Multi-Use Fast Rate Charging Stand

• US 20100295503A1
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rotondo, John, Bourilkov, Jordan T., Klein, David N., Pinnell, Leslie J., Cintra, George M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,762,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• 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 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus includes a charger and a plurality of connectors such that a connector includes a switch and a connection between the charger and the connector. The charger is configured to direct a switch associated with one of the plurality of connectors to connect the connector with which it is associated to the charger. The charger is also configured to charge a device connected to the connector according to a type of battery detected in the device. A plurality of devices is charged using a prioritized charging scheme.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of connectors, wherein each connector is configured to receive a device including a battery; and

a charger coupled to the plurality of connectors to charge the battery of each device connected to the plurality of connectors according to a type of battery detected in each of the devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of switches, wherein the plurality of switches are associated with the plurality of connectors to electrically couple the plurality of connectors to the charger.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the charger comprises:

a variable current source; and

a battery type identifier connected to the plurality of connectors.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the charger further comprises circuitry to direct the plurality of switches associated with the plurality of connectors to connect the connectors to the charger to permit charging current to flow from the variable current source to devices connected to the plurality of connectors based upon a battery type identified by the battery type identifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein if a plurality of devices are connected to the plurality of connectors, then the charger charges plurality of devices simultaneously.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein if a plurality of devices are connected to a the plurality of connectors, then the charger charges the plurality of devices using a prioritized charging scheme.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the prioritized charging scheme give priority to devices in a first subgroup of devices over multiple other subgroups of devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the charger charges devices within the first subgroup of devices using a prioritized charging scheme.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the charger charges devices within the first subgroup simultaneously.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a user interface for receiving instructions from a user defining the prioritized charging scheme.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the charger receives results of an identification of batteries associated with the plurality of devices and determines the prioritized charging scheme using the results.

12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the charger charges devices serially according to an order in which devices are connected to the plurality of connectors.

13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the charger charges devices according to an ordering of the connectors.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if a first device is connected to a first connector within the plurality of connectors at a first time and a second device is connected to a second connector within the plurality of connectors at a second time later than the first time, then the charger diverts current from the first device to the second device according to relative capacities of batteries associated with the devices.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of switches associated with a plurality of connectors to electrically couple the plurality of connectors to a charger; and

a user interface configured to receive an indication of a prioritized charging scheme from a user;

wherein the charger charges devices that are connected to the connectors according to a type of battery detected in each of the devices and according to the prioritized charging scheme.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the charger comprises:

a variable current source; and

a battery type identifier connected to the plurality of connectors.

17. A system, comprising:

a charger, comprising a processor;

a plurality of switches associated with a plurality of connectors to electrically couple the plurality of connectors to the charger; and

wherein the charger charges devices connected to the plurality of connectors using a prioritized charging scheme according to the processor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the prioritized charging scheme indicates that a first subgroup of devices has a priority over multiple other subgroups of the devices.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the charger charges at least one of a plurality of devices within the first subgroup of devices using a prioritized charging scheme.