INDUCTIVE BATTERY CHARGER FOR SERVICE EQUIPMENT

• US 20090237029A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: ANDELFINGER, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/054,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237029A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An inductive battery charging system for a handheld service tool is provided. The system includes a battery charger and a handheld service tool. The battery charger has a primary coil enclosed within a housing, and which is coupled to a power source. The service tool includes a secondary coil, enclosed within a housing, that provides at least 100 mA of inductively-generated alternating current, a rectifier, a linear voltage regulator, a battery charge controller and a battery.

Claims

1. An inductive battery charging system for a handheld service tool, comprising:

a battery charger, coupled to a power source, including a primary coil enclosed within a housing; and

a handheld service tool, including;

a secondary coil to provide at least 100 mA of alternating current when inductively-coupled to the primary coil;

a rectifier coupled to the secondary coil;

a linear voltage regulator coupled to the rectifier;

a battery charge controller coupled to the linear voltage regulator;

a battery coupled to the battery charge controller; and

a housing to enclose at least the secondary coil, the rectifier, the voltage regulator, and the battery charge controller.

2. The charging system of claim 1, further comprising a base station having a platform upon which the battery charger is disposed.

3. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger is a wall-mounted plate including an attached cradle for storing the handheld device.

4. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger is a wall-mounted hanger with a hooked suspension unit.

5. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the power source is an AC power line or a DC power supply.

6. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the inductively-generated alternating current has a frequency greater than 60 Hz.

7. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger includes a feedback switch to turn off the primary coil after the battery is substantially charged.

8. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the battery charger includes a feedback switch to reduce the primary coil output to maintain a trickle charge after the battery is substantially charged.

9. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the system is hermetically sealed.

10. An inductively-charged, handheld service tool, comprising:

a coil to provide at least 100 mA of inductively-generated alternating current;

a rectifier coupled to the coil;

a linear voltage regulator coupled to the rectifier;

a battery charge controller, coupled to the linear voltage regulator; and

a battery coupled to the battery charge controller; and

a housing to enclose at least the coil, the rectifier, the voltage regulator and the battery charge controller.

11. The service tool of claim 10, wherein the inductively-generated alternating current has a frequency greater than 60 Hz.

12. The service tool of claim 10, further comprising a charge status indicator.

13. The service tool of claim 11, wherein the charge status indicator is at least one light emitting diode.

14. The service tool of claim 10, wherein the housing is hermetically sealed.

15. A method of inductively charging a handheld service tool, comprising:

placing a handheld service tool on a base station that includes a battery charger having a primary coil enclosed therein;

inductively coupling the output of the primary coil to a secondary coil, enclosed within the handheld service tool, to generate an AC waveform,

converting the AC waveform into a pulsating DC signal;

converting the pulsating DC voltage into a steady-state DC signal;

charging a battery of the handheld service tool using the steady state DC signal; and

indicating a charging status of the battery.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising turning off the AC waveform after the battery is substantially charged.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising reducing the magnitude of the AC waveform after the battery is substantially charged to maintain a trickle charge.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the charging status is indicated by at least one light emitting diode.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the handheld service tool includes means for indicating a charging status of the battery.

19. An inductive battery charging system, comprising:

a battery charger, coupled to a power source, including means for generating an electromagnetic field enclosed therein; and

a handheld service tool, including;

means for inductively-coupling the electromagnetic field to provide at least 100 mA of alternating current;

means for charging a battery using the inductively-generated alternating current; and

means for housing at least the coupling means and the charging means.