SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGING AND MANAGEMENT

• US 20160064979A1
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mophie Incorporated (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Daniel, Sadek, Kerloss, Gale, Vennin
• Granted Patent: US 10,079,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A charging device can include an input interface for receiving electrical power from a power source and an output interface for outputting electrical power to a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include a supplemental battery. A bypass electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the output interface to pass electrical charge from the power supply through the charging device to the mobile electronic device. A charging electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the supplemental battery. A discharge electrical pathway can couple the supplemental battery to the output interface. The bypass electrical pathway can include a voltage modifier configured to modify the voltage output by the output interface. The charging device can be configured to empirically determine the power capacity of the power supply. The charging device can monitor temperatures and/or battery health information, which can be used to reduce current or disable the charging device.

Claims

1. A charging device for charging a mobile electronic device, the charging device comprising:

a protective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device, the protective case comprising;

a lower case portion comprising;

a back portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a back side of the mobile electronic device;

a bottom portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronic device;

a right side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device;

a left side portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device;

an open top side to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic device into the lower case portion;

a supplemental battery disposed in the back portion of the lower case portion;

an input interface on an exterior of the lower case portion, the input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power source; and

an output interface on an interior of the lower case portion, the output interface configured to engage an electrical port on the mobile electronic device to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device; and

an upper case portion comprising;

a top portion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device;

wherein the upper case portion is configured to removably couple to the lower case portion to hold the mobile electronic device in the protective case;

wherein a front opening of the protective case is configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through the front opening when the upper case portion is coupled to the lower case portion; and

a battery health monitor configured to monitor battery health information and to disable or limit charging or discharging of the supplemental battery based at least in part on the battery health information.

2. The charging device of claim 1, where the battery health monitor comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature for the charging device.

3. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the battery health information includes charge cycle information.

4. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the battery health information includes a health score, wherein the battery health monitor is configured to adjust the health score by a first amount upon at least one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at a first capacity range, and wherein the battery health monitor is configured to adjust the health score by a second amount upon at least one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at a second capacity range.

5. The charging device of claim 4, wherein the battery health monitor is configured to reduce the power capacity to which the supplemental battery is charged in response to a change in the health score.

6. A charging device for charging a mobile electronic device, the charging device comprising:

a supplemental battery;

an input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power source;

an output interface configured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device;

a controller;

a charging electrical pathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge the supplemental battery;

a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, along the discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device;

a bypass electrical pathway from the input interface to the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to direct electricity from the input interface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device; and

a computer-readable memory element;

wherein the controller is configured to;

store battery health information in the computer-readable memory element;

disable or reduce electrical current along one or more of the charging electrical pathway, the discharge electrical pathway, and the bypass electrical pathway based at least in part on the battery health information.

7. The charging device of claim 6, comprising a protective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device.

8. The charging device of claim 6, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the battery health information includes temperature information received from the temperature sensor.

9. The charging device of claim 6, wherein the battery health information includes charge cycle information.

10. The charging device of claim 6, wherein the battery health information includes a health score, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the health score by a first amount upon at least one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at a first capacity range, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the health score by a second amount upon at least one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at a second capacity range.

11. The charging device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the power capacity to which the supplemental battery is charged based in part on the battery health information.

12. The charging device of claim 6, wherein:

upon detection of a major risk event, the controller is configured to;

disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging; and

provide a notification to a user; and

upon detection of a minor risk event, the controller is configured to;

diagnose the health of the supplemental battery to determine whether the supplemental battery is unrecoverable, partially recoverable, or fully recoverable;

upon a determination that the supplemental battery is unrecoverable, the controller is configured to;

disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging; and

provide a notification to a user;

upon a determination that the supplemental battery is partially recoverable, the controller is configured to resume charging and discharging of the supplemental battery at a reduced performance level; and

upon a determination that the supplemental battery is fully recoverable, the controller is configured to resume normal charging and discharging of the supplemental battery.

13. The charging device of claim 12, wherein a major risk event comprises a temperature measurement of less than about −

10 degrees Celsius or greater than about 60 degrees Celsius, and wherein a minor risk event comprises a temperature measurement between about −

10 degrees Celsius and about 0 degrees Celsius or between about 45 degrees Celsius and about 60 degrees Celsius.

14. A charging device for charging a mobile electronic device, the charging device comprising:

a supplemental battery;

an input interface configured to receive electrical power from an external power source for charging the supplemental battery;

an output interface configured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device; and

a controller configured to receive battery health information and to disable or limit charging or discharging of the supplemental battery based at least in part on the battery health information.

15. The charging device of claim 14, comprising a protective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device.

16. The charging device of claim 14, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the battery health information includes temperature information received from the temperature sensor.

17. The charging device of claim 14, wherein the battery health information includes charge cycle information.

18. The charging device of claim 14, wherein the battery health information includes a health score, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the health score by a first amount upon at least one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at a first capacity range, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the health score by a second amount upon at least one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at a second capacity range.

19. The charging device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the power capacity to which the supplemental battery is charged based at least in part on the battery health information.

20. The charging device of claim 14, wherein:

upon detection of a major risk event, the controller is configured to;

disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging; and

provide a notification to a user; and

upon detection of a minor risk event, the controller is configured to;

diagnose the health of the supplemental battery to determine whether the supplemental battery is unrecoverable, partially recoverable, or fully recoverable;

upon a determination that the supplemental battery is unrecoverable, the controller is configured to;

disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging; and

provide a notification to a user;

upon a determination that the supplemental battery is partially recoverable, the controller is configured to resume charging and discharging of the supplemental battery at a reduced performance level; and

upon a determination that the supplemental battery is fully recoverable, the controller is configured to resume normal charging and discharging of the supplemental battery.