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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of charging an electronic device, the method comprising:
 with the electronic device, detecting a magnetic field having a specific pattern;   responsive to detecting the magnetic field having a specific pattern, receiving first charging information from a charging device;   responsive to receiving charging information from the charging device, sending second charging information to the charging device; and   receiving charging power from the charging device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 with the electronic device, attempting to negotiate with the charging device to receive a higher charging power. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 with the electronic device, in response to successfully negotiating with the charging device to receive a higher charging power, receiving a higher charging power from the charging device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein in response to a failure to successfully negotiate with the charging device to receive a higher charging power, not receiving the higher charging power from the charging device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the specific pattern is characterized by a threshold strength. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the specific pattern is further characterized by an orientation of the flux of the magnetic field. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the first charging information comprises a charging capability of the charging device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the second charging information comprises an identity of the electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a battery in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 storing usage history of the battery in a memory;   storing environmental condition history of the battery in the memory; and   using the stored usage history and the stored environmental condition history to determine whether battery should be replaced.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the usage history comprises a total duration that the battery has been used. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the usage history further comprises a number of cycle times for the battery. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the usage history further comprises a number of cycle times the battery has been charged. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the environmental condition history comprises temperatures for the battery when the battery was operating. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a battery in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 monitoring usage history of the battery;   monitoring environmental condition history of the battery; and   using the usage history and the environmental condition history to estimate when the battery might need to be replaced.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the usage history and environmental condition history of the battery are used to determine charge state of the battery. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the charge state of the battery is used in estimating when the battery might need to be replaced. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the usage history comprises a total duration that the battery has been used. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the usage history further comprises a number of cycle times the battery has been charged. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the environmental condition history comprises temperatures for the battery when the battery was operating. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the monitored usage history and monitored environmental condition history is stored in a memory in the electronic device.