WEARABLE CHARGING APPARATUS

• US 20170040825A1
• Filed: 08/05/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cavallaro, Alberto R., Winkler, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,917,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/02 Conversion or regulation of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

A wearable charging apparatus configured for charging of a wearable device while the wearable device is in an operative position, such as on the wrist of the user the wearable charging apparatus includes a front housing portion, a rear charging portion, a coupling member and a charge system. The wearable device is positionable between the front housing portion and the rear charging portion. The front portion has a battery and the rear charging portion has a wearable charge coil that is placed in operable position relative to the wearable device and configured to electrically communicate with a coil within the body of the wearable device and coupled to a wearable battery therewith, to, in turn, transfer power from the battery within the cavity to the wearable battery.

Claims

1. A wearable charging apparatus configured for charging of a wearable device while the wearable device is in an operative position, the wearable device including a body and a strap portion, the strap portion coupled to the body and configured to be attachable to a user, the body including a display face and a back surface opposite the display face, the wearable charging apparatus comprising:

a front housing portion, the front housing portion including an outer surface and an inner surface, and defining a battery cavity and a display void;

a rear charging portion having a body with a watch facing surface and an outward surface opposite the watch facing surface;

a coupling member having a first end coupled to the front housing portion and a second end coupled to the rear charging portion, wherein the coupling member facilitates the positioning of the front housing portion and the rear charging portion into a spaced apart overlying configuration, wherein the body of the wearable device is positionable therebetween so that the display void overlies the display face of the body and so that the watch facing surface overlies the back surface of the wearable device; and

a charge system including a battery positioned within the battery cavity and a wearable charge coil electrically coupled to the battery and positioned on the rear charging portion proximate the watch facing surface and configured to electrically communicate with a coil within the body of the wearable device and coupled to a wearable battery therewith, to, in turn, transfer power from the battery within the cavity to the wearable battery.

2. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coupling member fixedly couples the front housing portion to the rear housing portion.

3. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coupling member facilitates at least one of translation and rotation of the front housing portion relative to the rear charging portion.

4. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 2 wherein the coupling member includes at least one hinge which allows for the directing of the front housing portion and the rear housing portion into a substantially coplanar configuration.

5. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 3 wherein the coupling member comprises a flexible member so that the front housing portion is positionable relative to the rear charging portion in a plurality of different orientations.

6. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a battery charging coil coupled to the battery and structurally configured to electrically communicate with an outside charger to, in turn, charge the battery within the battery cavity.

7. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 6 wherein the rear charging portion includes a shield positioned on the opposite side of the wearable charge coil from the wearable device.

8. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 7 wherein the battery charging coil is collocated with the wearable charge coil, both of which are positioned between the shield and the wearable device.

9. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 7 wherein the battery charging coil is positioned on the opposite side of the shield from the wearable charge coil.

10. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 6 wherein the battery charging coil is positioned on the front housing portion.

11. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the front housing portion is substantially hoop like in configuration, to substantially match the configuration of the display face.

12. The wearable charging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the display void comprises a substantially circular configuration.

13. A method of using a wearable charging apparatus on a wearable device positioned on a wrist of a user, the wearable device including a body having a display face and a back surface opposite the display face, and a strap portion coupled to the body and extending around a wrist of a user to couple the wearable device to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a wearable charging apparatus, the wearable charging apparatus having a front housing portion, a rear charging portion, a coupling member configured to position the front housing portion in an overlying position relative to the rear charging portion in a spaced apart configuration, and a charging system, the front housing portion having a battery cavity and defining a display void, the rear charging portion having a watch facing surface, and, the charging system including a battery positioned within the battery cavity and a wearable charge coil electrically coupled to the battery and associated with the watch facing surface of the rear charging portion;

sliding the rear charging portion of the wearable charging apparatus between the back surface of the body and the wrist of the user so that the watch facing surface corresponds to the back surface, in turn, placing the wearable charge coil proximate thereto;

positioning the front housing portion over the display face of the wearable device, so that the display face is visible through the display void; and

charging a battery in the wearable through the wearable charge coil.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of sliding occurs without the removal of the wearable device from the wrist of the user.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

removing the rear charging portion from between the back surface of the body and the wrist of the user without removal of the wearable device from the wrist of the user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the wearable charging apparatus further includes a battery charging coil electrically coupled to the battery, the method further comprising the steps of:

positioning the wearable charging device on an outside charger having a charging coil; and

charging the battery of the wearable charging apparatus through the battery charging coil.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the wearable charging apparatus is positioned on a charger or coupled to a wearable device; and

selectively activating one of the battery charging coil if the wearable charging apparatus is positioned on a charger, and the wearable charge coil if the wearable charging apparatus is coupled to a wearable device.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the wearable charging apparatus is positioned on a charger or coupled to a wearable device; and

limiting the upper temperature of the battery of the wearable charging apparatus to a first temperature if the wearable charging apparatus is positioned on an charger, and limiting the upper temperature of the battery of the wearable charging apparatus to a second temperature if the wearable charging apparatus is coupled to a wearable device, wherein the second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of viewing the display face through the display void.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of touching the display face through the display void.