# US 12,218,367 B2 · Device and battery module with integrated backup radio > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,218,367 B2 - Document ID: US12218367B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/231,699 - Filed: 2021-04-15 - Published: 2022-10-20 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-15 - Assignees: Zebra Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Zebra Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Sichong Li; Irfan Kadri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12218367B2 ## CPC - H01M 50/107: having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence) - H01M 50/213: adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) - H01M 50/247: specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers - H04W 4/10: Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop - H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract An example mobile computing device includes: a battery module including a battery cell having a conductive casing; a coupler; and a controller coupled to the coupler, the controller configured to communicate a broadcast signal to the coupler, the coupler radiating the broadcast signal to the conductive casing of the battery module and causing the conductive casing of the battery module to transmit the broadcast signal from the mobile device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile computing device comprising: a battery module removable from the mobile computing device, the battery module including: a battery cell having a conductive casing; a coupler; and a controller coupled to the coupler, the controller configured to: communicate a broadcast signal to the coupler, the coupler radiating the broadcast signal to the conductive casing of the battery cell and causing the conductive casing of the battery cell to transmit the broadcast signal from the battery module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises at least one trace etched into a printed circuit board of the battery module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the controller is disposed on the printed circuit board of the battery module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein a layout of the coupler is selected based on one or more of: a size of the printed circuit board, a size of the battery cell and a shape of the battery cell to optimize a radiation pattern of the conductive casing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the conductive casing, the coupler and the controller form a backup radio for the mobile computing device, and wherein the controller is configured to initiate the backup radio in response to a shutdown condition of the mobile computing device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a Bluetooth low energy controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a WiFi controller. ### Claim 8 A battery module for a mobile computing device, the battery module comprising: a battery module housing removeable from the mobile computing device, the battery module housing including: a battery cell including a conductive casing; a coupler; and a controller coupled to the coupler, the controller configured to: communicate a broadcast signal to the coupler, the coupler radiating the broadcast signal to the conductive casing of the battery cell and causing the conductive casing of the battery cell to transmit the broadcast signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The battery module of claim 8, further comprising a printed circuit board configured to support the coupler and the controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The battery module of claim 9, wherein the coupler comprises at least one trace etched into the printed circuit board. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The battery module of claim 9, wherein a layout of the coupler is selected based on one or more of: a size of the printed circuit board, a size of the battery cell, and a shape of the battery cell, to optimize a radiation pattern of the conductive casing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The battery module of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a Bluetooth low energy controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The battery module of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a WiFi controller. ### Claim 14 A radio integrated within a battery module, the radio comprising: a coupler configured to excite a conductive casing of a battery cell of the battery module; and a controller coupled to the coupler, the controller configured to communicate a broadcast signal to the coupler, the coupler radiating the broadcast signal to the conductive casing of the battery cell and causing the conductive casing of the battery to transmit the broadcast signal from the radio. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The radio of claim 14, wherein the coupler and the controller are disposed on a printed circuit board of the battery module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The radio of claim 15, wherein the coupler comprises at least one trace etched into the printed circuit board. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The radio of claim 15, wherein a layout of the coupler is selected based on one or more of: a size of the printed circuit board, a size of the battery cell, and a shape of the battery cell, to optimize a radiation pattern of the conductive casing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The radio of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises a Bluetooth low energy controller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The radio of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises a WiFi controller.