Modular cover for electronic device

Abstract

A modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) for an electronic device (50), the modular cover comprising: a cover and protection element (101, 201, 301, 401) having an outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 301a, 401a) that accommodates the electronic device (50) in a detachable manner; and a system for adjusting the dimensions of the covering and protecting elements (101, 201, 301, 401). The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) also comprises at least one functional module comprising an electronic processing unit which is detachably mounted on the outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 301a, 401a) of the cover and protection element (101, 201, 301, 401). A system for adjusting the dimensions of covering and protecting elements (101, 201, 301, 401) includes a plurality of sliding arms and a plurality of interchangeable peripheral edges, where each interchangeable peripheral edge is detachably connected to an end of a corresponding sliding arm.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular cover for an electronic device.

[0002] In detail, the present invention relates to a modular cover for a fixed electronic device or a portable electronic device, which modular cover includes interchangeable parts that can customize the aesthetic and functional features of the aforementioned devices, specifically, the aesthetic and functional features of smartphones and tablet computers.

[0003] The reference technology area is therefore consumer electronics. Background Art

[0004] Protective elements of the body of electronic devices made with special coatings can be used in various ways as an additional form of individuality and to keep up with new trends.

[0005] Currently, several covers specially designed and customized for electronic devices and having advanced functions are described in the patent literature.

[0006] A first example of a known technical solution is described in the text of Italian patent 102019000004865, the subject of which is an electronic cover for a communication device, comprising a supporting body with an internal surface having a seat for housing the communication device and an external surface housing a microcontroller or microprocessor equipped with a management program and a memory unit for storing digital content. The cover also comprises a display, which at least partially covers the aforementioned external surface, suitable for reproducing digital content. In addition, the microprocessor or microcontroller comprises a bus connected to the display and to a wireless connection module to interact with the electronic device through the management program.

[0007] Another known technical solution is described in patent application US8825124B1, which cites a protective smart shell with multimedia functionality enabled by a capacitive touch screen display, a high-capacity neodymium speaker and a laser pointer integrated in the same smart shell. Such shells are designed to effectively display images and videos stored in the memory of the same shell or in an external memory via a USB connection, and / or accept images from, for example, a smartphone enclosed in the same smart shell.

[0008] In addition, patent application US9654605B2 mentions an accessory with electrical parts for use with a portable electronic device, the accessory having a protective cover for the same portable electronic device. The accessory includes a main body, a connector and a circuit.

[0009] The body includes a back portion and a bottom portion, wherein the back portion is slidably attached to the back of the protective cover to removably attach an accessory to the back of the protective cover.

[0010] When the accessory is detachably attached to the protective cover, the bottom surface is adjacent to the bottom surface of the protective cover. When the accessory is attached to the protective cover and the portable electronic device is positioned therein, the electrical connector is attached to the bottom surface of the accessory body and is positioned to electrically interconnect with the portable electronic device interface.

[0011] Finally, patent application US2017205854A1 describes a system for displaying or projecting digital content selected by a user, the system comprising a cover for a mobile device that can be detachably applied to the mobile device and a curved display integrated in the cover and capable of displaying or projecting the aforementioned content.

[0012] However, known systems / covers for protecting electronic devices have advanced functionalities of the emphasized type, but have some limitations, such as lack of universality (considered as adaptability to different models of equipment), modularity and the use of functions that can be realized through specific technical components. Summary of the invention

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a modular cover for electronic devices that combines versatility, modularity and advanced functionality, thus having characteristics such as overcoming the limitations that still affect known technical solutions.

[0014] According to the present invention, a modular cover for an electronic device as defined in claim 1 is provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] For a better understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 a. Figure 1 b and Figure 1 c respectively show an overall perspective view and a detailed view of a first embodiment of a modular cover for an electronic device according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 a and Figure 2 b shows another overall view and a detailed perspective view of the first embodiment of the modular cover for an electronic device according to the present invention, respectively;

[0018] Figure 3 a and Figure 3b shows a perspective view and an exploded view of a detail of a second embodiment of a modular cover for an electronic device according to the present invention, respectively;

[0019] Figure 4 shows a further detail view of a second embodiment of a modular cover for an electronic device according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 a and Figure 5 b shows an overall perspective view and an exploded view respectively of a third embodiment of a modular cover for an electronic device according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 Finally, a perspective view of a detail of a fourth embodiment of a modular cover for an electronic device according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] With reference to these figures, and in particular to Figure 1 , showing a modular cover for an electronic device according to the present invention.

[0023] Specifically, the modular cover 100, 200, 300, 400 for the electronic device 50 includes:

[0024] a covering and protection element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 having an outer rear surface 101 a , 201 a , 301 a , 401 a which accommodates an electronic device 50 , such as a housing of a smartphone, a tablet, a notebook or a desktop PC, in a removable manner;

[0025] - A system for adjusting the dimensions of said covering and protection element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 , the latter also being referred to as a frame.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the aforementioned system for adjusting the size of a covering element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 comprises a plurality of sliding arms and a plurality of interchangeable peripheral edges.

[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, each interchangeable peripheral edge is removably connected to an end of a corresponding sliding arm.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the modular cover 100, 200, 300, 400 also comprises at least one functional module.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one functional module comprises an electronic processing unit.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one functional module is mounted on the rear surface 101a, 201a, 301a, 401a of the covering and protecting element 101, 201, 301, 401 in a detachable manner.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the covering and protecting element 101, 201, 301, 401 is substantially parallelepiped in shape, having a base 'b' and a height 'a', as shown.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the system for adjusting the size of the covering and protecting element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 comprises a plurality of side elements 104 , 204 , 304 , 404 , each side element being placed across a corresponding side portion of the covering and protecting element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 .

[0033] According to another aspect of the present invention, Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 6 In the three embodiments shown in FIG. 4 , the system for adjusting the dimensions of the aforementioned covering and protection elements 101 , 201 , 401 comprises a plurality of corner elements 103 , 203 , 403 .

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, in such three embodiments, each corner element 103 , 203 , 403 is slidably placed in correspondence with a corresponding corner portion of the covering and protection element 101 , 201 , 401 .

[0035] Specifically, for the first embodiment, the plurality of corner elements 103 include a pair of corner elements 103a, 103b which are positioned corresponding to respective ends of the fixed side elements 104 and slide along an axis 'x' parallel to the bottom 'b' of the aforementioned covering and protecting element 101.

[0036] Furthermore, in this first embodiment, another pair of corner elements 103c, 103d are provided, which are slidably placed along both the axis 'z' and the axis 'k' inclined relative to the base 'b' and the height 'a', respectively, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 c is visible.

[0037] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the second embodiment, each of the side members 204 is slidably placed along an axis 'y' parallel to the height 'a'.

[0038] According to one aspect of the present invention, in this second embodiment, each of the corner elements 203 is placed corresponding to the respective end of the corresponding side element 204 and is able to slide along the 'x' axis, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown.

[0039] According to another aspect of the present invention, in an alternative embodiment, that is, Figure 5 In the third embodiment variant visible in FIG. 1 , the modular cover 300 is a simplified version compared to the first two described modular covers, comprising only a side element 304 which is connected to the Figures 1 to 4 The side members shown for the two preferred 100 and 200 embodiments are orthogonal and thus capable of sliding along the 'x' axis.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the outer rear surface 101a, 201a, 301a, 401a is preferably a flat surface.

[0041] According to another aspect of the invention, each corner element 103, 203, 403 may also be slidable along an axis perpendicular to the outer rear surface 101a, 201a, 401a.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, each of the side elements 104, 204, 304, 404 comprises a sliding arm and an interchangeable peripheral edge which is detachably connected to one end of the aforementioned sliding arm.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, each of the corner elements 103, 203, 403 of the first, second and fourth embodiments, respectively, in turn comprises a sliding arm and an associated interchangeable peripheral edge, which is detachably connected to one end of the sliding arm.

[0044] Advantageously, in use, according to the present invention, such movement along an axis perpendicular to the outer rear surface 101a, 201a, 401a of each of the corner elements 103, 203, 403 allows the depth of the covering and protective element 101, 201, 401 to be adapted to the thickness of the specific electronic device 50, and subsequent manual telescopic adjustment of the corner elements and side elements according to different embodiments allows the height 'a' and bottom 'b' dimensions of the same covering and protective element 101, 201, 301, 401 to be adapted to the dimensions of the electronic device 50.

[0045] According to one aspect of the present invention, the covering and protecting element 101, 201, 301, 401 includes an opening corresponding to a front portion opposite to the external rear surface 101a, 201a, 301a, 401a, which is configured to be removably inserted into the electronic device 50 and frame a display integrated into the electronic device 50.

[0046] According to one aspect of the present invention, at least one functional module is composed of at least one subsystem, and the at least one subsystem is included in the group consisting of:

[0047] - displays 110, 210, 310, 410;

[0048] Power bank;

[0049] -camera;

[0050] - Wireless speakers;

[0051] - solid-state data storage drives;

[0052] - sensor array;

[0053] -compass;

[0054] -Altimeter.

[0055] According to one aspect of the invention, the covering and protecting element 101, 201, 301, 401 preferably accommodates several functional modules placed side by side through its outer rear surface 101a, 201a, 301a, 401a, such as a display 110, 210, 310, 410 together with a mobile power supply and a compass.

[0056] According to another aspect of the present invention, several functional modules may be placed overlapping each other.

[0057] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one functional module common to the four embodiments is accommodated in its own container, which is preferably made of plastic material.

[0058] According to one aspect of the present invention, as described above, at least one functional module includes an electronic processing unit, which is provided with at least one memory module and a control module stored in the memory module.

[0059] According to one aspect of the present invention, for at least one functional module implementing the display 110, 210, 310, 410, the display is connected to its electronic processing unit via a data transmission protocol that complies with the MIPI-DSI standard. The MIPI-DSII standard is the de facto standard for hardware interfaces and software interfaces in mobile devices, and is characterized by high energy efficiency, high image quality and data transmission, and high resistance to electromagnetic interference.

[0060] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one functional module comprises electronic components and a rechargeable battery capable of powering said electronic components and the functional module itself.

[0061] According to one aspect of the invention, a control module included in at least one functional module is implemented by means of a computer program product executed by an electronic processing unit, managing the functional module itself.

[0062] According to one aspect of the present invention, the functional module includes a wireless data transmission module within the electronic component, preferably including a Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth LE microchip, which is connected to the electronic processing unit and is configured to connect the covering and protection elements 101, 201, 301, 401 to the electronic device 50 and / or to an external electronic device for data connection.

[0063] According to another aspect of the present invention, the control module enables the electronic processing unit to also manage the operation of the wireless data transmission module and related wireless communications with the electronic device 50 and / or with external electronic devices, preferably sending static images and dynamic images (such as videos) to the memory module for reproduction by the display 110, 210, 310, 410.

[0064] In detail, according to the present invention, as described above, such a control module is implemented by means of a computer program product executed by the electronic processing unit, which is preferably an MCU or an x86 or x64 CPU, as described above, and is then equipped with at least one solid-state memory module, such as a flash memory module.

[0065] According to another aspect of the present invention, the display 110, 210, 310, 410 is preferably an LCD / AMOLED display having a size between approximately 3 inches and 5 inches.

[0066] According to another aspect of the invention, the technical functions implemented by at least one functional module may alternatively be managed by another computer program product (i.e., an application) that can be downloaded from a dedicated store, installed on the electronic device 50 and executed by the electronic device.

[0067] According to another aspect of the invention, the technical functions implemented by at least one functional module may alternatively be managed from the cloud.

[0068] According to another aspect of the invention, at least one functional module is detachably mounted on the outer rear surface 101a, 201a, 301a, 401a of the covering and protecting element 101, 201, 301, 401 by means of an interlocking system.

[0069] According to one aspect of the present invention, the modular cover 100, 200, 300, 400 includes an interchangeable protective element 105, 205, 305, 405 or a shell that can be placed corresponding to a portion of the external rear surface 101a, 201a, 301a, 401a of the covering and protective element 101, 201, 301, 401, and is configured to frame a camera integrated in the electronic device 50.

[0070] According to another aspect of the invention, the interchangeable protective element 105, 205, 305, 405 capable of protecting the camera of the electronic device 50 also comprises its own additional interchangeable corner elements and side elements, the profile or curvature of which is adapted to the profile or curvature of the camera of the electronic device 50 with respect to the relevant corner edges.

[0071] According to another aspect of the present invention, the protection and covering elements 101, 201, 301, 401 may also include an additional electronic processing unit, a memory module and a wireless data transmission module, which are preferably placed in a dedicated internal shell, and an additional battery suitable for powering the aforementioned memory module, electronic processing unit and wireless data transmission module, the latter allowing the protection and covering units 101, 201 and 301, 401 to be connected to the electronic device 50.

[0072] According to one aspect of the present invention, the assembly including covering and protective elements 101, 201, 301, 401, displays 110, 210, 310, 410, corner elements 103, 203, 403 limited to such three embodiments, side elements 104, 204, 304, 404 and interchangeable protective elements 105, 205, 305, 405 can be referred to as a universal electronic modular cover 100, 200, 300, 400, capable of personalizing the aesthetics, and protecting and expanding the functionality of the electronic device 50 enclosed in the modular cover itself.

[0073] According to another aspect of the invention, as previously mentioned, the covering and protection element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 (also called skeleton) is substantially parallelepiped in shape and is preferably made of plastic material.

[0074] According to one aspect of the invention, a non-fungible token or NFT can be applied to the skeleton 101, 201, 301, 401.

[0075] According to one aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the skeleton 101, 201, 301, 401 is between 4 mm and 8 mm.

[0076] Advantageously, according to the invention, the interlocking system for mounting at least one functional module to the covering and protection element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 makes it possible to easily customize and expand the technical specifications of a single electronic device 50 according to plug-and-play mode.

[0077] Advantageously, according to the invention, depending on the embodiment of the display 110, 210, 310, 410, the wireless data transmission module included in the functional module makes it possible to send static images, videos and other static multimedia elements to the covering element 101, 201, 301, 401 and reproduce them through the same display 110, 210, 310, 410.

[0078] Advantageously, according to the invention, the telescopic sliding arms contained in the corner elements 103, 203, 403 and in the side elements 204, 304, 404 enable the dimensions of the covering and protective elements 101, 201, 301, 401 to be adapted to the dimensions of different models of electronic devices 50, ensuring the versatility of the personalized modular covers 100, 200, 300, 400 framing a specific smartphone, notebook or tablet, expanding its native functionality.

[0079] Likewise, advantageously, according to the invention, the interchangeability of the peripheral edges, each detachably connected to the corresponding end of the sliding arm, makes it possible to trace the native curvature of the corner edge of the electronic device 50 simply by replacing the aforementioned peripheral edges.

[0080] Advantageously, according to the invention, providing each functional module with a battery makes it possible to preserve the autonomy and useful life of the battery integrated in the electronic device 50 .

[0081] According to another aspect of the invention, both the functional module and the protection and covering element 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 comprise rechargeable batteries.

[0082] In addition, according to Figure 6 The fourth embodiment shown actually combines the technical features of the embodiments 100 and 200. The covering element 401 includes a slidable side element 404, the difference being that it includes a first corner element 403a and a second corner element 403c.

[0083] According to one aspect of the present invention, in this fourth embodiment, the first corner element 403a is placed corresponding to one end of the corresponding side element 404 sliding along the axis 'y' and is able to slide along the axis 'x'.

[0084] According to one aspect of the present invention, still with respect to embodiment 400, as Figure 6As shown, the second corner element 403 c is slidably placed along an axis 'z' inclined relative to the bottom 'b' and the height 'a' of the covering and protecting element 401 .

[0085] Therefore, the modular cover for electronic devices according to the invention makes it possible to combine versatility, modularity and advanced functionality, personalizing the aesthetics of the device to which it is applied by reproducing static images and videos by a specific display, while protecting the structure of the device itself and expanding the list of native technical features by means of one or more specific functional modules.

[0086] Another advantage of the modular cover for electronic equipment according to the invention is its ease of use and low maintenance requirements.

[0087] Another advantage of the modular cover for electronic equipment according to the present invention is that it is inexpensive.

[0088] However, the modular cover for electronic equipment according to the present invention is easily expandable from both a design perspective and an industrial perspective due to its modular nature, which makes it possible to expand and change its functions simply by replacing functional blocks through an interlocking system.

[0089] Finally, the modular cover for an electronic device according to the invention is characterized by a reduced complexity for mass production.

[0090] Finally, it is obvious that modifications and variations may be made to the modular cover for an electronic device described and illustrated herein without departing from the protective scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) for an electronic device (50), the modular cover comprising: - a covering and protection element (101, 201, 301, 401) having an outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 301a, 401a) for accommodating the electronic device (50) in a removable manner; - and a system for adjusting the dimensions of the covering and protection element (101, 201, 301, 401); Characterized in that it comprises at least one functional module, the at least one functional module comprising an electronic processing unit, the electronic processing unit being detachably mounted on the outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 301a, 401a) of the covering and protective element (101, 201, 301, 401), and characterized in that the system for adjusting the size of the covering and protective element (101, 201, 301, 401) comprises a plurality of sliding arms and a plurality of interchangeable peripheral edges, each interchangeable peripheral edge being detachably connected to one end of a corresponding sliding arm.

2. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The covering and protection element (101, 201, 301, 401) is substantially parallelepiped in shape, having a base 'b' and a height 'a', and is characterized in that the system for adjusting the size of the covering and protection element (101, 201, 301, 401) comprises a plurality of side elements (104, 204, 304, 404), each side element being placed across a corresponding side portion of the covering and protection element (101, 201, 301, 401).

3. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 2, wherein: in, Each of the side elements (104, 204, 304, 404) includes a sliding arm and a corresponding interchangeable peripheral edge, the corresponding interchangeable peripheral edge being detachably connected to one end of the sliding arm.

4. The modular cover (100, 200, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The system for adjusting the size of the covering and protective element (101, 201, 401) comprises a plurality of corner elements (103, 203, 403), each of the corner elements (103, 203, 403) being slidably placed in correspondence with a corresponding corner portion of the covering and protective element (101, 201, 401), characterized in that the outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 401) is a flat surface, and characterized in that each of the corner elements included in the plurality of corner elements (103, 203, 403) is capable of sliding along an axis perpendicular to the outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 401a).

5. The modular cover (100) according to claims 2 and 4, wherein: The multiple corner elements (103) include a pair of corner elements (103a, 103b) slidably placed along an axis 'x' parallel to the bottom 'b' of the covering and protecting element (101) corresponding to the corresponding ends of the side element (104) and a pair of corner elements (103c, 103d) slidably placed along an axis 'z' and an axis 'k' inclined to the bottom 'b' and the height 'a', respectively.

6. The modular cover (200) according to claims 2 and 4, wherein: Each of the side elements (204) is slidably placed along an axis 'y' parallel to the height 'a', and is characterized in that each of the corner elements (203) is placed corresponding to the corresponding end of the corresponding side element (304) and can slide along the axis 'x'.

7. The modular cover (300) according to claim 2, wherein: Each of the side elements (304) is slidably placed along the axis 'x'.

8. A modular cover (400) according to claims 2 and 4, wherein: The multiple corner elements (403) include a first corner element (403a) and a second corner element (403c), wherein the first corner element can be slidably positioned along the axis 'y' in correspondence with the end of the corresponding side element (404), the first corner element (403a) can be slidable along the axis 'x', and the second corner element is slidably placed along the axis 'z' inclined relative to the bottom 'b' and the height 'a'.

9. The modular cover (100, 200, 400) according to claim 4, wherein: Each of the corner elements (103, 203, 403) comprises a sliding arm and a corresponding interchangeable peripheral edge, wherein the corresponding interchangeable peripheral edge is detachably connected to one end of the sliding arm.

10. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The covering and protecting element (101, 201, 301, 401) comprises an opening corresponding to the front portion opposite to the outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 301a, 401a), the opening being configured for detachably inserting the electronic device (50) and framing a display integrated in the electronic device (50).

11. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one functional module is composed of at least one subsystem, and the at least one subsystem is included in the group consisting of: -Display (110, 210, 310, 410); -Battery; -camera; - Wireless speakers; - solid-state data storage drives; - sensor array; -compass; -Altimeter.

12. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The electronic processing unit included in the at least one functional module is provided with at least one memory module and a control module, the control module being stored in the at least one memory module, managing the at least one functional module and being implemented by means of a computer program product executed by the electronic processing unit.

13. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one functional module includes a rechargeable battery capable of powering the at least one functional module.

14. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one functional module is detachably mounted on the outer rear surface (101a, 201a, 301a, 401a) by means of an interlocking system.

15. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one functional module comprises a wireless data transmission module, the wireless data transmission module being connected to the electronic processing unit and being configured to connect the at least one functional module with the electronic device (50), the electronic device (50) being included in the group consisting of: - Smartphone; - Tablet computer; -notebook; - Desktop PC housing.

16. The modular cover (100, 200, 300, 400) according to claim 1, wherein: The modular cover includes an interchangeable protective element (105, 205, 305, 405) positioned corresponding to a portion of the exterior rear surface (101a, 201a, 301a, 401a) and configured to frame a camera integrated into the electronic device (50).

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