Actuator assisted alignment of connectible devices

• US 10,164,688 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Balaram, Haran, Ely, Colin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Lucy
• Application Number:
  US14/265,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20150318100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 361179
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/072 Constructional adaptation of the sensor to specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/06 Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1844 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits for relays H01H47/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A first electronic device is positionable between one or more contact positions and an aligned position with respect to a second electronic device. One or more actuators of the first electronic device are activated in response to one or more sensors of the first electronic device determining that the first electronic device and second electronic device are misaligned. Activation of the actuator may result in the first electronic device moving to the aligned position. In some implementations, the actuator may move the first electronic device toward the aligned position when activated. In other implementations, the actuator may overcome static friction to put the first electronic device in motion when activated and when the first electronic device is in motion one or more alignment mechanisms may overcome the kinetic friction to move the first electronic device to the aligned position.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer electronic device comprising:

a first coil positioned adjacent to a charging surface;

a sensor configured to detect misalignment between the wireless power transfer electronic device and a second wireless power transfer electronic device positioned against the charging surface in at least one contact position, the second wireless power transfer electronic device comprising a second coil, the wireless power transfer electronic device configured to perform wireless power transfer with the second wireless power transfer electronic device, wherein the wireless power transfer operation is enabled when the wireless power transfer electronic device and the second wireless power transfer electronic device are aligned;

at least one actuator configured to generate a vibrating force that decreases the static friction between the wireless power transfer electronic device and the second wireless power transfer electronic device in response to the sensor detecting misalignment while the wireless power transfer electronic device and the second wireless power transfer electronic device are in contact with each other so that the first coil is aligned with the second coil; and

a magnet positioned adjacent to the charging surface and configured to work in conjunction with the vibrating force generated by the at least one actuator to generate a magnetic force that overcomes kinetic friction between the wireless power transfer electronic device and the second wireless power transfer electronic device once the at least one actuator has generated the vibrating force to overcome the static friction, and that is sufficient to move the wireless power transfer electronic device toward the aligned position.

2. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator overcomes static friction to put the wireless power transfer electronic device in motion.

3. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 2, further comprising at least one alignment mechanism comprising at least one of gravity, or geometry of interface surfaces of the wireless power transfer electronic device and the second wireless power transfer electronic device.

4. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a compass, a hall effect sensor, a photoplethysmograph sensor, an inductive coil, a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, or a combination thereof.

5. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one communication component that receives at least one signal from the second wireless power transfer electronic device indicating at least one of that the wireless power transfer electronic device is positioned in the at least one contact position, a direction from the at least one contact position to the aligned position, or a distance between the at least one contact position and the aligned position.

6. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a linear actuator.

7. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a second magnet, wherein the magnet and the second magnet are respectively positioned at a center of the first and second coils.

8. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator comprises at least one electromagnet that repulses the wireless power transfer electronic device from the second wireless power transfer electronic device.

9. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one optical sensor that detects a marked area of an interface surface of the second wireless power transfer electronic device.

10. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 9, wherein the marked area comprises a colored area.

11. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 10, wherein the colored area comprises infrared paint.

12. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one position sensor that determines that the wireless power transfer electronic device is positioned in the at least one contact position by detecting at least one of an orientation of the wireless power transfer electronic device or a center of gravity of the wireless power transfer electronic device.

13. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one inductive power transmission coil that determines that the wireless power transfer electronic device is positioned in the at least one contact position by detecting that a received power differs from a transmitted power.

14. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a photoplethysmograph sensor positioned between at least one alignment magnet of the wireless power transfer electronic device and an interface surface of the wireless power transfer electronic device.

15. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor further detects at least one of a direction from the at least one contact position to the aligned position or a distance between the at least one contact position and the aligned position.

16. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first coil is a receiver coil configured to receive power transmitted wirelessly from the second coil in the second wireless power transfer electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second coil is a transmission coil configured to transmit power transmitted wirelessly to the first coil in the wireless power transfer electronic device.

18. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transfer electronic device is a wearable device, and the at least one actuator, sensor, and first coil are disposed in the wearable device.

19. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 18, further comprising a control unit coupled to the actuator and configured to activate the actuator in response to detecting misalignment between the wireless power transfer electronic device and a second wireless power transfer electronic device.

20. The wireless power transfer electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to generate a vibration to overcome static friction between the wireless power transfer electronic device and a second wireless power transfer electronic device during misalignment.

21. A system for aligning and wirelessly charging an electronic device, the system comprising:

a first electronic device having a receiver coil positioned adjacent to a first device charging surface;

a second electronic device having a transmitter coil positioned adjacent to a second device charging surface, the transmitter coil configured to wirelessly transmit power to the receiver coil during a wireless charging operation, wherein the wireless charging operation is enabled when the first device charging surface is in an aligned position with the second device charging surface;

a sensor in at least one of the first or second electronic devices that detects if the first and second electronic devices are misaligned;

at least one actuator configured to generate a vibrating force that decreases the static friction between the first electronic device and the second electronic device in response to the sensor detecting that the first and second electronic devices are misaligned while the first and second device charging surfaces are contacting each other; and

a first magnet positioned adjacent to the first device charging surface and configured to work in conjunction with the vibrating force generated by the at least one actuator to generate a magnetic force that overcomes kinetic friction between the wireless power transfer electronic device and second wireless power transfer electronic device once the at least one actuator has generated the vibrating force to overcome the static friction, and that is sufficient to move the wireless power transfer electronic device toward the aligned position.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the second electronic device includes a second magnet, the sensor comprises first and second hall effect sensors positioned at sides of the first alignment magnet, and the detection is based at least on a comparison of magnetic fields respectively detected by the first and second hall effect sensors.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one actuator is positioned in the first electronic device.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one actuator is positioned in the second electronic device.

25. A method for aligning wireless power transfer devices, the method comprising:

determining that a first electronic device is in a misaligned contact position with respect to a second electronic device utilizing at least one sensor, the misaligned contact position is a position where the first electronic device makes contact with the second electronic device and a first coil in the first electronic device is misaligned with a second coil in the second electronic device;

activating at least one actuator in response to the determination wherein activation of the at least one actuator results in generation of a vibrating force that decreases the static friction between the wireless power transfer electronic device and the second wireless power transfer electronic device; and

using a magnet positioned adjacent to the charging surface to work in conjunction with the vibrating force generated by the at least one actuator to generate a magnetic force that overcomes kinetic friction between the wireless power transfer electronic device and the second wireless power transfer electronic device once the at least one actuator has generated the vibrating force to overcome the static friction, and that is sufficient to move the wireless power transfer electronic device toward the aligned position.