System and a method for indicating information representing battery status of an electronic device
Inventors
JÄRVELÄ, Petteri • Vallius, Tero • Koskela, Markku • Kallunki, Markku • VOUTILAINEN, Timo • Pelkonen, Sami
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11742678-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-29
Expiration Date
2039-04-29
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Abstract
The invention relates to a system for indicating information representing battery status of an electronic device. The system comprises a charging unit and an electronic device. The charging unit comprises charging means, wireless communication means, and indication means. The electronic device comprises a rechargeable battery, charging means, and wireless communication means. During the wireless charging of the electronic device, the electronic device is configured to detect information representing the battery status of said electronic device and to communicate the detected information representing the battery status to the charging unit, and the charging unit is configured to receive the information from the electronic device and to indicate at least part of the received information representing the battery status of the electronic device. The invention relates also to a method for indicating information representing battery status of an electronic device.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and a method for indicating information representing the battery status of an electronic device, particularly suited for a battery operated electronic device without any indicator to show its battery status. The system comprises a charging unit with wireless charging, wireless communication, and indication means, and an electronic device with a rechargeable battery, wireless charging means, and wireless communication means. During wireless charging, the electronic device detects information representing its battery status and communicates this information wirelessly to the charging unit, which then indicates at least part of this information.
The problem addressed by the invention arises because many small wearable electronic devices, such as smart rings or smartwatches, lack displays or indicators for showing their charging status. Existing solutions that infer charging status from charging current are inadequate for these small devices due to low charging current levels. Additionally, relying on a mobile device and application to display the status is not user friendly because it requires the mobile device to be available and the application to be running.
The invention enables battery status indication during wireless charging by having the electronic device detect battery status information (e.g., charge level or estimated time to full charge) and communicate this information using wireless communication means such as infrared or Bluetooth to the charging unit. The charging unit then uses its own indication means, such as LED indicators or displays, to notify the user. This allows users to know the charging status of electronic devices that themselves lack any battery status indicator.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains independent claims directed to a wearable electronic device, a charging unit, and a method for indicating battery status, featuring wireless charging and optical communication.
Wearable electronic device with wireless battery status communication using an optical sensor
The wearable device comprises a rechargeable battery and wireless charging means, and wireless communication means including an optical sensor operable to detect battery status information and communicate it to a charging unit by pulsing the optical sensor at a frequency associated with the battery status.
Charging unit with wireless charging and optical communication for battery status indication
The charging unit wirelessly charges the wearable device and includes wireless communication means with an optical sensor to receive battery status information from the device, and indication means comprising LED indicators to indicate the battery status based on the received information.
Method for indicating battery status via pulsed optical communication during wireless charging
The method includes wirelessly receiving power to charge the wearable device's battery, detecting battery status information, and communicating this information from the device to the charging unit by pulsing an optical sensor at a frequency related to the battery status.
The independent claims cover a system where a wearable electronic device detects and wirelessly communicates its battery status to a charging unit via an optical sensor that pulses at frequency associated with battery state, with the charging unit indicating this status through LED indicators, and a method implementing these steps.
Stated Advantages
Enables indication of battery status for electronic devices that have no built-in battery status indicators during wireless charging.
Provides user-friendly indication of battery charging status without requiring a mobile device or application.
Allows communication of detailed battery status information including charge level and estimated remaining charging time.
Supports low power wireless communication suitable for small wearable devices.
Documented Applications
Battery status indication for small wearable electronic devices such as smart rings, smartwatches, or smart garments during wireless charging.
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