Charging arrangement for electronic accessories

• US 20080119241A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Novotney, Donald Joseph, Dorogusker, Jesse, Hankey, Evans, Sanford, Emery, Kalayjian, Nicholas Robert, Tang, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/573
• 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: H04M 1/0258 for a headset device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

An arrangement for charging an electronic accessory (such as a wireless headset) using a docking station that obtains power from at least one of a power port and a data port of an attached electronic device (such as the pairing cellular phone). The docking station provides mechanical support and a convenient storage arrangement for the electronic accessory, as well as power conditioning. In another embodiment, the charging and storage functions for the electronic accessory are provided by a cigarette lighter plug employed to charge the electronic device.

Claims

1. A charging arrangement for an electronic accessory to a portable electronic device, comprising:

a docking station configured to be coupled with at least one of a power port and a data port of said portable electronic device, said docking station including

a first docking station port having a first set of docking station pins for electrically coupling with pins of said at least one of said power port and said data port of said portable electronic device.

an accessory charging port having recess portion adapted to provide mechanical support to said electronic accessory when said electronic accessory is coupled to said docking station to be charged, and

a second set of docking station pins configured to electrically couple with pins disposed on said electronic accessory wherein said electronic accessory is charged by power provided by said portable electronic device through said first set of docking station pins.

2. The charging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first docking station port is disposed on a first side of said docking station said first side being adapted to conform with a shape of a first side of said portable electronic device, said at least one of said power port and said data port of said portable electronic device being disposed at said first side of said portable electronic device.

3. The charging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said electronic accessory is a headset comprising at least a first transducer configured to convert a first electrical signal into a first audible sound.

4. The charging arrangement of claim 3 wherein said electronic accessory further includes a second transducer configured to convert a second audible sound into a second electrical signal.

5. The charging arrangement of claim 4 wherein said portable electronic device represents a cellular phone.

7. The charging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first set of docking station pins are coupled to said pins of said data port.

8. The charging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said docking station further includes electronic circuitry configured to cause said portable electronic device to enter a state whereby power from a battery in said portable electronic device is present on at least one pin of said pins of said at least one of said power port and said data port.

9. The charging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said docking station includes a regulation circuit configured to at least adapt a first voltage level received at a pin of said first set of docking station pins to a second voltage level suitable for charging said electronic accessory.

10. The charging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said regulation circuit is configured to provide a trickle charge to said electronic accessory after said electronic accessory is fully charged, said trickle charge being associated with a trickle current that is lower than a charging current employed to charge said electronic accessory when said electronic accessory is completely discharged.

6. The charging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first set of locking station pins are coupled to said pins of said power port.

6-1. (canceled)

11. A charging arrangement for an electronic accessory to a portable electronic device, comprising:

a plug body having a first end configured to be plugged into a cigarette lighter power port;

a first set of conductors configured to provide power to said portable electronic device for charging said portable electronic device;

an accessory charging port disposed at least partially within said plug body, said accessory charging port being configured to mechanically receive said electronic accessory when said electronic accessory is plugged into said accessory charging, port for charging; and

a first set of charging pins disposed at least partially within accessory charging port for providing power to said electronic accessory when said electronic accessory is plugged into said accessory charging port for charging.

12. The charging arrangement of claim 11 wherein said electronic accessory is a headset comprising at least a first transducer configured to convert a first electrical signal into a first audible sound.

13. The charging arrangement of claim 12 wherein said electronic accessory further includes a second transducer configured convert a second audible sound into a second electrical signal.

14. The charging arrangement of claim 13 wherein said portable electronic device represents a cellular phone.

15. The charging arrangement of claim 11 wherein said plug body includes a regulation circuit configured to at least adapt a first voltage level present on said cigarette lighter power port to a second voltage level suitable for charging said electronic accessory.

16. The charging arrangement of claim 11 wherein said regulation circuit is configured provide a trickle charge to said electronic accessory after said electronic accessory is fully charged, said trickle charge being associated with a trickle current that is lower than a charging current employed to charge said electronic accessory when said electronic accessory is completely discharged.

17. The charging arrangement of claim 11 wherein said plug body includes a first regulation circuit configured to at least adapt a first voltage level present on said cigarette lighter power port to a second voltage level suitable for charging said electronic accessory, said plug body further includes a second regulation circuit configured to at least adapt said first voltage level present on said cigarette lighter power port to a third voltage level suitable for charging said portable electronic device, wherein said second voltage level is different from said third voltage level and both said second voltage level and said third voltage level being different from a ground voltage level.

18. A cellular phone system, comprising:

a cellular phone having a first speaker, a first microphone, and cellular phone battery,

a detachable headset comprising at least a second speaker a second microphone, and

a headset battery; and

a detachable docking station configured to be coupled with at least one of a power port and a data port of said cellular phone, said docking station including a first docking station port having first set of docking, station pins for electrically coupling with pins of said at least one of said power port and said data port of said cellular phone, said docking station also including an accessory charging port having recess portion adapted to provide mechanical support to said headset when said headset is coupled to said docking station to be charged, and said docking station further includes a second set of docking station pins configured to electrically couple with pins disposed on said headset, wherein said headset is charged by power provided by said cellular phone through said first set of docking station pins, wherein said docking station is configured to be detachably coupled with said cellular phone and wherein said detachable headset is configured to be detachably coupled with said docking station.

19. The charging arrangement of claim 18 wherein said first docking station port is disposed on a first side of said docking station, said first side being adapted to conform with a shape of a first side of said cellular phone, said at least one of said power port and said data port of said cellular phone being disposed at said first side of said cellular phone.

20. The charging arrangement of claim 19 wherein said first set of docking station pins are coupled to said pins of said power port.

21. The charging arrangement of claim 20 wherein said docking station further includes electronic circuitry configured to cause said cellular phone to enter a state whereby power from a battery in said cellular phone is present on at least one pin of said pins of said power pod.

22. The charging arrangement of claim 18 wherein said first set of docking station pins are coupled to said pins of said data port.

23. The charging arrangement of claim 22 wherein said docking station further includes electronic circuitry configured to cause said cellular phone to enter a state whereby power from a battery in said cellular phone is present on at least one pin of said pins of said data port.

24. The charging arrangement of claim 18 wherein said docking station includes a regulation circuit configured to at least adapt a first voltage level received at a pin of said first set of docking station pins to a second voltage level suitable for charging said headset.

25. The charging arrangement of claim 18 wherein said regulation circuit is configured provide a trickle charge to said headset after said headset is fully charged, said trickle charge being associated with a trickle current that is lower than a charging current employed to charge said headset when said headset is completely discharged.

26. The charging arrangement of claim 18 wherein said docking station includes logic circuitry configured to stop charging of said headset to prevent a battery in said cellular phone from being discharged below a certain threshold.