OPTICAL COMMUNICATION AND CHARGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20170019180A1
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Lucrecio, Armando J., Ma, Jiayin, Deva, Shaily
• Granted Patent: US 9,941,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• 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 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/807 Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

Techniques for remote interactions with devices, such as charging, communications, and user interaction, are provided. Specifically, systems and methods to provide charging of devices, such as, remote charging by photovoltaic (PV) cells, infrared (IR) illumination, audio signals, and LEDs such as laser LEDs to charge devices such as watches, jewelry, car panels, headphones and phones, are presented.

Claims

1. An optical communications and charging system comprising:

a transmitter/charger configured to receive a first communications signal and a power signal from an external source, the transmitter/charger comprising a light source configured to transmit the first communications signal and the power signal;

a lens configured to receive the first communications signal and the power signal;

a target device comprising a battery and a PV cell in communication with the battery, the target device configured to receive the first communications signal and the power signal, the target device configured to transmit a second communications signal to the transmitter/charger;

wherein the power signal received by the target device enables the PV cell to charge the battery.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser/LED diode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the power received by the transmitter/charger is received via at least one of a USB connector and a wireless connector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter/charger and the lens are components of a common enclosure structure.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the common enclosure structure further comprises a photon detector configured to receive the second communications signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the target device outputs the second communications signal to the photon detector.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a modulator configured to manage the first and the second communications signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication signal comprises data to enable a software update of the targeted device.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the target device and the common enclosure structure of transmitter/charger are not in physical communication, and the light source wirelessly transmits the first communications signal and the power signal.

10. A method of optical communications and charging, the method comprising:

providing an optical communications and charging system comprising;

a transmitter/charger configured to receive a first communications signal and a power signal from an external source, the transmitter/charger comprising a light source configured to transmit the first communications signal and the power signal;

a lens configured to receive the first communications signal and the power signal; and

a target device comprising a battery and a PV cell in communication with the battery, the target device configured to receive the first communications signal and the power signal, the target device configured to transmit a second communications signal to the transmitter/charger;

engaging the transmitter/charger charging device with an external source;

providing at least one of a first communications signal and a power signal to the transmitter/charger from the external source;

transmitting the at least one least one of a first communications signal and a power signal from the transmitter/charger to the target device;

determining if the at least one of a first communications signal and a power signal comprises a power signal;

wherein in the at least one of a first communications signal and a power signal comprises a power signal, the PV cell receives the power signal and the battery is charged.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the light source is a laser/LED diode.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the power received by the transmitter/charger is received via at least one of a USB connector and a wireless connector.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitter/charger and the lens are components of a common enclosure structure.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the common enclosure structure further comprises a photon detector configured to receive the second communications signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the target device outputs the second communications signal to the photon detector.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising a modulator configured to manage the first and the second communications signals.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first communication signal comprises data to enable a software update of the targeted device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the target device and the common enclosure structure of transmitter/charger are not in physical communication, and the light source wirelessly transmits the first communications signal and the power signal.

19. An optically-activated switch device comprising:

a light source configured to be disposed within an electronic device, the light source configured to emit an optical signal; and

a surface barrier configured to be disposed on a surface of the electronic device and configured to receive the optical signal, the surface barrier having an internal reflective surface and an external surface;

wherein the internal reflective surface reflects the optical signal to provide a first switch state when no external source contacts the external surface, and provides a second switch state when an external source contacts the external surface.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein light source is a laser/LED diode.