ASSISTING WIRELESS TRANSFER OF POWER TO A MACHINE

• US 20170331335A1
• Filed: 11/05/2014
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brooks, Robert C, Castell, Robin T, Jabori, Monji G, Merkel, Harold, Atkinson, Lee, Stancil, Charles J
• Granted Patent: US 10,978,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/00045 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A technique includes sensing a wireless charging station that includes a wireless charging transmitter and determining a status for the machine based at least in part on the sensing of the wireless charging station. The technique also includes assisting with a process to wirelessly transfer power to the machine, where assisting includes causing the machine to provide guidance to the user based at least in part on the determined status.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing a wireless charging station comprising a wireless charging transmitter and determining a status for the machine based at least in part on the sensing of the wireless charging station; and

assisting a process to wirelessly transfer power to the machine, wherein assisting comprises causing the machine to provide guidance to the user based at least in part on the determined status.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

sensing the wireless charging station comprises detecting the wireless charging transmitter of the wireless charging station; and

assisting the user of the machine with a process to wirelessly transfer power to the machine comprises at least one of the following;

using the machine to provide an indication of a compatibility of a wireless charging standard used by the machine relative to a wireless charging standard used by the wireless charging station;

using the machine to provide an indication of a compatibility of a wireless charging transmitter of the wireless charging station to a wireless charging receiver of the machine; and

using the machine to provide an indication of a relative position of a wireless receiver of the machine relative to a wireless charging transmitter of the wireless charging station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

sensing the wireless charging station comprises detecting a physical orientation of a wireless charging transmitter of the wireless charging station relative to the machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the wireless charging station comprises at least one of the following:

using a magnetometer of the machine to detect a magnetic field generated by a wireless charging transmitter of the wireless charging station;

communicating with the wireless charging station by communicating data using a wireless charging receiver of the machine;

using a coil of the wireless charging receiver of the machine to detect a magnetic field emanating from the wireless charging transmitter of the wireless charging station; and

using a plurality of wireless charging coils of the machine to attempt to communicate with the wireless charging station using a plurality of protocols associated with a plurality of associated wireless charging standards.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

sensing the wireless charging station comprises:

monitoring an output of a magnetometer for an indication that a wireless charging transmitter is in proximity to the portable electronic device; and

in response to the output indicating that the wireless charging transmitter is in proximity to the portable electronic device, locking an indication of magnetic north from the magnetometer.

6. An article comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor-based system cause the processor-based system to:

determine a wireless power transfer status for the portable electronic device;

display an indication of the determined status to a user of the portable electronic device; and

selectively initiate wireless charging of a battery of the portable electronic device based at least in part on user feedback to the indication of the determined status.

7. The article of claim 6, the storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor-based system cause the processor-based system to determine and display at least one of the following:

a compatibility status of a wireless charging receiver of the portable electronic device to a wireless charging transmitter detected to be in proximity to the wireless charging receiver;

an amount of power to be received by the portable electronic device in response to the portable electronic device being charged by a wireless charging transmitter detected to be in proximity to the portable electronic device; and

a status representing a degree to which the portable electronic device may be used while being wirelessly charged.

8. The article of claim 6, the storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor-based system cause the processor-based system to determine and display at least one of the following:

a status representing that a wireless charging station cannot deliver sufficient power to fully power the portable electronic device while the battery is being charged;

a status representing that a wireless charging station can deliver sufficient power to fully power the portable electronic device but not simultaneously permit charging of the battery without limiting power available for the charging of the battery; and

a status representing that a wireless charging station can deliver sufficient power to fully power the portable electronic device and simultaneously charge the battery.

9. The article of claim 8, the storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor-based system cause the processor-based system to determine and display a status representing a time for charging a battery of the portable electronic device for a plurality of different use scenarios for the portable electronic device while the battery is being wirelessly charged.

10. The article of claim 8, the storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor-based system cause the processor-based system to determine and display a status representing at least one:

a time for the battery to be discharged given a current charge state of the battery; and

a current run time for the portable electronic device given the current charge state.

11. The article of claim 6, the storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor-based system cause the processor-based system to:

wirelessly communicate with a wireless charging controller to determine a charging status for an electronic device other than the portable electronic device.

12. The article of claim 11, the storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor-based system cause the processor-based system to:

wirelessly communicate with a wireless charging controller to regulate charging of at least one of the portable device and the other electronic device based at least in part on a behavior profile.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a battery;

a power supply system to provide power to the central processing unit;

a housing containing the CPU, the battery and the power supply system; and

a controller to;

wirelessly communicate with a wireless charging station on which a portable electronic device is disposed, the portable electronic device being physically separated from the apparatus; and

based on the wireless communication, determine and indicate a wireless power transfer status of the portable electronic device to a user of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller further wirelessly communicates with the wireless charging station to determine a wireless power transfer status of at least one other portable electronic device, and determines and provides an indication of the wireless power transfer status for each of the other portable electronic devices to the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller, based on the wireless communication with the wireless station, determines a level of power being wirelessly communicated to the portable electronic device and provides an indication of the determined level to the user.