Contact-less power transfer

• US 20050140482A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: James Westwood Hay, Lily Ka-Lai Cheng, Pilgrim Giles William Beart
• Inventors: Beart, Pilgrim Giles William, Cheng, Lily Ka-Lai, Hay, James Westwood
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 336/180
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof.

Claims

1-72. -72. (canceled)

73. A portable electrical or electronic device adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit, the device comprising:

a cover element having a substantially planar portion with inner and outer surfaces, the device being adapted to be placed with said outer surface on or in proximity to such a primary unit when receiving power therefrom; and

a power-receiving element in the form of a thin sheet, comprising a coil arranged in close proximity to said inner surface of said cover element and having a central axis extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, for receiving power inductively from the primary unit when the device is so placed on or in proximity to the primary unit.

74. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein said thin sheet is substantially flat.

75. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein said thin sheet is curved.

76. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein said power-receiving element further comprises a core of magnetic material, said core having a longitudinal axis which extends generally parallel to said plane.

77. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 76, wherein said coil is wound about said core.

78. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 76, wherein said coil extends in its axial direction over a distance that is large compared to a thickness of said power-receiving element.

79. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 76, wherein said core is in the form of a thin sheet extending generally parallel to said plane.

80. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 76, wherein a thickness of said core, measured in a direction perpendicular to said plane, is 2 mm or less.

81. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 77, wherein the largest dimension of said core is in the direction of said central axis of said coil.

82. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 76, wherein said core is made of amorphous magnetically permeable material.

83. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 81, wherein said amorphous magnetically permeable material is in the form of a flexible ribbon.

84. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 83, wherein said ribbon comprises one or more layers of amorphous magnetically permeable material.

85. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 76, wherein said core has a shape parallel to said plane that is generally rectangular and significantly non-square.

86. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein the portable electrical or electronic device is a long thin device.

87. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein said power-receiving element has two such coils, the respective central axes of said two coils extending in mutually orthogonal directions generally parallel to said plane.

88. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein said portable electrical or electronic device has a metal plane extending generally parallel to said plane of said planar portion of said cover element.

89. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein the portable electrical or electronic device has a printed circuit board extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion of said cover element.

90. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 73, wherein said planar portion of said cover element includes metal.

91. A portable electrical or electronic device as claimed in claim 76, wherein said core is located between said cover element and components of the device susceptible to electromagnetic fields so that the core can serve to reduce the effects on such components of an electromagnetic field generated by the primary unit.

92. A rechargeable battery adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit when fitted into a space in a portable electrical or electronic device, the device comprising a cover element having a substantially planar portion with inner and outer surfaces and being adapted to be placed with said outer surface on or in proximity to such a primary unit when the battery is to be recharged, and the device being adapted to retain the battery in the space with its longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, the battery comprising:

a power-receiving element comprising a coil which is in close proximity to said inner surface of said cover element when the cell is so retained in said space and which has a central axis that extends generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, for receiving power inductively from the primary unit when the device is so placed on or in proximity to the primary unit; and

a rechargeable energy-storing element connected to the power-receiving element for storing the power received inductively by the power-receiving element.

93. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein said power-receiving element is in the form of a thin sheet.

94. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 93, wherein said thin sheet is substantially flat.

95. rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 93, wherein said thin sheet is curved.

96. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein said power-receiving element further comprises a core of magnetic material, said core having a longitudinal axis which extends generally parallel to said plane.

97. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 96, wherein said coil is wound about said core.

98. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 96, wherein said coil extends in its axial direction over a distance that is large compared to a thickness of said power-receiving element.

99. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 96, wherein said core is in the form of a thin sheet extending generally parallel to said plane.

100. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 96, wherein said core is in the form of a long cylinder.

101. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 96, wherein said core is made of amorphous magnetically permeable material.

102. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 100, wherein said amorphous magnetically permeable material is in the form of a flexible ribbon.

103. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 102, wherein said ribbon comprises one or more layers of amorphous magnetically permeable material.

104. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein a thickness of said power-receiving element, measured in a direction perpendicular to said plane, is small relative to the dimensions of the power-receiving element parallel to said plane.

105. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein said power-receiving element has two such coils, the respective central axes of said two coils extending in mutually orthogonal directions generally parallel to said plane.

106. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein said portable electrical or electronic device has a metal plane extending generally parallel to said plane of said planar portion of said cover element.

107. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein the portable electrical or electronic device has a printed circuit board extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion of said cover element.

108. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein said planar portion of said cover element includes metal.

109. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 96, wherein, when the battery is retained in said space, said core is located between said cover element and components of the device susceptible to electromagnetic fields so that the core can serve to reduce the effects on such components of an electromagnetic field generated by the primary unit.

110. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, wherein said rechargeable battery further comprises a power conversion unit which converts power received inductively by the power-receiving element into a form suitable for delivery to outside said battery through external electrical connections thereof, or into a form suitable for recharging the energy-storing element, or into both said forms.

111. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 110, wherein said rechargeable battery has a charge-control unit operable, when the power-receiving element is receiving power inductively, to meter the supply of inductively-received power to the external electrical connections and to the energy-storing element.

112. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 92, having an enclosure and external electrical connections similar in dimensions to an industry-standard battery.

113. A rechargeable battery adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit, the battery comprising:

a generally cylindrical body having a central axis;

a power-receiving element, comprising a coil having a central axis extending generally in parallel with said central axis of said body, for receiving power inductively from the primary unit when the battery is placed on or in proximity to a power transfer surface of the primary unit with said central axis of said body lying across the surface; and

a rechargeable energy-storing element connected to said power-receiving element for storing the power received inductively by the power-receiving element.

114. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 113, wherein said power-receiving element is in the form of a thin sheet.

115. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 114, wherein said thin sheet is substantially flat.

116. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 114, wherein said thin sheet is curved.

117. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 114, wherein said thin sheet is wrapped circumferentially around said body or around another generally cylindrical component of the battery.

118. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 113, wherein said power-receiving element further comprises a core of magnetic material, said core having a longitudinal axis which extends generally parallel to said central axis of said body.

119. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 118, wherein said coil is wound about said core.

120. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 118, wherein said coil extends in its axial direction over a distance that is large compared to a thickness of said power-receiving element.

121. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 118, wherein said core is in the form of a thin sheet extending generally parallel to said central axis of said body.

122. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 118, wherein said core is in the form of a long cylinder.

123. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 118, wherein said core is part of a functional component of said battery which has high magnetic permeability.

124. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 118, wherein said core is made of amorphous magnetically permeable material.

125. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 124, wherein said amorphous magnetically permeable material is in the form of a flexible ribbon.

126. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 125, wherein said ribbon comprises one or more layers of amorphous magnetically permeable material.

127. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 113, wherein said rechargeable battery further comprises a power conversion unit which converts power received inductively by the power-receiving element into a form suitable for delivery to outside said battery through external electrical connections thereof, or into a form suitable for recharging the energy-storing element, or into both said forms.

128. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 127, wherein said rechargeable battery has a charge-control unit operable, when the power-receiving element is receiving power inductively, to meter the supply of inductively-received power to the external electrical connections and to the energy-storing element.

129. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 113, having an enclosure and external electrical connections similar in dimensions to an industry-standard battery.

130. An adapter assembly, for a portable electrical or electronic device which comprises a cover element having a substantially planar portion with inner and outer surfaces and which is fitted with, or is adapted to be fitted with, one or more batteries such that said one or more batteries are located adjacent to said inner surface of said planar portion, the assembly comprising:

a power-receiving element, having a coil, adapted to fit in a space between said inner surface of said planar portion and said one or more batteries such that said coil is arranged in close proximity to said inner surface of said planar portion and has a central axis extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, said power-receiving element being adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit when the device is placed with said outer surface on or in proximity to the primary unit; and

thin electrodes, connected to said power-receiving element and adapted for insertion between terminals of said one or more batteries and battery terminals of the device when the power-receiving element is fitted in said space, for supplying power received inductively by said power-receiving element to said device.

131. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein said power-receiving element is in the form of a thin sheet.

132. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 131, wherein said thin sheet is substantially flat.

133. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 131, wherein said thin sheet is curved.

134. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein said power-receiving element further comprises a core of magnetic material, said core having a longitudinal axis which extends generally parallel to said plane.

135. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 134, wherein said coil is wound about said core.

136. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 134, wherein said coil extends in its axial direction over a distance that is large compared to a thickness of said power-receiving element.

137. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 134, wherein said core is in the form of a thin sheet extending generally parallel to said plane.

138. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 134, wherein said core has a significantly non-square shape parallel to said plane.

139. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein a thickness of said power-receiving element, measured in a direction perpendicular to said plane, is small relative to the dimensions of the power-receiving element parallel to said plane.

140. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein said power-receiving element has two such coils, the respective central axes of said two coils extending in mutually orthogonal directions generally parallel to said plane.

141. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein said portable electrical or electronic device has a metal plane extending generally parallel to said plane of said planar portion of said cover element.

142. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein the portable electrical or electronic device has a printed circuit board extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion of said cover element.

143. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 130, wherein the portable electrical or electronic device has a printed circuit board extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion of said cover element.

144. An adapter assembly as claimed in claim 134, wherein said core is located between said cover element and components of the device susceptible to electromagnetic fields so that the core can serve to reduce the effects on such components of an electromagnetic field generated by the primary unit.