Energy harvesting from a mobile device

Number: 10958085
Published: 2021-03-23
Filed: 2019-07-03
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Haseltine; Eric C.
CPC: H02J50/001; H02J50/15; H02J50/20; H02J50/30; H02J7/34; H02J7/35; H02J7/50; H02J7/731; H02J7/82
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Wireless energy-harvesting hardware for mobile devices.

Abstract

According to one implementation, a system for harvesting energy from a mobile device includes a housing having a receptacle for receiving the mobile device, a battery situated within the housing, an energy collection interface including at least one transducer coupled to the battery by a power bus, and one or more auxiliary electronic components coupled to the battery by the power bus. The system is configured to receive, via the receptacle, the mobile device, and to receive, via the energy collection interface, an energy emitted by the mobile device. The system is also configured to generate, by the one or more transducers, a current, using the energy received from the mobile device, and to feed, via the power bus, the current to at least one of the battery and the at least one auxiliary electronic component.

Background

BACKGROUND (1) Mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, and smartwatches may be connected to various external devices to provide users with productive and entertaining experiences. For example, some augmented reality (AR) viewing systems are designed to accept a smartphone in order to display virtual digital imagery superimposed over images of a real physical environment. (2) In some such applications, it may be advantageous or desirable to add electronic features to the system into which the mobile device is inserted or attached. For instance, lights, amplifiers, speakers, and other auxiliary electronics can significantly enhance the utility of the mobile-embedded or mobile-connected system. However, conventional solutions for powering those auxiliary electronics can undesirably add to the cost, weight, size, and complexity of mobile-embedded or mobile-connected systems. SUMMARY (3) There are provided systems and methods for energy harvesting from a mobile device, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, and as set forth more completely in the claims.

Claims

1. A system configured to harvest energy from a mobile computing device having a display, the system comprising: a housing including a receptacle for attaching to and detaching from the mobile computing device; a battery situated within the housing; an energy collection interface including at least one transducer coupled to the battery by a power bus; and a viewing portal coupled to the battery by the power bus; the system configured to: receive, via the receptacle, the mobile computing device; receive, via the energy collection interface, an energy emitted by the mobile computing device; generate, by the at least one transducer, a current, using the energy received from the mobile computing device; feed, via the power bus, the current to the battery coupled to the viewing portal; and provide, using the viewing portal powered by the battery, imaging optics from an object rendered on the display of the mobile computing device. || 9. A method for use by a system configured to harvest energy from a mobile computing device having a display, the system comprising a housing including a receptacle for attaching to and detaching from the mobile computing device, a battery situated within the housing, an energy collection interface including at least one transducer coupled to the battery by a power bus, and a viewing portal coupled to the battery by the power bus, the method comprising: receiving, via the receptacle, the mobile computing device; receiving, via the energy collection interface, an energy emitted by the mobile computing device; generating, by the at least one transducer, a current, using the energy received from the mobile computing device; feeding, via the power bus, the current to the battery coupled to the viewing portal; and providing, using the viewing portal powered by the battery, imaging optics from an object rendered on the display of the mobile computing device.