Self-aligning data connectivity for charger
First Claim
1. A charger comprising:
- a planar charging surface comprising at least two data contact tracks for electrical connection to data contacts of a chargeable device when disposed on the planar charging surface;
a magnet, having a doughnut configuration;
a charging circuit; and
a data circuit comprising the data contact tracks, a data port, and electrical connectors between the data contact tracks and the data port, wherein;
the charging circuit comprises a charging feature configured to apply a driving current to the chargeable device through the charging surface,the magnet is configured to magnetically interact with a magnet receptor member of the chargeable device in a manner urging lateral alignment of the chargeable device to a position such that the alignment causes the data contacts of the chargeable device to laterally align with the data contact tracks, andwhen aligned via the magnet, the data contacts of the chargeable device contact the data contact tracks of the charging surface, thereby permitting data transfer between the chargeable device and an external device connected to the data port; and
a radio frequency (RF) reader for obtaining, from a RF tag in the chargeable device, a charging rate and a charging limit of the chargeable device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charger includes a planar charging surface, a magnet, a charging circuit and a data circuit. The charging surface has at least two data contact tracks for electrical connection to data contacts of a chargeable device when disposed on the planar charging surface. The data circuit includes the data tracks, a data port, and electrical connection between the data contact tracks and the data port. The charging circuit has a charging feature configured to apply a driving current to the chargeable device through the charging surface. The magnet is configured to align the chargeable device such that the data contacts of the chargeable device align with the data contact tracks. When aligned via the magnet, the data contacts of the chargeable device contact the data contact tracks of the charging surface, thereby permitting data transfer between the chargeable device and an external device connected to the data port.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A charger comprising:
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a planar charging surface comprising at least two data contact tracks for electrical connection to data contacts of a chargeable device when disposed on the planar charging surface; a magnet, having a doughnut configuration; a charging circuit; and a data circuit comprising the data contact tracks, a data port, and electrical connectors between the data contact tracks and the data port, wherein; the charging circuit comprises a charging feature configured to apply a driving current to the chargeable device through the charging surface, the magnet is configured to magnetically interact with a magnet receptor member of the chargeable device in a manner urging lateral alignment of the chargeable device to a position such that the alignment causes the data contacts of the chargeable device to laterally align with the data contact tracks, and when aligned via the magnet, the data contacts of the chargeable device contact the data contact tracks of the charging surface, thereby permitting data transfer between the chargeable device and an external device connected to the data port; and a radio frequency (RF) reader for obtaining, from a RF tag in the chargeable device, a charging rate and a charging limit of the chargeable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A portable chargeable device comprising:
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one or more electronic components; a rechargeable battery for supply power to operate the one or more electronic components; a battery charging circuit coupled to the battery; a charging feature for receiving a driving current from a charging circuit of a charger to drive the battery charging circuit; a magnetic receptor, wherein the magnetic receptor has a doughnut-shaped configuration; a housing of a portable form factor enclosing one or more electronic components, the battery, the charging circuit, and the charging feature, wherein; the housing comprises data contacts on an outer surface of the housing; the data contacts are connected via lines to a data port of the one or more electronic components; the magnetic receptor is configured to magnetically interact with the charger in a manner urging lateral alignment of the portable chargeable device and the housing to a position causing alignment of the data contacts of the housing with data contact tracks of the charger; and when aligned, the data contacts contact the data contact tracks of the charger, permitting data transfer between the chargeable device and the charger; and a radio frequency (RF) tag for providing, to a RF reader in the charger, a charging rate and a charging limit of the chargeable device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A cover for a chargeable device, comprising:
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data contacts on an exterior surface of the cover; and a magnetic receptor, wherein the magnetic receptor has a doughnut-shaped configuration; the data contacts configured for connection to a data port of an electronic component of the chargeable device, the magnetic receptor configured to magnetically interact with a magnet of a charger in a manner urging lateral alignment of the chargeable device with the cover to a position such that the alignment causes alignment of the data contacts of the cover with data contact tracks of the charger; and when aligned, the data contacts contact the data contact tracks, permitting data transfer between the chargeable device and the charger; and a radio frequency (RF) tag for providing, to a RF reader in the charger, a charging rate and a charging limit of the chargeable device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification