Battery charging system for mobile and accessory device

• US 8,269,453 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ludtke, Harold Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/715,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• 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 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 : with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 : Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

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 battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.

Claims

1. A control circuit for a plurality of rechargeable batteries, where the control circuit:

couples with an electronic device using a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and

using the positive terminal and the negative terminal, negotiates with the electronic device for a first agreed range of power parameters,

determines a configuration for the plurality of rechargeable batteries;

wherein if the control circuit and the electronic device agree on the first range of power parameters, the control circuit configures the plurality of rechargeable batteries and transfers power with the electronic device at the first agreed range of power parameters using the positive terminal and the negative terminal, otherwise the control circuit does not transfer power with the electronic device.

2. The control circuit of claim 1 wherein when the control circuit transfers power with the electronic device, the control circuit supplies power to the electronic device at the first agreed range of power parameters.

3. The control circuit of claim 1 wherein when the control circuit transfers power with the electronic device, the control circuit accepts power from the electronic device at the first agreed range of power parameters.

10. The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the control circuit configures the plurality of rechargeable batteries based at least in part on the first agreed range of power parameters.

11. The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the control circuit configures the plurality of rechargeable batteries in either a series configuration or a parallel configuration.

12. The control circuit of claim 11 wherein the control circuit configures the plurality of rechargeable batteries in either a series configuration or a parallel configuration based at least in part on the first agreed range of power parameters.

4. A rechargeable battery comprising:

a positive terminal and a negative terminal to couple to an electronic device; and

a control circuit to negotiate via the positive terminal and the negative terminal with the electronic device by receiving one or more power parameters from the electronic device, and

if the rechargeable battery can transfer power at one of the one or more power parameters, then providing an acknowledgement regarding the one of the one or more agreed power parameters to the electronic device via the positive terminal and the negative terminal, and transferring power with the electronic device at the one of the one or more agreed power parameters via the positive terminal and the negative terminal, and

if the rechargeable battery can transfer power at more than one of the one or more power parameters, then determining, based at least in part on extending battery life, one of the one or more power parameters at which to transfer power, providing an acknowledgement regarding the one of the one or more agreed power parameters to the electronic device via the positive terminal and the negative terminal, and transferring power with the electronic device at the one of the one or more agreed power parameters via the positive terminal and the negative terminal,

otherwise not transferring power to the electronic device.

5. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein the control circuit further provides a handshake signal to the electronic device and receives an acknowledgment of the handshake signal from the electronic device.

6. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein when the control circuit transfers power with the electronic device, the control circuit accepts power from the electronic device at the first agreed range of power parameters.

7. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein when the control circuit transfers power with the electronic device, the control circuit provides power to the electronic device at the first agreed range of power parameters.

8. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein the one or more power parameters received by the control circuit comprises one or more voltages that the electronic device may accept.

9. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein the one or more power parameters received by the control circuit comprises one or more voltages that the electronic device may provide.

13. The rechargeable battery of claim 4 wherein determining one of the one or more power parameters at which to transfer power is further based at least in part on decreasing charging time.