Contactless battery charging apparel

• US 20110089894A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Inventors: Soar, Roger J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/36 Electric or magnetic shields or screens movable for varying inductance H01F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/366 made of ferromagnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A sequential power transmission between a portable user-carried battery and first and second independent accessories. At least one primary inductive coupling coil is mounted on an article of apparel worn by the user, so as to place a primary coil adjacent a first intermediary inductive coupling coil on the first independent accessory. The energizing of the first intermediary coil energizes a second intermediary coil on the first independent accessory. The second intermediary coil, when energized, energizes a secondary coil on the second independent accessory for powering the use, including the charging of the batteries of that accessory.

Claims

1. An inductively coupled sequential power transmission system comprising:

a rechargeable central battery adapted for portable wearing by a soldier, a garment used in a soldier system, said garment having pockets and having an electrically conductive first electrical network mounted therein wherein said first electrical network has an infeed end mountable to, in electrical communication with, said central battery, and outfeed nodes, a first set of inductive primary coils mounted to said pockets and electrically connected to said outfeed nodes, a pocket-mountable independent battery powered accessory mountable into said pockets and having an inductively coupled sequential power transmission sub-system mounted thereon and a rechargeable secondary battery charged by said sub-system, wherein said sub-system includes a second electrical network having at least one inductive secondary conduit extending from an infeed end to an outfeed end, wherein at least one inductive secondary coil having secondary ferrite chosen from a backing, a core, is mounted at said infeed end and said secondary battery is mounted at said outfeed end of said second electrical network in electrical communication therewith,

and wherein each primary coil of said primary inductive coils is chosen from;

(a) a rigid, low profile substantially planar coil having cooperating primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein said each primary coil is mounted flush to said pockets, wherein said low profile coil does not interfere with access of said accessory into said pockets, (b) a cylindrical coil having a primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein each said secondary coil is internal to a corresponding said accessory, and said each primary coil protrudes into said corresponding accessory when said corresponding accessory is mounted in said pocket,

and wherein said each primary coil is no larger than said accessory so that when said each primary coil is mounted to a said pocket said each primary coil is no wider or taller than a corresponding surface of said accessory adjacent said each primary coil so as not adversely affect garment flexibility when said accessory is mounted in said each pocket,

and wherein said each pocket is adapted to mechanically align in a pre-determined fixed alignment said accessory in fixed relation relative to said each primary coil so as to mount said inductive secondary coil on said accessory proximal adjacent to and flush with, and so as to be substantially aligned over said each primary coil,

wherein said ferrites direct the magnetic flow between said each primary coil and said secondary coil to minimize flux leakage and optimize magnetic coupling efficiency, whereby when said primary and secondary coils are in said close proximity and aligned they are substantially maximally magnetically coupled.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a central power management system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said power management system includes state of charge indicators.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said power management system includes a sensor and a primary charging circuit wherein charging of said secondary battery is turned off when said charging is not required.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said central battery is removable from said garment so as to be exchangeable with a re-charged said central battery, whereby said soldier is able to operate a plurality of said accessories for extended periods of time independently of any centralized mains electrical power supply.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said central battery has capacity which is larger than a capacity of said secondary battery.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein said power management system is adapted to provide gradual power degradation to a plurality of said accessories.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said central battery is a dual battery power supply and split so as to provide dual redundancy.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said split provides redundancy on left and right sides of said garment when said garment covers a torso of said soldier.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein said power management system is adapted to provide power to those accessories of a plurality of said accessories having a depleted energy level.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein said power management system is adapted to only provide power to said primary coil when said secondary coil is within a proximal activation distance, and wherein said power management system further comprises a proximity sensor to sense when said coils are in said activation distance.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a helmet mountable accessory, wherein said helmet mountable accessory is mountable to a helmet and is chosen from the group comprising:

logic processors, data processors, night vision goggles, communication devices, display devices, audio devices including headphones or microphone, three-dimensional sound location systems, video devices, wherein a primary coil is mountable at a lower edge of said helmet, and wherein a second intermediary coil is mountable at a forward facing surface of said helmet.

13. A military battery logistic supply process comprising the steps of:

a) providing a soldier system including;

a rechargeable central battery adapted for portable wearing by a soldier, a garment used in a soldier system, said garment having pockets and having an electrically conductive first electrical network mounted therein wherein said first electrical network has an infeed end mountable to, in electrical communication with, said central battery, and outfeed nodes, a first set of inductive primary coils mounted to said pockets and electrically connected to said outfeed nodes, a pocket-mountable independent battery powered accessory mountable into said pockets and having an inductively coupled sequential power transmission sub-system mounted thereon and a rechargeable secondary battery charged by said sub-system, wherein said sub-system includes a second electrical network having at least one inductive secondary conduit extending from an infeed end to an outfeed end, wherein at least one inductive secondary coil having secondary ferrite chosen from a backing, a core, is mounted at said infeed end and said secondary battery is mounted at said outfeed end of said second electrical network in electrical communication therewith,

and wherein each primary coil of said primary inductive coils chosen from;

(a) is a rigid, low profile substantially planar coil having cooperating primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein said each primary coil is mounted flush to said pockets, wherein said low profile coil does not interfere with access of said accessory into said pockets, (b) a cylindrical coil having a primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein each said secondary coil is internal to a corresponding said accessory, and said each primary coil protrudes into said corresponding accessory when said corresponding accessory is mounted in said pocket,

and wherein said each primary coil is no larger than said accessory so that when said each primary coil is mounted to a said pocket said each primary coil is no wider or taller than a corresponding surface of said accessory adjacent said each primary coil so as not adversely affect garment flexibility when said accessory is mounted in said each pocket,

and wherein said each pocket is adapted to mechanically align in a pre-determined fixed alignment said accessory in fixed relation relative to said each primary coil so as to mount said inductive secondary coil on said accessory proximal adjacent to and flush with, and so as to be substantially aligned over said each primary coil,

wherein said ferrites direct the magnetic flow between said each primary coil and said secondary coil to minimize flux leakage and optimize magnetic coupling efficiency, whereby when said primary and secondary coils are in said close proximity and aligned they are substantially maximally magnetically coupled,

b) providing only rechargeable batteries for all said electrical powered peripheral devices using batteries, in said soldier system,

c) reducing in-field access by the soldier to said rechargeable batteries in said devices,

d) providing a plurality of single-size said removable rechargeable central batteries for interchangeable wearing by the soldier within said soldier system, wherein, once mounted in said soldier system so as to become part there of, each said central battery powers said peripheral devices and as said central battery depletes, said process includes steps chosen from;

exchanging depleted central battery for a charged central battery from said plurality of central batteries, recharging said depleted central battery while it remains in said soldier system, selectively degrading power supply to said peripheral devices within said soldier system.

14. The process of claim 13 further comprising a central power management system.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein said power management system includes state of change indicators.

16. The process of claim 14 wherein said power management system includes a smart sensor whereby charging of said secondary battery is turned off when said charging is not required.

17. The process of claim 14 wherein said central battery is removable from said garment so as to be exchangeable with a re-charged said central battery, whereby said soldier is able to operate a plurality of said accessories for extended periods of time independently of any centralized mains electrical power supply.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein said central batter is a large capacity battery.

19. The process of claim 14 wherein said power management system is adapted to provide gradual power degradation to a plurality of said accessories.

20. The process of claim 14 wherein said central battery is a dual battery power supply and split so as to provide dual redundancy.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein said split provides redundancy on left and right sides of said garment when said garment covers a torso of said soldiers.

22. The process of claim 14 wherein said power management system is adapted to provide power to those accessories of a plurality of said accessories having a depleted energy level.

23. The process of claim 14 wherein said power management system is adapted to only provide power to said primary coil when said secondary coil is within a proximal activation distance, and wherein said power management system further comprises a proximity sensor to sense when said coils are in said activation distance.

24. The process of claim 13 further comprising a helmet mountable accessory, wherein said helmet mountable accessory is mountable to a helmet and is chosen from the group comprising:

logic processors, data processors, night vision goggles, communication devices, display devices, audio devices including headphones or microphone, three-dimensional sound location systems, video devices, wherein a primary coil is mountable at a lower edge of said helmet, and wherein a second intermediary coil is mountable at a forward facing surface of said helmet.