CHARGING DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A COMPUTING DEVICE AT MULTIPLE POSITIONS

• US 20150077041A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Magana, Giovanni Mata, Ryner, Michael Christian, Gioscia, Richard, Bryan, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 10,270,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• 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

Abstract

A charging device is provided. The charging device includes a support structure and contact elements provided in the support structure. The contact elements are positioned to mate or make electrical contact with a set of contact elements of a computing device.

Claims

1. A charging device comprising:

a support structure dimensioned to receive a computing device along a base of the support structure;

multiple contact elements provided in the support structure, at least one of the multiple contact elements having a minimum width; and

a power circuit to provide a power signal using at least one of the multiple contact elements;

wherein the multiple contact elements are positioned to make electrical contact with a corresponding set of contact elements of the computing device when the computing device is supported by at any point along a distance of the base, wherein the distance exceeds the minimum width.

2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the support structure is dimensioned to enable the computing device to be held at least in a partially upright position.

3. The charging device of claim 1, further comprising a detect circuit to detect a presence of the computing device using at least another one of the multiple contact elements.

4. The charging device of claim 3, wherein the multiple contact elements comprise a first, a second, and a third contact element each having the minimum width.

5. The charging device of claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third contact elements are aligned with each other, and wherein the first contact element is positioned adjacent to the second contact element, and the third contact element is positioned adjacent to the second contact element.

6. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging device is configured to provide power to different types of computing devices.

7. A system comprising:

a computing device including a first set of contact elements;

a charging device including a support structure and a second set of contact elements provided in the support structure;

wherein the computing device is shaped to be received in the support structure of the charging device to mate the first set of contact elements with the second set of contact elements; and

wherein the first set of contact elements of the computing device is oversized relative to the second set of contact elements of the charging device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first set of contact elements and the second set of contact elements are positioned to make electrical contact even when the computing device and the charging device are misaligned by a distance that exceeds a minimum width of at least one of the second set of contact elements,

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the support structure of the charging device is dimensioned to enable the computing device to be held at least in a partially upright position.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the charging device includes a power circuit to provide a power signal using at least one of the second set of contact elements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the charging device includes a detect circuit to detect a presence of the computing device using at least another one of the second set of contact elements.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second set of contact elements of the charging device aligned with each other and includes a first contact element, a second contact element, and a third contact element, and wherein the first contact element is positioned adjacent to the second contact element, and the third contact element is positioned adjacent to the second contact element.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the first, second, and third contact elements are dimensioned to have a same width.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device comprises at least one of a tablet computing device, a laptop computer, or a keyboard.

15. A system comprising:

a computing device including a first set of contact elements;

a charging device including a support structure and a second set of contact elements provided in the support structure;

wherein the computing device is shaped to be received in the support structure of the charging device to mate the first set of contact elements with the second set of contact elements; and

wherein at least one of the first or second set of contact elements is oversized relative to the other of the first or second set of contact elements.