Customer device presentation unit

• US 9,172,267 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Faranda, Leo, Hilscher, Alexander, Hoenig, Thomas, Koenig, Felix, Mandl, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US13/939,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A consumer device presentation unit is disclosed. The consumer device presentation unit includes at least a first electric consumer device including at least a first rechargeable energy storage; at least a first autonomous energy provision unit; and a charge module coupled at least to the first autonomous energy provision unit and the first electric consumer device.

Claims

1. A consumer device presentation unit comprising:

at least a first electric consumer device and a second electric consumer device, the first electric consumer device including at least a first rechargeable energy storage;

at least a first autonomous energy provision unit; and

a charge module coupled at least to the first autonomous energy provision unit and the first electric consumer device, wherein the charge module is connected with the first rechargeable energy storage for direct charging, and wherein the second electric consumer device includes a second rechargeable energy storage and is connected to the charge module for direct charging, wherein the charge module is arranged to sequentially charge the first and second electric consumer devices.

2. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least a first support on which the first electric consumer device can be placed, the first support including a support sensor element and the first electric consumer device including a device sensor element, wherein the support sensor element and the device sensor element are arranged to provide a signal indicating that the first electric consumer device was removed from the first support.

3. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 2, wherein the charge module is arranged to interrupt charging of the first rechargeable energy storage when the first electric consumer device is removed from the first support.

4. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 1, further comprising a second autonomous energy provision unit that is connected to the charge module and wherein the charge module is arranged to charge the first electric consumer device from the first autonomous energy provision unit and the second electric consumer device from the second autonomous energy provision unit.

5. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 1, wherein the charge module and the first electric consumer device are arranged for communication at least from the charge module to the first electric consumer device.

6. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

7. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first autonomous energy provision unit provides a voltage in a range of about 3 Volt to about 15 Volt, and wherein the first autonomous energy provision unit is arranged to provide a constant current of about 50 milliampere or less.

8. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 1, wherein the charge module is arranged to perform a self-test after being coupled to the first autonomous energy provision unit.

9. A consumer device presentation unit comprising:

at least a first electric consumer device including at least a first rechargeable energy storage;

at least a first autonomous energy provision unit; and

a charge module coupled at least to the first autonomous energy provision unit and the first electric consumer device, wherein the charge module is connected with the first rechargeable energy storage for direct charging, and wherein the first electric consumer device is arranged for being inductively charged and wherein the charge module is arranged to emulate an inductive charging process via the direct connection.

10. The consumer device presentation unit according to claim 9, wherein the charge module includes a constant current source that is arranged to provide a current below a minimal current that can be measured by the first electric consumer device.

11. A consumer device presentation unit comprising:

at least a first electric consumer device including at least a first rechargeable energy storage;

at least a first autonomous energy provision unit; and

a charge module coupled at least to the first autonomous energy provision unit and the first electric consumer device;

at least a first support on which the first electric consumer device can be placed, the first support including a support sensor element and the first electric consumer device including a device sensor element, wherein the support sensor element and the device sensor element are arranged to provide a signal indicating that the first electric consumer device was removed from the first support, wherein the charge module is arranged to determine when a full charging of the first rechargeable energy storage is achieved and to pause charging of the first electric consumer device for at least a time span in a range of between about 6 hours to about 48 hours in case that a full charging is determined as long as the first electric consumer device is not removed from the first support.

12. A consumer device presentation unit comprising:

at least a first electric consumer device including at least a first rechargeable energy storage;

at least a first autonomous energy provision unit; and

a charge module coupled at least to the first autonomous energy provision unit and the first electric consumer device, wherein the at least first electric consumer device includes a charge management unit calibrated for a loaded use of the at least first electric consumer device and wherein the charge module is arranged to control charging of the at least first rechargeable energy storage such that the charge management unit stops charging within a range of about 50% to about 90% of calibrated full charge.

13. A consumer device presentation unit comprising:

at least a first electric consumer device including at least a first rechargeable energy storage;

at least a first autonomous energy provision unit; and

a charge module coupled at least to the first autonomous energy provision unit and the first electric consumer device,

wherein the charge module is connected with the first rechargeable energy storage for direct charging, and wherein the direct connection between the charge module and the first electric consumer device is established by a cable, which is non-detachably connected to the first electric consumer device.