Devices and Methods for Power Transmission Level Indication

• US 20100144393A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Zhi, Savoor, Raghvendra, Li, Jian
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• 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: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to a wireless communications device comprising a wireless power transmission detector and a wireless power transmission indicator for displaying to a user the current level of wireless power transmission. A voltmeter and ammeter take readings from the wireless transceiver circuit while the wireless communications device is on. A power logic stored on a memory within the wireless communications device converts the readings into a wireless power transmission level. The wireless power transmission level is output to an indicator on the wireless communications device where a user can view it. Exemplary embodiments include a true battery life indicator on the wireless communications device. The true battery life indicator gives an amount of time a battery powering the wireless communications device will last at the current wireless power transmission level.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

a housing;

a wireless transceiver coupled with the housing;

a wireless power transmission detector within the housing and in communication with the wireless transceiver;

a wireless power transmission indicator coupled with the housing and in communication with the wireless power transmission detector; and

a memory unit within the housing and in communication with the wireless power transmission detector.

wherein the wireless power transmission detector detects a wireless power transmission level of the wireless transceiver which is displayed on the wireless power transmission indicator.

2. The device in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is one of a cellular RF transceiver, BLUETOOTH transceiver, or WiFi transceiver.

3. The device in claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission detector comprises a voltmeter, an ammeter, and a power logic on the memory unit that calculates the wireless power transmission level.

4. The device in claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission level is read from a cellular tower command received by the wireless communications device.

5. The device in claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission indicator is an analog meter.

6. The device in claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission indicator is a multicolored LED.

7. The device in claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission indicator is a portion of an LCD.

8. The device in claim 1, further comprising a speaker which emits an audible alert once a user-specified maximum wireless power transmission level is reached.

9. The device in claim 1, further comprising a true-life battery indicator which displays an amount of time a battery will last at the current wireless power transmission level.

10. The device in claim 9, further comprising a speaker which emits an audible alert once a user-specified minimum battery life is reached.

11. A wireless communications device comprising:

a housing;

a wireless transceiver coupled with the housing;

a voltmeter within the housing and in communication with the wireless transceiver;

an ammeter within the housing and in communication with the wireless transceiver;

a visual display coupled with the housing and in communication with the voltmeter and the ammeter;

a memory unit within the housing and in communication with the voltmeter and ammeter; and

a power logic on the memory unit.

wherein the power logic calculates a wireless power transmission level of the wireless transceiver which is displayed on the visual display.

12. The device in claim 11, wherein the wireless transceiver is one of a cellular RF transceiver, BLUETOOTH transceiver, or WiFi transceiver.

13. The device in claim 11, wherein the visual display is an analog meter.

14. The device in claim 11, wherein the visual display is a multicolored LED.

15. The device in claim 11, wherein the visual display is a portion of an LCD.

16. The device in claim 11, further comprising a speaker which emits an audible alert once a user-specified maximum wireless power transmission level is reached.

17. The device in claim 11, further comprising a true battery life visual display which shows an amount of time a battery will last at the current wireless power transmission level.

18. The device in claim 17, further comprising a speaker which emits an audible alert once a user-specified minimum battery life is reached.

19. A method of displaying a wireless power transmission level on a wireless communications device having a wireless power transmission detector comprising:

detecting a wireless power transmission level; and

displaying the wireless power transmission level.

20. The method in claim 19, wherein the detecting comprises reading the wireless transmission level from a cellular tower command sent to the wireless communications device.

21. The method in claim 19, further comprising audibly alerting the user of a user-specified maximum wireless power transmission level.

22. The method in claim 19, further comprising calculating an amount of time a battery will last at a current wireless power transmission level.

23. The method in claim 22, further comprising displaying the amount of time a battery will last at a current wireless power transmission level.

24. The method in claim 22, further comprising audibly alerting the user of a user-specified minimum battery life.