Circuits and methods for wearable device charging and wired control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10938151-B2
Application number	US-202016829567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2020
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

Methods and devices for wired charging and communication with a wearable device are described. In one embodiment, a symmetrical contact interface comprises a first contact pad and a second contact pad, and particular wired circuitry is coupled to the first and second contact pads to enable charging as well as receive and transmit communications via the contact pads as part of various device states.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device comprising:
a charge interface comprising a first charge pad and a second charge pad; and
circuitry coupled to the first charge pad and the second charge pad, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
perform a charging process where the wearable device receives an electrical charge from a device to charge a battery via the first charge pad and the second charge pad;
cause a transition signal to be sent via the first charge pad and the second charge pad to the device;
transmit data via the first charge pad and the second charge pad to the device during a first time period; and
receive data via the first charge pad and the second charge pad from the device during a second time period, wherein the second time period is different from the first time period, and wherein the first time period and the second time period are after causing the transition signal to be sent.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 further comprising:
a charge interface coupled to the first charge pad and the second charge pad, wherein the charge interface comprises a symmetrical interface configured to accept a coupling with a matching head of a charge cable.

3. The wearable device of claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
in response to a detection of a coupling of the charge interface with the matching head of the charge cable, perform the charging process.

4. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
perform the charging process until a charge disconnect interrupt signal is received.

5. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
perform the charging process for a fixed period of time.

6. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
following the first period and the second period, perform a second charging process.

7. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
synchronize the wearable device with the device using the transition signal, such that the first time period and the second time period are synchronized based on the transition signal.

8. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
cause a capacitor to discharge after communication of the transition signal, the capacitor coupled between the first charge pad and the second charge pad.

9. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device comprises a glasses front piece, the glasses front piece comprising a temple, and the temple comprising a hinge and the charge interface, wherein an arm coupled to the hinge is configured to cover the charge interface when the arm is in an open position and to uncover the charge interface when the arm is in a closed position.

10. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
enter a transmission state during the first time period.

11. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
perform the charging process until receiving an indication that the battery is charged.

12. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
cause a capacitor to discharge before the first time period.

13. A computing device, the computing device comprising:
a first connecting pin and a second connecting pin; and

circuitry configured to:
provide an electrical charge to charge a battery of a wearable device via the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin during a charging period; and
automatically cycle through a plurality of communication states following the charging period, wherein each state of the plurality of communication states comprises configurations for communicating data via the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
communicate a charger disconnect interrupt signal via the first connecting pin or the second connecting pin to the wearable device to initiate the plurality of communication states.

15. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
sense for a transition signal from the wearable device via a cable attached to the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin; and
in response to sensing the transition signal, enter one of the plurality of communication states.

16. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
in response to sensing the wearable device is connected to the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin, begin the charging period.

17. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
in response to a failure to detect a signal for a fixed time, provide the electrical charge to charge the battery of the wearable device via the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin during a second charging period.

18. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the wearable device is connected to a cable and the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin are connected to the cable.

19. A method performed on a wearable device, the method comprising:
performing a charging process where the wearable device receives an electrical charge from a computing device to charge a battery via a first charge pad and a second charge pad;
communicating a transition signal via the first charge pad and the second charge pad to the computing device;
following the transition signal, transmitting data via the first charge pad and the second charge pad during a first time period; and
following the transition signal, receiving data via the first charge pad and the second charge pad from the computing device during a second time period, wherein the second time period is different from the first time period.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the charge interface comprises a symmetrical interface configured to accept a coupling with a matching head of a charge cable.

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Tham Yu Jiang
• Larson Nicholas
• Brook Peter
• Patton Russell Douglas
• Alhaideri Miran
• Hong Zhihao

Classifications

• H02J7/63

  against overdischarge · CPC title

• H02J7/61

  against overcharge · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/865

  Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title