Consumers may prefer that purchased electronic devices be in a fully charged state when initially removed from the packaging, so that the consumers can immediately begin using the devices. However, devices that are shipped in a charged state may drain over time. Moreover, some shipping regulations prohibit charging of devices during transit, such as while flying on an airplane. This would prohibit, for example, a battery of a larger device such as a case from charging the battery of a smaller device such as earbuds.
The present disclosure provides a method and system for restricting charging of electronic devices during transit, and triggering charging after transit is complete but prior to receipt by a consumer. The electronic device is shipped in a low power state, and boxed in a particular orientation. An accelerometer in the device, detecting this particular orientation, maintains the device in the low power state. While in this state, charging a battery of the device may be disabled. Once the device is taken out of the shipping environment for a predetermined period of time, a movement or change in orientation triggers the device to switch to a high power state, where charging may be enabled.
One aspect of the disclosure provides a method for controlling a state of an electronic device. The method includes operating the electronic device, in a low power mode; detecting, by the electronic device, one or more first conditions corresponding to shipment, and remaining in the low power mode while the one or more first conditions are detected. The method further includes detecting, by the electronic device, one or more second conditions corresponding to an end of shipment, and automatically transitioning, by the electronic device, to a high power mode in response to detection of the one or more second conditions. The method may further include preventing charging of a battery of the electronic device while the one or more first conditions corresponding to shipment are detected, and/or preventing delivery of a charge from a battery of the electronic device to another electronic device while the one or more first conditions corresponding to shipment are detected. Further, the method may include comparing an amount of time during which the electronic device detects the one or more second conditions to a predetermined threshold, wherein automatically transitioning to the high power mode is only performed when the amount of time meets the predetermined threshold. In some examples, the one or more first conditions may include a first orientation, and the one or more second conditions may include a second orientation different from the first orientation. In other examples, the one or more first conditions include detection of a particular signal, such as a beacon emitted by a transportation vehicle or a particular sound, and the one or more second conditions include non-detection of the particular signal. In further examples, the one or more first conditions may include an amount of light below a predetermined threshold, and the one or more second conditions may include an amount of light above the predetermined threshold.
Another aspect of the disclosure provides an electronic device adapted to automatically change its state based on detected conditions. The electronic device includes one or more sensors, a power supply, and one or more processors in communication with the one or more sensors and the power supply. The one or more processors are configured to detect, using the one or more sensors, one or more first conditions corresponding to shipment, remain in a first mode while the one or more first conditions are detected, detect, using the one or more sensors, one or more second conditions corresponding to an end of shipment, and automatically transition to a second mode in response to detection of the one or more second conditions. The one or more sensors may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a microphone, a barometer, a light sensor, an RF receiver, and/or a mechanical switch. In some examples, the device may further include a memory storing a predetermined threshold, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to compare an amount of time during which the one or more processors detect the one or more second conditions to the predetermined threshold, and wherein the one or more processors automatically transition to the second mode only when the amount of time meets the predetermined threshold.
Yet another aspect of the disclosure provides a system, including a first device including a first battery, a second device including a second battery, the second battery of the second device adapted to receive a charge from the first battery of the first device, one or more sensors, and one or more processors in communication with the one or more sensors, the one or more processors configured to detect, using the one or more sensors, one or more first conditions corresponding to shipment, detect, using the one or more sensors, one or more second conditions corresponding to an end of shipment, and initiate transmission of a charge from the first battery to the second battery in response to detecting the one or more second conditions. The system may further include a memory storing a predetermined threshold, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to compare an amount of time during which the one or more processors detect the one or more second conditions to the predetermined threshold, and wherein the one or more processors initiate transmission of the charge only when the amount of time meets the predetermined threshold.
The electronic device 100 may include one or more processors 130, one or more memories 120, as well as other components. For example, the computing device 100 may include one or more sensors 140 and a battery 150.
The memory 120 may store information accessible by the one or more processors 130, including data 122 instructions 128 that may be executed or otherwise used by the one or more processors 130. For example, memory 120 may be of any type capable of storing information accessible by the processor(s), including a computing device-readable medium, or other medium that stores data that may be read with the aid of an electronic device, such as a volatile memory, non-volatile as well as other write-capable and read-only memories. By way of example only, memory 120 may be a static random-access memory (SRAM) configured to provide fast lookups. Systems and methods may include different combinations of the foregoing, whereby different portions of the instructions and data are stored on different types of media.
The data 122 may be retrieved, stored or modified by the one or more processors 130 in accordance with the instructions 128. For instance, data 122 may include an identification of conditions which indicate either that the device 100 should be in a first state or a second state. By way of example only, a first set of conditions may indicate that the device 100 should be in a low power state or a battery non-charging state. A second set of conditions, however, may indicate that the device 100 should be in a high power state or a battery charging state. In accordance with the instructions 128, the device detects conditions surrounding the device, such as by using the one or more sensors 140, and remains in or switches to a corresponding mode. Although the claimed subject matter is not limited by any particular data structure, the data may be stored in computing device registers, in a relational database as a table having a plurality of different fields and records, XML documents or flat files. The data may also be formatted in any computing device-readable format.
The instructions 128 may be any set of instructions to be executed directly (such as machine code) or indirectly (such as scripts) by the one or more processors 130. For example, the instructions may be stored as computing device code on the computing device-readable medium. In that regard, the terms “instructions” and “programs” may be used interchangeably herein. The instructions may be stored in object code format for direct processing by the processor, or in any other computing device language including scripts or collections of independent source code modules that are interpreted on demand or compiled in advance. Functions, methods and routines of the instructions are explained in more detail below.
The one or more processors 130 may be microprocessors, logic circuitry (e.g., logic gates, flip-flops, etc.) hard-wired into the device 100 itself, or may be a dedicated application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). It should be understood that the one or more processors 130 are not limited to hard-wired logic circuitry, but may also include any commercially available processing unit, or any hardware-based processors, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA). In some examples, the one or more processors 130 may include a state machine.
The one or more sensors 140 may include any of a variety of mechanical or electromechanical sensors, such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, switch, light sensor, barometer, audio sensor (e.g., microphone), vibration sensor, heat sensor, radio frequency (RF) sensor, etc. In this regard, the device 100 may detect conditions indicating that the device is being shipped using a variety of methods. For example, an accelerometer may detect a particular orientation which corresponds to the orientation in which the device will be packaged and shipped. Accordingly, the device will remain in the first mode, and, for example, prevent charging of the battery 150. When the accelerometer detects a different orientation or a particular angular rotation, the device may determine that shipping is complete and thus transition to the second mode. When transitioning to the second mode, for example, the battery 150 may accept a charge from another device or provide a charge to another device. In some examples, the different orientation or angular rotation must be detected for a threshold period of time before transitioning to the second mode. This may prevent unintended transitioning, such as if an aircraft is experiencing turbulence. Just as another example, a light sensor may detect that ambient light is below a threshold level, thus indicating that the device is packed in a dark shipping box. When shipping is complete and the device is unboxed for a predetermined period of time, the light sensor may detect a light level that exceeds the threshold, and thus transition to the second mode. It should be understood that these are merely a few examples of how the sensors may be used to determine the shipping status of the device and to automatically change the state of the device in response, but that many other example implementations are possible.
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While the example above describes an electronic case charging a pair of earbuds upon detection of conditions triggering entry into a second mode, it should be understood that any of a variety of types of devices may detect such conditions and trigger charging of one device by another. By way of example only, the devices may include mobile phones, wireless chargers, smartwatches, head-mounted displays, tablets, etc.
In addition to the operations described in connection with the systems above, various operations will now be described in connection with example methods. It should be understood that the following operations do not have to be performed in the precise order described below. Rather, various operations can be handled in a different order or simultaneously, and operations may also be added or omitted.
In block 410, the electronic device is set to a low power mode prior to packaging. A battery of the electronic device may be fully charged, but maintaining the device in low power mode will help to retain the charge over time. In the low power mode, only a minimal amount of power is needed, for example, to periodically check a status of the device. Other functions requiring more power may be disabled. For example, where the device is a case for a pair of earbuds, electronic communication between the case and the earbuds may be disabled in the low power mode.
In block 420, the electronic device is packaged for shipment. According to some examples, the device may be intentionally placed into a shipping box or container in a predefined orientation, wherein the device associates the predefined orientation with the low power mode and/or a non-charging mode. By way of example only, the device may be laid in a horizontal position as further described in the example of
In block 430, the electronic device detects conditions surrounding it. The device may detect such conditions periodically, such as every few minutes or seconds. Detected conditions may include, for example, orientation or the beacon. In other examples, detected conditions may include an amount of light, air pressure, sound, vibration, heat, status of a physical switch, presence of a pull-tab, or any other condition which may be made to vary between times of shipping and times of consumer use.
In block 440, the electronic device determines whether the detected conditions indicate that the device is currently being shipped. For example, as described above in connection with
In some instances, the detected conditions indicating a status of being in shipment must be detected for a threshold period of time. For example, a change in conditions may be required for several seconds, minutes, hours, etc., for the device to determine that it is no longer being shipped. The threshold period of time may be set based on, for example, the type of condition that triggers a change in mode, a size or shape of the electronic device, a size or shape of the packaging, an expected method of shipment, etc. By comparing a timeframe during which the change in conditions is detected to the threshold, premature charging may be prevented. For example, if the change in conditions is caused by turbulence on a cargo plane, a time period during which the conditions remained changed may not meet the threshold time period, and thus the device would not incorrectly determine that shipping was complete or prematurely enter into a high power mode.
If the device determines in block 440 that it is currently being shipped, the device remains in the low power mode. Moreover, the device may not charge (block 450). For example, the device may prevent charging of its own battery by another device, and/or it may prevent its own battery from delivering a charge to any other devices.
If the conditions detected in block 430 do not indicate shipping in block 440, the device in block 460 may automatically switch to a high power mode in response. In the high power mode, additional features of the electronic device may be activated, as compared to the low power mode. The high power mode may be, for example, a mode in which the device is ready for full operation by a consumer.
In some examples, the device may further allow charging of its own battery or other nearby batteries (block 470) once it is determined that shipping is complete.
Shipping box 530 may include markings 540 to help ensure that the device 100 is maintained in the predetermined orientation throughout shipping. For example, the markings 540 may indicate how the box 530 should be oriented during transit. The markings 540 shown, which read “This side up” and “Keep arrows up,” are merely examples of the types of markings that may be placed on the box 530. Additionally or alternatively to the marking 540, other mechanisms for ensuring maintenance of the device 100 in the predetermined orientation during transit may be used, such as handles, tracks, audible alerts, etc.
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When shipping is complete, and the electronic devices are no longer in the container 630 or on the airplane 680 or other vehicle, the electronic devices may no longer detect the signals from the transmitters 650, 690. Accordingly, the electronic devices may automatically transition to a high power or charging state.
The examples of
By automatically detecting and changing the state of the electronic devices, the devices may maintain a full or near-full charge and thus be ready for immediate use by consumers. Moreover, the devices may maintain compliance with transportation regulations, such as regulations preventing the charging of one device using another during particular times of an airplane flight.
Unless otherwise stated, the foregoing alternative examples are not mutually exclusive, but may be implemented in various combinations to achieve unique advantages. As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the subject matter defined by the claims, the foregoing description of the embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the subject matter defined by the claims. In addition, the provision of the examples described herein, as well as clauses phrased as “such as,” “including” and the like, should not be interpreted as limiting the subject matter of the claims to the specific examples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only one of many possible embodiments. Further, the same reference numbers in different drawings can identify the same or similar elements.
The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/576,901 filed Oct. 25, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62576901 | Oct 2017 | US |