BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM AND MOBILE AND ACCESSORY DEVICES

• US 20170200988A1
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ludtke, Harold Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 10,930,984 B2
• 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: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• 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 automated system comprising:

an automated mechanism;

a specialized tool attached to the automated mechanism, wherein the automated mechanism uses the specialized tool to disassemble electronic devices into separate parts; and

a plurality of containers, wherein the automated mechanism puts parts of the electronic devices into corresponding containers in the plurality of containers.

2. The automated system of claim 1 wherein the parts in a first container are recycled.

3. The automated system of claim 2 wherein the parts in a second container are further processed by external equipment.

4. The automated system of claim 2 wherein two of the parts are separated by breaking an attachment between them.

5. The automated system of claim 2 wherein the automated mechanism uses the specialized tool to disassemble electronic devices into separate parts without human intervention.

6. The automated system of claim 1 wherein the automated mechanism disassembles the electronic devices by separating a first portion of a housing from a second portion of a housing.

7. The automated system of claim 1 wherein the automated mechanism is located in a kiosk.

8. An automated system comprising:

an automated mechanism to determine whether an electronic device may be serviced by replacing a component;

a specialized tool attached to the automated mechanism, wherein in response the automated mechanism determining that the electronic device may be serviced by replacing the component, the automated mechanism removes the component using the specialized tool; and

a first container, wherein the automated mechanism puts the removed component in the first container,

wherein the automated mechanism further selects a replacement component and inserts the replacement component in the electronic device.

9. The automated system of claim 8 wherein the automated mechanism further tests the electronic device with the new component.

10. The automated system of claim 8 wherein in response to the automated mechanism determining that the electronic device may not be serviced by replacing the component, the automated mechanism disassembles the electronic device into separate parts.

11. The automated system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of containers including the first container, wherein the automated mechanism puts parts of the electronic device into corresponding containers in the plurality of containers.

12. The automated system of claim 11 wherein the parts in a first container are recycled.

13. The automated system of claim 12 wherein the parts in a second container are further processed by external equipment.

14. The automated system of claim 12 wherein two parts are separated by breaking an attachment between them.

15. An automated system comprising:

an automated mechanism to determine whether a battery may be serviced by replacing a battery core;

a specialized tool attached to the automated mechanism, wherein in response to the automated mechanism determining that the battery may be serviced by replacing the battery core, the automated mechanism removes a portion of the housing from the battery and removes the battery core using the specialized tool;

a first container, wherein the automated mechanism puts the removed battery core in the first container; and

a second container, wherein the automated mechanism puts the removed portion of the housing in the second container, and

wherein the automated mechanism further selects a replacement battery core and inserts the replacement battery core in the battery.

16. The automated system of claim 15 wherein the automated mechanism further tests the battery with the new battery core.

17. The automated system of claim 15 wherein the battery cores in the first container are recycled.

18. The automated system of claim 15 wherein the battery cores in the first container are further processed by external equipment.

19. The automated system of claim 15 where in response to the automated mechanism determining that the battery may not be serviced by replacing the battery core, the automated mechanism disassembles the battery.

20. The automated system of claim 15 where in response to the automated mechanism determining that that the battery may not be serviced by replacing the battery core, the automated mechanism further removes metallic posts from the removed portion of the housing.