Apparatus and system for charging a portable electronic device

• US 6,650,088 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Webb, William D., Nguyen, Huy
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/131,648
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100, 307/150, D13/103, D13/107
• US Class Current: 320/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging apparatus for a portable rechargeable electronic device is described. The charging apparatus contains a substantially flat conductive surface for receiving the electronic device placed thereon. Small conducting nodules of the device mate with the conductive surface to charge a rechargeable battery of the device. Charging may commence upon placement of the device. The surface may contain a positive and a negative electrode. The surface may have lips placed around the perimeter to form a tray like structure. Synchronization with a host system and the device may occur wirelessly.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus comprising:

a conductive region comprising a flat and substantially planar contactable exposed surface; and

a charge controller electronically coupled to said conductive region for polarity sensing and controlling the charging of a portable electronic device,

wherein said conductive region is adapted to have exposed nodules of said portable electronic device placed thereon to enable said charging of said portable electronic device.

2. The charging apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging is initiated in response to said portable electronic device being placed on said conductive region and wherein said charge controller is for initiating said charging.

3. The charging apparatus of claim 1 wherein said contactable exposed surface comprises a first contactable conductive surface and a second contactable conductive surface.

4. The charging apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first contactable conductive surface and said second contactable conductive surface are each electrodes.

5. The charging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising disposition assistors for providing gross alignment of said portable electronic device with respect to said conductive region.

6. The charging apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first contactable conductive surface is positive and wherein said second contactable conductive surface is negative.

7. The charging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless communication device for wireless synchronization between said portable electronic device and a host device.

8. The charging apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wireless synchronization is initiated in response to said portable electronic device being placed upon said conductive region.

9. A charging apparatus comprising:

a first flat conductive surface;

a second flat conductive surface; and

a charge controller electronically coupled to said first flat conductive surface and said second flat conductive surface, said charge controller for polarity sensing and for controlling charging of a portable electronic device, wherein said portable electronic device is adapted to be placed on said first flat conductive surface and said second flat conductive surface, and wherein said charging controller is adapted to initiate charging of said portable electronic device in response to placement of said portable electronic device upon said surfaces.

10. The charging apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a wireless communication device for wireless synchronization of data between said portable electronic device and a host device.

11. The charging apparatus of claim 10 wherein said wireless communication device is activated and said wireless synchronization is initiated after said portable electronic device is placed upon said surfaces.

12. The charging apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first flat conductive surface is a positive electrode and said second flat conductive surface is a negative electrode.

13. The charging apparatus of claim 10 further comprising alignment lips for gross alignment of said portable electronic device with respect to said surfaces.

14. A charger comprising:

a first substantially planar electrode surface;

a second substantially planar electrode surface electrically isolated from said first substantially planar electrode surface, said electrode surfaces for electrically contacting nodules of a portable electronic device for charging a rechargeable energy source therein;

a charge controller coupled to said electrode surfaces and for determining a polarity thereof based on a determined polarity of said nodules, said charge controller for establishing said charging upon placement of said portable electronic device on said electrode surfaces.

15. A charger as described in claim 14 further comprising mechanical lips disposed around said electrode surfaces forming a tray therewith for receiving said portable electronic device therein.

16. A charger as described in claim 14 further comprising a wireless device for allowing wireless synchronization between said portable electronic device and a host computer system.

17. A charger as described in claim 16 wherein said synchronization is initiated upon said placement.

18. A charger as described in claim 14 wherein said nodules are conducting tips disposed along one side of said portable electronic device.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 16 further comprising a wireless communication device for wireless synchronization between said portable electronic device and a host device.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 22 wherein said wireless communication device is a Bluetooth wireless device.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 22 wherein placement of said portable electronic device on said electrode initiates said wireless synchronization.

31. The charging system of claim 23 wherein said contactable conductive element of said portable electronic device comprises a first nodule and a second nodule.

19. A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor coupled to a bus;

a memory coupled to said bus;

a rechargeable energy source; and

a contactable conductive element to said bus and said renewable energy source and externally disposed on said portable electronic device, said conductive element configured to contact a flat planar charging electrode for charging said renewable energy source.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 19 wherein said contactable conductive element comprises a first nodule and a second nodule.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 19 wherein said first nodule is adapted to contact a positive flat electrode and wherein said second nodule is adapted to contact a flat negative electrode.

25. A charging system comprising:

a charging apparatus comprising;

a conductive flat surface; and

a charge controller electronically coupled to said conductive flat surface for polarity sensing and for controlling the charging of a portable electronic device; and

wherein said portable electronic device comprises;

a rechargeable energy source; and

a contactable conductive element coupled to said rechargeable energy source, said contactable conductive element externally disposed on said portable electronic device, said conductive element configured to contact said conductive flat surface;

wherein said charging apparatus is adapted to have said portable electronic device placed thereon to initiate said charging of said portable electronic device.

26. The charging system of claim 25 wherein said conductive flat surface comprises a first contactable flat surface and a second contactable flat surface.

27. The charging system of claim 26 wherein said first contactable flat surface and said second contactable flat surface each comprise a respective electrode.

28. The charging system of claim 27 wherein said first contactable flat surface is a positive electrode and wherein said second contactable flat surface is a negative electrode.

29. The charging system of claim 25 wherein said charging apparatus further comprising a wireless communication device for wirelessly synchronizing said portable electronic device and a host device.

30. The charging system of claim 29 wherein said wireless synchronization is initiated in response to said portable electronic device being placed upon said charging apparatus.

32. The charging system of claim 30 wherein said first nodule is a positive electrode and said second nodule is a negative electrode.

33. The charging system of claim 25 wherein said portable electronic device further comprises a wireless communication device for wireless synchronization of said portable electronic device with a host device.

34. The charging system of claim 33 wherein said wireless communication device is a Bluetooth wireless device.

35. The charging system of claim 34 wherein placement of said portable electronic device on said charging apparatus initiates said wireless communication device.