Portable devices having multiple power interfaces

• US 7,868,582 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sander, Wendell B., Warren, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US12/391,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20090179611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/103, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 320/DIG.12, 136/293
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

Portable devices having multiple power interfaces are described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, a portable electronic device includes, but is not limited to, a processor, a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, when executed from the memory, cause the processor to perform one or more functions, a battery coupled to provide power to the processor and the memory, and a battery charging manager coupled to charge the battery using power derived from a plurality of power sources including a solar power source. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. A solar power package for use with an electronic device, the package comprising:

at least one solar cell operable to derive solar power from solar energy; and

a power charger operable to provide the derived solar power to the portable electronic device, wherein the derived solar power is provided in a plug-and-play fashion when the portable electronic device is coupled to the package, and wherein the power charge is operative to adjust the amount of power provided to the portable electronic device based on attributes of the portable electronic device.

2. The solar power package of claim 1, wherein the power charger is further operable to provide the derived solar power to the portable electronic device by charging a battery of the portable electronic device.

3. The solar power package of claim 1, further comprising an accessory battery, wherein:

the power charger is further operable to charge the accessory battery with the derived solar power; and

the accessory battery is operable to provide the derived solar power to the portable electronic device.

4. The solar power package of claim 1, further comprising an accessory battery and wherein the power charger is further operable to concurrently:

provide a first portion of the derived solar power to the portable electronic device; and

charge the accessory battery with a second portion of the derived solar power.

5. The solar power package of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one solar cell is removable from the solar power package.

6. The solar power package of claim 1, wherein the solar power package is capable of being plugged into and removed from the portable electronic device.

7. The solar power package of claim 1, wherein the power charger is further operable to be enabled to provide the derived solar power to the portable electronic device based on the status of the package.

8. A method for providing power to a portable electronic device with a solar power package, the method comprising:

deriving solar power with the solar power package;

determining that the solar power package is coupled to the portable electronic device in a plug-and-play fashion;

adjusting the amount of power provided by the solar power package to the portable electronic device based on attributes of the portable electronic device; and

providing the derived solar power to the portable electronic device in response to determining that the solar power package is coupled to the portable electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining further comprises detecting that the derived solar power is appropriate for the portable electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the providing the derived solar power comprises:

charging a battery of the portable electronic device with the derived solar power.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the derived solar power in an accessory battery of the solar power package, wherein the providing the derived solar power comprises providing the derived solar power stored in the accessory battery.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the solar power package is not coupled to the portable electronic device; and

storing the derived solar power in an accessory battery of the solar power package in response to the determining that the solar power package is not coupled to the portable electronic device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the solar power package is external to the portable electronic device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the portable electronic device comprises one of a media player, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, an image processing device, and a handheld computing device.

15. A power package for providing solar power to an external device, the power package comprising:

a solar power source operable to derive solar power from solar energy; and

an auxiliary battery operable to;

be charged with the derived solar power, wherein the amount of derived solar power provided to the auxiliary battery is adjusted based on attributes of the auxiliary battery; and

provide the derived solar power to the external device in response to the external device being coupled to the power package in a plug-and-play fashion.

16. The power package of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary battery is further operable to provide the derived solar power to the external device in a plug-and-play fashion.

17. The power package of claim 15, wherein:

the auxiliary battery is further operable to provide the derived solar power in response to the external device selecting the power package from at least two power sources; and

the at least two power sources comprise at least one power source that provides power via a network connection, a universal serial bus, a Firewire connection, and a telephone line.

18. The power package of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary battery is further operable to charge an external battery of the external device with the derived solar power.

19. The power package of claim 15, wherein the power package is portable.

20. The power package of claim 15, wherein the plug-and-play fashion comprises:

automatically detecting that the power package is coupled to the external device; and

determining that the derived solar power is appropriate for use in the external device.

21. The power package of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary battery is further operable to concurrently:

be charged with a first portion of the derived solar power; and

provide a second portion of the derived solar power to the external device.