Battery charging system and mobile and accessory devices

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A housing for a rechargeable battery comprising:
 an electrical component including a communication and control circuit configured to couple to a battery core, to monitor the battery core, and to generate power signals, the electrical component further configured to communicate with an electronic device by transmitting and receiving communication signals, wherein the electrical component is configured to couple to the electronic device via a first terminal and a second terminal, and wherein the power signals and the communication signals are provided to the electronic device via the first terminal and the second terminal.   
     
     
         9 . The housing of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a battery core configured to house battery chemicals; and 
 a plurality of sensors for measuring a respective plurality of properties associated with the battery core, 
 wherein the electrical component is further adapted to derive a plurality of quality assessments of the battery core based on the measurements from the plurality of sensors, wherein the electrical component is configured to prevent effective power transmission between the electronic device and the battery core if the plurality of quality assessments fails to meet a quality threshold. 
 
     
     
         10 . The housing of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a battery core configured to house battery chemicals, 
 wherein the electrical component is further adapted to estimate future power consumption requirements of the electronic device based on past power consumption requirements of the electronic device and to estimate the time until the power in the battery core will be drained. 
 
     
     
         11 . The housing of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a battery core configured to house battery chemicals, 
 wherein electrical coupling between the electronic device and the battery core is terminated if the electrical component fails to negotiate with the coupled electronic device for an agreed range of power parameters; and the electrical component is further adapted to re-negotiate with the coupled electronic device for another range of power parameters. 
 
     
     
         12 . The housing of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a battery core configured to house battery chemicals, wherein the electrical component is further adapted to engage a low power connection immediately after the housing is coupled to the electronic device. 
 
     
     
         13 . The housing of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a battery core configured to house battery chemicals, wherein the electrical component is further adapted to engage a high-power connection only after the electrical component has successfully negotiated with the electronic device for an agreed range of power parameters. 
 
     
     
         14 . The housing of  claim 8  wherein the electrical component is further adapted to store a charging history. 
     
     
         15 . The housing of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a battery core configured to house battery chemicals; and 
 an internal switch that is activated when the electronic device is located in close proximity, wherein the activation of the internal switch is required for effective power transmission between the electronic device and the battery core. 
 
     
     
         16 . The housing of  claim 15  wherein the internal switch is adapted to be activated by a magnetic field of predetermined characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . The housing of  claim 16  wherein the predetermined characteristics includes a threshold flux density of a magnetic field and a specified flux orientation of a magnetic field. 
     
     
         18 . The housing of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a battery core configured to house battery chemicals; 
 a first power transmission circuit coupled to the battery core and the electronic device and adapted to provide low power connection between the battery core and the electronic device, wherein the low power connection allows a minimal threshold of power to be transferred between the battery core and the electronic device; and 
 a second power transmission circuit coupled to the battery core and adapted to provide power transmission between battery core and the electronic device at a power setting higher than the low power connection.