Method and Apparatus for Transferring Electromagnetic Power

• US 20140339904A1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vuori, Petri, Rautiainen, Jukka, KARI, Juhani
• Granted Patent: US 9,779,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for inductively obtaining alternating current from a first variable magnetic field with an input coil; forming with an output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current; and conducting the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an input coil configured to inductively obtain alternating current from a first variable magnetic field at the input coil;

an output coil configured to form at the output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current; and

a wiring configured to conduct the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input coil and the output coil are identical or similar in operation and/or structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a further coil connected to the alternating current by the wiring.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the further coil is configured to operate alternatively as a further variable magnetic field input member and as a further variable magnetic field output member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output coil is spaced apart from the input coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input coil is a planar coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output coil is a planar coil.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the entire apparatus is flexible.

9. A support device for an electric device, comprising:

a structure configured to form an output surface and an input surface for engaging with an external magnetic power emission element;

an input coil on or behind the input surface, configured to inductively obtain alternating current from a first variable magnetic field at the input coil;

an output coil on or behind the output surface, configured to form at the output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current; and

a wiring configured to conduct the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

10. The support device of claim 9, wherein the support device is a package.

11. The support device of claim 10, wherein the package comprises a transparent window.

12. The support device of claim 11, wherein the package is configured to support the electronic device such that the electronic device is at least partly visible through the window.

13. The support device of claim 9, wherein the electronic device may comprise a display visible through the window when the electronic device is supported by the output surface or next to the output surface. The display may comprise a touch screen. The window may be configured to enable operation of the touch screen through the window when the electric device is next to the output surface.

14. The support device of claim 9, wherein the input surface is parallel with the output surface.

15. The support device of claim 9, wherein the input coil and the output coil are aligned such that when a plurality of the support devices are grouped against each other, the output coil of each sandwiched support device is operationally coupled with an input coil of adjacent input surface of another support device such that power may be passed through a chain of support devices.

16. The support device of claim 9, wherein the support device is a cradle.

17. The support device of claim 16, wherein the input surface and the output surface are configured to form two different external faces of the cradle so that the faces are oblique with relation to each other.

18. A cover adapted for an electronic device, comprising:

an apparatus comprising;

an input coil configured to inductively obtain alternating current from a first variable magnetic field at the input coil;

an output coil configured to form at the output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current; and

a wiring configured to conduct the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil;

wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer variable magnetic field from behind the cover to the electronic device.

19. A piece of furniture comprising:

a dock for a supply of a first variable magnetic field, the dock comprising an input surface;

a resting portion for holding an electric device that is configured to obtain electric power from a variable magnetic field, the resting portion comprising an output surface;

an input coil on or behind the input surface, configured to inductively obtain alternating current from the supply of the first variable magnetic field at the input coil;

an output coil on or behind the output surface, configured to form at the output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current; and

a wiring configured to conduct the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

20. A method comprising:

obtaining inductively alternating current from a first variable magnetic field with an input coil;

forming with an output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current; and

conducting the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.