Retention of rechargeable devices
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a system and method for retaining portable rechargeable devices to recharging stations wherein one or other or both of the recharging station and the portable device are provided with connecting means adapted for temporary releasable connection of the two. This is particularly advantageous when used with recharging stations, which permit the device to be recharged in multiple places on the recharging station, providing a positive means of retaining the device. This is particularly advantageous if the recharging station is to be used in a mobile environment such as a car, or on a wall or ceiling.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A primary unit for use in a power transfer system that has a portable electrical or electronic device, the device being separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power from the primary unit by inductive coupling when the device is placed on or in proximity to the primary unit, the primary unit comprising:
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a power transfer surface; and
an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively;
the primary unit being arranged such that there are at least first and second different relative positions in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply; and
further comprisingat least one attaching element which temporarily releasably attaches the device to the primary unit in each of said first and second positions such that the device is held on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, the at least one attaching element providing a non-gravitational force, acting to resist movement of the device away from the power transfer surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to that surface, when the device is attached to the primary unit in any one of said positions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for transferring power to at least one portable electrical or electronic device by inductive coupling, comprising:
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a primary unit having a power transfer surface and an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively;
a portable electrical or electronic device separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply when the device is placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, the primary unit and the device being arranged such that there are at least first and second different relative positions in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply; and
at least one attaching element which temporarily releasably attaches the device to the primary unit in each of said first and second positions such that the device is held on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, said attaching element(s) providing a non-gravitational force, acting to resist movement of the device away from the power transfer surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to that surface, when the device is attached to the primary unit in any one of said positions. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 57)
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42. A portable electrical or electronic device adapted to receive power from a primary unit that has a power transfer surface and an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively,
said device being separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power from the inductive power supply by inductive coupling when the device is placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, the device being arranged such that there are at least first and second different relative positions in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply, and wherein the device comprises at least one attaching element which temporarily releasably attaches the device to the primary unit in each of said first and second positions such that the device is held on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, said attaching element(s) providing a non-gravitational force, acting to resist movement of the device away from the power transfer surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to that surface, when the device is attached to the primary unit in any one of said positions.
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45. A method of transferring power to portable electrical or electronic devices by inductive coupling from a primary unit having a power transfer surface, the or each portable electrical or electronic device being separable from the primary unit and being adapted to receive power inductively from the primary unit when the device is placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, and there being at least first and second different relative positions in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the primary unit, which method comprises:
providing a non-gravitational force, acting to resist movement of the device away from the power transfer surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to that surface, when the device is placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface in any one of said positions, such that the device is temporarily releasably attached to the primary unit in that position. - View Dependent Claims (58)
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46. A primary unit, for use in a power transfer system that has a portable electrical or electronic device separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power from the primary unit by inductive coupling when the device is placed on or in proximity to the primary unit, the primary unit comprising:
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a power transfer surface; and
an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively, the primary unit being arranged such that there are at least first and second different relative positions, or at least first and second different relative orientations, in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply, wherein the power transfer surface comprises a high friction surface portion which provides a force acting to resist sliding movement of the device across the power transfer surface in a direction parallel to that surface, when the device is placed in contact with the power transfer surface in any one of said positions, or in any one of said orientations, as the case may be. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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54. A system for transferring power to portable electrical or electronic devices by inductive coupling, comprising:
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a primary unit having a power transfer surface and an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively; and
a portable electrical or electronic device separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply when the device is placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, the primary unit and the device being arranged such that there are at least first and second different relative positions, or at least first and second different relative orientations, in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply, wherein the power transfer surface comprises a high friction surface portion which provides a force acting to resist sliding movement of the device across the power transfer surface in a direction parallel to that surface, when the device is placed in any one of said positions, or in any one of said orientations, as the case may be. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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59. A method of transferring power to at least one portable electrical or electronic device by inductive coupling from a primary unit having a power transfer surface, the or each portable electrical or electronic device being separable from the primary unit and being adapted to receive power inductively from the primary unit when the device is placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, and there being at least first and second different relative positions, or at least first and second different relative orientations, in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the primary unit, which method comprises:
employing a high friction surface portion of the power transfer surface to provide a force, acting to resist sliding movement of the device across the power transfer surface in a direction parallel to that surface, when the device is placed in contact with the power transfer surface in any one of said positions, or in any one of said orientations, as the case may be.
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60. A primary unit, for use in a power transfer system that has a portable electrical or electronic device separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power from the primary unit by inductive coupling when the device is placed on or in proximity to the primary unit, the primary unit comprising:
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a power transfer surface; and
an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively, the primary unit being arranged such that there are at least first and second different relative positions, or at least first and second different relative orientations, in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the inductive power supply, wherein the power transfer surface is generally flat, and comprises at least one surface indentation or contour which resists movement of the device across the power transfer surface in a direction parallel to that surface, when the device is placed in any one of said positions or orientations.
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61. A primary unit for use in a power transfer system that has a portable electrical or electronic device, the device being separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power from the primary unit by inductive coupling when the device is placed on or in proximity to the primary unit, the primary unit comprising:
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a power transfer surface; and
means for supplying power inductively;
the primary unit being arranged such that there are at least first and second different relative positions in which the device can be placed with respect to the power transfer surface to receive power inductively from the supplying means; and
further comprisingconnecting means for temporarily releasably attaching the device to the primary unit in each of said first and second positions such that the device is held on or in proximity to the power transfer surface, said connecting means being adapted to provide a non-gravitational force, acting to resist movement of the device away from the power transfer surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to that surface, when the device is attached to the primary unit in any one of said positions.
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62. A primary unit for transferring power inductively to a portable electrical or electronic device, the device being separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power from the primary unit by inductive coupling, and the primary unit comprising:
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an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively; and
a surface having a power transfer portion on or in proximity to which the device is placed to receive power inductively;
wherein the primary unit possesses at least one visual or tactile quality indicating where on the surface to place the portable device to receive power. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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64. An item of furniture having a primary unit embedded within it, the primary unit comprising an inductive power supply adapted to transfer power inductively to a portable electrical or electronic device, the device being separable from the primary unit and adapted to receive power from the primary unit by inductive coupling, wherein:
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the item of furniture has a surface on or in proximity to which the device is placed to receive power inductively from the primary unit; and
the item of furniture possesses at least one visual or tactile quality indicating the presence of the primary unit in the item of furniture.
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Specification