Accelerometer-based battery charge status indicator

• US 9,124,112 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Havass, Richard, Koutsoyannis, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Parihar, Suchin
• Application Number:
  US13/927,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/04 for tubes with grid control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Systems (100) and methods (600) for recharging a battery (292) of an electronic device (102) which has been placed in a cradle (106) of a charging dock (104). The methods involve: measuring a charging voltage value and a charging current value for the electronic device; determining a first value of angular orientation for a current position of the electronic device relative to a reference angular orientation of the electronic device; selecting at least one first indicator from a plurality of indicators based on the charging voltage value, the charging current value, and the first value of angular orientation; and outputting a first indicator to the user of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for recharging a battery of an electronic device which has been placed in a cradle of a charging dock, comprising:

measuring, by an electronic circuit, a charging voltage value and a charging current value for the electronic device;

detecting, by a position sensor of the electronic device or the charging dock, a first angular orientation for a current position of the electronic device when the electronic device has been disposed in the cradle of the charging dock;

determining, by the electronic circuit, whether the angular orientation is in a proper cradle range by comparing a first value of the angular orientation to a pre-defined second value of at least one reference angular orientation of the electronic device;

in response to a determination that the angular orientation is in the proper cradle range;

selecting, by the electronic circuit, at least one first indicator from a plurality of indicators to be output from the electronic device when both the charging voltage value and the charging current value equal zero, where the first indicator indicates that the charging dock may not be electrically coupled to a power source;

selecting, by the electronic circuit, at least one second indicator from the plurality of indicators to be output from the electronic device or charging dock when both the charging voltage value and the charging current value do not equal zero, where the second indicator indicates that the charging dock may be of a wrong type for charging the electronic device;

in response to a determination that the angular orientation is not in the proper cradle range, selecting, by the electronic circuit, at least one third indicator from the plurality of indicators to be output from the electronic device or charging dock; and

outputting, by the electronic circuit, the first, second or third indicator to the user of the electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises the electronic device or the charging dock.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises an auditory indicator, a visual indicator, and a tactile indicator.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second indicator further indicates that a charging of the battery has failed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indicator further indicates that the electronic device is properly placed in the cradle of the charging dock.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second indicator indicates that there is something present in the cradle which is preventing an electrical connection between charging interface connectors of the electronic device and the charging station, as opposed to indicating that the charging dock may be of a wrong type for charging the electronic device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indictor is further selected based on results of a determination as to whether the electronic device has been stationary for a pre-defined period of time.

8. A system, comprising:

an electronic device having a rechargeable battery;

a charging dock comprising a cradle configured to receive the electronic device; and

an electronic circuit configured to

measure a charging voltage value and a charging current value for the electronic device,

receive a first angular orientation for a current position of the electronic device which was detected by a position sensor of the electronic device or the charging dock when the electronic device was disposed in the cradle of the charging dock,

determine whether the angular orientation is in a proper cradle range by comparing a first value of the angular orientation to a pre-defined second value of at least one reference angular orientation of the electronic device,

in response to a determination that the angular orientation is in the proper cradle range;

select at least one first indicator from a plurality of indicators to be output from the electronic device when both the charging voltage value and the charging current value equal zero, where the first indicator indicates that the charging dock may not be electrically coupled to a power source,

select at least one second indicator from the plurality of indicators to be output from the electronic device or charging dock when both the charging voltage value and the charging current value do not equal zero, where the second indicator indicates that the charging dock may be of a wrong type for charging the electronic device;

in response to a determination that the angular orientation is not in the proper cradle range, selecting at least one third indicator from the plurality of indicators to be output from the electronic device or charging dock; and

output the first, second or third indicator to the user of the electronic device.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the electronic circuit is contained in the electronic device or the charging dock.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of indicators comprises an auditory indicator, a visual indicator, and a tactile indicator.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the first or second indicator indicates that a charging of the battery has failed.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the first indicator further indicates that the electronic device is properly placed in the cradle of the charging dock.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the second indicator indicates that there is something present in the cradle which is preventing an electrical connection between charging interface connectors of the electronic device and the charging station, as opposed to indicating that the charging dock may be of the wrong type for charging the electronic device.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the first indictor is further selected based on results of a determination as to whether the electronic device has been stationary for a pre-defined period of time.