Battery charger with sensor-activated light source

• US 8,378,631 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ron, Uri, Bychkov, Eyal
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John A
• Application Number:
  US12/552,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 362/95, 362/183, 362/253, 362/276, 320/107, 320/114
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

A battery charger for an electronic device, including a cable that connects to a source of power at one end, and to an electronic device at the other end, a light emitter connected to the cable, and a sensor connected to the cable and to the light emitter, for activating the light emitter when the sensor detects one or more vicinity light requirements indicating a need for light in the environment of the sensor.

Claims

1. A battery charger for an electronic device, comprising:

a cable that connects to a source of power at one end, and to an electronic device at the other end;

a light emitter connected to said cable; and

a sensor connected to said cable and to said light emitter, for activating said light emitter when the sensor is in proximity of the electronic device, and for deactivating said light emitter when the electronic device is successfully connected to the battery charger.

2. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a handheld device.

3. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is not conveniently carried by hand.

4. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is portable.

5. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is stationary.

6. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said light emitter is powered by the source of power.

7. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said sensor is powered by the source of power.

8. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said light emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED).

9. The battery charger of claim 8 wherein said at least one LED comprises at least one ultraviolet LED.

10. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said light emitter comprises an incandescent light source.

11. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said light emitter comprises a mufti-color light source.

12. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said sensor activates said light emitter in a dark environment.

13. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said sensor activates said light emitter when said sensor is moved.

14. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said sensor activates said light emitter when an object moves in said sensor'"'"'s vicinity.

15. The battery charger of claim 1 further comprising a control for manually activating said light emitter.

16. The battery charger of claim 15 wherein said control is a button.

17. The battery charger of claim 15 wherein said control is a switch.

18. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said sensor deactivates said light emitter when said light emitter has been activated for a time longer than a pre-defined time span.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensor deactivates said light emitter when there is an absence of motion in said sensor'"'"'s vicinity.

20. A battery charger for an electronic device, comprising:

a cable that connects to a source of power at one end, and to an electronic device at the other end;

a light emitter connected to said cable; and

a sensor connected to said cable, for activating said light emitter when the sensor is moved, and for deactivating said light emitter when said light emitter has been activated for a time longer than a pre-defined time span.

21. The battery charger of claim 20 wherein said sensor deactivates said light emitter when the electronic device is successfully connected to the battery charger.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said sensor deactivates said light emitter when there is an absence of motion in said sensor'"'"'s vicinity.