MECHANICALLY REMOVABLE WIRELESS POWER VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY

• US 20130221744A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, Katherine L., Kulikowski, Konrad, Kesler, Morris P., Kurs, Andre B., Schatz, David A., Giler, Eric R., Ganem, Steve J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,318,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

Described herein are improved capabilities for a system and method for wireless energy distribution to a mechanically removable vehicle seat, comprising a source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle, the source resonator positioned proximate to the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the source resonator generating an oscillating magnetic field with a resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the source resonator and a vehicle surface to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the vehicle surface, and a receiving resonator integrated into the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the receiving resonator having a resonant frequency similar to that of the source resonator, and receiving wireless energy from the source resonator, and providing power to electrical components integrated with the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A system for wireless energy distribution to a mechanically removable vehicle seat, the system comprising:

a source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle, the source resonator positioned proximate to but physically separated from the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the source resonator generating an oscillating magnetic field with a resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the source resonator and a vehicle surface to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the vehicle surface and toward at least part of the mechanically removable vehicle seat; and

a second resonator integrated into the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the second resonator having a resonant frequency similar to that of the source resonator, receiving wireless energy from the source resonator, and providing power to electrical components integrated with the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrical components is a third resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat, the third resonator comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the third resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the third resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area concentrated dominantly behind the vehicle seat.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the third resonator is electrically connected to the second resonator through a wired connection.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from at least one of the second resonator and the third resonator.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a repeater resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat the repeater resonator having a resonant frequency similar to the source resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the repeater resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the repeater resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area substantially behind the vehicle seat.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from the repeater resonator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is a seat heater.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an electric seat-position adjustment actuator.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an entertainment device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the high-conductivity material is used to shape the resonator fields of the source resonator such that they avoid lossy objects in the vehicle surface.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the high-conductivity material is covered on at least one side by a layer of magnetic material to improve the electromagnetic coupling between the source resonator and the second resonator.

12. A method for wireless energy distribution to a mechanically removable vehicle seat, the method comprising:

providing a source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle, the source resonator positioned proximate to the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the source resonator generating an oscillating magnetic field with a frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the source resonator and a vehicle surface to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the vehicle surface; and

receiving energy from the oscillating magnetic field of the source resonator by a receiving resonator integrated into the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the receiving resonator having a resonant frequency similar to that of the source resonator and providing power to electrical components integrated with the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the electrical components is a second resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat, the second resonator comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the second resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the second resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area concentrated dominantly behind the vehicle seat.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second resonator is electrically connected to the receiving resonator through a wired connection.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from the second resonator.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising a repeater resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat the repeater resonator having a resonant frequency similar to the source resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the repeater resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the repeater resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area substantially behind the vehicle seat.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from the repeater resonator.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is a seat heater.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an electric seat-position adjustment actuator.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an entertainment device.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the high-conductivity material is used to shape the resonator fields of the source resonator such that they avoid lossy objects in the vehicle surface.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the high-conductivity material is covered on at least one side by a layer of magnetic material to improve the electromagnetic coupling between the source resonator and the receiving resonator.

23. A system for wireless energy distribution from a source resonator to a mechanically removable vehicle seat, the source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle and generating an oscillating magnetic field with a resonant frequency, the system comprising:

a receiving resonator integrated into the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the receiving resonator comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the receiving resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field of the source resonator away from the interior of the vehicle seat, having a resonant frequency similar to that of the source resonator, receiving wireless energy from the source resonator, and providing power to electrical components integrated with the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the electrical components is a second resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat, the second resonator comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the second resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the second resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area concentrated dominantly behind the vehicle seat.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second resonator is electrically connected to the receiving resonator through a wired connection.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from the second resonator.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising a repeater resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat the repeater resonator having a resonant frequency similar to the source resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the repeater resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the repeater resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area substantially behind the vehicle seat.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from the repeater resonator.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is a seat heater.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an electric seat-position adjustment actuator.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an entertainment device.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the high-conductivity material is used to shape the resonator fields of the source resonator such that they avoid lossy objects in the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the high-conductivity material is covered on at least one side by a layer of magnetic material to improve the electromagnetic coupling between the source resonator and the receiving resonator.

34. A method for wireless energy distribution from a source resonator to a mechanically removable vehicle seat, the source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle and generating an oscillating magnetic field with a resonant frequency, the method comprising:

receiving energy from the oscillating magnetic field of the source resonator by a receiving resonator comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the receiving resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field of the source resonator away from the interior of the vehicle seat, the receiving resonator integrated into the mechanically removable vehicle seat, having a resonant frequency similar to that of the source resonator, and providing power to electrical components integrated with the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of the electrical components is a second resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat, the second resonator comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the second resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the second resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area concentrated dominantly behind the vehicle seat.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the second resonator is electrically connected to the receiving resonator through a wired connection.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from the second resonator.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising a repeater resonator integrated proximate to the back portion of the vehicle seat the repeater resonator having a resonant frequency similar to the source resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the repeater resonator and the interior of the vehicle seat to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the interior of the vehicle seat, wherein the repeater resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area substantially behind the vehicle seat.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein a wireless energy enabled electrical device located within the wireless energy transfer area receives wireless energy from the repeater resonator.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is a seat heater.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an electric seat-position adjustment actuator.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one of the electrical components is an entertainment device.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the high-conductivity material is used to shape the resonator fields of the source resonator such that they avoid lossy objects in the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein the high-conductivity material is covered on at least one side by a layer of magnetic material to improve the electromagnetic coupling between the source resonator and the receiving resonator.