CONTEXTUALLY AWARE CHARGING OF MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20130260677A1
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Partovi, Afshin
• Granted Patent: US 11,211,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A system and method for contextually aware charging of mobile devices. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a base unit having one or more charger coils, for use in inductive charging; and one or more components within the base unit for providing context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities with a mobile device. When a mobile device having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with, is placed in proximity to the base unit, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device, and at the same time the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities are initiated. In accordance with various embodiments, the base unit and/or the mobile device can adapt to a location or use model of interest to provide different functionalities, applications and features.

Claims

1. A system for contextually aware charging of mobile devices, comprising:

a base unit having one or more charger coils, for use in inductive charging;

one or more components within the base unit for providing context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities with a mobile device; and

wherein, when a mobile device having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with, is placed in proximity to the base unit, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device, and at the same time the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities are initiated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein during charging or powering the base unit and/or the mobile device adapts to a location or use model of interest and provides different functionalities, applications and features depending on preset or ad hoc environmental conditions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit and mobile device communicate with each other prior to and/or during charging or powering to initiate the use of the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided as, associated with, or integrated within a computer system, stand, holder or other apparatus that receives the mobile device for charging or powering.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes a data communication or storage unit or other function, for use with the mobile device as part of the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities, including transferring data to or from the mobile device while being charged or powered.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities includes controlling the use of peripheral equipment in addition to the base unit and the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided as, or integrated with, an office or home equipment such as a docking station or piece of furniture, and wherein the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities includes, upon charging or powering the mobile device, configuring various aspects of the office or home environment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is integrated within an automobile, and wherein the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities includes, upon charging or powering the mobile device, configuring various aspects of the automobile environment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver coil or receiver is built into another device that enhances the functionality of the mobile device, such as a skin, case, communication or data storage module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is any of an automobile, phone, computing device, camera, kitchen appliance, or any other electrical or electronic device that can include the receiver coil or receiver and that can be charged or powered by the base unit.

11. A method of enabling contextually aware charging of mobile devices, comprising the steps of:

providing a base unit having one or more charger coils, for use in inductive charging;

providing one or more components within the base unit for providing context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities with a mobile device; and

wherein, when a mobile device having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with, is placed in proximity to the base unit, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device, and at the same time the context aware connectivity and/or other capabilities are initiated.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein during charging or powering the base unit and/or the mobile device adapts to a location or use model of interest and provides different functionalities, applications and features depending on preset or ad hoc environmental conditions.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit and mobile device communicate with each other prior to and/or during charging or powering to initiate the use of the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit is provided as, associated with, or integrated within a computer system, stand, holder or other apparatus that receives the mobile device for charging or powering.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit includes a data communication or storage unit or other function, for use with the mobile device as part of the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities, including transferring data to or from the mobile device while being charged or powered.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities includes controlling the use of peripheral equipment in addition to the base unit and the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit is provided as, or integrated with, an office or home equipment such as a docking station or piece of furniture, and wherein the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities includes, upon charging or powering the mobile device, configuring various aspects of the office or home environment.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit is integrated within an automobile, and wherein the context-aware connectivity and/or other capabilities includes, upon charging or powering the mobile device, configuring various aspects of the automobile environment.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiver coil or receiver is built into another device that enhances the functionality of the mobile device, such as a skin, case, communication or data storage module.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is any of an automobile, phone, computing device, camera, kitchen appliance, or any other electrical or electronic device that can include the receiver coil or receiver and that can be charged or powered by the base unit.