Host machines for battery charging system

• US 7,671,561 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ludtke, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad; Patrick J
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US11/831,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 320106-108, 320/110, 320/112, 320114-115, 320/132
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a host machine for recharging rechargeable batteries for wireless devices is disclosed. The host machine includes a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a first plurality of rechargeable batteries and a plurality of charging slots configured to couple with a second plurality of rechargeable batteries. The host machine is adapted to provide power to charge the second plurality of rechargeable batteries and to hold in standby a third plurality of rechargeable batteries comprising the second plurality of rechargeable batteries that have been fully charged. According to an embodiment, the host machine is further adapted to join a network of host machines and to share the batteries in standby with each other.

Claims

1. A host machine comprising:

a plurality of charging slots configured to couple to a first plurality of rechargeable batteries and a second plurality of rechargeable batteries;

wherein the host machine;

provides power to charge the first plurality of rechargeable batteries; and

holds in standby the second plurality of rechargeable batteries that have been fully charged,

wherein the host machine communicates with a plurality of wireless devices over a plurality of wireless links and monitors a third plurality of rechargeable batteries by communicating with the plurality of wireless devices, and wherein the plurality of wireless devices are powered by the third plurality of rechargeable batteries,

wherein the host machine maintains a record of charging histories for the first plurality of rechargeable batteries and the second plurality of rechargeable batteries, and

wherein the host machines is on a network of host machines, wherein each host machine on the network accesses charging histories stored on the other host machines on the network.

2. The host machine of claim 1, wherein the host machine finds a battery that needs to be replaced in the first plurality of rechargeable batteries and the second plurality of rechargeable batteries and suggests an ecommerce site that sells rechargeable batteries of a type compatible with the battery.

3. The host machine of claim 1, wherein the host machine finds a first battery in the third plurality of rechargeable batteries that is about to be drained and finds a second battery of a type compatible with the first battery in the first plurality of rechargeable batteries.

4. The host machine of claim 1 wherein the charging of the second plurality of rechargeable batteries optimizes at least one of several criterion, including:

minimizing charging times of rechargeable batteries;

maximizing lifetimes of rechargeable batteries; and

maximizing energy stored in rechargeable batteries.

5. The host machine of claim 1, wherein when a second battery from the first plurality of rechargeable batteries is to be recharged, the host machine determines whether the second battery should undergo a normal charge or reconditioning charge based on the record of charging histories for the second battery.

6. The host machine of claim 5, wherein the host machine resets the charging history of a battery that has its battery core replaced.

11. The host machine of claim 1, wherein the network is a peer-to-peer network, and the host machine queries a remote host machine on the network for the charging histories of a rechargeable battery belonging to the remote host machine.

12. The host machine of claim 1, wherein the network is a server-client network, and the host queries a server for the charging histories of a rechargeable battery belonging to the network.

13. The host machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of charging slots couples to a rechargeable battery through a latching mechanism.

14. The host machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of charging slots couples to a rechargeable battery through a magnetic-based system.

15. The host machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of charging slots couples to a rechargeable battery through an electromagnetic-based system.

16. The host machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of charging slots electrically couples with a rechargeable battery through a plurality of metal contacts.

17. The host machine of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of charging slots electrically couples with a rechargeable battery inductively.

7. A host machine comprising:

a plurality of charging slots configured to couple to a first plurality of rechargeable batteries and a second plurality of rechargeable batteries;

wherein the host machine;

provides power to charge the first plurality of rechargeable batteries; and

holds in standby the second plurality of rechargeable batteries that have been fully charged,

wherein the host machine is on a network including a remote host machine, the remote host machine and the host machine access the charging histories of each other, and

wherein upon detecting that a drained battery in a third plurality of rechargeable batteries needs to be recharged and that none of the first plurality of rechargeable batteries is of a compatible type, the host machine attempts to find a replacement battery from a fourth plurality of rechargeable batteries coupled to the remote host machine on the network that is fully charged and of a compatible type with the drained battery.

8. The host machine of claim 7, wherein the host machine communicates the location of the replacement battery so a user can swap the drained battery with the replacement battery.

18. The host machine of claim 7 wherein the remote host machine is identified by a user-defined list.

19. The host machine of claim 7 wherein the remote host machine is identified by being in physical proximity to the host machine.

9. A host machine comprising:

a plurality of charging slots configured to couple to a first plurality of rechargeable batteries and a second plurality of rechargeable batteries;

wherein the host machine;

provides power to charge the first plurality of rechargeable batteries; and

holds in standby the second plurality of rechargeable batteries that have been fully charged,

wherein the host machine is on a network including remote host machines, wherein the remote host machines and the host machine access the charging histories of each other, and

wherein upon detecting that a drained battery in a third plurality of rechargeable batteries needs to be recharged and that none of the plurality of rechargeable batteries is of a compatible type, the host machine attempts to find a plurality of replacement batteries from a fourth plurality of rechargeable batteries coupled to the remote host machines on the network that are fully charged and of a compatible type with the drained battery.

10. The host machine of claim 9, wherein the host machine orders the plurality of replacement batteries and communicates the locations of the plurality of replacement batteries in accordance with the order the plurality of replacement batteries.