Wireless charging device for wearable electronic device

• US 10,305,316 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Peek, Gregory A., Francis, Mark R., Frank, Torrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US15/838,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20180198312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Systems and methods may provide for wireless charging device of an electronic device powered by a rechargeable battery. The wireless charging device may include a charging station having a charging surface with a power transmitter and a contour that concentrically interfaces with a corresponding contour of an inner surface of the electronic device in a manner that facilitates an initiation of a power charging sequence at the charging surface when the charging station detects an operational coupling between the power transmitter and a power receiver of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A docking station for charging a battery of an electronic device, the docking station comprising:

a charging station having a docking area to support the electronic device to recharge the battery of the electronic device;

a sensor to detect a user motion intended to control an operational feature of the electronic device while the electronic device is recharging, the user motion being a non-physical contact between a user and the sensor;

a logic circuit to determine, based on the user motion detected by the sensor, whether to activate or deactivate the operational feature; and

a communication interface to communicate an instruction to the electronic device to activate or deactivate the operational feature.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the operational feature is an alarm clock.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the operational feature is a snooze function.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the operational feature is a light.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a watch.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking area has a contoured surface to support the electronic device.

7. The docking station of claim 1, further including a power transmitter to provide power to the electronic device when the electronic device is aligned on the docking area.

8. The docking station of claim 1, further including multiple sensors to detect the user motion.

9. The docking station of claim 1, further including an indicator to provide at least one of an audio indication or visual indication of a charging status of the electronic device.

10. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a logic circuit of a docking station, cause the logic circuit to at least:

initiate a power charging sequence at a docking area to recharge a battery of an electronic device supported on the docking area;

determining, based on a user motion detected by a sensor while the electronic device is recharging, whether to activate or deactivate an operational feature of the electronic device, the user motion not including physical contact between a user and the sensor, the user motion to activate or deactivate the operational feature of the electronic device; and

communicate an instruction to the electronic device to activate or deactivate the operational feature.

11. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operational feature is display of a clock.

12. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operational feature is a snooze function of an alarm clock.

13. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operational feature is a light.

14. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a smart watch.

15. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the docking station, further cause the docking station to provide at least one of an audio indication or a visual indication of a charging status of the electronic device.

16. A method comprising:

charging a battery of an electronic device supported on a docking area of a charging station;

detecting, via a sensor of the charging station, a user motion intended to control an operational feature of the electronic device while the electronic device is on the docking area, the user motion being a non-physical contact between a user and the sensor;

determining, via a logic circuit of the charging station, whether to activate or deactivate the operational feature based on the user motion detected by the sensor; and

communicating, via a communication interface of the charging station, an instruction to the electronic device to activate or deactivate the operational feature.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operational feature is an alarm.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operational feature is to snooze the alarm.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the operational feature is a light.

20. The method of claim 16, further including providing at least one of an audio indication or visual indication of a charging status of the electronic device.