Accessory for use with electronic device and cover

Abstract

An electrical accessory for use with a portable electronic device and with a protective cover for the portable electronic device is provided. The electrical accessory includes a body, electrical circuitry, and an electrical connector. The body is configured to slidably attach to a back side surface of the protective cover to removably affix the electrical accessory to the protective cover. The electrical circuitry includes wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly exchange data with the portable electronic device when the electrical accessory is removably affixed to the protective cover. The electrical connector is affixed to the body of the electrical accessory and configured to removably connect to an external power source for receiving electrical power from the external power source. The electrical accessory may also include a speaker.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical accessory for use with a portable electronic device and with a protective cover for the portable electronic device, the protective cover configured to receive and at least partially enclose the portable electronic device, the electrical accessory comprising:
 a body configured to slidably attach to a back side surface of the protective cover to removably affix the electrical accessory to the back side surface of the protective cover;   electrical circuitry including wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly exchange data with the portable electronic device when the electrical accessory is removably affixed to the protective cover and when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective cover; and   an electrical connector affixed to the body of the electrical accessory, the electrical connector configured to removably connect to an external power source for receiving electrical power from the external power source.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical accessory of  claim 1  wherein the body of the electrical accessory further includes one or more rails configured to engage with one or more rail receivers of the protective cover, respectively, to removably affix the electrical accessory to the protective cover. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical accessory of  claim 1  wherein the body of the electrical accessory further includes one or more rail receivers configured to engage with one or more rails of the protective cover, respectively, to removably affix the electrical accessory to the protective cover. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical accessory of  claim 1  wherein the wireless exchange of the data with the portable electronic device is conducted according to a standardized wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical accessory of  claim 4  wherein the standardized wireless communication protocol is one of Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical accessory of  claim 1  further comprising a speaker, the speaker connected to the electrical circuitry and configured for producing sound based on the data wirelessly received from the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical accessory of  claim 6  further comprising a battery connected to the electrical circuitry, the battery configured for powering at least the electrical circuitry and the speaker. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical accessory of  claim 7  wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical accessory of  claim 8  wherein the electrical circuitry is further configured to charge the rechargeable battery using at least a portion of the electrical power received from the external power source. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical accessory of  claim 7  wherein the battery is removable from the electrical accessory such that the battery can be replaced in the electrical accessory with another battery. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical accessory of  claim 1  wherein the electrical circuitry includes a computer processor. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical accessory of  claim 1  wherein wirelessly exchanging data with the portable electronic device includes transmitting first data to the portable electronic device and receiving second data from the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical accessory of  claim 1  further comprising a microphone. 
     
     
         14 . A modular accessory system for use with a portable electronic device, the modular accessory system comprising:
 a removable protective cover for the portable electronic device, the protective cover configured to receive and at least partially enclose a housing of the portable electronic device;   an electrical accessory for use with the portable electronic device and with the protective cover, the electrical accessory comprising:
 a body configured to slidably attach to a back side surface of the protective cover to removably attach the electrical accessory to the back side surface of the protective cover; 
 electrical circuitry including wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly exchange data with the portable electronic device when the electrical accessory is removably attached to the protective cover and when the portable electronic device is installed in the protective cover; and 
 an electrical connector affixed to the body of the electrical accessory, the electrical connector configured to removably connect to an external power source for receiving electrical power from the external power source. 
   
     
     
         15 . An electrical accessory for use with a smartphone and with a protective cover for the smartphone, the protective cover adapted to receive and at least partially enclose the smartphone, the electrical accessory comprising:
 a body adapted to slidably engage and attach to a back surface of the protective cover to removably affix the electrical accessory to the back surface of the protective cover;   electrical circuitry including wireless communication circuitry adapted to wirelessly receive audio data from the smartphone;   a speaker attached to the body and electrically connected to the electrical circuitry, the speaker adapted to produce sound based on the audio data wirelessly received from the smartphone; and   a battery for powering the electrical circuitry and the speaker.   
     
     
         16 . The electrical accessory of  claim 15  further comprising an electrical connector affixed to the body of the electrical accessory, the electrical connector adapted for receiving electrical power from an external power source. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical accessory of  claim 15  wherein the wireless communication circuitry is further adapted to wirelessly transmit data to the smartphone. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical accessory of  claim 15  wherein the electrical circuitry further includes an audio amplifier adapted for driving the speaker. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical accessory of  claim 15  wherein the body of the electrical accessory further includes one or more rails adapted to engage with one or more rail receivers of the protective cover, respectively, to removably affix the electrical accessory to the protective cover. 
     
     
         20 . The electrical accessory of  claim 15  wherein the body of the electrical accessory further includes one or more rail receivers adapted to engage with one or more rails of the protective cover, respectively, to removably affix the electrical accessory to the protective cover.