Inductive powering surface for powering portable devices
First Claim
1. A system for powering portable devices, comprising:
- a powering device having an inductive powering surface with a plurality of primary coils formed therein and a controller for selectively energizing the primary coils; and
a portable device having a secondary coil, a power supply circuit coupled to the secondary coil, and a passive locator device, the passive locator device being configured to be powered up by receiving transmissions of a sensing frequency and to transmit a response at the sensing frequency, the controller of the powering device being programmed to scan the primary coils to locate the secondary coil by energizing each of the primary coil at the sensing frequency and sensing whether a response by the passive locator device is received by said each primary coil, and to energize a group of primary coils located under the secondary coil at a power transfer frequency to transfer power to the portable device via inductive coupling between the group of primary coils and the secondary coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive powering device provides power to a portable device via inductive coupling between primary coils in the surface of the powering device and a secondary coil in the portable device. The portable device includes a passive locator device, such as an RFID device, to allow the primary coils of the inductive powering surface to detect the presence and location of the secondary coil, and only primary coils adjacent the secondary coil are energized for power transfer. A cost-effective driving configuration that arranges the primary coils into a matrix with drive circuits switchably connected to the row and columns is used to energize the primary coils.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for powering portable devices, comprising:
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a powering device having an inductive powering surface with a plurality of primary coils formed therein and a controller for selectively energizing the primary coils; and
a portable device having a secondary coil, a power supply circuit coupled to the secondary coil, and a passive locator device, the passive locator device being configured to be powered up by receiving transmissions of a sensing frequency and to transmit a response at the sensing frequency, the controller of the powering device being programmed to scan the primary coils to locate the secondary coil by energizing each of the primary coil at the sensing frequency and sensing whether a response by the passive locator device is received by said each primary coil, and to energize a group of primary coils located under the secondary coil at a power transfer frequency to transfer power to the portable device via inductive coupling between the group of primary coils and the secondary coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A portable device comprising:
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a power supply circuit;
a secondary coil coupled to the power supply circuit for powering the power supply circuit when the secondary coil is energized via inductive coupling by alternative magnetic fields at a power transfer frequency; and
a passive locator device, the passive locator device being configured to be powered up by receiving transmissions at a sensing frequency and to transmit a response at the sensing frequency to indicate a presence and location of the secondary coil, said sensing frequency being significantly higher than the power transfer frequency. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of powering a portable device, comprising:
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placing the portable device on an inductive powering surface of a power device, the powering surface having a plurality of primary coils disposed thereon, and wherein the portable device has a secondary coil therein for inductive coupling with the primary coils;
scanning the primary coils to identify a location of the secondary coil on the inductive powering surface, including transmitting a sensing frequency at a sensing frequency selected to excite a passive locator device in the portable device and sensing whether a response from the passive locator device is detected at a location of said each primary coil; and
energizing a group of primary coils located under the secondary coil at a power transfer frequency to transfer power to the portable device via inductive coupling between the group of primary coils and the secondary coil. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification