Method and system to mount a portable electronic device to wirelessly charge

• US 9,270,130 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Arai, Hideaki, Ambrose, Aaron, Hoover, Andrew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levin, Naum B
• Application Number:
  US14/068,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20150115877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for mounting and charging a portable electronic device on or in contiguity to a wireless charging device. The wireless power transferring and charging device includes a suction pump that provides a suction vacuum to mount/hold a portable electronic device onto an induction charging surface of the wireless charging device in a vertical or semi-vertical position to be wirelessly powered and/or charged.

Claims

1. A method for mounting and charging a portable electronic device comprising:

a control unit receiving a command to begin operating a wireless charging device;

operating a suction pump in response to receiving the command to begin operating such that air is drawn through a suctioning unit positioned on or adjacent to an induction charging surface of the wireless charging device to provide a suction force to draw the portable electronic device on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface and maintain the suction force to mount the portable electronic device on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface;

operating an induction coil on or adjacent to the induction charging surface to transfer energy from the wireless charging device to the portable electronic device while the portable electronic device is mounted on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface; and

providing power to the suction pump and the induction coil,

wherein providing power to the suction pump and the induction coil includes least one of;

providing an amount of power to provide the suction force to draw the portable electronic device, providing the amount of power required to maintain the suction force to mount the portable electronic device, and providing the amount of power to transfer energy from the wireless charging device to the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing the portable electronic device to be in close proximity to the induction charging surface using a proximity sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the command to begin operating the wireless charging device is provided based on the proximity sensor sensing the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the proximity sensor continuously monitors for the presence of the portable electronic device while the suction pump is operating.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein operating a suction pump further includes providing the suction force acting to mount and resist movement of the portable electronic device with respect to the wireless charging device in a vertical or semi vertical direction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining the amount of power required to maintain the suction force, and where the amount of power is not greater than a predetermined threshold continuing to provide the amount of power required to maintain the suction vacuum to mount and resist movement of the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, where the amount of power required to maintain the suction force is greater than the predetermined threshold stopping the suction pump.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the suction pump based on not sensing the portable electronic device in close proximity to the induction charging surface.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the suction pump based on sensing a presence of an object other than the portable electronic device.

10. An electronic device mounting and charging system for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device in a vertical, semi-vertical, or horizontal position comprising:

a wireless charging device casing;

an induction charging surface on or in the casing;

an induction coil on or adjacent to the induction charging surface;

a plurality of suctioning units on or adjacent to the induction charging surface;

a suction pump that is included within the casing, wherein the suction pump is in fluid communication with the plurality of suctioning units; and

a control unit in communication with the induction coil and suction pump that provides power to the induction coil and the suction pump,

wherein the control unit providing power includes at least one of;

providing an amount of power to provide a suction force to draw the portable electronic device on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface, providing the amount of power required to maintain the suction force to mount the portable electronic device on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface, and providing the amount of power to transfer energy from the wireless charging device to the portable electronic device while the portable electronic device is mounted on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of proximity sensors located on or adjacent to the induction charging surface, each proximity sensor being configured to sense a presence of an object in close proximity to the induction charging surface, wherein the plurality of proximity sensors are in electrical communication with the control unit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit turns on the suction pump based on at least one of the following:

the plurality of proximity sensors sensing a presence of a portable electronic device in close proximity to the induction charging surface of the wireless charging device, a manual power switch electrically connected with the control unit being in an ON position, or the control unit receiving power from an external power source.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the suction pump is configured to provide an amount of suction to provide a suction force acting to mount and resist movement of the portable electronic device in a vertical or semi-vertical position until the control unit determines that power required to maintain a suction vacuum force is greater than a predetermined threshold.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the induction charging surface is configured to inductively charge a plurality of classes of portable electronic devices, and the wireless charging device includes one or more visual qualities to inform a user that a portable electronic device is being charged.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the wireless charging device casing includes a power adapter that receives power from an external power source.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein a rear surface of the wireless charging device casing includes an attachment member that attaches to a plurality of external surfaces.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the suction pump is located in the wireless charging device casing.

18. A method for simultaneously mounting and wirelessly charging a portable electronic device in a vertical, semi-vertical, or horizontal position comprising:

providing a wireless charging device including an induction charging surface that is associated with an induction coil;

creating a suctioning vacuum by drawing air through air intake holes of a plurality of suctioning units through a vacuum air duct into a suction pump to create a suction vacuum between the plurality of suctioning units and the surface of the portable electronic device to draw and mount the portable electronic device on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface;

providing a wireless electrical charge from the induction coil to transfer a wireless electric charge through an electromagnetic field from the induction coil to a receiver coil within the portable electronic device; and

providing power to the induction coil and the suction pump,

wherein providing power includes at least one of;

providing an amount of power to create the suction vacuum to draw the portable electronic device on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface, providing the amount of power required to maintain the suction vacuum to mount the portable electronic device on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface, and providing the amount of power to transfer energy from the wireless charging device to the portable electronic device while the portable electronic device is mounted on or in contiguity to the induction charging surface.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining that a power required to maintain the suction vacuum is not greater than a predetermined threshold and air is drawn through the air intake holes of the plurality of suctioning units to the suction pump to create the suction vacuum based on at least one of the following:

a plurality of proximity sensors sensing a portable electronic device in close proximity to the induction charging surface, a manual push button is in the ON position, or the wireless charging device is receiving power from a power source.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining that the power required to maintain the suction vacuum is greater than a predetermined threshold and stopping the drawing of air through the air intake holes of the plurality of suctioning units to the suction pump, wherein the suction vacuum discontinues and no longer mounts and resists movement of the portable electronic device in a vertical or semi vertical position.