SPORT BALL INDUCTIVE CHARGING METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20150340904A1
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Van Wormer, Carl B., Seymour, James D., MUNSON, Ian M., Mauro, Charles S. Jr., Davis, Raymond E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,523,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/00 Devices for handling or treating balls , e.g. for holding or carrying balls
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for inductively charging a sport ball. An embodiment operates by transmitting from a resonant circuit a calibration signal in response to detecting a charging base, and transmitting from the resonant circuit a charging state in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit. Another embodiment operates by transmitting from a resonant circuit a presence signal, receiving at the resonant circuit a calibration signal from a second resonant circuit in response to transmitting the presence signal, and transmitting from the resonant circuit power to the second resonant circuit in response to receiving the calibration signal

Claims

1. A method for inductively charging a power supply of a sport ball, comprising:

transmitting from a resonant circuit a calibration signal in response to detecting a sport ball charging base; and

transmitting from the resonant circuit a charging state in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting from the resonant circuit a charging voltage in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit.

3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the charging state and charging voltage are transmitted simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the calibration signal and the charging state are transmitted at different frequency ranges.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a frequency range to transmit the charging state based on the charging state.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the sport ball charging base by receiving power from the charging base.

7-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A system, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

transmit from a resonant circuit a calibration signal in response to detecting a charging base; and

transmit from the resonant circuit a charging state in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit.

15. The system of claim 14, the at least one processor further configured to:

transmit from the resonant circuit charging voltage in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit.

16. The system of claim 15, therein the charging state and charging voltage are transmitted simultaneously.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the calibration signal and the charging state are transmitted at different frequency ranges.

18. The system of claim 14, the at least one processor further configured to:

select a frequency range to transmit the charging state based on the charging state.

19. The system of claim 14, the at least one processor further configured to:

detect the charging base by receiving power at the resonant circuit from the charging base.

20-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A non-transitory computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

transmitting from a resonant circuit a calibration signal in response to detecting a charging base; and

transmitting from the resonant circuit a charging state in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit.

28. The computer-readable device of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

transmitting from the resonant circuit a charging voltage in response to receiving power at the resonant circuit.

29. The computer-readable device of claim 28, wherein the charging state and charging voltage are transmitted simultaneously.

30. The computer-readable device of claim 27, wherein the calibration signal and the charging state are transmitted at different frequency ranges.

31. The computer-readable device of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

selecting a frequency range to transmit the charging state based on the charging state.

32. The computer-readable device of claim 27, the operations further comprising:

detecting the charging base by receiving power at the resonant circuit from the charging base.

33-39. -39. (canceled)