INDUCTIVE RECEIVERS FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES

• US 20100257382A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Ltd.
• Inventors: Greenwald, Oola, Ben-Shalom, Amir, Azancot, Yossi, Rofe, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A power providing system for an electrical device includes a secondary inductor, wired to the electrical device, for inductively coupling with a primary inductor hardwired to a power supply. The secondary inductor is incorporated into an accessory of the electrical device.

Claims

1. A power providing system for an electrical device comprising:

a secondary inductor, wired to said electrical device, for inductively coupling with a primary inductor hardwired to a power supply, wherein said secondary inductor is incorporated into an accessory of said electrical device.

2. The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said electrical device is selected from a group consisting of:

computers, mobile telephones, media players, PDAs, Walkman®

s, portable CD players, dictaphones, portable DVD players and mobile communications devices.

3. The power providing system of claim 1, wherein said secondary inductor comprises an electrical connector for coupling to a power jack socket such that said secondary inductor is retrofittable to said electrical device.

4. The power providing system of claim 3 said electrical connector being a hermaphrodite connector comprising:

a male plug portion, for coupling with said power jack socket and a female socket portion for coupling to an external power source.

5. The power providing system of claim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a removable power pack;

said power pack being connectable to said electrical device via contacts, said secondary inductor comprising an electrical connector for coupling to said contacts.

6. The power providing system of claim 1, said electrical device further comprising an electrochemical cell, wherein said secondary inductor is connected to said electrochemical cell via a rectifier for charging said electrochemical cell.

7. The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said accessory is selected from a group consisting of:

removable casings of said electrical device, carrying cases for transporting said electrical device, straps for carrying said electrical device, carrying handles, fashion-tags, ornamental pendants, mobile danglers, skins for encasing said electrical device, stickers for adhering to said electrical device, belt-clips, neck support straps and earphone units.

8. The power providing system of claim 1 said electrical device further comprising an electrochemical cell, wherein said accessory comprises a USB plug for coupling to a computer such that said electrochemical cell is selectably chargeable by power drawn from said computer.

9. The power providing system of claim 8 wherein said USB plug is wired to a data jack socket of said electrical device such that data is exchangeable between said computer and said mobile communication device.

10. The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said secondary inductor comprises at least one inductive coil, said inductive coil being selectively connectable to:

at least one charging circuit for connecting said inductive coil to a power pack via a rectifier for charging said power pack when said secondary inductor is inductively coupled to said primary inductor; and

at least one driving circuit connectable to said power pack for providing a varying electrical potential to said inductive coil such that said inductive coil transfers power to an external inductor wired to an external electrical load.

11. The power providing system of claim 10 wherein said power pack is selected from a group consisting of:

nickel-cadmium cells, nickel metal hydride cells, alkaline cells, flow batteries, rechargeable electrochemical cells and capacitors.

12. The power providing system of claim 10 additionally comprising a ferromagnetic core for guiding magnetic flux through said inductive coil when inductively coupled.

13. The power providing system of claim 10 wherein said driver comprises at least one switching unit for intermittently connecting said power pack to said inductive coil at high frequency.

14. The power providing system of claim 10 additionally comprising a jack for conductively connecting said power pack to an external power source for charging purposes.

15. The power providing system of claim 10 additionally comprising a jack for conductively connecting said power pack to said external electrical load.

16. A computer comprising the inductive coil of claim 10.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein said power pack powers said computer.