Battery charger/remote control for portable radio devices

• US 4,673,861 A
• Filed: 04/03/1986
• Issued: 06/16/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson GE Mobile Communications Inc (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Dubovsky, George, Garner, Terry N.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/847,685
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 455/89, 455/99, 455/100, 455/345, 455/346
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits

Abstract

A vehicular battery charger connects with a battery powered portable radio via plural electrical contacts including a so-called "universal device connector" (UDC). A battery contact interface is also provided. Battery charging current as well as auxiliary radio operating power is made available at the contact interfaces. In addition, the charger is capable of remotely controlling the modus operandi of the portable radio device so as, if desired, to convert the portable radio device to provide vehicular mobile or fixed base radio operations during the battery charging process. If such modified radio operation is desired, the battery charger detects current being drawn from the external radio power supply source (for supplying power to the radio operating circuits independently of the portable radio battery which is then being charged) and automatically reconfigures the portable radio device as needed to effect the vehicular mobile or fixed base operation.

Claims

1. A vehicular battery charger for a battery powered portable radio, said charger comprising:

battery charging means for providing battery charging current to the radio;

an auxiliary operating power supply for independently providing operating electrical power to the radio during the battery charging operation; and

control means connectable with said radio and capable of selectively providing at least two different electrical impedance values or voltages to said radio so as to enable the radio to sense the value of such connected impedance or voltage and to control its radio functions in a predetermined manner depending upon which impedance or voltage value is selected.

3. A vehicular battery charger as in claim 1 wherein electrical connections to said radio are made, at least in part, via a universal device connector that may be associated with other types of connected accessory devices having other uniquely associated identifying values of electrical impedances or voltages connected to a predetermined connection point and including electrical connections for effecting remote radio operations via external antenna, speaker or microphone devices.

2. A vehicular battery charger for a battery powered portable radio, said charger comprising:

battery charging means for providing battery charging current to the radio;

an auxiliary operating power supply for independently providing operating electrical power to the radio during the battery charging operation; and

control means connectable with said radio and capable of selectively providing at least two different electrical impedance values or voltages to said radio so as to enable the radio to sense the value of such connected impedance or voltage and to control its radio functions in a predetermined manner depending upon which impedance or voltage value is selected;

wherein said remote control means includes a voltage summing node having one input conjunctively determined by (1) whether the auxiliary power supply is actually supplying current to the portable radio and (2) whether a separate switch is in a predetermined state.

4. A battery charger for connection with a battery powered portable radio via plural electrical contacts to recharge the radio battery and to remotely control the operation of the radio during such recharging process, said battery charger comprising:

a connection interface of plural electrical contacts mated with those of the portable radio;

a battery charger means supplying battery charging current to a predetermined first one of said electrical contacts;

a control means for connecting either of two different predetermined voltages or impedances to a predetermined second one of said electrical contacts representing the connected presence of the charging circuits and a predetermined condition of the radio operating circuits during the charging process;

an external power supply for supplying radio operating power to a predetermined third one of said electrical contacts; and

further of said electrical contacts being available for connection with an external antenna, an external speaker or an external microphone so as to convert the portable radio to provide vehicular mobile or fixed-base radio operations during the battery charging process.

5. A battery charger for connection with a battery powered portable radio via plural electrical contacts to recharge the radio battery and to remotely control the operation of the radio during such recharging process, said battery charger comprising:

a connection interface of plural electrical contacts mated with those of the portable radio;

a battery charger means supplying battery charging current to a predetermined first one of said electrical contacts;

a control means for connecting either of two different predetermined voltages or impedances to a predetermined second one of said electrical contacts representing the connected presence of the charging circuits and a predetermined condition of the radio operating circuits during the charging process;

an external power supply for supplying radio operating power to a predetermined third one of said electrical contacts; and

further of said electrical contacts being available for connection with an external antenna, an external speaker or an external microphone so as to convert the portable radio to provide vehicular mobile or fixed-base radio operations during the battery charging process;

said bettery charger being connected to a portable radio device which includes means for (1) detecting a first predetermined voltage or impedance on said second contact and responsively effecting at least one predetermined radio function via further electrical contacts of said interface and (2) detecting a second predetermined voltage or impedance on said second contact and responsively disabling at least one portable radio function so as to make the radio appear in an "off" condition.