# US 2014/0195826 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 2014/0195826 A1 - Document ID: US20140195826A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/834,268 - 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 John Wojcik; Adam Douglas Center; Abhishek Joshi; Adam Benzion - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195826A1 ## 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 case for an electronic device is provided. The case includes a battery and electrical circuitry. The electrical circuitry is configured to receive electrical power from a power source connected to the case, supply the electrical power to the electronic device, and monitor an amount of current of the electrical power used by the electronic device. The electrical circuitry is also configured to charge the battery using a remaining amount of current of the electrical power where the sum of the amount of current used by the electronic device and the remaining amount of current do not exceed a current limit for the power source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A case for an electronic device, the case comprising: a battery; and electrical circuitry configured to: receive electrical power from a power source connected to the case; supply the electrical power to the electronic device; monitor an amount of current of the electrical power used by the electronic device; and charge the battery using a remaining amount of current of the electrical power, wherein a sum of the amount of current used by the electronic device and the remaining amount of current do not exceed a current limit for the power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The case of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry is further configured to provide a charging current from the battery to the electronic device when the power source is not providing the electrical power. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The case of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry is further configured to: step down a voltage of the electrical power received from the power source; and step up a voltage of the electrical power supplied to the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The case of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry is further configured to: detect a characteristic of the power source; and determine the current limit for the power source based on the detected characteristic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The case of claim 4 wherein the electrical power is received from the power source through a universal serial bus (USB) connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The case of claim 5 wherein to detect a characteristic of the power source includes to detect a voltage on one or more data lines of the USB connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The case of claim 1 wherein the current limit for the power source is less than a maximum specified current for the power source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The case of claim 1 further comprising: a hard shell that attaches to the electronic device; and a cushion layer disposed over the hard shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The case of claim 1 further comprising a solar cell, wherein the electrical power is received from the solar cell when the power source is not providing the electrical power. ### Claim 10 A protective enclosure for a mobile computing device, the protective enclosure comprising: a hard shell that protects the mobile computing device; an interface to a battery; and a computer processor configured to execute the instructions to: determine a current limit for the mobile computing device based on an amount of electrical current consumed by the protective enclosure; and supply electrical current to the mobile computing device up to the determined current limit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The protective enclosure of claim 10 wherein the computer processor further executes the instructions to charge the battery using a portion of the electrical current consumed by the protective enclosure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The protective enclosure of claim 10 further comprising a connector to receive electrical power from an external power source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The protective enclosure of claim 12 wherein the electrical current supplied to the mobile computing device is derived from the electrical power received from the external power source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The protective enclosure of claim 12 wherein the electrical power supplied to the mobile computing device is supplied by the battery when the protective enclosure is not receiving electrical power from the external power source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The protective enclosure of claim 12 wherein the current limit is further determined based on a detected characteristic of the external power source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The protective enclosure of claim 15 wherein the connector is a USB connector and the detected characteristic is a voltage on a data pin of the USB connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The protective enclosure of claim 1 wherein the power source is connected to the case inductively. ### Claim 18 A method of performing power management in a case for an electronic device, the method comprising: when the case is receiving power from an external power source: limiting the power received from the external source based on a current limit associated with the external power source; distributing a first portion of the received power to the electronic device; and distributing a second portion of the received power to circuitry for charging a battery of the case; and when the case is not receiving power from the external source: distributing supplemental power from the case battery to the electronic device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein distributing power to the electronic device includes increasing a voltage associated with the power to a value that is within a voltage input range of the electronic device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein receiving power from the external source includes decreasing a voltage associated with the received power. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein limiting the power received from the external source based on the current limit includes determining the current limit associated with the external power source by based on information received from the external power source. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein a size of the second portion is determined based on a size of the first portion and the current limit.