U.S. patent application number 14/201444 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-10 for energy transfer mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Larry Glenn Estes, Alfredo Zugasti Hays, Scott Edwards Kelso, Scott Wentao Li, Alan Ladd Painter, Axel Ramirez Flores, Kenneth Scott Seethaler, Russell Speight VanBlon, Jennifer Greenwood Zawacki.
Application Number | 20150256017 14/201444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53884105 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150256017 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hays; Alfredo Zugasti ; et
al. |
September 10, 2015 |
ENERGY TRANSFER MECHANISM
Abstract
A device and method of transferring energy between peer devices
includes determining an amount of energy to transfer from a
provider battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered
peer device, selecting an energy transfer connection between the
provider device and the consumer device, and initiating transfer of
energy via the energy transfer connection.
Inventors: |
Hays; Alfredo Zugasti;
(Cary, NC) ; Ramirez Flores; Axel; (Durham,
NC) ; Estes; Larry Glenn; (Durham, NC) ;
Seethaler; Kenneth Scott; (Wake Forest, NC) ; Li;
Scott Wentao; (Cary, NC) ; VanBlon; Russell
Speight; (Raleigh, NC) ; Zawacki; Jennifer
Greenwood; (Hillsborough, NC) ; Painter; Alan
Ladd; (Cary, NC) ; Kelso; Scott Edwards;
(Cary, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore |
|
SG |
|
|
Assignee: |
Lenovo (Singapore) Pte.
Ltd.
Singapore
SG
|
Family ID: |
53884105 |
Appl. No.: |
14/201444 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
320/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 5/00 20130101; H02J
7/0077 20130101; H02J 7/342 20200101; H02J 50/10 20160201; H02J
7/02 20130101; H02J 50/80 20160201 |
International
Class: |
H02J 7/00 20060101
H02J007/00; H02J 7/02 20060101 H02J007/02 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: determining an amount of energy to transfer
from a provider battery powered peer device to a consumer battery
powered peer device; selecting an energy transfer connection
between the provider device and the consumer device; and initiating
transfer of energy via the energy transfer connection.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of energy to transfer
is a percentage of battery power of the provider device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating transfer of energy
comprises: transferring energy via the energy transfer connection;
and metering the amount of energy transferred.
4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising stopping the energy
transfer when the determined amount of energy has been transferred
as indicated by the metering of the amount of energy
transferred.
5. The method of claim 3 and further comprising stopping the energy
transfer when a remaining battery power in the provider device
reaches a stop transfer threshold.
6. The method of claim 3 and further comprising stopping the energy
transfer when an energy transfer time period has been reached
regardless of the amount of energy transferred.
7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: negotiating a
value for a negotiated amount of energy to be transferred; and
receiving the negotiated value in exchange for the transferred
energy.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating transfer of energy
comprises providing energy to the consumer device via a cable.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating transfer of energy
comprises providing energy to the consumer device via
electromagnetically coupled electromagnetic coils.
10. A device comprising: a display; a processor operatively coupled
to the display; an energy transfer connection; a battery which
supplies power to the processor and which is operatively coupled to
the energy transfer connection; and power management electronics
configured to: determine an amount of energy to transfer from a
provider battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered
peer device; select an energy transfer connection between the
provider device and the consumer device; and initiate transfer of
energy via the energy transfer connection.
11. The device of claim 10 and further comprising an
electromagnetic coil coupled to the power management electronics to
transfer energy to the consumer device when selected as the energy
transfer connection.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein transfer of energy via the
energy transfer connection comprises energy stored in the
battery.
13. The device of claim 12 and further comprising a transceiver
coupled to the power management electronics to exchange information
with a peer device.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the battery comprises a low
battery detector and wherein the power management electronics uses
the transceiver to transmit a low battery power beacon responsive
to the low battery detector.
15. A machine readable storage device having instructions for
execution by a processor of the machine to perform: determining an
amount of energy to transfer from a provider battery powered peer
device to a consumer battery powered peer device; selecting an
energy transfer connection between the provider device and the
consumer device; and initiating transfer of energy via the energy
transfer connection.
16. The machine readable storage device of claim 15 wherein
initiating transfer of energy comprises: causing transfer of energy
via the energy transfer connection; and receiving metering
information specifying the amount of energy transferred.
17. The machine readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the
machine further performs stopping the energy transfer when the
determined amount of energy has been transferred as indicated by
the metering of the amount of energy transferred.
18. The machine readable storage device of claim 16 wherein the
machine further performs stopping the energy transfer when a
remaining battery power in the provider device reaches a stop
transfer threshold or when an energy transfer time period has been
reached regardless of the amount of energy transferred.
19. The machine readable storage device of claim 15 wherein the
machine further performs: negotiating a value for a negotiated
amount of energy to be transferred; and receiving the negotiated
value in exchange for the transferred energy.
20. The machine readable storage device of claim 15 wherein
initiating transfer of energy comprises plugging in a cable over
which to transfer the energy or placing the provider device in
close proximity to the consumer device to effect energy transfer
via electromagnetic coils.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In times of need, such as in an emergency or when in remote
areas with no power, users with a low battery or no battery left on
their device require a mechanism quickly charge their device to
make an emergency call, as an example. Smart devices are ubiquitous
amongst users. Integrated batteries in smart devices can be
charged, but do not carry the mechanism to charge other
same-powered devices nor a method for the user to define or meter
the energy transmission between devices.
[0002] Some devices allow for swapping batteries but incongruent
batteries from different type of devices cannot be shared across
devices. Some devices include a USB powered port to charge other
low-powered smart devices, but do not allow charging of
same-powered devices. External battery packs, solar power panels,
other solutions exist but are cumbersome and become an additional
accessory to carry.
SUMMARY
[0003] A device and method of transferring energy between peer
devices includes determining an amount of energy to transfer from a
provider battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered
peer device, selecting an energy transfer connection between the
provider device and the consumer device, and initiating transfer of
energy via the energy transfer connection.
[0004] A machine readable storage device having instructions for
execution by a processor of the machine to perform determining an
amount of energy to transfer from a provider battery powered peer
device to a consumer battery powered peer device, selecting an
energy transfer connection between the provider device and the
consumer device, and initiating transfer of energy via the energy
transfer connection.
[0005] A device includes power management electronics configured to
determine an amount of energy to transfer from a provider battery
powered peer device to a consumer battery powered peer device,
select an energy transfer connection between the provider device
and the consumer device, and initiate transfer of energy via the
energy transfer connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a provider device
transferring energy to a consumer device according to an example
embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transferring
power from a provider device to a peer device according to an
example embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of negotiating a
power transfer between peer devices according to an example
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of initiating a
power transfer according to an example embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of computer system used to
implement methods according to an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] In the following description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention. The following
description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken
in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is
defined by the appended claims.
[0012] The functions or algorithms described herein may be
implemented in software or a combination of software and human
implemented procedures in one embodiment. The software may consist
of computer executable instructions stored on computer readable
media such as memory or other type of hardware based storage
devices, either local or networked. Further, such functions
correspond to modules, which are software, hardware, firmware or
any combination thereof. Multiple functions may be performed in one
or more modules as desired, and the embodiments described are
merely examples. The software may be executed on a digital signal
processor, ASIC, microprocessor, or other type of processor
operating on a computer system, such as a personal computer, server
or other computer system. The article "a" or "an" means "one or
more" unless explicitly limited to a single one.
[0013] Energy transfer is performed between two mobile devices. In
some embodiments, peer to peer energy transfer is performed between
two smart devices, such as mobile phones. A peer device is a
battery powered mobile device. Peers need not be the same model or
type of device. For example, a laptop computer may send or receive
power from a smartphone, tablet, or another laptop computer. Each
of these peer devices may either receive or send power to any of
the other types of peer devices. In various embodiments, devices
may be capable of being both a provider and a receiver, or may have
only one of such capabilities, yet still be termed a peer
device.
[0014] One peer device transmits energy, and another peer device
receives a negotiated amount of energy via existing charging
technologies, such as inductive power, wireless power, and direct
power cable, among others. The energy transfer may be controlled by
a switch that changes the smart device from receiver to transmitter
of energy to charge another device when activated.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of two example peer devices 100
and 110. One of the peer devices will be a provider device, and the
other, a consumer device. An energy transfer mechanism within each
peer device may include a power manager 114, 115 respectively, such
as a power management utility, that controls which device to
transmit energy to, how to transmit the energy, and a duration of
the energy transmission. The power manager 114, 115 may allow a
user to control the device transferring energy to meter and to
measure the energy transmission between devices. Measuring or
metering the energy transfer facilitates use of a payment or credit
system for receiving value for transferred energy.
[0016] In one embodiment, the power manager 114, 115 is formed of
electronics, which may be a microprocessor running a computer
program stored on a memory device. The power manager 114, 115 is
powered by a battery 117, 118 respectively. An energy transfer
mechanism 120, 121 is coupled to the battery 117, 118 and may be
controlled by power manager 114, 115, and may implement many
different types of energy transfer constructs, such as a wired
connection--USB cable, for example, or wireless power transfer such
as Qi or PMA (Power Matters Alliance) inductive charging, or A4WP
Electromagnetic Charging.
[0017] The energy transfer mechanism 120, 121 may thus be a USB
port, or a coil for transfer to another coil. The energy transfer
is represented at a connection 125, and may consist of a wireless
or wired connection suitable for transferring power. In the case of
wireless transfer when mechanisms 120, 121 are electromagnetic
coils, connection 125 may represent that the devices 100 and 110
are brought in close proximity to each other suitable for
inductively transferring power between the coils. In the case of a
USB type of power transfer, connection 125 represent a USB cable.
Connection 125 may also represent other forms of connection between
two devices to exchange power in further embodiments.
[0018] In a further embodiment, the devices may include
transceivers 122, 123 coupled to the power manager electronics to
provide communication between the devices. The communications may
include information exchanged to agree upon roles in an energy
transfer, the amount of energy to be transferred, the method of
transfer, power metering and measurement information, value to be
exchanged, and other information to facilitate starting and
stopping of the energy transfer.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method 200 implemented
by one peer device transferring power, a provider device, to
another peer device, a consumer device. At 210, the provider device
enters into an energy transfer mode, and determines a specific
quantity or amount of energy to transfer at 215 to the consumer
device. At 220, an energy transfer mechanism is selected, such as a
wired, or a close proximity inductive charge transfer between coils
in the respective devices.
[0020] The amount of energy to be transferred at 225 may be
controlled in various manners. A selected amount of energy, such as
a value expressed as watt hours may be specified in one embodiment
with the magnitude of energy being transferred varying, resulting
in transfers of varying times. A constant amount of energy for a
fixed amount of time may be transferred in a further embodiment. In
another embodiment, energy transfer may take place until a
specified amount of energy remains in the provider device, such as
50% of the battery power remaining. In still further embodiments, a
provider device may transfer a fixed percentage of a full charge,
such as 20% of a full charge. Each of the transfers may also have a
time limit associated with them, so that charging stops after a
specified amount of time, such as 15 minutes regardless of whether
the transfer is complete or not.
[0021] In one embodiment, the power being transferred is metered by
the transfer mechanism 120 of the provider device. The provider
device may also track the time during the power transfer to effect
one of the above transfer methods. The data may be provided to the
power manager 114 of the provider device, which may also track the
time internally or via a separate clock. When device 110 is the
receiver device, its transfer mechanism 121 may measure the power
received to ensure that any negotiated transfer has actually
occurred and whether any negotiated value exchange should occur.
Note that the measured power is likely less than the metered power,
as some losses occur in the transfer mechanism utilized. In one
embodiment, the transfer mechanism and estimated transfer
efficiency may be considered in determine any value to be
exchanged.
[0022] A speed of energy transfer may depend upon respective
capabilities of provider and consumer devices, and amount to be
transferred. In one example, a first user's smartphone battery is
at 80% charge, but a second user's smartphone battery is dead. The
second user may have no charger/access to ac power. The first user
may agree to transfer up to 20% of battery energy to the second
user's phone. The first user may set limits of: transfer amount:
20% max, transfer time: 15 minutes max. The phones are then
connected (by wire) or placed in proximity (wireless charging) and
the energy transfer is initiated by providing energy from the
provider battery to the energy transfer cable, electromagnetic
coil, or other wireless energy transfer mechanism. For Qi/PMA
connecting the phones means placing phones back to back on a table,
for example. There may be no need for a user to monitor the energy
transfer, as the provider phone controls the transfer
automatically. The provide phone stops the transfer when the
transfer amount (20%) or time limit (15 minutes) is reached. In one
embodiment, the power manager of the provider phone may simply
control a port being used for the transfer to stop the
transfer.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method 300 of
negotiating a power transfer. At 310, a request is received for
energy transfer. The request may be received by a user of the
device in one embodiment or via a communication from a potential
receiver received by a provider device utilizing transceivers 122,
123. At 315, an amount of energy to transfer may be negotiated. The
negotiation may be directed by a user of a device and may consist
of exchanging numbers representative of total power, length of time
for the transfer, or percentage of power to transfer as previously
referenced. The mechanism for power transfer may also be
negotiated, such as wired or wireless connection. This may depend
on the capabilities of the respective devices.
[0024] A value to be transferred in exchange for the power transfer
may optionally be negotiated at 320. The value may consist of a
credit for future power transfers back, a monetary value to be
provided in cash or credit, or any other type of value users may
agree upon. The transfer then takes place at 325. At 330, the
amount of energy that is transferred is metered by the provider and
may also be measured by the receiver. The value may be correlated
to either amount, or both, such as an average of the two depending
on the previous negotiation. At 335, an optional exchange of value
for the energy transferred may be performed as agreed upon.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 of
initiating a power transfer. At 410, and device detects that its
battery is low, and that charging is needed. The detection may be
based on a percentage charge remaining threshold, such as 10%, a
projected time remaining threshold, or other measurable parameter
having threshold corresponding to when recharging should take place
to continue operation of the device. A device detecting low power
in this manner becomes a consumer device, and may use it's
transceiver to send out a low batter signal or beacon at 415
detectable by a potential provider device. Power may then be
received from a provider at 420, or from another device such as a
standard AC charger. When sufficient power is received, or when a
power transfer is initiated, the consumer device may turn off the
beacon at 425. Sufficient power may be identified using the same
threshold used to determine low power, or a higher threshold may be
used in further embodiments to ensure some operating time prior to
reaching the a low power state again.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a block schematic diagram of a computer system 500
to implement device 100 and other computing resources according to
example embodiments. All components need not be used in various
embodiments. One example computing device in the form of a computer
500, may include a processing unit 502, memory 503, removable
storage 510, and non-removable storage 512. Sensors 115 and 125 may
be coupled to provide data to the processing unit 502. Memory 503
may include volatile memory 514 and non-volatile memory 508.
Computer 500 may include--or have access to a computing environment
that includes--a variety of computer-readable media, such as
volatile memory 514 and non-volatile memory 508, removable storage
510 and non-removable storage 512. Computer storage includes random
access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM) & electrically erasable programmable
read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory
technologies, compact disc read-only memory (CD ROM), Digital
Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic
cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic
storage devices, or any other medium capable of storing
computer-readable instructions. Computer 500 may include or have
access to a computing environment that includes input 506, output
504, and a communication connection 516. Output 504 may include a
display device, such as a touchscreen, that also may serve as an
input device. The computer may operate in a networked environment
using a communication connection to connect to one or more remote
computers, such as database servers. The remote computer may
include a personal computer (PC), server, router, network PC, a
peer device or other common network node, or the like. The
communication connection may include a Local Area Network (LAN), a
Wide Area Network (WAN) or other networks.
[0027] Computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable
medium are executable by the processing unit 502 of the computer
500. A hard drive, CD-ROM, and RAM are some examples of articles
including a non-transitory computer-readable medium. For example, a
computer program 518 capable of providing a generic technique to
perform access control check for data access and/or for doing an
operation on one of the servers in a component object model (COM)
based system may be included on a CD-ROM and loaded from the CD-ROM
to a hard drive. The computer-readable instructions allow computer
500 to provide generic access controls in a COM based computer
network system having multiple users and servers.
Examples
[0028] 1. A method of transferring energy between peer devices, the
method comprising:
[0029] determining an amount of energy to transfer from a provider
battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered peer
device;
[0030] selecting an energy transfer connection between the provider
device and the consumer device; and
[0031] initiating transfer of energy via the energy transfer
connection.
[0032] 2. The method of example 1 wherein the amount of energy to
transfer is a percentage of battery power of the provider
device.
[0033] 3. The method of any of examples 1-2 wherein initiating
transfer of energy comprises:
[0034] transferring energy via the energy transfer connection;
and
[0035] metering the amount of energy transferred.
[0036] 4. The method of example 3 and further comprising stopping
the energy transfer when the determined amount of energy has been
transferred as indicated by the metering of the amount of energy
transferred.
[0037] 5. The method of any of examples 3-4 and further comprising
stopping the energy transfer when a remaining battery power in the
provider device reaches a stop transfer threshold.
[0038] 6. The method of any of examples 3-5 and further comprising
stopping the energy transfer when an energy transfer time period
has been reached regardless of the amount of energy
transferred.
[0039] 7. The method of any of examples 1-6 and further
comprising:
[0040] negotiating a value for a negotiated amount of energy to be
transferred; and
[0041] receiving the negotiated value in exchange for the
transferred energy.
[0042] 8. The method of any of examples 1-7 wherein initiating
transfer of energy comprises providing energy to the consumer
device via a cable.
[0043] 9. The method of any of examples 1-7 wherein initiating
transfer of energy comprises providing energy to the consumer
device via electromagnetically coupled electromagnetic coils.
[0044] 10. A machine readable storage device having instructions
for execution by a processor of the machine to perform:
[0045] determining an amount of energy to transfer from a provider
battery powered peer device to a consumer battery powered peer
device;
[0046] selecting an energy transfer connection between the provider
device and the consumer device; and
[0047] initiating transfer of energy via the energy transfer
connection.
[0048] 11. The machine readable storage device of example 10
wherein initiating transfer of energy comprises:
[0049] causing transfer of energy via the energy transfer
connection; and
[0050] receiving metering information specifying the amount of
energy transferred.
[0051] 12. The machine readable storage device of example 11
wherein the machine further performs stopping the energy transfer
when the determined amount of energy has been transferred as
indicated by the metering of the amount of energy transferred.
[0052] 13. The machine readable storage device of any of examples
11-12 wherein the machine further performs stopping the energy
transfer when a remaining battery power in the provider device
reaches a stop transfer threshold or when an energy transfer time
period has been reached regardless of the amount of energy
transferred.
[0053] 14. The machine readable storage device of any of examples
10-13 wherein the machine further performs:
[0054] negotiating a value for a negotiated amount of energy to be
transferred; and
[0055] receiving the negotiated value in exchange for the
transferred energy.
[0056] 15. The machine readable storage device of any of examples
10-14 wherein initiating transfer of energy comprises plugging in a
cable over which to transfer the energy or placing the provider
device in close proximity to the consumer device to effect energy
transfer via electromagnetic coils.
[0057] 16. A device comprising:
[0058] a display;
[0059] a processor operatively coupled to the display;
[0060] an energy transfer connection;
[0061] a battery which supplies power to the process and which is
operatively coupled to the energy transfer connection; and
[0062] power management electronics configured to: [0063] determine
an amount of energy to transfer from a provider battery powered
peer device to a consumer battery powered peer device; [0064]
select an energy transfer connection between the provider device
and the consumer device; and [0065] initiate transfer of energy via
the energy transfer connection.
[0066] 17. The device of example 16 and further comprising an
electromagnetic coil coupled to the power management electronics to
transfer energy to the consumer device when selected as the energy
transfer connection.
[0067] 18. The device of any of examples 16-17 and further
comprising a battery to provide the energy to be transferred.
[0068] 19. The device of example 18 and further comprising a
transceiver coupled to the power management electronics to exchange
information with a peer device.
[0069] 20. The device of example 19 wherein the battery comprises a
low battery detector and wherein the power management electronics
uses the transceiver to transmit a low battery power beacon
responsive to the low battery detector.
[0070] Although a few embodiments have been described in detail
above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic
flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order
shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other
steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the
described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed
from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *