Charging rechargeable apparatus

• US 10,559,979 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tuli, Apaar, Hartojoki, Anna-Leena
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trischler, John T
• Application Number:
  US14/898,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• 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 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: control circuitry configured to switch the apparatus between a charging state in which energy transfer from the apparatus to a rechargeable apparatus is enabled and a non-charging state in which energy transfer from the apparatus to the rechargeable apparatus is not enabled; charging circuitry configured to transfer energy, when the apparatus is in the charging state, to the rechargeable apparatus for storage at the rechargeable apparatus; and indication circuitry configured to enable an indication, when the apparatus is in the non-charging state, to prompt user action to bring the rechargeable apparatus towards the apparatus for charging.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

accessing a trigger event comprising a battery level threshold of a rechargeable apparatus;

linking the rechargeable apparatus with a charging apparatus for wireless communication;

determining that the trigger event has occurred and the rechargeable apparatus is outside of a charging range of the charging apparatus;

in response to a determination that the trigger event has occurred and that the rechargeable apparatus is outside of the charging range of the charging apparatus, causing transmission of a wireless communication from the rechargeable apparatus to the charging apparatus;

causing an alert associated with the rechargeable apparatus to be provided by the charging apparatus; and

in an instance the rechargeable apparatus is positioned within the charging range of the charging apparatus, causing the provision of the alert associated with the rechargeable apparatus to be stopped.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, configured as a hand-portable apparatus.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to provide for recharging of the rechargeable energy store while the apparatus including the rechargeable energy store is positioned upon a non-vehicular recharging mat of the remote recharging apparatus.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define characteristics of the alert.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the user defined characteristics of the alert comprises one or more of at least one color, at least one visual alert, time-variation of at least one color and/or at least one visual alert, and spatial variation of at least one color and/or at least one visual alert.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define one or more conditions that are satisfied to cause the trigger event.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one or more conditions comprises a charge level of the apparatus.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one or more conditions comprises a proximity condition defining proximity between the apparatus and the charging apparatus.

9. A method comprising:

accessing a trigger event comprising a battery level threshold of a rechargeable apparatus;

linking the rechargeable apparatus with a charging apparatus for wireless communication;

determining that the trigger event has occurred and the rechargeable apparatus is outside of a charging range of the charging apparatus;

in response to a determination that the trigger event has occurred and that the rechargeable apparatus is outside of the charging range of the charging apparatus, causing transmission of a wireless communication from the rechargeable apparatus to the charging apparatus;

causing an alert associated with the rechargeable apparatus to be provided by the charging apparatus; and

in an instance the rechargeable apparatus is positioned within the charging range of the charging apparatus, causing the provision of the alert associated with the rechargeable apparatus to be stopped.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define characteristics of the indication.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method is implemented using a hand-portable apparatus.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising recharging of the rechargeable energy store while the apparatus including the rechargeable energy store is positioned upon a non-vehicular recharging mat of the remote recharging apparatus.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the alert associated with the rechargeable apparatus is provided by both the rechargeable apparatus and the charging apparatus.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein causing the transmission of a wireless communication from the rechargeable apparatus to the charging apparatus comprises transmitting the wireless communication via an intermediary apparatus communicatively connected to the rechargeable apparatus and the charging apparatus.

15. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define one or more conditions that are satisfied to cause the trigger event.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the one or more conditions comprises a charge level of the apparatus.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the one or more conditions comprises a proximity condition defining proximity between the apparatus and the charging apparatus.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer program, which, when executed on a processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to at least perform:

accessing a trigger event comprising a battery level threshold of the rechargeable apparatus;

linking the rechargeable apparatus with a charging apparatus for wireless communication;

determining that the trigger event has occurred and the rechargeable apparatus is outside of a charging range of the charging apparatus;

in response to a determination that the trigger event has occurred and that the rechargeable apparatus is outside of the charging range of the charging apparatus, causing transmission of a wireless communication from the rechargeable apparatus to the charging apparatus;

causing an alert associated with the rechargeable apparatus to be provided by the charging apparatus; and

in an instance the rechargeable apparatus is positioned within the charging range of the charging apparatus, causing the provision of the indicated alert associated with the rechargeable apparatus to be stopped.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to define one or more conditions that are satisfied to cause the trigger event, and wherein the one or more conditions comprises a charge level of the apparatus or a proximity condition defining proximity between the apparatus and the charging apparatus.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to provide for recharging of the rechargeable energy store while the apparatus including the rechargeable energy store is positioned upon a non-vehicular recharging mat of the remote recharging apparatus.