PROXIMITY DETECTION ALARM FOR AN INDUCTIVELY CHARGED MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20120176249A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Manjirnath, Skillman, Peter N., Matsuoka, Yoshimichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation

Abstract

Illustrated is a system and method to activate an alarm where a mobile computing device is no longer proximate to a docking station that provides inductive charging and data transfer capabilities for the mobile computing device. The computer system includes at least one coil to provide inductive charging for a mobile computing device. Further, the computer system includes a processor to control the inductive charging of the mobile computing device. Additionally, the computer system includes a proximity sensor operatively connected to the processor, the proximity sensor to determine that the mobile computing device is proximate to the computer system. Moreover, the computer system includes an alarm logic module to activate an alarm when the mobile computing device is no longer proximate to the computer system.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one coil to provide inductive charging for a mobile computing device;

a processor to control the inductive charging of the mobile computing device;

a proximity sensor operatively connected to the processor, the proximity sensor to determine that the mobile computing device is proximate to the computer system; and

an alarm logic module to activate an alarm when the mobile computing device is no longer proximate to the computer system.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system includes at least one of a docking station, smart phone, slate computer, printer, or display.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor includes are least one of a proximity switch, a mechanical switch, an acoustic sensor, a Hall-Effect sensor, or an Infra-Red (IR) sensor.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the alarm is at least one of a visual or audible indicia.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein proximate is between 0-2 mm in distance.

6. A mobile computing device comprising:

a screen to receive input to activate proximity detection, the proximity detection activated when the mobile computing device is to receive an inductive charge;

a module to determine that the mobile computing device is no longer receiving the inductive charge; and

a speaker to generate an audible indicia when the mobile computing device is no longer receiving the inductive charge.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 6, further comprising a Light Emitting Diode (LED) to generate a visual indicia when the mobile computing device is no longer receiving the inductive charge.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein the module determines that the mobile computing device is no longer receiving data.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein the proximity detection includes setting a Boolean value denoting that the mobile computing device is to receive the inductive charge.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the module sets the Boolean value to denote that the mobile computing device is no longer receiving the inductive charge.

11. A computer implemented method comprising:

activating a proximity sensor residing on a computer system;

determining that an inductively charged mobile computing device is proximate to the computer system; and

activating an alarm when the inductively charged mobile computing device is no longer proximate to the computer system.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the computer system includes at least one of a docking station, smart phone, slate computer, printer, or display.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the determining includes using at least one of a mechanical switch, an acoustic sensor, a Hall-Effect sensor, or an Infra-Red (IR) sensor.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the alarm is at least one of a visual or audible indicia.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein proximate is between 0-2 mm in distance.