Extendable wireless power delivery for small devices

• US 8,952,571 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, Emily, Smith, Joshua, Sample, Alanson, Neumann, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/940,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20120113576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 320/108
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/025 using non-contact coupling, e.g. inductive, capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

In various embodiments, an electronic device such as a portable computer has a structure that extends from the device to wirelessly transfer electrical power between itself and an external device. The structure may be placed in a non-extended position when not being used for such power transfer. In some embodiments power transfer may take place in either direction, and may be used for various purposes, such as to provide operational power and/or to charge a battery. The external device may be placed on or near the extended structure for power transfer to take place.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first device comprising a processor, a display, a keyboard, and a wireless power transfer system contained at least partly in a structure, the structure having an extended position to be used when wirelessly transferring power between the first device and an external device and a retracted position to be used when not transferring power between the first device and the external device, and the structure comprising a hinged attachment coupled with a top edge of a lid of the first device and is to be extended from the first device by rotating the structure about the hinged attachment in an upward direction away from the lid when the lid is in an upright position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure, when extended, forms a shelf on which to set the external device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first device is selected from a list of computers consisting of:

a) a desktop computer;

b) a laptop computer;

c) a notebook computer;

d) a netbook computer; and

e) a tablet computer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is to extend from the first device in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the first device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is to use inductive coupling to transfer power between the first device and the external device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is to be used to charge a battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is to be used to transfer power from the first device to the external device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is to be used to transfer power from the external device to the first device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is to lay in a recessed area of the lid and flush with outer contours of the first device when not in use.

10. A method comprising:

determining an extendable portion of a wireless power delivery system is in position for wirelessly transferring power to or from an external device;

determining whether to activate or deactivate charging circuitry for said wirelessly transferring power; and

prohibiting said wireless transferring power by charging circuitry if a computing device including the wireless power delivery system is operating on battery power.

11. The method of claim 10, activating charging circuitry in response to a push of a button or in response to sensing a weight of the external device.

12. The method of claim 10, activating charging circuitry in response to an entering of a command.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said determining the extendable position of a wireless power delivery system is in position comprises executing a command to extend the extendable portion.

14. An article comprising a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

determining an extendable portion of a wireless power delivery system is in position for wirelessly transferring power;

determining whether to activate or deactivate charging circuitry for said wirelessly transferring power; and

prohibiting said wireless transferring power by charging circuitry if a computing device including the wireless power delivery system is operating on battery power.

15. The article of claim 14, comprising the computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising activating charging circuitry in response to a push of a button or sensing a weight of an external device.

16. The article of claim 14, comprising the computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising activating charging circuitry in response to an entering of a command.

17. The article of claim 14, wherein said determining the extendable position of a wireless power delivery system is in position comprises executing a command to extend the extendable portion.