Extended peripheral battery pack for a tablet computer
A device is provided which comprises an ultra thin extended battery pack ( 301 ). A incorporating a functional peripheral device ( 321 ) such as a DVD player, card reader, receiver and/or transmitter, or extended memory.
1 . A device for providing power to a tablet computer with a display-side and a back-side comprising:
a housing containing:
a rechargeable battery, and
a peripheral device providing a functionality other than a source of power to the tablet computer;
electrical contacts for connecting the rechargeable battery to the power circuit of the tablet computer;
a data communication link for transferring data between the peripheral device and the tablet computer; and
mounting interface with which the device can affix to the back-side of the tablet computer.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said mounting interface releasably affixes the device to the back-side of the tablet computer.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said peripheral device is an optical drive and wherein the housing has an opening for receiving optical disks.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein said optical drive can read DVD formatted optical disks.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device includes a hard drive.
6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device includes a global positioning system receiver.
7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device includes a solid-state memory array.
8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device includes a mobile phone transmitter receiver.
9 . The device of claim 8 wherein the housing includes an opening for receiving a mobile phone identity card.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device includes a card reader.
11 . The device of claim 10 wherein the card reader reads smart cards.
12 . The device of claim 10 wherein the card reader is a magnetic card reader.
13 . The device of claim 10 wherein the card reader is a swipe magnetic card reader.
14 . The device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral device is an optical code reader.
15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said battery pack has an indicator thereon which indicates the degree to which the battery is charged.
16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said peripheral device is a disk drive.
17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said peripheral device includes is a cell phone receiver and transmitter.
18 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said computer has internal batteries, wherein said cover is adapted to be connected to an external power source and to thereby recharge the battery pack disposed in said cover, and wherein said cover is further adapted to recharge the internal batteries of the computer.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the batteries in the device are recharged when the device is mounted on a tablet computer that is electrically connected to an external power source.