Wireless charging device for wearable electronic device

• US 9,843,214 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2013
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Peek, Gregory A., Francis, Mark R., Frank, Torrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US14/142,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,445 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Systems and methods may provide for wireless charging device of an electronic device powered by a rechargeable battery. The wireless charging device may include a charging station having a charging surface with a power transmitter and a contour that concentrically interfaces with a corresponding contour of an inner surface of the electronic device in a manner that facilitates an initiation of a power charging sequence at the charging surface when the charging station detects an operational coupling between the power transmitter and a power receiver of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A wireless charging device, comprising:

a charging station having a charging surface with a power transmitter and a convex contour that concentrically interfaces with a corresponding concave contour of an inner surface of a wearable electronic device powered by a rechargeable battery, the charging station to initiate a power charging sequence at the charging surface when the charging station detects an operational coupling between the power transmitter and a power receiver of the wearable electronic device; and

a sensor configured to detect a movement by a user to wirelessly control at least one operational feature of the wearable electronic device while the wearable electronic device is charging, wherein the wireless control comprises a non-physical contact between the user and both the wearable electronic device and the wireless charging device.

2. The wireless charging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a base; and

a post extending from the base and from which the charging station extends.

3. The wireless charging device of claim 2, wherein the charging station is spatially offset relative to a vertical axis of the post to orient the wearable electronic device in a docking position which operatively couples the power transmitter to the receiver of the wearable electronic device during the power charging sequence.

4. The wireless charging device of claim 3, wherein the charging station has an indicator that indicates the operational coupling between the power transmitter and the receiver of the wearable electronic device.

5. The wireless charging device of claim 1, further comprising a base from which the charging station extends and upon which the wearable electronic device is supported.

6. The wireless charging device of claim 1, further comprising a communication module which syncs data to or firmware updates the wearable electronic device when the operational coupling between the wearable electronic device and the charging surface is detected.

7. The wireless charging device of claim 1, further comprising a control module configured to permit a wireless control of at least one operational feature of the wearable electronic device.

8. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter is arranged to transmit a charge signal to at least one region of the charging surface.

17. The wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging station has a shape corresponding generally to the shape of a human wrist.

9. At least one computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, if executed by a wireless charging device, cause the wireless charging device to:

detect a location of a wearable electronic device relative to a charging station having a charging surface with a convex contour;

initiate a power charging sequence at a charging surface of the charging station when an operational coupling across a concentric interface between a corresponding concave contour of an inner surface of the wearable electronic device and the convex contour of the charging surface is detected; and

cause the wireless charging device to detect a movement by a user to wirelessly control at least one operational feature of the wearable electronic device while the wearable electronic device is charging via a non-physical contact between the user and both the wearable electronic device and the wireless charging device.

10. The least one computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the wireless charging device to transmit a charge signal to at least one region of the charging surface when the power charging sequence is initiated.

11. The least one computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the wireless charging device to indicate the operational coupling between a power transmitter and a receiver of the wearable electronic device.

12. The least one computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions, if executed, cause the wireless charging device to sync data to or firmware update the wearable electronic device when the operational coupling between the wearable electronic device and the charging surface is detected.

13. A method of wirelessly charging a wearable electronic device, comprising:

detecting a location of the wearable electronic device relative to a charging station having a charging surface with a convex contour;

initiating a power charging sequence at the charging station when an operational coupling across a concentric interface between a corresponding concave contour of an inner surface of the wearable electronic device and the convex contour of the charging surface is detected; and

wirelessly controlling at least one operational feature of the wearable electronic device by detecting a movement by a user while the wearable electronic device is charging via a non-physical contact between the user and both the wearable electronic device and the wireless charging device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the power charging sequence comprises transmitting a charge signal to at least one region of the charging surface when the power charging sequence is initiated.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising indicating the operational coupling between a power transmitter and a receiver of the wearable electronic device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising syncing data to or firmware updating the wearable electronic device when the operational coupling between the wearable electronic device and the charging surface is detected.