Granted Patent B2

US 8,907,633 · App. 13/173,287 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A system for charging a portable device through a communication port on the portable device, the system comprising:

a receptacle port for communicating with the portable device wherein the portable device does not provide charging protocol information to the system;

a profile database for storing multiple charging profiles, each charging profile including a set of parameters and at least one exit condition; and

an emulation module configured to perform:

selecting a first charging profile from the profile database wherein the first charging profile is predefined;

applying the first charging profile to the portable device;

monitoring the set of parameters associated with the charging profile to identify an associated exit condition; and

applying a next charging profile to the portable device upon a determination that the exit condition for the first charging profile is met.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emulation module is configured for cycling between the charging profiles until charging commences.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emulation module is further configured for charging the portable device port using an appropriate charging profile.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the appropriate charging profile is a charging profile that does not meet its exit condition when applied to the portable device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emulation circuit is further configured to reset the first charging profile upon a determination that the exit condition is met.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emulation circuit cycles between the charging profiles in a specific sequence.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the port is a universal serial bus (USB) port.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging profiles include one or more of battery charging specification (BCS) charging protocol or legacy charging protocols.

9. A method for optimally charging an arbitrary portable device using a port, the method comprising:

attaching the portable device to an emulation module through the port wherein the portable device does not provide charging protocol information;

selecting a charging profile from the profile database wherein the first selection of a charging profile selects a predefined charging profile;

applying a charging profile to the portable device;

monitoring a set of parameters and exit conditions associated with the charging profile;

repeating the applying and monitoring steps for the remaining charging profiles upon a determination that the exit condition for the previous charging profile is met.

10. The method of claim 9 further including charging the portable device using a charging profile whose exit condition is not met.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the repeating step includes resetting the portable device before applying the next charging profile.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the repeating step continues until the portable device starts charging.

13. A method for charging a portable device through a USB port, the method comprising:

applying a charging profile from a set of charging profile to the portable device, wherein each charging profile includes one or more stimulus-response pairs and wherein the charging profile is selected without the portable device providing charging protocol information;

monitoring the response corresponding a stimulus applied on the USB port to identify a successful handshake;

upon a determination that the handshake is successful, charging the portable device using the charging profile; and

upon a determination that the handshake is unsuccessful:

resetting the portable device; and

repeating the applying and monitoring steps for the remaining charging profiles from the set of charging profiles.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring step further includes at least one of:

monitoring charging current;

monitoring charging voltage;

monitoring each stimulus-response pair; or

monitoring the charging profile timeout.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein an unsuccessful handshake may be identified by one or more of:

inappropriate response for the applied stimulus;

inadequate charging current;

inadequate charging voltage; or

reaching timeout of the charging profile.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the repeating step includes cycling between the charging profiles in a specific sequence.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the repeating step continues until the portable device starts charging.

Assignments (10)