ELECTRICAL POWER UNIT WITH WIRELESS CHARGING

• US 20170317458A1
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Byrne Electrical Specialists Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R., Morrow, Nickolas J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,673,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An electrical power unit is positionable in or along a work surface and includes a housing with a movable cover that is positionable in open and closed positions at an upper region of the housing. The cover defines an interior region in which a wireless power transmitter is mounted. A lamp unit is disposed in the housing or the cover. The lamp unit is configured so that emitted light is visible from outside the power unit when the cover is closed. The wireless power transmitter is operable to selectively illuminate the lamp unit when the wireless power transmitter is energized. Optionally, at least one direct-contact electrical or data receptacle is provided at the housing, and may be arranged or positioned so that it is accessible at least when the cover is in the open position.

Claims

1. An electrical power unit configured to be positioned along a work surface, said electrical power unit comprising:

a housing;

a cover movably coupled to an upper region of said housing, said cover defining a cover interior, and said cover having a rear portion and a front portion opposite said rear portion, wherein said cover is movable from a closed position to an open position;

at least one electrical or data receptacle supported at said housing and positioned below said cover, wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle is accessible when said cover is in the open position;

a wireless power transmitter disposed in said cover interior and configured to direct wireless electrical power through an upper surface of said cover; and

a lamp unit disposed in one of said housing and said cover, wherein light emitted from said lamp unit is visible from outside said electrical power unit when said cover is in said closed position;

wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to selectively illuminate said lamp unit when said wireless power transmitter is energized.

2. The electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle comprises at least one direct-contact high voltage AC receptacle and at least one low voltage DC receptacle.

3. The electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said rear portion of said cover is pivotably coupled to said housing, whereby said cover is pivotably movable from said closed position to said open position.

4. The electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said lamp unit is disposed in said interior region at said front portion of said cover.

5. The electrical power unit of claim 4, wherein said front portion of said cover comprises an aperture or translucent region through which said lamp unit is visible when illuminated.

6. The electrical power unit of claim 4, wherein said housing comprises an upper front region, and wherein when said front portion of said cover is in said closed position said front portion of said cover is spaced from said upper front region of said housing to thereby define an elongate slot.

7. The electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said wireless power transmitter is operable to detect when a compatible power receiver is positioned within transmission range of said wireless power transmitter, and wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to illuminate said lamp unit only when the compatible power receiver is positioned within the transmission range of said wireless power transmitter.

8. The electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said wireless power transmitter is a contactless power transmitter.

9. The electrical power unit of claim 1, comprising at least two of said wireless power transmitters in spaced arrangement in said cover interior, and comprising at least two of said lamp units corresponding to respective ones of said wireless power transmitters.

10. The electrical power unit of claim 9, wherein said at least two wireless power transmitters are independently energizable.

11. The electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said housing defines a cavity below said cover, wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle is accessible in said cavity at least when said cover is in said open position.

12. An electrical power unit configured to be positioned along a work surface, said power unit comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity;

a cover pivotably coupled to an upper region of said housing and having an upper surface and a lower surface cooperating to define a cover interior, said cover having a front edge portion spaced from said housing to define an elongate gap that provides access to said interior cavity;

a wireless power transmitter disposed in said cover interior and configured to direct contactless electrical power through said upper surface of said cover; and

a lamp unit disposed in said front edge portion of said cover, wherein light emitted from said lamp unit is directed outwardly through said elongate gap;

wherein said wireless power transmitter is configured to selectively illuminate said lamp unit when said wireless power transmitter is energized.

13. The electrical power unit of claim 12, further comprising at least one electrical or data receptacle supported at said housing and accessible via said interior cavity.

14. The electrical power unit of claim 13, wherein said at least one electrical or data receptacle comprises at least one direct-contact high voltage AC receptacle and at least one low voltage DC receptacle.

15. The electrical power unit of claim 14, comprising at least two of said wireless power transmitters, wherein said wireless power transmitters are operable to independently detect when a compatible power receiver is positioned within transmission range thereof, and wherein said wireless power transmitters are configured to illuminate respective ones of said lamp units only when the compatible power receiver is positioned within the transmission range of a respective one of said wireless power transmitters.

16. An electrical power unit configured to be positioned along a work surface, said power unit comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity and having an open upper region;

a carriage mounted in a lower region of said housing;

at least one electrical or data receptacle supported at said carriage and accessible via said interior cavity;

a cover mounted in said open upper region of said housing and pivotable between a closed position in which said cover substantially occupies said open upper region of said housing, and an open position in which said cover is raised out of said open upper region of said housing;

said cover having an upper panel and a lower panel spaced below the upper panel, wherein said upper and lower panels cooperate to define a cover interior, and said cover having a front edge portion in which a plurality of lamp units are mounted in spaced arrangement;

a plurality of wireless power transmitters disposed in spaced arrangement in said cover interior and configured to direct contactless electrical power upwardly through said upper panel of said cover; and

a power supply and voltage converter supported at said carriage and configured to supply electrical power received from a power infeed to each of said wireless power transmitters;

wherein said lamp units are in electrical communication with respective ones of said wireless power transmitters, and are configured to illuminate independently when respective ones of said wireless power transmitters are energized, wherein light emitted from each of said lamp units is directed outwardly from said open upper region of said housing.

17. The electrical power unit of claim 16, wherein each of said wireless power transmitters is configured to detect when a compatible power receiver is positioned within transmission range thereof, and wherein each of said wireless power transmitters is configured to illuminate a respective one of said lamp units only when the compatible power receiver is positioned within the transmission range of the respective wireless power transmitter.

18. The electrical power unit of claim 16, wherein said front edge portion of said cover is spaced from a surface of said housing that defines a portion of said open upper region, thereby defining an elongate gap providing cord access to said interior cavity when said cover is in the closed position.

19. The electrical power unit of claim 18, wherein said front edge portion of said cover comprises a forward cover sidewall extending upwardly from a forward edge of said bottom panel, said forward cover sidewall defining a plurality of openings corresponding to respective ones of said lamp units.

20. The electrical power unit of claim 16, wherein said cover comprises a central structural cover portion disposed in said cover interior between said upper and lower panels, said central structural cover portion defines a plurality of openings in spaced arrangement, each of said openings configured to receive a respective one of said wireless power transmitters.