IP Library Granted Patent US 9,559,537
Granted Patent B2
US 9,559,537 · App. 14/320,909 · Granted Jan 31, 2017

Guidance light for mobile device

Inventor: Olof Zander (Södra Sandby, SE)
Assignees: Sony Corporation; Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
H02J7/0047G06F1/16H04B13/005H04M1/72569H05B33/0806H05B37/0218H05B37/0227H04M1/022H04M1/0274
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,559,537
App. No.
14/320,909
Granted
Jan 31, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention is directed to activating a guidance light for a mobile device. The guidance light is located proximate to connector, such that activation of the guidance light serves to help a user guide a charging wire into the connector, especially during less than ideal lighting conditions. Specific embodiments of the invention provide for determining, at the mobile occurrence of a trigger and, in response to determining the trigger event activating the guidance light.

Claims (20)

1. A method for activating a guidance light for a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining, by the mobile device using a Body Area Network (BAN) technique, that a distance between the mobile device and a charging wire is less than a predetermined threshold distance, wherein the charging wire is configured to be operably connectable to a charging power source; and

in response to determining that the distance between the mobile device and the charging wire is less than the predetermined threshold distance, activating the guidance light, the guidance light being built into a connector located in the mobile device, the connector for receiving a charging head of the charging wire, the charging power source for charging a power source in the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising indicating, using the guidance light, a status of charging the power source.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guidance light changes color, intensity, or brightness when a power level of the power source is equal to or greater than a threshold power level.

4. An apparatus for activating a guidance light, the system comprising:

a mobile device including:

a memory;

a processor in communication with the memory;

a power source;

a connector configured for receiving a charging head of a charger wire;

a guidance light being located in the connector; and

a module stored in the memory, executable by the processor, and configured to:

determine, using a Body Area Network (BAN) technique, that a distance between the mobile device and the charging wire is less than a predetermined threshold distance; and

in response to determining that the distance between the mobile device is being held in a first hand of a user and the charging wire is less than the predetermined threshold distance, activate the guidance light.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the guidance light changes color, intensity, or brightness when a power level of the power source is equal to or greater than a threshold power level.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the guidance light indicates a status of charging the power source.

7. A computer program product for activating a guidance light for a mobile device, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code configured to:

determine, using a Body Area Network (BAN) technique, that a distance between the mobile device and a charging wire is less than a predetermined threshold distance; and

in response to determining that the distance between the mobile device is being held in a first hand of a user and the charging wire is less than the predetermined threshold distance, activate a guidance light, the guidance light being located in a connector located in the mobile device, the connector for receiving a charging head of a charging wire, the charging wire operably connectable to a charging power source for charging a power source in the mobile device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2019
From: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048691/0134 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 038542/0224 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2014
From: ZANDER, OLOF
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034307/0733 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160006281A1 · Jan 7, 2016