Charging and vibrating method using movable magnets for a product using rechargeable batteries

• US 6,288,519 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Peele, James Calvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/218,971
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 310/75.R, 310/78
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 47/14 Motor/generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 49/10 of the permanent-magnet type

Abstract

An electric charging system includes an electrical charger that generates a magnetic force and a device with an electric current generator that receives a portion of the magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner. The electric current generator generates an electric current in response to receiving the portion of the magnetic force and the electric current is received by a battery.

Claims

1. An electric charging system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of the magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and converts said portion of the magnetic force into mechanical energy which generates an electric current, the electric current generator comprising a magnet that translates along a first direction; and

a battery that receives said electric current.

2. An electric charging system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of the magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and converts said portion of the magnetic force into mechanical energy which generates an electric current, the electric current generator comprising a magnet that is rotatable and rotation of said magnet causes said electric current to be generated, said magnet engaged with a rotatable shaft so that rotation of said magnet causes said rotatable shaft to rotate; and

a battery that receives said electric current;

wherein said magnet translates along said rotatable shaft.

3. An electric charging system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of the magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and converts said portion of the magnetic force into mechanical energy which generates an electric current, said electric current generator comprising a magnet; and

a battery that receives said electric current;

wherein said electric charger comprises a second magnet that is magnetically coupled to said magnet of said electric generator.

4. The electric charging system of claim 3, wherein the polarization of said magnet of said electric current generator is equal to the polarization of said second magnet.

5. The electric charging system of claim 4, wherein said magnet of said electric current generator is polarized N-S across a major axis thereof.

6. The electric charging system of claim 4, wherein said magnet of said electric current generator is polarized N-S across a minor axis thereof.

7. The electric charging system of claim 3, wherein said magnet of said electric current generator rotates about a first axis and said second magnet rotates about a second axis.

8. The electric charging system of claim 7, wherein said first axis and said second axis are aligned with one another.

9. A method of charging a battery of a device, the method comprising:

positioning a device with a battery adjacent to a electrical charger;

magnetically coupling a first magnet in the electrical charger to a second magnet in the device while moving the first magnetic within the electrical charger to transfer mechanical energy from the electrical charger to the device via the magnetic coupling;

generating an electric current in said device from said mechanical energy; and

charging said battery with said electric current.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein converting said portion of the magnetic force into mechanical energy comprises rotating a magnet.

12. A method of charging a battery of a device, the method comprising:

positioning a device with a battery adjacent to an electrical charger;

generating a magnetic force from said electrical charger so that said device receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner;

converting said portion of said magnetic force into mechanical energy;

generating an electric current from said mechanical energy; and

charging said battery with said electric current;

wherein converting said portion of the magnetic force into mechanical energy comprises translating a magnet along a first direction.

13. A method of charging a battery of a device, the method comprising:

positioning a device with a battery adjacent to an electrical charger;

generating a magnetic force from said electrical charger so that said device receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non galvanic manner;

converting said portion of said magnetic force into mechanical energy;

generating an electric current from said mechanical energy;

charging said battery with said electric current;

wherein converting said portion of the magnetic force into mechanical energy comprises rotating a magnet and translating a magnet along a first direction.

14. An electric charging system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force and comprising a receiving area for supporting a rechargeable device;

said rechargeable device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and generates an electric current therefrom; and

a magnetic shield movable relative to said electric current generator from a first position wherein said magnet is shielded from said portion of said magnetic force to a second position where said electric current generator receives said portion of said magnetic force.

15. The electric charging system of claim 14, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

16. The electric charging system of claim 14, wherein said electric current generator comprises a magnet that receives said portion of said magnetic force.

17. The electric charging system of claim 14, wherein said magnetic shield moves to said first position when said rechargeable device is not in contact with said receiving area of said electrical charger.

18. The electric charging system of claim 14, wherein said magnetic shield moves to said second position when said rechargeable device is in contact with said receiving area of said electrical charger.

19. The electric charging system of claim 17, wherein said magnetic shield moves to said second position when said rechargeable device is in contact with said receiving area of said electrical charger.

20. The electrical charging system of claim 14, wherein said magnetic shield comprises a mu-metal.

21. The electrical charging system of claim 14, wherein said rechargeable device comprises a battery that receives said electric current.

22. A method of charging a battery of a device, the method comprising:

positioning adjacent to an electrical charger a device with a battery and a shield;

generating a magnetic force from said electrical charger;

moving said shield so that said device can receive a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner;

generating an electric current from said portion of said magnetic force; and

charging said battery with said electric current.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said moving of said shield results in the removal of said shield from said device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

25. A device that vibrates to indicate a telecommunications message has been received comprising:

a receiver that receives a telecommunications message and generates an electrical signal upon receipt of said telecommunications message; and

a vibration generator comprising;

a motor that receives said electrical signal, said motor comprising a shaft and having a first state wherein the shaft rotates in a first direction in response to receipt of said electrical signal, a second state wherein said shaft rotates in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a third state wherein the shaft does not rotate;

a rotation direction sensitive clutch engaged with said shaft with the shaft rotating in the first direction and disengaged from said shaft with the shaft rotating in the direction opposite to the first direction;

a mass attached to said clutch to rotate with the clutch with said shaft rotating in the first direction so as to cause said device to vibrate;

wherein said electric charger comprises a second magnet that is magnetically coupled to said magnet of said electric generator.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein said mass is offset with respect to an axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft.

28. An electric charging and vibrating system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

an electric current generator that receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and converts said portion of said magnetic force into mechanical energy which generates an electric current;

a battery that receives said electric current;

a receiver that receives a telecommunications message and generates an electrical signal upon receipt of said telecommunications message; and

a vibration generator that receives said electrical signal and vibrates said device upon receipt of said electrical signal so that a user can readily feel said device vibrating.

29. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 28, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

30. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 28, wherein said electric current generator comprises a magnet and said vibration generator comprises a mass.

31. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 30, wherein said magnet is movable relative to said mass.

32. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 31, wherein said magnet is rotatable relative to said mass.

33. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 31, wherein said magnet is translatable relative to said mass.

34. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 32, wherein said magnet is translatable relative to said mass.

35. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 34, wherein said electrical charger comprises a second magnet that attracts said magnet so as to cause said magnet to translate towards said second magnet.

36. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 30, wherein said electric current generator comprises a rotatable shaft, and said mass is movable relative to said rotatable shaft.

37. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 36, wherein said mass is rotatable relative to said rotatable shaft.

38. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 31, wherein said electric current generator comprises a rotatable shaft, and said mass is rotatable relative to said rotatable shaft.

39. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 32, wherein said electric current generator comprises a rotatable shaft, and said mass is rotatable relative to said rotatable shaft.

40. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 32, wherein said mass and said magnet do not rotate simultaneously.

41. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 32, wherein said mass and said magnet can rotate synchronously with one another.

42. An electric charging and vibrating system comprising:

an electrical charger generating a magnetic force;

a device comprising;

a receiver that receives a telecommunications message and generates an electrical signal upon receipt of said telecommunications message;

a motor having a rotatable shaft, said motor connected to said receiver so as to receive said electrical signal;

a mass attached to said rotatable shaft, wherein said motor rotates said shaft and mass upon receipt of said electrical signal so that said rotating mass causes said device to vibrate to such an extent that a user can readily feel said device vibrate;

a magnet attached to said motor, wherein said magnet receives a portion of said magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and rotates so that said motor generates an electric current therefrom; and

a battery that receives said electric current.

43. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 42, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

44. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 42, wherein said mass is offset relative to said rotatable shaft.

45. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 42, wherein said magnet is engageable with said rotatable shaft to rotate said rotatable shaft and generate said electric current within said motor.

46. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 45, further comprising:

a first rotation direction sensitive clutch connected between said mass and said shaft; and

a second rotation direction sensitive clutch connected between said magnet and said shaft.

47. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 45, wherein said magnet translates relative to said mass along said rotatable shaft.

48. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 47, comprising a spring positioned between said mass and said magnet so as to bias said mass and magnet away from one another.

49. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 47, wherein said electrical charger comprises a second magnet that attracts said magnet towards said mass until said magnet engages said mass.

50. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 48, wherein a portion of said mass is offset with respect to said rotatable shaft;

and

said magnet has a recess that receives said portion of said mass when said magnet engages said mass so that upon engagement rotation of said magnet causes said mass to rotate.

51. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 50, wherein said device is not caused to vibrate by said mass when said engaged magnet and mass rotate.

52. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 49, wherein said magnet comprises an alignment pin;

and

said mass has an opening that receives said alignment pin when said magnet engages said mass so that upon engagement rotation of said magnet causes said mass to rotate.

53. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 52, wherein said mass has a portion that is offset with respect to said rotatable shaft;

and

said magnet has a second portion that is offset with respect to said rotatable shaft.

54. The electric charging and vibrating system of claim 53, wherein said device is not caused to vibrate by said mass when said engaged magnet and mass rotate.