Power supply system comprising rechargeable battery pack and attachment apparatus

• US 20060061332A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Seil, Oliver Duncan, Neu, Thorben, Sinclair, Ian, Wadsworth, John, Meyers, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,656,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A power supply system capable of providing electric power to an electronic device having a first battery includes a battery pack (100) and an attachment apparatus (300). The battery pack includes a body (110) having at least a first recess (221), a second battery inside the body, and at least one of a first circuit (500) capable of dynamically changing a charge current supplied to the second battery based on a power consumption level of the electronic device, and a second circuit (600) capable of dynamically switching the electronic device between a recharging state and a non-recharging state depending on a status of the battery pack. The attachment apparatus includes a frame (310), an extension (350) protruding from the frame, and attachment features (461) suitable for working with the recess to attach the battery pack and the attachment apparatus to each other and to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery pack capable of providing electric power to an electronic device having a first battery, the rechargeable battery pack comprising:

a body;

a second battery inside the body; and

at least one of;

(a) a first circuit inside the body, the first circuit capable of dynamically changing a charge current supplied from an external power source to the second battery based on a power consumption level of the electronic device,

(b) a second circuit inside the body wherein the second circuit is configured to;

power the electronic device with the second battery when the rechargeable battery pack is electrically decoupled from the external power source, and

to power the electronic device with the external power source when the rechargeable battery pack is electrically coupled to the external power source, and

(c) a charge level indicator wherein the charge level indicator comprises;

an actuator button,

a third circuit inside the body,

a first light source, and

a second light source,

wherein;

the actuator button, when actuated, turns on the third circuit for a predetermined period of time to measure a remaining charge level of the second battery,

when the third circuit measures the remaining charge level of the second battery to be greater than a first charge level, the third circuit turns on the first light source and not the second light source, and

when the third circuit measures the remaining charge level of the second battery to be less than a second charge level, the third circuit turns on the second light source and not the first light source.

2. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 comprising the first circuit.

3. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 2 wherein:

the first circuit comprises;

an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input, and an output;

an inverter having a first terminal electrically coupled to the output;

a power limiting switch having a first terminal electrically coupled to a second terminal of the inverter; and

a first resistor electrically coupled to a second terminal of the power limiting switch; and

wherein

the first circuit dynamically changes a magnitude of the charge current from a first magnitude to a second magnitude wherein the second magnitude is less than the first magnitude;

the power consumption level of the electronic device comprises a first level and a second level greater than the first level;

when the power consumption level is less than the first level, the first circuit transmits the first magnitude of the charge current to the second battery; and

when the power consumption level is greater than the second level, the first circuit transmits the second magnitude of the charge current to the second battery.

4. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 3 wherein:

the power limiting switch dynamically directs a current in the first circuit such that the current in the first circuit either travels through or bypasses the first resistor based on the power consumption level of the electronic device;

when the current bypasses the first resistor, a voltage at an end of the first resistor is at a first level; and

when the current travels through the first resistor, the voltage at the end of the first resistor is at a second level less than the first level.

5. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 4 wherein:

the first circuit further comprises;

a second resistor and a third resistor electrically coupled in parallel to the inverting input;

a fourth resistor and a fifth resistor electrically coupled in parallel to the non-inverting input; and

a sixth resistor electrically coupling together the second resistor and to the fourth resistor;

the inverter is a first transistor;

the power limiting switch is a second transistor; and

a magnitude of a voltage drop across the sixth resistor is used to determine whether the power limiting switch turns on or off.

6. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 5 wherein the first circuit further comprises:

a seventh resistor electrically coupled between the output and the first terminal of the inverter;

a capacitor electrically coupled to the seventh resistor and the first terminal of the inverter at one end and to ground at another end;

an eighth resistor electrically coupled between the first terminal of the power limiting switch and a third terminal of the power limiting switch; and

a ninth resistor electrically coupled to the eighth resistor and a second terminal of the power limiting switch at one end and to the first resistor at another end.

7. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 comprising the second circuit.

8. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 7 wherein the second circuit comprises:

a first transistor having a first terminal electrically coupled to an input of the first battery;

a second transistor having a first terminal electrically coupled to an output of the second battery;

a third transistor having a first terminal electrically coupled to the external power source; and

a first resistor electrically coupled to a second terminal of the third transistor.

9. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 8 wherein the second circuit further comprises:

a first diode electrically coupled to a second terminal of the second transistor;

a first capacitor and a second resistor electrically coupled to the first diode;

a second capacitor and a third resistor electrically coupled to a second terminal of the first transistor; and

a second diode electrically coupled to a third terminal of the first transistor.

10. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 comprising the third circuit.

11. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 10 wherein when the third circuit measures the remaining charge level of the second battery to be less than the first charge level and greater than the second charge level, the third circuit turns on the first light source and the second light source such that the first light source and the second light source emit light at the same time.

12. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 11 wherein the first light source and the second light source have a variable intensity.

13. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 10 wherein:

the actuator button comprises a light pipe; and

light emitted by the first light source and light emitted by the second light source are visible through the light pipe.

14. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is configured to play audio recordings.

15. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is an MP3 player.

16. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising an attachment apparatus configured to attach to the rechargeable battery pack and configured to attach to the electronic device.

17. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 16 further comprising a disconnectable electrical connection between the battery pack and the electronic device, wherein the attachment apparatus includes an extension, and the electrical connection is located inside the extension.

18. An attachment apparatus for attaching a first device to a portable electronic device, the attachment apparatus comprising:

a hollow frame comprising;

a first side;

a second side opposite and substantially parallel to the first side;

a third side extending between and substantially perpendicular to the first side and the second side;

a fourth side opposite and substantially parallel to the third side, the fourth side defining a first opening;

a fifth side extending between and substantially perpendicular to the first side and the second side, and further extending between and substantially perpendicular to the third side and the fourth side, the fifth side defining a second opening; and

a sixth side opposite and substantially parallel to the fifth side, the sixth side defining a third opening;

an extension protruding from the fourth side and at least partially surrounding the first opening;

a first rail adjacent to the third opening; and

a second rail adjacent to an opposite side of the third opening, wherein;

the portable electronic device fits within the hollow frame; and

the first device fits between the first and second rails.

19. The attachment apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a disconnectable electrical connection between the first device and the portable electronic device wherein said electrical connection fits inside the extension and the electrical connection is protected by the extension.

20. The attachment apparatus of claim 18 wherein the electronic device has a first battery and is configured to play audio recordings, and the first device is configured to power the portable electronic device and comprises a second battery.

21. The attachment apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

the first rail comprises at least a first attachment feature;

the second rail comprises at least a second attachment feature;

the first attachment feature comprises a first lip extending toward the second rail; and

the second attachment feature comprises a second lip extending toward the first rail.

22. The attachment apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

a third attachment feature adjacent to the third opening; and

a fourth attachment feature adjacent to the third opening, wherein;

the third attachment feature comprises a third lip extending into the third opening; and

the fourth attachment feature comprises a fourth lip extending into the third opening.

23. The attachment apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

the third side comprises a fourth opening; and

the fourth opening exposes a first portion of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is attached to the attachment apparatus.

24. The attachment apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

the extension surrounds the first opening on at least three sides.

25. The attachment apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

the extension comprises a perimeter; and

the perimeter has a gap therein.

26. The attachment apparatus of claim 18 wherein:

the first side comprises a first cutout and the second side comprises a second cutout; and

the first cutout and the second cutout expose a second portion of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is attached to the attachment apparatus.

27. A method of manufacturing a power supply system capable of providing electric power to an electronic device having a first battery, the method comprising in any order at least the steps of:

providing a body containing a second battery;

providing an attachment apparatus configured to at least partially surround and attach to the battery pack and the electronic device;

providing an electrical connector configured to electrically connect the battery pack and the electronic device;

providing at least one circuit located within the body and configured to

power the electronic device from the second battery when the battery pack is connected to the electronic device and no external power source is connected to the battery pack, and

power the electronic device and charge both the first battery and the second battery from an external power source when the battery pack is connected to the electronic device and the external power source is connected to the battery pack.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of providing at least one circuit includes providing a circuit configured to charge the second battery at one of at least two non-zero rates of charge based on a power consumption level of the electronic device.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of providing a charge level indicator on the body.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of providing an attachment apparatus further includes providing an extension projecting from the attachment apparatus and configured to at least partially surround and protect the electrical connector.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of marketing the power supply system for use with an MP3 player.

32. A first device capable of providing power to a second device configured to play recordings, the first device comprising:

a means for receiving energy from an external power source;

a means for storing energy;

a disconnectable means for conveying the energy from the means for storing energy to the second device;

a means for adding energy to the means for storing energy; and

a means for physically attaching to the first device and to the second device so that the first device and the second device are held in a particular orientation relative to each other.

33. The first device of claim 32 wherein the means for physically attaching includes a means for at least partially enclosing and protecting the means for conveying the energy.

34. The first device of claim 32 further comprising a means for regulating a rate at which energy is added to the means for storing energy based on a rate at which the second device is consuming energy.

35. The first device of claim 32 further comprising a means for disabling the means for adding energy when the external power source is not connected to the first device and a means for enabling the means for adding energy when the external power source is connected to the first device.

36. The first device of claim 32 further comprising a means for indicating the quantity of energy stored in the means for storing energy.

37. The first device of claim 36:

wherein the means for physically attaching includes a means for protecting the means for conveying the energy; and

further comprising a means for regulating a rate at which energy is added to the means for storing energy based on a rate at which the second device is consuming energy; and

further comprising a means for disabling the means for adding energy when the external power source is not connected to the first device and a means for enabling the means for adding energy when the external power source is connected to the first device.