POWER SUPPLY

• US 20110018360A1
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hai D., Stoner, William T. JR., Baarman, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,558,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 50/90 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides a universal power supply for wired and wireless electronic devices. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a universal power supply that is reconfigurable to provide a wide range of power supply options.

Claims

1. A universal power supply capable of supplying power to both wired and wireless electronic devices, the universal power supply comprising:

power supply circuitry;

one or more wireless power transmitters configured to provide wireless power to a remote device, wherein said one or more wireless power transmitters are in electrical connection with said power supply circuitry; and

one or more power outlet ports configured to provide wired power to a remote device, wherein said one or more power outlet ports are electrically connected to said power supply circuitry.

2. The universal power supply of claim 1, wherein said one or more wireless power transmitters are detachable wireless power transmitters, wherein said universal power supply includes one or more power outlets configured to receive said one or more detachable wireless power transmitters.

3. The universal power supply of claim 2, wherein said one or more power outlets configured to provide wired power have a different plug shape than said one or more power outlets configured to receive said one or more removable wireless power transmitters.

4. The universal power supply of claim 1 wherein said universal power supply includes a housing, wherein said one or more wireless power transmitters and said one or more power outlet ports are disposed in said housing.

5. The universal power supply of claim 1 wherein said one or more wireless power transmitters are connected to said power adapter by flexible connectors that permit said universal power supply to be folded up to reduce size.

6. The universal power supply of claim 1 wherein power supply circuitry is located in either said power adapter housing, incorporated into said one or more detachable wireless power transmitters, or a combination thereof.

7. The universal power supply of claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more wireless transmitters is capable of being received by a power supply notch of a laptop computer.

8. A universal wireless power supply comprising:

a power adapter including a power adapter housing having one or more power outlets disposed therein; and

one or more detachable wireless power transmitters configured to provide wireless power to a remote device, wherein said one or more wireless power transmitters are detachably connectable to said power outlets of said power adapter, wherein each of said one or more wireless power transmitters includes a plug, a connector section, and a coil assembly.

9. The universal wireless power supply of claim 8 wherein said connector section includes flexible leads that permit each of said one or more wireless power transmitters to be folded up to reduce size.

10. The universal wireless power supply of claim 8 wherein said coil assembly includes a coil, a magnet, and an overmold.

11. The universal power supply of claim 10 wherein said coil assembly includes a shield.

12. The universal power supply of claim 8 wherein power supply circuitry is located in either said power adapter housing, incorporated into said one or more detachable wireless power transmitters, or a combination thereof.

13. The universal power supply of claim 8 wherein at least one of said one or more detachable wireless transmitters is capable of being received by a power supply notch of a laptop computer.

14. The universal wireless power supply of claim 8 wherein at least one of said one or more wireless power transmitters includes one or more power outlet ports for attaching further detachable wireless power transmitters so that said one or more wireless power transmitters are capable of being daisy-chained.

15. A universal wireless power supply comprising:

a plurality of wireless power transmitters; and

a power adapter including power supply circuitry and a housing, wherein said housing is divided into two sections coupled together by a rotating joint, wherein each of said sections includes at least one of said plurality of wireless power transmitters, wherein said two sections are capable of being rotated into different positions to vary the position and orientation of said plurality of wireless power transmitters.

16. The universal wireless power supply of claim 15 wherein said universal wireless power supply is capable of being used to wirelessly supply power to two wireless devices placed on opposite sides of said power adapter.

17. The universal wireless power supply of claim 15 wherein said universal wireless power supply is capable of being used to wirelessly supply power to two wireless devices placed on the same side of said power adapter.

18. The universal wireless power supply of claim 15 wherein said rotating joint includes a generally tubular connector with a central bore for routing wiring between said two sections.

19. The universal wireless power supply of claim 15 wherein said rotating joint includes a connector that creates an electrical connection between said two sections.

20. The universal wireless power supply of claim 15 wherein said plurality of wireless power transmitters power a single wireless device.

21. The universal wireless power supply of claim 15 wherein one section is capable of being received by a power supply notch of a laptop computer and another section of said power adapter is capable of supporting and providing power to a wireless device.

22. The universal wireless power supply of claim 15 wherein said wireless power supply is configured to be received by a pocket in a computer bag, wherein said power supply is positioned within said pocket to supply power to a laptop computer and a wireless device.

23. A universal wireless power supply comprising:

a power adapter; and

a wireless power transmitter configured to provide wireless power to a remote device, wherein said wireless power transmitter is movable with respect to said power adapter.

24. The universal wireless power supply of claim 23 wherein said wireless power transmitter is connected to said power adapter by a flexible connector that permits said universal power supply to be folded up to reduce space.

25. The universal wireless power supply of claim 23 including a plurality of wireless power transmitters, each configured to provide wireless power to a remote device, wherein each of said wireless power transmitters are movable with respect to said power adapter.

26. The universal wireless power supply of claim 25 wherein said wireless power transmitters are foldable into a stacked configuration.

27. The universal wireless power supply of claim 23 wherein said one or more wireless power transmitters are connected to said power adapter by foldable arms that permit said universal power supply to be folded up on to the power adapter to reduce space.

28. The universal wireless power supply of claim 23 wherein said wireless power transmitter is integrated into a panel that moves with respect to said power adapter.

29. The universal wireless power supply of claim 28 wherein said panel slides with respect to said power adapter.

30. The universal wireless power supply of claim 28 wherein said panel rotates with respect to said power adapter.

31. A multi-input wireless power supply comprising:

an AC/DC rectifier circuit capable of accepting a first input voltage or a second input voltage, wherein said AC/DC rectifier produces a rectified output;

a sensor for detecting which of said first input voltage and said second input voltage is connected to said multi-input wireless power supply;

a plurality of switching circuits each coupled to said rectified output;

a first tank circuit coupled to one of said plurality of switching circuits, wherein characteristics of said first tank circuit are selected for transferring power to a remote device as a function of said first input voltage;

a second tank circuit coupled to a different of said plurality of switching circuits, wherein characteristics of said second tank circuit are selected for transferring power to said remote device as a function of said second input voltage, wherein said characteristics of said second tank circuit are different from said characteristics of said first tank circuit;

a low power DC/DC converter coupled to said AC/DC rectifier for converting said rectified output;

a microcontroller coupled to said low power DC/DC converter, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control said plurality of switching circuits based on output from said sensor.

32. The multi-input wireless power supply of claim 31 wherein said plurality of switching circuits are rated for whichever of said first input voltage and said second input voltage is higher.

33. The multi-input wireless power supply of claim 31 wherein said characteristics of said first tank circuit and said characteristics of said second tank circuit include a number of turns of an inductor, a gauge of wire of an inductor, a coil diameter of an inductor, an inductance value of an inductor, and a capacitance value of a capacitor.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the multi-input wireless power supply provides intrinsic safety and high voltage isolation.

35. A method of designing a high DC rail wireless power supply that is interoperable with a low voltage rail wireless power supply, the method comprising:

providing a low DC rail wireless power supply including an AC/DC rectifier for generating a high DC rail voltage, a DC/DC converter for stepping down said high DC rail voltage into a low DC rail voltage, a switching circuit for switching said low DC rail voltage to generate an AC signal, and a tank circuit coupled to said AC signal for generating an electromagnetic field;

selecting an AC/DC rectifier for generating a high DC rail voltage;

selecting a switching circuit rated for switching said high DC rail voltage;

selecting a tank circuit having characteristics for generating an electromagnetic field similar to said electromagnetic field produced by said low DC rail wireless power supply in response to said high DC rail voltage.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein selecting the tank circuit includes at least one of selecting a number of turns of an inductor, selecting a gauge of wire in an inductor, selecting a coil diameter of an inductor, selecting an inductance value of an inductor, and selecting a capacitance value of a capacitor.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the method of designing a high DC rail wireless power supply provides intrinsic safety and high voltage isolation.