PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10797358-B2
Application Number: US-201815955206-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Smart power bank system for efficient energy transfer

Abstract:
In general, techniques are disclosed for efficiently transferring power from a portable power bank to an electronic device. More particularly, a disclosed power bank incorporates a switching mechanism capable of routing battery voltage (novel) or a stepped-up voltage (e.g., from a boost regulator) directly to a common portion of an output connector. In addition, electronic devices as described herein also incorporate a switching mechanism to allow them to accept direct battery output (novel) or a stepped-up voltage at a common portion of the device&#39;s connector (e.g., a USB connector). When used in combination, the disclosed portable power bank can transfer power to the electronic device with no more than half the loss attributable to voltage conversion operations of the prior art.

Claims:
The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A smart battery bank, comprising:
 a battery; 
 a voltage level converter configured to convert a first voltage to a second voltage, wherein the second voltage is higher than the first voltage; 
 one or more switches; 
 a connector; and 
 a controller operatively coupled to the one or more switches and the connector, the controller configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the instructions adapted to cause the controller to—
 obtain a signal from the connector, 
 configure the one or more switches to route output from the battery to the connector without use of the voltage level converter when the signal indicates that an electronic device of a first type is coupled to the connector, and 
 configure the one or more switches to route output from the battery to an input of the voltage level converter and output from the voltage level converter to the connector when the signal indicates that an electronic device of a second type is coupled to the connector. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The smart battery bank of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage level converter is adapted to output a voltage corresponding to a type of the connector. 
     
     
       3. The smart battery bank of  claim 2 , wherein the voltage level converter is adapted to output a nominal voltage of 5.0 volts when the connector comprises a USB connector. 
     
     
       4. The smart battery bank of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage level converter is adapted to convert an input voltage of between 3.0 volts and 4.2 volts to an output voltage of nominally 5.0 volts. 
     
     
       5. The smart battery bank of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of electronic device comprises an electronic device that is capable of alternatively accepting, through a device connector adapted to mate with the connector:
 output from the battery at a specified portion of the device connector; and 
 output from the voltage level converter&#39;s output at the specified portion of the device connector. 
 
     
     
       6. A method to efficiently transfer power from a power bank to an electronic device, comprising:
 obtaining, at an output connector of a portable power bank, a signal indicative of a type of electronic device coupled to the portable power bank through the output connector; 
 configuring a one or more switches of the portable power bank to route output from a battery of the portable power bank directly to a specified portion of the output connector in response to the signal indicating a first type of electronic device is connected thereto, so that power is transferred from the portable power bank to the electronic device without losses attributable to voltage step-up operations of a voltage level converter; and 
 configuring the one or more switches to route output from the battery to an input of the voltage level converter and the resulting output from the voltage level converter to the specified portion of the output connector in response to the signal indicating a second type of electronic device is connected thereto. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the voltage level converter is adapted to output a voltage corresponding to a type of the output connector. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the voltage level converter is adapted to output a nominal 5.0 volts when the output connector comprises a USB connector. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the voltage level converter is adapted to convert an input voltage of between 3.0 volts and 4.2 volts to a nominal output voltage of 5.0 volts.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to supplying power to electronic devices. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to a portable power source for the efficient transfer of power to an electronic device. 
     Rechargeable Batteries may be found in a variety of portable electronic devices including laptop, notebook and tablet computer systems, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, digital media players, cameras, etc. Current battery technology provides only a moderate amount of energy storage. As a result, individuals that make heavy use of their portable devices can find the need to recharge them while away from home or office. For this, individuals may use an AC powered charger, a backup or replacement battery, or an external battery pack used to charge the electronic device&#39;s internal battery. The latter type of device is often referred to as a “power bank.” 
     Many prior art power banks supply power through a specific type of connector adhering to a standard. For example, many power banks use a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. As a consequence, they supply voltage at a level required by the USB standard, nominally 5.0 volts. Similarly, because electronic devices comport to the same standard, they must be able to accept an input voltage at 5.0 volts. Batteries used in modern electronic devices however often have a terminal voltage of between 3.0 volts (fully, or near fully discharged) and 4.2 volts (fully, or near fully charged). Because of these voltage imbalances, prior art power banks will always need to boost their internal battery&#39;s output voltage to the USB&#39;s standard 5.0 volts, and an electronic device will always need to buck the incoming voltage to meet that of their internal battery (plus, perhaps, a small delta voltage needed to drive charging operations). This situation is shown in  FIG. 1  in which power bank  100  and electronic device  105  each include a battery ( 110  and  115  respectively), a voltage level converter ( 120  and  125  respectively), and a USB connector ( 130  and  135  respectively). As shown, power bank  100 &#39;s internal battery voltage  140  is between, for example, 3.0 and 4.0 volts. Through level converter  120  boost operation  145  takes this to 5.0 volts, transfer voltage  150 . Level converter  125  in electronic device  105  uses buck operation  155  to then reduce transfer voltage  150  to its internal battery level 160 and/or a level needed by device  105 &#39;s internal electronics (between, for example, 3.0 and 4.0 volts). 
     It is known that the power conversion efficiency of a boost operation is approximately equal to the power conversion efficiency of a buck operation: 83%. While the precise value will of course differ based on, for example, the type of switching elements used, the difference in output versus input voltage and the circuit&#39;s mode of operation (e.g., continuous versus discontinuous conduction modes), whatever this value is, contemporary power banks suffer such a loss twice (one loss in power bank  100  and another loss in electronic device  105 ). 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment the disclosed concepts provide a smart battery bank to enable an efficient transfer of power to an electronic device. A smart battery bank in accordance with this disclosure may include a source of power such as a battery, a voltage level converter configured to convert a first (lower) voltage to a second (higher) voltage, a switching mechanism, a connector, and a controller functionally coupled to the switching mechanism and the connector, the controller configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the instructions adapted to cause the controller to obtain a signal from the connector (i.e., from an external electronic device), configure the switching mechanism to route output from its internal power source to the connector without use of the voltage level converter when the signal indicates that an electronic device of a first type is coupled to the connector. The controller may be further adapted to, when the signal indicates than an electronic device of a second type is coupled to the connector, configure the switching mechanism to route output from the power source to an input of the voltage level converter and the resulting output from the voltage level converter to the connector. A power bank in accordance with this disclosure can deliver power to an electronic device with, at most, half the loss due to voltage level conversion operations as do conventional power banks. 
     In another embodiment the disclosed concepts provide a smart electronic device that includes a battery, a boost/buck regulator module, a switching mechanism, a connector and a controller functionally coupled to the switching mechanism and the connector, the controller configured to execute instructions stored in a memory adapted to cause the controller to: obtain a first signal indicative of a target operational mode of the electronic device and, when the first signal indicates a first operational mode, configure the switching mechanism to (1) route the externally supplied power from the connector to an input of the boost/buck regulator and the resulting output from the boost/buck regulator to the battery, (2) route output from the battery to power the electronic device, and (3) open an electrical path so that the externally supplied power does not directly power the electronic device. When the first signal indicates a second operational mode, the controller configures the switching mechanism to (1) route the externally supplied power from the connector so as to directly power the electronic device, (2) disconnect the input of the boost/buck regulator from the connector, and (3) disconnect the battery so that it does not power the electronic device. In yet another embodiment, the smart electronic device may further include instructions to cause, when the first signal indicates a third operational mode, the controller to configure the switching mechanism to (1) route the externally supplied power from the connector so as to directly power the electronic device, (2) route the externally supplied power from the connector to the boost/buck regulator&#39;s input and the resulting output from the boost/buck regulator to the battery, and (3) disconnect the battery so that it no longer powers the smart electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows, in block diagram form, a prior art power bank-electronic device system. 
         FIG. 2  shows, in block diagram form, a smart power bank system in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows, in flowchart form, smart device centric power transfer operations in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS. 4A-4F  show, in block diagram form, smart power bank systems configured in different manners in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  shows, in flowchart form, smart battery bank centric power transfer operations in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate initial configuration operations in accordance with two embodiments. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate, in block diagram form, a smart power bank in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  shows, in block diagram form, an electronic device in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve the transfer of power between a portable power bank and an electronic device. In general, techniques are disclosed for efficiently transferring power from a portable power bank to an electronic device. More particularly, a disclosed power bank incorporates a switching mechanism capable of routing battery voltage (novel) or a stepped-up voltage (e.g., from a boost regulator) directly to a common portion of an output connector. In addition, electronic devices as described herein also incorporate a switching mechanism to allow them to accept direct battery input (novel) such as that from the disclosed power bank or a stepped-up voltage at a common portion of the device&#39;s connector (e.g., a USB connector). When used in combination, the disclosed portable power bank can transfer power to the electronic device with no more than half the loss attributable to voltage conversion operations of prior art power banks. 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed concepts. As part of this description, some of this disclosure&#39;s drawings represent structures and devices in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the novel aspects of the disclosed concepts. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described. Moreover, the language used in this disclosure has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary to determine such inventive subject matter. Reference in this disclosure to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, and multiple references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” should not be understood as necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     It will be appreciated that in the development of any actual implementation (as in any software and/or hardware development project), numerous decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals may vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development efforts might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the design and implementation of electronic system power circuitry having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , smart power bank system  200  in accordance with one embodiment includes smart electronic device  205  and smart power bank  210  joined through connectors  215  and  220  via cable  225 . Smart electronic device  205  may, for example, be a cell phone, PDA, digital media player or tablet computer system. Connectors  215  and  220  may be any similar connectors whose structure and function are known (e.g., as specified in an electrical standard such as the USB standard). As shown in breakout  205 A, smart electronic device  205  may include electronic system  230 , battery  235 , boost/buck regulator  240 , and switches S 3 , S 4  and S 5 . Component  230  represents the electronic and other elements that provide the means for electronic device  205  to perform its intended functions (i.e., to function as a cell phone or a tablet computer system). As shown in breakout  210 A, smart power bank  210  includes battery  245 , boost regulator  250  and switches S 1  and S 2 . 
     In accordance with this disclosure, smart power bank system  200  may operate in one of two primary modes: boost and bypass. Boost mode replicates conventional power bank operation in so far as smart power bank  210  supplies power at a voltage corresponding to the connector&#39;s standard and smart electronic device  205  establishes a corresponding internal routing mechanism consistent with receiving the specified voltage. In bypass mode, smart power bank  210  supplies its battery voltage directly to its connector and smart electronic device  205  establishes corresponding internal routing mechanisms to use that power in a manner more efficient than conventional power bank systems. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment power transfer operation  300  from an electronic device&#39;s perspective may begin, prior to any power bank being connected thereto, with smart electronic device  205  executing on its own internal battery power with switch S 4  closed and switches S 3  and S 5  open as shown in  FIG. 4A  (block  305 ). When smart device  205  is connected to a power bank (block  310 ), smart device  205  may determine if it is coupled to a smart power bank (block  315 ). If smart device  205  determines the connected power bank is not a smart power bank in accordance with this disclosure (the “NO” prong of block  315 ), switches S 3 , S 4  and S 5  may be closed as shown in  FIG. 4B  (block  320 ). In this mode power from battery  115  is attenuated twice before it may be used by smart device  205 —once by boost regulator  125  within power bank  105  (loosing approximately 17% of its initial power, see discussion above) and another time by boost/buck regulator  240 —operating in buck mode—within smart device  205  (loosing another approximately 17% of its power). This situation highlights the fact that when using prior art power banks approximately 31% of the power supplied by battery  115  is lost due to voltage conversion operations alone. 
     Returning to  FIG. 3 , if smart device  205  determines the connected power bank is a smart power bank and smart power bank  210  determines that electronic device  205  is capable of receiving battery voltage directly (the “YES” prong of block  315 ), smart power bank  210  may enter bypass mode by setting switch S 1  to position A and switch S 2  to position B as shown in  FIG. 4C , another check may be made (Block  325 ). If charging is not selected (the “NO” prong of block  325 ), smart electronic device  205  may enter a “longest-battery-life” mode by opening switches S 3  and S 4  and closing switch S 5  as shown in  FIG. 4D  (block  330 ). In this mode, power from battery  245  may be applied directly to smart device  205 &#39;s electronic system  230 —suffering no losses due to boost/buck operations. Stated differently, when smart power bank system  200  is operating in bypass: longest-battery-life mode in accordance with this disclosure, virtually 100% of smart power bank  210 &#39;s battery  245 &#39;s power may be used to operate electronic device  205  (so that smart device battery  235  maybe held in reserve as long as possible). In contrast, prior art power bank systems experience losses due to two voltage conversion operations (one in the power bank and another in the electronic device)—losing approximately 31% of the power supplied by a power bank&#39;s battery. 
     If, on the other hand, a user elects to use smart battery bank  210  to both power smart device  205  and charge its internal battery  235  (the “YES” prong of block  325 ), a further check may be made (block  335 ). If it is then determined that the power bank&#39;s battery voltage is not at least a specified value above the smart device&#39;s battery voltage (the “NO” prong of block  335 ), smart power bank  210  may enter bypass mode by setting switch S 1  to position A, switch S 2  to position B, and smart device  205  may enter a “boost-battery-charge” mode by closing switches S 3 , S 4  and S 5  and setting boost/buck regulator  240  to operate in a boost mode as shown in  FIG. 4E  (block  340 ). Setting boost/buck regulator  240  to boost mode allows it to adjust the voltage applied to battery  235  to optimize battery charge operations. In this configuration, the power supplied from smart power bank battery  245  directly to electronic system  230  suffers no loss (compared to approximately 31% in a prior art power bank system) while the power supplied from smart power bank battery  245  to charge smart device battery  235  will typically suffer only a single voltage-conversion loss of approximately 13% (leaving approximately 87% of the power to actually charge battery  235 ), half what a prior art power bank system experiences. It will be recognized that the value of the “specified” voltage (also known as a threshold or delta voltage) may depend at least on the type of batteries being used and may therefore vary from implementation to implementation. 
     Returning again to  FIG. 3 , if it is determined that the power bank&#39;s battery voltage is at least the specified value above the smart device&#39;s battery voltage (the “YES” prong of block  335 ), smart power bank  210  may enter bypass mode by setting switch S 1  to position A, switch S 2  to position B (see  FIG. 4C ), and smart device  205  may enter a “buck-battery-charge” mode by closing switches S 3 , S 4  and S 5  and setting boost/buck regulator  240  to operate in a buck mode as shown in  FIG. 4F  (block  345 ). As determined in block  335 , power bank battery  245  has sufficient voltage to charge electronic device battery  235  directly. Setting boost/buck regulator  240  to buck mode allows the voltage applied to battery  235  to be optimized for battery charge operations. In this configuration, the power supplied from smart power bank battery  245  directly to electronic system  230  suffers no loss (compared to approximately 31% loss in prior art power bank systems) while the power supplied from smart power bank battery  245  to charge smart device battery  235  will typically suffer a loss of approximately 13% (leaving approximately 87% of the power to actually charge battery  235 )—only half that suffered by prior art power bank systems. 
     For devices like a smart phone (or other electronic device that draws a relatively large amount of current) it may be useful to close switch S 4  when in any of the disclosed new and novel charging modes as illustrated in  FIGS. 4D  (longest-battery-life mode),  4 E (boost-battery-charge mode), and  4 F (buck-battery-charge mode). This may be because the device&#39;s internal battery  235  may provide a higher current that smart power bank&#39;s battery  245  so that, when initially coupled there could be current transient that smart power bank battery  245  is not quick enough to respond. This will generally not be necessary for small current consuming devices. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment power transfer operation  500  from smart power bank  210 &#39;s perspective may begin when a connection event is identified (block  505 ). A “connection event,” as used here occurs when smart power bank  210  is connected to an electronic device (e.g., via connector  220 ). Once connected, smart power bank  210  may determine if the connected device is a smart device (block  510 ). As used herein, a “smart” device is any electronic device that is able to switch its internal routing of received power based on whether the device supplying that power can provide battery voltage directly (e.g., smart power bank  210 ). If the connected device is a smart device (the “YES” prong of block  510 ), the power bank  210  may put itself into bypass mode by setting switch S 1  to position A and switch S 2  to position B (see  FIGS. 2 and 4C ) (block  515 ). Smart power bank  210  may then wait for one of one or more termination conditions (block  520 ). A termination condition could be, for example, a loss of a signal from the connected device or an affirmative indication from the connected device that power transfer should stop. In one embodiment, smart power bank  210  may periodically check for the existence of a termination condition. In another embodiment, smart power bank  210  may continuously check for a termination condition. If a termination condition is found to exist (the “YES” prong of block  525 ), smart power bank  210  may reset itself and await the next event (block  530 ). If no termination condition is found (the “NO” prong of block  525 ), smart power bank  210  resumes waiting. Finally, returning to block  510 , if the connected device is determined not to be a smart device (the “NO” prong of block  510 ), smart power bank  210  may put itself into “boost” mode by setting switch S 1  to position C and switch S 2  to position D (block  535 ), where after operations in accordance with block  525  are performed. 
     A time sequence of actions that may occur during smart power bank system operations in accordance with this disclosure may be seen in  FIG. 6 . Referring first to  FIG. 6A , when smart power bank  210  is initially connected to electronic device  600  (connection event  605 ), it begins operation by powering up the communication port  610  within connector  220  and establishing a communication&#39;s link  615  with electronic device  600  in accordance with connector  220 / 215 &#39;s specified protocol (e.g., USB). Smart power bank  210  may then issue capabilities query  620  to determine if electronic device  600  is capable of receiving battery voltage directly through its connector  215 . If, after specified time interval  625 , smart power bank  210  has not received an indication that electronic device  600  can receive battery voltage directly through connector  215  (or, alternatively, receives an affirmative indication from electronic device  600  that it cannot do so), smart power bank  210  may configure itself for boost (conventional) operations  630  in which switch S 1  is placed into position C and switch S 2  is placed into position D (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6B , when smart power bank  210  is initially connected to smart electronic device  205  (connection event  605 ), actions in accordance with  FIG. 6A  repeat until smart power bank  210  issues capabilities request  620 . Electronic device  205  may then respond indicating that it is capable of receiving battery voltage directly  635 . In response, smart power bank  210  configures itself into bypass mode  640  in which switch S 1  is placed into position A and switch S 2  is placed into position B (see  FIG. 2 ). In one embodiment electronic device  205  may then determine a user&#39;s desired operating mode  645  (e.g., longest-battery-life (see  FIG. 4D ), boost-battery-charge (see  FIG. 4E ) or buck-battery-charge ( FIG. 4F ) mode) and, once known, configures itself to that mode  650 . In another embodiment, if only the longest-battery-life mode is provided as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4C , operation  645  may be eliminated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7A , smart power bank  700  in accordance with one embodiment may include external connector  705 , boost regulator  710 , battery  715 , switch S 1   720 , switch S 2   725 , communications module  730 , controller  735  and memory  740 . Connector  705  may be any connector whose physical arrangement and function has been agreed upon. Within this disclosure, connector  705  has been described in terms of a USB connector. This should not be understood as limiting. By way of example only, connector  705  could also be a Firewire connector (IEEE 1394 Standard) or a DisplayPort connector (a Video Electronics Standards Association Standard). (FIREWIRE® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.) Boost regulator  710  may be any circuit or module designed to increase the DC voltage level of an input DC voltage signal. Battery  715  may be any type of battery (e.g., lithium-ion, lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries). Switches S 1   720  and S 2   725  may be any type of switches and may vary from implementation to implementation depending inter alia on the voltage and power levels being switched. (Together, switches S 1  and S 2  may be referred to as a switching mechanism, circuit or module.) Communication circuit or module  730  may be any type of circuit needed to coordinate communication through connector  705  in the manner described herein. For example, communication module  730  may orchestrate communication through connector  705  in accordance with the USB standard. Controller  735  may be any circuit, module or unit capable of controlling the actions within smart power bank  700 . For example, controller  735  may be a microcontroller implemented as a single chip or as a series of chips (e.g., a commercial microprocessor or a custom designed state machine implemented via, for example, programmable gate-array technology). In some embodiments, the functions attributed to communication module  730  may be performed by controller  735 . Memory  740  may be used to store operating parameters and program code that when executed by controller  735  causes controller  735  to perform the control functions discussed herein. Memory  740  could include volatile and non-volatile memory. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7B , in another embodiment smart power bank  700 ′ may include a number of connectors  705 A- 705 N, each one of which could serve the function of connector  705 . In an implementation such as this, it would be the task of communication module  730 ′ (and/or controller  735 ′) to identify the connector being used and to use the corresponding communication protocol. In yet another embodiment, connector  705  could be a “generic” connector which is capable of accepting a number of different standard connectors. In an implementation such as this, it would be the function of communication module  730  and/or controller  735  to identify the communication standard required by the connected electronic device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a simplified functional block diagram of illustrative electronic device  800  (e.g.,  205 ) is shown according to one embodiment. Electronic device  800  could be, for example, a mobile telephone, personal media device, portable camera, or a tablet, notebook or desktop computer system. As shown, electronic device  800  may include processor  805 , display  810 , user interface  815 , graphics hardware  820 , device sensors  825  (e.g., proximity sensor/ambient light sensor, accelerometer and/or gyroscope), microphone  830 , audio codec(s)  835 , speaker(s)  840 , external connector  845 , communications circuitry  850 , image capture circuit or unit  855 , video codec(s)  860 , memory  865 , storage  870 , and communications bus  875 . 
     Processor  805  may execute instructions necessary to carry out or control the operation of many functions performed by device  800  (e.g., such as control of switches within the electronic device to effect a chosen operating mode). Processor  805  may, for instance, drive display  810  and receive user input from user interface  815 . User interface  815  can take a variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, a click wheel, keyboard, display screen and/or a touch screen. User interface  815  could, for example, be the conduit through which a user may indicate a chosen operating mode (i.e., longest-battery-life, boost-battery-charge or buck-battery-charge mode). Processor  805  may be a system-on-chip such as those found in mobile devices and include one or more dedicated graphics processing units (GPUs). Processor  805  may be based on reduced instruction-set computer (RISC) or complex instruction-set computer (CISC) architectures or any other suitable architecture and may include one or more processing cores. Graphics hardware  820  may be special purpose computational hardware for processing graphics and/or assisting processor  805  perform computational tasks. In one embodiment, graphics hardware  820  may include one or more programmable graphics processing units (GPUs). 
     External connector  845  may be any type of connector that has an agreed-upon structure and communication protocol (e.g., USB, FireWire and DisplayPort connectors). Connector  845  may correspond to connector  215  in any of  FIGS. 2, 4C-4F, and 7A-7B . Communication circuit or module  850  may control the flow of signals (power and/or information) through connector  845  in accordance with, for example,  FIGS. 6A-6B . 
     Image capture circuitry  855  may capture still and video images that may be processed to generate images. Output from image capture circuitry  855  may be processed, at least in part, by video codec(s)  860  and/or processor  805  and/or graphics hardware  820 , and/or a dedicated image processing unit incorporated within circuitry  855 . Images so captured may be stored in memory  865  and/or storage  870 . Memory  865  may include one or more different types of media used by processor  805 , graphics hardware  820 , and image capture circuitry  855  to perform device functions. For example, memory  865  may include memory cache, read-only memory (ROM), and/or random access memory (RAM). Storage  870  may store media (e.g., audio, image and video files), computer program instructions or software, preference information, device profile information, and any other suitable data. Storage  870  may include one more non-transitory storage mediums including, for example, magnetic disks (fixed, floppy, and removable) and tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs and digital video disks (DVDs), and semiconductor memory devices such as Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), and Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM). Memory  865  and storage  870  may be used to retain computer program instructions or code organized into one or more modules and written in any desired computer programming language. When executed by, for example, processor  805  such computer program code may implement one or more of the methods described herein. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. The material has been presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosed subject matter as claimed and is provided in the context of particular embodiments, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art (e.g., some of the disclosed embodiments may be used in combination with each other). For example,  FIGS. 3 and 5  show flowcharts illustrating functions of both an electronic device and smart power bank in accordance with the disclosed embodiments. In one or more embodiments, one or more of the disclosed steps may be omitted, repeated, and/or performed in a different order than that described herein. Accordingly, the specific arrangement of steps or actions shown in any figure should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosed subject matter. The scope of the invention therefore should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180417
Publication Date: 20201006
Grant Date: 20201006
Priority Date: 20150423
Inventors: XU, Xunguang
LI, JIELI
SHEN, Zifeng
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H02J7/00047", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00047", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/007", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/0013", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J2207/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/342", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02E60/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00034", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00034", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J2207/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00036", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00045", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01M10/4257", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/342", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00036", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00045", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00047", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/0025", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00034", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J2207/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00045", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J2007/0067", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00036", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01M10/4257", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/342", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 55861249