Methods and devices for charging batteries

• US 20020093309A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Calvin Peele
• Original Assignee: James Calvin Peele
• Inventors: Peele, James Calvin
• Granted Patent: US 6,603,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 47/14 Motor/generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 49/10 of the permanent-magnet type

Abstract

An electric charging system includes an electrical charger that generates a magnetic force and a device with an electric current generator that receives a portion of the magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner. The electric current generator generates an electric current in response to receiving the portion of the magnetic force and the electric current is received by a battery.

Claims

1. An electric charging system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of the magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and generates an electric current therefrom; and

a battery that receives said electric current.

2. The electric charging system of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

3. The electric charging system of claim 1, wherein said electrical charger comprises a magnet.

4. The electric charging system of claim 3, wherein said magnet is rotatable.

5. The electric charging system of claim 4, wherein said magnet is attached to a rotatable shaft, wherein rotation of said rotatable shaft causes said magnet to rotate.

6. The electric charging system of claim 1, wherein said electric current generator comprises a magnet.

7. The electric charging system of claim 6, wherein said magnet is rotatable and rotation of said magnet causes said electric current to be generated.

8. The electric charging system of claim 7, wherein said magnet is attached to a rotatable shaft, wherein rotation of said magnet causes said rotatable shaft to rotate.

9. The electric charging system of claim 8, comprising a rotation direction sensitive clutch attached to said rotatable shaft.

10. The electric charging system of claim 6, wherein said magnet translates along a first direction.

11. The electric charging system of claim 7, wherein said magnet engages a rotatable shaft, wherein rotation of said magnet causes said rotatable shaft to rotate.

12. The electric charging system of claim 11, wherein said magnet translates along said rotatable shaft.

13. The electric charging system of claim 6, wherein said magnet comprises a cutout area.

14. The electric charging system of claim 6, wherein said electrical charger comprises a second magnet that is magnetically coupled to said magnet of said electric current generator.

15. The electric charging system of claim 14, wherein the polarization of said magnet of said electric current generator is equal to the polarization of said second magnet.

16. The electric charging system of claim 15, wherein said magnet of said electric current generator is polarized N-S across a major axis thereof.

17. The electric charging system of claim 15, wherein said magnet of said electric current generator is polarized N-S across a minor axis thereof.

18. The electric charging system of claim 14, wherein said magnet of said electric current generator rotates about a first axis and said second magnet rotates about a second axis.

19. The electric charging system of claim 18, wherein said first axis and said second axis are aligned with one another.

20. A method of charging a battery of a device, the method comprising:

positioning a device with a battery adjacent to an electrical charger;

generating a magnetic force from said electrical charger so that said device receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner;

generating an electric current from said portion of said magnetic force; and

charging said battery with said electric current.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein generating electric current comprises rotating a magnet.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein generating electric current comprises translating a magnet along a first direction.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein generating electric current comprises translating a magnet along a first direction.

26. The electric charging system of claim 25, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

27. The electric charging system of claim 25, wherein said electric current generator comprises a magnet that receives said portion of said magnetic force.

28. The electric charging system of claim 25, wherein said magnetic shield moves to said first position when said rechargeable device is not in contact with said receiving area of said electrical charger.

29. The electric charging system of claim 25, wherein said magnetic shield moves to said second position when said rechargeable device is in contact with said receiving area of said electrical charger.

30. The electric charging system of claim 28, wherein said magnetic shield moves to said second position when said rechargeable device is in contact with said receiving area of said electrical charger.

31. The electrical charging system of claim 25, wherein said magnetic shield comprises a mu-metal.

32. The electrical charging system of claim 25, wherein said rechargeable device comprises a battery that receives said electric current.

25. An electric charging system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force and comprising a receiving area for supporting a rechargeable device;

said rechargeable device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and generates an electric current therefrom; and

a magnetic shield movable relative to said electric current generator from a first position wherein said magnet is shielded from said portion of said magnetic force to a second position where said electric current generator receives said portion of said magnetic force.

33. A method of charging a battery of a device, the method comprising:

positioning adjacent to an electrical charger a device with a battery and a shield;

generating a magnetic force from said electrical charger;

moving said shield so that said device can receive a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner;

generating an electric current from said portion of said magnetic force; and

charging said battery with said electric current.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said moving of said shield results in the removal of said shield from said device.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein said mass is offset with respect to an axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft.

39. The device of claim 36, wherein said rotation direction sensitive clutch engages said rotatable shaft upon receipt of said electrical signal by said motor.

36. A device that vibrates to indicate a telecommunications message has been received comprising:

a receiver that receives a telecommunications message and generates an electrical signal upon receipt of said telecommunications message; and

a vibration generator comprising;

a motor that receives said electrical signal;

a mass attached to a rotatable shaft that is attached to said motor, wherein said motor causes said rotatable shaft to rotate upon receipt of said electrical signal which causes said mass to rotate so as to cause said telephone to vibrate; and

a rotation direction sensitive clutch attached to said rotatable shaft.

40. An electric charging and vibrating system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and generates an electric current therefrom;

a battery that receives said electric current;

a receiver that receives a telecommunications message and generates an electrical signal upon receipt of said telecommunications message; and

a vibration generator that receives said electrical signal and vibrates said telephone upon receipt of said electrical signal so that a user can readily feel said device vibrating.

41. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 40, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

42. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 40, wherein said electric current generator comprises a magnet and said vibration generator comprises a mass.

43. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 42, wherein said magnet moves relative to said vibration generator.

44. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 43, wherein said magnet rotates relative to said vibration generator.

45. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 43, wherein said magnet translates relative to said vibration generator.

46. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 44, wherein said magnet translates relative to said vibration generator.

47. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 46, wherein said electrical charger comprises a second magnet that attracts said magnet so as to cause said magnet to translate towards said second magnet.

48. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 42, wherein said mass moves relative to said electric current generator.

49. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 48, wherein said mass rotates relative to said electric current generator.

50. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 43, wherein said mass rotates relative to said electric current generator.

51. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 44, wherein said mass rotates relative to said electric current generator.

52. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 44, wherein said mass and said magnet do not rotate simultaneously.

53. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 44, wherein said mass and said magnet can rotate synchronously with one another.

54. An electric charging and vibrating system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

a receiver that receives a telecommunications message and generates an electrical signal upon receipt of said telecommunications message;

a motor having a rotatable shaft, said motor connected to said receiver so as to receive said electrical signal;

a mass attached to said rotatable shaft, wherein said motor rotates said shaft and mass upon receipt of said electrical signal so that said rotating mass causes said device to vibrate to such an extent that a user can readily feel said device vibrate;

a magnet attached to said motor, wherein said magnet receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and rotates so that said motor generates an electric current therefrom; and

a battery that receives said electric current.

55. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 54, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

56. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 54, wherein said mass is offset relative to said rotatable shaft.

57. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 54, wherein said magnet is attached to said rotatable shaft so that rotation of said magnet causes said rotatable shaft to rotate and generate said electric current within said motor.

58. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 57, wherein said shaft comprises:

a first rotation direction sensitive clutch to which said mass is attached; and

a second rotation direction sensitive clutch to which said magnet is attached, wherein said mass and magnet are prevented from rotating simultaneously.

59. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 57, wherein said magnet translates relative to said mass along said rotatable shaft.

60. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 59, comprising a spring positioned between said mass and said magnet so as to bias said mass and magnet away from one another.

61. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 59, wherein said electrical charger comprises a second magnet that attracts said magnet towards said mass until said magnet engages said mass.

62. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 61, wherein a portion of said mass is offset with respect to said rotatable shaft;

and

said magnet has a recess that receives said portion when said magnet engages said mass so that upon engagement rotation of said magnet causes said mass to rotate.

63. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 62, wherein said device is not caused to vibrate by said mass when said engaged magnet and mass rotate.

64. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 61, wherein said magnet comprises an alignment pin;

and

said mass has an opening that receives said alignment pin when said magnet engages said mass so that upon engagement rotation of said magnet causes said mass to rotate.

65. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 64, wherein said mass has a portion that is offset with respect to said rotatable shaft;

and

said magnet has a second portion that is offset with respect to said rotatable shaft.

66. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 65, wherein said device is not caused to vibrate by said mass when said engaged magnet and mass rotate.