Charger loss prevention adaptor

• US 9,019,103 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2014
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian Tedesco
• Original Assignee: Brian Tedesco
• Inventors: Tedesco, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Vernal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US14/146,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.3, 340/539.21, 340/539.11, 340/636.1, 340/635, 340/309.7, 340/687, 340/457, 320/165, 320/157
• US Class Current: 340/568.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0233 System arrangements with pre-alarms, e.g. when a first distance is exceeded
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

A reminder system for a portable-device charger is designed for determining when it is likely that the charger is about to be left behind. Detection which may be in real time can pertain, depending on the embodiment, to disconnection of a portable device from the charger, and/or movement of a portable device out of wireless range of the charger or a charger adaptor. In some versions, the onset of reminding is, upon detecting disconnection, tentatively postponed until a predetermined criterion is met, such as expiry of a predetermined time period. Or the criterion can be detection of an out-of-range condition based on distance between the portable device and an adaptor or charger. In some embodiments detection and reminder issuance are incorporated in a unit, such as a plug-in wall adaptor or the charger itself.

Claims

1. A charging and reminding apparatus comprising:

a detector; and

a notification module,

said apparatus being configured for;

connection, for charging a portable device, between a source of electricity and said device;

detecting, via said detector, said device being disconnected from said apparatus; and

,

responsive to said detecting of the disconnection, issuing, via said module, after a predetermined delay, a reminder for preventing said apparatus from being left behind.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, configured for, responsive to said detecting of said disconnection, scheduling said delay.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said source of electricity being embedded in a wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said connection comprising electrical connection, and said disconnection comprising electrical disconnection.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, configured for said scheduling comprising setting, with said delay, a timer.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, configured for said detecting being dynamically responsive to an event that results in said disconnection.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, configured for performing said scheduling automatically and without need for user intervention.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, configured for preventing said issuing scheduled for after said delay, if said device is reconnected to said apparatus during said delay.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured such that unplugging, via said apparatus, so as to disconnect said module from a source of power external to said apparatus terminates said reminder.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, configured for such that:

i) said disconnection results from a disconnection event in which a portable-device battery is disconnected from said apparatus; and

ii) said detecting is performed in real time response to said event.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a housing having outside corners and configured with a travel-accessory form factor according to which said corners are rounded.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, configured with a travel mode of operation and another mode of operation.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user switch for halting said issuing.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, configured as a portable electronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, said issuing being, to prevent the leaving behind from imminently occurring, responsive to the disconnection.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, configured to, in case said device is reconnected for the charging after said detecting of disconnection but prior to completion of said delay, forgo performing said issuing.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, said travel mode being a mode for travel that brings along said apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a portable-device charger for said charging.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, configured as an integrated charger.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured for performing said issuing for the reminding of a user upon the user performing said disconnection.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, the responsiveness of said issuing to said detecting of the disconnection being automatic and without need for user intervention.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, said detecting of the disconnection being performed in real time.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, the post-delay issuing being dynamically responsive to said detecting of said disconnection.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, said delay being for a predetermined length of time.

25. The apparatus of claim 2, said issuing after said delay occurring upon expiry of a time period of said delay.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, said issuing entailing issuing a reminder for preventing a user leaving, with the just-disconnected portable device, from the leaving behind.

27. The apparatus of claim 13, said switch being manually actuatable.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, said switch being a manual switch.

29. A charging and reminding method comprising:

detecting, by a disconnection detector, a portable device being disconnected from an apparatus connectable, for charging said device, between a source of electricity and said device; and

,

responsive to said detecting of the disconnection, issuing, via a notification module, after a predetermined delay, a reminder for preventing said apparatus from being left behind.

30. Circuitry comprising:

a disconnection detector; and

a notification module,

said circuitry being configured for reminding a user to thereby prevent an apparatus, that is connectable for charging a portable device and is detachable from said device, from being left behind;

said disconnection detector being configured for determining that disconnection of said device from said apparatus has occurred;

said notification module being configured for, responsive to said determining that said disconnection has occurred, delaying commencement of said reminding.

31. The circuitry of claim 30, said disconnection comprising electrical disconnection.

32. The circuitry of claim 30, said determining being dynamically responsive to said disconnection so as to yield an immediate determination that said disconnection has occurred.

33. The circuitry of claim 30, said delaying being for a predetermined length of time.

34. The circuitry of claim 30, said apparatus being connectable to said device for said charging.

35. The circuitry of claim 30, further configured for performing said reminding, responsive to said determining, automatically and without need for user intervention.

36. The circuitry of claim 30, configured for preventing said reminding if said device is reconnected during the delay.

37. A portable electronic device comprising the circuitry of claim 30.

38. A unit comprising the circuitry of claim 30, said unit being configured for performing, without need for wireless communication outside said unit, the delayed commencing responsive to the determining that the disconnection has occurred.

39. The circuitry of claim 30, said module being further configured for, based on a determined charging state of a battery, shutting off power for said charging and suppressing an audible component of said reminding.

40. The circuitry of claim 30, further configured for detecting the disconnection in real time.

41. The circuitry of claim 30, the delayed commencement being responsive to detection of a battery being disconnected from said apparatus.

42. The circuitry of claim 41, the delayed commencement being dynamically responsive to said detection.

43. The circuitry of claim 30, further configured for taking, for purposes of and prior to said determining, multiple readings of current flowing to said charger, and for using a plurality of said readings in said determining, said determining deciding whether or not to perform said reminding, said delaying being responsive to the decision.

44. The circuitry of claim 33, said period starting upon said detection.

45. A computer readable medium for preventing leaving behind an apparatus, said apparatus comprising a notification module and configured for connection, for charging a portable device, between a source of electricity and said device, said medium embodying a computer program having instructions executable by a processor for performing a plurality of acts, among said plurality there being the acts of:

detecting said device being disconnected from said apparatus; and

,

responsive to said detecting of the disconnection, issuing, via said module, after a predetermined delay, a reminder for preventing said apparatus from being left behind.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, said detecting of the disconnection being performed in real time.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 45, said issuing being responsive to detection of a battery being disconnected from said apparatus.

48. A wall outlet adaptor comprising:

a connection status detector; and

a notification module;

said detector being configured for, while a device remains plugged in to said adaptor, sensing, from said device, that said device is about to be left behind, said sensing comprising at least one of;

i) sensing a change of current flowing to said device; and

ii) sensing engagement between said adaptor and said device,

said adaptor being further configured for, via said module, issuing a reminder,

said issuing being responsive to at least one of;

a) said sensing that said device is about to be left behind; and

b) determining that a portable device has exceeded a predetermined distance from said adaptor.

49. The adaptor of claim 48, said sensing that said device is about to be left behind comprising sensing said change.

50. The adaptor of claim 49, said issuing being responsive to said sensing that said device is about to be left behind.

51. The adaptor of claim 48, said sensing that said device is about to be left behind comprising sensing said engagement.

52. The adaptor of claim 51, said issuing being responsive to said sensing that said device is about to be left behind.

53. The adaptor of claim 51, said issuing being responsive to said determining.

54. The adaptor of claim 48, said sensing that said device is about to be left behind entailing detecting, by said detector, that said device is disconnected from a portable device.

55. The adaptor of claim 54, further configured for, after determining that the disconnection has occurred, delaying said issuing.

56. A unit comprising the adaptor of claim 54, said adaptor being configured for said issuing responsive to said sensing that said device is about to be left behind, said detecting comprising detecting an act of mutual disconnection in which said device and said portable device are mutually disconnected from one another, said issuing being responsive to said detecting of said act.