Energy storage device security

• US 8,791,665 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Roy H., Dunworth, Jeremy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/944,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/446 Initial charging measures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to energy storage device security. An energy storage device may include at least one energy storage cell and a controller. The controller may be configured to request device identification data from an electronic device coupled to the energy storage device and compare the device identification data to device identification data stored in the energy storage device. The controller may be further configured to enable energy to be conveyed from the at least one energy storage cell to the electronic device if the device identification matches the stored device identification data.

Claims

1. An energy storage device, comprising:

at least one energy storage cell; and

a controller configured to;

receive first device identification data from an electronic device and store the first device identification data in a database unit of the energy storage device during a first use of the energy storage cell with the electronic device;

request second device identification data from the electronic device when the electronic device is coupled to the energy storage cell during a subsequent use;

compare the second device identification data to the first device identification data stored in the database unit of the energy storage device; and

enable energy to be conveyed from the at least one energy storage cell to the electronic device coupled to the energy storage device if the second device identification matches the stored first device identification data.

2. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the energy storage cell is configured to receive power from a charger via inductive coupling.

3. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to unpair the energy storage device if a received pass code matches a pass code stored within a database of the controller.

4. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to enable energy to be conveyed to the at least one energy storage cell from a charger if device identification data from the charger matches stored device identification data.

5. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to pair with one or more other electronic devices.

6. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:

a database for storing the first device identification data; and

logic coupled to the database and configured to close a switch to couple the at least one energy storage cell to the electronic device and open the switch to decouple the at least one energy storage cell from the electronic device.

7. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to a second controller of the electronic device.

8. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to enable energy to be conveyed to the electronic device while requesting the second device identification data from the electronic device and while comparing the device identification data to the stored first device identification data and to stop conveying power if the energy storage device does not authenticate the electronic device.

9. A method for providing power from an energy storage device, comprising:

receiving and storing first device identification data from an electronic device in the energy storage device during a first use of the energy storage device with the electronic device;

requesting second device identification data from the electronic device when the electronic device is coupled to the energy storage device during a subsequent use;

comparing the second device identification data to the first device identification data stored in the energy storage device; and

conveying energy from the energy storage device to the electronic device coupled to the energy storage device if the second device identification data matches the stored first device identification data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising conveying energy from the energy storage device to the electronic device if a pass code received via a user interface of the electronic device matches a stored pass code.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising conveying energy to the electronic device while requesting the second device identification data from the electronic device and while comparing the second device identification data to stored first device identification data.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising disabling the energy storage device if the second device identification data does not match the stored first device identification data.

13. An energy storage device, comprising:

means for receiving and storing first device identification data from an electronic device in the storing means of the energy storage device during a first use of the energy storage device with the electronic device;

means for requesting second device identification data from the electronic device when the electronic device is coupled to the energy storage device during a subsequent use;

means for comparing the second device identification data to the first device identification data stored in the storing means of the energy storage device; and

means for conveying energy from the energy storage device to the electronic device coupled to the energy storage device if the second device identification data matches the stored first device identification data.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising means for conveying energy to the electronic device while requesting the second device identification data from the electronic device and while comparing the second device identification data to the stored first device identification data.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising means for receiving a pass code via a user interface of the electronic device and conveying energy from the energy storage device to the electronic device if the received pass code matches a stored pass code.