INTELLIGENT UNIVERSAL RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FOR BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FOR MOBILE AND ACCESSORY DEVICES

• US 20090035609A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ludtke, Harold Aaron
• Application Number:
  US11/831,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20090035609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

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 rechargeable battery is adapted to couple with a wireless electronic device at a wide range of power parameters. The rechargeable battery includes a battery core configured to house battery chemicals that can be swapped when the battery core needs to be replaced. The battery includes a battery electrical component configured to monitor the battery core and configured to communicate with the electronic device using communications signals sent along an electrical path between the electronic device and the battery electrical component. The battery includes a battery end-cap configured to house at least a portion of the battery electrical component and a battery outer shell configured to fit over at least the battery core and configured to provide physical protection to at least the battery core.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery adapted to couple with an electronic device comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals wherein the battery core can be swapped with another battery core when the battery core needs to be replaced;

a battery electrical component configured to monitor the battery core and configured to communicate with the electronic device using communications signals sent along an electrical path between the electronic device and the battery electrical component;

a battery end-cap configured to house at least a portion of the battery electrical component; and

a battery outer shell configured to fit over at least the battery core and configured to provide physical protection to at least the battery core.

2. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 wherein the electronic device includes a power charging device.

3. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 wherein the electronic device includes a power consuming device.

4. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors for measuring a plurality of properties associated with the rechargeable battery.

5. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein the sensors are adapted to measure the temperature and pressure of the battery core.

6. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein the sensors are adapted to measure the current and voltage of the battery core.

7. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 further adapted to estimate the future power consumption requirements of the electronic device based on the past power consumption requirements of the electronic device and to estimate the time until the battery will be drained.

8. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 further adapted to derive a plurality of quality assessments of the battery core based on the measurements from the plurality of sensors.

9. The rechargeable battery of claim 8 wherein the battery electrical component is configured to prevent effective power transmission between the electronic device and the battery core if the plurality of quality assessments fails to meet a quality threshold.

10. The rechargeable battery of claim 9 wherein the quality assessments includes an assessment of voltage, current, temperature, and pressure response.

11. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further adapted to couple with electronic devices operating at various power parameter requirements, wherein the battery electrical component is further configured to negotiate with the electronic device for an agreed range of power parameters at which power will be transferred between the rechargeable battery and the electronic device and to configure the rechargeable battery to operate within the agreed range of power parameters.

12. The rechargeable battery of claim 11 further comprising an energy storage capacity outside of the battery core wherein the battery electrical component is further configured to draw power from the energy storage capacity.

13. The rechargeable battery of claim 12 wherein the energy storage capacity includes a capacitor.

14. The rechargeable battery of claim 11 further comprising a flat physical form factor including a width, height, and thickness.

15. The rechargeable battery of claim 11 wherein electrical coupling between the electronic device and the battery core is terminated if the battery electrical component fails to negotiate with the coupled electronic device for an agreed range of power parameters.

16. The rechargeable battery of claim 11 further adapted to re-negotiate with the coupled electronic device for another range of power parameters after a period of time.

17. The rechargeable battery of claim 11, the battery electrical component further configured to provide a high power connection and a low power connection between the electronic device and the battery core, wherein the low power connection allows a minimal threshold of power to be transmitted between the electronic device and the battery core, the minimal threshold of power being low enough that an inadvertent power short will not cause major damages or injuries.

18. The rechargeable battery of claim 17, wherein the low power connection is engaged immediately after the rechargeable battery is coupled to the electronic device.

19. The rechargeable battery of claim 17, wherein the high power connection is engaged only after the battery electrical component has successfully negotiated with the electronic device for an agreed range of power parameters.

20. The rechargeable battery of claim 17 wherein the high power connection is disengaged after the rechargeable battery and electronic device are uncoupled from each other.

21. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further adapted to transmit power over the electrical path between the electronic device and the battery electrical component.

22. The rechargeable battery of claim 21 wherein communications signals are modulated on top power signals over the electrical path.

23. The rechargeable battery of claim 21 wherein communications signals are transmitted over the electrical path during a first time window and wherein power signals are transmitted over the electrical path during a second time window.

24. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further adapted to coordinate with a second rechargeable battery, the second rechargeable battery coupled to the electronic device, to negotiate with the electronic device for a first agreed range of power parameters at which power will be transferred between the rechargeable battery and the electronic device and a second agreed range of power parameters at which power will be transferred between the second rechargeable battery and the electronic device.

25. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of metallic posts comprising dimensions adapted to electrically couple with a matching plurality of metallic posts on the electronic device only when the rechargeable battery is coupled to the electronic device in a correct configuration.

26. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further comprising an internal switch that is activated when the electronic device is located in close proximity, wherein the activation of the internal switch is required for effective power transmission between the electronic device and the battery core.

27. The rechargeable battery of claim 26 wherein the internal switch is adapted to be activated by a magnetic field of the predetermined characteristics.

28. The rechargeable battery of claim 27 wherein the predetermined characteristics includes a threshold flux density of a magnetic field and a specified flux orientation of a magnetic field.

29. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further adapted to store a charging history.

30. The rechargeable battery of claim 29 further adapted to reset the charging history when the battery core is replaced.

31. The rechargeable battery of claim 29 further adapted to determine whether the rechargeable battery should undergo a normal charge or reconditioning charge based on the charging history.

32. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 further adapted to transfer power between the rechargeable battery and the electronic device through inductive means.