WO2024030155A1

WO2024030155A1 - Mobile phone apparatus comprising a detachable battery enclosure

Info

Publication number: WO2024030155A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/074498
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nathan FRANKE
Original assignee: Franke Nathan
Priority date: 2022-08-04
Filing date: 2022-08-04
Publication date: 2024-02-08

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a mobile phone apparatus which incorporates a separate enclosure for the power source which is detachable from the main housing that holds the phone display, interface, and processing electronics. The main housing includes a wireless charge receiving coil which, when the main housing is coupled to the power source enclosure, is configured to receive power wirelessly from a corresponding coil connected to the power source. This allows instantaneous swapping of spent power sources with fully charged ones, which can then be recharged separately from the phone itself. Furthermore, the design allows the main housing to be constructed to be fully waterproof.

Description

Title: Mobile Phone Apparatus Comprising a Detachable Battery Enclosure

Field of Invention.

[001] The present invention relates generally to the technical field of mobile phone designs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mobile phone having a separate battery enclosure that is detachably connected to the phone display interface and processors.

Background

[002] The use of smartphones in the modern world is ubiquitous and the reliance on them to perform more and more daily functions increases each year as the technology improves. While convenient, battery technology is struggling to keep pace with usage requirements and the demand for ever slimmer and more compact designs.

[003] Smartphones running out of battery and needing to be constantly recharged using wall socket outlets is taken as a fact of life by most users at this point, despite the inconvenience caused. This problem worsens as the phone's battery ages, and many modern smartphones (for example iPhones) do not facilitate easy replacement of their batteries, so users must put up with increasingly poor performance from their phones as they age.

[004] Some attempts to solve these problems have been made by providing spare batteries in phone cases or providing portable phone chargers with multiple phone charge's worth of power stored on them, however both of these solutions require the user to carry round an additional bulky item, rendering the slim design of modern smartphones quite useless.

[005] Another fundamental issue with current phone design is the necessity for a power outlet built into the enclosure of the phone which also holds the delicate and valuable electrical parts, making the phone, as a whole, very susceptible to water damage. Only a few specialized phones are actually waterproof, and these are rarely desirable for everyday use.

[006] It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

Summary

[007] The present disclosure provides a mobile phone apparatus which incorporates a separate enclosure for the power source which is detachable from the main housing that holds the phone display, interface, and processing electronics. The main housing includes a wireless charge receiving coil which, when the main housing is coupled to the power source enclosure, is configured to receive power wirelessly from a corresponding coil connected to the power source. This allows instantaneous swapping of spent power sources with fully charged ones, which can then be recharged separately from the phone itself. Furthermore, the design allows the main housing to be constructed to be fully waterproof.

[008] Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a mobile phone apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a first housing; a screen display and control interface integrated with the first housing; one or more processors and computer readable memory banks enclosed within the first housing; a wireless charger receiving coil enclosed within the first housing,

[009] The apparatus further comprisesa second housing; a wireless charger discharge coil enclosed within the second housing; a rechargeable power source enclosed within the second housing and connected to the discharge coil; and charging means for the rechargeable power source enclosed within the second housing.

[010] The first housing and the second housing are configured to detachably couple to one another such that the receiving coil of the first housing and the discharge coil of the second housing are aligned and adjacent to one another.

[Oil] In some embodiments, the charging means for the rechargeable power source comprises a second charging coil. In other embodiments, the charging means for the rechargeable power source comprises a USB socket.

[012] In some embodiments, both the first housing and the second housing form sealed waterproof enclosures.

[013] In some embodiments, one or more additional second housings are provided with the apparatus which are interchangeable with the original second housing.

[014] The one or more additional second housings may include a second housing comprising a discharge coil, a rechargeable power source, charging means, a wireless communications module, and a computer-readable memory bank, and which is configured to transfer data stored on the computer readable memory bank to the one or more computer readable memory banks of the first housing. [015] The one or more additional second housings may also include a second housing comprising a discharge coil coupled to a cable socket which may be configured to connect to a mains power outlet.

[016] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a mechanism for detachably securing the first housing to the second housing.

[017] The mechanism may comprise a flexible sleeve. The sleeve may be similar to a standard phone cover, for example.

[018] The mechanism may also comprise a first magnet arrangement enclosed in the first housing and a second magnet arrangement enclosed in the second housing.

[019] In some embodiments, the rechargeable power source is a lithium polymer battery.

[020] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a small battery enclosed in the first housing and which is configured to power the functions of the screen display and the one or more processors and computer readable memory banks when the first housing is detached from the second housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[021] Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[022] FIG.l illustrates an isometric view of an example configuration of the mobile phone apparatus of the present disclosure, with the main housing separated from the power source enclosure.

[023] FIG.2 illustrates an isometric view of the example configuration, with the main housing coupled to the power source enclosure.

[024] FIG.3 illustrates an exploded components view of both the main housing and the power source enclosure of the example configuration.

[025] FIG.4 illustrates another exploded components view of the main housing of the example configuration. [026] FIG.5 illustrates another exploded components view of the power source enclosure of the example configuration.

[027] Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

Detailed Description and Preferred Embodiment

[028] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.

[029] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

[030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[031] The present disclosure provides a phone design that utilises separate easily detachable enclosures for the mobile phone main housing - which contains the delicate and expensive electronics such as the processors, computer readable memory, camera device, etc. - and the power source. Each enclosure has a corresponding wireless charging coil which, when the two enclosures are attached, are adjacent and aligned with each other. The phone's functions are thus powered directly by the transmitted power from the power source of the separate enclosure.

[032] This design facilitates two main advantages over traditional phone designs, where the battery is integrated with the rest of the electronics in a single enclosure: firstly, the battery enclosure can easily be swapped out for another once it is spent, removing the need to recharge the actual phone at a power outlet; secondly, the design facilitates the main housing of the phone being fully waterproof to protect the internal circuitry, and if the power source also receives its power via wireless charging processes then both enclosures can be made waterproof with no power outlet, facilitating the construction of a fully waterproof phone.

[033] Referring to FIG.l, an isometric view of an example configuration of the phone 100 of the present disclosure is shown, with a main / first housing 102 separated from a second housing / power source enclosure 104. The power source enclosure 104 is shown with a transparent top surface for clarity.

[034] As can be seen, the main housing 102 is very slim, since it only needs to integrate the phone display assembly 106, the processing circuitry and memory banks, and a wireless charger receiving coil which is itself very slim. The rear part 108 of the housing should be shaped so as to couple with the top surface of the power source enclosure 104. Ideally it will be quite flat, so as to have the receiving coil as close as possible to the discharge coil 110 connected to the power source 112 when the two enclosures are coupled.

[035] The power source enclosure 104 comprises the discharge coil 110, a power source 112 which is usually a rechargeable lithium polymer battery, and a means for charging the power source. In the present example, the means for charging the power source 110 is a second wireless charging induction coil 114, however in some examples the power source 110 may be recharged via a USB-C charging port set into the housing 116 or the like. Since the power source enclosure 104 is separate to the main housing 102, the expensive circuitry will still be protected form water damage even if the power source enclosure 104 is not waterproof. If a USB-C port or the like is used, this may be able to double as a data transfer mechanism.

[036] Although not illustrated, the apparatus 100 may in some cases further comprise a small battery enclosed in the main housing 102 which is configured to power the functions of the display assembly 106 and the processing circuitry and memory banks in the interludes when the power source enclosure 104 is detached from the main housing so that the phone does not die during each switch.

[037] Referring to FIG.2, the mobile phone apparatus is shown in an assembled state with the main housing 102 coupled to the power source enclosure 104 such that the discharge coil 112 connected to power source 110 is aligned with and adjacent to the receiving coil disposed within the main housing 102. This coupling may be achieved by any suitable means, such as for example a flexible rubber or silicone sleeve encasing the two enclosures, or corresponding magnet arrangements disposed in either enclosure.

[038] Turning to FIG.3, the two enclosures 102 and 104 are shown in an exploded components view.

[039] The internal workings of the main housing 102 can be seen here, with a single circuit board 118 disposed underneath the screen assembly 106 which holds the processors and memory banks of the phone, but no power source - instead, as can be seen, the circuit board connects directly to an inductive charge receiving coil 120 which is set against the rear portion of the housing.

[040] The inductive charge receiving coil 114 of the power source enclosure can also be seen here in more detail on the opposing bottom side of the power source 110.

[041] FIG.4 shows an exploded view of the main housing 102 in isolation and FIG.5 does the same for the power source enclosure.

[042] As mentioned above, one of the benefits of the disclosed arrangement is the ability for a user to keep multiple power source enclosures and cycle through different ones as they are charged.

[043] An additional benefit which can be realised through this design is to have certain power source enclosures specifically adapted for different purposes.

[044] For example, some power source enclosures could be provided with additional computer- readable memory banks to facilitate improved data transfer and storage. Such enclosures would need their own wireless communication modules in order to transfer data to the data banks in the main housing. [045] Another possible configuration for a specialised power source enclosure would be an enclosure configured to directly receive power from a USB cable. In this case, a battery type power storage device may not even need be incorporated.

[046] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[047] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the mobile phone apparatus have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

[048] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A mobile phone apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a first housing; a screen display and control interface integrated with the first housing; one or more processors and computer readable memory banks enclosed within the first housing; a wireless charger receiving coil enclosed within the first housing; a second housing; a wireless charger discharge coil enclosed within the second housing; a rechargeable power source enclosed within the second housing and connected to the discharge coil; and charging means for the rechargeable power source enclosed within the second housing; wherein the first housing and the second housing are configured to detachably couple to one another such that the receiving coil of the first housing and the discharge coil of the second housing are aligned and adjacent to one another.

2. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging means for the rechargeable power source comprises a second charging coil.

3. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging means for the rechargeable power source comprises a USB socket.

4. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both the first housing and the second housing form sealed waterproof enclosures.

5. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more additional second housings are provided with the apparatus which are interchangeable with the original second housing.

6. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one or more additional second housings include a second housing comprising a discharge coil, a rechargeable power source, charging means, a wireless communications module, and a computer- readable memory bank, and which is configured to transfer data stored on the computer readable memory bank to one or more computer readable memory banks of the first housing. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one or more additional second housings include a second housing comprising a discharge coil coupled to a USB cable. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a mechanism for detachably securing the first housing to the second housing. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises a flexible and transparent sleeve configured to wrap around both housings. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises a first magnet arrangement enclosed in the first housing and a second magnet arrangement enclosed in the second housing. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source is a lithium polymer battery. A mobile phone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a small battery enclosed in the first housing and which is configured to power the functions of the screen display and the one or more processors and computer readable memory banks when the first housing is detached from the second housing.