Inductively charged battery pack

• US 20050127867A1
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mitchell, William, Keely, Leroy B., Calhoon, John Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,375,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

An inductive charging systems transfers energy by inductively coupling a source coil on a charging source to a receiver coil on a charging portion of a battery pack. The source current is received in the battery pack and converted to direct current for storage in the battery pack cells. Communication between a charging source and the charging portion is provided. A wireless communication arrangement provides for authentication of devices that are allowed by a source to be charged.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting inductive energy to a battery pack, the battery pack including a microprocessor for processing data relevant to the inductive energy, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing computer readable instructions relevant to charging a battery pack;

a processor unit operatively coupled to the memory; and

a transmission element operatively coupled to the processor so as to provide the inductive energy to the battery pack.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the memory includes authentication data for authenticating the battery pack for the inductive energy transmission.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a communications device for receiving and transmitting data and the communications device being operatively coupled to the transmission element.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an antenna and a communications device configured to receive the computer readable instructions and configured to transmit the instructions to the antenna for wireless data communications to a battery pack.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the processor unit is configured to receive a plurality of charging parameters from the battery pack.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the processor unit is configured to receive a digital security certificate from a battery pack.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transmission elements each configured to operate independently of each other.

8. A battery pack configured for receiving inductive energy for charging, comprising:

a processor unit for processing computer readable data relevant to receiving the inductive energy and for processing data communications with a computer system;

a pick up coil configured for receiving the inductive energy;

a charger operatively coupled to the processor unit and the pick up coil;

the charger configured to output a direct current responsive to the inductive energy; and

an energy storage unit configured for receiving the direct current.

9. The battery pack in accordance with claim 8, in which the processor unit is configured to provide authentication data for inductive energy charging.

10. The battery pack in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a communications device operatively coupled to the pickup coil.

11. The battery pack in accordance with claim 10, in which the communications device is configured to receive the computer readable data and transmit the data to the pick up coil.

12. The battery pack in accordance with claim 8, in which the processor unit is configured to provide a plurality of charging parameters to a charging source which provides the inductive energy.

13. The battery pack in accordance with claim 8, in which the processor unit is configured to provide a digital security certificate to a charging source.

14. The battery pack in accordance with claim 8, in which the processor unit is configured to send data to the computer system so as to indicate it is receiving inductive energy.

15. The battery pack in accordance with claim 9, further comprising an antenna and a communications device configured to receive the computer readable data and configured to transmit the data to the antenna for wireless data communications to a charging source.

16. A computer implemented method of charging battery pack, comprising the step of:

receiving a polling message from a charging source;

transmitting a request for power to the charging source; and

receiving inductive power from the charging source.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, in which the step of transmitting includes a step of transmitting charging parameters to the charging source.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16, in which the step of transmitting includes a step of transmitting authenticating data to the charging source.

19. The method in accordance with claim 16, further including a step of initiating a charger responsive to the step of receiving.

20. The method in accordance with claim 16, further including a step of transmitting data to a computer system for indicating the step of receiving inductive power.

21. The method in accordance with claim 16, further including a step of displaying an object on a graphical user interface indicative of the step of receiving.

22. A computer readable medium having computer readable instruction thereon, comprising the step of:

receiving a polling message from a charging source;

transmitting a request for power to the charging source; and

receiving inductive power from the charging source.

23. The computer readable medium in accordance with claim 22, in which the step of transmitting includes a step of transmitting charging parameters to the charging source.

24. The computer readable medium in accordance with claim 22, in which the step of transmitting includes a step of transmitting authenticating data to the charging source.

25. The computer readable medium in accordance with claim 22, in which the step of transmitting includes a step of transmitting authenticating data to the charging source.

26. A portable computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store computer executable instructions, wherein said instructions cause the computer system to perform the following steps;

receiving an event relevant to inductively charging a battery pack; and

responsive to said receiving, adjusting a portion of a display to indicate said event.

27. The portable computer system in accordance with claim 26, in which the step of adjusting include a step of display an graphical object on the display.