Wireless charging and communication with power source devices and power charge devices in a communication system

• US 9,419,444 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Eaton, Eric Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelton, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US13/253,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/137
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A power source device and a power charge device interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol. The power source device inductively wirelessly transmits charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power transmitting circuit. The power charge device wirelessly receives the inductively wirelessly transmitted charging energy signal via an inductive wireless power receiving circuit. The power charge device transfers wirelessly received charging energy signal to a re-chargeable battery of the power charge device. In response to determining that the power source device and the power charge device are in a charging arrangement, the power source device controls user access to a lockable user interface based on receiving information from the power charge device and can display messages received by the power charge device from a wireless communication network. The power source device can include a personal computing system and the power charge device can include a mobile phone.

Claims

1. A power source device communicatively coupled with at least one of a first communication network and a wireless communication network, the power source device comprising:

a power source;

a short range wireless communication receiver for wirelessly receiving information signals transmitted from at least one power charge device, the power charge device being communicatively coupled with the wireless communication network;

a wireless power transmitting circuit, the wireless power transmitting circuit having a frequency pass band about a resonant frequency and electrically coupled with the power source, for selectively coupling charging energy from the power source to the wireless power transmitting circuit and thereby wirelessly transmitting a charging energy signal having a frequency substantially within the frequency pass band; and

a charging power controller, communicatively coupled with the wireless power transmitting circuit and the short range wireless communication receiver, the charging power controller configured to;

wirelessly receive, by the short range wireless communication receiver, at least one information signal transmitted from the at least one power charge device, the information signal indicating that

     1) the power charge device is in a power charging arrangement with the power source device,

     2) the power charge device is not receiving one or more messages via the wireless communication network, and

     3) the power source device is to forward to the power charge device the one or more messages that are received by the power source device from the at least one of the first communication network and the wireless communication network;

based on wirelessly receiving the information signal, forwarding to the power charge device the one or more messages that are received by the power source device;

determine whether the at least one power charge device is in a charging arrangement with the power source device;

selectively couple charging energy from the power source to the wireless power transmitting circuit; and

control the wireless power transmitting circuit to wirelessly transmit the charging energy signal having a frequency substantially within the frequency pass band.

2. The power source device of claim 1, further comprising:

a short range wireless communication transmitter for wirelessly transmitting information signals to the at least one power charge device, the charging power controller being communicatively coupled with the short range wireless communication transmitter, the charging power controller being further configured to;

wirelessly transmit at least one information signal from the short range wireless communication transmitter to the at least one power charge device, the at least one information signal indicating that the at least one power charge device is determined to be in a charging arrangement with the power source device.

3. The power source device of claim 1, wherein the charging power controller being further configured to:

wirelessly receive by the short range wireless communication receiver a charging status information signal from the at least one power charge device, the charging status information signal providing an indication of a charge level of a rechargeable power source in the at least one power charge device.

4. The power source device of claim 1, wherein the charging power controller being further configured to:

wirelessly receive by the short range wireless communication receiver a charging status information signal from the at least one power charge device, the charging status information signal providing an indication of a charging status of a rechargeable power source in the at least one power charge device.

5. The power source device of claim 1, wherein the charging power controller being further configured to:

in response to determining that the at least one power charge device is in a charging arrangement with the power source device, wirelessly receive, by the short range wireless communication receiver, an information signal from the at least one power charge device, the information signal comprising a message received by the at least one power charge device and thereby forwarded to the power source device.

6. The power source device of claim 5, further comprising:

a user interface, communicatively coupled with the charging power controller, the charging power controller further configured to;

provide to the user interface the message received by the power source device.

7. The power source device of claim 5, wherein the at least one power charge device comprises at least one wireless communication device and the information signal is wirelessly received therefrom by the short range wireless communication receiver, and the information signal comprises a message wirelessly received from a wireless communication system by the at least one wireless communication device and thereby forwarded to the power source device;

and further wherein the power source device comprises;

a user interface, communicatively coupled with the charging power controller, the charging power controller further configured to;

provide to the user interface the message received by the power source device.

8. The power source device of claim 1, further comprising:

a short range wireless communication transmitter for wirelessly transmitting at least one information signal to the at least one power charge device, the charging power controller being communicatively coupled with the short range wireless communication transmitter, the charging power controller being further configured to;

in response to determining that the at least one power charge device is in a charging arrangement with the power source device, wirelessly transmit at least one information signal by the short range wireless communication transmitter to the at least one power charge device, the at least one information signal comprising the one or more messages received by the power source device and thereby forwarded to the at least one power charge device.

9. The power source device of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface, communicatively coupled with the charging power controller, the charging power controller further configured to;

provide to the user interface the message received by the power source device.

10. The power source device of claim 9, wherein the power source device comprises a personal computer and the at least one power charge device comprises at least one mobile phone.

11. The power source device of claim 10, wherein the user interface comprises a display, and the message received by the power source device is displayed on the display.

12. A power source device for inductively coupling charging energy signal to a power charge device, the power source device communicatively coupled with at least one of a first communication network and a wireless communication network, the power charge device communicatively coupled with the wireless communication network, the power source device comprising:

a power source;

an inductive wireless power transmitting circuit having a pass band about a resonant frequency, electrically coupled with the power source, for selectively transferring charging energy from the power source to the inductive wireless power transmitting circuit and thereby wirelessly inductively transmitting a charging energy signal having a frequency substantially within the pass band about the resonant frequency;

a charging power controller, communicatively coupled with the inductive wireless power transmitting circuit, the charging power controller configured to;

control the inductive wireless power transmitting circuit, based on determining that the power source device is in a charging arrangement with a power charge device, to selectively transfer charging energy from the power source to the inductive wireless power transmitting circuit and thereby wirelessly inductively transmitting a charging energy signal for reception by the power charge device;

a user interface that is lockable to prevent user access to at least a portion of the user interface; and

a short range wireless communication transceiver, communicatively coupled with the charging power controller, the charging power controller further configured to;

unlock the user interface and allow user access to the at least a portion of user interface, based on receiving information from the power charge device via the short range wireless communication transceiver and determining that the power source device and the power charge device are in a charging arrangement;

wirelessly receive, by the short range wireless communication transceiver, at least one information signal transmitted from the at least one power charge device, the information signal indicating that

     1) the power charge device is in a power charging arrangement with the power source device,

     2) the power charge device is not receiving one or more messages via the wireless communication network, and

     3) the power source device is to forward to the power charge device the one or more messages that are received by the power source device from the at least one of the first communication network and the wireless communication network; and

based on wirelessly receiving the information signal, forwarding to the power charge device the one or more messages that are received by the power source device.

13. The power source device of claim 12, wherein the charging power controller is further configured to:

unlock the user interface and allow user access to the at least a portion of user interface, based on receiving information from the power charge device via the short range wireless communication transceiver indicating that the power charge device has at least one of;

a currently unlocked user interface; and

a user interface that has been unlocked for at least a predetermined amount of time.

14. The power source device of claim 12, wherein the charging power controller is further configured to:

unlock the user interface and allow limited user access to the at least a portion of user interface, based on receiving information from the power charge device via the short range wireless communication transceiver indicating that the power charge device has a user interface that has been unlocked for at least a predetermined amount of time by receipt of a password.

15. The power source device of claim 12, wherein the charging power controller is further configured to:

unlock the user interface and allow user access to the at least a portion of user interface, based on receiving information from the power charge device via the short range wireless communication transceiver indicating that the power charge device has a user interface that has been unlocked for at least a predetermined amount of time, wherein the charging power controller

allows limited access by a user to the at least a portion of user interface based on determination that the power charge device has a user interface that has been unlocked by receipt of a password; and

allows full access by a user to the at least a portion of user interface based on determination that the power charge device has a user interface that has been unlocked by capture of user biometric information.

16. A wireless communication device communicatively coupled with a wireless communication network, and a power source device being communicatively coupled with at least one of a first communication network and the wireless communication network, the wireless communication device comprising:

a re-chargeable power source;

an electronic circuit powered by the re-chargeable power source;

a short range wireless communication transceiver;

an inductive wireless power receiving circuit having a pass band about a resonant frequency, electrically coupled with the re-chargeable power source, for wirelessly receiving a charging energy signal having a frequency substantially within the pass band about the resonant frequency and selectively coupling charging energy from the received charging energy signal to the re-chargeable power source; and

a charging power controller, communicatively coupled with the inductive wireless power receiving circuit and the short range wireless communication transceiver, the charging power controller configured to;

control the inductive wireless power receiving circuit, based on determining that the wireless communication device is in a charging arrangement with a power source device, to transfer charging energy from the received charging energy signal to the re-chargeable power source; and

wirelessly transmit, by the short range wireless communication transceiver, an information signal destined for reception by the power source device, the information signal indicating that

     1) the wireless communication device is in a power charging arrangement with the power source device,

     2) the wireless communication device is not receiving one or more messages via the wireless communication network, and

     3) the power source device is to forward to the wireless communication device the one or more messages that are received by the power source device from the at least one of the first communication network and the wireless communication network.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 16, further comprising:

a long range wireless communication transceiver, communicatively coupled with the charging power controller; and

the charging power controller further configured to;

communicate with the power source device via the short range wireless communication transceiver to provide to the power source device a representation of message information received by the wireless communication device via the long range wireless communication transceiver.

18. A method with a power source device, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless charging protocol between a power source device and a power charge device;

inductively wirelessly transmitting a charging energy signal from an inductive wireless power transmitting circuit;

determining whether the power source device is in a charging arrangement with the power charge device;

in response to determining that the power source device is in a charging arrangement with the power charge device, wirelessly receiving information from the power charge device via short range wireless communication, the wirelessly received information indicating a lock-unlock status of a user interface associated with the power charge device;

unlocking at least a portion of a user interface associated with the power source device and allowing user access to the at least a portion of the user interface, based on receiving information from the power charge device via short range wireless communication indicating that the power charge device has at least one of;

a currently unlocked user interface; and

a user interface that has been unlocked for at least a predetermined amount of time; and

in response to determining that the power source device is in a charging arrangement with the power charge device, wirelessly receiving via short range wireless communication an information signal transmitted from the power charge device, the information signal indicating that

     1) the power charge device is in a power charging arrangement with the power source device,

     2) the power charge device is not receiving one or more messages via the wireless communication network, and

     3) the power source device is to forward to the power charge device the one or more messages that are received by the power source device from the at least one of the first communication network and the wireless communication network; and

based on wirelessly receiving the information signal, forwarding to the power charge device the one or more messages that are received by the power source device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the allowing user access to the at least a portion of the user interface comprises

displaying on a display screen message information received from the power charge device via short range wireless communication, the received message information including at least an indication of one or more messages received by the power charge device from a wireless communication network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the received message information including one or more messages received by the power charge device from the wireless communication network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying comprises displaying the message information in a graphical representation of the power charge device also displayed on the display screen.