Battery charger for portable devices and related methods

• US 8,610,397 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Purdy, Michael L., Bayne, Ryan Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US13/357,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/106, 320/132, 320/134, 320155-159, 320162-164
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

A battery charger may include a charger connector to be coupled to a corresponding device connector of a portable device including a rechargeable battery. The battery charger may also include a charging circuit connected to the charger connector, and a controller connected to the charger connector and the charging circuit. The controller may be for causing a portable device connected to the charger connector to identify its corresponding portable device type and its corresponding rechargeable battery type from among a plurality of different portable device types and different battery types, and for causing the charging circuit to charge the rechargeable battery based thereon.

Claims

1. A battery charger for a portable wireless communications device, the portable wireless communications device including a rechargeable battery and a wireless communications transceiver coupled thereto, the portable wireless communications device and rechargeable battery each respectively having a portable device type and a rechargeable battery type associated therewith from among a plurality of different portable device types and different rechargeable battery types having respective charging rates, the battery charger comprising:

a charging circuit; and

a controller coupled to said charging circuit and configured to cause the portable wireless communications device to identify its corresponding portable device type and its corresponding rechargeable battery type, and to cause said charging circuit to charge the rechargeable battery based on the respective charging rate thereof.

2. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein different portable device types have at least one different portable device charging parameter;

wherein different battery types have at least one different battery charging parameter; and

wherein said controller is configured to select at least one actual charging parameter to charge the rechargeable battery based upon a comparison of the at least one different portable device charging parameter and at least one different battery charging parameter.

3. The battery charger of claim 2 wherein said controller is configured to select the at least one actual charging parameter based upon a limiting one of the at least one different portable device charging parameter and the at least one different battery charging parameter.

4. The battery charger of claim 2 wherein said controller is configured to further cause the portable wireless communications device to identify a battery charge level;

and wherein said controller is configured to further select the at least one actual charging parameter based upon the battery charge level.

5. The battery charger of claim 2 wherein said controller is configured to enter a learning mode for learning the at least one different portable device or battery charging parameter upon receiving a learning mode signal therefrom.

6. The battery charger of claim 2 further comprising at least one memory coupled to said controller and configured to store the at least one different portable device charging parameter and the at least one different battery charging parameter.

7. The battery charger of claim 2 wherein the at least one actual charging parameter comprises at least one of a voltage parameter, and a charging time.

8. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to further provide an error signal to the portable wireless communications device based upon an unknown portable device type or rechargeable battery type.

9. The battery charger of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to monitor said charging circuit to detect a charging error during charging of the rechargeable battery.

10. The battery charger of claim 9 further comprising an indicator connected to said controller and configured to provide an error indication upon detecting the at least one charging error.

11. A battery charging system comprising:

a portable wireless communications device including a rechargeable battery and a wireless communications transceiver coupled thereto, said portable wireless communications device and rechargeable battery each respectively having a portable device type and a rechargeable battery type associated therewith from among a plurality of different portable device types and different rechargeable battery types having respective charging rates; and

a battery charger comprising

a charging circuit, and

a controller coupled to said charging circuit and configured to cause said portable wireless communications device to identify its corresponding portable device type and its corresponding rechargeable battery type, and to cause said charging circuit to charge the rechargeable battery based on the respective charging rate thereof.

12. The battery charging system of claim 11 wherein different portable device types have at least one different portable device charging parameter;

wherein different battery types have at least one different battery charging parameter; and

wherein said controller is configured to select at least one actual charging parameter to charge the rechargeable battery based upon a comparison of the at least one different portable device charging parameter and at least one different battery charging parameter.

13. The battery charging system of claim 12 wherein said controller is configured to select the at least one actual charging parameter based upon a limiting one of the at least one different portable device charging parameter and the at least one different battery charging parameter.

14. The battery charging system of claim 12 wherein said controller is configured to further cause the portable wireless communications device to identify a battery charge level;

and wherein said controller is configured to further select the at least one actual charging parameter based upon the battery charge level.

15. The battery charging system of claim 12 wherein said controller is configured to enter a learning mode for learning the at least one different portable device or battery charging parameter upon receiving a learning mode signal therefrom.

16. The battery charging system of claim 12 further comprising at least one memory coupled to said controller and configured to store the at least one different portable device charging parameter and the at least one different battery charging parameter.

17. The battery charging system of claim 12 wherein the at least one actual charging parameter comprises at least one of a voltage parameter, and a charging time.

18. A battery charging method for a rechargeable battery carried by a portable wireless communications device, the portable wireless communications device and rechargeable battery each respectively having a portable device type and a rechargeable battery type associated therewith from among a plurality of different portable device types and different battery types having respective charging rates, the method comprising:

coupling a charging circuit to the portable wireless communications device to cause the portable wireless communications device to identify its corresponding portable device type and its corresponding rechargeable battery type, and causing the charging circuit to charge the rechargeable battery based on the respective charging rate thereof.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein different portable device types have at least one different portable device charging parameter;

wherein different battery types have at least one different battery charging parameter; and

further comprising selecting at least one actual charging parameter to charge the rechargeable battery based upon a comparison of the at least one different portable device charging parameter and at least one different battery charging parameter.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein selecting comprises selecting the at least one actual charging parameter based upon a limiting one of the at least one different portable device charging parameter and the at least one different battery charging parameter.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising causing the portable wireless communications device to identify a battery charge level of the rechargeable battery;

and wherein selecting comprises selecting the at least one actual charging parameter further based upon the battery charge level.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one actual charging parameter comprises at least one of a voltage parameter and a charging time.