CHARGING SYSTEM WITH COMPRESSIBLE CONTACTS

• US 20180123367A1
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Higgins, Sidney A., Tourtelotte, David, Olson, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 10,424,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence

Abstract

A recharging system includes a contact pad charger having a compressible contact pad conformable to a rechargeable device body for charging a power storage device in the rechargeable device body. The contact pad charger includes a power supply configured to provide a supply voltage. The compressible contact pad is electrically coupled to the power supply and defines a first variable resistance in response to a first conductor compression. The rechargeable device body includes a power manager electrically coupled to the power supply and is configured to receive a variable input voltage in response to a first variable voltage drop across the first conductor and to provide a regulated output voltage in response to the received variable input voltage. The regulated output voltage is less than the supply voltage. The power storage device is electrically coupled to the power manager and configured to receive the regulated output voltage for charging.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a power supply configured to provide a supply voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal;

a compressible first conductor electrically coupled to the first terminal and defining a first variable resistance in response to a first conductor compression;

a power manager electrically coupled between the first conductor and the second terminal, the power manager being configured to;

receive a variable input voltage in response to a first variable voltage drop across the first conductor; and

provide a regulated output voltage in response to the received variable input voltage, the regulated output voltage being less than the supply voltage; and

a power storage device electrically coupled to the power manager and configured to receive the regulated output voltage for charging.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conductor comprises an elastomer material.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a compressible second conductor electrically coupled to the second terminal and defining a second variable resistance in response to a second conductor compression;

wherein the power manager is electrically coupled between the first conductor and the second conductor, the power manager being configured to receive the variable input voltage further in response to a second variable voltage drop across the second conductor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power manager is configured to:

receive a first current portion of a supply current from the power supply; and

modulate the first current portion in response to the variable input voltage.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a controller configured to:

detect the modulated first current portion; and

provide a charging signal in response to the modulated first current portion, the charging signal representing at least one of a charging progress, a charging error, and a cleaning reminder.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to provide the cleaning reminder in response to the variable input voltage being below a low voltage threshold.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a boost regulator configured to receive a source voltage lower than the provided supply voltage.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power manager is configured to rectify the received variable input voltage to a predetermined polarity.

10. An apparatus for charging a rechargeable device body, the apparatus comprising:

a compressible conductor comprising an interior portion defining a flexible charging surface and a perimeter portion laterally surrounding the interior portion, the compressible conductor defining a variable resistance between the interior portion and the perimeter portion in response to a conductor deformation;

a non-conductive liner aligned to the perimeter portion, the non-conductive liner defining an opening aligned to the interior portion of the compressible conductor to define a charging cavity configured to receive the rechargeable device body for contact with the flexible charging surface, the charging cavity configured to receive the rechargeable device body for charging in more than one orientation; and

a contact plate electrically coupled to the perimeter portion and configured to be electrically coupled to the rechargeable device body in the charging cavity via the interior portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the contact plate is directly coupled to the perimeter portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a compressible insulator comprising a thickness greater than a thickness of the first conductor, the compressible insulator being disposed interior to the perimeter portion and adjacent to the interior portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising another compressible conductor defining another flexible charging surface positioned laterally relative to the flexible charging surface of the compressible conductor.

14. An apparatus for charging a rechargeable device comprising a body comprising a first side with a first charging portion and a second side opposite the first side with a second charging portion, the apparatus comprising:

a base comprising a compressible first conductor and a compressible first insulator adjacent to the first conductor, the first conductor defining a first variable resistance in response to a first conductor deformation;

a lid comprising a compressible second conductor and a compressible second insulator adjacent to the second conductor, the second conductor defining a second variable resistance in response to a second conductor deformation, the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the base, the closed position of the lid being configured to contact the first conductor with one of the first and second charging portions and contact the second conductor with the other of the first and second charging portions; and

a charging cavity defined between the first and second conductors configured to receive the rechargeable device body for charging in more than one orientation when the lid is in the closed position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a separable pin assembly configured to electrically couple the second conductor and a power supply when the lid is in the closed position and to electrically disconnect the second conductor from the power supply when the lid is in the open position.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first and second conductors each define a flexible charging surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a controller coupled to the base and configured to sense a communication current from the rechargeable device body.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a visual indicator configured to provide an indication of at least one of a charging progress, a charging error, and a cleaning reminder in response to the communication current when the lid is in the closed position with the rechargeable device body in the charging cavity.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the base comprises a second set of compressible first and second conductors and the visual indicator provides a separate indication associated with each set of compressible conductors.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the base comprises a well, the well positioned laterally relative to the charging cavity to receive a non-charging portion of the rechargeable device extending from the rechargeable device body when the lid is in the closed position.