DEVICES AND SYSTEMS SUPPORTING CONTACTLESS CHARGING OF BLUETOOTH HEADSETS AND OTHER WIRELESS HEADSETS

• US 20120181855A1
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunt, Steven E., Jacob, Mathew
• Granted Patent: US 9,819,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus includes an adapter having a charging unit defining a space configured to receive a wireless headset. The charging unit includes transmit circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless headset when the wireless headset is inserted into the space of the charging unit. At least a portion of the adapter is configured to be inserted into an auxiliary or accessory power socket of a vehicle. The power socket could represent a cigarette lighter holster.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an adapter comprising a charging unit defining a space configured to receive a wireless headset, the charging unit comprising transmit circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless headset when the wireless headset is inserted into the space of the charging unit;

wherein at least a portion of the adapter is configured to be inserted into an auxiliary or accessory power socket of a vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging unit further comprises an internal power supply configured to store power and to provide the stored power to the transmit circuitry.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the charging unit further comprises a switch configured to:

selectively couple an electrical contact associated with a vehicle power supply to one of;

the transmit circuitry and the internal power supply; and

selectively couple the internal power supply and the transmit circuitry.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the charging unit further comprises a port configured to be coupled to an external device in order to at least one of:

receive power from the external device to charge the internal power supply;

provide power from the external device to the transmit circuitry; and

provide power from the internal power supply to the external device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging unit further comprises a DC-DC converter configured to receive a direct current (DC) voltage from a vehicle power supply and convert the DC voltage into a different DC voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

only the portion of the adapter is configured to be inserted into the power socket; and

the space is defined by another portion of the charging unit that remains outside of the power socket when the portion of the adapter is inserted into the power socket.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the other portion of the charging unit that remains outside of the power socket includes the transmit circuitry.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power socket comprises a cigarette lighter holster.

9. A system comprising:

a wireless headset; and

an adapter comprising a charging unit defining a space configured to receive the wireless headset, the charging unit comprising transmit circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless headset when the wireless headset is inserted into the space of the charging unit;

wherein at least a portion of the adapter is configured to be inserted into an auxiliary or accessory power socket of a vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the charging unit further comprises an internal power supply configured to store power and to provide the stored power to the transmit circuitry.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging unit further comprises a switch configured to:

selectively couple an electrical contact associated with a vehicle power supply to one of;

the transmit circuitry and the internal power supply; and

selectively couple the internal power supply and the transmit circuitry.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging unit further comprises a port configured to be coupled to an external device in order to at least one of:

receive power from the external device to charge the internal power supply;

provide power from the external device to the transmit circuitry; and

provide power from the internal power supply to the external device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the charging unit further comprises a DC-DC converter configured to receive a direct current (DC) voltage from a vehicle power supply and to convert the DC voltage into a different DC voltage.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein:

only the portion of the adapter is configured to be inserted into the power socket; and

the space is defined by another portion of the charging unit that remains outside of the power socket when the portion of the adapter is inserted into the power socket.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the other portion of the charging unit that remains outside of the power socket includes the transmit circuitry.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the power socket comprises a cigarette lighter holster.

17. A method comprising:

inserting a wireless headset into a space defined by a charging unit of an adapter; and

wirelessly transmitting power to the wireless headset using transmit circuitry of the charging unit;

wherein at least a portion of the adapter is inserted into an auxiliary or accessory power socket of a vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

storing power from a vehicle power supply in an internal power supply of the charging unit; and

providing the stored power to the transmit circuitry.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

coupling an external device to a port of the charging unit; and

at least one of;

receiving power from the external device to charge the internal power supply via the port;

providing power from the external device to the transmit circuitry via the port; and

providing power from the internal power supply to the external device via the port.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a direct current (DC) voltage from a vehicle power supply;

converting the DC voltage into a different DC voltage; and

providing the different DC voltage to the transmit circuitry of the charging unit.