Battery charging docking cradle for a mobile computer
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for charging one or more rechargeable alkaline batteries located in a mobile computer, the apparatus comprising:
- a docking cradle for the mobile computer, the docking cradle including;
a connector for receiving electrical power from an external source;
a port for communicating with a second computer;
a cradle connector for communicating with the mobile computer and supplying a charging current, said cradle connector comprising an arm protruding from the docking cradle for both of said communicating with the mobile computer and said supplying; and
a charging circuit powered by the electrical power and supplying the charging current to the cradle connector;
a power cable for supplying the electrical power to the docking cradle; and
a communication cable for communicating with the second computer.
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Abstract
The present invention charges rechargeable alkaline batteries installed in a mobile computer. According to the invention, a mobile computer holds one or more rechargeable alkaline batteries. These batteries are charged when the mobile computer is placed in a specially designed device that is attached to an external power supply and attachable to a second computer for communicating with said second computer. Charging circuitry regulates the charging of the rechargeable alkaline batteries held by the mobile computer or a selector manually manipulable by a user could choose the recharging mode.
27 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for charging one or more rechargeable alkaline batteries located in a mobile computer, the apparatus comprising:
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a docking cradle for the mobile computer, the docking cradle including; a connector for receiving electrical power from an external source; a port for communicating with a second computer; a cradle connector for communicating with the mobile computer and supplying a charging current, said cradle connector comprising an arm protruding from the docking cradle for both of said communicating with the mobile computer and said supplying; and a charging circuit powered by the electrical power and supplying the charging current to the cradle connector; a power cable for supplying the electrical power to the docking cradle; and a communication cable for communicating with the second computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for charging one or more rechargeable alkaline batteries located in a mobile computer, the apparatus comprising:
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a docking cradle for the mobile computer, wherein the docking cradle includes; an AC adapter connector for receiving electrical power from an external source; a voltage regulator for constant voltage taper charging the one or more rechargeable alkaline batteries; a data communications port for communicating with a second computer; and a cradle connector for supplying a charging current to the mobile computer through a first cradle connector port of the mobile computer and transmitting communications between the second computer and the mobile computer through the first cradle connector port, the cradle connector including a grouping of plural pins, wherein the cradle connector supplies the charging current to the mobile computer through at least one of the grouping of plural pins, and wherein the cradle connector transmits communications through at least one of the grouping of plural pins; an AC adapter cable for attaching the AC adapter connector of the docking cradle to an AC power source; and a serial port interface cable for attaching the data communications port of the docking cradle to an data communications port of the second computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for upgrading a mobile computer to charge one or more rechargeable batteries while the mobile computer is located in a cradle;
- wherein the mobile computer otherwise uses one or more non-rechargeable batteries;
wherein the cradle includes a cradle connector for inserting into the mobile computer, the cradle connector comprising plural pins embedded in an arm protruding from the cradle, at least one of the plural pins for transmitting communications to and receiving communications from the mobile computer, and at least one of the plural pins unused by the cradle; and
wherein the mobile computer includes a cradle connector port for receiving the cradle connector, the cradle connector port comprising plural pins embedded in a cavity in the mobile computer, at least one of the plural pins for transmitting communications to and receiving communications from the cradle, and at least one of the plural pins unused by the mobile computer, the method comprising;providing a charging circuit; connecting at least one unused pin of the cradle connector port to an electrical circuit in contact with the one or more rechargeable batteries in the mobile computer; connecting at least one unused pin of the cradle connector to at least one pin of the cradle connector port connected to the electrical circuit; transmitting a charging current to the mobile computer through at least one of the unused pins of the cradle connector; charging the one or more rechargeable batteries held in the mobile computer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- wherein the mobile computer otherwise uses one or more non-rechargeable batteries;
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21. A method for charging one or more rechargeable alkaline batteries held in a mobile computer, the method comprising:
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providing a docking cradle for the mobile computer, wherein the docking cradle is attached to an external power source, wherein the docking cradle includes a cradle connector for communicating with and supplying a charging current to the mobile computer through a first cradle connector port of the mobile computer, and wherein the docking cradle includes a recharging circuit; docking the mobile computer in the docking cradle; supplying the charging current to the mobile computer through the cradle connector; and charging the one or more rechargeable alkaline batteries held in the mobile computer. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification