USING AN AUDIO CABLE AS AN INDUCTIVE CHARGING COIL

• US 20140369518A1
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina, Lynch, Stephen Brian
• Application Number:
  US14/262,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20140369518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/06 Arranging circuit leads; Relieving strain on circuit leads
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to a technique for inductively charging an electronic device. This technique involves winding an audio cable for the electronic device around a charging mechanism multiple times so that one or more conductors in the audio cable form an inductive receiving coil. Next, a magnetic field is created through the charging mechanism to induce a current in the inductive receiving coil. Finally, the induced current in the inductive receiving coil is used to charge a rechargeable battery for the electronic device.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A earphone comprising:

an earphone body;

a cable coupled to the earphone body;

a speaker housed in the earphone body and configured to output a first acoustic signal corresponding to a media file, the speaker including a transducer configured to generate a current when it vibrates in response to a second acoustic signal provided by a corresponding acoustic charging device; and

a conductor coupled to the transducer and the cable.

13. The earphone of claim 12 wherein a portion of the earphone body is configured to be inserted into a recess of a corresponding acoustic charging device.

14. The earphone of claim 12 wherein the cable is also coupled to an electronic device that includes a charging circuit that is configured to use the generated current to charge a battery of the electronic device.

15. The earphone of claim 14 wherein the cable is further configured to carry an audio signal from the electronic device to the earphone, wherein the audio signal corresponds to the media file.

16. The earphone of claim 12 wherein the earphone further comprises a battery and a charging circuit that is configured to use the generated current to charge the battery.

17. The earphone of claim 12 wherein the earphone further comprises an audio driver.

18. The earphone of claim 12 wherein the earphone further comprises a processor and memory configured to play the media file.

19. A method for acoustically charging a battery;

receiving, by a speaker of an earphone coupled to an acoustic charging device, an acoustic signal that causes a transducer of the speaker to vibrate;

converting, by the transducer, a vibration of the speaker into a current;

passing, by a conductor coupled the speaker, the current to a charging circuit; and

charging, by the charging circuit, a battery using the current.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the acoustic signal is a first acoustic signal, wherein the speaker is configured to output a second acoustic signal corresponding to a media file.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising receiving, by the earphone and from an electronic device, an audio signal that corresponds to the media file.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the earphone further comprises a processor and memory configured to play the media file.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein an electronic device coupled to the earphone includes the battery.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein a portion of a body of the earphone is configured to be inserted into a recess of the acoustic charging device.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein a frequency of the acoustic signal is less than about 20 Hz.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein a frequency of the acoustic signal is greater than 20,000 Hz.

27. An acoustic charging device comprising:

a housing having a recess configured to receive a portion of a corresponding earphone; and

a speaker disposed within the recess and configured to provide an acoustic signal that causes a corresponding speaker of the corresponding earphone to vibrate such that a transducer of the corresponding speaker generates a current for charging a battery when the transducer vibrates in response to the acoustic signal.

28. The acoustic charging device of claim 27 wherein the recess further includes a gasket that extends along an inner surface of the recess.

29. The acoustic charging device of claim 27 wherein a frequency of the acoustic signal is less than about 20 Hz.

30. The acoustic charging device of claim 27 wherein a frequency of the acoustic signal is greater than 20,000 Hz.

31. The acoustic charging device of claim 27 wherein the acoustic signal is a first acoustic signal, wherein the speaker is further configured to output a second acoustic signal corresponding to a media file.