Battery charging for a plurality of different cellular telephone

• US 5,822,427 A
• Filed: 04/04/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellport Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cell Port Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, Patrick J., Volan, Gregory D., Braitberg, Michael F., Andrea, Davide, Hatcher, Lester B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/627,472
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/428, 379/455, 379/446, 379/454, 455/89, 455/90, 455/226, 455/38.3, 455/128, 320/2, 320/13, 320/15, 320/48
• US Class Current: 379/454
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/738 Interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines H04M1/78 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A cellular telephone is interconnected to a host assembly via a cable. The cable contains both appropriate interdisciplinary connections for attachment to the telephone at one end and to the host assembly at the other end via a universal connector. The identity of the particular cellular telephone can be provided to the host assembly by a number of different protocols including the downloading of function-related parameters to the host assembly that are unique to the particular telephone. Accordingly the host assembly can function with any one of a variety of cellular telephones having differently configured cable connections. In one embodiment, a pocket adapter holds the cellular telephone and includes the universal connector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing information related to charging a battery in at least a first cellular telephone, comprising:

first means, separate from the first cellular telephone that has a first battery for powering the first cellular telephone, for providing battery charging requirement for the first battery of the first cellular telephone and in which said first battery charging requirements are different from second battery charging requirements of a second battery of a second cellular telephone, said first means including first memory means for storing information related to said first battery charging requirements that are used in charging the first battery of the first cellular telephone; and

second means separate from but electrically connected to said first means in order to be responsive to said first means for using said information related to said first battery charging requirements obtained from said first memory means, said second means including a processor and in which said first memory means downloads to said processor said information related to said first battery charging requirements when power is turned on to said second means;

wherein, when changing from said second means operating with the first cellular telephone to said second means operating with the second cellular telephone, said first means including said first memory means is replaced by another first means including a second memory means that stores said second battery charging requirements of the second battery of the second cellular telephone.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first means is contained in one of;

a housing mounted to a wall having an electrical outlet and contained in a housing supported on a laterally extending surface.

3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a cable that contains at least one of said first and second means.

4. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first memory means includes a memory chip.

5. An appartus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said information including at least one of an identity of the first cellular telephone and battery charging requirements.

6. A method for charging a first cellular telephone battery that is different from a second cellular telephone battery, comprising:

providing first means including first memory means that stores information related to first battery charging requirements for a first battery of the first cellular telephone;

providing second means including second memory means that stores information related to second battery charging requirements for a second battery of the second cellular telephone, said second battery charging requirements being different from said first battery charging requirements;

operatively associating the first cellular telephone having the first battery with said first means;

operatively associating the second cellular telephone having the second battery with said second means;

inputting said information related to said first battery charging requirements obtained from said first memory means to a processor of third means when power is turned on to said third means and in which said inputting step includes downloading said first battery charging requirements to said processor, wherein the first cellular telephone is removably connected to each of said first means and said third means

wherein said first means including said first memory means has the requirement that, when said third means is to operate with the second battery of the second cellular telephone, said first means including said first memory means is replaced by said second means including said second memory means.