CN102290836B - Battery charger - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery charger includes a rotatable top cover for exposing electrical connectors for physical coupling and electrical communication with a battery or other device and providing electrical power for charging the battery or device.

Description

battery charger

technical field

Aspects of the invention relate to a multi-position battery charger.

Background technique

Many portable electronic devices allow users to work and play without restrictive cords and chargers for a limited period of time. When people work outside of their traditional offices, they often find themselves using their notebook computers, cell phones, digital assistants, and tablet computers. Similarly, people away from home utilize portable music players, digital cameras, video game systems, etc. while traveling or engaging in outdoor activities. It is common in some countries to use a separate spare battery for mobile phones and to replace the spare battery if the first battery dies during the day.

Rechargeable batteries are used in portable electronic devices, such as portable computing systems, video cameras, and mobile phones. While users try to take advantage of the freedom of mobile computing, they are still largely tethered to wires. Users must consider how much power is available for mobile use. This time period is limited by battery type and other factors.

It can be charged by phone, but the battery needs to be replaced while the second battery is charging. This is especially inconvenient when charging at night. Different phone models use multiple battery types of different sizes and two completely different connection interfaces, which presents a challenge to deal with a charger model.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an apparatus and method for supporting batteries in the context of new media technologies and production activities for mobile electronic devices.

Contents of the invention

Aspects of the invention relate to a battery charger and a method of charging a battery. In one aspect, a battery charger includes a rotatable top cover for exposing electrical connectors for physically coupling and electrically communicating with a battery or other device and providing electrical power for charging the battery or device. In one aspect, the charger includes a temperature sensor for measuring temperature characteristics of the battery or device.

In one arrangement, the slot opening includes a latch for applying a biasing force to the device. In another arrangement, the latch includes a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature characteristics of the battery or device being charged and set in the charging bay. In yet another arrangement, a plurality of electrical connectors are provided on the sloped surface of the base portion. In another arrangement, the electrical connectors are disposed radially around the base portion. In one arrangement, the top cover has a snap-fit arrangement with the base portion for providing rotation of the cover.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent and fully understood from the following detailed description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example and not limitation with respect to the claimed invention.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention;

5 is a diagram of a base portion of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention;

7-9 are top views illustrating different rotatable positions of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention.

detailed description

Charging system environment

It may be helpful to briefly discuss the components and operation of a charging system environment in which various aspects of the invention may be implemented. Thus, charging system arrangements pertaining to one or more aspects of the invention are shown in FIGS. 1-10 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the charging system 100 has a rotating top cover 102 having a slot 104 configured to receive a battery 200 . The battery 200 can be any battery chemistry such as NiMH (nickel-metal hydride), Li+ (lithium ion) or NiCd (nickel-cadmium), Li polymer and other battery components. A battery charging system may include a housing for housing electrical components therein. The battery charging system may be implemented in any suitable shape and with a variety of form factors and any number of cradle or dock-type charger configurations.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6 , two different interfaces 106 and 108 for charging the battery 200 are provided below the top cover 102 . The interfaces 106 and 108 are disposed on the base 103 . The interface has metal electrical tabs 130 for physical abutment with electrical pads/connectors (not shown) on the battery 200 . Interface 106 has upwardly extending prismatic tabs. Interface 108 includes an upwardly extending circular wire connector. The interfaces 106 and 108 on the base 103 have a circular arrangement or an inclined arrangement with reference to the horizontal plane. This annular arrangement allows the battery 200 to be slid into the slot 104 and allows the earth's gravity to force the battery 200 against the electrical tab 130 . In one configuration, the angle of inclination may range from 5 degrees to 70 degrees or other desired value.

In operation, the user selects the desired interface 106 or 108 by rotating and then slides the battery 200 towards the slot 104 . The top cover 102 is rotated with reference to the base 103 . The slot 104 of the top cover 102 securely locks the battery 200 to the connector interfaces 106 and 108 and abuts against the side walls of the slot 104 . The locking latch 300 of the top cover 102 always holds the battery in place regardless of its thickness. In one configuration, locking latch 300 includes a biasing member, such as a spring. Although the charging system applies to battery charging direct connections, the system concept can be used to expose different types of male-female electrical connection arrangements when the top cover 102 is rotated with reference to the base 103 . For example, different electrical locations on the base 103 may have micro USB connectors or micro 2mm electrical plugs. In one configuration, locking latch 300 includes a biasing member, such as a spring.

In one configuration, the latch 300 includes a temperature sensor arrangement for real-time monitoring of battery temperature based on battery temperature limits (see FIG. 10 ).

Referring to FIGS. 3-4 , the top cover 102 is connected to the base 103 by a snap-fit configuration. The top cover 102 includes a downwardly depending tube 110 having a hollow interior that receives a rod 112 disposed on the base 103 . Rod 112 extends upward from base 103 . The tube 110 includes a tab 114 disposed at the notched distal end of the tube 110 . The notch 116 of the tube 110 creates a leaf spring arrangement for enabling the tab 114 to snap fit into the circular groove 118 of the base 103 . The tabs 114 are disposed in the slots 118 when the top cover 102 is connected to the base 103 . To achieve rotation between the two interfaces 106 and 108 , the top cover 103 includes guide pins 122 extending into curved slots 124 on the base 103 . The distal end 124 of the guide pin 122 may include a connector for connecting underneath into the slot 124 to provide an electrical signal to a temperature sensor associated with the latch 300 .

As shown in FIGS. 7-9 , the top cover 102 can be placed in charging position #1 to receive a type of battery charging connector. Figure 8 shows the intermediate position when the top cover is rotated counterclockwise towards charging position 2 to receive another type of battery charging connector. Figure 9 shows a charging position 2 for enabling different battery charging. In this configuration, the different rotatable positions of the interfaces 106 and 108 are set at 90 degrees relative to each other. It should be appreciated that the charging system may have multiple charging interfaces. And the interface can be arranged at different radial positions on the base 103 . Accordingly, the top cover 102 can be rotated to incrementally desired positions for charging batteries or connecting with other devices. The rotation of the top cover 102 can be counterclockwise or clockwise as desired. In several configurations, electrical interfaces may be provided every 30 degrees or 45 degrees or other values.

Figure 10 is a functional block diagram of one arrangement of a charging system. A temperature sensor 304 may be disposed in the locking case 300 for monitoring the temperature of the battery 200 . However, the temperature sensor 304 may be disposed outside the latch 300 or inside the slot 104 , such as on a side wall or on a slope of the base 103 . The temperature information is provided to the controller 400 for charging the battery 200 . The temperature sensor 304 is arranged to monitor the battery temperature in real time according to the battery temperature limit. Stop power once the measured temperature is the specified battery temperature. In one example, the specified temperature may be between 40 degrees Celsius and 55 degrees Celsius. Microprocessor controller 400 for charging system 100 may include a communication path 402 with an appropriate battery connector for interacting with battery 200 . Controller 400 may have an associated computer-readable medium that provides non-volatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data.

The computer readable medium may be a read only memory (ROM). In one arrangement, controller 400 may be implemented with one or more features of a system management bus (SMbus). In one arrangement, communication path 402 may be configured as a system management bus (SMbus). Path 402 may be used to inform controller 400 of extensive information about battery 200 , such as current, voltage, power requirements, and rated capacity. SMBus is a two-wire interface system. One wire handles data transfers; the other wire involves clocking. Examples and functionality of the SMbus are described in the System Management Bus Specification Revision 2.0 standard available from the SBSImplementers Forum, and the SMB standard mentioned is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to Figure 10, the charging system is electrically connected to an AC power source 404, such as mains power. In such an arrangement, the charging source may include a power supply that receives electrical energy via conventional methods of electrical cord physically coupled to a power supply for 60 Hz, 102 volt power, or alternatively 50 Hz/230 volt and other frequency/voltage combinations. Standard wall electrical outlet (not shown). However, DC arrangements are possible. For example, a DC arrangement may include a car lighter plug configuration, such as a male plug received by a female connector. Other DC arrangements include power from solar cells, generator power from bicycles and other alternative power arrangements.

The charging system provides a more flexible and adaptable solution for individuals or organizations with different electronic devices. Multiple battery packs can have different power requirements and connector arrangements that can be handled. The charging system can support more than 20 or more battery types of varying sizes and capacities.

Although the invention has been defined using the appended claims, these claims are examples in that the invention may be intended to comprise the elements and steps described herein in any combination or subcombination. Thus, there are any number of alternative combinations for defining the invention incorporating, in each combination or subcombination, one or more elements from the complete specification, including the specification, claims and drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art in light of this description that alternative combinations of aspects of the present invention (alone or in combination with one or more elements or steps defined herein) can be utilized as modifications or variations of the present invention or as part of the present invention. It is intended that the written description of the invention contained herein cover all such modifications and alterations.

Claims (6)

1. A device for charging, comprising: a top cover having a slot opening; A base portion having at least two electrical connectors, wherein the top cover is rotatable such that the slot opening is positionable between the two electrical connectors to expose one of them for receiving in a charging position a device, the other of said electrical connectors being positioned through said top cover in an unexposed, non-charging position; and a controller disposed in the base portion to control power supplied to the device when the device is disposed in the slot opening in the charging position; wherein the slot opening includes a latch for applying a biasing force to the device, the top cover includes a guide pin extending into a curved slot on the base portion, and a distal end of the guide pin includes a A connector is attached below into the bend to provide an electrical signal to a temperature sensor associated with the latch. 2. The device for charging of claim 1, wherein the latch includes the temperature sensor. 3. The apparatus for charging of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a battery. 4. The device for charging according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the electrical connector is provided on a sloped surface of the base portion for the device to face toward the base The inner parts of the sections are slidably disposed towards each other. 5. The device for charging according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the electrical connectors are arranged radially around the base portion. 6. The device for charging according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the top cover has a snap-fit arrangement with the base part for providing rotation of the top cover.