Entering a battery power down mode using over-the-air command for wireless devices

• US 8,571,608 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Esnard, Domitille, Wyper, George Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LINH V
• Application Number:
  US12/611,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/67.7, 455/67.14, 455/423, 455/573
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A wireless electronic device includes a rechargeable battery, a receiver, and a shut down module. The rechargeable battery is at least partially charged. The receiver is configured to enable wireless communications for the wireless device. The receiver is capable of receiving wireless commands configured to cause corresponding functions to be performed in the wireless electronic device, which may include test functions, calibration functions, and shut down functions. The shut down module is configured to cause the wireless electronic device to initiate a shut down protocol according to a shut down command received by the receiver.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at least partially charging a rechargeable battery of a manufactured wireless electronic device, wherein the wireless electronic device does not include a wired communication interface; and

transmitting at least one wireless command to the wireless electronic device that is configured to cause a function to be performed in the wireless electronic device, said transmitting at least one command including transmitting a shut down command to the wireless device to perform a shut down function in the wireless electronic device, the shut down command causing the rechargeable battery to transition to a low power mode configured to reduce self-discharge;

the wireless electronic device leaving a manufacturing facility in which the wireless electronic device was manufactured subsequent to said transmitting the shut down command to the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting at least one wireless command comprises:

transmitting a calibration command to the wireless electronic device to perform a calibration function in the wireless electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting at least one wireless command comprises:

transmitting a test command to the wireless electronic device to perform a test function in the wireless electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting a shut down command comprises:

transmitting a shut down command to the wireless electronic device that is configured to cause the wireless electronic device to initiate a shut down protocol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the shut down protocol causes the wireless electronic device to enter a low power mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a wireless response to the transmitted wireless command from the wireless electronic device prior to said enabling.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at least partially charging the rechargeable battery of the manufactured wireless electronic device with a charge voltage; and

enabling the wireless electronic device to transition from a low power mode to a normal operation mode.

7. A method in a wireless electronic device, comprising:

receiving a current that at least partially charges a rechargeable battery of the wireless electronic device;

receiving at least one wireless command at the wireless electronic device configured to cause a function to be performed in the wireless electronic device, wherein the wireless electronic device does not include a wired communication interface, said receiving at least one wireless command including receiving a shut down command at the wireless electronic device to perform a shut down function in the wireless electronic device, the shut down command causing the rechargeable battery to transition to a low power mode configured to reduce self-discharge; and

performing the function prior to the wireless electronic device leaving a manufacturing facility in which the wireless electronic device was manufactured.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving at least one wireless command comprises:

receiving a calibration command to the wireless electronic device to perform a calibration function in the wireless electronic device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving at least one wireless command comprises:

receiving a test command to the wireless electronic device to perform a test function in the wireless electronic device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving a shut down command comprises:

receiving a shut down command that is configured to cause the wireless electronic device to initiate a shut down protocol.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said performing comprises:

performing the shut down protocol to cause the wireless electronic device to enter a low power mode.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a wireless response to the transmitted wireless command from the wireless electronic device prior to said enabling.

19. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a charge voltage at the rechargeable battery from a battery charger after leaving the manufacturing facility; and

transitioning from a low power mode to a normal operation mode.

13. A wireless electronic device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery that is at least partially charged;

a receiver configured to enable wireless communications for the wireless device, the receiver being capable of receiving wireless commands configured to cause corresponding functions to be performed in the wireless electronic device, the wireless electronic device not including a wired communication interface; and

a shut down module configured to cause the wireless electronic device to initiate a shut down protocol according to a shut down command received by the receiver, the shut down module configured to cause the rechargeable battery to transition to a low power mode that is configured to reduce self-discharge of the rechargeable battery in response to the shut down command.

14. The wireless electronic device of claim 13, further comprising:

a calibration module configured to perform a calibration function in the wireless electronic device according to a calibration command received by the receiver.

15. The wireless electronic device of claim 13, further comprising:

a test module configured to perform a test function in the wireless electronic device according to a test command received by the receiver.

16. The wireless electronic device of claim 13, wherein the shut down module is configured to cause the wireless electronic device to enter a low power mode.

17. The wireless electronic device of claim 13, further comprising:

a transmitter capable of transmitting a wireless response to a received wireless command.

20. The wireless electronic device of claim 13, wherein the shut down module is configured to cause the wireless electronic device to enter a normal operation mode when a charge voltage is received.