Automatic cellular phone battery charging by mobile personal computer using configuration write data and storage element for charging in accordance to battery charging parameter
First Claim
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1. A PCMCIA card comprising:
- a) a first connector for mating with a receiver socket of a computer, and for receiving first DC power at a first voltage level and configuration write data from the computer through the receiver socket;
b) cellular phone battery charging circuitry, including a DC to DC converter and a storage element, coupled to the first connector for receiving the first DC power and the configuration write data, and in response, either disabling the DC--DC converter or enabling the DC--DC converter to convert the first DC power to second DC power at a second voltage level in accordance to battery charging parameter information received, and output the second DC power;
c) a second connector coupled to the cellular phone battery charging circuitry for coupling the cellular phone battery charging circuitry to a battery characteristic encoder for receiving the battery charging parameter information from the battery characteristic encoders, and passing on the battery charging parameter information to the cellular phone battery charging circuitry, and for coupling the cellular phone battery charging circuitry to a cellular phone battery to charge the cellular phone battery with the second DC power.
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Abstract
A PCMCIA card having cellular phone battery charging circuitry, and an adapter cable having a PCMCIA card connector equipped with a battery characteristic encoder, are provided to charge a cellular phone battery, using power supplied by a mobile PC, in accordance to battery characteristic information provided by the battery characteristic encoder. Starting and stopping of charging operation is preferably controlled by mobile PC. Furthermore, starting and stopping of charging operation is preferably automated with charging software application executing on mobile PC.
51 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A PCMCIA card comprising:
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a) a first connector for mating with a receiver socket of a computer, and for receiving first DC power at a first voltage level and configuration write data from the computer through the receiver socket; b) cellular phone battery charging circuitry, including a DC to DC converter and a storage element, coupled to the first connector for receiving the first DC power and the configuration write data, and in response, either disabling the DC--DC converter or enabling the DC--DC converter to convert the first DC power to second DC power at a second voltage level in accordance to battery charging parameter information received, and output the second DC power; c) a second connector coupled to the cellular phone battery charging circuitry for coupling the cellular phone battery charging circuitry to a battery characteristic encoder for receiving the battery charging parameter information from the battery characteristic encoders, and passing on the battery charging parameter information to the cellular phone battery charging circuitry, and for coupling the cellular phone battery charging circuitry to a cellular phone battery to charge the cellular phone battery with the second DC power. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A mobile personal computer (PC) comprising:
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a receiver socket for mating with a PCMCIA card having cellular phone battery charging circuitry that includes a DC--DC converter and a storage element, and for supplying first DC power at a first voltage level and configuration write data to the cellular phone battery charging circuitry, wherein the storage element responsive to the configuration write data enables/disables the DC--DC converter, and when enabled, the DC--DC converter converts the first DC power to a second DC power at a second voltage level in accordance to charging parameter information received, and outputs the second DC power; and control means coupled to the receiver socket for generating the configuration address for the cellular phone battery charging circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer comprising:
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a receiver socket for mating with a PCMCIA card having cellular phone battery charging circuitry that includes a DC--DC converter and a storage element, and for supplying first DC power at a first voltage level and configuration write data to the cellular phone battery charging circuitry, where in the storage element responsive to the configuration write data enables/disables the DC--DC converter, and when enabled, the DC--DC converter converts the first DC power to second DC power at a second voltage level in accordance to charging parameter information received, and outputs the second DC power; control means coupled to the receiver socket for generating the configuration write data for the cellular phone battery charging circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A mobile computing system comprising:
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a) a mobile personal computer (PC) including a first battery for outputting first DC power at a first voltage level; b) a PCMCIA card, including a cellular phone battery charging circuitry that includes a DC--DC converter and a storage element, coupled to the mobile PC for converting the first DC power into second DC power at a second voltage level in accordance to battery charging parameter information provided, and outputting the second DC power, responsive to configuration write data written into the storage element by the mobile PC; and c) a cellular phone adapter cable for providing the battery charging parameter information to the cellular phone battery charging circuitry of PCMCIA card, and for coupling the second DC power to a second battery of a cellular phone for charging the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. In a mobile computing system comprising a cellular phone having a first battery, a method for charging the first battery of cellular phone comprising the steps of:
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a) outputting first DC power at a first voltage level and configuration write data by a mobile PC; b) coupling the first DC power and the configuration write data to cellular phone battery charging circuitry disposed in a PCMCIA card coupled to the mobile PC, wherein the cellular phone battery charging circuitry includes a DC--DC converter and a storage element that enables/disables the DC--DC converter responsive to the configuration write data, and providing the cellular phone battery charging circuitry with battery charging parameter information of the first battery of cellular phone using a battery characteristic encoder disposed in a cellular phone adapter cable coupled to the PCMCIA card; b) enabling the DC--DC converter, then converting the first DC power to second DC power at a second voltage level, and outputting the second DC power in accordance with the battery charging parameter information provided; and c) coupling the second DC power by the cellular phone adapter cable to the first battery of cellular phone and charging the first battery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification