Methods of charging batteries including receiving a magnetic force in a mon-galvanic manner and related devices and charges

• US 6,603,284 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Peele, James Calvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/906,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 310/78, 310/75.R
• 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. A portable device comprising:

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

a battery that receives said electric current.

2. A device comprising:

an electric current generator that receives a magnetic force in a non-galvanic manner and converts said 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;

a battery that receives said electric current; and

wherein said magnet translates along said rotatable shaft.

3. A device comprising:

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

a battery that receives said electric current; and

wherein the magnet of the electric current generator is adapted for coupling with a magnet of a charger.

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

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said magnet of said electric current generator is polarized N-S across a major axis thereof.

7. The device 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 device 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 of comprising:

coupling a magnet in the device with a magnetic force to generate mechanical energy from the magnet in the device responsive to the magnetic force;

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

charging said battery with said electric current.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said device comprises a telephone.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein coupling the magnet in the device with a magnetic force to generate mechanical energy from the magnet in the device responsive to the magnetic force comprises rotating the magnet responsive to the magnetic force.

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

receiving a magnetic force at the device in a non-galvanic manner;

converting said magnetic force into mechanical energy by translating a magnet along a first direction;

generating an electric current from said mechanical energy; and

charging said battery with said electric current.

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

receiving a magnetic force at the device in a non-galvanic manner;

converting said portion of said magnetic force into mechanical energy by rotating a magnet in the device in response to the received magnetic force;

generating an electric current from said mechanical energy; and

charging said battery with said electric current.

14. A rechargeable device comprising:

an electric current generator that receives a 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 magnetic force to a second position where said electric current generator receives said magnetic force.

15. The rechargeable device of claim 14, wherein said device comprises a telephone.

16. The rechargeable device of claim 14, wherein said electric current generator comprises a magnet that receives said magnetic force.

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

20. The rechargeable device of claim 14, wherein said magnetic shield comprises a mu-metal.

21. The rechargeable device 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:

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

generating an electric current from 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 message has been received, the device comprising:

a receiver that receives a message and generates an electrical signal upon receipt of said 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 second direction opposite the first direction, and a third state wherein the shaft does not rotate;

a rotation direction sensitive clutch engaged with said shaft, the shaft being configured to rotate in the first direction and to disengage from said shaft with the shaft rotating in the second direction; and

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 rotate.

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. The device of claim 25, wherein said rotation direction sensitive clutch engages said rotatable shaft upon receipt of said electrical signal by said motor.

29. A device comprising:

an electric current generator that receives a 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 message and generates an electric 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.

30. The device according to claim 29 wherein the device comprises a telephone.

31. The device according to claim 29 wherein said electric current generator comprises a magnet and said vibration generator comprises a mass.

32. The device according to claim 31 wherein said magnet is movable relative to said mass.

33. The device according to claim 32 wherein said magnet is rotatable relative to said mass.

34. The device according to claim 32 wherein said magnet is translatable relative to said mass.

35. The device according to claim 33 wherein said magnet is translatable relative to said mass.

36. The device according to claim 29, wherein said electric current generator receives the magnetic force from an electrical charger comprising a second magnet that attracts said magnet so as to cause said magnet to translate towards said second magnet.

37. The device according to claim 31 wherein said electric current generator comprises a rotatable shaft, and said mass is movable relative to said rotatable shaft.

38. The device according to claim 37 wherein said mass is rotatable relative to said rotatable shaft.

39. The device according to claim 32 wherein said electric current generator comprises a rotatable shaft, and said mass is rotatable relative to said rotatable shaft.

40. The device according to claim 33 wherein said electric current generator comprises a rotatable shaft, and said mass is rotatable relative to said rotatable shaft.

41. The device according to claim 33 wherein said mass and said magnet do not rotate simultaneously.

42. The device according to claim 33 wherein said mass and said magnet can rotate synchronously with one another.

43. A device comprising:

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

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

a mass attached to said rotatable shaft, wherein said motor rotates said shaft and said 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 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.

44. The device according to claim 43 wherein said device comprises a telephone.

45. The device according to claim 43 wherein said mass is offset relative to said rotatable shaft.

46. The device according to claim 43 wherein said magnet is engageable with said rotatable shaft to rotate said rotatable shaft and generate said electric current within said motor.

47. The device according to claim 46 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.

48. The device according to claim 46 wherein said magnet translates relative to said mass along said rotatable shaft.

49. The device according to claim 48 comprising a spring positioned between said mass and said magnet so as to bias said mass and said magnet away from one another.

50. The device according to claim 48 wherein said magnet receives the magnetic force from an electrical charger comprising a second magnet that attracts said magnet towards said mass until said magnet engages said mass.

51. The device according to claim 50 wherein a portion of the mass is offset with respect to the 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.

52. The device according to claim 51 wherein said device is not caused to vibrate by said mass when said engaged magnet and mass rotate.

53. The device according to claim 50 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.

54. The device according to claim 53 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.

55. The device according to claim 54 wherein said device is not caused to vibrate by said mass when said engaged magnet and mass rotate.

56. A charger for a battery powered device, the charger comprising:

a receiving area configured to receive a battery powered device;

a motor; and

a magnet coupled with the motor so that the magnet rotates to generate a magnetic force that is transmitted to a battery powered device positioned in the receiving area in a non-galvanic manner.