BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM AND MOBILE AND ACCESSORY DEVICES

• US 20170110891A1
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ludtke, Harold Aaron
• Application Number:
  US15/391,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20170110891A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 : with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 : Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic device; and

a plurality of batteries, wherein each battery in the plurality of batteries independently negotiates with the electronic device for an agreed power level at which power is to be transferred between the electronic device and the battery.

2. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein each battery in the plurality of batteries independently negotiates with the electronic device for an agreed power level at which power is to be transferred from the electronic device to the battery.

3. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein each battery in the plurality of batteries independently negotiates with the electronic device for an agreed power level at which power is to be transferred from the battery to the electronic device.

4. The electronic system of claim 3 wherein the electronic device negotiates with a first battery in the plurality of batteries for the first battery to provide power to the electronic device and negotiates with a second battery to not provide power to the electronic device.

5. The electronic system of claim 3 wherein in response to the first battery discharging to a first level, the electronic device negotiates with the second battery in the plurality of batteries for the second battery to provide power to the electronic device.

6. The electronic system of claim 3 wherein the electronic device negotiates with a first battery in the plurality of batteries for the first battery to provide power to the electronic device at a first level and negotiates with a second battery to provide power to the electronic device at the first level.

7. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a pair of headphones.

8. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic device; and

a plurality of batteries, wherein a coordinating battery in the plurality of batteries negotiates with the electronic device for an agreed power level at which power is to be transferred between the electronic device and each of the plurality of batteries.

9. The electronic system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of batteries negotiate amongst themselves to determine which battery in the plurality of batteries will be the coordinating battery.

10. The electronic system of claim 8 wherein the coordinating battery negotiates with the electronic device for an agreed power level at which power is to be transferred from the electronic device to each battery in the plurality of batteries.

11. The electronic system of claim 8 wherein the coordinating battery negotiates with the electronic device for an agreed power level at which power is to be transferred to the electronic device from each battery in the plurality of batteries.

12. The electronic system of claim 11 wherein the electronic device negotiates with the coordinating battery for a first battery to provide power to the electronic device and for a second battery to not provide power to the electronic device.

13. The electronic system of claim 11 wherein in response to the first battery discharging to a first level, the electronic device negotiates with the coordinating battery for the second battery to provide power to the electronic device.

14. The electronic system of claim 11 wherein the electronic device negotiates with the coordinating battery for a first battery to provide power to the electronic device at a first level and for a second battery to provide power to the electronic device at the first level.

15. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic device;

a first battery, where the first battery may provide power to the electronic device; and

a second battery, where the second battery does not provide power to the electronic device until the first battery is discharged to a first level, and then the second battery provides power to the electronic device.

16. The electronic system of claim 15 wherein the first battery negotiates to provide power to the electronic device.

17. The electronic system of claim 16 wherein the second battery negotiates to not provide power to the electronic device, then after the first battery discharges to the first level, the second battery negotiates to provide power to the electronic device.

18. The electronic system of claim 17 wherein the first battery and the second battery negotiate with the electronic device.

19. The electronic system of claim 15 wherein the first battery and the second battery are at least partially housed in the electronic device.

20. The electronic system of claim 19 wherein the electronic device is a pair of headphones.