Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100213890 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF COUNTERFEIT BATTERIES - A method and system for detecting the use of an unauthorized battery pack in a portable electronic device. The method comprises monitoring a temperature profile of at least one battery cell in a battery pack during an operation of the portable electronic device. The temperature profile is determined in accordance with an output of an internal temperature sensing circuit in the battery pack. If the temperature profile is determined to be atypical, an indication is provided that the battery pack is an unauthorized battery pack. For example, if the temperature profile does not show an expected temperature rise during a charging operation, a visual indication can be provided. The indication can also trigger the control of charging or discharging operations of the portable electronic device. Charging can be terminated or the device shut down to avoid a potentially catastrophic thermal runaway event. The device can also be operated in a reduced power mode in response to the indication. | 08-26-2010 |
20100216521 | Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Battery Management Control in a Mobile Communication Device - In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device. A system for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device may include a mobile communication device and a data server. The mobile communication device may be configured to monitor a battery operating condition and to receive a battery profile, the battery profile including battery data for use by the mobile communication device to calculate battery status information. The data server may be used for storing battery data, the data server being configured to receive the battery operating condition from the mobile communication device and, based on the battery operating condition, send the battery profile to the mobile communication device. | 08-26-2010 |
20100221617 | LOCATION OF A FUEL CELL ON A MOBILE DEVICE - A mobile device having: a keyboard; a printed circuit board having at least one contact responsive to the keyboard; and a fuel cell assembly having: a fuel cell located between the keyboard and the printed circuit board, the fuel cell having a membrane and at least one aperture corresponding with the at least one contact; a tank adapted to store a fuel for the fuel cell; and piping connecting the tank with the fuel cell, where the fuel cell ventilates through the keyboard. Alternatively, the fuel cell acts as the printed circuit board and at least one contact for the keyboard is printed onto the fuel cell. | 09-02-2010 |
20110095652 | HOLSTER-INTEGRATED PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY SOURCE FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A holster for a handheld electronic device. The holster has integrated therein one or more piezoelectric elements that provide an output voltage to the handheld electronic device upon insertion of device in the holster. The output voltage can be used to charge the battery of the device, to power, at least in part, the device, or both. The output voltage is generated by harvesting vibration energy at the piezoelectric elements upon the holster being subjected to acceleration caused by a user carrying the holster when walking, running, or during any other suitable activity. | 04-28-2011 |
20120032640 | HOLSTER-INTEGRATED PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY SOURCE FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A holster for a handheld electronic device. The holster has integrated therein one or more piezoelectric elements that provide an output voltage to the handheld electronic device upon insertion of device in the holster. The output voltage can be used to charge the battery of the device, to power, at least in part, the device, or both. The output voltage is generated by harvesting vibration energy at the piezoelectric elements upon the holster being subjected to acceleration caused by a user carrying the holster when walking, running, or during any other suitable activity. | 02-09-2012 |
20120098478 | CHARGER FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Some embodiments herein relate to a charger for an electronic device. The charger comprises a power output port, a charging dock and a power module. The power output port is adapted to be electrically connected to and provide power to the electronic device. The charging dock is adapted for receiving and charging at least one battery. The charging dock comprises at least one removable cradle to accommodate receipt and charging of batteries of various shapes. | 04-26-2012 |
20120115070 | FUEL TANK LOCATED WITHIN A FRAME OF AN ELECTRONIC PORTABLE DEVICE - Embodiments herein relate to an electronic portable having at least one electronic component. The electronic portable device includes a fuel cell operable for powering at least in part the at least one electronic component, and a fuel tank for storing fuel to be used by the fuel cell. The fuel tank is defined by at least one body section, the at least one body section sized and shaped so as to form a frame of the electronic device. The frame has at least one hollow region for storing the fuel therein, the at least one body section including an inlet for introducing fuel into the hollow region and an outlet for releasing fuel from the hollow region to the fuel cell. | 05-10-2012 |
20120135277 | LOCATION OF A FUEL CELL ON A MOBILE DEVICE - A mobile device having: a keyboard; a printed circuit board having at least one contact responsive to the keyboard; and a fuel cell assembly having: a fuel cell located between the keyboard and the printed circuit board, the fuel cell having a membrane and at least one aperture corresponding with the at least one contact; a tank adapted to store a fuel for the fuel cell; and piping connecting the tank with the fuel cell, where the fuel cell ventilates through the keyboard. Alternatively, the fuel cell acts as the printed circuit board and at least one contact for the keyboard is printed onto the fuel cell. | 05-31-2012 |
20120143541 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING COUNTERFEIT AND DEFECTIVE BATTERIES USING BATTERY CHARACTERISTIC PROFILES - Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting whether a battery in an electronic device is counterfeit or defective. An actual battery characteristic profile is generated by recording the performance of the battery during use of the battery by the device. This profile is then compared to its corresponding expected characteristic profile. If the profiles are not substantially similar (i.e. if the error between the two curves exceeds a given error threshold), the battery is determined to be counterfeit or defective and responsive action is taken. | 06-07-2012 |
20120145359 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDHELD DEVICE AIRFLOW - Various apparatus and methods are described for moving air in a portable electronic device for purposes such as cooling. In a typical embodiment, the apparatus comprises an airflow-generating device and a vibration component. The vibration component may be used to drive the airflow-generating device. Further, techniques are described in which the airflow-generating device may be driven without causing the portable electronic device to vibrate. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148879 | FUEL CELL ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCE FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH THERMOELECTRIC MODULE - An electrical power source for a portable electronic device. The electrical power source includes at least one fuel cell adapted to receive fuel and generate therefrom electrical power for powering at least one component of the portable electronic device, a fuel tank adapted to provide fuel to the fuel cell, and at least one thermoelectric module in thermal contact with at least one of the fuel cell and fuel tank for regulating the temperature of the at least one fuel cell and at least one fuel tank. | 06-14-2012 |
20120177322 | ACCESSORY WITH CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL DATA CIRCUITS - An electronic accessory connectable to a remote electronic device through a data interface. The electronic accessory includes an electronic circuit configured to exchange data through a data interface and an optical and electrical circuit connector. The optical and electrical circuit connector includes a connector body configured to engage a corresponding connector, at least one optical terminal for the data interface coupled to the connector body, and at least one electrical data interface terminal for the data interface coupled to the connector body. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177323 | ELECTRONIC ACCESSORY WITH MAGNETICALLY MATING OPTICAL DATA CONNECTORS - An electronic accessory connectable to a remote electronic device through a data interface. The electronic accessory includes an electronic circuit that exchanges data through a data interface, and a magnetically mating optical circuit connector. The magnetically mating optical circuit connector includes at least one optical terminal for the data interface, and a connector body that engages a corresponding connector. The connector body is attached to the at least one optical terminal and includes at least one alignment feature that aligns each of the optical terminals with a corresponding optical terminal of the corresponding connector. The magnetically mating optical circuit connector has at least one magnetic attachment area attached to the connector body and configured to magnetically attach the connector body to the corresponding connector when the connector body is engaged into the corresponding connector. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177324 | DEVICE WITH MAGNETICALLY MATING OPTICAL DATA CONNECTORS - An electronic device. The electronic device includes a processor, a memory that stores information operated upon by the processor, and a wireless communications component that provides wireless data communications between the processor and a wireless data network. The electronic device further has a magnetically mating optical circuit connector with at least one optical terminal, a connector body that engages a corresponding connector. The connector body comprising at least one alignment feature that aligns, when the connector body engages the corresponding connector, each of the at least one optical terminal with a respective corresponding optical terminal of the corresponding connector. The connector body further has at least one magnetic attachment area that magnetically attaches the connector body to the corresponding connector. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177325 | DEVICE WITH MAGNETICALLY COUPLED DATA CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL DATA CIRCUITS - An electronic device with an optical and electrical circuit connector. The electronic device includes a processor, a memory, a wireless communications component that provides wireless data communications between the processor and a wireless data network, and an optical and electrical circuit connector. The optical and electrical circuit connector includes a connector body configured to engage a corresponding connector, at least one optical terminal coupled to the connector body, and at least one electrical data interface terminal coupled to the connector body. The optical and electrical circuit connector also has at least one magnetic attachment area that magnetically attaches the connector body to the corresponding connector. The at least one magnetic attachment area has an electrically conductive path with an electrical connection that conducts electrical power. | 07-12-2012 |
20120182683 | DEVICE WITH MAGNETICALLY COUPLED DATA CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL DATA CIRCUITS - An electronic device with an optical and electrical circuit connector. The electronic device includes a processor, a memory, a wireless communications component that provides wireless data communications between the processor and a wireless data network, and an optical and electrical circuit connector. The optical and electrical circuit connector includes a connector body configured to engage a corresponding connector, at least one optical terminal coupled to the connector body, and at least one electrical data interface terminal coupled to the connector body. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183258 | MAGNETICALLY MATING OPTICAL DATA CONNECTORS - A magnetically mating optical circuit connector. The magnetically mating optical circuit connector includes at least one optical terminal and a connector body configured to engage a corresponding connector. The connector body attached to the at least one optical terminal. The connector body comprising at least one alignment feature configured to align, when the connector body engages the corresponding connector, each of the at least one optical terminal with a respective corresponding optical terminal of the corresponding connector. The magnetically mating optical circuit connector further includes at least one magnetic attachment area, attached to the connector body. The at least one magnetic attachment area is configured to magnetically attach the connector body to the corresponding connector when the connector body is engaged into the corresponding connector. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183259 | DEVICE WITH CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL DATA CIRCUITS - An electronic device with an optical and electrical circuit connector. The electronic device includes a processor, a memory, a wireless communications component that provides wireless data communications between the processor and a wireless data network, and an optical and electrical circuit connector. The optical and electrical circuit connector includes a connector body configured to engage a corresponding connector, at least one optical terminal coupled to the connector body, and at least one electrical data interface terminal coupled to the connector body. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183260 | ACCESSORY WITH CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL DATA CIRCUITS - An electronic accessory connectable to a remote electronic device through a data interface. The electronic accessory includes an electronic circuit exchanges data through a data interface and an optical and electrical circuit connector. The optical and electrical circuit connector includes a connector body that engages a corresponding connector, at least one optical terminal for the data interface coupled to the connector body, and at least one electrical data interface terminal for the data interface coupled to the connector body. The at least one electrical data interface terminal conforms to an electrical data communications standard. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183261 | MAGNETICALLY COUPLED CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL DATA CIRCUITS - An optical and electrical circuit connector. The optical and electrical circuit connector has a connector body that engages a corresponding connector. The connector body has an inner portion and an outer portion, at least one optical terminal for the data interface disposed within the outer portion, at least one electrical data interface terminal for the data interface disposed within the inner portion. The connector body further has at least one magnetic attachment area disposed within the outer portion that magnetically attaches the connector body to the corresponding connector. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183262 | CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL DATA CIRCUITS - An optical and electrical circuit connector. The optical and electrical circuit connector includes a connector body that engages a corresponding connector, at least one optical terminal for the data interface coupled to the connector body, and at least one electrical data interface terminal for the data interface coupled to the connector body. The at least one electrical data interface terminal conforms to an electrical data communications standard. | 07-19-2012 |
20120220350 | Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Battery Management Control in a Mobile Communication Device - Systems and methods are provided for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device. A system for downloading battery data to a mobile communication device may include a mobile communication device and a data server. The mobile communication device may be configured to monitor a battery operating condition and to receive a battery profile, the battery profile including battery data for use by the mobile communication device to calculate battery status information. The data server may be used for storing battery data, the data server being configured to receive the battery operating condition from the mobile communication device and, based on the battery operating condition, send the battery profile to the mobile communication device. | 08-30-2012 |
20120274274 | HOLSTER-INTEGRATED PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY SOURCE FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A holster for a handheld electronic device. The holster has integrated therein one or more piezoelectric elements that provide an output voltage to the handheld electronic device upon insertion of device in the holster. The output voltage can be used to charge the battery of the device, to power, at least in part, the device, or both. The output voltage is generated by harvesting vibration energy at the piezoelectric elements upon the holster being subjected to acceleration caused by a user carrying the holster when walking, running, or during any other suitable activity. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274545 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A method includes displaying a projected image from a display of a portable electronic device, detecting an object near the portable electronic device, and when the object is associated with the projected image, actuating an actuator to provide tactile feedback. | 11-01-2012 |
20130082657 | CHARGING SYSTEM FOR A RECHARGEABLE POWER SOURCE - There is provided a power source system which includes a self-charging system. In one embodiment, the power source system is used to power portable devices and may include a power source such as a set of rechargeable batteries or a battery pack. The power source system comprises a self-charging system which includes an energy harvester operatively connected to a vibrational energy source such as a plurality of piezoelectric elements (piezos). The piezos preferably include a plurality of cantilevers which are composed of a piezoelectric material which may be the same or may be different from the substrate material of the piezos. | 04-04-2013 |
20130093514 | POWER CONVERTER SYSTEM FOR MOBILE DEVICES - A power converter system for managing power between a power supply and a load, the system including: a first buck-boost circuit connected to the power supply; and a capacitor provided between the buck-boost circuit and the load to buffer power supply for the load. The system may include a second buck-boost circuit between the capacitor and the load. In another embodiment, a power converter system includes: a boost circuit connected to the power supply; a buck circuit connected to the load; and a capacitor provided between the boost circuit and the buck circuit to manage the supply of power to the load. | 04-18-2013 |
20130127406 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INDUCTIVELY CHARGING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An apparatus and method for inductively charging an electronic device are disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a transmitter coil and a controller. The transmitter coil includes a configurable inductive portion. The controller is configured to receive configuration information that is indicative of a receiver coil configuration in the electronic device. Based on the received configuration information, the controller configures the transmitter coil to form an active coil to substantially match the configuration of the receiver coil. | 05-23-2013 |
20130132010 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BATTERY CHARGE LEVEL ESTIMATION - There is provided an apparatus for battery life estimation comprising an energy harvester; an energy storage apparatus, connected to the energy harvester, the energy storage apparatus representative of a unit of measure; a battery for receiving energy from the storage apparatus; and a processor for monitoring the energy provided by the storage apparatus, monitoring energy provided to the battery by other charging apparatus and monitoring the energy being delivered by the battery; wherein the processor calculates the remaining life of the battery based on the number of energy storage apparatus units that are provided to and delivered from the battery. | 05-23-2013 |
20130254586 | FAULT RECOVERY - Various embodiments are described herein with regards to performing a selective fault recovery for an electronic device having a plurality of subsystems in which one of the subsystems has a fault. The selective fault recovery techniques described herein allow a user to use non-faulty subsystem of the electronic device while selective fault recovery is being conducted on the subsystem having the fault. | 09-26-2013 |
20130285614 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC POWER MANAGEMENT OF A MOBILE DEVICE - A mobile device adapted for dynamic power management. The mobile device includes an output power port, a voltage converter adapted to convert an input voltage to provide an output voltage to the output power port, and a processor. The processor is adapted to monitor at least one load electrically to determine when the at least one load will become active or inactive, determine a minimum required output voltage to be provided by the voltage converter based on the at least one load that will become active or inactive, control the voltage converter to provide at least the minimum required output voltage on the output power port in advance of the at least one load becoming active or after the at least one load becomes inactive, and when the input voltage is below the first threshold, control the voltage converter to reduce the output voltage. | 10-31-2013 |
20130301689 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE IN PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES HAVING A RADIO FREQUENCY SUBSYSTEM - A portable electronic device that has a radio frequency communication subsystem operationally connected switch-mode power supply subsystem. The switch-mode power supply subsystem generates a pulse-width modulation electrical signal that produces electromagnetic interference. The switch-mode power supply subsystem can reduce the slew rate of the pulse-width modulation electrical signal when the radio-frequency communication subsystem is active. This reduces the level of the electromagnetic interference signal only during radio frequency communication, which improves the efficiency of the radio frequency communication. Not having the reduced slew rate when there is no radio frequency communication allows for higher modulation efficiency. | 11-14-2013 |
20150091496 | BI-DIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH A DEVICE UNDER CHARGE - A first device is wirelessly charged by a second device. Bi-directional communication is performed between the first device and the second device during the wireless charging, where the bi-directional communication includes messaging from the second device to the first device, the messaging including information other than information relating to wireless charging. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091508 | BI-DIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH A DEVICE UNDER CHARGE - A charger that is part of a system including an electronic appliance wirelessly charges a first device. During the wireless charging, the charger sends, to the first device, a first message. In response to the first message, the electronic appliance receives a second message requesting a specified action by the electronic appliance. | 04-02-2015 |
20150295441 | DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARGING A BATTERY - A device, system and method for charging a battery are provided. The device comprises: a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port; a battery in communication with the USB port; and, circuitry in communication with the USB port and the battery, the circuitry configured to: transmit a power control signal over the USB port, the power control signal comprising data indicative of one or more of a power, a voltage and a current to be received over the USB port to charge the battery; and, responsively receive the power for charging the battery over the USB port. | 10-15-2015 |