# US 2014/0192492 A1 · Electronic device case > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192492 A1 - Document ID: US20140192492A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/833,641 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: 1 Oak Technologies, LLC - Applicants: 1 Oak Technologies, LLC - Inventors: James J. Wojcik; Adam D. Center; Todd Eichinger; Abhishek Joshi; Adam Benzion; Jonathan Rayeski; William Travis Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192492A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - G01R 31/382: Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 8/61: Installation - G06F 21/86: Secure or tamper-resistant housings - H02J 4/00: Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) - H02J 4/25: for transfer of electric power between AC and DC networks, e.g. for supplying the DC section within a load from an AC mains system - H02J 7/342: {The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68)} - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/825: {Detection of fully charged condition} - H04M 1/185: {Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity} - H04M 1/7246: by connection of exchangeable housing parts - H04W 52/0296: {switching to a backup power supply} - H05K 5/0086: {portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus (casings for switching devices H01H9/02)} - H05K 5/0247: {Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring} - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones - H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC] - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A protective enclosure for an electronic device is provided. The protective enclosure includes a hard shell that includes a front shell formed to a rigid shape of a front portion of the electronic device and a back shell formed to a rigid shape of a rear portion of the electronic device. The protective enclosure also includes a stretchable cushion layer over the hard shell that has a sufficient elasticity to conform to the hard shell and provide cushioning to the protective enclosure. The protective enclosure also includes a battery and electrical circuitry configured to receive electronic communications from the electronic device and distribute electrical current received from an external power source among the battery and the electronic device based on the received electronic communications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective enclosure for an electronic device, the protective enclosure comprising: a hard shell comprising a front shell formed to a rigid shape of a front portion of the electronic device and a back shell formed to a rigid shape of a rear portion of the electronic device; a stretchable cushion layer disposed over the hard shell, wherein the stretchable cushion layer has sufficient elasticity to conform to the hard shell and provide cushioning to the protective enclosure; a battery disposed in the protective enclosure; and electrical circuitry disposed in the protective enclosure and configured to: receive electronic communications from the electronic device; and distribute electrical current received from an external power source among the battery and the electronic device based on the received electronic communications. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a membrane over a display opening in the front shell, wherein the membrane allows access to a touch screen on the front portion of the electronic device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a display opening in the front shell to allow access to a touch screen of the electronic device; a groove in the front shell located near a perimeter of the display opening; a front opening in the stretchable cushion layer to allow access to the touch screen of the electronic device; and a tab on an inner surface of the stretchable cushion layer, wherein the tab is located near a perimeter of the front opening in the stretchable cushion layer, and wherein the tab in the stretchable cushion layer is configured to mate with the groove in the front shell to resist movement of the stretchable cushion layer relative to the hard shell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a first tab extending from a mating edge of the front shell; and a second tab extending from a mating edge of the front shell, wherein the first tab is configured to slide behind a mating edge of the back shell and the second tab is configured to slide in front of the mating edge of the back shell when the front and back shells are assembled to form the hard shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a side tab extending outwardly from the hard shell; and a side opening in the stretchable cushion layer, wherein the side opening is configured to receive and retain the side tab to prevent movement of the stretchable cushion layer relative to the hard shell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the back shell; and a plurality of slots in the front shell, wherein the plurality of tabs in the back shell are configured to snap into the plurality of slots in the front shell when the front and back shells are assembled to form the hard shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the front shell; and a plurality of slots in the back shell, wherein the plurality of tabs in the front shell are configured to snap into the plurality of slots in the back shell when the front and back shells are assembled to form the hard shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the back shell further comprises: an inner back shell; and an outer back shell, wherein the battery is located between the inner back shell and the outer back shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The protective enclosure of claim 8, wherein: the electrical circuitry is on a circuit board located between the inner back shell and the outer back shell; the circuit board is electrically connected to the battery; and the circuit board is configured to interface with the electronic device through a male connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The protective enclosure of claim 9, wherein the male connector is disposed in a cavity in the back shell and extends inwardly into the protective enclosure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a soft layer on an inner surface of the back shell, wherein the soft layer is configured to make contact with a back surface of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective enclosure, and wherein the soft layer occupies a clearance volume between the electronic device and the inner surface of the back shell to prevent the electronic device from rattling within the protective enclosure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The protective enclosure of claim 11, wherein the soft layer comprises foam, felt, or rubber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a battery slot in the protective enclosure, wherein the battery is removable through the battery slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The protective enclosure of claim 13, further comprising: a flap in the stretchable cushion layer located over the battery slot, wherein the flap can be opened and closed to access and conceal, respectively, the battery slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a plurality of batteries electrically connected to the electrical circuitry. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The protective enclosure of claim 15, wherein the protective enclosure further comprises a plurality of battery slots to accommodate the plurality of batteries. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the stretchable cushion layer comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1, wherein the hard shell comprises polycarbonate, nylon, fiberglass-filled nylon, or carbon fiber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The protective enclosure of claim 2, wherein the membrane comprises polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, tempered glass, alkali-aluminosilicate sheet glass, or silicone. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The protective enclosure of claim 19, wherein the membrane has a thickness of about 0.004 to 0.020 inches. ### Claim 21 A case for a mobile computing device, the case comprising: a hard shell comprising a front shell formed to a rigid shape of a front portion of the mobile computing device and a back shell formed to a rigid shape of a rear portion of the mobile computing device; a stretchable cushion layer disposed over the hard shell, wherein the stretchable cushion layer has sufficient elasticity to conform to the hard shell and provide cushioning to the case; and electrical circuitry disposed in the case and configured to: receive information indicating a state of a battery of the mobile computing device; and distribute electrical power received at a connector of the case from an external power source to the mobile computing device based on the received information. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The case of claim 21 wherein the mobile computing device is one or more of: a cellular phone, a smartphone, and a tablet computer. ### Claim 23 A protective case for an electronic device having a battery, the protective case comprising: a hard shell comprising a front shell formed to a rigid shape of a front portion of the electronic device and a back shell formed to a rigid shape of a rear portion of the electronic device; a stretchable cushion layer disposed over the hard shell, wherein the stretchable cushion layer has sufficient elasticity to conform to the hard shell and provide cushioning to the case; a rechargeable battery disposed in the protective case; and electrical circuitry disposed in the protective case and configured to supply current from the rechargeable battery to the battery of the electronic device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The protective case of claim 23, further comprising: a membrane over a display opening in the front shell, wherein the membrane allows access to a touch screen on the front portion of the electronic device.