Secure Device Charging

• US 20140239883A1
• Filed: 02/19/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chargebox Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chargebox Ltd.
• Inventors: Hobson, Ian Timothy, Cheese, Jonathan John, Hogg, Jonathan Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,340,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for determining the initiation of a charging process for a secure charging apparatus. The apparatus has circuitry for authorising a user, circuitry for confirming connection of a device, and circuitry for confirming charging of the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining the initiation of a charging process for a secure charging apparatus, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to authorise a user;

circuitry configured to confirm connection of a device; and

circuitry configured to confirm charging of the device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured to authorise a user comprises circuitry configured to identify the user device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured to authorise the user further comprises circuitry configured to compare the user of the user device to a list of authorised users.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured to authorise a user device comprises circuitry configured to determine payment associated with the user device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured to authorise a user comprises circuitry configured to provide a confirmation of a user authorisation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured to authorise a user comprises circuitry configured to establish a short-range communications session with the user device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured to confirm connection of a device comprises circuitry configured to detect connection of a device to a charging cable.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the circuitry configured to detect connection of a device comprises circuitry configured to retrieve an identification of the device on the charging cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry configured to confirm charging of the device comprises circuitry configured to determine that a connected device is being charged for a given accumulated total current delivered over time up to a time limit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising circuitry configured to enable a locking mechanism responsive to circuitry configured to determine the initiation process.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the secure charging apparatus comprises a plurality of secure charging positions, wherein the circuitry configured to enable a locking mechanism is enabled for the secure charging position for which the connection of the device and the charging of the device are confirmed.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising circuitry configured to enable the user to select the secure charging position before the initiation process.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising circuitry configured to establish a short-range communications session with the user device.

14. A method for determining the initiation of a charging process for a secure charging apparatus, comprising authorising a user;

confirming connection of a device; and

confirming charging of the device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising establishing a short-range communication session with a user device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein an app of the user device communicates with software of the apparatus during the short-range communication session.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the short range communication session is used to authorise the user.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the short range communication session is used to notify the user, via the app, of the availability of charging points at the apparatus.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the short range communication session is used to notify the user, via the app, of the location of the charging apparatus.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein on completion of the charging process, the short range communication session is used to display messages to the user via the app.