ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CHARGING BATTERIES OF A PLURALITY OF PORTIONS

• US 20200136422A1
• Filed: 10/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Woochul, JEONG, Eunsu, CHO, Byunghun, JEONG, Mihyun, JUNG, Minsung, JUNG, Woocheol, CHOI, Jaewoong
• Granted Patent: US 11,349,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A first electronic device is provided. The first electronic device, comprises [MD2] a first communication module, a first battery configured to supply power to the first electronic device, a first power management module connected and configured to control the first battery, a first power transfer module, and a first processor operationally connected with the first communication module, the first power management module, and the first power transfer module, wherein the first communication module is configured to identify a remaining capacity of a second battery in the second electronic device, and wherein the first processor is configured to, when a remaining capacity of the first battery is greater than the remaining capacity of the second battery by greater than or equal to a specified threshold value, transfer at least a portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device using the first power transfer module.

Claims

1. A first electronic device, comprising:

a first communication module;

a first battery configured to supply power to the first electronic device;

a first power management module connected and configured to control the first battery;

a first power transfer module; and

a first processor operationally connected with the first communication module, the first power management module, and the first power transfer module,

wherein the first communication module is configured to identify a remaining capacity of a second battery in a second electronic device, and

wherein the first processor is configured to;

when a remaining capacity of the first battery is greater than the remaining capacity of the second battery by greater than or equal to a specified threshold value, transfer at least a portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device using the first power transfer module.

2. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device further comprises a first transmit coil connected with the first power transfer module,

wherein the first transmit coil is configured to magnetically induce power to a second coil in the second electronic device.

3. The first electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first electronic device further comprises a first switch disposed between the first power transfer module and the first transmit coil, and

wherein, when transmitting the at least portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device, the first switch connects the first power transfer module and the first transmit coil.

4. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein, the first communication module is configured to indicate the remaining capacity of the first battery to the second electronic device.

5. The first electronic device of claim 4, wherein, when the remaining capacity of the second battery in the second electronic device is higher than the remaining capacity of the first battery by the threshold value or more, the first power management module is configured to receive a predetermine portion of power from the second battery.

6. The first electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first power receiving unit configured to engage in magnetic induction with a charger to charge the first battery.

7. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first processor is configured to control specified threshold.

8. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is detachably connected with the second electronic device by a magnetic member,

wherein the first electronic device has a ball shape, and

wherein the second electronic device has a ring shape which surrounds the first electronic device.

9. A first electronic device, comprising:

a first communication module;

a first battery configured to supply power to the first electronic device;

a first power management module configured to control the first battery;

a first power transfer module; and

a first processor operationally connected with the first communication module, the first power management module, and the first power transfer module,

wherein, when the first battery is fully charged, the first communication module is configured to identify a remaining capacity of a second battery in a second electronic device and the first processor is configured to transfer at least a portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device using the first power transfer module.

10. The first electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a first transmit coil connected with the first power transfer module,

wherein the first transmit coil is configured to engage in magnetic induction.

11. The first electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a first switch disposed between the first power transfer module and the first transmit coil, and

wherein, when transmitting the at least the portion of the power of the first battery, the first switch connects the first power transfer module and the first transmit coil.

12. The first electronic device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first power receiving unit configured to receive power wirelessly from a charger and configured to charge the first battery.

13. The first electronic device of claim 12, wherein, when the first battery and the second battery are fully charged, the first power receiving unit is disconnected from a charging device.

14. The first electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first processor is configured to control a threshold value.

15. The first electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a magnet and detachably connected to the second electronic device by the magnet,

wherein the first electronic device has a ball shape, and

wherein the second electronic device has a ring shape which surrounds the first electronic device.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a first electronic device; and

a second electronic device detachably connected with at least a partial region of the first electronic device,

wherein the first electronic device includes;

a first combination member;

a first coil;

a first communication module;

a first battery configured to supply power to the first electronic device;

a first power transfer module configured to transfer at least a portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device;

a first power reception module configured to receive power from the second electronic device and charge the first battery; and

a first processor operationally connected with the first communication module, the first power reception module, and the first power transfer module,

wherein the second electronic device includes;

a second combination member;

a second coil;

a second communication module;

a second battery configured to supply power to the second electronic device;

a second power transfer module configured to transfer at least a portion of the power of the second battery to the first electronic device;

a second power reception module configured to receive power from the first electronic device and charge the second battery; and

a second processor operationally connected with the second communication module, the first power transfer module, and the second power reception module,

wherein the second electronic device is combined with the at least partial region of the first electronic device using the first combination member and the second combination member, and the first coil and the second coil are disposed adjacent to each other, and

wherein the first processor or the second processor is configured to;

identify a first level which is remaining capacity of the first battery and a second level which is remaining capacity of the second battery; and

when a difference value between the first level and the second level is greater than or equal to a specified threshold value, transfer the at least portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device using the first power transfer module, the first coil, and the second coil or transfer the at least portion of the power of the second battery to the first electronic device using the second power transfer module, the first coil, and the second coil.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first coil and the second coil are coupled in a magnetic induction mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first electronic device further includes a first switch disposed between the first power transfer module and the first transmit coil,

wherein the second electronic device further includes a second switch disposed between the second power transfer module and the second coil,

wherein, when transmitting the at least portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device, the first switch connects the first power transfer module and the first coil, and

wherein, when transmitting the at least portion of the power of the second battery to the first electronic device, the second switch connects the second power transfer module and the second coil.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first communication module or the second communication module is configured to:

identify the first level and the second level; and

transfer the at least portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device using the first coil and the second coil or transfer the at least portion of the power of the second battery to the first electronic device using the second power transfer module, the first coil, and the second coil by communicating in an in-band manner.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first communication module or the second communication module is configured to:

identify the first level and the second level; and

transfer the at least portion of the power of the first battery to the second electronic device using the first power transfer module or transfer the at least portion of the power of the second battery to the first electronic device using the second power transfer module by communicating in an out-band manner.