Charge and data transfer system, apparatus, and method

• US 9,483,077 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leancode LLC
• Original Assignee: Leancode LLC
• Inventors: Henry, Joshua, Thompson, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sun, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/547,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

Charge signal simulates a stock charger to connected portable device(s) to trigger a charging cycle. Monitoring charging port(s) for overcurrent and/or electrical short charging conditions allows charge current to be modified when necessary. While attached portable device(s) continue to charge, docking station automatically switches from charger mode to data transfer mode so that other attached devices can use and/or be used by portable device(s). Once data lines, except power line, are switched portable device(s) simultaneously charges and transfers data at same time. To identify proper charge signal, vendor identification (VID) or product identification (PID) may be read from attached portable device(s) and referenced against charging standards. Updatable firmware allows new device configurations and corresponding charge signals to be added.

Claims

1. A data transfer and charging system comprising:

a portable device with at least one multipurpose connector, the portable device recognizing at least one non-standard charge signaling option to initiate charging, signals of the at least one non-standard charge signaling option preclude simultaneous data transfer;

a docking station to charge and transfer data to the portable device, the docking station selectively coupled using data transfer lines to the portable device via the at least one multipurpose connector, the docking station further comprising;

at least one data transfer source selectively accessible to the portable device across the data transfer lines;

at least one auxiliary charger having a signal generator and a current source, the signal generator configured to send non-standard charging signals to the portable device via the data transfer lines and the current source providing an alternative charging option to a power line;

at least one timer coupled to the at least one auxiliary charger to enable charging until expiration of timer; and

a multi-way switch to change the data transfer lines from the at least one auxiliary charger to the data transfer source upon expiration of the timer while leaving the current source charging.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one multipurpose connector of the portable device is a USB receptacle and is directly connected to the docking station via a USB cable.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the non-standard charge signaling options include Apple-compatible 2.4 Amp charging signals, Samsung-compatible 2.4 Amp charging signals, Apple-compatible 2.1 Amp charging signals, Samsung-compatible 2.1 Amp charging signals, and Apple-compatible 1.0 Amp charging signals.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable device is battery-operated.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the generated non-standard charging signals include customized charging signals generated based on a detected Vendor Identification (VID) and/or product identification (PID) of the portable device.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the standard power line connected to the portable device is blocked to prevent back-voltage during data transfers but is connected to the auxiliary charger current source once charging is initiated on the portable device using non-standard charging signals.

7. A data transfer and charging apparatus, comprising:

at least one power and data transfer interface, coupled to a signal source, to selectively connect to a portable device and to detect when the portable device is connected and/or charging;

at least one auxiliary charge controller, coupled to the interface, to generate non-standard charging signals upon detection of a connection to the portable device;

at least one auxiliary current source, coupled to the interface, to charge the portable device upon detection of a connection to the portable device;

at least one timer, coupled to the auxiliary charge controller, enabling the at least one auxiliary charge controller, upon detection of a connection to the portable device, to continuously generate the non-standard charging signals until expiration of the timer; and

a multi-way switch, coupled to the timer, to change the signal source of the interface from the signals generated by the auxiliary charge controller to data transfer signals upon expiration of the timer.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a charging controller including a standard power controller to generate standard charging signals and the at least one auxiliary charge controller to generate the non-standard charging signals, the charging controller monitoring charging ports for overcurrent and/or electrical short charging conditions.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the charging controller, upon detection of overcurrent and/or electrical short charging conditions incrementally drops voltage until current draw is reduced to operational levels for the connected portable device.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the charging controller, upon detection of overcurrent and/or electrical short charging conditions incrementally disables charging ports until current draw is reduced to operational levels for the connected portable device.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a data transfer controller which includes a standard data controller to control normal data transfer and an auxiliary data controller to control data transfer during non-standard charging.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the generated non-standard charging signals include customized charging signals generated based on a detected Vendor Identification (VID) and/or product identification (PID) of the portable device.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the generated non-standard charging signals automatically switch between a plurality of different charging signals after the portable device is connected until proper charging response is detected, the different charging signals including standard USB Power Delivery Specification charging signals, standard USB Battery Charging Specification signals, and non-standard Apple-compatible 2.4 Amp charging signals, non-standard Samsung-compatible 2.4 Amp charging signals, non-standard Apple-compatible 2.1 Amp charging signals, non-standard Samsung-compatible 2.1 Amp charging signals, and non-standard Apple-compatible 1.0 Amp charging signals.