ADAPTING PORTABLE ELECTRICAL DEVICES TO RECEIVE POWER WIRELESSLY

• US 20110210619A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beart, Pilgrim G.W., Whitewood, David P., Cheng, Lily Ka-Lai, Hay, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment

Abstract

Wireless power receiving apparatus 150 is retrofitted to a portable electrical device 100 to enable the device to receive power wirelessly. The apparatus comprises a power-receiving element 200 adapted to be attached to the device, e.g. by adhesive 201, and also being adapted to receive power wirelessly from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another. One or more power connectors 203 are connected electrically to the power-receiving element and are adapted to be connected, when the apparatus is in use, to one or more corresponding power connectors 101 of the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the element to the device. The power-receiving element may be in the form of a sticker or may be carried by or incorporated in a replacement cover portion for the portable electrical device.

Claims

1. Inductive power receiving apparatus for use with a portable electrical device to enable the device to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction, the apparatus comprising:

an inductive power-receiving element adapted to be attached to the device, and also being adapted to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another; and

one or more power connectors which, when the apparatus is in use, are connected electrically to the power-receiving element and are adapted to be connected to one or more corresponding power connectors of the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the element to the device,

wherein said portable electrical device has first connector means adapted to connect to corresponding second connector means of external equipment, said first connector means providing said one or more corresponding power connectors of the portable electrical device, and the apparatus further comprising;

third connector means adapted to connect to said first connector means of the portable electrical device, said third connector means providing said one or more power connectors of the apparatus;

fourth connector means adapted to connect to said second connector means of said external equipment; and

a pass-through connection arrangement interconnecting at least one connector of said third connector means and a corresponding connector of said fourth connector means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element is adapted to be attached adhesively to the device when the apparatus is in use.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising mechanical attachment means adapted to attach the power-receiving element mechanically to the device when the apparatus is in use.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element forms part of a replacement cover portion of the portable electrical device.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element and at least one of said power connectors of the apparatus are connected rigidly together, whereby connection of said at least one power connector to its said corresponding power connector of the portable electrical device serves to attach the power-receiving element mechanically to the device.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flexible connecting member connecting said one or more power connectors flexibly to said power-receiving element.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said flexible connecting member also serves to connect said one or more power connectors electrically to the power-receiving element.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, having one or more electrical connections extending between said power-receiving element and said one or more power connectors, said one or more electrical connections being detachable from said power-receiving element and/or from said one or more power connectors when the apparatus is not in use.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first to fourth connector means also provide connectors for purposes other than power delivery, and said pass-through connection arrangement serves to interconnect corresponding connectors of said third and fourth connector means used for said other purposes.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

power-conditioning circuitry operable to condition the power received by the power-receiving element prior to delivery to the portable electrical device.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element is small relative to said portable electrical device.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element is thin relative to said portable electrical device.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a volume occupied by said power-receiving element is small in comparison with a volume occupied by said portable electrical device.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element is of sufficiently small dimensions that, when attached to the portable electrical device, it does not substantially alter the ergonomics of the device.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein parts of said power-receiving element that are visible to a user of the device when the element is attached to the device have an external appearance which conforms to an external appearance of adjacent parts of the device.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of said power-receiving element which must be placed in proximity with the transmitter is marked or coloured or labelled distinctively.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element has, at a surface thereof that is visible to a user of the portable electrical device when the element is attached to the device, a substantially transparent pocket for carrying an insert to be visible to the user.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indicator which produces a predetermined indication of an operating state of the apparatus.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element is substantially flat.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-receiving element is flexible.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more corresponding power connectors of the portable electrical device are externally accessible power connectors of the device.

22. In combination a portable electrical device and inductive power receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

23. The combination of claim 22, wherein said power-receiving element is attached to an external surface portion of the device.

24. The combination of claim 22, wherein said one or more corresponding power connectors of the portable electrical device are internal power connectors.

25. The combination of claim 22, wherein said one or more corresponding power connectors of the portable electrical device are battery connectors.

26. A method of adapting a portable electrical device having no inductive power receiving capability to have such a capability, the method comprising:

attaching an inductive power-receiving element to the device, the element being adapted to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another; and

connecting one or more power connectors, which are connected electrically to the element, to one or more corresponding power connectors of the device so that power received by the element can be delivered to the device,

wherein;

said portable electrical device has first connector means adapted to connect to corresponding second connector means of external equipment, said first connector means providing said one or more corresponding power connectors of the portable electrical device;

said one or more power connectors are provided by third connector means, the third connector means being adapted to connect to said first connector means of the portable electrical device; and

at least one connector of said third connector means and a corresponding connector of a fourth connector means are interconnected by a pass-through connection arrangement, the fourth connector means being adapted to connect to said second connector means of said external equipment.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said one or more corresponding power connectors of the device are externally accessible power connectors of the device.

28. Inductive power receiving apparatus for use with a portable electrical device to enable said device to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction, said apparatus comprising:

an inductive power-receiving element adapted to be attached to said portable electrical device, and also being adapted to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a transmitter of power when said inductive power-receiving element and said transmitter are in proximity with one another; and

one or more power connectors which, when the apparatus is in use, are connected electrically to the power-receiving element and are adapted to be connected to one or more corresponding power connectors of the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the element to the device, electrical connections extending between the inductive power-receiving element and said one or more power connectors of the inductive power receiving apparatus being detachable from said power-receiving element and/or from said portable electrical device while said power-receiving element is attached to said portable electrical device.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, further comprising mechanical attachment means adapted to attach said power-receiving element mechanically to said device.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, further comprising a flexible connecting member connecting said one or more power connectors of the inductive power receiving apparatus to said inductive power-receiving element, wherein said one or more power connectors of the inductive power receiving apparatus are insertable and removable from said one or more corresponding power connectors of said portable electrical device while said inductive power-receiving element remains attached to said portable electrical device.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein said one or more corresponding power connectors of said portable electrical device includes a power input of said portable electrical device.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said power-receiving element is of sufficiently small dimensions that, when attached to said portable electrical device, it does not substantially alter the ergonomics of said device.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein adhesive attaches said inductive power-receiving element to said portable electrical device.

34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, adapted to be retro-fitted to a said portable electrical device having no inductive power receiving capability so as to provide said device with that capability.

35. In combination a portable electrical device and inductive power receiving apparatus as claimed in claim 28.

36. A method of adapting a portable electrical device having no inductive power receiving capability to have such a capability, said method comprising:

attaching an inductive power-receiving element to said device, said element being adapted to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a transmitter of power when said element and transmitter are in proximity with one another; and

connecting one or more power connectors, which are connected electrically to said element, to one or more corresponding power connectors of said device so that power received by said element can be delivered to said device, electrical connections extending between the inductive power-receiving element and said one or more power connectors being detachable from said power-receiving element and/or from said portable electrical device while said power-receiving element is attached to said portable electrical device.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein a flexible connecting member connects said one or more power connectors to said inductive power-receiving element, said one or more power connectors being insertable and removable from said one or more corresponding power connectors of said portable electrical device while said inductive power-receiving element remains attached to said portable electrical device.

38. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein said one or more corresponding power connectors of said portable electrical device includes a power input of said portable electrical device.

39. A method as claimed in any of claim 36, wherein said power-receiving element is of sufficiently small dimensions that, when attached to said portable electrical device, it does not substantially alter the ergonomics of said device.

40. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein adhesive is used to attach said inductive power-receiving element to said portable electrical device.

41. A method as claimed in claim 36, including retro-fitting said portable electrical device having no inductive power receiving capability so as to provide said device with that capability.

42. A method as claimed in claim 36, including detaching said one or more power connectors from said portable electrical device whilst leaving said power-receiving element attached to said portable electrical device.