Improved expansion of smartphone functionality to another form factor

Abstract

An accessory for adding a display to a handheld mobile device among a plurality of mobile devices of various sizes includes a docking display having a first panel, a second panel, and a secure attachment between the first panel and the second panel. The first panel has a docking port with a fixing mechanism for securing the handheld mobile device, and the second panel has a display. No portion of the docking display engages with any pair of opposite sides of the handheld mobile device when the mobile device is docked with the docking port, thereby being capable of accepting the handheld mobile device and an other handheld mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices of various sizes of a size different than the handheld mobile device.

Description

IMPROVED EXPANSION OF SMARTPHONE FUNCTIONALITYTO ANOTHER FORM FACTORCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 664,666, filed June 26, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] This relates in general to devices, systems and methods for expanding the functionality of handheld mobile devices, such as a smartphones, to other form factors, such as larger displays and keyboards. One particular expansion relates to laptop-style shell units that are connected to smartphones that serve as host computers. It is believed that at least for non-diehard users of laptops, such shell devices would offer relief from having to buy, configure, and learn new laptops. It seemed that such users should have found such devices compelling. However, current cable-connected solutions, like Samsung NexDock, with a phone dangling from the laptop, have not been as compelling in the market as expected.

[0003] Among other deficiencies, the prior art lacks a display that would give a user integrated one-piece solution to satisfactorily expand the functionality of their smartphone to the larger display. The prior art especially lacks solutions which the manufacturers can offer to users of smartphones of various sizes without having to create different models for different sized smartphones, or reverting to a cable connected solutions with smartphone dangling from a display device such as the Samsung NexDock device mentioned above.

[0004] Another example of prior art is US patent 8600437B2 from the author of the current invention. It teaches a solution that attempts to address some of the above drawbacks, but has been found to be lacking in other aspects.SUMMARY

[0005] This relates more particularly to a device, system, and method for improved expansion of smartphone functionality to another form factor. In at least some embodiments such form factor includes that of a tablet or a laptop.

[0006] A plurality of embodiments includes a docking display with or for a mobile device.

[0007] In at least one embodiment an accessory for adding a display to a handheld mobile device among a plurality of mobile devices of various sizes includes a docking display having a first panel, a second panel, and a secure attachment between the first panel and the second panel. The first panel has a docking port with a fixing mechanism for securing the handheld mobile device, and the second panel has a display. No portion of the docking display engages with any pair of opposite sides of the handheld mobile device when the mobile device is docked with the docking port, thereby being capable of accepting the handheld mobile device and an other handheld mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices of various sizes of a size different than the handheld mobile device.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, the docking port is recessed from an inner surface of the first panel and at least one outer wall of the docking port being aligned with at least one outer wall of the first panel. The docking port is shaped to allow the handheld mobile device when docked therein to extend beyond a general boundary defined by the at least one outer wall of the first panel, thereby being capable of also accommodating an other handheld mobile device, where the other handheld mobile device is larger than the handheld mobile device. The first panel and the second panel have inner surfaces facing each other, and each of the first and second panels has rims surrounding their inner surfaces respectively, and their rims meet flush with each other for a secure closure when the panels are in a closed position.

[0009] In at least one the shape of the docking port consists of it being open along at least one edge thereby forming an opening in the first panel outer wall. The second panel has a lip aligned with and sized to fit the opening in the first panel outer wall when the docking display is in the closed position.

[0010] In at least one embodiment the first panel has a keyboard.

[0011] In at least one embodiment the first panel and the second panel have visually discernable matching patterns on their respective inner surfaces.

[0012] In at least one embodiment the secure attachment between first panel and the second panel is a hinge type attachment with the panels changeable between the open position and the closed position.

[0013] Various aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Fig. l is a perspective view of a first embodiment including a docking display, shown in and an open position with a mobile device proximate to the docking display.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. lof the first embodiment but shown with the mobile device docked with the docking display.

[0016] Fig. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment of the docking display of Fig. 1 in the open position.

[0017] Fig. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment of the docking display of Fig. 1 in the open position.

[0018] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the docking display of Fig. 1 in a closed position.

[0019] Fig. 6 is a schematic top view of a second embodiment of a docking display.

[0020] Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of the second embodiment of the docking display of Fig. 6.

[0021] Fig. 8 is a schematic top view of a third embodiment of a docking display.

[0022] Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of the third embodiment of the docking display ofFig- 8.

[0023] Fig. 10 is a functional block diagram of the first embodiment of Figs. 1-5.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] There are three main embodiments described below to teach various aspects of the current invention. The first embodiment applies the invention to expand the functionality of smartphones and other mobile devices to a laptop form factor, having a relatively larger display as compared to the smartphone and having a keyboard. The second and third embodiments apply the invention to expand the functionality of smartphones and other mobile devices to create a tablet form factor a relatively larger display as compared to the smartphone, in one particular example an E Ink display, and in another example a touch screen. Generally, these embodiments show use of mobile devices, such as off-the-shelf smartphones of various sizes, to be employed.

[0025] Referring now to the drawings, Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 show a first illustrated embodiment of the current invention, the combination 10 of a docking display 20 and a mobile device 40. The docking display 20 has a first panel 31, a second panel 21, and a secure attachment between the two;.

[0026] As shown, the secure attachment is a hinge type attachment similar to those used in laptop computers, changeable between an open position shown in Figs 1 to 4, and a closed position as shown in Fig 5.

[0027] The second panel 21 has a display 22. The first panel 31 has a docking port 33 with a fixing mechanism 34 for securing the mobile device 40.

[0028] In the shown embodiment, the first panel 31 and the second panel 21 each have an inner surface 38 and 28, respectively, facing each other. The docking port 33 is recessed from the surface 38 and at least one outer walls or edge of the docking port 33 is aligned with at least one of the outer walls of the first panel 31.

[0029] The docking port 33 is shaped to allow the docked mobile device 40 to extend beyond the general boundary defined by one of the first panel outer walls, thereby being capable of accommodating a larger mobile device to dock without having to increase the size of the first panel.

[0030] In the first embodiment, the first panel 31 and the second panel 21 have are surrounded by rims that meet flush with each other for a secure closure, when the panels are in the closed position. In at least one embodiment, rims are formed to address the shape of the docking port and thus still result in a secure closure. In the first embodiment, as shown particularly in Fig 4, the special shape of the docking port consists of it being open along at least one of the outer walls, thereby creating an opening 35 in the first shell outer wall and the second panel having a lip 23 aligned with and sized to fit the opening 35 in the first panel outer wall when the mobile monitor is closed

[0031] Further, in order to accept more than one of a plurality of mobile devices of various sizes, the docking display 20 does not engage with any pair of opposite sides of the mobile device when the mobile device is docked in or on the docking port.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the docking display also has a keyboard 32 in the first panel 31 . In at least one embodiment of the combination 10 of the mobile device and the docking display, the first panel 31 and the second panel 21 have identical design, such as stripes, along the first panel inner surface 38 and the second panel inner surface 28. This is believed to differentiate the combination 10 from laptops generally. In other embodiments, other matching patterns may be used.

[0033] Although Figs 1 through 5 show one preferred embodiment of a laptop form factor with similar sized panels for containing the display, keyboard, and the docking port, other embodiments of the current invention can be created, some as described below.

[0034] The second illustrated embodiment of the current invention, shown in Figs 6 and 7, has an ebook-like form-factor with a display panel and a smaller docking port panel. In this embodiment, a landscape orientated docking port panel is attached to the bottom of a portrait orientated display panel. The combination 50 of a docking display 60 and a mobile device 80(shown in dashed line). The docking display 60 has a first panel 71 and a second panel 61, fixedly attached together. The second panel 61 has a display 62. In this embodiment the display can be an E Ink display such as those used in electronic books. The first panel 71 has a docking port 74 for securing the mobile device 80.

[0035] The third illustrated embodiment of the current invention, shown in Figs 8 and 9, also has an ebooklike form-factor like the second embodiment except, now the docking port panel would be attached, in a portrait orientation, to the side of a portrait oriented display panel. The combination 100 of a docking display 110 and a mobile device 80 (shown in dashed line). The docking display 110 has a first panel 121 and a second panel 111, attached together via a laptop style hinge 115. The second panel 111 has a display 112. Like the second embodiment described above, the display can be an E Ink display such as those used in electronic books.Alternately, the display 112 can be a touch sensitive LCD such as those commonly used in tablet devices. The first panel 121 has a docking port 124 for securing the mobile device 80.

[0036] Fig 10 shows a functional block diagram of the first embodiment of the current invention described above with Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The block diagram shows the combination 10 of the docking display 20 (shown in dashed line) and mobile device 40 (also shown in dashed line).

[0037] The docking display 20 is shown with display 22, keyboard 32, connected to microcontroller 36. Battery 39 is connected to power supply 37, which in turn is connected to wireless charging interface 34 such as Magsafe. Microcontroller 36 is directly connected to wireless interfaces include WiFi interface 24, Bluetooth interface 25, and NFC interface 26. The block diagram shows wireless inks between wireless interfaces of the docking display 20 and the mobile device 40. Also shown is the MagSafe link consisting of a magnetic link and a wireless charging link.

[0038] Each of the above embodiments will also have a fixing mechanism for securing the base of the docking port to the back surface of the mobile device. The fixing mechanism, for example, may be one of several described in US 11,290,580, sharing the author of the current invention. As an additional reference, there are ample resources available related to magnetic wireless charging such as Apple’s MagSafe and similar attachable accessories employingmagnetic and Qi based charging. Related references are Wireless charging receiver module, KR20150065001A and Magnetic alignment system with NFC for electronic devices JP7181265B2. All of the preceding are contemplated to be utilized in various embodiments of the present invention.

[0039] Each of the above and various embodiments can be equipped with a docking app (App) which can be triggered when the mobile device is docked on the docking port. In some embodiments the mobile device display may go blank and stay blank as it functions into a touch panel. Certain embodiments include currently available off-the-shelf applications that convert a smartphone’s screen into a touch screen.

[0040] In several embodiments the mobile device display content is mirrored to the docking display screen in the home screen mode of the mobile device. When the user selects an app, the docking app may turn the font size to a smaller size to accommodate more content on the larger screen or larger for higher visibility, thereby adapting the combined device function to the larger display screen. In case of the first embodiment, and some other embodiments, the keyboard may be linked to the smartphone via a Bluetooth link.

[0041] While principles and modes of operation have been explained and illustrated with regard to particular embodiments, it must be understood, however, that this may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory for adding a display to a handheld mobile device among a plurality of mobile devices of various sizes comprising: a docking display having a first panel, a second panel, and a secure attachment between the first panel and the second panel; the first panel having a docking port with a fixing mechanism for securing the handheld mobile device and the second panel having a display; where no portion of the docking display engages with any pair of opposite sides of the handheld mobile device when the mobile device is docked with the docking port, thereby being capable of accepting the handheld mobile device and an other handheld mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices of various sizes of a size different than the handheld mobile device.

2. The accessory of Claim 1 where: the docking port is recessed from an inner surface of the first panel and at least one outer wall of the docking port being aligned with at least one outer wall of the first panel; the docking port being shaped to allow the handheld mobile device when docked therein to extend beyond a general boundary defined by the at least one outer wall of the first panel, thereby being capable of also accommodating the other handheld mobile devices, where the other handheld mobile device is larger than the handheld mobile device; the first panel having the inner surface and the second panel having an inner surface, the inner surfaces facing each other, and each of the first panel and the second panel having rims surrounding their inner surfaces respectively, and having their rims meet flush with each other forming a secure closure when the panels are in a closed position.

3. The accessory of Claim 2 where the shape of the docking port consists of it being open along at least one edge thereby forming an opening in the first panel outer wall, and the second panel having a lip aligned with and sized to fit the opening in the first panel outer wall when the docking display is in the closed position.

4. The accessory of Claim 2 where the first panel has a keyboard.

5. The accessory of Claim 4 where the first panel and the second panel have visually discernable matching patterns on their respective inner surfaces.

6. The accessory of Claim 1 where the secure attachment between first panel and the second panel is a hinge type attachment with the panels changeable between the open position and the closed position.

Images