Motorola Corporation

Motorola Mobility LLC

Russell L Simpson

Joseph Patino

Andrew F Burton

John M Burgan

Sybren Daniel Smith

Richard L Pyatt

Gregory Redmond Black

Wayne W Ballantyne

Robert Michael Johnson, Jr

Craig Glenn Bishop

Audley F Patterson

Jon Stacey Miller

Marco Pulido

Scott A Tassi

Ronald S Coapstick

Disclosed is a method () for charging energy storage devices. The method () can include a battery charging method in a power supply client connected by a data bus to a power supply host. The method () includes the steps of: detecting () a state of the power supply host; determining () a limit of current from the host to the client; allocating () a portion of the limit to a battery charging current; and charging () a battery of the client at the battery charging current such that the current from the host is greater than a recommended limit and less than or equal to the determined amount. Thus a client device can confidently charge at a rate which causes the port current to exceed a recommended limit, such as a USB port limit of 500 mA, when allowed by conditions of the host device. Advantageously, the method can help to expedite the charging time of a client battery, notwithstanding the number of other clients connected to the same host device for charging, thus minimizing the wait time of a user.

Method and device for charging energy storage devices

The invention concerns a light detection power system (). The system can include a solar cell charging circuit () having at least one solar cell () in which the solar cell charging circuit can provide power to a power source (), a lighting circuit () that receives power from the power source and a controller () coupled to the solar cell charging circuit and the lighting circuit. The controller can enable the lighting circuit when a power level that the controller detects from the solar cell charging circuit fails to reach a first predetermined threshold. The solar cell charging circuit can include a switch () that is controlled by the controller. The controller can further enable the switch when the power level that the controller detects from the solar cell charging circuit reaches a second predetermined threshold.

Light detection power system and method for same

A charging system () supplies a source voltage (Vco, FIG.) and a source current (Ico, FIG.) to a plurality of battery cells (). The charging system operates according to a method () including the steps of determining () a capacity for each of the plurality of battery cells (and), determining () a desired cutoff current (Ico, FIG.) for a select one of the plurality of battery cells () having the smallest capacity, determining () an optimal source cutoff current according to the capacity of the select one of the plurality of battery cells, adjusting () the source current according to the optimal source cutoff current, and upon the source current reaching the optimal source cutoff current, switching out the select one of the plurality of battery cells to allow continued charging of another cell until it is fully charged.

Apparatus and switching method for improving cycle-life and capacity of a battery pack

The invention concerns an accessory () for coupling to a portable electronic device (). The accessory includes an interface () for coupling to the portable electronic device, an identifier () in which the identifier generates at least in part a parameter and at least one speaker (). Only if the accessory contains more than one speaker, the parameter generated at least in part by the identifier causes an audio amplifier () that drives one of the speakers to be activated. In addition, the parameter generated at least in part by the identifier can cause the audio amplifier to be deactivated if the accessory contains only one speaker.

Method and system for operating accessory controls

The invention concerns a method () and system () for charging a battery (). The method includes the steps of receiving () an input power supply signal (), monitoring () the input power supply signal to determine when the input power supply signal reaches first and second predetermined thresholds () and in response to the monitoring step, selectively controlling () a charging switch () that controls the flow of the input power supply signal to the battery. The controlling step can include activating () the charging switch when the input power supply signal reaches the first predetermined threshold and deactivating () the switch when the input power supply signal reaches the second predetermined threshold.

Charging system and method

A portable electronic device and a method to protect the portable electronic device from a battery bounce are provided. The portable electronic device () can comprise a free-fall condition sensor () enabled to detect a pre-battery bounce condition in the portable electronic device and a processor () coupled to the free-fall condition sensor (). The processor (), in response to a detection of the pre-battery bounce condition by the free-fall condition sensor (), can be programmed to place the portable electronic device () in a pre-battery bounce setting. The method can include detecting a pre-battery bounce condition in the portable electronic device () and in response to the detection of the pre-battery bounce condition (), placing the portable electronic device in a pre-battery bounce setting ().

Portable electronic device and method to protect same

A device () has a charging system () for coupling to a charger () operating in a vehicle, and a processor coupled to the charging system. The processor is programmed to detect () a charging state while a user of the device is operating the vehicle, and detect (-) an act by the user to exit the vehicle.

Method and apparatus for reminding a user of an unattended device in a vehicle

A stereo headset () with push-to-talk function can be interfaced with a wireless communication device () via a connector interface. The connector interface preferably includes a jack at the wireless communication device () and a compatible plug at the stereo headset (). An electrical contact () at the connector interface can contemporaneously interconnect both electrical audio signals between the wireless communication device () and at least one of the speakers of the stereo headset () and electrical user input signals from an external push-to-talk user input device () to the wireless communication device ().

Four pole stereo headset with push to talk capability in a duplex radio

The invention concerns a method () of generating an array () having a reduced number of input/outputs (). The method includes the steps of, for each array row input/output, grouping () at least one set of rows () in which the set of rows is coupled to the array row input/output and, for each combination of the array row input/outputs, selectively coupling () non-set rows () to the array row input/outputs that comprise the combination. At least a portion of a number of rows () for the array is equal to the number of rows in each set of rows multiplied by the number of array row input/outputs plus the number of non-set rows coupled to the array row input/output combinations.

Keypad array having reduced number of input/outputs and method for generating same

A system () includes a battery charger () and a battery (). The battery () includes a thermistor (), a voltage identifying element (), a switch (), a memory device (), and a battery data contact (), connected to a data port of the memory device () and the voltage identifying element (). The voltage identifying element () determines a voltage that controls the switch (). When the switch () is enabled, the thermistor (), connected to a battery clock contact (), is active and a microprocessor () on the battery charger () reads the value of the thermistor () via an analog-to-digital converter. When the switch () is disabled, the thermistor () is switched out and the battery clock contact () is used to clock the memory device (). The battery charger () has a data contact () for receiving the battery data contact () and a clock contact () for receiving the battery clock contact (). The battery charger () further includes at least two switches (), and the microprocessor () is programmed to selectively operate the switches ().

Battery circuit with non-volitable memory and thermistor on a single line

The invention concerns a connector (). The connector includes at least one tunnel () having a first portion () and a second portion () and at least one pin (). At least a portion of the pin is positioned within the tunnel. The first portion of the tunnel has a first inner surface (). The first inner surface forces at least a portion of the pin in at least a first predetermined direction as the connector engages a corresponding connector (). Contaminants are at least partially removed from at least one of the pin and the corresponding connector as the first inner surface forces the pin in the first predetermined direction.

Self-cleaning connector

A battery charging system () for use with an induction charger (). The battery charging system can include a secondary coil () having a plurality of turns for receiving magnetic flux produced by a primary coil () of the induction charger, and a control circuit () for controlling a number of turns of the secondary coil that are used in generating an output voltage for charging a cell (). For example, the secondary coil can include a plurality of taps (), each of the taps providing an electrical connection to the coil at a different point, and thus providing a variety of selectable output voltages.

Method and system for providing induction charging having improved efficiency

A method (200) of estimating existing and/or remaining life cycles of a battery pack (102) having an internal battery cell (104) and battery pack circuitry (110) is based on determining an impedance value of the internal battery cell (Zcell) (104), measuring the battery pack temperature (212), compensating the internal battery cell impedance based on the temperature (218), and estimating the remaining battery life based on the compensated internal battery cell impedance (220). The estimated life cycle value is then communicated to a user through either a charger or radio (112).

Optimized method for determining remaining life cycles in a rechargeable

A charging system (100) includes a charger unit (102) having a charge pocket (110) within which a plurality of replaceable pockets (104, 106, 108) can be inserted to charge various battery types and various battery configurations. The replaceable pockets (104, 106, 108) each contain a memory chip (112) for storing battery parameter information. The charger unit (102) charges the battery (302) based on the battery parameter information stored in the memory chip (112) of the replaceable pockets (104, 106, 108).

Growing community of inventors

Miami, FL, United States of America

Russell L Simpson