WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER

• US 20140177139A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kari, Juhani Valdemar
• Granted Patent: US 9,252,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

Apparatus and a method are provided. One example of the apparatus comprises: a housing, defining a through-hole, configured to retain an electronic device in the through-hole; at least one coil configured to receive energy wirelessly; and an electrical connector configured to provide energy received by the at least one coil to an electronic device retained in the through-hole.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing, defining a through-hole, configured to retain an electronic device in the through-hole;

at least one coil configured to receive energy wirelessly; and

an electrical connector configured to provide energy received by the at least one coil to an electronic device retained in the through-hole.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to retain the electronic device in the through-hole while leaving at least a first face and a second face of the electronic device substantially exposed.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first face and the second face of the electronic device are separated by the depth of the electronic device.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electronic device has a length, a width and a depth, the length is greater than the depth, and the width is greater than the depth.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first face of the electronic device comprises an electronic display.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one coil extends along one or more walls of the housing.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one coil is arranged to coil around the through-hole.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to retain an electronic device in the through-hole by gripping a periphery of the electronic device.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one coil is configured to receive energy wirelessly from a further apparatus via inductive coupling.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is configured to provide energy received by the at least one coil to the electronic device in order to charge a battery of the electronic device.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one coil is positioned within a recess in the housing.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is positioned to connect to a further electrical connector of the electronic device, when the electronic device is retained in the through-hole.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is movable relative to at least one or more walls of the housing.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is movable such that the electronic connector is connectable to an electronic device positioned outside the through-hole.

15. A method, comprising:

providing a housing, defining a through-hole, configured to retain an electronic device in the through-hole;

providing at least one coil configured to receive energy wirelessly; and

providing an electrical connector configured to provide energy received by the at least one coil to an electronic device retained in the through-hole.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one coil is arranged to coil around the through-hole.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing for housing an electronic device;

at least one coil, for receiving energy wirelessly, coiled around an electronic device housed by the housing; and

an electrical connector configured to provide energy received by the at least one coil to the electronic device.