Method, apparatus, and computer program product for powering electronics in smart covers
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a portable wireless device that includes a camera flash that is configured to be operable in association with a camera of the portable wireless device, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to and covering at least a portion of the portable wireless device, requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal, the portable wireless device including a cellular network interface, the functional exchangeable cover having an optical power receiver aligned with and facing the camera flash of the portable wireless device, when the cover is attached to and covering at least the portion of the portable wireless device, the camera flash configured to transmit energy via an optical signal to the optical power receiver in response to the receiving of the signal indicating that the functional exchangeable cover requests optical powering, to provide operating power to accessory electronic components in the functional exchangeable cover, the accessory electronic components providing accessory functionality embedded in the exchangeable cover when powered;
switching on, by the portable wireless device, the camera flash in the portable wireless device in response to the received signal; and
transmitting, by the portable wireless device, from the camera flash, an optical signal to the optical power receiver of the functional exchangeable cover while attached to and covering at least a portion of the portable wireless device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for wireless powering of passive objects contained in a functional exchangeable cover of an apparatus. Example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising: receiving, by an apparatus, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal; switching on, by the apparatus, an optical energy source in the apparatus in response to received signal; and transmitting, by the apparatus, from the optical energy source, optical power to the functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus.
34 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by a portable wireless device that includes a camera flash that is configured to be operable in association with a camera of the portable wireless device, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to and covering at least a portion of the portable wireless device, requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal, the portable wireless device including a cellular network interface, the functional exchangeable cover having an optical power receiver aligned with and facing the camera flash of the portable wireless device, when the cover is attached to and covering at least the portion of the portable wireless device, the camera flash configured to transmit energy via an optical signal to the optical power receiver in response to the receiving of the signal indicating that the functional exchangeable cover requests optical powering, to provide operating power to accessory electronic components in the functional exchangeable cover, the accessory electronic components providing accessory functionality embedded in the exchangeable cover when powered; switching on, by the portable wireless device, the camera flash in the portable wireless device in response to the received signal; and transmitting, by the portable wireless device, from the camera flash, an optical signal to the optical power receiver of the functional exchangeable cover while attached to and covering at least a portion of the portable wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A portable wireless device, comprising:
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a camera flash that is configured to be operable in association with a camera of the portable wireless device; at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the portable wireless device at least to; receive a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to and covering at least a portion of the portable wireless device, requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal, the portable wireless device including a cellular network interface, the functional exchangeable cover having an optical power receiver aligned with and facing the camera flash of the portable wireless device, when the cover is attached to and covering at least the portion of the portable wireless device, the camera flash configured to transmit energy via an optical signal to the optical power receiver in response to the receiving of the signal indicating that the functional exchangeable protective cover requests optical powering, to provide operating power to accessory electronic components in the functional exchangeable cover, the accessory electronic components providing accessory functionality embedded in the exchangeable cover when powered; switch on the camera flash in the portable wireless device in response to the received signal; and transmit from the camera flash, an optical signal to the optical power receiver of the functional exchangeable cover while attached to and covering at least a portion of the portable wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:
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code for receiving, by a portable wireless device that includes a camera flash that is configured to be operable in association with a camera of the portable wireless device, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to and covering at least a portion of the portable wireless device, requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal, the portable wireless device including a cellular network interface, the functional exchangeable cover having an optical power receiver aligned with and facing the camera flash of the portable wireless device, when the cover is attached to and covering at least the portion of the portable wireless device, the camera flash configured to transmit energy via an optical signal to the optical power receiver in response to the receiving of the signal indicating that the functional exchangeable cover requests optical powering, to provide operating power to accessory electronic components in the functional exchangeable cover, the accessory electronic components providing accessory functionality embedded in the exchangeable cover when powered; code for switching on, by the portable wireless device, the camera flash an in the portable wireless device in response to the received signal; and code for transmitting, by the portable wireless device, from the camera flash, an optical signal to the optical power receiver of the functional exchangeable cover while attached to and covering at least a portion of to the portable wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification