Portable power supply device with outlet connector

• US 8,868,939 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Yoshimichi, Chatterjee, Manjirnath
• Primary Examiner(s): Spittle, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US13/173,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20120005495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/111, 455 411- 413, 713/300
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

One or more embodiments include an outlet interface that is configured to mate with an electrical outlet. The outlet interface is provided as an integral structure of the housing.

Claims

1. A power supply device, comprising:

a first segment of the power supply device including (i) a first housing comprising a base having a first shape, (ii) an outlet interface that extends outward from a portion of the first housing to mate with a wall outlet, (iii) a first port that extends outward from the portion of the first housing towards the base and in an opposite direction of the outlet interface, and (iv) power resources to receive a power signal from the outlet interface and convert the power signal for use by a mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is coupled to the first port; and

a second segment of the power supply device that is separable from the first segment, the second segment including (i) a second port, (ii) a second housing having a second shape that is substantially similar to the first shape and shaped to mate with the first housing by connecting the second port with the first port of the first housing and by overlaying the base of the first housing, (iii) a receiving surface to receive the mobile computing device, and (iv) a power signal interface to receive the converted power signal via the second port and to inductively transmit power to the mobile computing device when the first housing is mated with the second housing, the outlet interface is mated with the wall outlet, and the mobile computing device is positioned on the receiving surface.

2. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the second segment further comprises management resources coupled to the power signal interface to control inductive transmission of power to the mobile computing device.

3. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the second segment further comprises one or more sensors to detect when the mobile computing device is positioned on the receiving surface.

4. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the receiving surface is substantially horizontal.

5. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the outlet interface comprises prongs that extend from the first housing to mate with the wall outlet.

6. The power supply device of claim 5, wherein the prongs are pivotably connected to the first housing so that the prongs rotate outward from within the first housing in order to mate with the wall outlet.

7. The power supply device of claim 5, wherein the prongs are slidable and extend from the first housing in order to mate with the wall outlet.

8. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the power signal interface includes one or more coils to inductively transmit data.

9. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the first port is a universal serial bus (USB) port or a micro-USB port.

10. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the second housing includes one or more magnets positioned underneath or within the receiving surface to enable the mobile computing device to be positioned on the receiving surface.

11. A power supply device, comprising:

a first segment of the power supply device including (i) a first housing comprising a base, (ii) an outlet interface that extends outward from a portion of the first housing to mate with a wall outlet, (iii) a first port that extends outward from the portion of the housing towards the base and in an opposite direction of the outlet interface, and (iv) power resources; and

a second segment of the power supply device that is separable from the first segment, the second segment including (i) a second port, (ii) a second housing that is shaped to mate with the first housing by connecting the second port with the first port of the first housing and by overlaying the base of the first housing, (iii) a receiving surface to receive a mobile computing device, and (iv) an inductive signal interface.

12. The power supply device of claim 11, wherein the second segment further comprises management resources coupled to the inductive signal interface to control inductive transmission of power to the mobile computing device.

13. The power supply device of claim 11, wherein the second segment further comprises one or more sensors to detect when the mobile computing device is positioned on the receiving surface.

14. The power supply device of claim 11, wherein the receiving surface is substantially horizontal.

15. The power supply device of claim 11, wherein the outlet interface comprises prongs that extend from the first housing to mate with the wall outlet.

16. The power supply device of claim 15, wherein the prongs are pivotably connected to the first housing so that the prongs rotate outward from within the first housing in order to mate with the wall outlet.

17. The power supply device of claim 15, wherein the prongs are slidable and extend from the first housing in order to mate with the wall outlet.

18. The power supply device of claim 11, wherein the power signal interface includes one or more coils to inductively transmit data.

19. The power supply device of claim 11, wherein the first port is a universal serial bus (USB) port or a micro-USB port.

20. The power supply device of claim 11, wherein the second housing includes one or more magnets positioned underneath or within the receiving surface to enable the mobile computing device to be positioned on the receiving surface.