Multi-use fast rate charging stand

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9762069-B2
Application number	US-46843209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2009
Priority date	May 19, 2009
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus includes a charger and a plurality of connectors such that a connector includes a switch and a connection between the charger and the connector. The charger is configured to direct a switch associated with one of the plurality of connectors to connect the connector with which it is associated to the charger. The charger is also configured to charge a device connected to the connector according to a type of battery detected in the device. A plurality of devices is charged using a prioritized charging scheme.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of connectors within a multiport charging dock, wherein each connector is configured to receive a device including a rechargeable battery;
a charger, coupled to the plurality of connectors, to charge the battery of each device connected to one of the plurality of connectors according to a battery type detected in each of the devices;
a plurality of switches, wherein the plurality of switches are coupled to the plurality of connectors to electrically couple the plurality of connectors to the charger; and
circuitry (i) to control switching of the plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of connectors, (ii) to connect the plurality of connectors to the charger, and (iii) to permit charging current to flow from a variable current source to each device connected to one of the plurality of connectors based upon the battery type identified by a battery type identifier;
wherein the charger charges a plurality of devices using first and second prioritized charging schemes when the plurality of devices are connected to the plurality of connectors,
wherein the first prioritized charging scheme charges batteries in devices in a first subgroup of the plurality of devices over multiple other subgroups of the plurality of devices, and
wherein the second prioritized charging scheme is used to charge batteries in devices within the first subgroup of the plurality of devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charger charges the plurality of devices simultaneously when the plurality of devices are connected to respective connectors of the plurality of connectors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charger charges devices within the first subgroup simultaneously.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for receiving instructions from a user defining the first and the second prioritized charging schemes.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein when a first device is connected to a first connector of the plurality of connectors at a first time, and a second device is connected to a second connector of the plurality of connectors at a second time later than the first time, the charger diverts current from the first device to the second device according to relative capacities of batteries associated with the first and the second devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charger receives results of an identification of batteries coupled to the plurality of devices and determines one of the first or second prioritized charging schemes using the results.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charger charges the plurality of devices serially according to an order in which the plurality of devices are connected to respective connectors of the plurality of connectors.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charger charges devices according to an ordering of the connectors.

Assignees

• Bourilkov Jordan T
• Cintra George M
• Klein David N
• Pinnell Leslie J
• Rotondo John
• Duracell Us Operations Inc

Inventors

• Bourilkov Jordan T
• Cintra George M
• Klein David N
• Pinnell Leslie J
• Rotondo John

Classifications

• H02J2105/44

  Portable electronic devices · CPC title

• H02J7/751

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

• H02J7/485

  with provisions for charging different types of batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/443

  using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors (identification by mechanical connections H02J7/751) · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title