Wireless charging mat with integrated interface connection

• US 20050052156A1
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liebenow, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/762,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging mat with embedded communications capabilities for providing power to a portable device which is set upon the charging mat and for providing connection to various peripheral devices while the portable device rests upon the charging mat. It is envisioned that by including the communications capabilities within a charging mat, the charging mat technology will provide most capabilities currently provided by docking stations and docking bars.

Claims

1. A charging mat system comprising:

a charging mat, wherein said charging mat is configured with a plurality of conductive contacts disposed on a top planar surface;

a charging circuit configured to selectively provide power to said plurality of conductive contacts, said charging circuit being connected to said plurality of conductive contacts;

a modulator/demodulator for converting between demodulated data and modulated data, wherein said modulator/demodulator is configured to be connected with said charging mat for sending and receiving data via said plurality of conductive contacts;

a data conversion circuit connected to said modulator/demodulator and to at least one industry standard interface, said data conversion circuit converting between said demodulated data and said at least one industry standard interface; and

at least one industry standard interface connector connected to said data conversion circuit.

2. A charging mat system according to claim 1, wherein modulator/demodulator uses frequency modulation to send data over said power and receive data from said power.

3. A charging mat system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one industry standard interface connector is one of:

Universal Serial Bus, Serial Port, Parallel Port, PS-2 Mouse Port, PS-2 Keyboard Port, Ethernet Port, Token Ring Port, Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) Port, IEEE 1394 Port, Firewire Port, Compact Flash Port, Memory Stick Port, CardBus Port and PCMCIA Port.

4. A charging mat system according to claim 1, wherein said industry standard interface connector is connected to said charging mat system through a cable.

5. A charging mat system according to claim 1, wherein said industry standard interface connector is mounted to said charging mat system.

6. A charging mat system according to claim 1, wherein said charging circuit is housed within said mat.

7. A charging mat system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a portable device, said portable device further comprising;

a bottom planar surface, said bottom planar surface being substantially parallel with said top planar surface of said charging mat;

a plurality of bottom surface contacts located on said bottom planar surface, at least two of said plurality of bottom surface contacts coming into contact with at least two of said plurality of conductive contacts providing a closed circuit;

a power control circuit for extracting power from said closed circuit; and

a portable device modulator/demodulator for modulating and demodulating data over said closed circuit.

8. A charging mat system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one industry standard interface connector is on of:

Universal Serial Bus, Serial Port, Parallel Port, PS-2 Mouse Port, PS-2 Keyboard Port, Ethernet Port, Token Ring Port, Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) Port, IEEE 1394 Port, Firewire Port, Compact Flash Port, Memory Stick Port, CardBus Port and PCMCIA Port.

9. A charging mat system according to claim 7, wherein said industry standard interface connector is connected to said charging mat system through a cable.

10. A charging mat system according to claim 7, wherein said industry standard interface connector is mounted to said charging mat system.

11. A charging mat system according to claim 7, wherein said charging circuit is housed within said mat.

12. A portable device comprising:

a bottom planar surface;

a plurality of bottom surface contacts located on said bottom planar surface;

a power control circuit for extracting power from at least two of said bottom surface contacts; and

a portable device modulator/demodulator for modulating and demodulating data over said power.

13. A portable device according to claim 12, wherein said portable device modulator/demodulator uses frequency modulation to send data over the power and receive data from the power.

14. A portable device according to claim 12, further comprising a processor, wherein said portable device modulator/demodulator is connected to an input/output port or said processor.

15. A portable device according to claim 12, wherein said input/output port of said processor is any one of:

Universal Serial Bus, Serial Port, Parallel Port, PS-2 Mouse Port, PS-2 Keyboard Port, Ethernet Port, Token Ring Port, Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) Port, IEEE 1394 Port, Firewire Port, Compact Flash Port, Memory Stick Port, CardBus Port and PCMCIA Port.

16. A method for providing power and interface ports to a portable device without using plugs or jacks located on said portable device, comprising:

providing a charging mat, said charging mat having a first plurality of contacts located upon its top planar surface and said first plurality of contacts being selectively provided power and data communications; and

placing a portable device on said charging mat, said portable device having a second set of contacts located upon its bottom planar surface, and at least two of said second set of contacts mating with at least two of said first set of contacts and said second set of contacts providing a closed circuit, said closed circuit providing power and communications to said portable device.

17. A method for providing power and interface ports to a portable device without using plugs or jacks located on said portable device as in claim 16, further comprising:

plugging at least one industry standard interface jack into at least one plug and jack located on said charging mat.

18. A method for providing power and interface ports to a portable device without using plugs or jacks located on said portable device as in claim 17, wherein said at least one industry standard jack is one of:

Universal Serial Bus, Serial Port, Parallel Port, PS-2 Mouse Port, PS-2 Keyboard Port, Ethernet Port, Token Ring Port, Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) Port, IEEE 1394 Port, Firewire Port, Compact Flash Port, Memory Stick Port, CardBus Port and PCMCIA Port.

19. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface comprising:

a charging mat means for providing power and connections to said at least one peripheral interface through a first plurality of contacts, said first plurality of contacts reside upon a top planar surface of said charging mat; and

a means to connect said first plurality of contact to a second plurality of contacts, said second plurality of contacts residing upon a bottom planar surface of said portable device, wherein, at least two of said first plurality of contacts comes in contact with at least two of said second plurality of contacts, thereby providing a closed circuit for providing power from said charging mat to said portable device and for providing a communication means for connecting said at least one peripheral interface to said portable device.

20. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said communication means includes frequency modulation over said closed circuit.

21. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said at least one peripheral is one of:

Universal Serial Bus, Serial Port, Parallel Port, PS-2 Mouse Port, PS-2 Keyboard Port, Ethernet Port, Token Ring Port, Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) Port, IEEE 1394 Port, Firewire Port, Compact Flash Port, Memory Stick Port, CardBus Port and PCMCIA Port.

22. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said at least one peripheral interface is provided through a connector, said connector is mounted along an edge of said charging mat.

23. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said peripheral interface is IDE and said peripheral interface is connected to a drive that is mounted within said charging mat means.

24. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said peripheral interface is IDE and said peripheral interface is connected to a drive that is mounted external to said charging mat means.

25. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said peripheral interface is SCSI and said peripheral interface is connected to a drive that is mounted within said charging mat means.

26. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said peripheral interface is SCSI and said peripheral interface is connected to a drive that is mounted external to said charging mat means.

27. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said peripheral interface is Serial ATA and said peripheral interface is connected to a drive that is mounted within said charging mat means.

28. A means for connecting a portable device to power and at least one peripheral interface according to claim 19, wherein said peripheral interface is Serial ATA and said peripheral interface is connected to a drive that is mounted external to said charging mat means.