Charging display system

• US 7,772,802 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Telek, Michael J., Lawther, Joel S., Manico, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/738,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/106, 320/107, 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A charging display system and method for operating a display system are provided with the method comprising sensing the presence of a wirelessly rechargeable device proximate to or on a surface through which a presentation area of a display can present image information; identifying a type of the wirelessly rechargeable device; obtaining device representation having features that are related to a portion of the presentation area that can be occupied by the presence of the identified type of rechargeable device; determining a position and orientation of the rechargeable device proximate to or on the surface; and segmenting the presentation area into a wirelessly rechargeable device portion and a graphic presentation portion outside of the determined of the rechargeable device portion. A wireless power signal is transmitted through the rechargeable device portion and graphic information related to the rechargeable device is displayed in the graphic presentation portion.

Claims

1. A method for operating a charging display system, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing the presence of a wirelessly rechargeable device proximate to or on a surface through which a presentation area of a display can present image information;

identifying a type of the wirelessly rechargeable device;

obtaining a device representation having features that are related to a portion of the presentation area that can be occupied by the presence of the identified type of rechargeable device proximate to or on the surface;

determining a position and orientation of the wirelessly rechargeable device proximate to or on the surface;

segmenting the presentation area into a wirelessly rechargeable device portion determined by mapping the obtained device representation at the determined position and orientation and allocating at least part of any remaining available presentation area to be a graphic presentation portion outside of the determined wirelessly rechargeable device portion;

transmitting a wireless power signal through the wirelessly rechargeable device portion to recharge the wirelessly rechargeable device; and

displaying graphic information related to the wirelessly rechargeable device in at least a part of the graphic presentation portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of disabling the display within the wirelessly rechargeable device portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic information represents the status of a data interaction or a recharging interaction between the wirelessly rechargeable device and the charging display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic information includes an indicia representing a human controllable input and further comprising the steps of sensing a user input action related to the indicia representing a human controllable input and generating an input signal based upon the sensed user input action.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a particular portion is associated with the human controllable input;

wherein the human controllable input is used in controlling charging or data transfer between the wirelessly rechargeable device and the charging display system, and wherein an interaction option is selected from a plurality of available interactions defining interactions between the charging display and the wirelessly rechargeable device or is executed based upon the user input action related to the indicia.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensed user input action comprises contact with a portion of the contact surface in which the indicia representing the user input control is located.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic information is adapted to fit within the presentation portion.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a way to charge the wirelessly rechargeable device based upon the determined type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic information is determined, at least in part, by a selected one of a plurality of interaction options defining interactions between the charging display and the wirelessly rechargeable device with said interaction options being associated with a physical control on the charging display system and wherein graphic information is determined based upon the interaction option and the determined graphic information is presented proximate to the physical control with which it is associated.

10. A charging display system for use with a rechargeable device having a wireless charging capability and a data exchange capability, the display system comprising:

a contact surface against which the wirelessly rechargeable device can be positioned;

a sensor system adapted to sense a type of device, position, and orientation of the wirelessly rechargeable device, to generate a signal from which the type, position, and orientation of the wirelessly rechargeable device can be determined;

a display presenting graphic information viewable in a presentation area through the contact surface;

a power signal generator circuit capable of generating a wireless power signal that is adapted to charge the rechargeable device without use of a connector to the rechargeable device;

a communication system adapted to exchange data with the rechargeable device without use of a connector to the rechargeable device; and

a display control system adapted to cooperate with the sensor system to determine the type, position, and orientation of the wirelessly rechargeable device proximate to or on the contact surface and to segment the presentation area into a wirelessly rechargeable device portion determined by mapping the obtained device graphical representation at the determined position and orientation and allocating at least part of any remaining available presentation area to a graphic presentation portion outside of the determined rechargeable device portion;

wherein the display control system further causes the power signal generator circuit to transmit a wireless power signal through a rechargeable device portion and causes the display to present graphic information related to the rechargeable device in at least a part of the graphic presentation portion.

11. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein the contact surface is integrated with the sensor system and is adapted to sense contact with an object.

12. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein the sensor system comprises an optical system that senses deflection of the contact surface by detecting a change in light traveling along a path that is influenced by deflection of the contact surface.

13. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein the wirelessly rechargeable device has a wireless charging capability in the form of a sensing circuit that receives power from an inductive coupling, and wherein said charging circuit comprises an arrangement of inductors that are adapted to provide an electrical field within which the wirelessly rechargeable device can receive power, and wherein said sensing circuit detects which of the inductors is supplying power to the rechargeable device.

14. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein the power signal generator circuit is adapted to generate the power signal in a form that will pass through the display and the surface with no more than a limited level of interference with the function of the display or sensor system.

15. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein said control system is further adapted to generate graphic information having at least one user interface feature that is associated with the determined type of wirelessly rechargeable device.

16. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein the contact surface has device sensors that are integrated with the contact surface to provide a contact sensitive area on a portion of the contact surface that generally corresponds to the displayable area that is viewable through the contact surface.

17. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein the display graphic information includes user interface indicia that is positioned to suggest assignment of one of a plurality of particular functions to individual ones of a plurality of physical user input controls.

18. The charging display system of claim 10, wherein the contact surface and sensor system are further adapted to be responsive to at least a finger or other body part of the user, or a stylus or other sensable interaction element, and wherein the sensor system generates an output signal that indicates when such contact occurs.

19. The charging display system of claim 15, wherein the displayed graphic information is split into several portions in response to enabling text and controls to fit on a screen.

20. The charging display system of claim 13, wherein the charging circuit has first charging technology interspersed with a second, different charging technology.