Power source device

• US 4,757,212 A
• Filed: 11/12/1986
• Issued: 07/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US06/929,478
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10 R, 307/150, 180/78, 180/79, 180/80
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

A power source device for supplying driving power from a main power source disposed on a first region to an electric circuit disposed on a second region movable relative to the first region, includes an energy transmitting device provided on the first region, for wirelessly transmitting energy to the second region. An energy receiving device is provided on the second region, for receiving the energy and converting the received energy into source power for use by the electric circuit. Thus, the source power is supplied non-contact from the first region to the second region, both regions being movable relative to each other. As a consequence, the source power for driving an electric circuit can be wirelessly supplied from the first region to the electric circuit provided on the second region without using a wire harness, a slip ring or the like.

Claims

1. A power source transmitting device for use in a motor vehicle and powered by a stationary power source on the vehicle, said power source transmitting device comprising:

energy transmitting means disposed on a first stationary region of the motor vehicle for receiving power from the stationary power source and for wirelessly transmitting energy; and

energy receiving means disposed on a second movable region of the motor vehicle for receiving the wirelessly transmitted energy and for converting the received energy into source power; and

electric circuit means disposed on the second movable region of the motor vehicle for receiving the source power from said energy receiving means and for facilitating motor vehicle operations.

2. A power source transmitting device as in claim 1:

said energy transmitting means comprising a light source; and

said energy receiving means comprising a solar battery.

3. A power source transmitting device as in claim 2, said light source being an incandescent lamp.

4. A power source transmitting device as in claim 1:

said energy transmitting means comprising an electromagnetic wave generator; and

said energy receiving means comprising an electromagnetic wave receiver.