TETHERLESS DEVICE CHARGING FOR CHAINED DEVICES

• US 20160380465A1
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gorelik, Galina, Dow, Eli M., Fitzsimmons, Thomas D., Gilchrist, James P., LeFevre, Frank R. Jr., Schmidt, Steven K., Stocker, Charles J. IV
• Granted Patent: US 9,882,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes integrating a charging pad into a powered device having a power supply, where the powered device is at least one of a monitor and a keyboard. The method includes configuring the charging pad to receive a first chargeable device in a charging position relative to the charging pad. The method further includes configuring the charging pad to deliver an electrical charge from the power supply to the first chargeable device when the chargeable device is in the charging position.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

integrating a charging pad into a powered device comprising a power supply, the powered device at least one of a monitor and a keyboard;

configuring the charging pad to receive a first chargeable device in a charging position relative to the charging pad; and

configuring the charging pad to deliver an electrical charge from the power supply to the first chargeable device when the chargeable device is in the charging position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first chargeable device is a wireless trackpad.

3. The method of claim 1, the first chargeable device comprising receiving hardware configured to receive the electrical charge from the charging pad.

4. The method of claim 3, the first chargeable device further comprising charging hardware configured to pass the electrical charge to a second chargeable device coupled with the first chargeable device, wherein the power supply of the powered device is configured to charge both the first chargeable device and the second chargeable device.

5. The method of claim 1, the powered device configured to supply power to each of one or more chargeable devices chained to the powered device by way of the charging pad.

6. The method of claim 1, the charging pad further configured to detect presence of the first chargeable device in the charging position, and to deliver the electrical charge to the first chargeable device responsive to the detection.

7. The method of claim 1, the charging pad being configured to couple with the first chargeable device using at least one of inductive coupling and magnetic resonance.