Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 53 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. In this particular report we briefly cover a possible future MagSafe accessory for an iPhone or iPad. And as always, we wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple this week.

Accessory Device For Electronic Devices

Apple has been granted a patent for an accessory device that may include multiple pockets, or sleeves, designed to carry items, such as an electronic device and a user's personal items (e.g., credits cards, cash, etc.).

The accessory device also includes a magnet embedded in a back section, with the magnet designed to align an inductive charging mechanism that can charge the electronic device's battery when the electronic device is positioned within the accessory device.

To improve charging efficiency, the back section also includes a structural layer designed to keep the back section flat when the electronic device is positioned within the accessory device.

The structural layer can hide/obscure the magnet and other structures. Also, the accessory device includes a wireless communication circuit that can communicate with a corresponding wireless communication circuit in the electronic device, and provide information (e.g., openings and dimensional information of the accessory device) to the electronic device.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates a front isometric view of an embodiment of an accessory device; FIG. 2 illustrates a rear isometric view of the accessory device shown in FIG. 1, showing additional features of the accessory device. 

Further to FIG. 1, Apple notes that section #102a may include openings #108a and #108b that render a region of a display of the portable electronic device at least partially visible, and as a result, the display can present visual information viewable through opening #108a.

In some embodiments, opening #108b renders input and output mechanisms (e.g., camera(s), sensor(s), and/or audio speaker(s)) of the portable electronic device unobscured/unobstructed, and as a result, the portable electronic device can use the input and output mechanisms based on the opening 108b while being positioned in accessory device #100.

Apple's patent FIG. 16 above illustrates an isometric view of a structural layer, showing the structural layer having multiple embedded materials; FIG. 17 illustrates an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of a structural layer, showing the structural layer having several modular sections.

For more details, review granted patent 11962162.

This Week's Remaining Granted Patents