APPARATUS, A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR ENABLING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY TRANSFER

• US 20090237194A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Rogler, Dietrich, Falck, Thomas, Waffenschmidt, Eberhard
• Granted Patent: US 9,520,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 336/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• 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 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

The apparatus 10 for electromagnetic energy transfer comprises a charging fixture 1 with a contact surface 4 and a generator coil 2 forming a resonator circuit with a capacitance. The charging fixture 1 is preferably arranged as an elongated bar whereon a plurality of chargeable electronic devices 5 can be arranged. In order to implement electromagnetic energy transfer from the charging fixture 1 to the electronic device 5 the latter has to be arranged with a pick-up circuit for generating secondary alternating current in a loop, preferably a secondary resonator circuit. In order to fix a position of the electronic device 5 on the charging bar 1, the charging bar is preferably arranged with a projection 3 extending in a plane of the contact surface 4. The electronic device 5 can be shaped to be hanged on the projection and removed from it in accordance with arrow 6.

Claims

1. An apparatus with a charging fixture with a contact surface for electromagnetic energy transfer via the contact surface to a plurality of electronic devices arranged with respective pick up circuits for receiving the electromagnetic energy when said electronic devices are positioned on the contact surface, said apparatus comprising a primary winding arranged substantially complementary to the contact surface, wherein

the primary winding is arranged as a part of a resonator circuit conceived to

enable electromagnetic energy transfer to respective pick-up circuits, wherein the primary winding comprises a plurality of coil elements arranged to generate a net alternating magnetic field substantially within the whole contact surface, wherein the coil elements are arranged in an overlapping fashion, an area of each coil element being further arranged with a sensor for detecting a presence of the electronic device in the area of the coil element for selectively activating the coil element on demand.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the primary winding is arranged in the charging fixture which is elongated substantially in one dimension.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged to detect an electromagnetic feedback of the electronic device conceived to receive the electromagnetic energy from the apparatus.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged to detect a softmagnetic core of the electronic device conceived to receive the electromagnetic energy from the apparatus.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging fixture is arranged to substantially exceed a complementary dimension of the electronic device and further comprises means for positioning the electronic device on the contact surface, the said means for positioning being arranged to fix a dwell position of the electronic device on the contact surface.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the means for positioning comprises projections in a plane of the contact surface conceived to accommodate the electronic device.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the means for positioning comprises a snapping mechanism.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the means for positioning comprises a permanent magnet arranged to interact with the electronic device thereby attracting it with magnetic force to the contact surface.

12. A system for electromagnetic energy transfer comprising an apparatus according to claim 1 and an electronic device arranged with a pick up circuit for receiving the electromagnetic energy.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic device is electrically operable only when positioned on the charging fixture.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system further comprises charging indicators.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic device and/or the primary winding of the charging fixture are arranged on a printed circuit board.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the charging fixture is arranged with mounting means for mounting the charging fixture on a substantially vertical surface.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein the charging fixture is integrated in a further equipment.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

18. A method for enabling electromagnetic energy transfer comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus with a charging fixture with a contact surface enabling electromagnetic energy transfer via the contact surface to a plurality of electronic devices, said apparatus comprising a primary winding arranged substantially complementary to the contact surface, wherein the primary winding is arranged as a part of a resonator circuit conceived to inductively transfer energy, wherein the primary winding comprises a plurality of coil elements arranged to generate a net alternating magnetic field substantially within the whole contact surface, wherein the coil elements are arranged in an overlapping fashion, an area of each coil element being further arranged with a sensor for detecting a presence of the electronic device in the area of the coil element;

positioning at least one electronic device on the contact surface, said electronic device being arranged with a pick up circuit for receiving the electromagnetic energy;

activating the resonator circuit selectively by the coil element on demand thereby enabling the electromagnetic energy transfer to the electronic device.