Detection and Notification of an Unpowered Releasable Charging Device

• US 20170012463A1
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lynch, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,666,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits

Abstract

An electronic device may be configured to detect an external charging device when the external charging device is initially engaged with, or connected to, the electronic device. The electronic device, or an alert unit operably connected to the electronic device, can produce one or more alerts for the user if the charging device is in an unpowered state. The alert or alerts can be provided to the electronic device engaged with the charging device and/or to another electronic device or alert unit that is in communication with the electronic device that is engaged with the charging device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a processing device;

a detection unit operably connected to the processing device and configured to engage with a triggering element in a charging device; and

an alert unit operably connected to the processing device and configured to generate an alert based on receipt of an alert signal from the processing device,

wherein the processing device is adapted to;

detect an initial engagement with the charging device based on the triggering element engaging with the detection unit;

based on the detected initial engagement with the charging device, determine the charging device is not supplying power to the electronic device; and

cause the alert signal to be transmitted to the alert unit based on the determination that the charging device is not supplying power to the electronic device.

2. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the alert unit is included in the electronic device.

3. The electronic device as in claim 1, further comprising a network/communication interface.

4. The electronic device as in claim 3, wherein the alert unit is included in an alert device that is in communication with the electronic device through the network/communication interface.

5. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the alert signal comprises a first alert signal and the processing device is further adapted to:

based on the detected initial engagement with the charging device, detect whether the charging device is able to provide a sufficient amount of power to the electronic device; and

cause a second alert signal to be transmitted to the alert unit when the charging device is unable to provide the sufficient amount of power to the electronic device.

6. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein:

the alert unit comprises at least one of a haptic device, an audio device, a display, or a light source; and

the alert comprises at least one of a haptic output produced by the haptic device, an audio alert produced by the audio device, an alert message displayed on the display, and activation of the light source.

7. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one of an electrical element, a mechanical element, an optical element, or a magnetic element.

8. The electronic device as in claim 7, wherein the optical element comprises one of:

a light sensor;

or

an image sensor.

9. The electronic device as in claim 7, wherein the magnetic element comprises a magnet.

10. The electronic device as in claim 7, wherein the electrical element comprises a switch.

11. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises an inductive power transfer receiver operably connected to the processing device.

12. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

detecting an initial engagement with a charging device;

determining if the charging device is in an unpowered state based on the detection of the initial engagement with the charging device; and

producing an initial alert when the charging device is in the unpowered state.

13. The method as in claim 12, further comprising:

detecting whether the charging device is able to provide a sufficient amount of power to the electronic device; and

producing the initial alert when the charging device is unable to provide the sufficient amount of power to the electronic device.

14. The method as in claim 12, wherein producing the initial alert when the charging device is unable to provide power to the electronic device comprises providing an initial alert signal to an alert unit when the charging device is unable to provide power to the electronic device, wherein the alert unit produces the initial alert based on the initial alert signal.

15. The method as in claim 14, wherein:

the alert unit comprises at least one of a haptic device, an audio device, a display, or a light source; and

the alert comprises at least one of a haptic output produced by the haptic device, an audio alert produced by the audio device, an alert message displayed on the display, and activation of the light source.

16. The method as in claim 14, wherein the alert unit is included in at least one of the electronic device, the charging device, or another electronic device in communication with the electronic device.

17. The method as in claim 12, further comprising continuing to produce the initial alert for a given period of time.

18. The method as in claim 12, further comprising producing a different alert after a given period of time has elapsed since providing the initial alert.

19. A system comprising:

a charging device comprising a triggering element;

an electronic device comprising;

a processing device; and

a detection unit operably connected to the processing device and configured to engage with the triggering element in the charging device; and

an alert unit operably connected to the processing device and configured to generate an alert based on receipt of an alert signal from the processing device,

wherein the processing device is adapted to;

detect an initial engagement with the charging device based on the triggering element engaging with the detection unit;

determine the charging device is not supplying power to the electronic device; and

produce the alert signal when the charging device is not supplying power to the electronic device.

20. The system as in claim 19, wherein the alert unit is included in the electronic device.

21. The system as in claim 19, further comprising a network/communication interface.

22. The system as in claim 21, wherein the alert unit is included in an alert device that is in communication with the electronic device through the network/communication interface.

23. The system as in claim 19, wherein the alert comprises a first alert and the processing device is further adapted to:

detect whether the charging device is able to provide a sufficient amount of power to the electronic device; and

provide a second alert signal to the alert unit when the charging device is unable to provide the sufficient amount of power to the electronic device.

24. The system as in claim 19, wherein:

the alert unit comprises at least one of a haptic device, an audio device, a display, or a light source; and

the alert comprises at least one of a haptic output produced by the haptic device, an audio alert produced by the audio device, an alert message displayed on the display, and activation of the light source.

25. The system as in claim 19, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one of an electrical element, a mechanical element, an optical element, or a magnetic element.

26. The system as in claim 25, wherein the optical element comprises one of a light sensor and the triggering element a light source configured to emit light in at least one light pipe.

27. The system as in claim 25, wherein the optical element comprises an image sensor and the triggering element comprises at least one of a light source or a pattern.

28. The system as in claim 27, wherein the pattern comprises one of a bar code, a pattern of different colors, a pattern of different shapes, and a pattern of materials having different absorptive properties, different reflective properties, or different reflective and absorptive properties.

29. The system as in claim 25, wherein the magnetic element comprises a magnet and the triggering element comprises a Hall Effect sensor.

30. The system as in claim 25, wherein the electrical element comprises a switch and the triggering element comprises a mechanical actuator.

31. The system as in claim 19, wherein the detection unit comprises an inductive power transfer receiver operably connected to the processing device and the triggering element comprises an inductive power transfer transmitter.