Console assembly with charging state indicator

A console assembly and a system operable to provide visual identification of the charging state of an electronic device is provided. The console assembly and system includes a processor operable to processing the charging state of the electronic device. A light source is in communication with the processor. The light source is configured to change the character of light being emitted. The processor is operable to actuate the light source so as to change the character of the emitted light source to reflect the charging state of the electronic device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a console assembly for use in an automotive vehicle. The console assembly is configured to provide a visual indication of the charging status of a handheld electrical device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Console assemblies include a housing for storing articles. Some console assemblies also include a compartment having ports for connecting electronic devices. Some of the ports are operable to charge the electronic device, such as a cigarette lighter socket, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB). Some compartments may include an inductive charging pad operable to inductively charge the electronic device.

Currently, users often handle the electronic device to determine the charging state. However, it remains desirable to have a console assembly wherein the charging state of the electronic device is provided without having the user hold or pick up the electronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The present invention provides for a console assembly having a light source configured to emit a light characteristic corresponding to the charging state of an electronic device. The console assembly includes a charger configured to charge the electrical device. A processor is operable to process battery information so as to calculate a charging state of the electronic device. The processor transmits the charging state of the electronic device so as to actuate the light source in a manner corresponding to the charging state of the electronic device.

The console assembly may include a storage area configured to hold the electronic device. The storage area includes a first floor, a pair of first side walls, a first front wall, and a first back wall. The storage area is dimensioned in size so as to hold a hand held electronic device such as a smart phone.

The charger may be an electrical port in electrical communication with a power source such as the vehicle battery. For instance, the electrical port may be a USB port or a cigarette lighter. Aftermarket connections may be used to couple the electrical device to the power source.

The light source may be mounted to an undersurface of a top wall so as to direct light onto the storage area. The processor calculates the charging state of the electronic device and transmits a signal to the light source, wherein the light source is actuated so as to visually notify the user that the electronic device is being charged. It should be appreciated that the signal may be modified to actuate the light source in a manner consistent with the charging state of the electrical device. For instance, in instances where the electrical device is relatively low on battery power, the signal may be a small power supply to the light source so as to reduce the intensity of the light emitted. As the battery increases in capacitance, the signal may increase, that is the power supply increases so as to increase the intensity of the light emitted. Accordingly, the light source may be actuated so as to vary the characteristic of the emitted light in correspondence with the charging state of the battery. Accordingly, the console assembly is operable to a visual notification of the charging state of an electronic device without having the user look directly at the electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a console assembly10for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The console assembly10is disposed between a front passenger and driver seat (not shown). The console assembly10may be formed of a polymer through an injection molding process.

The console assembly10includes a storage area12. The storage area12is configured to hold various articles. The first storage area12includes a first floor14, a pair of first side walls16, a first front wall18, and a first back wall20. Each of the first side walls16extend upwardly between opposite edges of the first floor14and extend along a plane oriented along the length of the vehicle, as indicated generally by line 2-2. The first front wall18is disposed rearward of the first back wall20with respect to the front of the vehicle. The first front wall18, the first back wall20and first side walls16define a storage space having a first opening operable to receive articles.

The console assembly10further includes a charger22operable to charge the electronic device23. A processor24is in communication with a light source26. The processor24is also in communication with the charger22. The processor24is operable to process information from the charger22so as to calculate the charging state of the electronic device23. The processor24is further operable to actuate the light source26so as to emit a light characteristic corresponding to the charging state of the electronic device23.

The charger22may be one of a plurality of electrical ports28for transmitting electricity to an electronic device23. One of the electrical ports may be a USB port, or a cigarette lighter socket. The electrical ports28may be disposed on the first back wall20, or one of the pair of first side walls16(not shown). Additionally, the charger22may be an inductive charger32. Any inductive charger32currently known and used may be adapted for use herein. The inductive charger32is configured to provide an inductive charge to charge the battery of the electronic device23. The inductive charger32may further include a receiver operable to receive a signal from the battery. Information may be provided with the signal, to include the state of the battery. Specifically, the signal may include the battery's current charging state, meaning how much power is stored in the battery.

The console assembly10may include multiple chargers22. For instance, the console assembly10may include an inductive charger32and an electric port28. The console assembly10may have multiple electrical ports28of different types, for instance one electrical port28may be a cigarette lighter socket, another electrical port28may be a USB port. The console assembly10may also include an inductive charger32. The chargers22may be disposed in various locations of the vehicle.

In instances where an inductive charger32is utilized, the inductive charger32is mounted to the bottom surface of the first floor14. The inductive charger32may be attached to the bottom surface the first floor14using known attachment means such as mechanical fasteners, vibrational welding, adhesives, or a combination thereof. The first floor14may be formed of a material configured to facilitate the inductive transmission of electricity between the inductive charger32and the electronic device23. Such material is currently known and used and illustratively includes a polymer or rubber.

The processor24may be a wireless charging module36packaged with the inductive charger32. The charging module36is operable to receive and process information from the electronic device23so as to calculate the charging state of the electronic device23. The charging module36may transmit the charging state to the vehicle's processor which actuates the light source26in accordance with the charging state.

Alternatively, the processor24may be disposed within the vehicle, such as a processor24commonly referenced by those skilled in the art as a body engine control unit. The processor24is operable to receive the signal and calculate the charging state of the battery. In such an embodiment, the processor24may receive information from the electronic device23through a USB connection, or a sensor25operable to detect the capacity of the battery of the electronic device23.

The processor24is operable to transmit the signal to the light source26wherein the light source26is actuated upon detection of the signal. For instance, the light source26may be mounted to an undersurface of the top wall so as to direct light onto the first storage area12. The processor24transmits the signal to the light source26, wherein the light source26is actuated so as to visually notify the user that the electronic device23is being charged.

The processor24may be further operable to transmit the charging state of the battery to a light source26. The light source26may be actuated so as to vary the characteristic of the emitted light in correspondence with the charging state of the battery. Specifically, the processor24may be further operable to process the signal so as to calculate the charging state of the battery. The calculated charging state may be transmitted to the light source26so as to actuate the light source26to vary the characteristic of the light in response to the charging state of the electronic device23.

The light source26may be one of numerous light sources26currently known and used in the art. The light guide38may be configured to shine light into the first storage area12. Alternatively, the light source26may be configured to shine light on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The light source26may be configured to change the characteristic of light emitted so as to provide the user with a visual indication of the charging state of the electronic device23.

In one embodiment, the light source26is a light guide38. The light guide38has a tubular body40. The light guide38is disposed along at least one of the pair of first side walls16. The light guide38is shown mounted to a top surface of the console assembly10so as to provide visual notification of the charging state of the electronic device23. However, it should be appreciated that the light source26may be configured otherwise. For instance, the light guide38may be housed underneath a lip of the top edge of the first side walls16. Thus, the light guide38is not seen, but the light emitted is reflected onto the first storage area12.

The light guide38may increase in intensity to reflect the corresponding charging state of the electronic device23. For instance, when the charging state is low, that is the battery is at zero to twenty-five percent capacity, the light guide38may emit a relatively low concentration of light which gradually increases as the charging state reaches one hundred percent capacity. Accordingly, the user may determine the charging state of the electronic device23without having to hold the device.

In another example, the light source26is a plurality of LEDs42operable to emit different colored light or a single LED42operable to emit different colored light using various filters. The LEDs42may be disposed under a lip of either the side, front or back wall of the first storage area12so as to be recessed along an upper edge of the storage area. The processor24may be operable to actuate the LED42so as to emit a certain color which corresponds to the charging state of the electronic device23.

For instance, when the charging state is low, that is the battery is at zero to twenty-five percent capacity, the LED42may be actuated so as to emit a red light, visually indicating to the user that the battery is low. As the battery become further charged, the processor24may actuate the LED42so as to emit an orange light, indicating that the battery is between twenty-six to seventy-five percent capacity. The processor24may be further operable to actuate the LEDs42so as to emit a green light when the charging state of the battery is above seventy-five percent. Thus the user need not handle the electronic device23in order to determine the charging state of the battery.

With reference now toFIG. 3, a system for providing visual notification of the charging state of an electronic device23is provided. The system includes a processor24and a light source26. A charger22is operable to charge the electronic device23. The processor24is operable to process the electronic device23or charger22so as to calculate the charging state of the electronic device23. The processor24is further operable to communicate the charging state of the device to the light source26and may actuate the light source26so as to emit a light characteristic corresponding to the charging state of the battery of the electronic device23.

In instances where the charger22is an inductive charger32, the processor24may be a wireless charging module36packaged with the inductive charger32. The charging module is operable to receive and process the signal to calculate the charging state. The charging module may be in direct communication with the light source26and operable to actuate the light source26when the electrical device is being charged. For instance, the light source26may be mounted to an undersurface of the top wall so as to direct light onto the first storage area12. The processor24transmits the signal to the light source26, wherein the light source26is actuated so as to visually notify the user that the electronic device23is being charged.

Alternatively, the processor24may be disposed within the vehicle, such as a processor24commonly referenced by those skilled in the art as a body engine control unit. The wireless charging module36calculates the charging state of the battery. The body engine control unit is operable to receive the signal from a wireless charging module36carrying the charging state of the electronic device23.

The light source26may be actuated so as to vary the characteristic of the emitted light in correspondence with the charging state of the battery. The calculated charging state may be transmitted to the light source26so as to actuate the light source26to vary the characteristic of the light in response to the charging state of the electronic device23.

In instances where the electronic device23is charged through an electrical port28such as a USB cord, battery information may be transferred from the electronic device23to the processor24. In instances where the electrical port28is a cigarette lighter socket, a capacitive sensor may be used to determine the charging state of the battery. The processor is in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor25and actuates the light source26accordingly.

The light source26may be one of numerous light sources26currently known and used in the art. The light source26is configured to emit a different light characteristic which correspond to the charging state of the battery. The characteristics described herein are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the light characteristics may not be limited to just intensity or color, but may include flashing, or any other visual property which allows the user to discern the charging state of the battery without having to hold the electronic device23.

In one embodiment, the light source26is a light guide38. The light guide38has a tubular body40. The light guide38is operable to shine light into the first storage area12. The light guide38is disposed along at least one of the pair of first side walls16. The light guide38may increase in intensity to reflect the corresponding charging state of the electronic device23. For instance, when the charging state is low, that is the battery is at zero to twenty-five percent capacity, the light guide38may emit a relatively low concentration of light which gradually increases as the charging state reaches one hundred percent capacity.

In another example, the light source26is a plurality of LEDs42operable to emit different colored light or a single LED42operable to emit different colored light using various filters. The processor24is operable to process the signal and actuate a respective one of the plurality of LEDs42to display a corresponding charge state. For instance, when the charging state is low, that is the battery is at zero to twenty-five percent capacity, the LED42may be actuated so as to emit a red light, and may emit an orange light when the battery is between twenty-six to seventy-five percent capacity, and emit a green light when the charging state of the battery is above seventy-five percent.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.