Information handling system wireless power docking station module with shared power source and wireless peripheral support

• US 8,898,489 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sultenfuss, Andrew T., Mundt, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prifti, Aurel
• Application Number:
  US13/189,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20130031377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/340, 307/104, 361/679.02, 710/303, 320/108, 348/222.1
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A wireless power module couples to an information handling system to accept power from a wireless power source and to provide the power to the information handling system through a docking station connector of the information handling system. The wireless power module selectively decouples from the information handling so that an end user can elect to reduce the footprint of the information handling system by removing the wireless power module when not taking advantage of wireless power.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

plural processing components disposed in the housing and operable to cooperate to process information;

a display integrated in the housing and interfaced with the processing components, the display operable to present the information as visual images;

a power source integrated in the housing and operable to power the processing components;

a docking station connector disposed at the housing and operable to interface the processing components with a docking station external to the housing, the docking station supporting communication between the processing components and external peripheral devices interfaced with the docking station; and

a wireless power module removably coupled to the docking station connector and operable to accept power wirelessly from a wireless power source and provide the power to the power source;

wherein the wireless power module and wireless power source each include a wireless network interface card operable to communicate information between each other, the wireless network interface cards operable to communicate information between peripheral devices and the processing components through the docking station connector.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless power source disposed proximate to the wireless power module and operable to provide power to the wireless power module.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 further comprising an AC-to-DC adapter operable to convert AC power to DC power and to supply the DC power to a power connector disposed at the housing, the connector interfaced with the power source, the AC-to-DC adapter further operable to supply DC power to a power connector disposed at the wireless power module.

4. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the housing has a bottom surface and the wireless power module couples to the bottom surface and rests on top of the wireless power source.

5. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the wireless power module and wireless power source transmit power with direct induction.

6. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the wireless power module and wireless power source transmit power with resonant magnetic induction.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising plural peripheral devices connected to the wireless power source, the wireless network interface cards operable to communicate information between the peripheral devices and the processing components through the docking station connector.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a cooling device disposed in the wireless power module and operable to supplement cooling of the information handling system.

9. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a release handle disposed at the wireless power module outer surface and operable to release the wireless power module from the housing.

10. A method for providing power to an information handling system comprising:

connecting a wireless power module to a docking station connector at the housing of the information handling system, the docking station connector operable to communicate information between the information handling system and peripherals interfaced with the docking station;

placing the information handling system to locate the wireless power module proximate a wireless power source;

wirelessly transmitting power from the wireless power source to the wireless power module;

providing the power from the wireless power module to the information handling system through the docking station connector;

connecting an AC-to-DC power adapter to a connector of the wireless power source to provide power to the wireless power source;

disconnecting the AC-to-DC power adapter from the wireless power source; and

connecting the AC-to-DC power adapter to a connector of the information handling system to provide power to the information handling system.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

disconnecting the wireless power module from the docking station connector; and

powering the information handling system with power provided from the wireless power source and stored in a battery integrated in the information handling system.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

disposing wireless networking resources in the wireless power module and the wireless power source; and

communicating display information from the information handling system through the docking station connector and wireless networking resources to a display coupled to the wireless power source and electrically interfaced with the wireless networking resources.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

inputting key information at keys of a keyboard;

communicating the key information to the wireless power source;

wirelessly communicating the key information from wireless networking resources of the wireless power source to wireless networking resources of the wireless power module;

communicating the key information from the wireless power module through the docking station connector to processing components of the information handling system.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein wirelessly transmitting power further comprises transmitting power with direct induction.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising venting cooling airflow between the information handling system housing interior and exterior through vent openings of the housing and wireless power module.

16. A wireless power module comprising:

a wireless power coil operable to wirelessly accept power from a wireless power source;

a docking station connector interfaced with the wireless power coil and operable to provide power from the wireless power coil to an information handling system docking station connector; and

a power adapter configured to selectively provide power to the wireless power coil or to provide power directly to the information handling system.

17. The wireless power module of claim 16 further comprising a housing having an actuator to selectively couple and decouple with an information handling system, the housing containing the wireless power coil and docking station connector.

18. The wireless power module of claim 17 wherein the docking station connector aligns with a bottom surface of the information handling system and the housing rests on a surface to support the information handling system at a predetermined angle.