PORTABLE POWER SUPPLY DEVICE WITH OUTLET CONNECTOR

• US 20120005495A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Yoshimichi, Chatterjee, Manjirnath
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

One or more embodiments include an outlet interface that is configured to mate with an electrical outlet. The outlet interface is provided as an integral structure of the housing.

Claims

1. A docking station for a mobile computing device comprising:

a housing including a receiving surface to receive the mobile computing device, the housing including an outlet plug that is provided as an integral structure of the housing, the outlet plug being matable with an electrical outlet to receive a power signal; and

a power signal interface that is configured to use the received power signal to generate a power signal for the mobile computing device.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power signal interface inductively signals the power signal.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power signal interface conductively signals the power signal.

4. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the outlet plug is provided as a structure that is pivotably connected to the housing.

5. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the outlet plug is provided as a slider structure that extends out of and into the housing.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the outlug plug (i) is positionable in a retracted position, in which the outlet plug retained within the housing, and (ii) positionable in an extended position, in which the outlet plug is extended from the housing.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power signal interface is structured to detect that the mobile computing device is properly received by the receiving surface.

8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power signal interface includes a receiving surface that is substantially horizontal when the outlet plug is mated with an outlet.

9. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the outlet plug comprises prongs that extend from the housing to mate with the wall outlet.

10. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the power signal interface is structured to inductively signal both power and data to the mobile computing device.

11. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the outlet plug is structured for a vehicle electrical outlet.

20. The power supply device of claim 10, wherein the power supply device may be used with a car cradle to receive a power signal from a vehicle.

12. A power supply device comprising:

a first housing comprising (i) an outlet interface that is configured to mate with a wall outlet and receive a power signal from the wall outlet, and (ii) power resources to receive the power signal from the outlet interface and convert the power signal; and

a second housing that is configured to mate with the first housing via an external port, the second housing comprising;

a receiving surface to receive a mobile computing device; and

an power signal interface that is configured to (i) receive the converted power signal via the external port, and (ii) inductively transmit power to the mobile computing device;

wherein the second housing is detachable from the first housing.

13. The power supply device of claim 12, wherein the second housing further comprises management resources to control the inductive power transmission of power to the mobile computing device.

14. The power supply device of claim 12, wherein the second housing further comprising one or more sensors for detecting whether the mobile computing device is properly received by the receiving surface.

15. The power supply device of claim 12, wherein the receiving surface is at least substantially horizontal.

16. The power supply device of claim 12, wherein the outlet interface comprises prongs that extend from the first housing to mate with the wall outlet.

17. The power supply device of claim 16, wherein the prongs are pivotably connected to the first housing so that the prongs rotate outward from within the first housing in order to mate with the wall outlet.

18. The power supply device of claim 16, wherein the prongs are slidable and extend from the first housing in order to mate with the wall outlet.

19. The power supply device of claim 12, wherein the second housing further comprises at least one data and power port.

21. The power supply device of claim 12, wherein the external port is a universal serial bus (USB) or micro-USB port.

22. The power supply device of claim 12, wherein the second housing includes one or more magnets positioned underneath or within the receiving surface to enable the mobile computing device to be positioned for receiving power.