DEVICE CHARGER ATTACHMENT

• US 20170098952A1
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Winkler, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 11,165,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Systems and methods for wireless power transmission between a portable communication device and an add-on module allow a resonator coil in the portable communication device to both transmit and receive power. In an embodiment, the portable communication device provide power via various on time duty cycles based on a type of the add-on module.

Claims

1. A portable electronic communication device comprising:

a resonator coil;

a sensor configured to sense a presence of an add-on module having a resonator coil that is placed on the portable electronic communication device; and

a processor configured to drive the resonator coil of the portable electronic communication device for both power transmission to the add-on module and power receipt from the add-on module via the resonator coil of the add-on module.

2. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a shield underlying the resonator coil of the portable electronic communication device.

3. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a magnetic pick-up placed to register with a magnet on the add-on module, and wherein the processor is further configured to detect the presence of the add-on module based on a signal from the magnetic pick-up when the magnetic pick-up responds to the magnet on the add-on module.

4. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a type of the add-on module.

5. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a type of the add-on module based on an A4WP signal from the add-on module.

6. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to modify a power transmission based on the type of the add-on module.

7. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to modify a power transmission by modifying a duty cycle of the power transmission.

8. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of retaining magnets positioned to register to corresponding ferrous plates on the add-on module to retain the add-on module to the portable electronic communication device.

9. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the add-on module is a user wearable.

10. The portable electronic communication device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the add-on module is a user earpiece, and the processor is configured to charge the battery of the user earpiece via a power transmission having a duty cycle of substantially 100%.

11. A device power exchange system comprising:

a portable electronic communication device;

a first resonator coil associated with the portable electronic communication device;

an add-on module separate from the portable electronic communication device;

a second resonator coil associated with the add-on module;

a processor associated with the portable electronic communication device configured to drive the resonator coil of the portable electronic communication device for both power transmission to the add-on module and power receipt from an external charger field from an A4WP charger pad having a third resonator coil, wherein the first resonator augments power transfer via resonance between the first, second, and third resonator coils.

12. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a shield underlying the resonator coil of the portable electronic communication device.

13. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a magnetic pick-up associated with the portable electronic communication device and placed to register with a magnet on the add-on module, and wherein the processor is further configured to detect the presence of the add-on module based on a signal from the magnetic pick-up when the magnetic pick-up responds to the magnet on the add-on module.

14. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a type of the add-on module.

15. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a type of the add-on module based on a Bluetooth Low Energy A4WP signal from the add-on module.

16. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to modify a power transmission via the first resonator coil based on the type of the add-on module.

17. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to modify a power transmission by modifying a duty cycle of the power transmission.

18. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a plurality of retaining magnets positioned to register to corresponding ferrous plates on the add-on module to retain the add-on module to the portable electronic communication device.

19. The device power exchange system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the add-on module is a user wearable.

20. A method of charging an add-on module docked to a portable communication device comprising:

detecting a presence of the add-on module at the portable communication device;

identifying a type of the detected add-on module;

transmitting power wirelessly from a resonator coil of the portable communication device to a resonator coil of the add-on module in a manner based on the type of the add-on module; and

receiving a wireless power signal at the resonator coil of the portable communication device from the resonator coil of the add-on module.