Circuits and methods for wearable device charging and wired control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11979044-B2
Application number	US-202117376507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2021
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

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 pad 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. An apparatus for controlling a wearable device, the apparatus comprising:
a first n-type field effect transistor (NFET) having a source connected to a communication path to be coupled with communication circuitry of the wearable device, a gate connected to a control input configured for selecting between a charging mode and a communication mode of the apparatus, and a drain connected to a data input path; and
a second NFET having a gate connected to the control input, a source connected to a ground, and a drain connected to a ground path for the data input path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data input path is a data input/output path for the apparatus to send data signals to the wearable device and for the apparatus to receive data signals from the wearable device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a power supply is connected to the drain of the first NFET.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wearable device comprises the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data input path is connected with a data input/output path of a host device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the host device comprises the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a high voltage of the control input selects the communication mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a symmetrical contact interface comprising a first contact pad and a second contact pad, wherein the first contact pad is connected to the first NFET and the second contact pad is connected to the second NFET.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a first p-type field effect transistor (PFET) having a source connected to a wearable device voltage terminal, a gate connected to a second input path, and a drain connected to a first input path;
a second PFET having a source connected to the wearable device voltage terminal, a gate connected to the first input path, and a drain connected to the second input path;
a third NFET having a source connected to a wearable device ground, a gate connected to the second input path, and a drain connected to the first input path; and
a fourth NFET having a source connected to the wearable device ground, a gate connected to the first input path, and a fourth drain connected to the second input path, wherein the drain of the first NFET is connected between the first PFET and the third NFET.

10. An apparatus for controlling a wearable device, the apparatus comprising:
a first p-type field effect transistor (PFET) having a drain connected to a communication path to be coupled with communication circuitry of the wearable device, a gate connected to a control input configured for selecting between a charging mode and a communication mode of the apparatus, and a source connected to a data input path; and
a second PFET having a gate connected to the control input, a drain connected to a ground, and a source connected to a ground path for the data input path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the data input path is a data input/output path for the apparatus to send data signals to the wearable device and for the apparatus to receive data signals from the wearable device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a power supply is connected to the source of the first PFET.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wearable device comprises the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the data input path is connected with a data input/output path of a host device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the host device comprises the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a symmetrical contact interface comprising a first contact pad and a second contact pad, wherein the first contact pad is connected to the first PFET and the second contact pad is connected to the second PFET.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a high voltage of the control input selects the communication mode.

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Patton Russell Douglas
• Rodriguez Ii Jonathan M
• Steger Stephen Andrew

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