Docking system for a wireless communication device

• US 9,432,072 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascom Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Ascom Sweden AB
• Inventors: Karlsson, Jonas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US14/566,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20150162945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/557, 455/573
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• 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

There is provided a docking system comprising a mobile communication device comprising an accelerometer, a first docking station configured to hold the communication device at a first tilt angle; and a second docking station configured to hold the communication device at a second tilt angle, the second angle being different from the first angle, wherein the communication device further comprises processing circuitry configured to, when the communication device is placed in the docking station: detect an electrical connection between the mobile device and docking station; enable the accelerometer and detect a tilt angle of the communication device; and based on the detected tilt angle, identify a docking station and set charging properties of the communication device. There is also provided a method for setting properties of a mobile device based on a measured tilt angle.

Claims

1. A docking system for a wireless communication device comprising:

a mobile communication device including an accelerometer;

a first docking station configured to hold the mobile communication device at a first tilt angle; and

a second docking station configured to hold the mobile communication device at a second tilt angle, the second angle being different from the first angle, wherein

the mobile communication device further includes processing circuitry configured to, when the mobile communication device is placed in a docking station of the first and second docking stations,

detect an electrical connection between the mobile communication device and the docking station,

enable the accelerometer only once it is detected that the mobile communication device is arranged in the docking station, and detect a tilt angle of the mobile communication device, and

based on the detected tilt angle, identify the docking station and set charging properties of the mobile communication device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to set a charging current based on the detected tilt angle.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to set the charging current to a value limited by one of a maximum current value of a charger and a maximum current value of a battery of the mobile communication device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second docking stations are identified, if the detected tilt angle is within ±

5°

of the first and second tilt angles, respectively.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to, based on the detected tilt angle, set a configuration profile of the mobile communication device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein setting the configuration profile includes setting at least one of a ring tone, a ring volume, a vibration, a display behavior and a call reception status of the mobile communication device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the first docking station is configured to hold the mobile communication device at a tilt angle of about 13°

, and

the second docking station is configured to hold the mobile communication device at a tilt angle of about 36°

.

8. A method for setting properties of a mobile communication device in a docking system including a mobile communication device having an accelerometer, a first docking station configured to hold the mobile communication device at a first tilt angle, and a second docking station configured to hold the mobile communication device at a second tilt angle, the second tilt angle being different from the first tilt angle, the method comprising the steps of, in the mobile communication device:

detecting an electrical connection between a docking station of the first and second docking stations, and the mobile communication device;

enabling the accelerometer when the mobile communication device has detected that it is at that time located in the docking station;

measuring a tilt angle of the mobile communication device using the accelerometer; and

setting a profile of the mobile communication device based on the measured tilt angle.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising;

comparing the tilt angle to a set of predetermined angles, each predetermined angle in the set of predetermined angles corresponds to a unique type of docking station.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of detecting the electrical connection includes determining a voltage from the docking station.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising,

matching the measured tilt angle to one of a predetermined set of angle ranges.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein each angle range in the predetermined set of angle ranges correspond to a unique type of docking station.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining settings of the mobile communication device, if the measured tilt angle does not correspond to an angle range of the predetermined set of angle ranges.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of setting the profile comprises:

setting at least one of a ring tone, a ring volume, a vibration, a display behavior and a call reception status of the mobile communication device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein setting the call reception status includes one of setting an automated reply, forwarding an incoming call, and dismissal of the incoming call.