METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR SWITCHLESS DETECTION AND CHARGING

• US 20160204637A1
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fontem Ventures BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V. (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Inventors: Alarcon, Ramon, Blau, David, Kepner, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,098,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/85 Maintenance, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/95 structurally associated with cases
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A system, a method, and a device for detecting and charging electronic articles, and more particularly for charging batteries in electronic cigarettes.

Claims

1. A charging device for charging an electronic article, the charging device comprising the following:

(a) a device charging circuit configured (i) to selectively, electrically couple with an electronic article circuit and (ii) to charge a rechargeable battery located within a portion of the electronic article and comprising part of the electronic article circuit, and

(b) a microcomputer configured to do the following;

(i) detect whether the charging circuit is electrically coupled with the electronic article circuit, (ii) measure a charge level of the rechargeable battery, and (iii) use the measured charge level to determine a charge mode for charging the rechargeable battery.

2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the microcomputer is further configured to detect whether the device charging circuit is electrically coupled with the electronic article circuit by periodically supplying a source power supply signal from the device charging circuit to the electronic article circuit.

3. The charging device of claim 2, wherein the source power supply signal allows the electronic article circuit to be electronically coupled to the device charging circuit for charging the electronic article circuit.

4. The charging device of claim 2, wherein the charging device further comprises a capacitor configured to be electronically coupled, in parallel, with the electronic article circuit.

5. The charging device of claim 4, wherein the microcomputer is configured to determine that the capacitor is electronically coupled with the electronic article circuit when a voltage of the device charging circuit fails to rise above a predetermined threshold value.

6. The charging device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold value is between about 4.5 volts and about 6.0 volts.

7. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the microcomputer is further configured to determine the charge mode based on one or more of the following:

a voltage of a battery of the electronic article circuit, a current of the battery of the electronic article circuit, a voltage of a battery of the device charging circuit, or a time.

8. The charging device of claim 7, wherein the microcomputer is configured to determine that when the voltage of the battery of the electronic charging circuit is below about 3.0V, the charging circuit operates in a trickle charge mode to the electronic article circuit.

9. The charging device of claim 7, wherein the microcomputer is configured to determine that when the voltage of the battery of the electronic charging circuit is between about 3.0V and 4.2V, the charging circuit operates in a current-servo charge mode to the electronic article circuit.

10. The charging device of claim 7, wherein the microcomputer is configured to determine that when the voltage of the battery of the electronic article circuit is at or above about 4.2V, the charging circuit operates in a voltage-servo charge mode to the electronic article circuit.

11. The charging device of claim 10, wherein the microcomputer is configured to direct the device charging circuit to operate in a power-down mode when one or more of the following occur:

the battery of the electronic article circuit has a current below a first threshold value, the battery of the device charging circuit has a voltage below a second threshold value, the device charging circuit is physically decoupled from the electronic article circuit, or the device circuit has operated in a voltage servo charge mode for a predetermined period of time.

12. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the electronic article is an electronic smoking article.

13. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises part of one of a docking station, a charging station, a charging pack, or a charging holder for an electronic smoking article.

14. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging device further comprises a USB port or a wall outlet.

15. A charging holder configured to charge a rechargeable battery of an electronic article, the charging holder comprising:

a spring-loaded pin contact configured to provide a first polarity of a charge signal, the spring-loaded pin contact comprising;

i) a pin configured to contact the rechargeable battery, and ii) a spring-like element coupled to the pin, the spring-like element configured to hold the pin against the rechargeable battery; and

an edge contact configured to provide a second polarity of the charge signal, the edge contact comprising;

i) a first surface configured to contact the rechargeable battery, and ii) a second surface coupled to the first surface, the second surface comprising a hole, wherein the pin is configured to project through the hole.

16. The charging holder of claim 15, wherein the electronic article is an electronic smoking article.

17. The charging holder of claim 15, wherein the edge contact comprises a compliant conductive material.

18. The charging holder of claim 17, wherein the compliant conductive material is conductively plated spring steel.

19. The charging holder of claim 15, wherein the edge contact is configured to flex when the rechargeable battery is in contact with the first or second surfaces.

20. The charging holder of claim 15, wherein the edge contact is configured to self-clean.

21. The charging holder of claim 20, wherein the first surface is configured to scrape debris off the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is placed in the charging holder.

22. The charging holder of claim 15, further comprising a slot configured to hold the rechargeable battery, wherein the spring-loaded pin contact and the edge contact are located in the slot.

23. The charging holder of claim 15, further comprising a slot for at least a portion of an electronic smoking article.

24. The charging holder of claim 15, wherein the charging holder is one of a docking station, a charging station, or a charging pack for an electronic smoking article.