System and method for charging an electronic device

• US 8,432,483 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, Joseph Yao-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Nhan T
• Application Number:
  US12/837,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 348/372, 348/375, 348/373, 348/376, 348/207.99, 320/103, 320/108, 320/115
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/007 Details of energy supply or management

Abstract

A method that includes determining that a device mount power supply included within a device mount is compatible with an electronic device power supply included in an electronic device. The method further includes receiving power transferred from the device mount power supply via a power connection that is provided by a device mounting adapter that is affixed to the device mount and configured to couple the electronic device and the device mount and align the electronic device and the device mount to facilitate charging the electronic device power supply; and charging the electronic device power supply with power received from the device mount power supply via the power connection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a device mount power supply included within a device mount is compatible with an electronic device power supply included in an electronic device;

receiving power transferred from the device mount power supply via a first inductive power connection that is located within a male device mounting adapter, wherein an outside surface of the male device mounting adapter forms a screw that is affixed into a female receptacle of the electronic device, wherein the screw is configured to align the first inductive power connection to a second inductive power connection located in the electronic device to facilitate charging the electronic device power supply; and

charging the electronic device power supply with power received from the device mount power supply via the first inductive power connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein affixing the male device mounting adapter to the female receptacle is configured to secure the electronic device to the device mount as an orientation of the electronic device changes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device mount comprises a base portion and a plurality of legs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device mount power supply comprises one or more batteries.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more batteries are removable from the device mount.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more batteries are rechargeable and are not removable from the device mount.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving control commands transmitted from the device mount via the power connection.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control commands cause the electronic device to execute one or more camera functions including at least one of a play function, a pause function, a fast-forward function, a rewind function, and a record function.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device mount includes one or more interface buttons configured to receive user input associated with the one or more camera functions.

10. A device mount, comprising:

a first power supply configured to transfer power to a second power supply included in a electronic device via a first inductive power connection; and

a male device mounting adapter comprising an outside surface forming a screw, wherein the screw is configured to mate with a female receptacle of the electronic device, thereby coupling the electronic device to the device mount,

wherein the first inductive power connection is located within the male device mounting adapter,

wherein the second power supply is charged with the power received from the first power supply, and

wherein the male device mounting adapter facilitates proper alignment of the electronic device and the device mount for charging purposes by aligning the first inductive power connection with a second inductive power connection in the electronic device.

11. The device mount of claim 10, wherein the device mount comprises a tripod.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a first power supply configured to receive power from a second power supply included in a device mount via a first inductive power connection; and

an female receptacle configured to receive a male device mounting adapter comprising an outside surface forming a screw that couples the electronic device to the device mount,

wherein a second inductive power connection in the electronic device is configured to receive power from the first inductive power connection located within the male device mounting adapter,

wherein the first power supply is charged with the power received from the second power supply, and

wherein the male device mounting adapter facilitates proper alignment of the electronic device and the device mount for charging purposes by aligning the first inductive power connection with the second inductive power connection.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the device mount comprises a tripod.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the electronic device comprises a digital video camcorder.