# US 12,603,515 B2 · Accessory case for multiple charger types

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,603,515 B2
- Document ID: US12603515B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/824,480
- Filed: 2022-05-25
- Published: 2023-03-16
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-13
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Eric X Zhou; Muhammad H. Kiani; Rohan Dayal; Ye Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603515B2

## CPC

- H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)}
- H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling
- H02J 50/70: involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
- H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
- H02J 50/005: {Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices}
- H02J 2207/40: adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Accessory cases that can be charged using one or more types of wireless chargers. An example can provide an accessory case having a first alignment feature for aligning to a first type of wireless charger. The first alignment feature can include one or more magnetic elements in the accessory case. The one or more magnetic elements can be located in both the base and the lid of the accessory case. Another example can further include a second alignment feature for aligning to a second type of wireless charger. The second alignment feature can include one or more magnetic elements in the accessory case.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A charging case comprising:
a base, the base having a plurality of accessory receptacles for storing a corresponding plurality of accessories, where the accessories are chargeable by charging components in the charging case when the accessories are stored in the accessory receptacles;
a lid, the lid covering the accessory receptacles for retaining the accessories when the accessories are stored in the accessory receptacles;
a hinge joining the lid to the base such that the lid is movable relative to the base to allow removal of the accessories from the accessory receptacles when the accessories are stored in the accessory receptacles;
a first alignment feature comprising a plurality of magnets for aligning the charging case to a first type of charger, the first alignment feature comprising a first magnet and a second magnet in the base and a third magnet and a fourth magnet in the lid;
a second alignment feature consisting of a single magnet for aligning the charging case to a second type of charger, the second alignment feature comprising a fifth magnet aligned with a center of a charging coil; and
the charging components comprising the charging coil to wirelessly receive power from the first type of charger or from the second type of charger and to provide the received power to the accessories when the accessories are being charged in the accessory receptacles.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The charging case of claim 1 wherein the first type of charger is a first type of wireless charger and the second type of charger is a second type of wireless charger.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The charging case of claim 2 further comprising a connector receptacle to accept a compatible connector insert and to receive power through the connector insert and to provide power to the accessories when the accessories are stored in the accessory receptacles.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The charging case of claim 3 wherein the charging components comprise the charging coil and a shield.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The charging case of claim 4 wherein the charging coil is offset relative to a center of the first alignment feature and the charging coil is centered relative to a center of the second alignment feature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The charging case of claim 1 wherein the first alignment feature and the second alignment feature are permanent magnets.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The charging case of claim 1 wherein the plurality of accessories comprises earbuds.

### Claim 8

A charging case comprising:
a base, the base having an accessory receptacle for storing an accessory, where the accessory is chargeable by charging components in the charging case when the accessory is stored in the accessory receptacle;
a lid, the lid covering the accessory receptacle for retaining the accessory when the accessory is stored in the accessory receptacle;
a hinge joining the lid to the base such that the lid is movable relative to the base to allow removal of the accessory from the accessory receptacle when the accessory is stored in the accessory receptacle;
a first alignment feature for aligning the charging case to a first type of charger, wherein the first alignment feature comprises a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element in the base, and a third magnetic element and a fourth magnetic element in the lid;
a second alignment feature for aligning the charging case to a second type of charger; and
the charging components to wirelessly receive power from the first type of charger or from the second type of charger and to provide the received power to the accessory when the accessory is stored in the accessory receptacle, and wherein the second alignment feature comprises a fifth magnet in a center of a charging coil.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The charging case of claim 8 wherein the first alignment feature and the second alignment feature are permanent magnets.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The charging case of claim 8 wherein the accessory comprises a wearable computing device.

### Claim 11

A charging case comprising:
a base to store an accessory, where the accessory is chargeable by charging components in the charging case when the accessory is stored in the base;
a lid to retain the accessory when the accessory is stored in the base;
a hinge joining the lid to the base such that the lid is rotatable around the hinge to allow removal of the accessory from the base;
a first plurality of magnetic elements for magnetically aligning the charging case to a first type of charger, wherein the first plurality of magnetic elements comprises a first magnet and a second magnet in the base and a third magnet and a fourth magnet in the lid;
a second magnet element for magnetically aligning the charging case to a second type of charger, wherein the second magnet element comprises a fifth magnet positioned in the center of a charging coil; and
the charging components comprising the charging coil, wherein the charging components are capable of receiving power from the first type of charger that provides a charging waveform having a first frequency when a charger of the first type of charger is aligned to the charging case and capable of receiving power from the second type of charger that provides a charging waveform having a second frequency when a charger of the second type of charger is aligned to the charging case.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The charging case of claim 11 wherein the first type of charger is a first type of wireless charger and the second type of charger is a second type of wireless charger.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The charging case of claim 12 further comprising a connector receptacle to accept a compatible connector insert and to receive power through the connector insert and to provide power to the accessory when the accessory is stored in the base.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The charging case of claim 13 wherein the charging coil is in the base and the charging components further comprise a shield.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The charging case of claim 14 wherein the charging coil is offset relative to a center of the first plurality of magnet elements and the charging coil is centered relative to a center of the second magnetic element.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The charging case of claim 15 wherein the first plurality of magnetic elements and the second magnet element are permanent magnets.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The charging case of claim 11 wherein the charging components comprise:
the charging coil; and
a variable capacitor coupled to the charging coil, wherein the variable capacitor is selected to have a first capacitance when the charging components receive power from the first type of charger and the variable capacitor is selected to have a second capacitance when the charging components receive power from the second type of charger.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The charging case of claim 17 wherein the variable capacitor comprises:
a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a first terminal of the charging coil;
a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the charging coil;
a third capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the charging coil;
a fourth capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the charging coil;
a first switch having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first capacitor and a second terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second capacitor; and
a second switch having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the third capacitor and a second terminal coupled to a second terminal of the fourth capacitor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The charging case of claim 18 wherein the charging components further comprise a rectifier having a first input coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor and the first terminal of the first switch, and a second input coupled to the second terminal of the third capacitor and the first terminal of the second switch.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The charging case of claim 19 further comprising communication circuitry to provide data using the charging coil, the communication circuit having a first output coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor and the first terminal of the first switch, and a second output coupled to the second terminal of the third capacitor and the first terminal of the second switch.