Wireless charging retail systems

• US 10,333,333 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ritter, David W., Kosecoff, David B., Kumka, David S., Sampath, Madhusudanan Keezhveedi, Michalske, Steven Charles, Ashcroft, Tavys Q., Rao, Aditya, Smith, Ariadne
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US15/184,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20160372961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 320107
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/28 Coils; Windings; Conductive connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless charging table comprising a table top having an upper surface upon which one or more electronic devices can be placed, a wireless charging transmitter positioned under the upper surface of the table top, the wireless charging transmitter comprising a plurality of transmitter coils that define a charging region at the upper surface of the table top, and a power distribution system operatively coupled to the wireless charging transmitter, the power distribution system configured to receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source and distribute power to the wireless charging transmitter. The plurality of transmitter coils include at least a first transmitter coil comprising: a first loop portion; a second loop portion; and a crossing portion comprising overlapping conductive paths that electrically couple the first loop portion.

Claims

1. A wireless charging table comprising:

a table top having an upper surface upon which one or more electronic devices can be placed;

a wireless charging transmitter positioned under the upper surface of the table top, the wireless charging transmitter comprising a plurality of transmitter coils that define a charging region at the upper surface of the table top, the plurality of transmitter coils including at least a first transmitter coil comprising;

a first loop portion coupled to a first node and a second node different from the first node, each node providing an avenue through which current can enter and exit out of the first loop portion of the coil;

a second loop portion coplanar with the first loop portion; and

a crossing portion comprising overlapping conductive paths that electrically couple the first loop portion and the second loop portion such that, when an electrical current is generated in the first transmitter coil, the electrical current flows through the first loop portion in a first rotational direction, and through the second loop portion in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; and

a power distribution system operatively coupled to the wireless charging transmitter, the power distribution system configured to receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source and distribute power to the wireless charging transmitter.

2. The wireless charging table of claim 1 wherein when the electrical current is generated in the first transmitter coil:

a first magnetic field is generated by the current flowing through the first loop portion, the first magnetic field being characterized by a first direction; and

a second magnetic field is generated by the current flowing through the second loop portion, the second magnetic field being characterized by a second direction different than the first direction.

3. The wireless charging table of claim 2 wherein an angle formed between the first direction and the second direction is at least 135 degrees.

4. The wireless charging table of claim 1 wherein the crossing portion is a first crossing portion, and wherein the plurality of transmitter coils further comprises a second coil configured to transmit power, the second coil comprising:

a third loop portion;

a fourth loop portion; and

a second crossing portion comprising overlapping conductive paths that electrically couple the third loop portion and the fourth loop portion such that, when an electrical current is generated in the second coil, the electrical current flows;

through the third loop portion in the first rotational direction; and

through the fourth loop portion in the second rotational direction.

5. The wireless charging table of claim 4 wherein when the electrical current is generated in the first transmitter coil and the second coil, a bridging magnetic field is generated in a region between the first transmitter coil and the second coil.

6. The wireless charging table of claim 5 wherein the bridging magnetic field bends between the second loop portion and the third loop portion.

7. The wireless charging table of claim 1 wherein the first loop portion has a first horizontal part and a first vertical part, and the second loop portion has a second horizontal part and a second vertical part.

8. The wireless charging table of claim 7 wherein the first horizontal part extends above the second vertical part, and wherein the second horizontal part extends below the first vertical part.

9. The wireless charging table of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system includes a controller configured to communicate with an electronic device of the one or more electronic devices.

10. A wireless charging system comprising:

a table top having an upper surface upon which one or more electronic devices can be placed;

a wireless charging transmitter positioned under the upper surface of the table top, the wireless charging transmitter comprising a plurality of transmitter coils that define a charging region at the upper surface of the table top, the plurality of transmitter coils including at least a first transmitter coil comprising;

a first loop portion coupled to a first node and a second node different from the first node, each node providing an avenue through which current can enter and exit out of the first loop portion of the coil;

a second loop portion coplanar with the first loop portion; and

a crossing portion comprising overlapping conductive paths that electrically couple the first loop portion and the second loop portion such that, when an electrical current is generated in the first transmitter coil, the electrical current flows through the first loop portion in a first rotational direction, and through the second loop portion in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; and

a power distribution system operatively coupled to the wireless charging transmitter, the power distribution system configured to receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source and distribute power to the wireless charging transmitter; and

a wireless charging receiver comprising;

a first coil disposed relative to a first axis;

a second coil disposed relative to a second axis, the second axis extending in a direction different than the first axis; and

a ferromagnetic structure positioned adjacent to the first coil and the second coil, wherein the first coil, the second coil, and the ferromagnetic structure are configured to receive magnetic fields generated by the plurality of transmitter coils.

11. The wireless charging system of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to detect a presence of an electronic device.

12. The wireless charging system of claim 11, wherein the power distribution system comprises a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of transmitter coils.

13. The wireless charging system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to selectively energize one or more transmitter coils in response to the detected presence of the electronic device.

14. The wireless charging system of claim 10, wherein the wireless charging receiver is encased within a docking station.