Motorola Mobility LLC

Google Inc.

Motorola Corporation

David A Winkler

Alberto R Cavallaro

Martin Rabindra Pais

Wayne W Ballantyne

Amit Kumar Agrawal

Eric LeRoy Krenz

Maninder Singh Sehmbey

Ronald Gene Myers

Robert Michael Johnson, Jr

Morris B Bowers

Gary J Cunningham

Karthik Kumar

Abhijith Krishnappa

Britton Baugher

Systems and methods for wireless power transmission between a portable communication device and an add-on module allow a resonator coil in the portable communication device to both transmit and receive power. In an embodiment, the portable communication device provide power via various on time duty cycles based on a type of the add-on module.

Device charger attachment

A method, a portable electronic device and a wireless charging system enables a load to be charged by selectively using a detection circuit configuration and a power receiving circuit configuration. A controller is coupled within a wireless power receiver (i) to a sensing circuit having a multi-tapped coil and (ii) to a rectifier that is coupled to the sensing circuit and removably coupled to a load. The controller detects, at an output of the rectifier, a first signal corresponding to an externally transmitted signal that is magnetically coupled to the multi-tapped coil while the sensing circuit is in the detection circuit configuration. In response to detecting the first signal, the controller switches from the detection circuit configuration to the power receiving circuit configuration. The controller then connects the load to the output of the rectifier in order to deliver power to the load.

Multi-tapped coil for wireless charging range and efficiency

An apparatus, such as a user device, can comprise a battery, a plurality of antennas, a transceiver, a charging pad interface, and a controller. The battery can be configured to power the user device. The plurality of antennas can be configured to send and receive signals to and from a wireless node. The transceiver can be configured to communicate, via the plurality of antennas, with the wireless node. The charging pad interface can be configured to detect that the apparatus is coupled to a charging pad and to receive charging power from the charging pad. The controller can be configured to change a configuration of at least one antenna from the plurality of antennas in response to the charging pad interface detecting that the apparatus is coupled to the charging pad.

Antenna configuration change based on charging pad coupling

The present application provides an electromagnetic coupling interface and a method for managing an electromagnetic coupling capability relative to a particular charge location with an electromagnetic coupling interface. The electromagnetic coupling interface includes a carrier substrate including two or more moveably coupled segments, the carrier substrate having at least two use positions, where in each use position the two or more moveably coupled segments have a different spatial arrangement. The electromagnetic coupling further includes two or more sets of conductors, where each set of conductors is associated with a respective one of the two or more moveably coupled segments of the carrier substrate and is associated with one or more coils in each of the at least two use positions.

Electromagnetic coupling interface and method for managing an electromagnetic coupling capability

The present application provides a coil for facilitating an electromagnetic coupling and method for increasing the degree of an electromagnetic coupling. The coil for facilitating an electromagnetic coupling includes one or more loops formed from a material through which an electric current can flow. At least one of the one or more loops is adjustable, including at least one of a size and a shape of the at least one of the one or more loops of the coil being selectively adjustable.

Coil and method for increasing the degree of an electromagnetic coupling

A method and apparatus reduce power consumption and mitigate declining battery life. In some embodiments, an initial full charge capacity, C(O), of a rechargeable battery is determined. A full charge capacity, C(t), of the rechargeable battery is determined at time t. An average power consumption profile is determined. A reduced power consumption is implemented based on the average power consumption profile and a factor C(t)/C(O). In other embodiments, functions that are not used in an average power consumption profile are deactivated. Other functions that occur in certain use cases of the average power consumption profile are activated and deactivated as needed.

Apparatus and method for power management to mitigate declining battery capacity

A method, system, and computer program product for identifying at least one alternate power source to provide power to a portable device during an upcoming time period of use. The method includes monitoring power parameters associated with at least one battery of the portable device and determining, based on the power parameters, whether the at least one battery that is currently coupled to the portable device is capable of powering the portable device for an entirety of an upcoming time period of use. In response to determining the at least one battery is not capable of powering the portable device for the entirety of the upcoming time period of use, identifying at least one alternate power source that may provide power for use during the upcoming time period of use. The method then includes generating and outputting a power management strategy, which utilizes the at least one alternate power source.

Identifying at least one alternate power source for providing power to a portable electronic device

A wearable charging apparatus configured for charging of a wearable device while the wearable device is in an operative position, such as on the wrist of the user the wearable charging apparatus includes a front housing portion, a rear charging portion, a coupling member and a charge system. The wearable device is positionable between the front housing portion and the rear charging portion. The front portion has a battery and the rear charging portion has a wearable charge coil that is placed in operable position relative to the wearable device and configured to electrically communicate with a coil within the body of the wearable device and coupled to a wearable battery therewith, to, in turn, transfer power from the battery within the cavity to the wearable battery.

Wearable charging apparatus

A battery charger, which can be configured as a charger or docking station (), includes one or more control circuits (). A charging circuit () can charge one or more rechargeable batteries (). A thermal management device () can alter a thermal condition of the one or more rechargeable batteries. The one or more control circuits can receive, with a communication circuit () an indication of a thermal state of an electronic device (). The one or more control circuits can cause the thermal management device to alter the thermal condition of the one or more rechargeable batteries such that when the one or more rechargeable batteries are coupled to the electronic device, a thermal mass defined by the electronic device and the one or more rechargeable batteries transitions from the thermal state toward a predefined thermal mass temperature.

Devices and methods for managing charging of rechargeable batteries

An improved electronic communications systemfeatures a holder assemblysuch as a mobile computing device dock stationand dock heat exchanger providing an external heat sinkwhich when coupled with a user-friendly heat transfer devicesuch as a heat pipe can transfer heat from internal electronic componentsandand an internal heat sinkof an electronic communications device, such as a cellular phone or mobile computing device, via a special headset jack-heat pipe interfaceto help cool the electronic communications device. The electronic communications devicecan also include one or more thermal couplings-for coupling and providing a thermal pathway(s) from at least one of the internal electronic componentsandto the internal heat sink

Mobile computing device dock station with headset jack heat pipe interface

A portable electronic device employs a method for recovering power to a rechargeable battery used therein when the battery is in a low state of charge. The portable electronic device includes at least a power management subsystem (PMS), a main processor subsystem, and the battery. When the battery is incapable of supplying boot-up power to the processor subsystem, power is provided from a battery charger to the PMS to power-up the PMS. The PMS then determines the battery's type and a state-of-charge (SOC) parameter for the battery, and compares the SOC parameter to a threshold, which is based on at least the battery type. If the SOC parameter is less than the threshold, power is provided from the battery charger to the battery for use in recharging the battery. Otherwise, power is supplied from the battery to the processor subsystem to facilitate general operation of the portable electronic device.

Portable electronic device and method for recovering power to a rechargeable battery used therein

A gating device () and associated method () for identifying a fuel container () used to refill a fuel cell () are presented. A fuel source identification device () identifies a fuel container () to verify that it is compatible with the fuel cell (). Upon identification, a gating engine () opens a retractable barrier (), thereby providing access to the fuel cell (). The gating engine () moves the retractable barrier () from a closed position to an open position when a control circuit () indicates that the fuel container () is compatible with the fuel cell (). The fuel container identification device may be an impedance detector (), a connectivity detector (), a barcode reader (), a memory reader (), a radio-frequency identification device (), a label reader (), or other similar device.

Fuel source recognition and gating apparatus and associated method

According to the present disclosure, an inrush current limiter comprises an input (190) for connection to a supply voltage, an output (202) for connection to a load, a current limiter circuit (102), a current bypass circuit (106), and a charge status circuit (104). During the initial charging of capacitors, the current limiter circuit (102) senses a large inrush current and limits the current to a predetermined quantity. The current bypass circuit (106) is switched off during the initial charging of the capacitors. When the capacitors are charged to substantially equal the input voltage, the current bypass circuit (106) is switched on to provide a low-resistance path for the supply current to pass through. In addition, the charge status circuit (104) operates to indicate the supply voltage.

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Aurora, IL, United States of America

David A Winkler