Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/938,351, titled BATTERY PACK, HOLSTER, AND EXTENDIBLE PROCESSING AND INTERFACE PLATFORM FOR MOBILE DEVICES, filed on Nov. 2, 2010, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/357,262, titled BATTERY PACK, HOLSTER, AND EXTENDIBLE PROCESSING AND INTERFACE PLATFORM FOR MOBILE DEVICES, filed on Jan. 21, 2009, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §102(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/021,897, titled BATTERY PACK AND HOLSTER FOR MOBILE DEVICES, and filed Jan. 18, 2008, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    One embodiment relates to battery packs and/or holsters and, more particular, to an external battery pack and/or holster for mobile electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, digital assistants, mobile communication devices, handheld computing devices, personal music/video/content players and storage devices) are often powered by battery power sources. Such battery power sources are often housed within the mobile device and may be changed and/or recharged as needed. However, as more powerful mobile devices are designed, these tend to consume power more quickly, thereby shortening the time between charges. This tends to limit the usefulness of the mobile device since the user must find a power source to recharge the battery source and wait until it is recharged. 
         [0004]    Additionally, after a certain number of recharges, a battery source may need to be replaced as it may no longer hold a charge. Oftentimes, it is not easy to replace a battery source as the mobile device may need to be disassembled or opened to reach the battery source. 
         [0005]    Therefore, a way is needed to extend the time between charges of mobile devices and/or continue to power the mobile device even after an internal power source has been depleted. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One embodiment relates to battery packs and/or holsters and, more particular, to an external battery pack and/or holster for mobile electronic devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIGS. 1-5  illustrate one example of a battery pack for a mobile device. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate an embodiment of a mobile device holster. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 10-13  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a battery pack. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 14-18  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a battery pack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention. 
         [0012]    Various embodiments provide battery packs shaped to conform to the external shape of a mobile device, thereby providing a permanent replacement power source without significantly affecting the size and usability of the mobile device. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0013]      FIGS. 1-5  illustrate one example of a battery pack for a mobile device.  FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of the battery pack  102  includes a back plane  104 , first and second sides  106  and  108 , and a bottom side  112 . The back plane  104 , first and second sides  106  and bottom side  112  may be shaped to form a pocket into which a mobile device to be powered can slide. A top portion  114  of the battery pack  102  may remain open to allow insertion and removal of the mobile device. A device interface  110  may be positioned along the bottom side  112  to couple with the mobile device. The device interface  110  may serve for the battery pack  102  to provide power to the mobile device. The battery pack may be detached from the mobile device to be recharged. In some examples, a user may have two battery packs so that when one is being charged, the other can be powering the mobile device. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the battery pack  102 . The first and second sides  106  and  108  may extend the whole length or a partial length of the battery pack  102 . The sides and ends  202  and  204  of the battery pack  102  may be rounded to provide an ergonomic shape. Additionally, internal rechargeable battery cells may be housed within the thickness of the back plane  104 . The internal rechargeable battery cells may be coupled to the device interface  110  to provide power to the mobile device. 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a back view of the battery pack  102 . The size or dimensions of the back plane  104  may be approximately that of the mobile device to which it is intended to provide power. Additionally, a plurality of LEDs  302  may be mounted on the back surface to indicate the charge status of the internal battery cells of the battery pack  102 . 
         [0016]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate two different side views of how one type of mobile device  402  (i.e., an iPhone™ by Apple Inc.) may be mounted or coupled to the battery pack  102 . The mobile device  402  may slide into the battery pack  102  and may be held in place or attached by the first and second sides  106  and  108  and/or device interface  110 . 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0017]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a mobile device holster. The holster  602  may include a back plane  604 , a first and second sides  606  and  608 , a bottom side  610 , and an upper flange  612  which define a cavity  614  for housing a mobile device. An opening  616  may be defined between the upper flange  612  and the back plane  604 . The upper flange  612  may flex (as denoted in  FIG. 8 ) to allow the mobile device to be inserted through the opening  616  to insert the mobile device. Similarly, the upper flange  612  may flex back to allow the mobile device to be removed. The upper flange  612  and first and second sides  606  and  608  may be shaped to retain the mobile device when inserted into the holster  602 . In one example, the holster  602  may include one or more interfaces that couple to the mobile device when the mobile device is housed within the holster. The interface act as a bridge to allow the mobile device to couple to an external device. For instance, the holster  602  may be adapted to be coupled to an external battery pack to provide power to the mobile device. 
         [0018]    In an alternative embodiment, the holster  602  may also include one or more rechargeable battery cells within the thickness of the back plane  604  that can power the mobile device via a device interface.  FIG. 9  illustrates one example of a back view of the holster  612 . An opening  902  may be formed on the back plane  604  to allow access to a reset or power button on the mobile device. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0019]      FIGS. 10-13  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a battery pack. The battery pack  1002  may include a back plane  1004 , a first and second sides  1006  and  1008 , a bottom side  1010 , and an upper side  1012  which define a cavity  1004  for housing a mobile device. Additionally, the battery pack  1002  may include a first device interface  1014  and a second device interface  1016  (e.g., power connector, audio signals, control signal, data signals, etc.). In one embodiment, the second device interface  1016  may serve to provide power from one or more internal power cells (housed within the thickness of the back plane  1004 ). The internal power cells may be recharged via a third interface  1018  on the battery pack  1002 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11B , a mobile device  1102  may be inserted and housed by the battery pack  1002 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate how the battery pack  1002  may be adapted to allow the mobile device  1102  to be inserted or removed. An upper portion  1204  may be movably separated from a lower portion  1202  of the battery pack  1002 . The upper portion  1204  may slide on guides  1208  on both sides to create a space which allows the mobile device  1102  to detach from the interfaces  1014  and/or  1016 . Once detached, the mobile device may be removed. Similarly, the space created by the upper portion  1204  sliding away from the bottom portion  1202  allows the mobile device to be inserted into the battery pack  1002 . 
         [0021]    The guides  1208  may also act as a stopper to prevent the upper portion  1204  from completely separating from the bottom portion  1202  once a separation limit is reached. Similarly, the guides  1208  may also include locking tabs that secure or couple the upper portion  1204  and lower portion  1202  together when they are in a closed position. 
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0022]      FIGS. 14-18  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a battery pack. The battery pack  1402  may include a back plane  1404 , a first and second sides  1406  and  1408 , a bottom side  1410 , and an upper side  1412  which define a cavity  1404  for housing a mobile device  1426 . Additionally, the battery pack  1402  may include a first device interface  1414  and a second device interface  1416  (e.g., power connector, audio signals, control signal, data signals, etc.). In one embodiment, the second device interface  1416  may serve to provide power from one or more internal power cells (housed within the thickness of the back plane  1404 ). The internal power cells may be recharged via a third interface  1418  on the battery pack  1402 . As illustrated in  FIG. 14B , a mobile device  1426  may be inserted and housed by the battery pack  1402 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 16 ,  17 , and  18  illustrate how the battery pack  1402  may be adapted to allow the mobile device  1426  to be inserted or removed. An upper portion  1502  may be movably separated from a lower portion  1506  of the battery pack  1402 . The upper portion  1502  may slide on guides  1504  on both sides to create a space which allows the mobile device  1426  to detach from the interfaces  1414  and/or  1416 . Once detached, the mobile device  1426  may be removed. Similarly, the space created by the upper portion  1502  sliding away from the bottom portion  1506  allows the mobile device to be inserted into the battery pack  1402 . 
         [0024]    To make it easier to insert and/or remove the mobile device  1426  from the battery pack  1402 , the guides  1504  may include hinge points that allow the upper portion  1502  to fold relative to the bottom portion  1506 , thereby allowing the mobile device  1426  to be removed or inserted with greater ease. 
       Speakers &amp; Microphone 
       [0025]    Another feature may provide for one or more speakers to be included as part of the battery packs or holster (illustrated in  FIGS. 1-18 ). For instance a low-profile speaker may be housed within the back plane of a battery pack so that the sound may be emitted from the rear or sides of the battery pack. When a mobile device is inserted and coupled to the battery pack, it couples to an interface that electrically connects the speaker to the mobile device. The mobile device may send audio or sound signals to the speaker via an interface with the battery pack. This allows a user to listen to audio stored in the mobile device without the need for headphones. 
         [0026]    Similarly, another feature may provide for one or more microphones to be included as part of the battery packs (illustrated in  FIGS. 1-18 ). One or more microphones may be housed within the battery pack (e.g., back plane) so that they may capture sound from a user. The microphone may be electrically coupled to an interface that allows sending captured audio signals to a mobile device that may be coupled to the battery pack. 
       Additional Features 
       [0027]    In some embodiments the back plane of the battery packs and/or holster of  FIGS. 1-18  may house additional devices. 
         [0028]    For example, the rear of the back plane may house an additional display screen extend the screen on the mobile device. The additional display screen may be electrically coupled to the mobile device (via an interface) to allow the mobile device to send images or video to the additional display screen. 
         [0029]    In another example, the rear of the back plane may house a Braille input and/or output interface that electrically coupled a mobile device mounted within the holster or battery pack. 
         [0030]    In yet another embodiment, the rear of the back plane may provide a keypad that serves as an input to the mobile device. 
         [0031]    According to another feature, the battery pack and/or holster may provide an external interface (e.g., Bluetooth wireless interface, USB port, infrared port, etc.) that may allow the mobile device mounted in the battery pack and/or holster to communicate via that external interface. Thus the external interface may provide a different wireless interface than provided or supported by the internal system of the mobile device. 
         [0032]    One or more of the features illustrated in  FIGS. 1-18  may be rearranged and/or combined into a single component or embodied in several components. Additional components may also be added without departing from the invention. 
         [0033]    While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

Technology Category: 5