Wireless power transmission apparatus installable on wall

• US 10,243,399 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2014
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jung, Chun-Kil
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Willoughby, Terrence
• Application Number:
  US15/104,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20170005518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a wireless power transmission apparatus installable on a wall, the wireless power transmission apparatus comprising: a housing configured to allow a wireless power reception apparatus to be placed thereon; a plug, a part of which is embedded in the housing, the plug being configured to be coupled with a socket for alternating current power installed on a wall; and a transmission unit which is embedded in the housing, converts an alternating current power supplied from the plug to a direct current power, and outputs a wireless power signal to the wireless power reception apparatus.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission apparatus installable on a wall, the wireless power transmission apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to allow a wireless power reception apparatus to be placed thereon;

a plug, a part of which is embedded in the housing, the plug including an electrode terminal coupled with the housing and configured to be inserted into a socket for alternating current power, the plug further including a ground terminal removably coupled with the housing and configured to be inserted into the socket for the alternating current power, wherein the ground terminal comprises a body and a locking piece protruding from the body,

wherein the housing comprises an assembling part configured to removably receive the ground terminal, the assembling part including an assembling rail and a cover configured to cover an edge region of the assembling rail so that the locking piece is held in place by the cover; and

a transmission unit, which is embedded in the housing, and configured to convert the alternating current power supplied from the plug to a direct current power, and output a wireless power signal to the wireless power reception apparatus.

2. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a receiving groove and a rotating shaft installed in the receiving groove, and

wherein the plug comprises a rotating body that includes the electrode terminal, the rotating body rotatably coupled with the rotating shaft.

3. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises:

an installation part in which the plug is installed; and

a mount part which extends as being bent to form an obtuse angle with respect to the installation part.

4. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 3, wherein a width of the installation part has a size where the electrode terminal protrudes to an outside despite rotation of the plug.

5. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a mount surface on which the wireless power reception apparatus is placed, and an installation surface on which the plug is installed, and

the mount surface is arranged as being inclined with respect to the installation surface.

6. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a transmission coil arranged in parallel with the mount surface at an inner side of the mount surface and configured to output the wireless power signal;

a transmission controller located between the transmission coil and the installation surface and configured to control an operation of the transmission coil; and

a shielding member located between the transmission coil and the transmission controller and configured to prevent an electromagnetic wave generated from the transmission coil from being transferred to the transmission controller.

7. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support unit installed in the housing to support the wireless power reception apparatus.

8. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 7, wherein the support unit comprises:

a support plate; and

a bending plate extending from the support plate as being bent.

9. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 8, wherein the support unit further comprises an elastic member connected to the support plate to elastically pull the bending plate toward the housing.

10. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a mounting groove, and

wherein the elastic member is provided in the mounting groove.

11. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wired communication port exposed to an outside through the housing.

12. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing unit configured to reinforce adhesive strength between the housing and the socket,

the reinforcing unit comprises:

a magnet installed at one of the housing and the socket; and

a metal piece installed at the other one of the housing and the socket and located corresponding to the magnet.

13. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein the assembling part comprises an elastic member installed in the assembling rail, and the elastic member is elastically deformed and restored to limit retreat of the locking piece when the locking piece moves along the assembling rail.

14. The wireless power transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein the assembling rail and the cover together form a notch into which the ground terminal can be removably inserted such that the locking piece secures the ground terminal in the notch.