METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR POWERING ELECTRONICS IN SMART COVERS

• US 20140285033A1
• Filed: 03/20/2013
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: JANTUNEN, Joni, OLLIKAINEN, Jani
• Granted Patent: US 9,941,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for wireless powering of passive objects contained in a functional exchangeable cover of an apparatus. Example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising: receiving, by an apparatus, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal; switching on, by the apparatus, an optical energy source in the apparatus in response to received signal; and transmitting, by the apparatus, from the optical energy source, optical power to the functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal;

switching on, by the apparatus, an optical energy source in the apparatus in response to received signal; and

transmitting, by the apparatus, from the optical energy source, optical power to the functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the apparatus, a radio frequency wireless message from the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus, indicating optical power requirements of the cover; and

transmitting, by the apparatus, optical power at a level based on the indicated optical power requirements.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the apparatus, a radio frequency wireless message from the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus, indicating a change in optical power requirements of the cover of the apparatus; and

adjusting, by the apparatus, the optical power transmitted by the apparatus based on the indicated change in optical power requirements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal comprises a near field communications signal, an RFID signal, or an ultra-wide bandwidth signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a radio frequency signal providing initial power to the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus, the signal comprising near field communication signal; and

transmitting, by the apparatus, optical power to the cover, to supplement the energy provided by the radio frequency signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the apparatus, a radio frequency wireless message from the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus, indicating no more optical power is required by the cover of the apparatus; and

switching off, by the apparatus, the optical energy source in the apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile wireless device that includes a camera and the optical energy source in the apparatus is an optical flash associated with the camera.

8. A method, comprising:

sending, by a functional exchangeable cover attached to an electronic device, a signal to the electronic device, indicating that the functional exchangeable cover is to be powered by optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal;

collecting, by the functional exchangeable cover, energy from the received optical powering signal from the electronic device in response to the signal; and

operating components of the functional exchangeable cover using at least the optical power from the mobile wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting, by the apparatus, a radio frequency wireless message to the mobile wireless device, indicating optical power requirements of the apparatus; and

receiving, by the apparatus, optical power from the mobile wireless device, at a level based on the indicated optical power requirements.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting, by the apparatus, a radio frequency wireless message to the mobile wireless device, indicating a change in optical power requirements of the apparatus; and

receiving, by the apparatus, an adjusted level of the optical power from the mobile wireless device, based on the indicated change in optical power requirements.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an optical energy source;

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal;

switch on an optical energy source in the apparatus in response to received signal; and

transmit from the optical energy source, optical power to the functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a radio frequency wireless message from the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus, indicating optical power requirements of the cover; and

transmit optical power at a level based on the indicated optical power requirements.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a radio frequency wireless message from the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus, indicating a change in optical power requirements of the cover of the apparatus; and

adjust the optical power transmitted by the apparatus based on the indicated change in optical power requirements.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency signal comprises a near field communications signal, an RFID signal, or an ultra-wide bandwidth signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit a near field communications signal that provides energy to the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus; and

transmit optical power to the cover of the apparatus, to supplement the energy provided by the near field communications signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a radio frequency wireless message from the functional exchangeable cover of the apparatus, indicating no more optical power is required by the cover of the apparatus; and

switch off the optical energy source in the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile wireless device that includes a camera and the optical energy source in the apparatus is an optical flash associated with the camera.

18. A functional exchangeable cover, comprising:

an optical power receiver;

a connection element configured to attach to and release from a hosting electronic device;

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the functional exchangeable cover at least to;

send to the hosting electronic device, a signal indicating that the functional exchangeable cover is to be powered by optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal;

collect energy from the received optical powering signal from the hosting electronic device in response to the signal; and

operate components of the functional exchangeable cover using at least the optical power from the hosting electronic device.

19. The functional exchangeable cover of claim 18, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the functional exchangeable cover at least to;

transmit a radio frequency wireless message to the hosting electronic device, indicating optical power requirements of the functional exchangeable cover; and

receive optical power from the hosting electronic device, at a level based on the indicated optical power requirements.

20. The functional exchangeable cover of claim 18, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the functional exchangeable cover at least to;

transmit a radio frequency wireless message to the hosting electronic device, indicating a change in optical power requirements of the functional exchangeable cover; and

receive an adjusted level of the optical power from the hosting electronic device, based on the indicated change in optical power requirements.

21. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for receiving, by an apparatus, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal;

code for switching on, by the apparatus, an optical energy source in the apparatus in response to received signal; and

code for transmitting, by the apparatus, from the optical energy source, optical power to the functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus.

22. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for sending, by a functional exchangeable cover attached to an electronic device, a signal to the electronic device, indicating that the functional exchangeable cover is to be powered by optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal;

code for collecting, by the functional exchangeable cover, energy from the received optical powering signal from the electronic device in response to the signal; and

code for operating components of the functional exchangeable cover using at least the optical power from the mobile wireless device.