Method and apparatus for indication of a charging condition
First Claim
1. An apparatus for indication of a charging condition, comprising:
- an indication circuit having at least one electromagnet; and
a charge control circuit for controlling charging current to a portable device;
wherein the indication circuit causes the apparatus to electromagnetically engage the portable device and the charge control circuit provides charging current to the portable device during the engagement and wherein the indication circuit causes the apparatus to electromagnetically decouple the portable device when the portable device is charged to a predetermined level to permit a user to remove the portable device from the apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns an apparatus (100) for indication of a charging condition. The apparatus includes an indication circuit (126) having at least one electromagnet (120) and a charge control circuit (128) for controlling charging current to a portable device (110). The indication circuit causes the apparatus to electromagnetically engage the portable device and the charge control circuit provides charging current to the portable device during the engagement. The indication circuit also causes the apparatus to electromagnetically decouple the portable device when the portable device is charged to a predetermined level to permit a user to remove the portable device from the apparatus.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for indication of a charging condition, comprising:
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an indication circuit having at least one electromagnet; and
a charge control circuit for controlling charging current to a portable device;
wherein the indication circuit causes the apparatus to electromagnetically engage the portable device and the charge control circuit provides charging current to the portable device during the engagement and wherein the indication circuit causes the apparatus to electromagnetically decouple the portable device when the portable device is charged to a predetermined level to permit a user to remove the portable device from the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for indication of a charging condition, comprising:
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an indication circuit having at least one electromagnet; and
a charge control circuit for controlling charging current to a portable device;
wherein the indication circuit causes the apparatus to electromagnetically engage the portable device in a first position and the charge control circuit provides charging current to the portable device during the first position engagement and wherein the indication circuit causes the apparatus to electromagnetically engage the portable device in a second position when the portable device is charged to a predetermined level such that a user is permitted to remove the portable device from the apparatus.
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14. A portable device, comprising:
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at least one contact for electrically coupling to at least one corresponding contact on a charging unit; and
a magnetically susceptible component;
wherein the charging unit electromagnetically engages the magnetically susceptible component and provides a charging current to the portable device through the contacts of the portable device and the corresponding contacts of the charging unit during the engagement;
wherein the charging unit electromagnetically decouples the portable device when the portable device is charged to a predetermined level to permit a user to remove the portable device from the charging unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for indication of a charging condition, comprising the steps of:
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electromagnetically engaging a portable device to a charging unit such that the portable device is magnetically urged towards and secured to at least a portion of the charging unit;
supplying charging current to the portable device; and
when the portable device is charged to a predetermined level, electromagnetically decoupling the portable device from the charging unit to permit a user to remove the portable device from the charging unit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for indication of a charging condition, comprising the steps of:
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electromagnetically engaging a portable device to a charging unit in a first position such that the portable device is magnetically urged towards and secured to at least a first portion of the charging unit;
supplying charging current to the portable device; and
when the portable device is charged to a predetermined level, electromagnetically engaging the portable device to the charging unit in a second position such that the portable device is magnetically urged towards and secured to a second portion of the charging unit, wherein when the portable device is in the second position, a user is permitted to remove the portable device from the charging unit.
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Specification