CHARGING DEVICE AND CONNECTION ELEMENT

• US 20110012555A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nomenta Industries (HK) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nomenta Industries (HK) Ltd.
• Inventors: Jensen, Michael Schjerbeck
• Application Number:
  US12/838,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A charging device is described that includes a charging device base having a plurality of first connection element interfaces and a plurality of connection elements, each connection element a second connection element interface and being removably coupled with the charging device base by a coupling of its second connection element interface with a first connection element interface. At least one connection element of the plurality of connection elements includes a speaker for outputting an audio signal supplied to the connection element or includes a battery compartment for charging a battery.

Claims

1. A charging device, comprising:

a charging device base comprising a plurality of first connection element interfaces; and

a plurality of connection elements, each connection element comprising a second connection element interface and being removably coupled with the charging device base by a coupling of its second connection element interface with a first connection element interface;

wherein at least one connection element of the plurality of connection elements comprises a speaker;

wherein the second connection element interface of the at least one connection element is configured such that the connection element, if the second connection element interface is coupled with a first connection element interface, receives power from the charging device base for operating the speaker; and

wherein the at least one connection element comprises an audio interface for receiving an audio signal and is configured to output sounds corresponding to the audio signal using the speaker.

2. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein at least one other connection element of the plurality of connection elements comprises a charging interface for connecting an electronic device to the connection element such that the electronic device may be charged by the charging device via the charging connection element.

3. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein the charging device base comprises a base output audio interface configured to output the audio signal to the audio interface of the connection element.

4. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein the first connection interfaces are sockets and the second connection interface is a corresponding plug.

5. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein the first connection interfaces are plugs and the second connection interface is a corresponding socket.

6. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein the charging device base comprises a center portion and the plurality of first connection element interfaces are arranged such that the plurality of connection elements are arranged around the center portion.

7. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein the audio interface is a wireless audio interface configured to receive the audio signal wirelessly.

8. The charging device according to 7,

wherein the audio interface is a radio interface configured to receive the audio signal via a radio signal.

9. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one connection element comprises an audio amplifier for amplifying the audio signal.

10. The charging device according to claim 1,

wherein the audio interface is configured to receive a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel audio signal and a second channel audio signal, the connection element comprises an output audio interface and the audio interface of the connection element is configured to output the first channel audio signal to the output audio interface and the connection element is configured to output sounds corresponding to the second channel audio signal using the speaker.

11. A connection element for the charging device of claim 1, the connection element comprising:

a speaker;

a second connection element interface configured such that the connection element, if the second connection element interface is coupled with a first connection element interface of the charging device base, receives power from the charging device base for operating the speaker; and

an audio interface for receiving an audio signal wherein the connection element is configured to output sounds corresponding to the audio signal using the speaker.

12. The connection element according to claim 11,

wherein the audio interface is a wireless audio interface configured to receive the audio signal wirelessly.

13. The connection element device according to 12,

wherein the audio interface is a radio interface configured to receive the audio signal via a radio signal.

14. The connection element according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one connection element comprises an audio amplifier for amplifying the audio signal.

15. The connection element according to claim 11,

wherein the audio interface is configured to receive a stereo audio signal comprising a first channel audio signal and a second channel audio signal, the connection element comprises an output audio interface and the audio interface of the connection element is configured to output the first channel audio signal to the output audio interface and the connection element is configured to output sounds corresponding to the second channel audio signal using the speaker.

16. A charging device, comprising:

a charging device base comprising a plurality of first connection element interfaces; and

a plurality of connection elements, each connection element comprising a second connection element interface and being removably coupled with the charging device base by a coupling of its second connection element interface with a first connection element interface;

wherein at least one connection element of the plurality of connection elements comprises

a battery compartment;

a battery charging circuit configured to, if a battery is inserted into the battery compartment, receive power and generate, depending on a charging characteristic of the battery, charging power for charging the battery from the received power, wherein the second connection element interface of the at least one connection element is configured such that the battery charging circuit, if the second connection element interface is coupled with a first connection element interface, receives the power from the charging device base via the second connection element interface.

17. The charging device according to claim 16,

wherein at least one other connection element of the plurality of connection elements comprises a charging interface for connecting an electronic device to the connection element such that the electronic device may be charged by the charging device via the charging connection element.

18. The charging device according to claim 16,

wherein the first connection interfaces are sockets and the second connection interface is a corresponding plug.

19. The charging device according to claim 16,

wherein the first connection interfaces are plugs and the second connection interface is a corresponding socket.

20. The charging device according to claim 16,

wherein the charging device base comprises a center portion and the plurality of first connection element interfaces are arranged such that the plurality of connection elements are arranged around the center portion.