Bi-directional power control

• US 8,994,230 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Itay, Miller, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, JAGDEEP S
• Application Number:
  US13/233,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20120062043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 307/126, 307/39, 307/80, 307/82, 709/223, 709/206, 709/217, 361/737, 710/301
• US Class Current: 307/126
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electrical circuit for bi-directional power control between two devices, including a mobile communication card, an electronic device that connects to the communication card, the electronic device being either (i) a host device that operates independently of the communication card and also interoperates with the communication card, or (ii) a jacket for the communication card, wherein the jacket is a passive device that does not operate independently of the communication card, and circuitry connecting the mobile communication card with the electronic device, including a device on/off button operative to power the electronic device on and off, and a switch, wherein the circuitry uses a single connection line connecting the communication card, the electronic device, the device on/off button, and the switch, to enable the electronic device to automatically power the communication card on and off using the switch, in response to the electronic device being respectively powered on and off.

Claims

1. A communication card having an on state and an off state and electrically connectable to an electronic device, the communication card comprising:

a battery;

a modem configured to be powered by at least one of said battery and an external source of power;

an on/off button;

a connector via which the communication card electrically connects to an electronic device;

a voltage level shifter to shift voltage in accordance with a voltage difference between said battery and a battery of the electronic device; and

a power manager configured to;

detect a first wakeup event when the communication card is in the off state and when said on/off button is pressed to turn on the communication card;

in response to the first wakeup event, cause power to be provided to said modem;

detect a second wakeup event when the communication card is in the off state, the second wakeup event according to a wakeup signal received over said connector from the electronic device;

in response to the second wakeup event, cause power to be provided to said modem; and

automatically cause power to be provided to said modem after lapse of a predetermined period of time during which the communication card is connected to the electronic device.

2. The communication card of claim 1 further comprising an internal switch for generating a wakeup event to power on the electronic device, the wakeup event being transmitted over said connector to the electronic device.

3. The communication card of claim 1 wherein said on/off button is concealed by the electronic device when the communication card is electrically connected thereto.

4. The communication card of claim 1 wherein said modem is further configured to:

detect a sleep event when the communication card is in the on state and when said on/off button is pressed to turn off the communication card;

in response to the sleep event, determine a time duration of the button press; and

instruct said power manager to stop causing power to be provided to said modem when the time duration of the press exceeds a designated threshold.

5. The communication card of claim 1 wherein said modem is further configured to:

detect a sleep event when the communication card is in the on state, the sleep event according to a sleep signal received over said connector from the electronic device; and

in response to the sleep event, instruct said power manager to stop causing power to be provided to said modem.

6. An electronic device having an on state and an off state and electrically connectable to a communication card, the electronic device comprising:

a battery;

a controller configured to be powered by at least one of said battery and an external source of power;

an on/off button;

a connector via which the electronic device electrically connects to a communication card;

a voltage level shifter to shift voltage in accordance with a voltage difference between said battery and a battery of the communication card; and

a power manager configured to;

detect a first wakeup event when the electronic device is in the off state and when said on/off button is pressed to turn on the electronic device;

in response to the first wakeup event, cause power to be provided to said controller;

detect a second wakeup event when the electronic device is in the off state, the second wakeup event according to a wakeup signal received over said connector from the communication card;

in response to the second wakeup event, cause power to be provided to said controller; and

automatically generate a wakeup event to power on the communication card, after lapse of a predetermined period of time during which the communication card is electrically connected to the electronic device while the electronic device is in the on state.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein the communication card has an on state and an off state, the electronic device further comprising an internal switch for generating a wakeup event to power on the communication card, the wakeup event being transmitted over said connector to the communication card.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 further comprising an internal timer to monitor the predetermined period of time.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said controller is further configured to:

detect a sleep event when the electronic device is in the on state and when said on/off button is pressed to turn off the electronic device;

in response to the sleep event, determine a time duration of the button press; and

instruct said power manager to stop causing power to be provided to said controller when the time duration of the press exceeds a designated threshold.

10. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said controller is further configured to:

detect a sleep event when the electronic device is in the on state, the sleep event according to a sleep signal received over said connector from the communication card; and

in response to the sleep event, instruct said power manager to stop causing power to be provided to said controller.