Induction Charging Device

• US 20100289448A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Ziemann, Winfried, Lepper, Joachim, Jung, Philipp, Hohmann, Thomas, Faranda, Leo, Trawinski, Peter, Hilscher, Alexander, Schaefer, Norbert
• Application Number:
  US12/778,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20100289448A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An induction charging device for charging an energy accumulator of a mobile electric device is provided. The device includes a coil for energy transmission; and a control for energy transmission. The control is connected to a capacitor with a modifiable capacitance, and the capacitor is designed such that its capacitance changes as a function of whether the mobile electric device is in a charging position or not.

Claims

1. An induction charging device for charging an energy accumulator of a mobile electric device comprising:

a coil for energy transmission; and

a control for energy transmission, wherein the control is connected to a capacitor with a modifiable capacitance, wherein the capacitor is designed such that its capacitance changes as a function of whether the mobile electric device is in a charging position or not.

2. The induction charging device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor includes at least two electrodes, wherein a dielectric extends, at least partially, between the electrodes, and the dielectric'"'"'s constant can be modified by exertion of a force or the effects of a field on the dielectric, wherein the force or the field depends on whether the mobile electric device is in the charging position or not.

3. The induction charging device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor includes at least two electrodes, wherein a dielectric extends, at least partially, between the electrodes, wherein the dielectric is, at least partially, exchangeable, and wherein the dielectric that is between the electrodes depends on whether the mobile electric device is in the charging position or not.

4. The induction charging device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor has at least two electrodes whose relative position with respect to one another and/or whose form can be modified, wherein the relative position and/or form depends on whether the mobile electric device is in the charging position or not.

5. The induction charging device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the capacitor with at least two electrodes and a dielectric is arranged in the housing and wherein the housing has a deformable section, which makes it possible to exert force from the exterior onto the dielectric or onto at least one of the electrodes.

6. The induction charging device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the capacitor with at least two electrodes is arranged in a housing, wherein the housing is designed such that a depression, which is accessible from the exterior, is provided between the electrodes, and a section of the mobile electric device can be placed into said depression.

7. The induction charging device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the capacitor is designed as an open plate capacitor with at least two electrodes, wherein the electric field of the capacitor extends, at least partially, outside of the housing when the mobile electric device is in operation.

8. The induction charging device according to claim 1, wherein the control is configured such that it detects the capacitance of the capacitor during operation of the device and controls energy transmission as a function of the capacitance of the capacitor.

9. A system comprising:

an induction charging device including a coil for energy transmission and a control for energy transmission; and

a mobile electric device including a coil for energy transmission and an energy accumulator connected to the coil,

wherein the control is connected to a capacitor with a modifiable capacitance; and

wherein the mobile electric device can be positioned in a charging position such that, with the assistance of the coils, energy can be transferred from the induction charging device to the energy accumulator of the mobile electric device, and wherein the mobile electric device has a mechanism which changes the capacitance of the capacitor of the induction charging device depending on whether the mobile electric device is in the charging position or not.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile electric device comprises a housing, wherein the mechanism for changing the capacitance is a flexible section of the housing, which, when the mobile electric device is in the charging position, latches onto the flexible section of the housing of the induction charging device and exerts a force onto at least one electrode or a dielectric of the capacitor.

11. The system according to either claim 9, wherein the mobile electric device comprises a housing, wherein the mechanism for changing the capacitance is a section of the housing, which, when the induction charging device is in the charging position, latches onto a depression in the housing of the induction charging device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein when the induction charging device is in the charging position, the mechanism for changing the capacitance is located in the field of the capacitor.

13. A process for charging an energy accumulator of a mobile electric device comprising the steps of:

providing an induction charging device with a control for energy transmission;

detecting the capacitance of a capacitor of the induction charging device, which depends on the presence of the mobile electric device in the environment of the induction charging device;

comparing the capacitance results with a threshold value; and

activating or deactivating energy transmission between a coil of the induction charging device and the mobile electric device as a function of the results of the comparison.