ACCESSORY SPEAKER FOR MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130241735A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: NYLEN, Tuomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,184,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there are at least a method, apparatus, and executable computer program to perform operations including detecting by an accessory speaker that a mobile device is in proximity to the accessory speaker. In response to the detecting, visually displaying a charging surface on a surface of the accessory speaker, and directing with indicator lights of the charging surface a placement of the mobile device to a specific location of the charging surface to charge the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting with an accessory speaker that a mobile device is in proximity to the accessory speaker;

in response to the detecting, visually displaying a charging surface on a surface of the accessory speaker; and

directing with indicator lights of the charging surface a placement of the mobile device to a specific location of the charging surface to charge the device.

2. The method according to claim 1, where the accessory speaker comprises at least one speaker and a microphone, and where the accessory speaker enables a user to operate the mobile device in a hands-free manner via the accessory speaker while the device is associated with the charging surface.

3. The method according claim 1, where the directing with the indicator lights comprises illuminating in a sequence on the charging surface light emitting diodes, where the sequence is to direct the placement by the user to the specific location of the charging surface.

4. The method according to claim 1, where the charging surface comprises indicator lights to indicate charging status and charging completed status.

5. The method according to claim 1, where the visually displaying the charging surface comprises illuminating the charging surface.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising detecting that the device is no longer in proximity to the surface;

and

in response to the detecting that the device is no longer in proximity to the surface, turning off the illumination of the charging surface.

7. The method according claim 1, where specific location of the charging surface is the optimal location of the charging surface to charge the device.

8. The method according to claim 3, where the sequence comprises the indicator lights blinking and dimming in a manner to direct the placement.

9. A computer readable memory embodying computer program code, the computer program code executed by at least one processor to perform the method as in claim 1.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, where the at lea one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least;

detect, with an accessory speaker, that a portable mobile device is in proximity to the accessory device speaker;

in response to the detecting, visually display a charging surface on a surface of the accessory speaker; and

direct with indicator lights of the charging surface a placement of the mobile device to a specific location of the charging surface to charge the device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, where the accessory speaker comprises at least one speaker and a microphone, and where the at least one memory including the computer code is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus, with the accessory speaker, to enable a user to operate the mobile device in a hands-free manner via the accessory speaker while the device is associated with the charging surface.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, where the directing with the indicator lights comprises the at least one memory including the computer code is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus, with the accessory speaker, to illuminate in a sequence on the charging surface light emitting diodes, where the sequence is to direct the placement by user to the specific location of the charging surface.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, were the sequence comprises the indicator lights blinking and dimming in a manner to direct the placement.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, where the at least one memory including the computer code is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to visually display the charging surface with an illumination of the charging surface.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, where the at least one memory including the computer code is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

detect that the mobile device is no longer in proximity to the surface; and

in response to the detecting that the mobile device is no longer in proximity to the surface, to turn off the illumination of the charging surface.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, where the specific location of the charging surface is the optimal location of the charging surface to charge the device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, where the mobile is one of a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal data assistant, and a portable computer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, where the accessory speaker comprises at least one speaker and microphone, and further comprising means for enabling a user to operate the mobile device in a hands-free manner via the accessory speaker while the device is associated with the charging surface.

18. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting by an accessory speaker that a portable mobile device is in proximity to the accessory speaker;

means, in response to the detecting, for visually displaying a charging surface on a surface of the accessory device wireless accessory speaker; and

means for directing with indicator lights of the charging surface a placement of the mobile device to a specific location of the charging surface to charge the device.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, where the means for detecting comprises a proximity sensor, and where the means for visually displaying and directing comprises at least one memory embodying computer program code, the computer program code executable by at least one processor.