INDUCTIVELY CHARGEABLE POWER PACK

• US 20130043833A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben-Shalom, Amir, Katz, Arkady, Rofe, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 9,325,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An inductively enabled power pack charging system and method includes an integrated circuit for controlling inductive transfer of power to the power pack and managing communication with an external power source. The system may further include an electrochemical cell for storing energy received from the external power supply and magnetic shielding material for guiding magnetic flux away from the electrochemical cell.

Claims

1. A charging system for providing power to a power pack, the system comprising:

at least one secondary inductor configured to couple inductively with a primary inductor; and

at least one application-specific integrated circuit operable to control transfer of power to the power pack, wherein said system further comprises at least one data contact connected via at least one electronic switch to an electronic element and configured to indicate that the power pack is being inductively charged.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said application-specific integrated circuit is further configured to manage communication with the inductive power outlet.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a rectification unit for providing rectified direct current power from an alternating current supply.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising at least one magnetic shield for guiding magnetic flux away from an electrochemical cell.

5. The system of claim 1 incorporated into the power pack.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor for measuring battery temperature.

7. The system of claim 1 configured to charge the power pack at a monitored battery temperature within the range 263 Kelvin to 333 Kelvin.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the application-specific integrated circuit is operable to monitor at least one parameter selected from a group consisting of:

charging current, discharge current, actual battery charge, battery voltage, temperature of the power pack and battery temperature.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the application-specific integrated circuit further comprises a protection circuit for disconnecting the charging current in response to at least one of the conditions selected from a group consisting of:

excessive charge current, low charge current, excessive temperature, absence of load, absence of external charger, battery is charging and a fully charged power pack.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the application-specific integrated circuit further comprises at least one electronic switch for disconnecting the charging current.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the application-specific integrated circuit further comprises at least one electronic switch for disconnecting the charging current when the charging current is higher than an upper threshold value.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the upper threshold value is above 1.1 ampere.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the application-specific integrated circuit further comprises at least one electronic switch for disconnecting the charging current when the charging current is below a lower threshold value.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one fault indicator.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one LED for indicating at least one condition selected from a group consisting of:

excessive charge current, low charge current, excessive temperature, absence of load, absence of external charger, battery is charging and a fully charged power pack.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one data contact is configured to connect with a host device thereby providing a communication channel between the power pack and the host device.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic element has variable resistance.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic switch connected between an anode contact and a cathode contact of said power pack.

19. A method for providing power to a power pack, comprising the steps:

providing at least one secondary inductor;

providing at least one application-specific integrated circuit;

providing at least one data contact connected via at least one electronic switch to an electronic element;

inductively coupling said secondary inductor to a primary inductor of an inductive power outlet; and

using said electronic element to indicate that said power pack is being inductively charged.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising indicating that charging is in progress via an output display.