Wireless charging system for multi-mode device

• US 9,263,910 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Amano, Masayuki, Tsukamoto, Yasumichi, Nakamura, Yoshio, Yamamoto, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, SUN J
• Application Number:
  US14/174,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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

Abstract

A wireless charging system provides charging to a multi-display device. A docking station in the system includes at least two transmission sources positioned so that a charger on the device is in range of at least one of the transmission sources when docked. In some embodiments, the docking station receives the device in a non-planar configuration and the charger receives charge on whichever side of the docking station it is docked on. In some embodiments, the system determines which side of the docking station is activated to provide charging. The multi-display device can be activated in a mode of operation associated with the side of the docking station determined to be providing charge.

Claims

1. A docking station for charging up a multi-display portable device, the docking station comprising:

one or more docking surfaces configured to receive the multi-display portable device;

a power source; and

at least two transmission sources, coupled to the power source, and at least one of said at least two transmission sources is positioned to cause transmitting electrical charge via a wireless coupling to a charger of the multi-display portable device as the multi-display portable device is docked on the docking station.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the at least two transmission sources are attached to different docking surfaces.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the at least two transmission sources are on a respective one of the docking surfaces on different planes of the docking station.

4. The docking station of claim 1, including a first docking surface connected to a second docking surface at an apex.

5. The docking station of claim 4, wherein a first of the at least two transmission sources is coupled to the first docking surface and a second of the least two transmission sources is coupled to the second docking surface.

6. The docking station of claim 5, wherein the first of the at least two transmission sources is positioned to cause transmitting electrical charge via a wireless coupling to the charger while the multi-display portable device is docked in a first mode of operation and the second of the at least two transmission sources is positioned to cause transmitting electrical charge via a wireless coupling to the charger while the multi-display portable device is docked in a second mode of operation.

7. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to send a polling signal to the charger and detect a presence of the charger on the docking station.

8. The docking station of claim 7, wherein the transceiver is configured to detect whether the charger is on a first surface of the docking station or on a second surface of the docking station.

9. A docking station for charging up a multi-display portable device, the docking station comprising:

one or more docking surfaces configured to receive the multi-display portable device for docking;

a power source;

a first transmission source and a second transmission source, coupled to the power source, and positioned to cause transmitting electrical charge via a wireless coupling to a charger of the multi-display portable device as the multi-display portable device is docked on the docking station; and

a circuit configured to detect whether the charger is in charging range of the first transmission source or the second transmission source.

10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the first transmission source is coupled to a first docking surface of the docking station and the second transmission source is coupled to a second docking surface of the docking station.

11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the first docking surface and the second docking surface are configured to receive the multi-display portable device in a non-planar configuration.

12. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the first docking surface and the second docking surface are non-planar to each other.

13. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the circuit is configured to toggle the multi-display portable device to operate:

in a first mode in response to detection of the charger being in range of the first transmission source, and

in a second mode in response to detection of the charger being in range of the second transmission source.

14. A wireless charging system, comprising:

a multi-display portable device, including;

a first device segment,

a first display attached to the first device segment,

a second device segment pivotally coupled to the first device segment,

a second display attached to the second device segment, and

a charger attached to the first device segment; and

a docking station configured to receive the multi-display portable device for charging, the docking station including;

one or more docking surfaces configured to receive the multi-display portable device for docking;

a power source;

a first transmission source and a second transmission source, coupled to the power source, and positioned to cause transmitting electrical charge via a wireless coupling to a charger of the multi-display portable device as the multi-display portable device is docked on the docking station.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the multi-display portable device is configured to allow the first display to display in a non-planar direction relative to the second display.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the multi-display portable device further comprises a sensor configured to detect whether the charger is in charging range of either the first transmission source and the second transmission source.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the docking station further comprises a circuit configured to toggle the multi-display portable device to operate:

in a first mode of operation in response to detection of the charger being in range of the first transmission source, and

in a second mode of operation in response to detection of the charger being in range of the second transmission source.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first display displays an indication of the first mode of operation in response to the circuit toggling the multi-display portable device to operate in the first mode.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second display displays an indication of the second mode of operation in response to the circuit toggling the multi-display portable device to operate in the second mode.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the first transmission source and the second transmission source charge the charger using inductive charging.