.

35 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein:
the selectively removable protective cover continues to transmit signals from the touch-sensitive surface to the handheld device when the selectively removable protective cover is physically decoupled from the handheld device.

36 . An apparatus for communicating with a handheld device, the apparatus comprising:
a selectively removable protective cover configured to enclose at least a portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device; a wireless transceiver integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to facilitate selective wireless communication with the handheld device; an input component integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to receive user input, the input component configured generate an input signal based upon the received user input and to transmit the input signal to the wireless transceiver; and a power source integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to supply power to the selectively removable protective cover; wherein the wireless transceiver couples the input component to a second device other than the handheld device when the input component is not operably coupled to the handheld device.

37 . The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising:
a microphone or speaker, wherein the wireless transceiver couples the microphone or speaker to the second device.

38 . The apparatus of claim 36 wherein:
the second device comprises a television.

39 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein:
the input component serves as a remote control for the television.

40 . The apparatus of claim 36 wherein:
the wireless facilitates the selective wireless communication through IEEE Standard 802.15.1.

41 . An apparatus for communicating with a handheld device, the apparatus comprising:
a selectively removable protective cover configured to enclose at least a portion of the handheld device when attached to the handheld device; a wireless transceiver integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to facilitate selective wireless communication with the handheld device, the wireless transceiver facilitating the selective wireless communication through Bluetooth communications; an input component integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to receive user input, the input component configured to generate an input signal based upon the received user input and to transmit the input signal to the wireless transceiver, the input component comprising an alphanumeric keypad or a touch sensor; and a power source integral with the selectively removable protective cover and configured to supply power to the selectively removable protective cover; wherein the wireless transceiver is powered by the power source and communication is maintained between the handheld device and the selectively removable protective cover when the selectively removable protective cover is removed from the handheld device.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Paek Timothy S
• Badger Eric Norman
• Rosenfeld Daniel Allen

Classifications

• H04W4/008

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H04M2250/18

  including more than one keyboard unit · CPC title

• A45C11/00

  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 title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title