Portable power supply device for mobile computing devices

• US 8,234,509 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gioscia, Richard, Chatterjee, Manjirnath, Tang, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bae, Ji H
• Application Number:
  US12/621,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable power supply device for a mobile computing device is provided. The portable power supply device comprises a retention structure to retain the mobile computing device, a power source, and an inductive signal interface. The inductive signal interface is used to inductively signal power from the power source to a corresponding inductive signal interface of the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A portable power supply device for a mobile computing device, the portable power supply device comprising:

a retention structure to retain the mobile computing device;

a power source; and

an inductive signal interface to inductively signal at least power from the power source to a corresponding inductive signal interface of the mobile computing device,

wherein the retention structure comprises a carriage to retain the mobile computing device in sufficient proximity to the inductive signal interface to enable an inductive link to be formed between the portable power supply device and the mobile computing device,

wherein the carriage comprises a pocket structure to retain the mobile computing device, the pocket structure including an opening to receive the mobile computing device, and

wherein the carriage further comprises a flap that extends from or near the opening, and wherein the flap includes one or more coils that comprise at least a portion of the inductive signal interface.

2. The portable power supply device of claim 1, wherein the flap is extendable over the opening to position the one or more coils adjacent to a faç

ade of the mobile computing device that houses one or more coils of the corresponding inductive signal interface.

3. The portable power supply device of claim 2, wherein the flap (i) extends from a back wall of the pocket structure, and (ii) is extendable over the opening to position the one or more coils adjacent to the faç

ade of the mobile computing device.

4. The portable power supply device of claim 2, wherein the flap (i) extends from a back wall of the pocket structure, and (ii) is insertable inward into the opening to position the one or more coils adjacent to the faç

ade of the mobile computing device.

5. The portable power supply device of claim 1, wherein the flap is extendable over the opening to at least partially enclose the mobile computing device.

6. The portable power supply device of claim 1, wherein the one or more coils are circular or oblong.

7. The portable power supply device of claim 1, wherein the one or more coils have a racetrack shape.

8. The portable power supply device of claim 1, further comprising one or more personal attachment mechanisms to enable the portable power supply device to be holstered.

9. The portable power supply device of claim 1, wherein the portable power supply device includes logic to implement a power supply protocol to supply power to the mobile computing device based on a power supply need of the mobile computing device.

10. The portable power supply device of claim 9, wherein the inductive signal interface is to exchange data, including to receive data that indicates a power requirement of the mobile computing device.

11. The portable power supply device of claim 9, further comprising logic that operates with the inductive signal interface to inductively transmit data that can be used by the mobile computing device to at least one of authenticate and enumerate the portable power supply device.

12. The portable power supply device of claim 9, further comprising logic that operates with the inductive signal interface to inductively receive data from the mobile computing device, the logic using the inductively received data to at least one of authenticate and process enumeration information from the mobile computing device.

13. A power supply comprising:

a power source;

an inductive signal interface to inductively signal power from the power source to a mobile device having a corresponding inductive signal interface; and

a receiving surface to receive the mobile device,

wherein the power supply is to sense the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the receiving surface and communicate information regarding the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the receiving surface to the mobile device; and

wherein the mobile device is to conduct orientation-dependent functionality based at least in part on the information regarding the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the receiving surface received from the power supply.

14. The power supply of claim 13, further comprising at least one magnet to retain the mobile device on the receiving surface.

15. The power supply of claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor to sense the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the receiving surface.

16. The power supply of claim 13, wherein the power supply is to determine a device to connect to based at least in part on the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the receiving surface.

17. The power supply of claim 13, wherein the power supply comprises one or more of a speaker, an antenna, and a storage medium.

18. The power supply of claim 13, wherein the orientation-dependent functionality comprises at least one of adjusting an audio setting of the mobile device, adjusting a display setting of the mobile device, and adjusting a mode of the mobile device.

19. The power supply of claim 13, wherein the power supply is to conduct functionality based at least in part on the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the receiving surface.

20. A power supply comprising:

a power source;

an inductive signal interface to inductively signal power from the power source to a mobile device having a corresponding inductive signal interface; and

a receiving surface to receive the mobile device when the device is placed on the power supply,

wherein the power supply is to receive the mobile device in more than one orientation on the receiving surface and enable the mobile device to detect the orientation of the mobile device on the receiving surface and initiate orientation-dependent functionality, and

wherein the power supply is to receive information regarding the orientation of the mobile device on the receiving surface from the mobile device.

21. The power supply of claim 20, wherein the orientation-dependent functionality comprises adjusting an audio setting of the mobile device based on the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the power supply.

22. The power supply of claim 20, wherein the orientation-dependent functionality comprises adjusting a display setting of the mobile device based on the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the power supply.

23. The power supply of claim 20, wherein the orientation-dependent functionality comprises adjusting a mode of the mobile device based on the orientation of the mobile device with respect to the power supply.

24. The power supply of claim 20, wherein the inductive signal interface is further to inductively signal data between the power supply and the mobile device.

25. The power supply of claim 20, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery module.

26. The power supply of claim 20, further comprising a coupling mechanism to detachably secure the mobile device to the receiving surface.

27. The power supply device 26, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises one or more magnets to magnetically couple with a magnetically attractive material of the mobile device.

28. A portable power supply device for a mobile computing device, the portable power supply device comprising:

a retention structure to retain the mobile computing device;

a power source comprising a rechargeable battery module;

a power input interface to receive power from an external source and to charge the rechargeable battery module; and

an inductive signal interface to inductively signal at least power from the power source to a corresponding inductive signal interface of the mobile computing device,

wherein the retention structure comprises a carriage, and wherein the power input interface includes logic and circuits to charge the mobile computing device when power is received from the external source while the mobile computing device is operatively received in the carriage, and

wherein the logic is configured to prioritize charging the mobile computing device over the rechargeable battery module of the power supply device when power is received from the external source while the mobile computing device is operatively received in the carriage.

29. The portable power supply device of claim 28, wherein the logic is to prioritize charging the mobile computing device over the rechargeable battery module of the power supply device by charging the mobile computing device to a designated threshold before initiating charging of the rechargeable battery module of the power supply device.

30. The portable power supply device of claim 28, wherein the inductive signal interface is further to inductively signal data to the mobile computing device.