PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10211871-B2
Application Number: US-201514966421-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Accessory case for wireless electronic device

Abstract:
A removable case may have a body that is configured to receive an electronic device. The case may be coupled to the electronic device using wired and wireless paths. The case may include circuitry that receives wireless power from external equipment. The circuitry that receives the wireless power may receive wireless power at microwave frequencies. Received power may be supplied to the electronic device through wired and wireless paths. The removable case may also include circuitry that wirelessly communicates with external equipment. An array of antennas may be used to support beam steering. The array of antennas may support wireless communications in millimeter wave communications bands such as a communications band at 60 GHz or other extremely high frequency communications bands. The case and electronic device may have respective intermediate frequency antenna structures to allow intermediate frequency signals to be wirelessly conveyed between the case and device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A removable electronic device case that is configured to mate with an electronic device and that supports wireless communications with external equipment, comprising:
 a body configured to mate with the electronic device; 
 millimeter wave transceiver circuitry in the body; and 
 a phased antenna array with which the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry transmits radio-frequency signals to the external equipment at a frequency between 10 GHz and 400 GHz, wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry performs beam steering operations using the phased antenna array. 
 
     
     
       2. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 1  wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry and the array of antennas are configured to transmit the radio-frequency signals to the external equipment in an extremely high frequency band. 
     
     
       3. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 1  wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry and the array of antennas are configured to transmit the radio-frequency signals to the external equipment in a 60 GHz frequency band. 
     
     
       4. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 1  further comprising an integrated circuit that includes the antenna array and the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
       5. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 4  further comprising an intermediate frequency antenna structure and an intermediate frequency transceiver circuit coupled to the intermediate frequency antenna structure, wherein the intermediate frequency antenna structure and intermediate frequency transceiver circuit wirelessly communicate with the electronic device using intermediate frequency wireless signals. 
     
     
       6. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 5  wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry includes upconverter circuitry that converts intermediate frequency signals from the intermediate frequency transceiver circuit to the radio-frequency signals that the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry transmits to the external equipment with the antenna array. 
     
     
       7. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 6  wherein the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry includes downconverter circuitry that converts radio-frequency signals that the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry receives from the antenna array to intermediate frequency signals that are received from the millimeter wave transceiver circuitry by the intermediate frequency transceiver circuit. 
     
     
       8. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 7  wherein the intermediate frequency antenna structure is near field coupled to a corresponding intermediate frequency antenna structure in the electronic device. 
     
     
       9. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 8  further comprising circuitry in the body including at least one antenna and radio-frequency-to-direct-current power conversion circuitry that receive radio-frequency wireless power signals from external circuitry and that convert the received radio-frequency wireless power signals into direct current power that is supplied to the electronic device. 
     
     
       10. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 9  wherein the at least one antenna and radio-frequency-to-direct-current power conversion circuitry are configured to receive radio-frequency power wireless power signals at a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 MHz. 
     
     
       11. A removable electronic device case that is configured to mate with an electronic device and that receives wireless power from external equipment, comprising:
 a body configured to mate with the electronic device; 
 circuitry in the body that includes at least one antenna and radio-frequency-to-direct-current power conversion circuitry that receives radio-frequency wireless power signals from the external equipment and that converts the received radio-frequency wireless power signals into direct current power that is supplied to the electronic device; 
 a connector in the body that is coupled to the electronic device, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the direct current power to the electronic device through the connector; and 
 an antenna structure that is wirelessly coupled to the electronic device, wherein the circuitry is configured to wirelessly supply power to the electronic device through the antenna structure. 
 
     
     
       12. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 11  wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive wave wireless power signals at a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 MHz from the external equipment. 
     
     
       13. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 12  wherein the at least one antenna comprises an array of antennas. 
     
     
       14. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 11  wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive wireless power signals from the external equipment at a frequency selected from the group consisting of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. 
     
     
       15. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 11  wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive wireless power signals from the external equipment at a frequency above 60 GHz. 
     
     
       16. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 11  further comprising an integrated circuit that contains a 60 GHz antenna array that wirelessly communicates in a 60 GHz communications band. 
     
     
       17. The removable electronic device case defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a battery, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the direct current power to the battery to charge the battery. 
 
     
     
       18. A removable electronic device case, comprising:
 a millimeter wave transceiver; 
 an array of antennas coupled to the millimeter wave transceiver that transmit and receive wireless signals in a millimeter wave communications band; 
 at least one antenna structure that receives wireless power at a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 MHz; and 
 a battery that is charged using the received wireless power. 
 
     
     
       19. A removable electronic device case that is configured to mate with an electronic device and that supports wireless communications with external equipment, comprising:
 a body configured to mate with the electronic device; 
 radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in the body; 
 an array of antennas with which the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry wirelessly communicates with the external equipment; and 
 an intermediate frequency antenna structure and an intermediate frequency transceiver circuit coupled to the intermediate frequency antenna structure, wherein the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and the array of antennas are configured to wirelessly communicate with the external equipment in a first frequency band and the intermediate frequency antenna structure and intermediate frequency transceiver circuit wirelessly communicate with the electronic device using intermediate frequency wireless signals in a second frequency band that is lower than the first frequency band.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to removable cases for electronic devices and, more particularly, to removable cases for wireless electronic devices. 
     Electronic devices often include wireless circuitry. For example, cellular telephones, computers, and other devices often contain antennas for supporting wireless communications with external equipment. Some wireless devices contain loop antennas that allow batteries in the wireless devices to be wirelessly charged. 
     Removable cases are sometimes used with electronic devices. Removable cases can provide physical protection for an electronic device and may contain batteries to provide supplemental power, but do not provide significant enhanced functionality. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved removable cases for wireless devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     A removable case may have a body that is configured to receive an electronic device. The removable case may include a battery that supplements the battery of the electronic device. 
     The removable case may be coupled to the electronic device using wired and wireless paths. These paths may be used to convey power and data between the case and the electronic device. 
     The removable case may include circuitry that receives wireless power from external equipment. The circuitry that receives the wireless power may receive wireless power at microwave frequencies. Received power may be supplied to the electronic device through wired and wireless paths. 
     The removable case may also include circuitry that wirelessly communicates with external equipment. An array of antennas may be used to support beam steering. The array of antennas may support wireless communications in millimeter wave communications bands such as a communications band at 60 GHz or other extremely high frequency communications bands. The case and electronic device may have respective intermediate frequency antenna structures to allow intermediate frequency signals to be wirelessly conveyed between the case and device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device and a mating removable case in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry for use in an electronic device, removable case, and external equipment in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of illustrative circuitry for controlling a phased antenna array to implement functions such as beam steering functions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of illustrative circuitry that may be used in the circuits of  FIG. 3  to handle phased antenna array wireless communications signals in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of illustrative wireless charging circuitry in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an illustrative communications system in which intermediate frequency signals may be wirelessly transmitted between an electronic device and associated accessory case in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an illustrative system in which wireless power is transferred from external equipment to an electronic device using wireless charging circuitry in an accessory case in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may be provided with removable external cases. The removable external cases may contain components that add functionality to the electronic devices such as wireless functions. The wireless functions may include, for example, wireless communications capabilities and wireless power transfer capabilities. 
     An illustrative electronic device (device  10 A), a mating removable case (case  10 B), and external wireless equipment  10 C are shown in the exploded perspective view of  FIG. 1 . Device  10 A may have a housing (body) such as housing  12 A. Display  14  may be mounted in housing  12 A. Openings may be formed in the front face of device  10 A. For example, openings may be formed in a protective display cover layer for display  14  such as an opening for button  16  and speaker port  18 . 
     Electronic device  10 A and mating case  10 B may have any suitable shapes. For example, housing  12 A of electronic device  10 A may have a rectangular shape and case  10 B may have a body (housing) such as body  12 B with a corresponding rectangular recess. Rectangular recess  20  of body  12 B may be configured to receive a rectangular device such as electronic device  10 A of  FIG. 1 . Electronic devices and cases of other shapes may be used, if desired. For example, a case may have a folding cover, may have the shape of a sleeve that slides over an electronic device, may be mounted to only one end of an electronic device, or may have other suitable shapes that are configured to mate with an electronic device. Structures such as housing  12 A and body  12 B may be formed from materials such as plastic, glass, metal, other materials, and/or combinations of these materials. 
     Device  10 A may have a connector port with a connector such as female connector  130 . Connector  130  may have signal pins and power pins (sometimes referred to as contacts, signal paths, or signal lines). For example, connector  130  may have 5-20 contacts, 16 contacts, 8 contacts, more than 3 contacts, or fewer than 32 contacts. Case  10 B may have a mating connector such as male connector  204 . When device  10  is mounted in case  10 B, connector  204  and connector  130  may be coupled to each other (i.e., the contacts of connector  204  may mate with corresponding contacts in connector  130 ). A battery in case  10 B may supply supplemental power to device  10 A by routing power signals to the circuitry of device  10 A through power pins in connectors  204  and  130 . Data and control signals may also be routed between device  10 A and case  10 B using connectors  130  and  204 . 
     Connector  204  may be coupled to female connector  206  in case  10 B. When it is desired to use an accessory or other external equipment with device  10 A (see, e.g., external equipment  10 C), an external plug (e.g., a plug on the end of an accessory cable or a plug in a dock or other plug associated with wired path  24 ) may be inserted into connector  206 . Internal wiring in case  10 B may route signals from contacts in the plug coupled to connector  206  to corresponding contacts in connector  204 . Because connector  204  is coupled to connector  130 , this allows signals from case  10 B and/or external signals from path  24  and equipment  10 C to be routed to and from device  10 A. External equipment  10 C may also be coupled to device  10 A and/or case  12 B wirelessly (see, e.g., wireless link  26 ). 
     A schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry that may be used in device  10 A, case  10 B, and/or external equipment  10 C is shown in  FIG. 1 . Circuitry  10  of  FIG. 2  may be associated with all or part of device  10 A, all or part of case  10 B, and/or all or part of external equipment  10 C. Circuitry  10  (and therefore device  10 A, case  10 B, and/or equipment  10 C) may include and/or may be based on equipment such as a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wrist-watch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user&#39;s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, a wireless access point, a wireless communications station, a wireless charging station, charging equipment for supplying wireless power and/or wired power to recharge depleted batteries and/or to otherwise help power electronic equipment, or other electronic equipment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , circuitry  10  may include control circuitry such as storage and processing circuitry  30 . Storage and processing circuitry  30  may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry  30  may be used to control the operation of circuitry  10 . This processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     Storage and processing circuitry  30  may be used to run software on circuitry  10 , such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, storage and processing circuitry  30  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry  30  include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, cellular telephone protocols, MIMO protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols, etc. 
     Circuitry  10  may include input-output circuitry  44 . Input-output circuitry  44  may include input-output devices  32 . Input-output devices  32  may be used to allow data to be supplied to circuitry  10  and to allow data to be provided from circuitry  10  to external devices. Input-output devices  32  may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices may include displays such as touch screens, displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, speakers, status indicators, light sources, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, light sensors, accelerometers or other components that can detect motion and device orientation relative to the Earth, capacitance sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor and/or an infrared proximity sensor), magnetic sensors, a connector port sensor or other sensor that determines whether circuitry  10  in one device is coupled to circuitry in another device, and other sensors and input-output components. 
     Input-output circuitry  44  may include wireless circuitry  34  for communicating wirelessly with external equipment. Wireless circuitry  34  may include antenna structures such as one or more antennas  40  and wireless circuitry  50 . 
     Antennas  40  in wireless circuitry  34  may be formed using any suitable antenna types. For example, antennas  40  may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. If desired, one or more of antennas  40  may be cavity-backed antennas. Different types of antennas may be used for different applications (e.g., different operating frequencies, different combinations of communications bands, near field versus far field communications, etc.). As an example, one type of antenna may be used in forming a local wireless link antenna and another type of antenna may be used in forming a remote wireless link antenna. One type of antenna may also be used in handling data communications whereas another type of antenna may be used in supporting wireless power transfer. In another illustrative configuration, one type of antenna may be used in supporting near field communications, whereas another type of antenna may be used for supporting far field communications. Other arrangements may be used, if desired. Dedicated antennas may be used for receiving satellite navigation system signals or, if desired, antennas  40  can be configured to receive both satellite navigation system signals and signals for other communications bands (e.g., wireless local area network signals and/or cellular telephone signals). Antennas  40  can include phased antenna arrays and other antenna structures for handling millimeter wave communications, for handling near field communications, for handling communications from 700-2700 MHz, or for handling communications at other suitable frequencies. The phase antenna arrays may allow beams of signals (transmitted and/or received) to be steered in real time (e.g., to optimize wireless communications and/or wireless power transfer). 
     Wireless circuitry  50  may include baseband processors, transceiver circuits, upconverter and downconverter circuits, circuits for controlling the operation of antennas in antenna arrays, power circuitry (e.g., wireless charging circuitry for supporting wireless charging at microwave frequencies, at frequencies of 10 kHz to 100 MHz, or other at other frequencies), transceiver circuitry for handling wireless communications, and other wireless circuitry. The transceiver circuitry of circuitry  50  may include wireless local area network transceiver circuitry that may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and that may handle the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® communications band, may include cellular telephone transceiver circuitry for handling wireless communications in frequency ranges such as a low communications band from 700 to 960 MHz, a midband from 1710 to 2170 MHz, and a high band from 2300 to 2700 MHz or other communications bands between 700 MHz and 2700 MHz or other suitable frequencies (as examples), may include millimeter wave transceiver circuitry to support communications at extremely high frequencies (e.g., millimeter wave frequencies from 10 GHz to 400 GHz or other millimeter wave frequencies), may include satellite navigation system circuitry such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry for receiving GPS signals at 1575 MHz or for handling other satellite positioning data (e.g., GLONASS signals at 1609 MHz), may include circuitry for receiving television and radio signals, paging system signals, near field communications (NFC) (e.g., NFC signals below 100 MHz), signals at frequencies greater than 60 GHz), and other wireless signals. 
     Circuitry  10  may include power storage devices such as capacitors and/or batteries such as battery  52 . 
     It may be desirable to transmit and receive wireless signals using an array of antennas. Illustrative circuitry of the type that may be used in transmitting and receiving wireless communications signals with an antenna array is shown in  FIG. 3 . Control circuitry  30  (e.g., microprocessor circuitry, etc.) may generate and receive data signals D. One or more data paths (e.g., data buses) may be used to convey data signals between control circuitry  30  and wireless circuitry  34 . Wireless circuitry  34  may be coupled between control circuitry  30  and an array of antennas  40  (e.g., antennas  40 - 1  . . .  40 -N). 
     Wireless circuitry  34  may include circuits such as baseband processor integrated circuit  34 - 1  that communicate with control circuitry  30  over data buses D. Baseband processor circuitry such as processor  34 - 1  may transmit and receive intermediate frequency signals IF. Circuitry  34 - 2  may be coupled between baseband processor circuitry  34 - 1  and antenna array  40 . Circuitry  34 - 2  may include upconverter circuitry for converting intermediate frequency signals IF into radio-frequency signals for antennas  40  and downconverter circuitry for converting radio-frequency antenna signals from antennas  40  into intermediate frequency signals IF. Circuitry  34 - 2  may also include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and circuitry that controls the relative phase and amplitude of signals associated with respective antennas  40  in the antenna array (e.g., to implement beam steering). 
     Intermediate frequency signals IF may have a frequency that lies between the frequency of the data signals D and the radio-frequency signals that are wirelessly transmitted and received using antennas  40 . For example, if the radio-frequency signals are extremely high frequency (EHF) signals such as 60 GHz signals or signals above 60 GHz (as an example) and data signals D have frequencies of 1-2 GHz or less (as an example), intermediate frequency signals IF may have frequencies of about 5-15 GHz (as an example). Other frequency ranges may be used for the signals in wireless circuitry  34  (e.g., frequencies below 100 MHz, etc.). These are merely illustrative frequency ranges. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , wireless circuitry  34 - 2  may include multiple branches B, each of which is associated with a respective antenna. Each branch B may include circuitry such as upconverter/downconverter  34 - 2 A (e.g., local oscillator  34 - 2 LO and mixer  34 - 2 M), adjustable phase retarder  34 - 2 P, adjustable attenuator  34 - 2 A, and amplifier circuitry  34 - 2 PA (e.g., a power amplifier for amplifying transmitted antenna signals, a low noise amplifier for amplifying received antenna signals, etc.). The circuitry of branches B may include paths that bypass phase adjustment and amplitude adjustment circuitry such as  34 - 2 P and  34 - 2 A, may include separate outgoing and incoming paths (e.g., an outgoing path with an upconverter and an incoming path with a downconverter), and/or may include other wireless circuitry. The example of  FIG. 4  is merely illustrative. Phase and magnitude adjustments of the signals in branches B may allow beam steering operations and other array-based operations to be performed with the antennas of the antenna array. 
     Wireless power may be transmitted and received using circuitry of the type shown in  FIG. 5 . Wireless power transmitter circuitry  34 PT may transmit power wirelessly over link  66  using one or more antennas  40 P (e.g., an array of antennas). Wireless power receiver circuitry  34 PT′ may receive the wirelessly transmitted power using one or more antennas  40 P′ (e.g., an array of antennas). Circuitry  34 PT may include a power source such as power source  60  (e.g., a wall outlet, a battery, etc.). Source  60  may supply power to circuitry  62 . Circuitry  62  may include radio-frequency transmitter circuitry and circuitry (such as the adjustable phase and amplitude circuitry of circuitry  34 - 2  of  FIG. 4  or other circuitry) for controlling the transmission of power wirelessly over link  66  using the array of antenna(s)  40 P or using a single antenna. Antenna(s)  40 P′ may form an antenna array or may be based on a single antenna that circuitry  34 PT′ uses in receiving the wirelessly transmitted power over wireless link  66 ′. Circuitry  64  may include radio-frequency receiver circuitry and circuitry (such as the adjustable phase and amplitude circuitry of circuitry  34 - 2  of  FIG. 4  or other wireless circuitry) for controlling the reception of power wirelessly over link  66  using the array of antenna(s)  40 P′ and for converting this received radio-frequency power to direct current (DC) power on output path  68 . Circuitry  64  may include DC-to-DC power converter circuitry for adjusting the DC voltage supplied on path  68 . 
     If desired, intermediate frequency signals IF such as signals IF of  FIG. 3  may be conveyed wirelessly between different devices (e.g., to support communications in millimeter wave communications bands or at other suitable frequencies). An illustrative configuration in which a wireless path is used in conveying intermediate frequency (IF) signals between device  10 A and case  10 B is shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , device  10 A may include control circuitry  30  that is coupled to intermediate frequency transceiver circuitry  72  by circuitry such as baseband processor integrated circuit  70  or other baseband circuitry. Control circuitry  30  can generate and consume data signals. Baseband processor circuitry  70  can convert signals from control circuitry  30  into intermediate frequency signals IF on path  71 , as described in connection with the intermediate frequency path between baseband processor  34 - 1  and phased array transceiver circuitry  34 - 2  in  FIG. 3 . Intermediate frequency transceiver circuitry  72  may be coupled to intermediate frequency antenna  400 A in device  10 A. Antenna  400 A may communicate wirelessly with a corresponding antenna such as antenna  400 B in case  10 B. Antennas  400 A and  400 B may communicate using near field communications (i.e., antennas  400 A and  400 B may be patch antennas or other antennas that are electromagnetically near field coupled, may be loop antennas that are inductively near field coupled, may be capacitor plate structures or other near field antenna structures that are capacitively near field coupled, etc.). Intermediate frequency transceiver circuitry  74  in case  10 B may be coupled to antenna  400 B. 
     During operation, device  10 A may use transceiver circuitry  72  and antenna  400 A to transmit and/or receive IF signals that are received and/or transmitted by antenna  400 B and transceiver circuitry  74  in case  10 B. 
     In case  10 B, intermediate frequency signal path  77  may convey IF signals between transceiver circuitry  74  and circuitry  75 . Circuitry  75  may be implemented on a semiconductor device (e.g., an integrated circuit such as a silicon die) or may be formed from one or more devices mounted on a printed circuit or other substrate. Circuitry  75  may include upconverter/downcoverter circuitry and transceiver circuitry coupled to path  77 , for converting IF signals from path  77  to radio-frequency signals for transmission over an antenna array formed from antennas  40 - 1 ,  40 - 2 , . . .  40 -N (i.e., antenna array  40 ) and for receiving radio-frequency signals from antenna array  40  and converting received radio-frequency signals from the antenna array to intermediate frequency signals for path  77 . Circuitry  75  may include circuitry such as phased array transceiver circuitry  34 - 2  of  FIG. 3  for implementing beam steering. The antennas of array  40  of  FIG. 6  may communicate wirelessly with one or more antennas in external equipment  10 C over wireless link  26 . 
     Any suitable communications bands may be supported over link  26 . As an example, circuitry  75 , the antennas of array  40 , wireless link  26 , and the transceiver circuitry in equipment  10  may be used to support wireless communications in extremely high frequency (EHF) bands at 60 GHz (or at 24 GHz or other millimeter wave communications bands, frequencies above 60 GHz, etc.). Communications may also be supported at IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network bands such as the bands at 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, bands at frequencies below 100 MHz such as NFC bands, etc. 
     If desired, power may be conveyed wirelessly from equipment  10 C. An illustrative configuration for charging electronic device  10 A wirelessly using equipment  10 C and case  10 B is shown in  FIG. 7 . In the example of  FIG. 7 , equipment  10 C has power transmission circuitry  34 PT that is coupled to an array of one or more antennas  40 P in equipment  10 C. Antennas  40 P may, as an example, be antennas that operate at 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, other microwave frequencies, or other suitable frequencies (as examples). Antennas  40 P may be supported by one or more printed circuits and/or may be formed as part of one or more integrated circuits. For example, antennas  40 P may be mounted on a printed circuit substrate such as illustrative printed circuit  40 PC. Antennas  40 P may convey wireless power to a corresponding set of antennas  40 P′ in case  10 B. Antennas  40 P′ may include one or more antennas (e.g., an array of antennas) and may be implemented on one or more semiconductor dies and/or mounted on one or more printed circuit board substrates (see, e.g., substrate  40 PC′). 
     Circuitry  34 PT of equipment  10 C may transmit power wirelessly to case  10 B over wireless path  26 . Power for circuitry  34 PT may be supplied using a power source such as power source  60 . Power source  60  may provide alternating current (AC) power from a wall outlet or may be based on a battery. Transmitter circuitry  62  (e.g., a transmitter with circuitry for controlling a phased antenna array such as antenna array  40 P) may be used to wirelessly transmit power that has been received from power source  60  to case  10 B over wireless path  26  with antenna array  40 P, as described in connection with circuitry  62  of  FIG. 5 . 
     Case  10 B may include circuitry such as circuitry  92  for receiving radio-frequency power signals from antenna array  40 P′ and for converting this circuitry to DC power (see, e.g., circuitry  34 PT′ of  FIG. 5 ). DC power from circuitry  92  may be provided to battery  52 B to charge battery  52 B and may be conveyed to device  10 A using a wired path (e.g., via path  80 , connector  204  of case  10 B and via connector  130  and path  88  of device  10 A). Alternatively, or in combination with transferring power from case  10 B to device  10 A using a wired path, power can be transferred wirelessly. For example, circuitry  92  of case  10 B can include transmitter circuitry such as circuitry  62  of  FIG. 3  that is coupled to an antenna such as antenna  82  that is near-field coupled to antenna  84  in device  10 A. Circuitry  92  can use antenna  82  to convey power wirelessly to antenna  84  in device  10 A (e.g., at 2.4 GHz, at 5 GHz, at other microwave frequencies, or at other frequencies). Antenna  84  may be coupled to circuitry  86  (e.g., power conversion circuitry such as circuitry  64  of  FIG. 5 ). Circuitry  86  may convert received radio-frequency power signals from antenna structure  84  to DC power on path  90 . Antennas such as antennas  82  and  84  may be patch antennas or other antennas that are electromagnetically near field coupled, may be loop antennas that are inductively near field coupled, may be capacitor plate structures or other structures that are capacitively near field coupled, or may be other suitable wireless power transfer structures. 
     If desired, case  10 B may include both wireless communications antennas such as antenna array  40  of  FIG. 6  and wireless charging antennas such as antenna array  40 P′ of  FIG. 7 . Shared antenna structures or separate sets of antennas may be used in forming the wireless communications antennas and wireless charging antennas in configurations in which case  10 B contains both wireless communications and wireless charging antennas. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20151211
Publication Date: 20190219
Grant Date: 20190219
Priority Date: 20151211
Inventors: NOORI, BASIM H.
SALAM, KHAN M.
MOW, MATTHEW A.
JIANG, YI
OUYANG, Yuehui
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H02J50/27", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00034", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/27", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/0617", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3883", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3888", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3883", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3888", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/0617", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3883", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/27", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/0617", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/0037", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3888", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/0031", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00034", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/24", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/22", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/79", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/72", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B5/79", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 59020895