Inductive coil assembly
First Claim
1. An inductive coil assembly comprising:
- a first coil arranged at a first orientation to receive at least one of inductively transmitted power and inductively transmitted communications;
a second coil arranged at a second orientation to receive at least one of inductively transmitted power and inductively transmitted communications, said first orientation being different from said second orientation; and
wherein said first coil and said second coil are electrically connectable to an electronic device, whereby the electronic device receives at least one of power and communication from at least one of said first coil and said second coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive coil assembly having multiple coils arranged at distinct orientations to provide efficient inductive coupling of power or communications or both to a device when the device is arranged at different orientations with respect to the inductive primary coil. In one embodiment, the inductive coil assembly includes three coils, each oriented along one of the x, y and z axes of a standard Cartesian three-dimensional coordinate system. The three separate coils provide effective transfer of power and communication when the device is at essentially any orientation with respect to the primary coil. In an alternative embodiment, the multi-axis inductive coil assembly of the present invention can function as a primary to inductively transmit power or communication or both over a plurality of magnetic fields at distinct orientations.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. An inductive coil assembly comprising:
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a first coil arranged at a first orientation to receive at least one of inductively transmitted power and inductively transmitted communications;
a second coil arranged at a second orientation to receive at least one of inductively transmitted power and inductively transmitted communications, said first orientation being different from said second orientation; and
wherein said first coil and said second coil are electrically connectable to an electronic device, whereby the electronic device receives at least one of power and communication from at least one of said first coil and said second coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An inductive coil assembly comprising:
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a first coil arranged at a first orientation for inductive transmission of at least one of power and communications;
a second coil arranged at a second orientation for inductive transmission of at least one of power and communications, said first orientation being different from said second orientation; and
an electronic circuit electrically connected to said first coil and said second coil, said electronic circuit providing at least one of power and communication to said first coil and said second coil, whereby said first coil and said second coil induce magnetic fields at distinct orientations. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An inductively powered device comprising:
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an electric load requiring electric power for operation;
an inductive coil assembly having a plurality of coils, each of said coils arranged at a distinct physical orientation, each of said coils electrically connected to said load;
a rectifier for rectifying an alternative current induced in said coils, said rectifying means being electrically connected with each of said coils, whereby direct current is applied to said load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A secondary for an inductively powered device comprising:
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a first coil arranged at a first angular orientation;
a second coil arranged at a second angular orientation, said first angular orientation being different from said second orientation; and
circuit means for electrically connecting said first coil and said second coil with a common load. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An inductively powered device comprising:
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a load; and
a secondary electrically connected to said load, said secondary including a first coil electrically connected with said load and a second coil electrically connected with said load, said first coil arranged at a first angular orientation, said second coil arranged at a second angular orientation different from said first angular orientation. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An inductive coil assembly comprising:
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first, second and third coils; and
a one-piece bobbin defining three spools for receiving said first, second and third coils, said first spool having an axis extending in a first direction, said second spool having an axis extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, said third spool having an axis extending in a third direction substantially perpendicular to both said first direction and said second direction, said third spool including a plurality of inner guides and a plurality of outer guides, said inner guides and said outer guides being in a non-overlapping disposition in said third direction. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A bobbin for a three-axis inductive coil assembly, manufactured by a process including the steps of:
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providing a first mold piece;
providing a second mold piece;
closing the first mold piece and the second mold piece together to cooperatively define a mold cavity, the mold cavity defining a first spool having an axis extending substantially perpendicularly to a direction in which a molded part is removed from the mold, the mold cavity further defining a second spool having an axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction in which a molded part is removed from the mold, the mold cavity further defining a third spool having an axis extending substantially in the direction in which a molded part is removed from the mold, the third spool including a plurality of inner guides extending substantially along a first plane and a plurality of outer guides extending substantially along a second plane, the first plane being spaced apart from the second substantially in the direction in which a molded part is removed from the mold, the plurality of inner guides being in non-overlapping relationship with the plurality of outer guides in the direction in which a molded part is removed from the mold;
injecting material into the mold cavity; and
removing the molded part from the cavity.
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50. A bobbin for an inductive coil assembly comprising:
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a spool having an axis and a pair of guide walls disposed on opposite sides of said spool, said guide walls extending substantially perpendicularly to said axis; and
a mounting arm extending from a first one of said guide walls, said mounting arm having a free end terminating in a first common plane with at least one of said guide walls, said first common plane extending parallel to said axis. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. An inductive coil assembly comprising:
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a first coil arranged at a first orientation to receive at least one of inductively transmitted power and inductively transmitted communications;
a second coil arranged at a second orientation to receive at least one of inductively transmitted power and inductively transmitted communications, said first orientation being different from said second orientation; and
an electronic device electrically connected to said first coil and said second coil, said electronic device receiving at least one of power and communication from at least one of said first coil and said second coil.
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Specification