SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POWER TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20070194526A1
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLI Charge, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pure Energy Solutions, Inc. (Pure Energy Visions Corporation)
• Inventors: Randall, Mitch
• Granted Patent: US 7,982,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/22 Contacts for co-operating by abutting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment

Abstract

An electronic system includes a power delivery support structure having a power delivery surface with first and second conductive regions. An electronic device includes a plurality of contacts arranged so at least one of them engages the first conductive region and at least another of them engages the second conductive region independently of the orientation of the device relative to the power delivery surface.

Claims

1. An electrical apparatus, comprising:

a power delivery surface that comprises at least a part of a support surface, said power delivery surface being connected to an electrical power source, said power delivery surface being capable of supplying electrical power, and said power delivery surface having a plurality of pads, wherein some of said pads are at a first voltage level and others of said pads are at a second voltage level; and

an electrical device, which is supplied electricity and is positionable in any location on a support surface, said electrical device obtaining electrical power from said power delivery surface that is at least part of said support surface, said electrical device having a plurality of contacts that are spaced apart in relation to each other in positions to make power delivery capable contact with said power delivery surface.

2. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electrical devices that are supplied electricity and are positionable at any location on said support surface, said plurality of electrical devices obtaining electrical power from said power delivery surface that is at least part of said support surface.

3. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pads at said first voltage level, said pads at said second voltage level, and said plurality of contacts are arranged such that said electrical apparatus has one hundred percent contact probability between said electrical device and said power delivery surface.

4. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical device is powered by electrical power supplied by said power delivery surface.

5. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical device is charged by electrical power supplied by said power delivery surface.

6. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts achieve said power delivery capable contact with said power delivery surface via an electrically conductive connection between said contacts and said pads.

7. The electrical apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first voltage level differs from said second voltage level by an amount sufficient to permit delivery of electrical power between a first terminal conductively connected to said pads at said first voltage level and a second terminal conductively connected to said pads at said second voltage level.

8. The electrical apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of contacts are electrically connected to a rectifier circuit that is capable of rectifying electric power from said contacts whenever at least one of said contacts is at said first voltage level and at least another of said electric contacts is at said second voltage level.

9. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts achieve said power delivery capable contact with said power delivery surface via a capacitive electrical coupling between said contacts and said pads.

10. The electrical apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a dielectric layer coating said power delivery surface such that said plurality of contacts sit on said dielectric layer over said plurality of pads of said power delivery surface, said dielectric layer disposed between said contacts and said pads such that said contacts and said pads separated by said dielectric layer form two plates of an electrical capacitor, said electrical capacitor supplying electrical power to said electrical device.

11. The electrical apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first voltage level is a first polarity and said second voltage level is a second polarity such that said contacts over said pads at said first voltage level create a first electrical capacitor at said first polarity and said contacts over said pads at said second voltage level create a second electrical capacitor at said second polarity.

12. The electrical apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first electrical capacitor at said first voltage level is connected in series with said second electrical capacitor at said second voltage level, and said first capacitor and said second capacitor are electrically connected to a rectifier circuit that is capable of rectifying electric power from said first electrical capacitor and said second electrical capacitor.

13. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts are arranged such that at least a first contact of said plurality of contacts is joined with one of said plurality of pads of said power delivery surface at said first voltage level and at least a second contact of said plurality of contacts is joined with one of said plurality of pads of said power delivery surface at said second voltage level.

14. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pads at said first voltage level are interleaved with said pads at said second voltage level in such a manner that movement of said electrical device in any direction on the power delivery surface may result in a condition in which at least one contact of said plurality of contacts is joined with one pad of said pads at said first voltage level and at least a second contact of said plurality of contacts is joined with one pad of said pads at said second voltage level.

15. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one insulating gap between said pads at said first voltage level and said pads at said second voltage level in order to electrically isolate said pads at said first voltage level from said pads at said second voltage level.

16. The electrical apparatus of claim 15 wherein each contact of said plurality of contacts is dimensioned such that each contact of said plurality of contacts does not electrically connect said pads at said first voltage level to said pads at said second voltage level across said insulating gap.

17. The electrical apparatus of claim 15 wherein each contact of said plurality of contacts has a diameter measurement that is less than the size of said insulating gap.

18. The electrical apparatus of claim 15 wherein said pads at said first voltage level, said pads at said second voltage level, said plurality of contacts, and said at least one insulating gap are arranged such that said electrical apparatus has one hundred percent contact probability between said electrical device and said power delivery surface.

19. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts comprises four contacts.

20. The electrical apparatus of claim 19 wherein said four contacts comprise three contacts equally spaced around a circle and a fourth contact located at a center of said circle.

21. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts comprises five contacts.

22. The electrical apparatus of claim 21 wherein said five contacts comprise four contacts equally spaced around a circle and a fifth contact located at a center of said circle.

23. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts comprises six contacts.

24. The electrical apparatus of claim 23 wherein said six contacts comprise five contacts equally spaced around a circle and a sixth contact located at a center of said circle.

25. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts of said electrical device are located on a battery cover that is part of said electrical device.

26. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts of said electrical device are located on a battery.

27. The electrical apparatus of claim 26 wherein said plurality of contacts on said battery are electrically connected to a charging circuit that manages the charging process for said battery.

28. The electrical apparatus of claim 26 wherein said plurality of contacts on said battery extend through openings in a battery cover of said electrical device.

29. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a non-conductive screen over said power delivery surface, said non-conductive screen having openings sized such that said plurality of contacts may penetrate said non-conductive screen to create a conductive connection with said power delivery surface.

30. The electrical apparatus of claim 29 wherein said openings of said non-conductive screen are further sized to exclude non-contact objects that may be electrically conductive with said power delivery surface.

31. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts are moveable on said electrical device such that said plurality of contacts achieve more complete contact with said power delivery surface.

32. The electrical apparatus of claim 31 wherein said plurality of contacts are made moveable by the inclusion of a spring mechanism attached to each contact of said plurality of contacts.

33. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein each contact of said plurality of contacts are fashioned into a shape that achieves more complete contact with said power delivery surface.

34. The electrical apparatus of claim 33 wherein said shape of each contact of said plurality of contacts is comprised of at least one of the group consisting of:

cylindrical, cubic, round ended, rectangular ended, domed end, straight tapered end, straight tapered end with a ridge, and a sloped tapered end.

35. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of contacts are placed on a flexible printed circuit board attached to said electrical device.

36. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical device is comprised of at least one of the group consisting of:

mobile device, stationary device, battery powered device, cell phone, laptop computer, desktop computer, camera, and personal digital assistant.

37. An electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of contacts in communication with an electronic circuit and positioned to provide a potential difference to the circuit in response to being engaged with a power delivery surface having first and second conductive regions;

wherein each contact is dimensioned so it does not connect the first and second conductive regions together.

38. The device of claim 37, further including an electronic circuit which receives the potential difference from the contacts and provides a desired potential difference.

39. The device of claim 38, further including a power system which receives the desired potential difference from the electronic circuit.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein at least one of the contacts and circuit are integrated with the power system.

41. The device of claim 37, wherein the potential difference is provided between at least two of the contacts in response to the contacts engaging the power delivery surface.

42. The device of claim 37, further including a housing through which the contacts extend.

43. The device of claim 38, further including a contact power delivery support structure which carries the contacts and/or electronic circuit.

44. The device of claim 37, wherein the contacts are spaced apart from each other so there is a potential difference between at least two of them in response to the contacts engaging the power delivery surface.

45. The device of claim 37, wherein the contacts are arranged so the potential difference is provided to the electronic circuit independently of the orientation of the device relative to the power delivery surface.

46. An electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of contacts arranged so a potential difference is provided between at least two of them in response to the contacts engaging a power delivery surface, the potential difference being provided independently of the orientation of the device relative to the power delivery surface; and

an electronic circuit which receives the potential difference and provides a desired potential difference to power the electronic device.

47. The device of claim 46, further including a power system which receives the desired potential difference from the electronic circuit.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein at least one of the contacts and electronic circuit are carried by the power system.

49. The device of claim 46, further including a battery door or cover which carries at least one of the contacts and electronic circuit.

50. The device of claim 46, further including a contact power delivery support structure which carries the contacts and/or electronic circuit.

51. The device of claim 46, wherein at least one of the contacts is repeatably moveable in response to being engaged with the power delivery surface.

52. The device of claim 46, wherein the power delivery surface includes first and second conductive regions spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a dimension of each contact.

53. An electronic system, comprising:

a power delivery support structure having a power delivery surface defined by first and second conductive regions; and

an electronic device having a plurality of contacts;

wherein the first and second conductive regions and the contacts are arranged so at least one of the contacts engages the first conductive region and at least another of the contact engages the second conductive region in response to the electronic device being carried by the power delivery support structure.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the first conductive region includes a first plurality of pad segments connected to each other through conductive lines.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the second conductive region includes a second plurality of pad segments connected to each other through conductive lines.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the contact(s) engaging the first conductive region are at a different voltage potential than the contact(s) engaging the second conductive region.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the electronic device includes an electronic circuit which receives the potential difference from the contacts and provides a desired potential difference to operate the electronic device.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the potential difference is provided to the contacts independently of the orientation of the electronic device relative to the power delivery surface.

59. The system of claim 53, wherein the dimension of each contact is chosen so it does not connect the first and second conductive regions together.