Charging paddle which prevents damage of the surface of the primary core and method of manufacturing the same

• US 6,291,969 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kaneko, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/679,589
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/109, 336/DIG.2
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

An electromagnetic induction type connection terminal for charging a battery includes a charging paddle and a charging receptacle for receiving the charging paddle. The charging paddle has a primary coil that is connected to a power supply station. The charging receptacle has a secondary coil that is connected to the battery. A current sent from the power supply station is supplied to the primary coil, which causes a current to flow the secondary coil. The charging paddle includes a paddle case having a surface, which has an opening, a protrusion extending from the paddle case, and a core about which the primary coil is wound. The core is held within the paddle case, and surfaces of the core are exposed through the opening. The protrusion is positioned near the exposed surfaces of the core for preventing the exposed surfaces of the core from being damaged when the charging paddle is plugged into the charging receptacle.

Claims

1. A charging paddle for an electromagnetic induction type connection terminal for connecting a power supply station to a battery for charging the battery, wherein the connection terminal includes a charging paddle, which includes a primary coil that is connected to the power supply station, and a charging receptacle, which includes a secondary coil that is connected to the battery, wherein the charging receptacle receives the charging paddle, and a current supplied from the power supply station to the primary coil causes a current to flow between the secondary coil and the battery, the charging paddle comprising:

a paddle case having a surface, the surface includes an opening;

a core about which the primary coil is wound, the core being held within the paddle case such that a surface of the core faces outside through the opening; and

a protrusion extending from the surface of the case, wherein the protrusion extends outward from the surface of the core.

2. The charging paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening is circular, and the protrusion is formed about the opening.

3. The charging paddle according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is annular and is formed around the entire periphery of the opening.

4. The charging paddle according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is located on two opposite sides of the opening.

5. The charging paddle according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the core that faces the outside through the opening are each coated with a resin.

6. The charging paddle according to claim 5, wherein the resin is a fluoropolymer.

7. A charging paddle for an electromagnetic induction type connection terminal for connecting a power supply station to a battery for charging the battery, wherein the connection terminal includes a charging paddle, which includes a primary coil that is connected to the power supply station, and a charging receptacle, which includes a secondary coil that is connected to the battery, wherein the charging receptacle receives the charging paddle, and a current supplied from the power supply station to the primary coil causes a current to flow between the secondary coil and the battery, the charging paddle comprising:

a paddle case, the paddle case having a pair of shells, each of which including a surface having an opening;

a core about which the primary coil is wound, the core being held within the paddle case such that surfaces of the core face outside through the opening; and

a protrusion extending from the surface of each shell, wherein the protrusion extends outward from the surface of the core.

8. The charging paddle according to claim 7, wherein the opening is circular, and the protrusion is formed about the opening.

9. The charging paddle according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion is annular and is formed around the entire periphery of the opening.

10. The charging paddle according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion is located on two opposite sides of the opening.

11. The charging paddle according to claim 7, wherein the surfaces of the core that face the outside through the opening are each coated with a resin.

12. The charging paddle according to claim 11, wherein the resin is a fluoropolymer.

13. A method of manufacturing a charging paddle, the charging paddle comprising:

a paddle case including a pair of shells, each of which including a surface having an opening, each shell having a peripheral edge portion that extends inward, each edge portion having an end face;

a core about which a primary coil is wound, the core having surfaces that face the outside through the opening; and

a protrusion extending from the surface of each shell, the protrusion having an end face,

wherein the method comprises;

putting the pair of shells one upon the other such that the end faces of the edge portions of the shells contact each other; and

vibration welding the shells together to form the paddle case, wherein the core is held by the shells such that surfaces of the core face the outside through the opening, and wherein each protrusion extends outward beyond the corresponding outwardly facing surface of the core.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising stopping the vibration welding when the distance between the end faces of the protrusions is equal to a predetermined distance, which is larger than the distance between the outwardly facing surfaces of the core.