ELECTRICAL RECHARGER UNIT

• US 20090079386A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zimed Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: ZI Medical, PLC
• Inventors: Hall, Kenneth, Gallagher, George, Dodgson, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/664,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

An electrical recharger unit (10) comprising a master (12) and slave (14) device each having electromagnetic coils capable of being brought into close or touching proximity to one another. A power supply delivers electrical currents to an electromagnetic coil of the master device. The electromagnetic coils are wound onto a transformer core and primary transfer means made at least partially of a ferromagnetic polymer material is associated with an end of each core to provide enhanced contact between the master and slave device.

Claims

1. An inductive recharger unit comprising a master device adapted to transfer electrical power to a slave device comprising;

electromagnetic coils associated with the master and slave devices capable of being brought into close or touching proximity of one another;

a power supply for delivering electrical currents to the electromagnetic coil of the master device;

wherein

the electromagnetic coils are each wound onto a transformer core, each core comprising a shaft about which the coil is wrapped and a primary transfer means associated with an end of the core, the primary transfer means being at least partially manufactured of a ferrite powder-polyethylene mixture.

2. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transformer core is a laminated transformer core.

3. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transformer core is a ferromagnetic core.

4. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core and primary transfer means are integrally formed.

5. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shape of the primary transfer means is appropriate to match the shape of the other device.

6. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the shape of the primary transfer means is selected from a block, E-line or T-line transformer (square or oblong section) and split torroidal (round or oval section).

7. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the primary transfer means is a disc of a ferrite powder-polyethylene admixture.

8. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a secondary transfer means is provided.

9. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the secondary transfer means is comprised of the same material as the primary transfer means.

10. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the secondary transfer means comprises a ferromagnetic material arranged to at least partially surround each electromagnetic coil.

11. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the secondary transfer means comprises a complete tube, partial tube or strips of ferromagnetic material arranged circumjacent to the electromagnetic core.

12. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 11 wherein the electromagnetic coils comprise an electrically conductive wire wrapped around a ferromagnetic core.

13. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the primary transfer means comprises a ferromagnetic polymer material.

17. An inductive recharges unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein the primary transfer means is formed by injection moulding.

18. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein the primary transfer means is stamped from a sheet of material.

19. An inductive recharges unit as claimed in claim 18 wherein the primary transfer means and/or secondary transfer means is provided with a cover.

20. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 19 wherein the cover comprises a polycarbonate cap.

21. The use of an inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 19 as a charger unit for a medical device.

22. The use of an inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 21 wherein the medical device is a syringe driver unit.

23. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 1 further comprising alignment means capable of ascertaining when the electromagnetic coils are in close or touching proximity and when they are aligned with one another.

24. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 23 further comprising control means for controlling the power supply wherein the control means is adapted to switch the power supply on only when the electromagnetic coils are within predetermined proximity and alignment parameters.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

25. An inductive recharger unit comprising a master device adapted to transfer electrical power to a slave device comprising;

electromagnetic coils associated with the master and slave devices capable of being brought into close or touching proximity of one another;

a power supply for delivering electrical currents to the electromagnetic coil of the master device;

an alignment means for ascertaining when the electromagnetic coils are in close or touching proximity of and aligned with one other; and

a control means for controlling the power supply;

wherein the control means is adapted to switch the power supply on only when the electromagnetic coils are within predetermined proximity and alignment parameters.

26. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 25 wherein alignment means comprises a sensor and an indicator, the sensor being capable of sensing when the indicator is in a desired location relative thereto.

27. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 26 wherein the alignment means comprises a light source as an indicator and a light detector as a sensor.

28. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 27 wherein the light source is directional such that the sensor must be aligned therewith to sense the emitted light.

29. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 28 wherein the light source is a shielded light emitting diode and the sensor is a light dependent resistor.

30. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 29 wherein the light source is a focussed infrared light source and the sensor is an infrared detector.

31. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 30 wherein the control means controls the power supply.

32. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 31 wherein the control means comprises a circuit that detects the state of the sensing means,

33. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 32 wherein the control means comprises a circuit that interrogates the sensor to determine whether the light source is in correct alignment therewith.

34. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 33 wherein the sensor provides a light intensity reading that is proportional to the intensity of sensed light, the intensity being a function of the degree of alignment and/or proximity of the light source to the sensor whereby power is delivered to the master device upon sensing of light intensity within a predetermined parameter.

35. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 33 wherein the control means is run using an open or a closed loop mode.

36. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 35 wherein the control means operates in the open loop mode providing no proportional feedback from the battery charge unit allowing for maximum charge current whenever the presence of the slave unit is detected.

37. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 35 wherein the control means is operates in the closed loop mode to generate a non-contact feedback route from the slave to the master for adjustment of the rate of charging to allow a reduction in the rate when the battery is fully charged.

38. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 37 wherein the master device comprises a cradle for retaining the slave device in a desired position.

39. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 38 wherein the cradle is configured to self-align the slave device relative thereto.

40. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 39 wherein the sensing means has communication means associated therewith.

41. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 40 wherein the slave device has a circuit for determining a device parameter and is adopted to make changes to the indicator in response to the desired parameter.

42. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 41 wherein the desired parameter is battery charge status.

43. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in 42 wherein a light source is switched from continuous to flashing mode or vice versa when the battery is fully charged.

44. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 43 wherein the master device is programmed to detect when the slave device is fully charged and to switch off the power supply accordingly.

45. An inductive recharger unit as claimed in claim 44 wherein the unit provides charging means and one or two-way communication means without making any physical electrical connection between the master and slave devices.

46. (canceled)