Battery charging mode selection

• US 9,634,517 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Davis, Mark Charles, Yebka, Bouziane
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US14/182,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20150236547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 320114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

A device includes a battery connector to couple to a rechargeable battery to provide power, a power manager coupled to the battery connector to charge the battery when connected to the battery connector in a first charging mode and a second charging mode, a power jack to receive a power plug, and a switch coupled to the power jack and the power manager and responsive to user actuation via the power plug to select the second charging mode.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a display device coupled to the processor;

a battery connector to couple to a rechargeable battery to provide power;

a power manager coupled to the battery connector to charge the battery in a first charging mode and a second charging mode;

a power jack coupled to the power manager to receive an external power plug; and

a switch, within the mobile device, coupled to the power manager and responsive to user actuation to select between the first charging mode and the second charging mode.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the switch is integrated into the power jack prior to receiving the external power plug.

3. The mobile device of claim 2 wherein the switch is responsive to pressure exerted on the power jack by the external power plug.

4. The mobile device of claim 2 wherein the switch is responsive to twisting of the external power plug being received.

5. The mobile device of claim 2 and further comprising a power jack coupled to the power manager and wherein the switch is located proximate the power jack.

6. The mobile device of claim 5 wherein the switch is positioned within the power jack and is responsive to insertion of the power plug beyond a set distance to connect the power jack and power plug for transfer of power.

7. The mobile device of claim 5 wherein the switch is coupled to the power jack and is responsive to torque applied between the power jack and the power plug.

8. The mobile device of claim 7 wherein the power jack and power plug are non-circular in shape to permit transfer of torque to the switch resulting from twisting the power plug.

9. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the power plug comprises a USB connector.

10. The mobile device of claim 2 wherein the power jack is moveable between two positions to activate the switch when the power plug is inserted in the power jack.

11. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a switch selected from the group consisting of mechanical switches, electrical switches, magnetic switches, and electromagnetic switches.

12. A device comprising:

a battery connector to couple to a rechargeable battery to provide power;

a power manager coupled to the battery connector to charge the battery when connected to the battery connector in a first charging mode and a second charging mode;

a power jack to receive an external power plug; and

a switch integrated into the power jack and coupled to the power manager and responsive to user actuation via the external power plug to select the second charging mode.

13. The device of claim 12 and further comprising an indicator positioned proximate the power jack to provide an indication of the charging mode selected.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the switch is integrated into the power jack and is responsive to insertion of the power jack beyond a distance corresponding to selection of the normal charging mode.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the first charging mode is a normal charging mode and the second charging mode is a fast charging mode.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the switch is responsive to twisting of the external power plug being received.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the power jack and power plug are non-circular in shape to permit transfer of torque to the switch resulting from twisting the power plug.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the power plug comprises a USB connector.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a power plug in a power jack having an integrated switch;

charging a battery in a first charging mode responsive to detection by actuation of the integrated switch of receipt of the power plug in a first manner; and

charging the battery in a second charging mode responsive to detection by actuation of the integrated switch of receipt of the power plug in a second manner.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein receiving the power plug in the second manner includes detecting insertion of the power plug in the power jack beyond a set distance.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein receiving the power plug in the second manner includes detecting twisting of the power plug in the power jack.