Inductively coupled power transfer assembly
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transferring power, said apparatus comprising:
- a transmitter includinga power cable configured to electrically connect to an external power source,a power supply electrically connected to said power cable,a power switch operatively connected to said power supply,a transmitting inductor electrically connected to said power supply, anda plug portion having at least one first magnetic latch portion;
a receiver includinga receptacle configured to receive said plug portion of said transmitter with a specified alignment,at least one second magnetic latch portion positioned to engage a corresponding one of said at least one first magnetic latch portion when said plug portion is received in said receptacle, said transmitter releasably secured to said receiver by a magnetic attraction between said at least one first and second magnetic latch portions,a magnet positioned to actuate said power switch when said plug portion is received in said receptacle thereby energizing said power supply when said power plug is electrically connected to a power source,a receiving inductor positioned to be magnetically coupled to said transmitting inductor when said plug portion is received in said receptacle,a power converter electrically connected to said receiving inductor, said receiving inductor providing power to said power converter when said power supply excites said transmitting inductor, andan isolation switch electrically connected between an output of said power converter and an output of said receiver, said isolation switch actuated when said power converter is energized by said receiving inductor thereby allowing said power converter to be electrically connected to said output of said receiver, andan alignment mechanism that maintains said specified alignment between said plug portion and said receptacle when said plug portion is received by said receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for transferring power to through an isolated, insulated connection. A power transfer assembly includes a portable cable assembly and a receiver. The portable cable assembly includes a power plug and a transmitter with a plug portion that mates with a receptacle on the receiver. A magnetic latch secures the plug portion in the ring receptacle. The transmitter includes a power supply, a power switch, a signal sensor, and a transmitting inductor. The receiver includes a receiving inductor, a signal coil, a magnet, a power converter, a temperature sensor, and an isolation switch. When the transmitter is coupled with the receiver, the power switch is operated by the magnet, the signal sensor is magnetically coupled to the signal coil, and the transmitting inductor is magnetically coupled to the receiving inductor. The normally open isolation switch is operated when the power converter is energized by the transmitter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transferring power, said apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter including a power cable configured to electrically connect to an external power source, a power supply electrically connected to said power cable, a power switch operatively connected to said power supply, a transmitting inductor electrically connected to said power supply, and a plug portion having at least one first magnetic latch portion; a receiver including a receptacle configured to receive said plug portion of said transmitter with a specified alignment, at least one second magnetic latch portion positioned to engage a corresponding one of said at least one first magnetic latch portion when said plug portion is received in said receptacle, said transmitter releasably secured to said receiver by a magnetic attraction between said at least one first and second magnetic latch portions, a magnet positioned to actuate said power switch when said plug portion is received in said receptacle thereby energizing said power supply when said power plug is electrically connected to a power source, a receiving inductor positioned to be magnetically coupled to said transmitting inductor when said plug portion is received in said receptacle, a power converter electrically connected to said receiving inductor, said receiving inductor providing power to said power converter when said power supply excites said transmitting inductor, and an isolation switch electrically connected between an output of said power converter and an output of said receiver, said isolation switch actuated when said power converter is energized by said receiving inductor thereby allowing said power converter to be electrically connected to said output of said receiver, and an alignment mechanism that maintains said specified alignment between said plug portion and said receptacle when said plug portion is received by said receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for transferring power from a power source to a receiver on a vehicle, said receiver including a receiving inductor for power transfer, said apparatus comprising:
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a power cable configured to electrically connect to the power source; a power supply electrically connected to said power cable; a transmitting inductor electrically connected to said power supply; a plug portion configured to mate with a receptacle on the receiver with a specific alignment, said plug portion having a plug magnetic latch configured to cooperate with a corresponding receptacle magnetic latch in said receptacle, said transmitting inductor proximate a surface of said plug portion, said transmitting inductor configured to be magnetically coupled with the receiving inductor in the receiver, said transmitting inductor configured to transfer power from said power supply to the receiving inductor; and a power switch operatively connected to said power supply, said power switch selectively allowing said power supply to be energized when said plug portion is mated with said receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for transferring power from a portable cable assembly that includes a plug with a plug magnetic latch, a transmitting inductor, and a power switch, said apparatus comprising:
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a receptacle configured to receive the plug of the portable cable assembly, said receptacle having an alignment mechanism that aligns the plug when received by said receptacle; a receptacle magnetic latch in said receptacle, said receptacle magnetic latch positioned to engage the corresponding plug magnetic latch when said receptacle receives the plug, said receptacle releasably securing said plug by a magnetic attraction between said receptacle magnetic latch and plug magnetic latch; a receiving inductor positioned to be magnetically coupled to the transmitting inductor in the plug when the plug is mated with said receptacle; and a power converter electrically connected to said receiving inductor, said receiving inductor providing power to said power converter when the plug is received in said receptacle and said transmitting inductor is transmitting power. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification