Method and Apparatus for Charging a Battery-Operated Device

Abstract

There is provided a battery-operated device including a battery, an electronic circuitry configured to be powered by the battery, and a converter configured to receive energy from any of a plurality of authorized chargers, and generate power from the energy for charging the battery using the power. The battery-operated device is configured to receive information from a charger, and determine, based on the received information, that the charger is one of the plurality of authorized chargers. The battery-operated device is further configured to, in response to determining, receive the energy from the charger, generate, using the converter, the power from the energy received from the charger, charge the battery using the power received from the converter, and use the battery to power the electronic circuitry.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A battery-operated device comprising:
 a battery;   an electronic circuitry configured to be powered by the battery; and   a converter configured to receive energy from any of a plurality of authorized chargers, and generate power from the energy for charging the battery using the power;   the battery-operated device configured to:
 receive information from a charger; 
 determine, based on the received information, that the charger is one of the plurality of authorized chargers; 
 in response to determining:
 receive the energy from the charger; 
 generate, using the converter, the power from the energy received from the charger; 
 charge the battery using the power received from the converter; and 
 use the battery to power the electronic circuitry. 
 
   
     
     
         48 . The battery-operated device of  claim 47  further comprising:
 a coil configured to receive the energy by induction from the charger. 
 
     
     
         49 . The battery-operated device of  claim 48  further comprising:
 a memory; 
 wherein the battery-operated device is further configured to store information associated with each of the plurality of authorized chargers in the memory. 
 
     
     
         50 . The battery-operated device of  claim 48  further configured to:
 in response to determining that the charger is not one of the authorized chargers, prevent charging of the battery by the charger. 
 
     
     
         51 . The battery-operated device of  claim 48 , wherein the received information is one of a MAC ID, an IP address, a name, a serial number, a product name, or a manufacturer name. 
     
     
         52 . The battery-operated device of  claim 48 , wherein the received information indicates one or more capabilities of the charger. 
     
     
         53 . The battery-operated device of  claim 48  further comprising:
 a capacitor, wherein the converter is configured to store the power in the capacitor. 
 
     
     
         54 . The battery-operated device of  claim 48  further configured to:
 use a same channel for receiving, from the charger, both the energy and the received information. 
 
     
     
         55 . The battery-operated device of  claim 48  further configured to:
 use a first channel for receiving the energy from the charger; 
 use a second channel for receiving the received information from the charger; 
 wherein the first channel is different than the second channel. 
 
     
     
         56 . The battery-operated device of  claim 47  further comprising:
 an antenna configured to receive radio frequency (RF) energy from the charger for conversion to the power by the converter for charging the battery. 
 
     
     
         57 . A method of charging a battery-operated device including a battery, an electronic circuitry configured to be powered by the battery, and a converter configured to receive energy from any of a plurality of authorized chargers, and generate power from the energy for charging the battery using the power, the method comprising:
 receiving information from a charger;   determining, based on the received information, that the charger is one of the plurality of authorized chargers;   in response to determining:
 receiving the energy from the charger; 
 generating, using the converter, the power from the energy received from the charger; 
 charging the battery using the power received from the converter; and 
 using the battery to power the electronic circuitry. 
   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the battery-operated device further includes a coil, and wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, using the coil, the energy by induction from the charger.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the battery-operated device further includes a memory storing information associated with each of the plurality of authorized chargers. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising:
 in response to determining that the charger is not one of the authorized chargers, preventing charging of the battery by the charger. 
 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the received information is one of a MAC ID, an IP address, a name, a serial number, a product name, or a manufacturer name. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the received information indicates one or more capabilities of the charger. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the battery-operated device further includes a capacitor, and wherein the method further comprises:
 storing, by the converter, the power in the capacitor.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising:
 using a same channel for receiving, from the charger, both the energy and the received information. 
 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising:
 using a first channel for receiving the energy from the charger; 
 using a second channel for receiving the received information from the charger; 
 wherein the first channel is different than the second channel. 
 
     
     
         66 . The method of claim of  claim 57 , wherein the battery-operated device further includes an antenna, and wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, using the antenna, radio frequency (RF) energy from the charger for conversion to the power by the converter for charging the battery.