Wireless charging control based on electronic device events

• US 10,523,021 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• 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
• Application Number:
  US16/218,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20190115770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 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 wireless charging system in electronic communication with the battery and configured to;

inductively couple to a wireless charging device;

initiate charging of the battery at a first charge rate;

discontinue the charging, thereby causing depletion of the battery;

determine an event time of an event of the electronic device;

determine, based on the event time, a charge time at which the wireless charging system should reinitiate charging; and

initiate, at the charge time, charging of the battery at a second charge rate different from the first charge rate.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charge time is after the event time.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charge time is immediately after the event time.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the charge time is prior to the event time.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the event comprises at least one of an alarm of the electronic device or a spontaneous interaction with the electronic device.

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

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

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging system is configured to discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to a threshold charge value.

9. A wireless charging device for an electronic device, comprising:

a connection portion configured to inductively couple to a battery of the electronic device; and

a wireless charging system in electronic communication with the connection portion and configured to;

initiate inductive charging of the battery at a first charge rate;

discontinue the inductive charging, thereby causing depletion of the battery;

determine an event time of an event of the electronic device;

determine, based on the event time, a charge time at which the wireless charging system should reinitiate inductive charging; and

initiate, at the charge time, inductive charging of the battery at a second charge rate different from the first charge rate.

10. The wireless charging device of claim 9, wherein the charge time is after the event time.

11. The wireless charging device of claim 10, wherein the event comprises a spontaneous interaction with the electronic device.

12. The wireless charging device of claim 9, wherein the charge time is prior to the event time.

13. The wireless charging device of claim 12, wherein the event comprises an alarm of the electronic device.

14. The wireless charging device of claim 9, wherein the wireless charging system is configured to discontinue the inductive charging in response to the battery being charged to a threshold charge value.

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

inductively charging the battery of the electronic device at a first charge rate;

discontinuing the inductive charging at the first charge rate, thereby causing depletion of the battery;

determining an event time of an event of the electronic device;

determining, based on the event time, a charge time at which inductive charging should be reinitiated; and

initiating, at the charge time, inductive charging of the battery at a second charge rate different from the first charge rate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein discontinuing the inductive charging at the first charge rate occurs in response to the battery being charged to a threshold charge value.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising discontinuing the inductive charging at the second charge rate in response to the battery being charged to the threshold charge value.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the event comprises at least one of an alarm of the electronic device or a spontaneous interaction with the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the second charge rate is greater than the first charge rate.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the second charge rate is less than the first charge rate.