System and method for charging users to recharge power supplies in portable devices

• US 6,756,765 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bruning, Gert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tibbits, Pia
• Application Number:
  US10/266,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/110, 320/111, 307/64, 307/66
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A system and method particularly suited for the re-charging of portable devices includes a charger having a charge port adapted for wired, contact, or contactless re-charging. Although the charger could be wired for connection to an electrical outlet, the charger is preferably wireless, and is either solar powered, or it can operate on batteries or fuel cells. The charger can be enabled/disabled by a payment unit depending on whether or not payment has been received from a user, and whether the amount paid is sufficient. The payment unit permits the charger to provide a charge for a predetermined amount so that the user can contactlessly recharge a device within a predetermined distance of the charge port. The type of device to be recharged and amount of recharge desired can be selected by a user directly, or after receiving a recommendation regarding the optimal/typical amount of recharge to be provided. A wireless charging unit permits recharging of the power source of a device in unconventional locations.

Claims

1. A system for the re-charging power sources of portable devices, comprising:

a charger adapted for recharging a power source of a device by contact, and by at least one of contactless recharging with the power source of the device, said charger including a charge port to which the device needing a power source recharged is arranged on to recharge the power source of the device;

said charger including an energy generation unit for providing energy to recharge a power source of the device, and said charger further includes an enable/disable switch in connection therewith;

a payment unit for receiving payment from a user;

wherein said payment unit after receiving payment enables the enable/disable switch to permit the charger to provide a charge for a so that the user can recharge device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charger comprises a cordless charger that is solar powered, and said energy generation unit includes:

a solar cell arranged on an upper surface of the charger so as not to require connection with a power outlet for operation; and

wherein the solar cell is connected with at least the charge port to provide a recharging to the power source of a device to be recharged.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charger is powered by one of batteries and fuel cells, wherein said one of batteries and fuel cells being arranged in a port for housing a respective one of batteries and fuel cells, and an electrical output of said one of batteries and fuel cells being in electrical contact with the energy generation unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charger is adapted for contactless inductive recharging of the power source of the device wherein the energy generation unit of the charger includes a primary transformer winding;

and

wherein a secondary transformer winding of the device to be charged is coupled with the power source of the device, said secondary transformer receives energy inductively from the primary transformer winding without physically contacting the primary transformer winding, and the secondary transformer winding provides the inductive recharging to the power source.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the charger contactlessly recharges the power source by contactless capacitive charging, wherein the energy generation unit comprises at least a first wire with a voltage thereon and the device being arranged in the charge port so that a portion of the voltage on the wire is transferred to a second wire of the device, wherein said first wire and second wire having air therebetween.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the payment unit includes a card reader for reading at least one of a credit card, smart card, and debit card.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the payment unit includes a keypad for entry of payment/user information, and a display screen to prompt the user and display entries typed by the keypad.

8. The system according to claim 1, further including a service provider for retrieving payment, said service provider being in communication with the payment unit.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the payment unit and the service provider communicate via the Internet.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the payment unit and the service provider communicate via one of a local area network and a wide area network.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the payment unit communicates with an end user'"'"'s account to directly debit payment.

12. The system according to claim 4, wherein the payment unit includes a keypad for entry of payment/user information, and a display screen to prompt the user and display entries typed by the keypad;

and

wherein the charger displays on the screen that the device to be recharged is to be placed near the charge port to optimize recharging of the device.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the display screen of the charger prompts the user to select a power source of the device to be recharged.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein the display screen prompts the user to select the amount of recharge desired.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the amount of recharge to be provided is specified in one of a monetary amount and a time selected by the user.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the amount of recharge to be provided is specified in milliwatt hours.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the charge includes recommended recharging amounts that are displayed on the screen in response to a user selecting the type of device to be recharged.

18. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a template marked with distance to guide the user to place the device within the optimal distance for recharging.

19. A method for recharging a power source of portable devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a charger having a charge port adapted for recharging a power source of a device;

(b) receiving payment from a user by a payment unit to recharge a power source of a device;

(c) enabling the charger to permit recharging of the power source of the device commensurate with the amount of payment received by the payment unit;

wherein the charger permits both contact and contactless recharging of a respective power source.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein step (a) further includes:

(i) prompting a user to identify a type of device to be recharged; and

(ii) providing a user with a recommended charging dependent on the type of device identified in sub-step (a)(i).

21. The method according top claim 19, wherein step (a) further includes:

(i) prompting a user to identify a charge status of batteries used by the device; and

(ii) providing a user with a recommended charging amount based on a charge status of batteries in the device.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein step (a) further includes:

(i) prompting a user to enter a desired amount of recharging.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the amount of recharging is requested as one of (1) time;

and (2) milli/micro-watt hours.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein step (b) further comprises verifying with a service provider that a payment entered by a user is valid.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the service provider is remotely situated and communicated with via the Internet.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein the payment received is one of credit card, smart card and debit card.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein the contactless recharging comprises at least one of capacitive and inductive recharging.