Cover for portable electronic device

Abstract

A cover for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The cover can include at least one electrical component. For example, in one embodiment, an electrical component can be embedded in the cover. When the cover is placed on or mated with the portable electronic device, the electrical component embedded in the cover is able to interact with electrical circuitry of the portable electronic device. Advantageously, the cover can not only provide a protective and/or ornamental covering for the portable electronic device but can also augment the electrical capabilities of the portable electronic device.

1 . A case that enables a portable electronic device having a display and device circuitry to connect to a cellular network, the case comprising:
 a body defining a pocket for receiving the portable electronic device such that when the device is placed in the pocket, the body covers a substantial portion of the device without covering the display;   an antenna to support access to a cellular network;   case electronic circuitry integral with the body, the electronic circuitry including a transceiver and wireless circuitry operatively coupled to the antenna to enable the portable electronic device to use data services over the cellular network; and   a connection interface adapted to operatively couple the case electronic circuitry with the device circuitry.   
     
     
         2 . The case set forth in  claim 1  wherein the body has an exterior surface in which a display opening sized to provide access to the display is formed and wherein when the portable electronic device is inserted fully into the pocket, the display opening is aligned with the device display allowing the device display to be readily viewed. 
     
     
         3 . The case set forth in  claim 2  wherein the connection interface comprises a case connector positioned within the pocket and adapted to mate with a corresponding connector on the portable electronic device when the portable electronic media device is inserted fully into the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The case set forth in  claim 1  wherein the connection interface comprises a wireless connection interface that allows the case electronic circuitry to wirelessly communicate with the device circuitry. 
     
     
         5 . The case set forth in  claim 1  wherein the antenna and at least some of the electronic circuitry is embedded within the body. 
     
     
         6 . The case set forth in  claim 1  wherein the antenna is designed for wireless reception for one or more particular networks. 
     
     
         7 . The case set forth in  claim 1  wherein the electronic circuitry further includes circuitry associated with a SIM card. 
     
     
         8 . The case set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a built-in speaker and microphone and an opening for an audio jack. 
     
     
         9 . The case set forth in  claim 1  wherein the case body comprises hard plastic and, when the portable electronic device is placed in the pocket, substantially covers a back surface of the device and surrounds multiple side surfaces of the device without covering the display. 
     
     
         10 . A case that augments electrical capabilities of a portable electronic device to enable cellular phone functionality, the portable electronic device having a device display, device electronic circuitry and a device receptacle connector, the case comprising:
 a body defining a cavity for receiving the portable electronic media device, the body having a back surface, a front surface having an access opening sized to provide access to the device display, and first and second pairs of opposing side surfaces that extend between the front and back surfaces;   an antenna to support access to a cellular network;   case electronic circuitry integral with the body, the case electronic circuitry including a transceiver operatively coupled to the antenna to enable cellular phone functionality for the portable electronic device;   a power module including a rechargeable battery;   a plug connector positioned within the cavity and adapted to mate with the device receptacle connector to electrically couple the case electronic circuitry to device electronic circuitry; and   a case receptacle connector electrically coupled to the plug connector and having a connector opening positioned at an outer surface of the body;   wherein when the device receptacle connector and plug connector are mated, the portable electronic media device fits within the cavity and the access opening is aligned with the device display allowing the device display to be readily viewed and wherein the case receptacle connector functions to mimic and extend the device receptacle connector to outside the case body.   
     
     
         11 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the electronic circuitry further includes circuitry associated with a SIM card. 
     
     
         12 . The case set forth in  claim 11  wherein the antenna and at least some of the electronic circuitry is embedded within the body. 
     
     
         13 . The case set forth in  claim 10  further comprising a built-in speaker and microphone and an opening for an audio jack. 
     
     
         14 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the electronic circuitry includes a controller chip having compression and decompression circuitry. 
     
     
         15 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the electronic circuitry includes a controller mounted on a printed circuit board embedded within the body. 
     
     
         16 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the case electronic circuitry includes one or more electronic subassemblies. 
     
     
         17 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein each of the device receptacle connector, plug connector and case receptacle connectors are thirty pin connectors. 
     
     
         18 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a plurality of discrete components coupled together by wires, traces or flexes. 
     
     
         19 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the plug connector is centered along an inner portion of a bottom side surface of the case and extends into the cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the front surface is parallel to the back surface and extends inward along an outer periphery of the body to the access opening. 
     
     
         21 . The case set forth in  claim 10  wherein the back surface of the case body fully cases the back surface of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         22 . A case that augments electrical capabilities of a portable electronic device to enable cellular phone functionality, the portable electronic device having a housing that includes front and back surfaces, a device touch screen, a device antenna, device electronic circuitry and a device receptacle connector, the case comprising:
 a body defining a cavity for receiving the portable electronic media device, the body having a back surface, a front surface having an access opening sized to provide access to the device touch screen, and first and second pairs of opposing side surfaces that extend between the front and back surfaces;   a case antenna embedded within the body to support access to a cellular network;   case electronic circuitry integral with the body, the case electronic circuitry including a transceiver and chipset operatively coupled to the case antenna to enable and support cellular phone functionality and further includes circuitry associated with a SIM card;   a power module including a rechargeable battery;   a speaker, a microphone and an audio jack;   a plug connector extending into the cavity and centered along an inner portion of a bottom side surface of the case, the plug connector being adapted to mate with the device receptacle connector to electrically couple the case electronic circuitry to device electronic circuitry; and   a case receptacle connector at an outer surface of the body, wherein the case receptacle connector is spaced apart from and electrically coupled to the plug connector;   wherein when the device receptacle connector and plug connector are mated, the portable electronic media device fits within the cavity and the access opening is aligned with the device touch screen allowing the device touch screen to be readily viewed and accessed, the back surface of the case body fully cases the back surface of the portable electronic device, the case receptacle connector functions to mimic and extend the device receptacle connector to outside the case body.   
     
     
         23 . The case set forth in  claim 22  wherein the case receptacle connector and the plug connector each comprise thirty electrical contacts. 
     
     
         24 . A method of enabling cellular phone functionality on a portable electronic device having a device connector, the method comprising:
 providing a case for the portable electronic device, the case having a body defining a cavity for receiving the portable electronic device, a case antenna to support access to a cellular network; case electronic circuitry integral with the body, the case electronic circuitry including a transceiver operatively coupled to the case antenna to enable cellular phone functionality for the portable electronic device, (iii) a connector that extends into the cavity and is adapted to mate with the device connector; and   inserting the portable electronic device in the cavity and connecting the case connector to the device connector to operatively couple the case electronic circuitry to electronic circuitry in the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         25 . The method set forth in  claim 24  wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a display and the cavity in the body of the case is formed between a back surface, a front surface having an access opening sized to provide access to the device display, and first and second pairs of opposing side surfaces that extend between the front and back surfaces; and wherein when the case connector is mated with the device connector the access opening is aligned with the device display allowing the device display to be readily viewed. 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing a case that enables cellular phone functionality on a portable electronic device having a device display, device electronic circuitry and a device connector, the method comprising:
 forming a case body having a back surface, a front surface and side surfaces that extend between the front and back surfaces which combine to define a cavity for receiving the portable electronic device, wherein the front surface of the case body includes an access opening sized to provide access to the device display;   embedding an antenna and electronic circuitry within the case body to support transmission and reception of cellular signals; and   securing a case connector adapted to mate with the device connector to the body, the case connector positioned so that when the portable electronic device is fully inserted into the cavity, the case connector can be mated with the device connector to operatively couple the electronic circuitry within the case body to electronic circuitry in the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         27 . The method set forth in  claim 26  wherein at least some of the electronic circuitry embedded within the case body is attached to a printed circuit board including a controller and a transceiver for wireless communications. 
     
     
         28 . The method set forth in  claim 26  wherein the electronic circuitry embedded within the case further includes circuitry associated with a SIM card. 
     
     
         29 . The method set forth in  claim 27  wherein the case body is formed from hard plastic using a injection molding process.