AN INDUCTIVE CHARGER

• US 20170229901A1
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Inventors: Elliott, Zachary
• Granted Patent: US 10,418,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

An inductive charger comprising an inductive charging coil for providing energy to a inductive receiving coil; and a fuel cell configured to provide electricity to the inductive charging coil.

Claims

1. An inductive charger comprising:

an inductive charging coil for providing energy to a inductive receiving coil; and

,

a fuel cell configured to provide electricity to the inductive charging coil.

2. The inductive charger of claim 1, further comprising a housing that houses both the inductive charging coil and the fuel cell.

3. The inductive charger of claim 1, wherein the inductive charger is portable.

4. The inductive charger of claim 1, further comprising a support structure configured to support an electronic device comprising the inductive receiving coil such that the inductive receiving coil is positioned adjacent to the inductive charging coil, in use.

5. The inductive charger of claim 4, wherein the support structure comprises a profiled surface for supporting the electronic device in a predetermined position.

6. The inductive charger of claim 4, wherein the support structure comprises a profiled surface for supporting the electronic device in a predetermined alignment.

7. The inductive charger of claim 5, wherein the profiled surface comprises a curved surface portion, and wherein the inductive charging coil is adjacent to the curved surface portion.

8. The inductive charger of claim 5, wherein the profiled surface comprises a curved surface portion and a substantially planar surface portion, wherein the inductive charging coil is adjacent to the substantially planar surface portion.

9. The inductive charger of claim 5, wherein the profiled surface is an outer surface of a cone shaped housing.

10. The inductive charger of claim 9, wherein the inductive charging coil is movable along the length of the cone shaped housing such that it can be associated with regions of the cone shaped housing that have different circumferences.

11. The inductive charger of claim 4, wherein the electronic device comprises a wrist-mountable electronic device, the wrist-mountable electronic device comprising a strap.

12. The inductive charger of claim 11, wherein the support structure is configured to be engaged with the strap such that the inductive receiving coil is positioned adjacent to the inductive charging coil.

13. The inductive charger of claim 12, wherein the support structure comprises a device locating member and a base, wherein the device locating member houses the inductive charging coil and is configured to be engaged with the strap, and wherein the base houses the fuel cell.

14. The inductive charger of claim 13, wherein the device locating member is a subsection of a hollow cylinder.

15. The inductive charger of claim 13, further comprising a movable lid that can move between an open position and a closed position relative to the base, wherein, when the lid is in the open position, an electronic device on the device locating member will be visible, and when the lid is in the closed position, an electronic device on the device locating member will be obscured from view.

16. The inductive charger of claim 4, wherein the support structure comprises indicia that are indicative of the location of the inductive charging coil.