Battery charging system and mobile and accessory devices

• US 20090033277A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ludtke, Harold Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,671,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• 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 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 : with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 : Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.

Claims

1. A battery charging and monitoring system comprising:

a host machine including a plurality of charging slots; and

a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a first plurality of batteries;

wherein the host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the first plurality of batteries.

2. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 1 adapted to estimate a time until a battery in the first plurality of batteries will need to be recharged.

3. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 2 further adapted to assess the power usage of a device in the plurality of wireless devices based on a record of power usages of the plurality of wireless devices.

4. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 1 adapted to minimize downtime associated with recharging the first plurality of batteries, the plurality of charging slots configured to:

couple with a second plurality of batteries;

charge the second plurality of batteries; and

hold in standby a third plurality of batteries comprising the second plurality of batteries that have been fully charged.

5. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 4 wherein each of the first plurality of batteries and each of the second plurality of batteries specifies a battery type.

6. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 5 wherein each battery type specifies a range of power parameters.

7. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 5 wherein each battery type specifies a physical form factor.

8. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 5 further adapted to:

determine the battery type of a first battery in the first plurality of batteries;

find in the third plurality of batteries a second battery of a battery type compatible with the battery type of the first battery; and

communicate the location of the first battery and the location of the second battery to allow a user to swap the first battery with the second battery.

9. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 4 further adapted to assess the quality of each of the first plurality of batteries and upon finding a battery of unfit quality, find in the third plurality of batteries a battery of a compatible type, and communicate the location of the battery of unfit quality and the location of the battery of a compatible type to allow a user to replace the battery of unfit quality.

10. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 4 further adapted to assess the quality of each of the first plurality of batteries and each of the second plurality of batteries and upon finding a battery of unfit quality, communicate the location of battery of unfit quality.

11. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 10 further adapted to direct a user to an ecommerce site that sells rechargeable batteries of a compatible type with the battery of unfit quality.

12. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 11 further adapted to promote recycling of batteries, wherein recycling credits are allocated for the return of the battery of unfit quality for recycling.

13. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 12 wherein the recycling credits can be exchanged for goods and services in a network of stores.

14. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 12 wherein the recycling credits can be donated to charitable organizations.

15. The battery charging and monitoring system of claim 12 wherein the recycling credits can be transferred between users.

16. An electronic device adapted to:

couple with a first rechargeable battery;

negotiate with the first rechargeable battery for a first agreed range of power parameters; and

configure the electronic device to couple to the rechargeable battery at the first agreed range of power parameters.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 further adapted to:

couple with at least a second rechargeable battery;

negotiate with the at least second rechargeable battery for at least a second agreed range of power parameters; and

configure the electronic device to couple to the at least second rechargeable battery at the at least second agreed range of power parameters.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 wherein the first agreed range of power parameters and the second agreed range of power parameters are the same.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 further adapted to supply power to the first rechargeable battery at the first agreed range of power parameters.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 further adapted to accept power from the first rechargeable battery at the first agreed range of power parameters.

21. The electronic device of claim 16 comprising a power storage configured to store power that can be used to temporarily power the electronic device in the event power from the first rechargeable battery is interrupted.

22. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the power storage includes a capacitor.