BATTERY CHARGING TO EXTEND BATTERY LIFE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCY

• US 20110018679A1
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Roy H., Forutanpour, Babak, Momeyer, Brian, Stern, Ronen R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,922,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03

Abstract

Exemplary charging device includes a processor and charging current for coupling to a battery. In an exemplary embodiment, the processor defines charging profiles for charging the battery at different charge rates. A profile can be selected based on a determinable time event and may be modified based on a charging history. Adjustable charging power is supplied to the battery at a power level, a charging duration, or a combination thereof based on the selected profile. A wireless power transmitter can also define charging profiles and charging histories for receivers that receive power from the transmitter based on an identifier from the receiver. The transmitter can select the charging profile based on a determinable time event and may be modified based on a charging history. The transmitter supplies power through the wireless power link at a power level, a charging duration, or a combination thereof based on the selected profile.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to;

define a plurality of charging profiles, at least one of the plurality of charging profiles configured to charge a battery at a different charge rate; and

select a charging profile of the plurality responsive to a determinable time event.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to supply to the battery a charging power at a power level responsive to the selected charging profile.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a receive antenna to couple with a coupling-mode region of near field radiation from a transmit antenna; and

power conversion circuitry operably coupled to the processor and the receive antenna and configured to convert the coupled near field radiation to the charging power, wherein the processor is further configured to control the power conversion circuitry to adjust the power level carried.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to at least one of:

monitor a charging start time and a charging duration and develop a device charging history;

adjust at least one of the charging start time, the charging duration, and a charging stop time for the selected charging profile responsive to the device charging history; and

determine a low activity time responsive to the determinable time event or a low activity indicator from the battery powered device and select a charging profile of the plurality responsive to the low activity time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a real-time clock operably coupled to the processor and configured to provide the determinable time event.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one charging profile of the plurality defines a current, a voltage, or a combination thereof for the charging power configured to extend a life of the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one charging profile of the plurality defines a current, a voltage, or a combination thereof for the charging power configured to charge the battery at a faster rate than a rate to extend a life of the battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises at least one of

a user interface operably coupled to the processor and wherein the processor is further configured to process input from a user on the user interface, and

a communication element operably coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to process input from a user via the communication element, the communication element further configured to perform one or more of the following operations during the low activity time:

back up information from the battery powered device to a remote device through the communication element;

upload content captured by the battery powered device to the remote device through the communication element;

download content from the remote device to the battery powered device through the communication element;

perform a memory cleanup operation on the battery powered device;

perform a memory defragmentation operation on the battery powered device; and

generate a report of activities of the battery powered device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a charging start time for at least one charging profile of the plurality is set by the user of the battery charger.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communication element couples to a network and a charging start time for at least one charging profile of the plurality is set by the user of the battery powered device using a Web page.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one motion sensor operably coupled to the processor and wherein the processor is further configured to receive motion information from the at least one motion sensor and to select a charging profile of the plurality responsive to a determination that the battery powered device has not moved after a predetermined time period.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least two tab receptacles configured to mechanically and electrically couple with a corresponding at least two attachable tabs configured to operably couple to an alternating current outlet.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmit antenna to generate a coupling-mode region of near field radiation to couple to a receive antenna on a receiver device;

a communication element to receive an identifier for the receiver device; and

wherein the processor is operably coupled to the communication element and the transmit antenna.

14. A method, comprising:

defining a plurality of charging profiles for a battery, each charging profile configured for charging the battery at a different charge rate;

selecting a charging profile of the plurality responsive to a determinable time event; and

supplying a charging power to the battery at a power level responsive to the selected charging profile.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one charging profile of the plurality defines a current, a voltage, or a combination thereof for the charging power configured for extending a life of the battery.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein supplying a charging power further comprises:

generating an electromagnetic field with a transmit antenna to create a coupling-mode region within a near field of the transmit antenna; and

controlling the power level of the near field radiation responsive to the selected charging profile.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one charging profile of the plurality defines the power level of the near field radiation for extending a life of the battery.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one charging profile of the plurality defines the power level of the near field radiation for charging the battery at a faster rate than a rate for extending a life of the battery.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one charging profile of the plurality defines a current, a voltage, or a combination thereof for the charging power configured for charging the battery at a faster rate than a rate for extending a life of the battery.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising monitoring a charging start time and a charging duration and developing a device charging history.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising adjusting at least one of the charging start time, the charging duration, and a charging stop time for the selected charging profile responsive to the device charging history.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising setting at least one of a charging start time, a charging duration, and a charging stop time for at least one charging profile of the plurality responsive to user input to a battery powered device operably coupled to the battery.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating between an external data network and a battery powered device operably coupled to the battery to receive user input.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

defining a charger sharing database accessible from a communication network, the charger sharing database including entries for a battery charger with at least a charger location and a charger type; and

on a battery powered device;

determining a current location of the battery powered device;

accessing the charger sharing database through the communication network to determine the charger location and the charger type of a compatible charger near the current location.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving motion information from at least one motion sensor; and

selecting a charging profile of the plurality responsive to a determination that the motion information indicates a lack of motion for a predetermined time period.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a low activity time responsive to the determinable time event or a low activity indicator from a battery powered device operably coupled to the battery; and

selecting a charging profile of the plurality responsive to the low activity time.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising, responsive to the low activity time, performing one or more of the operations:

backing up information from the battery powered device to a remote device through a communication element;

uploading content captured by the battery powered device to the remote device through the communication element;

downloading content from the remote device to the battery powered device through the communication element;

performing a memory cleanup operation on the battery powered device;

performing a memory defragmentation operation on the battery powered device; and

generating a report of activities of the battery powered device.

28. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

coupling a receive antenna with a coupling-mode region of near field radiation from a transmit antenna;

converting the coupled near field radiation to the charging current; and

adjusting the power level of the charging power responsive to the selected charging profile.

29. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

defining an authorized charger list on a battery powered device;

chargeably coupling the battery powered device to a battery charger;

enabling charging of a battery on the battery powered device if the battery charger coupled thereto is included in the authorized charger list; and

preventing charging of the battery on the battery powered device if the battery charger coupled thereto is not included in the authorized charger list.

30. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a battery exchange service for exchanging a battery for a battery powered devices;

using a battery charger equipped to estimate a battery life to;

determine a first estimate for the battery life of a provided battery; and

determine a second estimate for the battery life of a returned battery;

furnishing the provided battery in exchange for the returned battery it the first estimate is greater than or substantially near the second estimate.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

means for defining a plurality of charging profiles for a battery, each charging profile configured for charging the battery at a different charge rate;

means for selecting a charging profile of the plurality responsive to a determinable time event; and

means for supplying a charging current to the battery at a power level responsive to the selected charging profile.

32. A processor-readable medium including processor-executable instruction stored thereon for performing a method comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of charging profiles for a battery, each charging profile configured for charging the battery at a different charge rate;

selecting a charging profile of the plurality responsive to a determinable time event; and

supplying a charging current to the battery at a power level responsive to the selected charging profile.