Opportunistic power supply charge system for portable unit

• US 7,872,444 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Alistair, Bridgelall, Raj
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US10/733,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,595 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/113, 320/115, 320/155, 320/156, 320/127, 320/133, 320/137, 235/462.44, 235/462.45
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

Systems and methods for opportunistically charging a rechargeable power source of a portable electronic unit are provided. The system includes a primary inductance assembly energized by a main power source for inducing an electro-magnetic flux in a secondary coil assembly associated with a power source of the portable unit. Such electro-magnetic flux creates an electric current that is subsequently employed for charging the power source of the portable unit. A controller of the charging system can monitor state of charge, and notify a user when a recharge is required. Scavenging modes may also be employed for recharging the main power source and the rechargeable source of the portable unit.

Claims

1. A portable computing device, comprising:

a component that receives an electro-magnetic flux generated from an external source; and

a charging component that generates a charging current from the flux, and charges a rechargeable power supply; and

a controller that determines a first charging time for the portable computing device and allocates a second charging time to the portable computing device.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1 further comprising a bar code scanner.

3. The portable computing device of claim 1 further comprising an artificial intelligence (AI) component that infers and/or determines when the power supply should be recharged.

4. The portable computing device of claim 3 further comprising a notification component that notifies a user of the device that the device should be exposed to the external flux source.

5. The portable computing device of claim 1, the rechargeable power source being at least one of a fuel cell, a capacitor, a super capacitor, and a rechargeable battery cell.

6. The portable computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a notification component that alerts a user of power status of the rechargeable power supply.

7. A method of charging a portable unit comprising:

allocating a charge time to charge a rechargeable power supply of the portable unit;

providing at least one primary induction assembly with a primary winding configured to create a magnetic flux;

providing a second pick up induction assembly coupled to a the rechargeable power supply of a the portable unit;

unit, the magnetic flux extendable in to the second pick up induction assembly; and

opportunistically recharging the power supply based at least in part on the charge time via a current created in the second induction assembly from the magnetic flux.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

opportunistically recharging the power supply without deactivating the portable unit.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

recharging the power supply, when the magnetic flux extends in to the second pick up assembly.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

controlling at least one of the primary induction and the secondary induction assembly.

11. The method bf claim 10, further comprising:

triggering an event to energize the primary winding.

12. The method of claim 11, the triggering further comprising:

varying a light feature.

13. The method of claim 11, the triggering further comprising:

moving a user'"'"'s body part in a predetermined manner.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

charging the rechargeable power supply via a scavenging method employing at least one of a user'"'"'s body heat, user'"'"'s foot pressure, and solar energy.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

aligning the second induction assembly in close spatial proximity to the first induction assembly.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

carrying the first induction assembly by a member of a group; and

approaching the member when an opportunistic recharge is required for portable units of other members.

17. A charging system for a portable unit comprising:

a controller that determines a charging time for a rechargeable power source of the portable unit and allocates a partial charge time to the rechargeable power source;

a primary induction assembly with a primary coil coupled to a primary power source; and

a secondary induction assembly with a secondary coil coupled to a rechargeable power source of the portable unit;

the magnetic flux of the first primary induction assembly extendable to the secondary induction assembly so as to provide the rechargeable power source a charging current that is inductively created via the magnetic flux during an opportunistic charging of the portable unit.

18. The charging system of claim 17, a the controller in wireless communication with the portable unit further monitors a state of charge of the rechargeable power source.

19. The charging system of claim 18, the controller comprising a sensor.

20. The charging system of claim 19, the sensor is at least one of a motion and a light sensor.

21. The charger system of claim 17, the rechargeable power source is at least one of a fuel cell, a capacitor, a super capacitor, and a rechargeable battery cell.

22. The charger system of claim 17, at least one of the portable unit and the charger system is wearable around a user'"'"'s body.

23. The charger system of claim 18, further comprising:

a notifying system that alerts a user of a power status of the rechargeable power supply.

24. The charger system of claim 18, the primary induction assembly is part of a flat pad.

25. The charger system of claim 22, further comprising:

a thermo-coupler connected to a user'"'"'s body for additionally recharging at least one of the primary power source and the rechargeable power source.

26. A charger system comprising:

means for allocating disparate charge times to at least two portable units;

means for creating a magnetic flux; and

means for receiving a magnetic flux, the receiving means operatively connected to a rechargeable power source of each of the at least two portable unit units so as to create an electric current during an opportunistic charge of the at least two portable unit units.