Wearable docking-holster system, with energy management, to support portable electronic devices
First Claim
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1. A docking holster for use with a power-intensive portable electronic device, comprising:
- means for attaching the holster to an article of attire of the user;
a body of the holster defining an open cavity for receiving the electronic device, the cavity having an interior surface, at least two conductive contacts disposed on the interior surface of the cavity to mate with respective conductive contacts of the electronic device;
a supplemental battery pack mounted in the holster and electrically coupled to the conductive contacts on the interior surface of the cavity; and
a power management circuit, mounted in the holster, for selectively coupling the supplemental battery pack to the conductive contacts of the holster.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A holster for a handheld, power intensive electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, incorporates within it a supplemental battery pack. The supplemental battery pack is used to recharge or maintain main, onboard battery pack of the cellular telephone and also to power certain supplemental circuits. The use of the docking-holster at least doubles the useful life of the device battery, which may be kept conveniently small.
275 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A docking holster for use with a power-intensive portable electronic device, comprising:
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means for attaching the holster to an article of attire of the user;
a body of the holster defining an open cavity for receiving the electronic device, the cavity having an interior surface, at least two conductive contacts disposed on the interior surface of the cavity to mate with respective conductive contacts of the electronic device;
a supplemental battery pack mounted in the holster and electrically coupled to the conductive contacts on the interior surface of the cavity; and
a power management circuit, mounted in the holster, for selectively coupling the supplemental battery pack to the conductive contacts of the holster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A docking unit for a handheld, power-intensive electronic device, the electronic device having a rechargeable battery and at least two electrical power contacts, the docking unit comprising:
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a receiving surface of the docking unit adapted to receive the electronic device, at least first and second contacts disposed on the receiving surface of the cavity for connection to respective ones of the electrical power contacts of the electronic device;
a supplemental battery mounted on the docking unit and coupled to the first and second contacts for delivering power to the main battery; and
a power management circuit mounted in the docking unit, the power management circuit selectively coupling the supplemental battery to the first and second contacts, the power management circuit including a sensor for periodically sensing the amount of charge of the main battery, a current value store of the power management circuit storing a standby current value and a fast charge current value, the power management circuit entering a shutdown mode and cutting power to the electronic device if the sensed current is less than the standby current value, the power management circuit entering a standby mode if the sensed current is greater than or equal to the standby current value but less than the fast charge current value and delivering a controlled amount of power which is less than a maximum optimum amount of power to the electronic device, the power management circuit entering into a fast charge mode if the sensed current is greater than or equal to the fast charge current value and delivering the maximum optimum amount of power to the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A docking unit for a portable electronic device, the docking unit comprising:
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a receiving surface adapted to receive the electronic device;
at least two conductive contacts for electrically connecting to the electronic device;
a supplemental battery mounted in the docking unit; and
a power management circuit, mounted in the docking unit, for selectively coupling the supplemental battery to the conductive contacts, a current sensor of the power management circuit periodically sensing the current demanded by the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A docking holster for a wireless communications device having a rechargeable main battery and at least two power contacts, the docking holster comprising:
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a body of the holster having a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface defining an open cavity for receiving the wireless communications device, the cavity having an interior surface;
at least two conductive contacts disposed on the interior surface of the cavity to mate with the power contacts of the wireless communications device;
a supplemental battery pack mounted on the rear surface of the body of the holster;
a clip mounted on the rear surface of the body of the holster for attaching the holster to an article of attire of the user;
a pair of recharger contacts; and
a power management circuit mounted in the docking holster, the power management circuit including a charge control circuit for selectively coupling the supplemental battery pack to the recharger contacts for recharging the supplemental battery pack, a charge sensor for sensing the current going through at least one of the conductive contacts, and a discharge controller selectively coupling the supplemental battery pack to the conductive contacts as a function of the sensed current. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification