Power management for electronic devices

• US 9,502,909 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Maldonado, David, El-Maleh, Khaled Helmi, Karmi, Yair, Minhas, Sandip S., Raghavan, Srinivas, Li, Peng, Selby, MaryBeth, Das, Saumitra Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US12/854,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20110115432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/114, 320/132, 320/134
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power management. A method may include detecting one or more wireless chargers for charging an energy storage device of one or more monitored energy storage devices if the energy storage device drops below a threshold value. Moreover, the method may include selecting a charging scheme for an electronic device associated with the energy storage device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a plurality of wireless chargers within a detectable region;

performing a charging analysis based on one or more factors associated with the plurality of wireless chargers; and

automatically selecting, based on the charging analysis, a charging scheme for an electronic device, wherein automatically selecting comprises;

i) determining whether to receive wireless power and, ii) upon detecting the plurality of wireless chargers, automatically determining from which wireless charger of the plurality of wireless chargers to receive the wireless power;

wherein the charging analysis is further based on a charging speed of the plurality of detected wireless chargers and a level of charge of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the charging analysis further comprises performing a power analysis on the electronic device after detecting the plurality of wireless chargers for charging an energy storage device associated with the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein performing a power analysis comprises performing the power analysis based on one or more factors associated with at least one of the energy storage device and a user of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein performing a power analysis comprises performing the power analysis based on one or more factors comprising at least one of an amount of charge required by the electronic device, an operational state of the electronic device, a cost of charging the electronic device, a benefit of charging the electronic device, one or more delays associated with charging the electronic device, reliability issues associated with the plurality of wireless chargers, an expected length of time for charging the electronic device, an expected time until a subsequent charge of the electronic device, a power demand of the electronic device, whether the plurality of wireless chargers require a surcharge, or one or more applications being employed by the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the plurality of wireless chargers comprises determining a location of the plurality of wireless chargers with a location detection system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a charging scheme for an electronic device comprises selecting a charging scheme based on one or more entries of a time management application of the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the plurality of wireless chargers comprises detecting the plurality of wireless chargers with one or more proximity sensors.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a list of the plurality of wireless chargers comprising information associated with at least one of the plurality of wireless charger.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a list of the plurality of wireless chargers comprises displaying at least one of a location of the plurality of wireless chargers, a charging mode of the plurality of wireless chargers, and a transmission speed of the plurality of wireless chargers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting an operational state of the electronic device up the energy storage device associated therewith dropping below a threshold value.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a charging scheme for the electronic device comprises selecting one of a wireless charging mode, a no-wireless charging mode, a subscription-based charging mode, or an ad-based charging mode.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a level of charge of a plurality of energy storage devices from a remote server-based device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the level of charge of the electronic device comprises a level of charge of an energy storage device associated with the electronic device, the method further comprising monitoring the level of charge of the energy storage device associated with the electronic device with a control system of the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically selecting the charging scheme further comprises selecting the charging scheme based on at least one of one or more user-defined parameters or a user'"'"'s prior decisions.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing a calendar application with the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising modifying power consumption of the electronic device in anticipation of one or more entries of the calendar application.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the plurality of wireless chargers is based at least in part on a comparison of a charging level of an energy storage device with a threshold value, the energy storage device being associated with the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein performing a power analysis comprises performing the power analysis based on a cost of charging the electronic device and a benefit of charging the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting power demands of the electronic device,

wherein the detecting the plurality of wireless chargers is performed based on the predicted power demands of the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging analysis is further based on whether the electronic device is stationary or in motion.

21. A device, comprising:

a detector configured to detect a plurality of wireless chargers within a detectable region; and

a control system configured to;

perform a charging analysis based on one or more factors associated with the plurality of wireless chargers; and

automatically select, based on the charging analysis, a charging scheme for an electronic device, wherein automatically selecting comprises;

i) determining whether to receive wireless power and, ii) upon detecting the plurality of wireless chargers, automatically determining from which wireless charger of the plurality of wireless chargers to receive the wireless power,

wherein the charging analysis is further based on a charging speed of the plurality of detected wireless chargers and a level of charge of the electronic device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless power receiver having at least one receive antenna.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the device comprises a server-based device remote from the electronic device.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is further configured to perform a power analysis on the electronic device.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is configured to select the charging scheme based on at least one factor associated with at least one of the energy storage device, the electronic device, and a user of the electronic device.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is further configured to access a database comprising information concerning the plurality of wireless chargers.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system comprises a global positioning system for determining a location of an associated electronic device.

28. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is further configured to display a list of the plurality of wireless chargers comprising information associated with at least one of the plurality of wireless charger.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is further configured to select one of a wireless charging mode, a no-wireless charging mode, a subscription-based charging mode, or an ad-based charging mode.

30. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is configured for automated operation.

31. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system comprises one or more user-programmable parameters.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is configured to synchronize with a time management application of an electronic device.

33. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is configured to select a charging scheme of the electronic device based on one or more entries of the time management application.

34. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is configured to provide one or more of a user of the electronic device and at least one other electronic device with a location of the plurality of wireless chargers.

35. The device of claim 21, wherein the control system is configured to indicated a need for additional power.

36. A device, comprising:

means for detecting a plurality of wireless chargers within a detectable region;

means for performing a charging analysis based on one or more factors associated with the plurality of wireless chargers;

means for automatically selecting, based on the charging analysis, a charging scheme for an electronic device, wherein automatically selecting comprises;

i) determining whether to receive wireless power and, ii) upon detecting the plurality of wireless chargers, automatically determining from which wireless charger of the plurality of wireless chargers to receive the wireless power,

wherein the charging analysis is further based on a charging speed of the plurality of detected wireless chargers and a level of charge of the electronic device.

37. A non-transient computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that cause a wireless power transferring apparatus to perform a method of:

detecting a plurality of wireless chargers within a detectable region;

performing a charging analysis based on one or more factors associated with the plurality of wireless chargers; and

automatically selecting, based on the charging analysis, a charging scheme for an electronic device, wherein automatically selecting comprises;

i) determining whether to receive wireless power and, ii) upon detecting the plurality of wireless chargers, automatically determining from which wireless charger of the plurality of wireless chargers to receive the wireless power,

wherein the charging analysis is further based on a charging speed of the plurality of detected wireless chargers and a level of charge of the electronic device.

38. A method comprising:

detecting a plurality of wireless chargers within a detectable region;

performing a charging analysis based on one or more factors associated with the plurality of wireless chargers, the charging analysis including;

receiving characteristic information of the plurality of wireless chargers from a database, the characteristic information including a location for each of the plurality of wireless chargers;

detecting a wireless charger having characteristic information not stored in the database; and

storing, in the database, the characteristic information including a location of the detected wireless charger having characteristic information not stored in the database; and

automatically selecting, based on the charging analysis, a charging scheme for an electronic device, wherein automatically selecting comprises;

i) determining whether to receive wireless power and, ii) upon detecting the plurality of wireless chargers, automatically determining from which wireless charger of the plurality of wireless chargers to receive the wireless power.