Patent Application
20060061332
This invention relates generally to accessories for portable electronic devices, and relates more particularly to powering and attachment accessories for portable electronic devices.
Portable electronic devices are widely used, as are accessories for such devices that are designed to complement such devices or enhance their utility. Among the available accessories are battery packs to provide supplemental power, attachment apparatuses that facilitate attaching certain accessories to the portable electronic devices, and the like.
Various electronic devices are powered by a battery within the device. Such batteries provide a limited amount of power. Thus, a need exists, under certain circumstances, for supplemental sources of power. One such supplemental source of power, which has been used, is an external power source such as an electrical power outlet that is typically not portable. However, electronic devices may not have access to power outlets at all times, and electronic devices may be used away from external power sources such as power outlets for longer than the batteries within the electronic devices are able to provide sufficient power. Further, power outlets may have power outages. Thus, a need exists for supplemental battery power for electronic devices that are portable and reliable. If more than one source of power may be used, a need exists for circuitry to control which source of power is used at a particular time, based on, for example, the power sources that are available, the power demands of the electronic devices, the level of charge of the battery within the electronic device, and the like. Needs exist for power sources to be rechargeable, and for the user to be able to determine the amount of charge that is present. Further, needs exist for sources of power and controls to be inexpensive, resistant to damage, and easy to use.
Specifically, some electronic devices that detect and identify external accessories do not do so dynamically. A single accessory that can perform the function of multiple accessories may perform better if the electronic device could detect a change in accessory, although no physical change has been made. Prior to this invention, physical intervention by the user (such as moving a switch to a different position or physically re-attaching a different accessory) was the typical way to enable a change in accessory. A scheme was needed, or would be beneficial, that didn't require physical user intervention to operate.
One method to force an electronic device to re-identify an accessory was to electronically disconnect the accessory and re-connect after some period of time, forcing the electronic device to perform the identification check again. Before reconnecting, the accessory must change the way that it electrically identifies itself. Several methods exist for electrically disconnecting the accessory, a few examples of this would be: removing power from the electronic device, or electrically removing a required accessory present signal. Electronic devices have used a variety of methods to detect and identify external accessories. These methods can include resistors, resistor dividers, capacitors, and binary signals, just to name a few.
Further, apparatuses have been used that facilitate attachment of a device to a portable electronic device having a battery. Such apparatuses have been used that have an electrical connection to the electronic device, which have included at least one plug with pins. However, forces applied to the plug have damaged the pins. Consequently, a need or potential benefit exists for an attachment apparatus shaped to prevent potentially harmful forces from being applied to a plug, or to limit movement of a plug or electrical connection, for example, in a manner that protects the plug, electrical connection, or pins from damage.
Other needs and potential for improvement will be apparent from this disclosure or are know to those of skill in the art. Particular embodiments of the present invention may partially or completely fulfill one or more of these needs, or may provide other benefits which may or may not be readily apparent.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings in which:
a, 7b, and 7c are circuit diagrams illustrating a circuit capable of dynamically switching an electronic device between a first state and a second state depending on a status of the rechargeable battery pack of
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in an electrical, mechanical, or other manner.
Various embodiments of the present invention include a rechargeable battery pack capable of providing electric power to an electronic device having a first battery. In several embodiments the rechargeable battery pack has a body with a second battery inside for storing electrical energy. In some embodiments, the rechargeable battery pack may have a circuit inside the body capable of dynamically changing a charge current supplied from an external power source to the second battery based on a power consumption level of the electronic device. In some embodiments, the battery pack may include a circuit inside the body configured to: (1) power the electronic device with the second battery when the rechargeable battery pack is electrically coupled to the electronic device and when electrically decoupled from the external power source; and (2) power the electronic device with the external power source when the rechargeable battery pack is electrically coupled to the external power source and the electronic device. In some embodiments, the rechargeable battery pack may have a charge level indicator, examples of which are described in more detail below.
Further, some embodiments of the invention may include an attachment apparatus for attaching the rechargeable battery pack to the electronic device. As an example, the attachment apparatus may comprise a frame, an extension protruding from the frame, and a number of attachment features suitable for working with the recesses to attach the battery pack and the attachment apparatus to each other and to the electronic device. Such an attachment apparatus may include a number of sides, some of which may have openings, and the attachment apparatus may further have an extension protruding from one side. This extension may surround or substantially surround an opening in the side, and may protect a disconnectable electrical connection of the rechargeable battery pack that fits inside the extension. Some embodiments of the invention include a combination of these features or one or more of these features in combination with other features described herein.
In one particular embodiment of the invention, a power supply system capable of providing electric power to an electronic device having a first battery comprises a battery pack and an attachment apparatus. The battery pack comprises a body having a number of recesses, a second battery inside the body, and at least one of: (1) a first circuit capable of dynamically changing a magnitude of a charge current supplied to the second battery based on a power consumption level of the electronic device; and (2) a second circuit capable of dynamically switching the second battery, depending on a status of the battery pack, between: (a) a state in which the second battery is not being drained, i.e., is not being used as a power source; and (b) a state in which the second battery is being drained, i.e., is being used as a power source. The state described in (a) will be referred to herein as a first state, and the state described in (b) will be referred to herein as a second state. In this embodiment, when the battery pack is electrically coupled to the electronic device, the electronic device will draw power from the second battery in the battery pack and will not draw power from the first battery in the electronic device until after the second battery is depleted.
As used herein, the term “dynamically” means automatically and in substantially real time. In other words, “dynamically” means accomplished in response to one or more changing variables (other than time) without human interaction, and without a significant delay. “Dynamically” does not include actions that are initiated by human interaction or actions that occur at one or more timed intervals. Also as used herein, the term “state”, as applied to a battery, may indicate whether (or not) the battery is being drained. As an example, the first state of the second battery may be a state in which the second battery is not being drained, i.e., is not being used as a power source, and the second state may be a state in which the second battery is being drained, i.e., is being used as a power source.
Further, as used herein, the “status” of a battery pack may include whether the battery pack is electrically coupled to an external power source. For instance, the status of a battery pack can be one of a first condition when the battery pack is electrically coupled to an external power source such as a wall outlet, or the status of a battery pack can be a second condition when the battery pack is electrically decoupled to the external power source. In some embodiments where the battery pack is electrically coupled to the electronic device, for example, the second circuit may automatically and dynamically switch the second battery to the first state (i.e., not used as a power source) when, after, or while the status of the battery pack is changed from the second condition to the first condition (i.e., coupled to the external power source), and the second circuit may automatically and dynamically switch the second battery to the second state (i.e., used as a power source) when, after, or while the status of the battery pack is changed from the first condition to the second condition (i.e., decoupled from the external power source).
As mentioned, various embodiments of the invention may include an attachment apparatus. In some embodiments, the attachment apparatus comprises a frame, an opening in the frame, and an extension adjacent to the opening. In some particular embodiments of the attachment apparatus, the extension protrudes from the frame. Further, in some embodiments, and the attachment apparatus includes a number of attachment features suitable for working with or engaging recesses in the body of the battery pack to attach the battery pack and the attachment apparatus to each other and to the electronic device.
Additional embodiments of the invention include methods of manufacturing the devices described herein, which include providing various combinations of components described in this document or know in the art. Other embodiments of the invention also include methods of using the devices described herein. Certain embodiments of the invention also include various combinations of functions, including those described herein, and particular combinations of functions and structure.
Referring now to the figures,
In the embodiment illustrated, Surface 211 comprises a recess 221 and a recess 222. Although they are not visible in the figures, surface 112 comprises its own recesses that are analogous to recess 221 and 222. Similarly, surface 113 comprises a recess 121, and surface 214 comprises a recess 223. As further discussed below, in the particular embodiment illustrated, these recesses are used when rechargeable battery pack 100 is attached to the attachment apparatus mentioned above, which attachment apparatus facilitates the attachment of rechargeable battery pack 100 to an electronic device, as will also be further discussed below.
Still referring to
In one embodiment, actuator button 131 is of the push-button variety, and is actuated by a physical press and release. In another embodiment, actuator button 131 can be an electrostatic device that is actuated by a touch rather than a physical movement of actuator button 131 itself. Additional mechanical or non-mechanical actuator button styles may be used in some embodiments. Charge level indicator 130 may include a circuit, and actuator button 131 may be part of that circuit. Charge level indicator 130 or the circuit therefore may be referred to as a “gas gauge.” An example of a charge level indicator circuit or gas gauge is illustrated in
Still referring to
In many embodiments, rechargeable battery pack 100 still further comprises a second battery (not shown) inside body 110. In various embodiments of the invention, body 110 may also contain one or more circuits, examples of which are described below with reference to
Illustrating a specific example of the invention,
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, including the one illustrated, attachment apparatus 300 further comprises an extension 350 protruding from side 314, and rails 451 and 452 adjacent to an opposite side of opening 440. Extension 350 at least partially surrounds opening 420, and may serve to protect and prevent damage to an item inserted through extension 350 and opening 420. Such an item may be, for example, a power cord, which may include a disconnectable electrical connection between the battery pack and the electronic device. Dock connector 240 described herein with reference to
In some embodiments, rail 451 comprises attachment features 461 and 462, and rail 452 comprises attachment features 463 and 464. The first device may fit between rails 451 and 452, and may be held in place by attachment features 461-664. In one embodiment, attachment feature 461 comprises a lip or protrusion extending toward rail 452, and attachment feature 463 comprises a lip or protrusion extending toward rail 451. Attachment features 462 and 464 can be similar to, respectively, attachment features 461 and 463.
In some embodiments, attachment apparatus 300 still further comprises an attachment feature 471 and an attachment feature 472, both of which may be adjacent to opening 440. In one embodiment, attachment feature 471 and/or attachment feature 472 comprise a lip or protrusion extending into opening 440. In the illustrated embodiment, recesses 221, 222, 121, and 223 (
Referring still to
In a particular embodiment, the electronic device is configured to play audio recordings, such as an MP3 player, and may be an iPod™ device manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., for example. Different sizes or configurations of attachment apparatus 300 or frame 310 may be provided for different size electronic devices or iPod™ devices. A user may install battery pack 100 within attachment apparatus 300, and then install the electronic device within attachment apparatus 300, or vice versa. The electronic device, battery pack 100, or both, may be installed in attachment apparatus 300 by inserting one end first, and then the other end. For example, the bottom may be inserted first, then the top. The user may check that tabs are inserted into slots, as described herein. The user may then plug dock connector 240 into the electronic device, which may include sliding dock connector 240 within extension 350.
Once connected with dock connector 240, the electronic device may run off of battery pack 100 instead of the first battery, as long as there is enough power in battery pack 100. Thus, battery pack 100 may extend the amount of time that the electronic device will operate without being charged. In a particular embodiment, battery pack 100 allows the electronic device (an iPod™ device in some embodiments) to play for an additional 8 to 10 hours, for example. In embodiments so equipped, a user may check the amount of charge left in battery pack 100 by pressing actuator button 131 and viewing the color of light indicating the battery status, for example, as described herein.
As mentioned above, in various embodiments of the invention, body 110, illustrated in one embodiment in
Skipping forward to
In some embodiments when rechargeable battery pack 100 is electrically coupled to the electronic device and also to an external power source, circuit 1200 may facilitate a smooth integration between the electronic device and rechargeable battery pack 100 (
It should be understood that in some embodiments, the external power source that is used to charge rechargeable battery pack 100 may have pre-determined power limits that, if exceeded, could cause damage to the external power source, to rechargeable battery pack 100, and/or to the electronic device. By dynamically switching the charge current to rechargeable battery pack 100, the electronic device can be charged normally and remain unaffected by unexpected power fluctuations from the external power source.
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, chip 1290 is a two-cell charge management IC sold by Texas Instruments, Inc. of Dallas, Tex. under part number BQ24004. In this embodiment, resistors 1241 and 1249 are electrically coupled in parallel to pins 2, 3, 5 of chip 1290, and input 1203 is electrically coupled to pins 4, 8, and 9 of chip 1290. In different embodiments, other battery charge management ICs may be used instead. Furthermore, in the same or different embodiments, inputs 1201 and 1203 can be at the same voltage potential.
Circuit 1200 is an example of a circuit that may dynamically change a charge current supplied from an external power source to a second battery based on a power consumption level of the electronic device. In the embodiment of circuit 1200 illustrated, current sense circuit 1210 may detect or measure current to Vout 1202, for example, to the electronic device. Based on what this current is, current sense circuit 1210 may send a signal to current control switch 1220, for example, indicating whether to open or close. Current control switch 1220 may close so that current can flow through both resistor 1249 and resistor 1241 in parallel, or switch 1220 may open, so that current can flow only through resistor 1249 and not through resistor 1241.
In a particular embodiment, when rechargeable battery pack 100 is connected to an external power source and the current draw of the electronic device is high, switch 1220 is off (open). Thus, the charge current going to the second battery is routed by circuit 1200 through resistor 1249 only, thus increasing the voltage across this resistor and decreasing the amperage or magnitude of the charge current. When the current draw of the electronic device is low, switch 1220 is on (closed) in this embodiment, allowing more charge current to pass through resistors 1241 and 1249 in parallel. Thus, the voltage across resistors 1241 and 1249 is decreased and the amperage or magnitude of the charge current is increased such that the second battery receives a greater charge and takes a relatively shorter amount of time to fully charge. In some embodiments, the second battery is being charged whenever rechargeable battery pack 100 is connected to an external power source. Thus, the second battery may be charged in one of two states: either a fast charge mode or a slow or low charge mode.
In some embodiments, chip 1290 may dynamically detect a change in current sense circuit 1210, for example, and may set the charge rate to fast or slow, for instance.
Turning to the next figure,
Referring still to circuit 1300 in
In summary of the above, in a particular embodiment, when rechargeable battery pack 100 is electrically coupled to the external power source and to the electronic device, circuits 1200 (
As illustrated in
Switches 1310 have a Vout input 1302 and a Boost Out input 1303. In one embodiment of circuit 1300, a first one of switches 1310 has input 1302, and a second one of switches 1310 has input 1303. Input 1302 represents the power input from the external power source, and input 1303 represents the power input from the second battery of rechargeable battery 100 (
Skipping back to
Referring still to
In some embodiments, the current draw of the electronic device may be measured and fed into operational amplifier 610, which may turn power limiting switch 630 on or off depending on the magnitude of the current draw. In a particular embodiment, when rechargeable battery pack 100 is connected to an external power source and the current draw of the electronic device is high, power limiting switch 630 is off (open). Although rechargeable battery pack 100 may still be connected to an external power source, the charge current cannot pass through resistor 641, and is limited to the current that flows through resistor 649. Thus, the voltage across resistor 649 is increased and the amperage or magnitude of the charge current is decreased such that the second battery receives only a trickle charge and takes a relatively longer amount of time to fully charge. When the current draw of the electronic device is low, power limiting switch 630 is on (closed) in this embodiment. Thus, the charge current going to the second battery is routed by circuit 600 through resistor 641 and resistor 649 in parallel, thus decreasing the voltage across these resistors and increasing the amperage or magnitude of the charge current such that the second battery may be fully charged in a relatively short amount of time. In some embodiments, the second battery is being charged whenever rechargeable battery pack 100 is connected to an external power source. Thus, the second battery may be charged in one of two states: either a fast charge mode or a slow or low charge mode, as will be further explained below.
In an embodiment where the electronic device is a device that is configured to play audio recordings, such as an MP3 player, such as an iPod™ device manufactured by APPLE COMPUTER, as an example, resistor 641 has a resistance of between approximately 0.15 and 0.25 ohms, and power limiting switch 630 is off when a voltage drop across resistor 646 is greater than approximately 0.059 volts, and on when the voltage drop is less than that approximate value. Alternatively, a voltage drop of some other magnitude may be used, and the resistances of resistors 642, 643, 644, and 645 may be altered from the values disclosed herein, and may be selected such that the output of the current sense block remains substantially unchanged.
The foregoing components of circuit 600 are, in some embodiments, part of a sub-circuit 601. Still referring to
a, 7b, and 7c illustrate an example of a second circuit which may be, for example, configured to power an electronic device with a second battery when a rechargable battery pack is electrically decoupled from an external power source. In some embodiments, this second circuit may be configured to power the electronic device with the external power source when the rechargeable battery pack is electrically coupled to the external power source. The embodiment illustrated comprises sub circuits illustrated in
In one embodiment, diode 750 may be part number D8 BAT54C, capacitor 755 may have a capacitance of 1 micro Farad, resistor 760 may have a resistance of 10 M ohms, and transistor 720 may have part number Q15 ZXMP3A13F, for example. In a particular embodiment, capacitor 765 may have a capacitance of 1 micro Farad, diode 780 may be part number D2 CMS04, resistor 770 may have a resistance of 5.1 M ohms, and transistor 710 may be part number Q14 ZXMP3A13F, for instance. Resistor 740 may have a resistance of 255 K ohms, and transistor 730 may have part number Q1 ZXMP3A13F, also as examples.
In the embodiment where the electronic device is a device that is configured to play audio recordings, such as an MP3 player, such as an iPod™ device manufactured by APPLE COMPUTER, for example, the external power source may be a FireWire port on a computer, and resistances of resistors 740, 760, and 770 may be, respectively, between 200 and 300 kilohms, between 9.5 and 10.5 megohms, and between 4.9 and 5.3 megohms. In the same embodiment, a capacitance of capacitor 755 and a capacitance of capacitor 765 may both be between 0.5 and 2.0 microfarads. In the same or another embodiment, diode 750 may be a Schottky diode, such as the BAT54C diode manufactured by FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR of South Portland, Me., diode 780 may be a different Schottky diode, such as the CMS04 diode manufactured by TOSHIBA CORPORATION of Tokyo, Japan, and transistors 710, 720, and 730 may be field effect transistors such as the ZXMP3A13F transistor manufactured by ZETEX SEMICONDUCTOR of Manchester, England.
The line labeled Vcc_Vout_FW coming from transistor 720 may represent a power input to the electronic device coming from the second battery, which occurs, in certain embodiments, when rechargeable battery pack 100 is in the second condition. The line labeled Vcc_Vout_FW coming from transistor 710 may represent a power input to the electronic device, for example, coming from the external power source, which occurs, in some embodiments, when rechargeable battery pack 100 is in the first condition.
In some embodiments, transistors 720 and 730 (illustrated in
Referring back to
In one embodiment, actuator button 131 sets in motion a chain of events that eventually cause: (1) the green light source to illuminate when a remaining charge level of rechargeable battery pack 100 exceeds a first charge level; (2) the red light source to illuminate when the remaining charge level of rechargeable battery pack 100 is less than a second charge level; and (3) both the green light source and the red light source to illuminate, such that the green light source and the red light source emit light at the same time, when the remaining charge level of rechargeable battery pack 100 is equal to or less than the first charge level and is also equal to or greater than the second charge level. In some embodiments, the mixture of the green light and the red light creates light of a whitened yellowish orange color that will be referred to herein as amber. More specifically, in some embodiments, actuator button 131 activates a circuit inside rechargeable battery pack 100 that determines the remaining charge level of rechargeable battery pack 100 and then causes either or both of the green light and the red light source to illuminate as described.
As an example, the first charge level may be defined as 75 percent of full charge, and the second charge level may be defined as 25 percent of full charge. In this example, a green light and a red light indicate, respectively, a relatively high and a relatively low remaining charge level, while an amber light indicates a remaining charge level somewhere in between. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the first and second charge levels may alternatively be defined as percentages of full charge other than the percentages given in the foregoing example, may be defined in terms of approximate time remaining until rechargeable battery pack 100 is no longer able to supply sufficient power to operate an electronic device.
Recall from above that the battery inside rechargeable battery pack 100 is referred to from time to time herein as the second battery. The second battery may be a lithium-ion battery, for example. In certain embodiments, the second battery comprises two lithium-ion batteries electrically connected in series. In some embodiments, in order to prevent damage to rechargeable battery pack 100, or to the second battery, the second battery is turned off or disconnected from being drained or used as a power source when the charge level of the second battery reaches a certain minimum threshold level, which will be referred to as a first threshold level. The first threshold level may be measured as a voltage across the terminals of the second battery, for instance. In one embodiment, the first threshold level is approximately 5.4 volts, but in other embodiments different first threshold levels may be used. In particular embodiments, the second battery is not turned on to be drained or used as a power source, once it has been turned off, until after a charge voltage is applied to the second battery, for example, from an external power source. In other embodiments, the second battery is not turned on to be drained or used as a power source, once it has been turned off, until after the charge level reaches a second threshold level that is higher than the first threshold level.
Further, in certain embodiments, the charge current to the second battery may be turned off or stopped once the second battery is fully charged. In particular embodiments, for example, the second battery will be charged, either fast or trickle, until a third threshold level is reached. This third threshold may be, for example, 8.4 volts, in certain embodiments, which may be measured across the terminals of the second battery, for example. In other embodiments, different threshold levels may be used. In some embodiments, a constant voltage may be applied as the second battery is being charged, during at least part of the charging cycle, and the charging rate of the second battery may gradually decrease as the voltage of the second battery approaches this constant voltage. In such embodiments, the constant voltage may be the third threshold level, for example.
In one embodiment, the first and second light sources emit light at a constant intensity whenever they are actuated. In another embodiment, the light sources are capable of emitting light at variable intensity. As a first example of the variable intensity embodiment, the light sources may be capable of emitting light at discrete intensity levels, such as at full intensity, half intensity, and zero intensity. The visual result in this first example is very similar to that described above. As a second example of the variable intensity embodiment, the light sources may be capable of emitting light in a continuous range of intensity levels, such that the intensity of light emitted by the light sources changes smoothly across the entire range from full intensity to zero intensity. In this second example, as the remaining charge level in rechargeable battery pack 100 changes from full to zero, the light seen through light pipe 132 changes smoothly along a continuum from bright green, through yellow-green, amber, and reddish-amber, and finally to red. A more accurate indication of the remaining charge level may be possible in this second example, due to the greater number of light intensities used. In a particular embodiment, less than 20 minutes may remain when the light is fully red. If battery pack 100 is to be stored for a long time without being used, in embodiments where the second battery is a lithium-ion battery, a reduction of capacity may be avoided by storing battery pack 100 when charge level indicator 131 is red. Loss of capacity may further be avoided, in particular embodiments, by charging battery pack 100 for 10 to 15 minutes every six months during long-term storage.
An op-amp, voltage reference, and two transistors control the variable intensity of the red and green LEDs in one particular embodiment. There are various other ways to produce the effect of a gas gauge, which may be utilized in particular embodiments of the invention, and circuit 900 can be attained in various different ways. Further, the voltage thresholds can be set through changing the values of the resistors.
In some embodiments, the DC input jack is on top of battery pack 100, for example, as shown in
In particular embodiments, method 1100 may include the step of providing at least one circuit located within the body and configured to perform at least one of a number of functions. Such functions may include, for example, powering the electronic device from the second battery (step 1125), which may take place when the battery pack is connected to the electronic device and no external power source is connected to the battery pack, for example. Another function that may be performed by a circuit that is provided, is to power the electronic device from an external power source (step 1130). In some embodiments, one or more circuits may be provided that charge both the first battery and the second battery from the external power source when the battery pack is connected to the electronic device and the external power source is connected to the battery pack. In some embodiments, a circuit may be provided that is configured to charge the second battery at one of at least two non-zero rates of charge based on a power consumption level of the electronic device, for example. In such embodiments, the power may be provided by the external power source, for instance. Method 1100 may further include, in various embodiments, the step of providing a charge level indicator (step 1135), for example, on the battery pack.
The various components provided in method 1100 may be similar or identical to the various components described herein. Thus, the components described in detail herein may serve as examples of certain embodiments of the components provided in method 1100. In different embodiments, steps 1105 through 1135 may be performed in a different sequence than what is illustrated.
Once the various components are provided, the system or device may be assembled (step 1140), which may include various activities that would be familiar to a person of ordinary skill in the art. In certain specific embodiments, various methods in accordance with the invention may further include the step of marketing the power supply system (step 1145). The battery pack, attachment apparatus, or both, may be marketed for use with an electronic device, for instance, configured to play recordings, or specifically, for use with an MP3 player, such as an iPod™ device. Marketing may include advertising, packaging, displaying in retail outlets, and the like.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made to certain embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Various examples of such changes have been given in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the rechargeable battery pack and the attachment apparatus discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments.
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the invention claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/612,770 filed Sep. 15, 2004, and entitled “Power Supply System Comprising Rechargeable Battery Pack and Attachment Apparatus”, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60612770 | Sep 2004 | US |
