Wireless battery charging system for existing hearing aids using a dynamic battery and a charging processor unit

• US 6,661,197 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Gary Skuro
• Inventors: Zink, Uwe, Skuro, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US10/255,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/107, 320/112, 320/113, 320/115, 361/145, 361/146, 361/133
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A rechargeable battery which may be used with most presently available hearing aids (or other appliances) with no modification to the existing hearing aid is needed in order to use the described wireless charging system. The battery may be known a “Dynamic battery” as the battery is actively charged by means of an inductor circuit built into the battery housing itself or added onto the battery. The hearing aid may simply be placed within the charger housing (or cradle) to charge the battery. No electrical connection by either wires or electrical contacts is needed to recharge the battery, which is located inside the hearing aid housing. Moreover, the battery need not be removed from the hearing aid (or other appliance).

Claims

1. A method of charging a small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, comprising the steps of:

supplying current to a sending core magnetic coil,

measuring current to the sending core magnetic coil,

inducing a current in a receiving magnetic coil in the small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand,

rotating the sending core magnetic coil through a predetermined arc of rotation while measuring the current to the sending core magnetic coil,

determining an optimal position for the sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil, and

locating the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position so as to charge the small appliance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the small appliance is provided with a rechargeable battery and current induced in the receiving magnetic coil charges the rechargeable battery.

3. A charging stand for charging a small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, said apparatus comprising:

means for supplying current to a sending core magnetic coil;

means for measuring current to the sending core magnetic coil;

means for inducing a current in a receiving magnetic coil in the small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand;

means for rotating the sending core magnetic coil through a predetermined arc of rotation while measuring the current to the sending core magnetic coil;

means for determining an optimal position for the sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil; and

means for locating the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position so as to charge the small appliance.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the small appliance is provided with a rechargeable battery and current induced in the receiving magnetic coil charges the rechargeable battery.

5. A method of charging a small rechargeable battery-operated appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, comprising the steps of:

supplying current to a sending core magnetic coil so as to generate a magnetic field,

measuring current to the sending core magnetic coil,

inducing a current in a receiving magnetic coil from the magnetic field in the small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand,

rotating the sending core magnetic coil through a predetermined arc of rotation while measuring the current to the sending core magnetic coil,

determining an optimal position for the sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil,

locating the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position, and

charging the rechargeable battery in the small appliance with the induced current.

6. A charging stand for charging a small rechargeable-battery-operated appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, said apparatus comprising:

sending core magnetic coil supplied with current so as to generate a magnetic field;

means for measuring current to the sending core magnetic coil;

a receiving magnetic coil for inducing current from the magnetic field in the small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand;

means for rotating the sending core magnetic coil through a predetermined arc of rotation while measuring the current to the sending core magnetic coil;

means for determining an optimal position for the sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil; and

means for locating the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position so as to charge the rechargeable battery in the small appliance.

7. A method of charging a small rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, comprising the steps of:

supplying current to a sending core magnetic coil so as to generate a magnetic field,

measuring current to the sending core magnetic coil,

inducing a current in a receiving magnetic coil from the magnetic field in the rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand,

rotating the sending core magnetic coil through a predetermined arc of rotation while measuring the current to the sending core magnetic coil,

determining an optimal position for the sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil,

locating the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position, and

charging the rechargeable battery with the induced current.

8. A charging stand for charging a small rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, said apparatus comprising:

sending core magnetic coil supplied with current so as to generate a magnetic field;

means for measuring current to the sending core magnetic coil;

a receiving magnetic coil for inducing current from the magnetic field in the rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand;

means for rotating the sending core magnetic coil through a predetermined arc of rotation while measuring the current to the sending core magnetic coil;

means for determining an optimal position for the sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil; and

means for locating the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position so as to charge the rechargeable battery with the induced current.

9. A method of charging a small rechargeable battery-operated appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, comprising the steps of:

supplying current to at least one sending core magnetic coil so as to generate a magnetic field,

measuring current to the at least one sending core magnetic coil,

inducing a current in a receiving magnetic coil from the magnetic field in the small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand,

determining an optimal position for the at least one sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil,

providing current to sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position, and

charging the rechargeable battery in the small appliance with the induced current.

10. A charging stand for charging a small rechargeable-battery-operated appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, said apparatus comprising:

at least one sending core magnetic coil supplied with current so as to generate a magnetic field;

means for measuring current to the at least one sending core magnetic coil;

a receiving magnetic coil for inducing current from the magnetic field in the small appliance placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand;

means for determining an optimal position for the at least one sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil; and

providing current to the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position so as to charge the rechargeable battery in the small appliance.

11. A method of charging a small rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, comprising the steps of:

supplying current to at least one sending core magnetic coil so as to generate a magnetic field,

measuring current to the at least one sending core magnetic coil,

inducing a current in a receiving magnetic coil from the magnetic field in the rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand,

determining an optimal position for the at least one sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil,

providing current to the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position, and

charging the rechargeable battery with the induced current.

12. A charging stand for charging a small rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to a charging stand, said apparatus comprising:

at least one sending core magnetic coil supplied with current so as to generate a magnetic field;

means for measuring current to the at least one sending core magnetic coil;

a receiving magnetic coil for inducing current from the magnetic field in the rechargeable battery placed in an arbitrary relationship to the charging stand;

means for determining an optimal position for the at least one sending core magnetic coil based upon measured current to the sending core magnetic coil; and

means for providing current to the sending core magnetic coil at the determined optimal position so as to charge the rechargeable battery with the induced current.