Accessory speaker with wireless charger for mobile device

• US 9,184,619 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Nylen, Tuomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US13/418,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.1, 340/636.2, 340/539.13, 340/686.6, 320/108, 320/107, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/573
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there are at least a method, apparatus, and executable computer program to perform operations including detecting by an accessory speaker that a mobile device is in proximity to the accessory speaker. In response to the detecting, visually displaying a charging surface on a surface of the accessory speaker, and directing with indicator lights of the charging surface a placement of the mobile device to a specific location of the charging surface to charge the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

directing with indicators to a specific location of a charging surface of a top surface of an accessory speaker a placement of a mobile device at the specific location;

detecting with the accessory speaker that the mobile device is in proximity to the charging surface of the top surface of the accessory speaker;

in response to the detecting, initiating the charging surface of the top surface of the accessory speaker to charge the mobile device, where the accessory speaker is configured to wirelessly interface with the mobile device placed on the charging surface to facilitate an operational substitute of at least a microphone and a speaker functionality of the mobile device using the accessory speaker; and

illuminating in a sequence on the charging surface light emitting diodes, where the sequence is to direct the placement of the mobile device to the specific location of the charging surface.

2. The method according to claim 1, where the accessory speaker comprises at least one speaker and a microphone, and where the accessory speaker enables a user to operate the mobile device in a hands-free manner via the accessory speaker while the mobile device is associated with the charging surface.

3. The method according to claim 1, where the charging surface comprises indicator lights to indicate charging status and charging completed status.

4. The method according to claim 1, where the initiating the charging surface comprises illuminating the charging surface.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising

detecting that the mobile device is no longer in proximity to the charging surface;

and

in response to the detecting that the mobile device is no longer in proximity to the charging surface, turning off the illumination of the charging surface.

6. The method according to claim 1, where the specific location of the charging surface is an optimal location of the charging surface to charge the mobile device.

7. The method according to claim 1, where the sequence comprises the indicator lights blinking and dimming in a manner to direct the placement.

8. A non-transitory computer readable memory embodying computer program code, the computer program code executed by at least one processor to perform the method as in claim 1.

16. The method according to claim 1, where the accessory speaker comprises more than one speaker, and where the more than one speaker can play music from the mobile device while the mobile device is charging.

17. The method according to claim 1, where the specific location directed to by the indicators on the charging surface is centralized on the top surface of the accessory speaker.

18. The method according to claim 17, where the directing with indicators comprises directing with markings at each of four comers of a rectangular area identifying the specific location centralized on the top surface of the accessory speaker.

19. The method according to claim 18, where the placement of the mobile device comprises placement of one of a front or a back of the mobile device on the rectangular area to charge the mobile device.

20. The method according to claim 18, where a long side of the rectangular area identifying the specific location centralized on the top surface of the accessory speaker is parallel with a front of the accessory speaker.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least;

direct with indicators to a specific location of a charging surface of a top surface of an accessory speaker a placement of a mobile device at the specific location;

detect, with the accessory speaker, that the mobile device is in proximity to the charging surface of the top surface of the accessory device speaker;

in response to the detecting, initiate the charging surface of the top surface of the accessory speaker to charge the mobile device, where the accessory speaker is configured to wirelessly interface with the mobile device placed on the charging surface to facilitate an operational substitute of at least a microphone and a speaker functionality of the mobile device using the accessory speaker; and

illuminate in a sequence on the charging surface light emitting diodes, where the sequence is to direct the placement of the mobile device to the specific location of the charging surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the accessory speaker comprises at least one speaker and a microphone, and where the at least one non-transitory memory including the computer code is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus, with the accessory speaker, to enable a user to operate the mobile device in a hands-free manner via the accessory speaker while the mobile device is associated with the charging surface.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the sequence comprises the indicator lights blinking and dimming in a manner to direct the placement.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the initiating the charging surface comprises an illumination of the charging surface.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, where the at least one non-transitory memory including the computer code is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

detect that the mobile device is no longer in proximity to the charging surface; and

in response to the detecting that the mobile device is no longer in proximity to the charging surface, to turn off the illumination of the charging surface.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the specific location of the charging surface is the optimal location of the charging surface to charge the mobile device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the mobile device is one of a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal data assistant, and a portable computer.