Systems and methods for wireless charging and wired data transfer
Disclosed are devices and methods for performing wireless charging of an electronic device and establishing a wired connection with the electronic device for data transfer. In some cases, a device includes a port that can supply power to charge the electronic device when a wired connection is detected between the device and the electronic device. The device can be configured such that the port does not supply power to the electronic device via wired connection when the device provides charging power to the electronic device wirelessly. Data transfer between the device and the electronic device can be performed via the port at the same time as wirelessly charging the electronic device.
1. A system for wirelessly charging an electronic device and transferring data over a wired connection from the electronic device, the system comprising:
a housing;
a charging circuit supported by the housing, the charging circuit configured to wirelessly charge the electronic device;
a storage device supported by the housing, the storage device configured to store data received from the electronic device;
a controller connected to the charging circuit and to a data-transfer-and-charging interface; and
the data-transfer-and-charging interface supported by the housing and connected to the storage device, the interface configured to receive data from the electronic device over a wired connection according to a data transfer protocol and charge the electronic device over the wired connection according to a wired charging protocol, the interface comprising:
a plurality of pins configured to at least one of receive or transmit electrical signals to the electronic device, wherein:
a first pin of the plurality of pins is configured to supply power to the electronic device in accordance with the wired charging protocol, wherein the controller is configured to interrupt the wireless charging in response to detecting that power is supplied to the electronic device via the first pin;
a second pin of the plurality of pins is configured to receive power from the electronic device to charge the system, wherein instead of using the power received from the electronic device to charge the system, the data-transfer-and-charging interface is configured to interpret the power received from the electronic device as a general-purpose input-output signal indicating detection of connection of the electronic device to the data-transfer-and-charging interface, wherein the controller is configured to initiate data transfer from the electronic device over the data-transfer-and-charging interface in response to detecting that the electronic device is connected to the data-transfer-and-charging interface; and
the first pin is disabled, to not interrupt wireless charging during the data transfer from the electronic device over the data-transfer-and-charging interface.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein according to the data transfer protocol, the first pin is configured to permit detection of connection of the electronic device to the data-transfer-and-charging interface to cause initiation of the data transfer.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pin is disconnected from a power source.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data transfer protocol comprises universal serial bus (USB) protocol.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data-transfer-and-charging interface comprises a Lightning connector interface.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile phone.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is further configured to sense the power supplied by the electronic device to the second pin and to detect a connection between the electronic device and the data-transfer-and-charging interface in response to sensing the supplied power.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein power supplied by the electronic device to the second pin when the electronic device is connected to the data-transfer-and-charging interface indicates a logic high state.
9. A system for charging an electronic device and transferring data from the electronic device, the system comprising:
charging means for wirelessly charging the electronic device;
connector means for receiving data from the electronic device over a wired connection and charging the electronic device over the wired connection,
controlling means for controlling the charging means and the connector means,
wherein the connector means comprises:
power supplying means for supplying power to the electronic device over the wired connection, the controlling means further for suspending wireless charging in response to detecting that power is supplied via the power supplying means, and wherein the power supplying means is disabled; and
detection means for facilitating detection that the electronic device is connected to the connector means by receiving power from the electronic device to charge the system, wherein instead of using the power received from the electronic device to charge the system, the detection means interprets the power received from the electronic device as a general-purpose input-output signal indicating detection of connection of the electronic device, the controlling means further for initiating data transfer from the electronic device through the connector means in response to detecting that the electronic device is connected to the connector means.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
data is transferred according to a data transfer protocol; and
the data transfer protocol designates the power supplying means as facilitating detection of connection of the electronic device to the connector means to cause initiation of the data transfer.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the power supplying means is disconnected from a means for providing power.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controlling means is further for initiating the data transfer and wireless charging simultaneously.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the connector means comprises a Lightning connection port.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controlling means is further for sensing power on the detection means and detecting that the electronic device is connected to the connector means based on the sensed power.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein sensing power on the detection means comprises sensing a logic high state.
16. A method for charging an electronic device and transferring data from the electronic device, the method comprising:
wirelessly charging an electronic device;
detecting that the electronic device is connected to an interface comprising a first pin and a second pin, the interface configured to connect to the electronic device via a cable by monitoring the second pin of the interface, wherein:
the first pin is configured to supply power to the electronic device over the cable is disabled; and
wireless charging is configured to be suspended in response to supplying power to the electronic device via the first pin when the electronic device is connected to the interface; and
in response to detecting that the electronic device is connected to the interface, transferring data from the electronic device while wirelessly charging the electronic device,
wherein:
the second pin is configured to receive power from the electronic device to charge the system, and
instead of using the power received from the electronic device to charge the system, interpreting the power received from the electronic device as a general-purpose input-output signal indicating detection of connection of the electronic device.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
receiving, via the second pin, power from the electronic device when the electronic device is connected to the interface via the cable; and
monitoring the second pin by detecting power on the second pin.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting power on the second pin comprises detecting a logic high state.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first pin is designated as facilitating detection of connection of the electronic device to the interface via the cable.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the interface comprises a Lightning connector interface.