Apparatuses and methods that facilitate the transfer of power and information among electrical devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus that facilitates the charging of a first battery powered device and a second battery powered device, comprising:
- a first port that electrically couples the first battery powered device to the apparatus;
a second port that electrically couples a second battery powered device to the apparatus;
a third port that electrically couples a third device to the apparatus; and
a microcontroller that;
prevents a battery of the first device coupled to the first port from supplying power to a battery of the second device coupled to the second port when it is determined that the first and second devices are coupled to their respective first and second ports, but the third device is not coupled to the third port, and the first device is capable of supplying power to the second device;
selecting one of at least two communications modes for the second device when the second device is determined to be coupled to the second port; and
enables the first port to supply power to the second port when the first, second, and third devices are coupled to their respective first, second, and third ports, wherein a voltage level of a power signal provided to the second port is controlled based on the selected communications mode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer readable media that can facilitate the transfer of power between at least two electrical devices. At least one of the electrical devices is preferably a battery operated device. The present invention may also be used to facilitate the transfer of information among electrical devices. For example, the present invention may be used to automatically pair two Bluetooth devices together.
45 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus that facilitates the charging of a first battery powered device and a second battery powered device, comprising:
-
a first port that electrically couples the first battery powered device to the apparatus; a second port that electrically couples a second battery powered device to the apparatus; a third port that electrically couples a third device to the apparatus; and a microcontroller that; prevents a battery of the first device coupled to the first port from supplying power to a battery of the second device coupled to the second port when it is determined that the first and second devices are coupled to their respective first and second ports, but the third device is not coupled to the third port, and the first device is capable of supplying power to the second device; selecting one of at least two communications modes for the second device when the second device is determined to be coupled to the second port; and enables the first port to supply power to the second port when the first, second, and third devices are coupled to their respective first, second, and third ports, wherein a voltage level of a power signal provided to the second port is controlled based on the selected communications mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
10. A method that facilitates the charging of at least one battery powered electrical device using an apparatus comprising a first port, a second port, and a third port, the method comprising:
-
determining whether a first device, second device, or third device are electrically coupled to respective first, second, and third ports; selecting one of at least two communications modes for the second device when the second device is determined to be coupled to the second port; preventing a battery of the first device coupled to the first port from supplying power to a battery of the second device coupled to the second port when it is determined that the first and second devices are coupled to their respective first and second ports, but the third device is not coupled to the third port, and the first device is capable of supplying power to the second device; and enabling the first port to supply power to the second port when the first, second, and third devices are coupled to their respective first, second, and third ports, wherein a voltage level of a power signal provided to the second port is controlled based on the selected communications mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification