RETENTION OF RECHARGEABLE DEVICES
First Claim
1. A power transfer unit for a portable electrical device, the portable device being separable from the power transfer unit and being adapted to receive power by inductive coupling when the portable device is placed against the power transfer unit, the power transfer unit comprising:
- an inductive power supply adapted to supply power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and
a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device is removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the inductive power supply through inductive coupling, the power transfer surface including an indication that a part of the power transfer surface is more appropriate for charging the portable device.
2 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.
31 Citations
68 Claims
-
1. A power transfer unit for a portable electrical device, the portable device being separable from the power transfer unit and being adapted to receive power by inductive coupling when the portable device is placed against the power transfer unit, the power transfer unit comprising:
-
an inductive power supply adapted to supply power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device is removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the inductive power supply through inductive coupling, the power transfer surface including an indication that a part of the power transfer surface is more appropriate for charging the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A power transfer system comprising:
-
a portable electrical device adapted to receive power by inductive coupling; a primary unit having an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device is removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the primary unit through inductive coupling, the power transfer surface including an indication that a part of the power transfer surface is more appropriate for charging the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A power transfer unit for a portable electrical device, the portable device being separable from the power transfer unit and being adapted to receive power by inductive coupling when the portable device is placed against the power transfer unit, the system comprising:
-
an inductive power supply adapted to supply power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device is removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the inductive power supply through inductive coupling, the power transfer surface including a quality that undergoes a change depending on the state of at least one of the portable device and the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A system for transferring power comprising:
-
a portable electrical device adapted to receive power by inductive coupling; a primary unit having an inductive power supply adapted to supply power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device can be removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the inductive power supply through inductive coupling, at least one of the power transfer surface and the portable device including a quality that undergoes a change depending on the state of at least one of the at least one portable device and the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A system for supplying power inductively to one or more portable electrical devices, the system comprising:
-
a power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively; an electrical device separable from the power supplying unit and having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit; wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the device possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the device is adapted to receive power inductively.
-
-
42. A system for supplying power inductively to one or more portable electrical devices, the system comprising:
-
a power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively; at least one portable electrical device, separable from the power supplying unit, and having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit; wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the power supplying unit possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is available to supply power inductively.
-
-
43. A system for supplying power inductively to portable electrical devices, the system comprising:
-
a power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively; a plurality of portable electrical devices, each separable from the power supplying unit, and each having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device concerned is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit; wherein the portable electrical devices include at least two different classes of device, and at least part of an exterior surface of the power supplying unit possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is adapted to supply power inductively to one particular the class of device.
-
-
44. A system for supplying power inductively to a portable electrical device, the system comprising:
-
a power supplying unit, arranged within an object so as to be invisible from outside the object, and having means for supplying power inductively, the object having a primary purpose other than supplying power inductively; a portable electrical device having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the object, the device being separable from the object; wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the object possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user of the presence within the object of such a power supplying unit adapted to supply power inductively.
-
-
45. A portable electrical device adapted to receive power inductively from an inductive power supplying unit, the device being separable from the unit and comprising:
-
means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit; wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the device possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the device is adapted to receive power inductively.
-
- 46. An inductive power supplying unit for supplying power inductively to a portable electrical device separable from the power supplying unit and adapted to receive power inductively from the inductive power supplying unit when the device is placed in proximity to the unit, the inductive power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively, and at least part of an exterior surface of the unit possessing a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is available to supply power inductively.
-
66. An inductive power supply unit, for use in a system for supplying power inductively to two or more different classes of portable electrical devices, each device being separable from the power supplying unit and having means for receiving power inductively from the unit when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit, the inductive power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively and at least part of an exterior surface of the inductive power supplying unit possessing a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is adapted to supply power inductively to one particular the class of device.
-
67. An object comprising:
-
a power supplying unit, arranged within the object so as to be invisible from outside the object, and having means for supplying power inductively to at least one portable electrical device when the device is placed in proximity to the object, the device being separable from the object, and the object having a primary purpose other than supplying power inductively; wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the object possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user of the presence within the object of such a power supplying unit adapted to supply power inductively. - View Dependent Claims (68)
-
Specification