ACCELEROMETER-BASED BATTERY CHARGE STATUS INDICATOR

• US 20140266005A1
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: HAVASS, RICHARD, Koutsoyannis, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/04 for tubes with grid control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Systems (100) and methods (600) for recharging a battery (292) of an electronic device (102) which has been placed in a cradle (106) of a charging dock (104). The methods involve: measuring a charging voltage value and a charging current value for the electronic device; determining a first value of angular orientation for a current position of the electronic device relative to a reference angular orientation of the electronic device; selecting at least one first indicator from a plurality of indicators based on the charging voltage value, the charging current value, and the first value of angular orientation; and outputting a first indicator to the user of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for recharging a battery of an electronic device which has been placed in a cradle of a charging dock, comprising:

measuring, by an electronic circuit, a charging voltage value and a charging current value for the electronic device;

determining, by the electronic circuit, a first value of angular orientation for a current position of the electronic device relative to a reference angular orientation of the electronic device;

selecting, by the electronic circuit, at least one first indicator from a plurality of indicators based on the charging voltage value, the charging current value, and the first value of angular orientation; and

outputting, by the electronic circuit, a first indicator to the user of the electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises the electronic device or the charging dock.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises an auditory indicator, a visual indicator, and a tactile indicator.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indicator indicates that a charging of the battery has failed or a low battery charge has been detected.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indicator indicates that the electronic device is or is not properly placed in the cradle of the charging dock.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indicator indicates that the wrong type of charging dock is being used to charge the battery.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indicator indicates that there is something present in the cradle which is preventing an electrical connection between charging interface connectors of the electronic device and the charging station.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indicator indicates that the charging station is not electrically coupled to an external power source.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indictor is further selected based on results of a determination as to whether the electronic device has been stationary for a pre-defined period of time.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indicator is further selected based on results of a determination as to whether the charging voltage and current values are equal to zero.

11. A system, comprising:

an electronic device having a rechargeable battery;

a charging dock comprising a cradle configured to receive the electronic device; and

an electronic circuit configured to

measure a charging voltage value and a charging current value for the electronic device,

determine a first value of angular orientation for a current position of the electronic device relative to a reference angular orientation of the electronic device,

select at least one first indicator from a plurality of indicators based on the charging voltage value, the charging current value, and the first value of angular orientation, and

output a first indicator to the user of the electronic device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit is contained in the electronic device or the charging dock.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises an auditory indicator, a visual indicator, and a tactile indicator.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first indicator indicates that a charging of the battery has failed or a low battery charge has been detected.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first indicator indicates that the electronic device is or is not properly placed in the cradle of the charging dock.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first indicator indicates that the wrong type of charging dock is being used to charge the battery.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first indicator indicates that there is something present in the cradle which is preventing an electrical connection between charging interface connectors of the electronic device and the charging station.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first indicator indicates that the charging station is not electrically coupled to an external power source.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first indictor is further selected based on results of a determination as to whether the electronic device has been stationary for a pre-defined period of time.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first indicator is further selected based on results of a determination as to whether the charging voltage and current values are equal to zero.