CHARGING DEVICE

• US 20090001938A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: VANTU, Florin, LIEDHOLM, Ulf, AMBRUS, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/165
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence

Abstract

A method performed by a charging device may include detecting a presence of an external device connected to a secondary side of the charging device and setting a switch on a primary side of the charging device to an off state when a presence of an external device is not detected.

Claims

1. A method performed by a charging device, comprising:

detecting a presence of an external device connected to a secondary side of the charging device; and

setting a switch on a primary side of the charging device to an off state when a presence of an external device is not detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting a presence of an external device connected to a secondary side of the charging device further comprises:

detecting that an external device is not present when an amount of electrical current being drawn is less than a predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting a presence of an external device connected to a secondary side of the charging device further comprises:

detecting that an external device is not present when an output connection switch is in an off state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting a presence of an external device connected to a secondary side of the charging device further comprises:

detecting that an external device is not present using a proximity detector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the switch on a primary side of the charging device is set to an off state the charging device consumes no power.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting both a control voltage and polarity of the external device connected to the charging device; and

in response to the detected control voltage and polarity of the external device, controlling and powering switching logic to an on state.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting when both the charging device is reconnected to an AC voltage and when the external device was previously connected to the charging device; and

in response to the detecting, controlling and powering switching logic to an on state.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the external device using a switching logic in an on state; and

providing the switching logic to consume no power while in the on state.

6. A charging device, comprising:

an alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) converter, wherein the AC to DC converter includes a primary side that receives power from an AC power source and a secondary side that provides power to an external device;

a switch connected between the AC power source and the AC to DC converter; and

switching logic configured to;

determine at least on of whether an external device is presently connected to the charging device or an external device connected to the charging device is fully charged; and

send a control signal to the switch to set the primary switch to an off state when the switching logic determines that no external device is presently connected to the charging device or the external device is fully charged.

7. The charging device of claim 6, wherein the switching logic is further configured to:

determine that the external device is fully charged when less than a predetermined amount of current is being drawn by the charging device.

8. The charging device of claim 6, further comprising:

a switch configured to transmit a signal indicating that the external device is presently connected to the charging device.

9. The charging device of claim 6, further comprising:

a proximity sensor configured to transmit a signal indicating that the external device is presently connected to the charging device.

10. The charging device of claim 6, wherein the switching logic is further configured to:

determine that the external device is presently connected to the charging device based on monitoring at least one of voltage or current signals.

11. A charging device, comprising:

a connector to receive at least one of a cord or an external device;

an AC to DC converter, wherein the AC to DC converter includes a primary side that receives power from an AC power source and a secondary side that delivers power to the external device via the connector;

a switch connected between the AC power source and the AC to DC converter; and

an actuator extending from the connector to the switch, wherein the actuator mechanically sets the switch to an on state when at least one of a cord or an external device is plugged into or received into the connector.

12. The charging device of claim 11, wherein the actuator mechanically sets the switch to an off state when at least one of a cord or an external device is not plugged into or received into the connector.

13. The charging device of claim 12, further comprising:

a spring configured to provide a force against the actuator to mechanically set the switch to the off state.

14. The charging device of claim 12, wherein the AC to DC converter does not draw any power from the AC power source when the switch is in the off state.

15. A charging device, comprising:

means for detecting a presence of at least one of an external device or cord connected to a secondary side of the charging device; and

means for setting a switch on a primary side of the charging device to an off state when a presence of the at least one of an external device or cord is not detected.

16. The charging device of claim 15, wherein the means for detecting a presence of at least one of an external device or cord detects at least one of current or voltage.

17. The charging device of claim 15, wherein the means for detecting a presence of at least one of an external device or cord comprises a switch.

18. The charging device of claim 17, wherein the switch is activated by at least one of the external device, the cord or an actuator.

19. The charging device of claim 15, wherein the means for detecting a presence of at least one of an external device or cord comprises a proximity detector.

20. The charging device of claim 15, further comprising:

means for detecting whether the external device is fully charged by comparing at least one of a current or voltage signal to a threshold value.

24. A method performed by a charging device, comprising:

detecting a condition that sets a primary switch to an off state; and

resetting a switch to set the primary switch to an on state.