FURNITURE WITH WIRELESS POWER

• US 20100290215A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Metcalf, Keith E., Henriott, Jay M., Johnson, Samial Keith, Carroll, Terry, Woods, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/127
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/725 for illumination, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• 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 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Furniture components, such as office furniture components, that are configured to include electronic components that transfer electrical power to peripheral electronic devices via wireless technologies, including conductive and inductive technologies. The articles of furniture may include grommet devices received within work surfaces, the grommet devices incorporating or housing the electronics of wireless power systems. The articles of furniture may also include the electronics of wireless power systems physically embedded or integrated within work surfaces in a manner in which the continuous surfaces of the work surfaces are maintained, and the work surfaces may optionally further include lighting or other indication features to indicate the locations of the electronics to a user.

Claims

1. A furniture component for inductively transferring power to an electronic device that includes a secondary coil of an inductive coupling, the furniture component comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface opposite the first surface;

an intermediate portion disposed between the first surface and the second surface;

a first cavity extending from the second surface into the intermediate portion without extending through the first surface;

a primary coil positioned within the first cavity proximal to the first surface, the primary coil operable to induce a current in the secondary coil when the electronic device is positioned proximate the first surface above the first cavity; and

a light emitter disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the light emitter illuminating a portion of the first surface to indicate a location of the primary coil.

2. The furniture component of claim 1, wherein the illuminated portion of the first surface includes an illuminated pattern.

3. The furniture component of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the furniture component comprises a veneer layer, the light emitter positioned between the veneer layer and the second surface.

4. The furniture component of claim 3, wherein the illuminated portion of the first surface includes an illuminated pattern.

5. The furniture component of claim 4, wherein the veneer layer includes a surface pattern and the illuminated pattern is formed when light produced by the light emitter passes through the surface pattern.

6. The furniture component of claim 4, wherein the illuminated portion of the first surface overlays the first cavity.

7. The furniture component of claim 1, further including an adjustable height housing having a first cylindrical wall in a telescopic relationship with a second cylindrical wall, and a flange extending radially from the second cylindrical wall and being configured to secure the adjustable height housing to the second surface when the first cylindrical wall is positioned within the first cavity, the first cylindrical wall supporting the primary coil.

8. The furniture component of claim 1, further including a translucent layer having a first side comprising the first surface and a second side opposite the first side, the second side facing the first cavity.

9. The furniture component of claim 1, further including a second cavity spaced from the first cavity, the light emitter positioned within the second cavity.

10. A furniture component for wirelessly transferring power from a power source to an electronic device having a plurality of electrical contacts, the furniture component comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface opposite the first surface;

an intermediate portion disposed between the first surface and the second surface;

a first cavity extending from the first surface into the intermediate portion;

a first housing component having a first planar portion and a first wall portion extending perpendicularly from the first planar portion, the first planar portion further including a plurality of openings and a conductive surface comprising a first plurality of conductive strips covering the plurality of openings, the wall portion received by the first cavity; and

a plurality of electrical conductors electrically coupled to the first plurality of conductive strips and adapted to transfer power from the power source to the first plurality of conductive strips, the first plurality of conductive strips transferring power to the electronic device when the plurality of electrical contacts of the electronic device contact the first plurality of conductive strips.

11. A furniture component as in claim 10, wherein the first planar portion further includes a flange, the flange engaging the first surface when the first wall portion is received by the first cavity.

12. A furniture component as in claim 10, wherein the first cavity extends through the second surface of the furniture component.

13. A furniture component as in claim 12, further including a second housing component having a second planar portion, the second planar portion engaging the second surface when the second housing component is attached to the first housing component.

14. A furniture component as in claim 12, the second housing component further including a second wall portion extending perpendicularly from the second planar portion and configured to engage the first wall portion.

15. A furniture component as in claim 10, further including a third housing component to extend the conductive surface and a plurality of bridge connectors, the third housing having a third planar portion and a third wall portion extending perpendicularly from the third planar portion, the third planar portion supporting a second plurality of conductive strips, and the plurality of bridge connectors electrically connecting the first plurality of conductive strips to the second plurality of conductive strips.