`Kerai et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,531,845 B2
`Mar.11, 2003
`
`US006531845B2
`
`(54) BATTERY CHARGING
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Kanji Kerai, London (GB); Kalle
`Tuulos, Turku (FT)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Limited, Espoo
`(FD
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/864,273
`
`(22)
`(65)
`
`Filed:
`
`May25, 2001
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2002/0005707 Al Jan. 17, 2002
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`May'26-9000°
`(GB): sscccaccusctanicewaeacnaat: 0012946
`
`.. HO2J 7/00
`SL) TG vetsssenseitermirmnerns
`
`. 320/107
`2) USL EL sn
`(58) Field of Search ...........
`«« 320/106, 107,
`320/110
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,371,453 A
`5,592,528 A
`5,814,969 A *
`6,087,804 A *
`
`.. 320/136
`12/1994 Fernandez ........
`324/538
`1/1997 Nelson etal.
`.
`
`9/1998 Bamyas .........006
`ve 320/112
`7/2000 Suda «0.0... 320/106
`
`
`
`9/2000 Atwater ....sseecseseee 320/131
`6,118,251 A *
`2/2001 Yang ......
`6,184,652 BL
`320/139
`2/2001 Hatular ...
`6,184,660 BL *
`4/2001 Matsuda oo... S2O/LIS
`6,211,649 BL
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`320/110
`
`EP
`GB
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
`oF
`JP
`
`LO85400
`2 286 732
`2 293 283
`200020175
`200020176
`200029544
`2000139032
`2000165513
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`sesceeeeeeees GOGF/1/26
`
`B/2000
`8/1995
`3/1996
`V/2000 estes GOGF/1/26
`1/2000
`. GOGF/1/26
`1/2000
`» GOSF/1/00
`5/2000
`+ HO02J/7/00
`6/2000
`». HO4M/1/72
`
`
`
`Primary Examiner—Edward H. Tso
`Assistant Examiner—Pia Tibbits
`(74) Altorney, Agent, or Firm—Antonelli, Terry, Stout &
`Kraus, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A battery charging circuit is described in which poweris
`derived from a communications port such as a USB interface
`(22) and is supplied to a rechargeable battery of a commu-
`nications device. The communications device, which may be
`a mobile radio telephone, can be charged from the power
`supply or internal battery of a laptop computer equipped
`with a USB port and connected thereto with a suitable cable
`thereby avoiding the need for a user to carry a dedicated
`battery charger for the radio telephone.
`
`44 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`PA_0000290
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`Huawei v. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 1/12
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`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 11,2003
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`Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 6,531,845 B2
`
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`FIG. 1
`
`(Prior ACT)
`
`PA_0000291
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`Huawei v. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 2/12
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`
`
`U.S. Patent
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`Mar.11, 2003
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`Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 6,531,845 B2
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`PA_0000292
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`Huawei v. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 3/12
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`Mar. 11,2003
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`Sheet 3 of 6
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`U.S. Patent
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`US 6,531,845 B2
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`PA_0000293
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`Huawei v. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 4/12
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`Mar.11, 2003
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`Sheet 4 of 6
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`U.S. Patent
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`US6,531,845 B2
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`PA_0000294
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`Huawei v. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 5/12
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 11,2003
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`Sheet 5 of 6
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`US 6,531,845 B2
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`POWER / DATA
`
`POWER CONNECTION
`
`DATA CONNECTION
`
`
`
`USB STATUS
`
`OPTIONS
`
`FIG. 7a
`
`CHARGING
`
`102
`
`CHARGING USB [_]
`
`FIG. 7b
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`PA_0000295
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 11,2003
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`Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 6,531,845 B2
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`[opin[
`
`INTERNAL}~34
`BATTERY LOW?
`
`32
`
`33
`
`FIG. 8
`
`MAINTAIN POWER
`CONNECTION WHEN
`
`FIG. 9
`
`PA_0000296
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`Huawei v. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 7/12
`
`
`
`1
`BATTERY CHARGING
`
`US 6,531,845 B2
`
`2
`charging circuit during communication activity between the
`device and a further device connected via suitable cabling
`thereto, Such communication activity may include the trans-
`fer of data and/or control signals. A switch may be provided
`to control the delivery of power to the charging circuit where
`the transmission conditions of the port dictate.
`invention,
`According to another aspect of the present
`there is provided a method of charging a battery powered
`device containing a communications port, said device fur-
`ther including a charging circuit connectable to a battery, the
`method comprising connecting said charging circuit to at
`least one data and/or control line during delivery of data
`and/or control signals to said port whereby power is supplied
`from said at least one line to the charging circuit.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a battery powered device
`incorporating a communication port, particularly although
`not exclusively a USB interface.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Customarily, hand held electronic devices such personal
`digital assistants (PDA), and cellular handsets have been
`powered by a rechargeable battery, the term battery being
`intended to encompass a collection of one or more cells. As
`a consequence,it is necessary for the user of such a device
`to recharge the battery regularly using a dedicated charger,
`always assuming a source of electrical poweris publically
`available, Where a user possesses more than one such device
`and perhaps a laptop computer, il is necessary lo carry a
`corresponding number of chargers. Typically, battery charg-
`ers are heavy, bulky and inconvenient to transport due to
`their trailing leads and connectors. Furthermore, where a
`user is traveling abroad, even should the charger prove
`compatible with the local electrical power supply, a power
`outlet adapter will almost certainly be necessary adding to
`expense and further inconveniencing the user.
`SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION
`
`In order to understand more fully the invention, several
`embodiments thereof will now be described by way of
`example and with reference to the accompanying drawings,
`in which:
`FIG.1 is a block diagram illustrating the topology of the
`known USBserial interface;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery powered radio
`telephone handset according to the present invention;
`FIG, 3 is a diagrammatic view of a port according to a
`further embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a variant of the port of
`It is thus an object of the present invention to overcome
`PIG. 3;
`the disadvantages sel oul above and wo further provide a
`device which permits a user to remove the need to carry a
`FIG.5 is a diagrammatic view of a further variant of the
`plurality of chargers and adapters when traveling.It isastill
`port of FIG. 4;
`further object of the invention to permit the charging of a
`FIG.6 is a diagram showing the radio telephone handset
`device in the absence of a locally available electrical supply.
`of FIG. 2 connected to a laptop computer;
`Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention ,.
`FIG. 7a is a view of a display of the handset of FIG. 2
`there is provided a battery powered device including a
`showing a menuofa user interface;
`communications port and a charging circuit connectable to
`FIG, 7b is a similar view showing a simplified menu;
`a battery, the charging circuit having a further connection to
`FIG. 8 is a view of a display of the laptop computer of
`the communications port wherein the port, in use, provides
`FIG. 7 showing a menu of a software application, and
`powerto the charging circuit.
`FIG. 9 is a similar view showing a simplified menu.
`Although the port may include a power line such as is
`found, for example, in a USB port, preferably the charging
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`circuit obtains power from the data and/or control lines.
`INVENTION
`Conveniently,
`the connection to the charging circuit
`is
`switched such that the controller or processor may make or
`break the connection in accordance with instructions
`received via a user interface of the device. Such instructions
`could arise from the detection of the onset of a communi-
`cation over the data line in particular where this is a source
`of power. By disconnecting the charging circuit from the
`data line, the capacitance of the line is reduced and the data
`rate of the port is substantially maintained.
`It may also be
`appropriate to break the connection where an additional
`power supply is connected to a dedicated input
`to the
`unon
`charging circuit. By disconnecting the charging circuit from 5
`the port in such circumstances, the risk of over charging the
`battery is reduced. The device may also include means for
`providing data indicativeof the status of a battery connected
`to the battery charger.
`In accordance with a further aspectof the invention, there
`is provided a battery powered device including a commu-
`nications port and a charging circuit connectableto a battery,
`the charging circuit being connected to at least one data
`and/or control line of said port, whereby power is received
`by said circuit during operation of said at least one line.
`Particularly in the case of a so-called USB communica-
`lions port,
`it
`is possible to deliver power to a battery
`
`40
`
`45
`
`atn
`
`in particular, there is shown a
`1
`Referring now to FIG.
`typical bus topology 1 of a well known serial
`interface
`standard, namely the USB interface, details of which may be
`found in the Universal Serial Bus Specification Revision 1.1.
`The USB standard provides that in addition to carrying
`data bi-directionally,
`a USB cable 2 must also supply
`electrical power unidirectionally. The power and data passes
`through pre-defined terminals or pin-outs provided on a
`standardised plugs 3,4 on each free end 5,6 of the USB cable
`2. The plugs 3,4 are defined in the standard as having
`different forms at upstream and downstream ends 7,8. Each
`plug 3,4 can mate only with a complementary shaped
`receptacle or port 9,10 provided in the USB devices 11,12 to
`be connected. Thus, the standard ensures that a cable 2 can
`only be connected to provide power from an upstream port
`9 to a downstream port LO. The USB standard further
`provides the device 11 may have its own powersupply. Such
`a device is known as a self-powered device 11. A device 12
`which relies exclusively on power supplied from the
`upstream device or hub is known as a bus-powered device.
`Device 12 is a bus-powered device. A device may provide
`only a function, in which case it is defined as a node and has
`an upstream connection only, or it may be hub to which
`
`PA_0000297
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`3
`further USB devices (or hubs) may be connected down-
`stream. A hub may also provide a function. The above
`standard further defines a root hub 13 from which all
`downstream connections depend. The root hub 13 forms part
`of a host that is normally a personal computer.
`The USB specification was motivated, at least in part, by
`the desire to integrate telephony with personal computers.
`Thus, FIG. 2 showsa portable radio telephone 14 powered
`by a rechargeable battery pack 15. The telephone 14 includes
`a transceiver 16 and all
`the other features conventionally
`found in a cellular telephone, as shown schematically in
`FIG. 2. Since these aspects of the telephone 14 are not
`directly relevant to the present invention, no further details
`will be given here, except to say that a microprocessor 17 is
`employed to control all the basic functions ofthe telephone
`14 and to contro] the keypad and display functions. The
`telephone 14 also comprises a memory unit 18 for storing
`user defined data such as telephone numbers in a subscriber
`number index, or
`identify codes for telephone banking
`35
`systems. A battery charger control circuit 19 is also included ,
`in the telephone 14. This circuit 19 delivers power to the
`rechargeable battery 15. In a conventional manner, external
`powerfor supplying charge to the battery 15 is provided via
`a charger jack 20 located in the housing of the telephone.
`The telephone 14 further incorporates a USB interface or
`port shown generally as P. The USB interface P comprises
`a connector 22 having data 23, power 24 and ground pins or
`terminals. The connector 22 is provided in the handset
`housing to which a downstream plug of a USB cable is
`a
`connectable in use. A pair of conductors 25,26 carry differ- 3
`ential data signals D- and D+ between the data pins 23 of
`the connector 22 and the USB interface ASIC 21 mounted on
`the handset PCB. The interface ASIC 21 is suitably pro-
`grammed to provide the benefits of USB functionality to the
`handset, In addition, ground connection (not shown) is made 3¢
`from the ground pin of the connector 22 to the PCB.
`Aconductor 27, which carries powersignals (Vbus) from
`the power pin 24 of the connector 22 to the Interface ASIC
`21, is also connected via a switch 28 in series with a diode
`100 to a conductor 101 connecting the charger jack 20 to the
`charger control circuit 19. The switch 28 is under the control
`of the interface ASIC 21 whilst
`the diode 100 prevents
`powerfrom being supplied in an upstream direction via the
`connector 22, in accordance with the above USB standard.
`It will also be appreciated that in addition to the above-
`described connections there will exist further non-illustrated
`connections with and between the above-described compo-
`nents and other circuit elements of the handset 14. These
`additional connections, to the extent that they are directed to
`providing conventional known functions of a radio tele-
`phone 14, are not described in further detail.
`In use, a user is able to select, via a menu (see FIG, 7a)
`provided on an otherwise conventional user interface (UD)
`display 30 of the handset 14, one of a number of modes of
`operation of the power and data transfer connections.
`However, before the UI permits these modesto be selected,
`the handset USB connector 22 must be connected via a USB
`cable 2 to a USB hub such as a laptop computer 29. Once
`connected, the interface ASIC 21 detects the presence of a
`USB cable 2 connection to the data terminals D+/D- 23 and
`signals this fact via the UI to the user. The interface ASIC 21
`is also in receipt of a signal indicative of the state of charge
`of the battery 15. Whether the interface ASIC 21 closes the
`switch 28 and thereby connects Vbus to the battery 15 via
`the charging circuit 19 will depend on the mode selected by
`the user. It is immaterial with respect to the charger control
`circuit 19, what source of power is being used.
`
`45
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`un a
`55
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`US 6,531,845 B2
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`2
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`4
`In a first mode, both data 23 and power 24 transfer
`connections are enabled. In a second mode the data connec-
`tion 23 only is enabled, although a further feature may be
`operative in this mode in which the charger controlcircuit 19
`continually monitors the state of the handset battery 15 and
`in the event that the charge falls below an acceptable level
`prompts the user via the UI display 30 to enable the power
`connection 24 to the handset 14 and thereby increase the
`charge of the handset battery 15. In a third (default) mode,
`the power connection 24 only is enabled.
`To facilitate both ease of use and the minimization of any
`changesto the UI software, FIG. 7b showsa simplified menu
`of the user interface which may be displayed as an alterna-
`wn
`tive to the above described menu on the display 30 of the
`5 handset 14. This simplified menu provides a single option
`102 of allowing charging of the handset battery 15 via the
`USB connector 22. However, this option is active only when
`a USB connectionis present and no poweris being supplied
`via the charger jack 20.
`Where the handset 14 is connected to a laptop computer
`29 shown in FIG. 6 via the USB connector 22, as shown in
`FIG. 3, then further functionality may be provided in the
`form of a software application residing on the laptop com-
`puter 29 and utilizing the full capability of the USB interface
`protocol to communicate with the handset 4 over the USB
`cable 2. Thus,
`the application software may,
`through a
`suitable graphical user interface (GUI) provide contro]of the
`battery charge and data communication connections with the
`handset. FIG. 8 shows a laptop computer display on which
`a graphical indication 31 ofthe state of charge of the handset
`battery charge is given. In addition, there are displayed icons
`32,33 indicating that both a data and a power connection
`exist between the handset 14 and the laptop computer 29. A
`further icon 34 indicates that the laptop computer is oper-
`ating on its own internal batteries rather than on publically
`available electrical power. Hence the display further
`ineludes a bar graph 35 indicative of the state of charge of
`the laptop’s own battery. In use, a user may select, using
`conventional point and clock operations with a mouse,
`various options for the supply of power andtransfer of data
`with the handset. Most conveniently,
`the application will
`provide a set of operation modes selectable by the user and
`similar to those provided by the handset UI.
`transfer
`Thus in a
`first mode, both data and power
`connections are enabled but with the safeguard that where
`the laptop computer 29 is detected as operating on internal
`battery power, the power connection is terminated when the
`battery charge of the laptop computer falls below a prese-
`lected level. This feature guards against the laptop computer
`battery becoming completely discharged.
`In a second mode, the data connection only is enabled.
`Although a further feature may be enabledin this mode that
`continually monitors the state of the handset battery 15.
`Consequently, in the event that the handset battery charge
`falls below an acceptable level,
`the laptop computer 29
`prompts the user, via a pop-up display, to connect the power
`connection to the handset and thereby increase the charge of
`the handset battery.
`In a third mode, the power connection only is enabled
`although again the feature of preventing discharge of the
`laptop computer battery is provided to end the connection
`when the laptop computer battery charge falls below a
`predetermined level.
`To provide for emergencies where it may be necessary to
`charge the handset battery 15 even at the expense of the
`laptop computerbattery, there is further included an override
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`PA_0000298
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`US 6,531,845 B2
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`5
`function in each of the three modes that maintains the power
`connection. It will be appreciated that the existence of the
`power connection does not imply that power will be con-
`tinuously transferred from the laptop computer. Indeed, the
`charging circuit of the handset continually monitors the
`handset battery 15 and provides a signal indicative of the
`level of charge to the charger control circuit 19. Thus, should
`the handset battery 15 reach a satisfactory level of charge,
`the charger control circuit 19 will cause the switch 28 to
`open preventing further depletion of the laptop computer
`battery and equally preventing overcharging of the handset
`battery.
`Again, where case of use is required and a minimal
`change to an otherwise conventional UI is desired, then an
`option box 103 (FIG. 9) is generated on the laptop computer
`display. This box provides only the first of the above
`described options in that the only option provided is that of
`maintaining a power connection in an emergency at
`the
`t5
`expense of the laptop battery.
`It will be understood from the foregoing that the pro- %
`gramming of the various user interfaces is within the ability
`of those skilled in the art and the precise implementation will
`depend to some extent on the hardware.
`Using the same reference numerals to identify corre-
`sponding elements, FIGS, 3, 4 and 5 respectively illustrate
`a further embodiment of the invention and two variants
`thereof.
`In FIG. 3,
`there is shown a serial port P of a
`battery-powered handset 14. A pair of data terminals 23 are
`connected internally to the interface ASIC 21 by conductors
`25,26 and are also connectable, via suitable cabling, to a
`serial port (not shown) of a laptop computer for example.
`Each conductor 25,26 is tapped, via a switch 28,
`to a
`respective logic detector 50. The switches 28 are operable
`under the condition of the interface ASIC 21. A connection
`from the output of each detector 50 is made to a correspond-
`ing reservoir capacitor $1. The capacitors 51 themselves are
`connected in parallel and supply a power or charging ter-
`minal 52 via a diode 100 with current of some tens of
`milliamps at a typical voltage of around five volts. The
`charging terminal 52 is connected to the battery charging
`circuit 19 as previously described above.
`In use, the data terminals 23 are connected via suitable
`cabling to a communications port of another device such as
`a laptop computer, for example. As is well known, the data
`lines of a serial connection are held high when the connec-
`tion is inactive and will vary between a high and low state
`whilst communication overthe ports takes place. Thus, each
`logic detector 50 detects the state of a corresponding line
`25,26 and, where the state is found to be high, permits
`current to flow into a corresponding capacitor 51. The output
`from each capacitor 50 supplies the charging terminal 52
`which is connected to the battery charging circuit 19. In
`order to disable the supply of current
`to the charging
`terminal 52, the switches 28 may be opened at the command ¢
`of the interface ASIC 21. Aside from reasons set out above
`in relation to the UI of the handset 14, such a step may be
`necessary if the additional capacitance 52 is having a
`detrimental effect on the data rate of the port P.
`In a variant of the embodiment shown in FIG.4, rather
`than using the data lines 25,26 to supply power to the
`charging circuit 19 the control lines 53 are utilised instead.
`Such an arrangementis possible where XON/XOFF logic,
`for example, is being employed to control communication
`over the data lines 25,26 of the port P. In which case, the
`control lines 53 are redundant. Consequently, the logic state
`of these lines 53 can be held high and they can then be used
`
`to5
`
`45
`
`ta0
`
`6
`to supply a charging terminal 52 with current. Furthermore,
`the presence of additional capacitance in the controllines 53
`should not have any detrimental effect on the data rate over
`the data lines 25.26. Nevertheless, to enable charging to be
`placed under software control, a switch 28 controlled by the
`interface ASIC 21 is provided. The provision of switching
`for the controllines is advantageous in that it the capacitance
`mentioned above can be temporarily removed during a
`communications session where the controllines are utilised.
`FIG. 5, showsa further variant of the further embodiment
`in which a parallel port 60 of an external device such as a
`laptop computer29 is used to communicate with a serial port
`P of the communications device. A parallel connector 22 on
`the handset 14 provides connections to an external parallel
`wn
`cable 61 of which two lines carry received and transmitted
`> data 62,63 respectively to the parallel port 60 of the laptop
`29. The remaining lines 53 of the cable 61 are unused and
`are thus held high in accordance with usual practice. Internal
`connections 25,26 from the connector 22 are made to a
`parallel
`to serial conversion block 64 in which parallel
`communication signals received from the external device 29
`are translated to serial signals and vice versa for signals
`transmitted from the handset 14. The conversion block 64
`includes a number of ICs (not shown) which are supplied
`with power from the power terminal 52 connected to the
`reservoir capacitors 51 supplied by the unused data/control
`lines 53 in the manner described previously. In addition, the
`power from the terminal 52 is used to supply the battery
`charging circuit 19 of the handset 14.
`Tt will be recognized that although the further embodi-
`ment and its variants differ in the manner in which poweris
`derived from the port for charging the battery,it is within the
`ability of those skilled in the art to adapt the userinterface
`(UI) described in relation to the first embodiment.
`Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the approach set out
`in the further embodiment andits variants to deriving power
`from the data and/or control lines could be used to supple-
`ment the power obtained from a dedicated power line such
`as that described in relation to the first embodiment. Finally,
`although the foregoing embodiments have illustrated the
`invention in the context of mobile station such as a handset,
`the invention could, of course, be applied to any battery
`powered device having a charging circuit and a communi-
`cation port such as a handheld computer console, a bar code
`reader and data capture device or the like.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A battery powered apparatus comprising:
`a charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery;
`a processor for controlling the battery operated apparatus
`and for communicating with an external electronic
`device including an electrical power supply;
`least one conductor for connection to the external
`electronic device which receives data or control signals
`including when the charging circuit charges the
`rechargeable battery;
`a user input for receiving a user command;
`means for determining if charging the rechargeable bat-
`tery using the electrical power supply of the external
`electronic device is allowed, based on the user com-
`mand; and wherein
`the charging circuit receives electrical power from the
`electrical power supply of the external electronic
`device through the at
`least one conductor and
`charges the battery with the received electrical power
`if the charging of the rechargeable battery using the
`electrical power supply of the external electronic
`device is allowed.
`
`at
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`a5
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`PA_0000299
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`Huaweiv. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 10/12
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`
`US 6,531,845 B2
`
`7
`2. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 1
`wherein:
`the means for determining if charging the rechargeable
`battery using the electrical power supply ofthe external
`electronic device is allowed uses the received data or
`control signals as a basis for the determination.
`3. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 2,
`comprising:
`a switch operable to disconnect the charging circuit from
`the electrical power supply.
`4. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 3,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprisesa universal serial bus
`port.
`5. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 2,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universalserial bus
`port.
`6. A battery operated apparatus to claim 1, comprising:
`the user input is a user interface for receiving the user
`command; and wherein
`the means for determining if charging the rechargeable
`battery using the electrical power supply of the
`external electronic device is allowed uses the user
`interface during the determination if charging is
`allowed.
`7. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 6,
`comprising:
`a switch operable to disconnect the charging circuit from
`the electrical power supply.
`8. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 7,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`9. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 6,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universalserial bus
`port.
`10. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein:
`the al least one conductor comprises at least one electrical
`power line conductor and the received electrical power
`is derived from the external electronic device through
`the at least one electrical power line conductor and the
`charging of the battery with the received electrical
`power is derived from the at least one electrical power
`line conductor.
`11. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 10,
`wherein:
`
`the charging circuit comprises a connector which provides
`an electrical connection with the electrical power sup-
`ply.
`12. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 11,
`comprising:
`a switch operable to disconnect the charging circuit from
`the electrical power supply.
`13. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 12,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`14. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 11,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`15. A battery operated apparatus according to claim LO,
`comprising:
`
`10
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`unon
`
`60
`
`8
`a switch operable to disconnect the charging circuit from
`the electrical power supply.
`16, A battery operated apparatus according to claim 15,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`17. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 10,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`18. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 1,
`comprising:
`a switch operable to disconnect the charging circuit from
`the electrical power supply.
`19. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 18,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`20. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`21. A battery powered apparatus comprising:
`a charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery;
`a processor which controls the battery operated apparatus
`and communicates with an external electronic device
`including an electrical power supply;
`least one conductor for connection to the external
`electronic device which conducts data or control sig-
`nals from the external electronic device when the
`charging circuit is charging the rechargeable battery;
`and wherein
`the charging circuit derives electrical power from the
`data or control signals conducted on the atleast one
`conductor from the external electronic device for
`charging the rechargeable battery.
`22. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 21,
`wherein:
`
`at
`
`the charging circuit comprises means for providing elec-
`trical power from the data or control signals conducted
`on the at
`least one conductor from the external elec-
`tronic device to the rechargeable battery.
`23. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 22
`wherein the meansfor obtaining electrical power comprises:
`at least one capacitor.
`24. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 23
`wherein:
`
`the at least one conductor comprises a universal serial bus
`port.
`25. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 24
`comprising:
`means for determining if charging the rechargeable bat-
`tery using, the electrical power supply of the external
`electronic electronics device is allowed which uses
`received data or control signals as a basis for the
`determination.
`26. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 24,
`wherein:
`
`the at least one conductor comprises at least one electrical
`powerline conductor and the received electrical power
`is derived from the external electronic device through
`the at least one electrical powerline conductor and the
`charging of the battery with the received electrical
`power is derived from the at least one electrical power
`line conductor.
`
`PA_0000300
`
`Huaweiv. FISI Exhibit No. 1015 - 11/12
`
`
`
`US 6,531,845 B2
`
`9
`27. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 23
`comprising:
`means for determining if charging the rechargeable bat-
`tery using the electrical power supply of the external
`electronic electronics device is allowed which uses
`received data or control signals as a basis for the
`determination.
`28. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 23,
`wherein:
`
`the at least one conductor comprises at least one electrical
`power line conductor and the received electrical power
`is derived from the external electronic device through
`the at least one electrical power line conductor and the
`charging of the battery with the received electrical
`poweris derived from theat least one electrical power
`line conductor.
`29. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 23,
`comprising:
`a switch operable to disconnect the charging circuit from
`the electrical power supply.
`30. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 22
`wherein:
`
`the at least one conductor comprisesa universalserial bus
`port.
`31. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 30
`comprising:
`means for determining if charging the rechargeable bat-
`tery using the clectrical power supply of the external
`electronic electronics device is allowed which uses
`received data or control signals as a basis for the
`determination.
`32. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 30,
`wherein:
`the at least one conductor comprisesat least one electrical
`power line conductorand the received electrical power
`is derived from the external electronic device through
`the at least one electrical power line conductor and the
`charging of the battery with the received electrical
`poweris derived from the at least one electrical power
`line conductor.
`33. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 30,
`comprising:
`a switch operable to disconnect the charging circuit from
`the clectrical power supply.
`34. A battery operated apparatus according to claim 22
`comprising:
`means for determining if charging the rechargeable bat-
`tery using the electrical power supply of the external
`electronic electronics device is allowed which uses
`received data or control signals as a basis for the
`determination.
`35. A battery op