Abstract:
A battery charger includes a rotatable top cover for exposing electrical connectors for physically coupling and electrically communicating with a battery or other device and providing electrical energy for charging a battery or device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/356,121 filed Jun. 18, 2010; the contents therein are incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to a multiple position battery charger. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The popularity of portable electronic devices allow users to work and play free of restrictive power cords and chargers for a limited period of time. As people work outside of their traditional office, they often find themselves using their notebook computers, cellular phones, digital assistants and tablet computers. Similarly, people enjoying themselves away from the home take advantage of portable music players, digital cameras, electronic game systems and the like while on travel or doing outdoors activities. In some countries it is very common to use separate spare battery for mobile phone and change it if a first battery is discharged during the day. 
     Rechargeable batteries are used for portable electronic devices, such as portable computing systems, video cameras, and mobile phones. While users attempt to operate with the freedom of mobile computing, there are still basically tethered to the power cable. The users must think about how much power is available for mobile use. This time period is limited to the type of battery and other factors. 
     Charging is possible with phone, but battery needs to be replaced during second battery charging. This is not convenient especially on night time charge. Different phone models use a myriad of battery types with different dimensions and two totally different connection interfaces, this is challenge to cope with one charger model. 
     In view of the foregoing, what is needed is an apparatus and method to support battery an environment for the new media technologies and productivity activities for mobile electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention pertain to a battery charger and a method of charging a battery. In one aspect, a battery charger includes a rotatable top cover for exposing electrical connectors for physically coupling and electrically communicating with a battery or other device and providing electrical energy for charging a battery or device. In one aspect, the charger includes a temperature sensor to measure the temperature characteristic of the battery or device. 
     In one arrangement, the slot opening includes a latch to place a biasing force to the device. In another arrangement, the latch includes a temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature characteristic of a battery or device being charged and disposed in a charging slot. In yet another arrangement, a plurality of electrical connectors is disposed on inclined surface of the base portion. In another arrangement, the electrical connectors are radially disposed around the base portion. In one configuration, the top cover has a snap-fit arrangement with the base portion to provide rotation of the top cover. 
     The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent and fully understood from the following detailed description illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded diagram of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded diagram of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a base portion of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded diagram of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7-9  are top view diagrams showing different rotatable positions of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of a charging system according to one or more aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Charging System Environment 
     It may be helpful to briefly discuss the components and operation of a charging system environment on which various aspects of the present invention may be implemented. Accordingly, charging system arrangements with respect to one or more aspects of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1-10 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , charging system  100  has a rotating top cover  102  with one slot  104  configured to accept a battery  200 . The battery  200  may be any battery chemistry, such as NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride), Li+ (lithium-ion), or NiCd (nickel-cadmium), Li-Polymer, and other battery formulations. Battery charging system may include housing for enclosing the electrical components therein. The battery charging system may be implemented in any appropriate shape and in a number of form factors, as well as any number of stand or dock-type charger configurations. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , below top cover  102 , there is provided two different interfaces  106  and  108  for charging batteries  200 . The interfaces  106  and  108  are disposed on a base  103 . The interfaces have metal electrical tabs  130  to physically abut electrical plates/connectors (not shown) on the battery  200 . Interface  106  has prismatic tabs extending upwardly. Interface  108  includes circular wire connector extending upwardly. Interfaces  106  and  108  on base  103  have annular arrangement or inclined arrangement with respect to the horizontal. This angular arrangement allow enables the battery  200  to slide into the slot  104  and allow for earth&#39;s gravity to pull the battery  200  against the electrical tabs  130 . In a construction, the angle of incline may be in a range from 5 to 70 degrees or other desired values. 
     In operation, a user selects a desired interface  106  or  108  by rotation and then slides battery  200  to the slot  104 . Top cover  102  rotates with respect to the base  103 . Top cover  102  slot  104  locks battery  200  firmly to connector interfaces  106  and  108  and against the sidewalls of slot  104 . Top cover  102  locking latch  300  press battery always on right position no matter battery thickness. In one construction, the locking latch  300  includes a biasing member, such as a spring. While charging system has application to battery charging direct connection, the system concept could be used to expose different type of electrical male-female connections arrangements as the top cover  102  is rotated with respect to the base  103 . For example, the different electrical positions on the base  103  may have the micro-USB connector, or a micro 2 mm power plugs. In one construction, the locking latch  300  includes a biasing member, such as a spring. 
     In one construction, latch  300  contains a temperature sensor arrangement to detect battery temperature on real time according battery temperature limits (See  FIG. 10 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the top cover  102  connects to the base  103  by way of a snap-fit construction. Top cover  102  includes a downwardly depending tube  110  having a hollow interior which receives a stem  112  disposed on the base  103 . Stem  112  extends upwardly from the base  103 . Tube  110  includes tabs  114  disposed at a notched distal end of tube  110 . The notches  116  of tube  110  create a leaf spring arrangement to enable the tabs  114  to snap-fit into a circular slot  118  of base  103 . When the top cover  102  is connected to the base  103 , the tabs  114  are disposed in slot  118 . To enable rotation between the two interfaces  106  and  108 , top cover  103  includes a guidance pin  122  which extends into curved slot  124  on base  103 . The distal end  124  of guidance pin  122  may include a connector to connect below into slot  124  so as to provide electrical signals for the temperature sensor associated with latch  300 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 through 9 , the top cover  102  can be place in charging position number  1  to accept one type of battery charging connectors.  FIG. 8  shows an intermediate position while the top cover is rotated counter-clockwise towards charging position  2  to accept another type of battery charging connector.  FIG. 9  shows charging position  2  to enable electric charging of a different battery. In this construction, the different rotatable position of interfaces  106  and  108  are disposed 90 degrees from each other. It should be recognized that charging system may have multiple interfaces for charging. And the interfaces can be disposed at different radial positions on the base  103 . Hence, top cover  102  can be rotated into an incrementally desired position for charging battery or connecting with other devices. The rotation of top cover  102  could be counter-clockwise or clockwise, as desired. In several constructions, the electrical interfaces could be disposed every 30 degrees or 45 degrees or other values. 
       FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of one arrangement of a charging system. A temperature sensor  304  may be disposed within latch housing  300  for monitoring the temperature of the battery  200 . Nevertheless, the temperature sensor  304  can be disposed outside of the latch  300  or within the slot  104 , such as on sidewalls or on the incline of base  103 . Temperature information is provided to a controller  400  for charging the battery  200 . A temperature sensor  304  arrangement to detect battery temperature on real time according battery temperature limits. Once the temperature is measured to the designated battery temperature, the electric power is stopped. In one example, the designated temperature maybe between 40 degrees C. to 55 degrees C. The microprocessor controller  400  for charging system  100  may include a communications pathway  402  with an appropriate battery connector for interaction with the battery  200 . The controller  400  may have associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data. 
     The computer readable media may be read only memory (ROM). In one arrangement, controller  400  may be implemented with one or more features of a System Management Bus (SMbus). In one arrangement, the communication pathway  402  may be configured as such a System Management Bus (SMbus). The pathway  402  can be used to inform controller  400  as to a wide range of information about the battery  200 , e.g., current, voltage, power requirements, and rated capacity. The SMBus is a two-wire interface system. One wire handles the data transfer; and the other wire pertains to the clock. An example of a SMbus and functions are described in the System Management Bus Specification Revision 2.0 standard available from the SBS Implementers Forum and noted SMB standard is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the charging system is electrically connected to an alternating current power source  404 , such as utility electrical power and the like. In such an arrangement, a charging source may include a power supply that receives electric energy via the conventional method of a cord physically coupled to a standard wall electrical outlet (not shown) for 60 Hz, 120 volt power, or alternatively, 50 Hz at 230 volts and other frequency/voltage combinations. Nevertheless, a direct current arrangement is possible. For example, direct current arrangements may include automobile cigarette lighter plug configuration, such as male plug is received a female connector. Other Direct current arrangements include, power from solar power cells, dynamo power from a bicycle and other alternative power arrangement. 
     The charging system provides a more flexible and adaptable solution for persons or organizations with different electronic devices. The multiple battery assemblies may have different power requirements and connector arrangements that can be handled. The charging system can supports more than 20 or more battery types with different sizes and capacities. 
     Although the invention has been defined using the appended claims, these claims are exemplary in that the invention may be intended to include the elements and steps described herein in any combination or sub combination. Accordingly, there are any number of alternative combinations for defining the invention, which incorporate one or more elements from the specification, including the description, claims, and drawings, in various combinations or sub combinations. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant technology, in light of the present specification, that alternate combinations of aspects of the invention, either alone or in combination with one or more elements or steps defined herein, may be utilized as modifications or alterations of the invention or as part of the invention. It may be intended that the written description of the invention contained herein covers all such modifications and alterations.