Motion sensing cable for intelligent charging of devices

• US 10,593,443 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2019
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Wheeler, Wade Carter, Payne, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R
• Application Number:
  US16/257,837
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 174135, 174 681, 174260, 174 74 R, 174 75 R, 174 32, 174 34, 174 36, 3405683, 3405681, 3405684, 340500
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/003 including electrical control or communication wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/10 Control circuit supply, e.g. means for supplying power to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007188 the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters

Abstract

An intelligent motion sensing cable is disclosed, where a motion sensor that is included in the cable can detect cable motion. The cable can then use this detected motion to intelligently control a charge signal delivered by the cable to a connected electronic device. The cable can also use this detected motion to generate data indicative of customer interactions with a connected electronic device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a cable having a first end and a second, wherein the cable comprises;

a conductor;

a first connector at the first end, wherein the first connector is in circuit with the conductor, wherein the first connector is connectable with an electronic device;

a second connector at the second end, wherein the first connector is in circuit with the conductor, wherein the second connector is connectable with a power source;

a motion sensor; and

a circuit;

wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the conductor are responsive to a connection of the first connector with the electronic device and a connection of the second connector with the power source to provide a conductive path for delivery of an output current to the electronic device;

wherein the motion sensor is configured to detect motion of the cable and generate a motion signal indicative of detected motion; and

wherein the circuit is configured to control the output current based on the motion signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuit is further configured to reduce the output current in response to the motion signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the circuit includes a timer circuit, the timer circuit configured to increase the output current in response to expiration of a defined time window.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the reduced output current is no current.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the circuit includes a switch, the switch configured to open in response to the motion signal to thereby eliminate the output current.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the circuit includes a timer circuit, the timer circuit configured to close the switch in response to expiration of a defined time window to thereby increase the output current.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuit includes a processor, the processor configured to (1) process the motion signal, and (2) control the output current based on the processed motion signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the circuit further includes a switch, wherein the processor is further configured to open the switch based on the processed motion signal to thereby control the output current such that the output current is eliminated when the switch is open.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuit transitions between a plurality of states to selectively control the output current based on the motion signal and a plurality of threshold conditions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the states include an idle state, a charge state, a lift state, and a wait state.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the circuit is further configured to auto-tune a plurality of time thresholds for controlling transitions between the states based on a plurality of conditions.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cable further comprises:

a third connector that is connectable with the electronic device; and

a lanyard that connects the third connector with the circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cable further comprises:

a tamper switch;

wherein circuit is further configured to generate an alarm signal in response to the tamper switch being open; and

wherein the tamper switch is configured to be opened in response to a break in the lanyard.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first connector is connectable with the electronic device via an adaptor for the electronic device;

and

wherein the third connector is configured to physically attach to the electronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the third connector comprises a clamshell connector.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuit is further configured to control the output current based on the motion signal and at least one time condition.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the at least one time condition includes a maximum charge time duration over a defined time window.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is an electronic stylus, and wherein the first connector is adapted for connection with at least one of (1) a complementary connector on an adaptor for the electronic stylus, and/or (2) a complementary connector on the electronic stylus.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a wearable device, and wherein the first connector is adapted for connection with at least one of (1) a complementary connector on an adaptor for the wearable device, and/or (2) a complementary connector on the wearable device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the wearable device comprises a smart watch.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a digital camera, and wherein the first connector is adapted for connection with at least one of (1) a complementary connector on an adaptor for the digital camera, and/or (2) a complementary connector on the digital camera.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a virtual reality device, and wherein the first connector is adapted for connection with at least one of (1) a complementary connector on an adaptor for the virtual reality device, and/or (2) a complementary connector on the virtual reality device.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a smart phone, and wherein the first connector is adapted for connection with at least one of (1) a complementary connector on an adaptor for the smart phone, and/or (2) a complementary connector on the smart phone.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a tablet computer, and wherein the first connector is adapted for connection with at least one of (1) a complementary connector on an adaptor for the tablet computer, and/or (2) a complementary connector on the tablet computer.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cable further comprises a housing, wherein the first connector and the circuit are resident in the housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conductor comprises a flexible conductor having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end, wherein the first connector is located at the first longitudinal end of the conductor, and wherein the second connector is located at the second longitudinal end of the conductor.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuit is further configured to generate data indicative of customer interaction with the electronic device based on the motion signal.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible conductive cable having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end, wherein the flexible conductive cable comprises;

a first connector located at the first longitudinal end, wherein the first connector is connectable to an electronic device;

a second connector located at the second longitudinal end, wherein the second connector is connectable to a power source;

a motion sensor; and

a circuit configured to control an output current at the first connector based on a motion signal from the motion sensor.

29. A system comprising:

a hub that is connectable to a power source;

a flexible conductive cable that is connectable to the hub, the flexible conductive cable having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end, wherein the flexible conductive cable comprises;

a first connector located at the first longitudinal end, wherein the first connector is connectable to an electronic device;

a second connector located at the second longitudinal end, wherein the second connector is connectable to a power source;

a motion sensor; and

a circuit configured to (1) control an output current at the first connector based on a motion signal from the motion sensor, and (2) communicate with the hub.

30. A method comprising:

for a cable connected to a power source and an electronic device;

charging the electronic device with a charging signal from the cable;

detecting motion of the cable; and

in response to the detected motion, reducing the charging signal.