Mobile client device wireless charging, communication, and authentication techniques

• US 10,732,732 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2019
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Chan, Adrian Shuen-yung, Li, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shen, Peijie
• Application Number:
  US16/502,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20190324559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Mobile client device wireless charging, communication, and authentication techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a method performed by a mobile client device includes establishing wireless communication with a substrate having an integrated electromagnetic inductive coil in accordance with the mobile client device being at a distance proximal to the substrate to achieve an inductive connection. After establishing the wireless communication, the method includes receiving wireless inductive power from the substrate, establishing communication with a device via the wireless communication with the substrate, and after establishing communication with the device, operating, via the wireless communication, as a user input device for the device by outputting a user interface on a display device of the mobile client device, the user interface being operable to receive user input for the device.

Claims

1. A mobile client device comprising:

one or more processors;

a display device; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions that when executed causes the one or more processors to;

establish wireless communication with a substrate having an integrated electromagnetic inductive coil in accordance with the mobile client device being at a distance proximal to the substrate to achieve an inductive connection; and

after establishing the wireless communication via the inductive connection;

receive wireless inductive power from the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil;

establish communication with a device via the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil; and

after establishing communication with the device, operate, via the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil, as a user input device for the device by outputting a user interface on the display device, the user interface being operable to receive user input for the device.

2. The mobile client device of claim 1, wherein the user input received via the user interface controls movements of a cursor.

3. The mobile client device of claim 1, wherein the user input received via the user interface controls selection inputs.

4. The mobile client device of claim 1, wherein operating as the user input device for the device includes communicating the received user input to the device.

5. The mobile client device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is connected to the device via at least one cable.

6. The mobile client device of claim 5, wherein the at least one cable is configured to provide power from the device to the substrate.

7. The mobile client device of claim 6, wherein the at least one cable is configured to form a communicative coupling between the device and the mobile client device.

8. The mobile client device of claim 1, wherein the user input is further received via movement of a housing of the mobile client device.

9. A method performed by a mobile client device comprising:

establishing wireless communication with a substrate having an integrated electromagnetic inductive coil in accordance with the mobile client device being at a distance proximal to the substrate to achieve an inductive connection; and

after establishing the wireless communication via the inductive connection;

receiving wireless inductive power from the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil;

establishing communication with a device via the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil; and

after establishing communication with the device, operating, via the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil, as a user input device for the device by outputting a user interface on a display device of the mobile client device, the user interface being operable to receive user input for the device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user input received via the user interface controls movements of a cursor.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user input received via the user interface controls selection inputs.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein operating as the user input device for the device includes communicating the received user input to the device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the substrate is connected to the device via at least one cable.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one cable is configured to provide power from the device to the substrate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one cable is configured to form a communicative coupling between the device and the mobile client device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the user input is further received via movement of a housing of the mobile client device.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which are stored instructions that, when executed, cause a programmable device to:

establish wireless communication with a substrate having an integrated electromagnetic inductive coil in accordance with the device being at a distance proximal to the substrate to achieve an inductive connection; and

after establishing the wireless communication via the inductive connection;

receive wireless inductive power from the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil;

establish communication with a device via the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil; and

after establishing communication with the device, operate, via the integrated electromagnetic inductive coil, as a user input device for the device by outputting a user interface on a display device of the programmable device, the user interface being operable to receive user input for the device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the user input received via the user interface controls movements of a cursor.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the user input received via the user interface controls selection inputs.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein operating as the user input device for the device includes communicating the received user input to the device.