Devices, systems, and methods for priority charging of a group of electronic devices

• US 8,179,102 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alberth, William P. Jr., Robb, Patricia A., Gjermano, Gjergji
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US11/765,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20080315826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/112, 320/114, 320/162
• US Class Current: 320/162
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0018 using separate charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

Disclosed are a device, system and method for multiple mobile communication devices that may be charged according to their relative priority and/or for multiple mobile communication devices that may be charged to a minimum level. The devices may be connected in any order physically, but based upon their relative charging priority the device with the highest priority may receive a charge first. The device with second highest priority may receive a charge second. Their relative priority may be communicated between the devices by wireless communication. In one embodiment, one or more devices may receive a minimum charge to allow operation, before the devices with the highest priorities are fully charged. In regions where electrical utility infrastructures are minimally developed users may share electrical facilities to recharge a plurality of mobile communication devices so that the devices with the highest priority of the grouped devices are fully charged first.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first device, comprising;

a first rechargeable power source;

a second device, comprising;

a second rechargeable power source; and

a laptop computer, comprising;

a charger, wherein the charger is a contactless charger configured so that connection between the charger and the first and second devices to be charged is contactless;

wherein;

the first device is configured with a first charging priority and the second device is configured with a second charging priority;

the first device and the second device are configured to be connected to the charger to allow charging;

the laptop computer is configured to communicate wirelessly with the first device and the second device;

at least one of the first device, the second device, or the laptop computer is configured to determine which of the first device and the second device has a higher priority for charging.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the charger connects to the first device;

the second device connects to the first device; and

the first device is configured to provide to the second device a charging current.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first device and the second device are configured to communicate wirelessly; and

the first device and the second device are configured to determine via wireless communication which device has the higher priority.

4. The system of claim 1,

the first device further comprising a first user interface configured to enable entry of a priority for charging of the first device;

and

the second device further comprising a second user interface configured to enable entry of a priority for charging of the second device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are further configured to determine which of the first device and the second device has a lower priority for charging.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the device which is determined to have the higher priority is configured to charge before or at the same time as the device which is determined to have the lower priority.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the first and second device are configured to charge until their power sources are charged to a first threshold; and

the lower priority device, upon reaching the first threshold, is configured to stop charging until the higher priority device is charged to a second threshold.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the laptop computer is configured to hold the first device and the second device in place positioned to connect to the contactless charger.