Electronic device charging system

• US 9,837,835 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zadesky, Stephen P., Dai, Hongli
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US15/086,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20160268830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320125, 320132, 320137, 320149, 320162
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

An electronic device. The electronic device may include a battery, and a charging system in electronic communication with the battery. The charging system may be configured to charge at least a partially-depleted battery to a threshold charge value, discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to the threshold charge value, and monitor the function of the electronic device to detect at least one of an anticipated event, and an unanticipated event of the electronic device. Additionally the charging system may be configured to recharge the battery in response to detecting one of: the anticipated event occurring a predetermined time subsequent to the recharging of the battery, or the unanticipated event occurring immediately before the recharging of the battery.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a battery; and

a charging system in electronic communication with the battery, the charging system configured to;

charge a partially-depleted battery to a threshold value at a first charge rate;

discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to the threshold charge value, thereby causing depletion of the battery;

monitor a function of the electronic device to detect an event of the electronic device; and

in response to a detection of the event, charge the battery to the threshold value at a second charge rate, wherein the first charge rate is different than the second charge rate.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the event comprises one of:

an anticipated event;

or

an unanticipated event.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the second charge rate is based on a detection of the anticipated event or the unanticipated event.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the charging system is further configured to:

in response to a detection of the anticipated event, charge the battery at the second charge rate prior to the anticipated event occurring.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the charging system is further configured to:

in response to a detection of the unanticipated event, charge the battery at the second charge rate immediately after the unanticipated event occurring.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the anticipated event comprises at least one of a predetermined operation of the electronic device and a reoccurring interaction with the electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim of claim 2, wherein the anticipated event comprises an alarm of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the unanticipated event comprises a spontaneous interaction with the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charging system is further configured to:

charge the battery to the threshold value prior to the occurrence of the event.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second charge rate is greater than the first charge rate.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second charge rate is less than the first charge rate.

12. A charging device for an electronic device, comprising:

a connection portion electrically coupled to a battery of the electronic device; and

a charging system in electronic communication with the battery of the electronic device, the charging system configured to;

charge a partially-depleted battery to a threshold charge value;

discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to the threshold charge value, thereby causing depletion of the battery;

monitor a function of the electronic device to detect an event of the electronic device; and

in response to detecting the event, charge the battery to the threshold value at a charge rate, the charge rate based on a characteristic of the detected event.

13. The charging device of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the detected event corresponds to the detected event being one of:

an anticipated event;

or

an unanticipated event.

14. The charging device of claim 13, wherein the charge rate associated with an anticipated event is less than a charge rate associated with an unanticipated event.

15. The charging device of claim 12, wherein:

the charge rate is a first charge rate; and

the charging system is further configured to;

charge the partially-depleted battery to the threshold charge value at a second charge rate distinct from the first charge rate.

16. The charging device of claim 12, wherein the threshold charge value includes a maximum charge of the battery of the electronic device.

17. The charging device of claim 12, wherein the charging system is removably engaged with the electronic device.

18. The charging device of claim 12, wherein the discontinuing of the charging of the battery by the charging system further comprises:

maintaining the electrical coupling between the connection portion and battery of the electronic device.

19. The charging device of claim 12, wherein the charging system is further configured to allow the battery to deplete in response to the discontinuing of the charging of the battery.

20. A method for charging a battery of an electronic device, the method comprising:

charging a battery for the electronic device to a threshold value at a first charge rate;

discontinuing the charging in response to the battery being charged to the threshold charge value, thereby causing depletion of the battery;

monitoring a function of the electronic device to detect an event of the electronic device; and

charging the battery to the threshold value at a second charge rate in response to a detection of the event.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the charging of the battery at the second charge rate further comprises:

charging the battery at the second charge rate prior to the detected event occurring.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the charging of the battery at the second charge rate further comprises:

charging the battery at the second charge rate immediately after the detected event occurring.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein

the event is a first event;

and

the method further includes;

monitoring the function of the electronic device to detect a second event of the electronic device; and

charging the battery at the first rate or the second rate in response to a detection of the second event.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the detection of the second event occurs subsequent to the detection of the first event.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the first event is an unanticipated event; and

the second event is an anticipated event.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the second charge rate is based on a type of the detected event.