Battery charging system and mobile and accessory devices

• US 20130196183A1
• Filed: 09/18/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ludtke, Harold Aaron
• Application Number:
  US13/573,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20130196183A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• 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 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• 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: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 : Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A housing for a rechargeable battery comprising:

an electrical component including a communication and control circuit configured to couple to a battery core, to monitor the battery core, and to generate power signals, the electrical component further configured to communicate with an electronic device by transmitting and receiving communication signals, wherein the electrical component is configured to couple to the electronic device via a first terminal and a second terminal, and wherein the power signals and the communication signals are provided to the electronic device via the first terminal and the second terminal.

9. The housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals; and

a plurality of sensors for measuring a respective plurality of properties associated with the battery core,

wherein the electrical component is further adapted to derive a plurality of quality assessments of the battery core based on the measurements from the plurality of sensors, wherein the electrical component is configured to prevent effective power transmission between the electronic device and the battery core if the plurality of quality assessments fails to meet a quality threshold.

10. The housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals,

wherein the electrical component is further adapted to estimate future power consumption requirements of the electronic device based on past power consumption requirements of the electronic device and to estimate the time until the power in the battery core will be drained.

11. The housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals,

wherein electrical coupling between the electronic device and the battery core is terminated if the electrical component fails to negotiate with the coupled electronic device for an agreed range of power parameters; and

the electrical component is further adapted to re-negotiate with the coupled electronic device for another range of power parameters.

12. The housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals, wherein the electrical component is further adapted to engage a low power connection immediately after the housing is coupled to the electronic device.

13. The housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals, wherein the electrical component is further adapted to engage a high-power connection only after the electrical component has successfully negotiated with the electronic device for an agreed range of power parameters.

14. The housing of claim 8 wherein the electrical component is further adapted to store a charging history.

15. The housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals; and

an internal switch that is activated when the electronic device is located in close proximity, wherein the activation of the internal switch is required for effective power transmission between the electronic device and the battery core.

16. The housing of claim 15 wherein the internal switch is adapted to be activated by a magnetic field of predetermined characteristics.

17. The housing of claim 16 wherein the predetermined characteristics includes a threshold flux density of a magnetic field and a specified flux orientation of a magnetic field.

18. The housing of claim 8 further comprising:

a battery core configured to house battery chemicals;

a first power transmission circuit coupled to the battery core and the electronic device and adapted to provide low power connection between the battery core and the electronic device, wherein the low power connection allows a minimal threshold of power to be transferred between the battery core and the electronic device; and

a second power transmission circuit coupled to the battery core and adapted to provide power transmission between battery core and the electronic device at a power setting higher than the low power connection.