Wireless power transfer system

• US 7,728,551 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Wingrove, Theodore C., Reed, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US11/740,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20080265835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320110-115
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system 20 for charging an electronic device 22 having a secondary coil 24 includes a primary controller 38 disposed on a class B surface 30 of a vehicle. A primary coil 52 is electrically connected to the primary controller 38. The primary coil 52 is disposed remotely from the primary controller 38 on a class A surface 28 of the vehicle. A protective shield 66 is disposed on the primary coil 52 to secure the primary coil 52 to the class A surface 28 and indicia 68 indicating an alignment of the secondary coil 24 of the electronic device 22 is disposed on the protective shield 66.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer system for a vehicle having a class A and class B surface, the wireless power system capable of transferring power to an electronic device having a secondary coil, the wireless power transfer system comprising:

a primary controller disposed on the class B surface of the vehicle;

a primary coil remote from and electrically connected to said primary controller to establish an electrical circuit for generating an electromagnetic field; and

a protective shield coupled to and protecting said primary coil wherein said protective shield secures said primary coil to the class A surface of the vehicle, wherein the primary coil flexibly conforms to a shape of the class A surface,

wherein said protective shield is transparent to render said primary coil visible through said protective shield, said protective shield is flexible, and said class A surface is a visible surface and said class B surface is not a visible surface.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said protective shield is capable of conforming to the class A surface of the vehicle.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system includes a component defining the class A surface of the vehicle.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said component comprises at least one of a center counsel, an armrest, a side door stowage area, a stowage area on the instrument panel, a cup holder, a glove compartment, a seat back, and an overhead console.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 including an adhesive disposed on said protective shield for adhering said protective shield to the class A surface of the vehicle.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said adhesive is pressure sensitive.

7. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said adhesive is heat activated.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary coil is a plurality of rings with each of said rings abutting said protective shield.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said rings and said protective shield are flexible.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said rings are concentric.

11. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said rings are contiguous.

12. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said rings are coplanar.

13. A system as set forth in claim 1 including indicia disposed on said protective shield for identifying said primary coil.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said indicia includes an alignment indicator for indicating an alignment of the secondary coil of the electronic device.

15. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said indicia includes a logo for advertising an entity.

16. A wireless power transfer system for transferring power to an electronic device having a secondary coil comprising:

a support structure having a class A surface;

a primary controller disposed on a class B surface and remote from said class A surface of said support structure wherein said primary controller is not coupled to said class A surface of said support structure;

a protective shield coupled to said class A surface; and

a primary coil disposed between said protective shield and said class A surface, said protective shield protecting said primary coil, said primary coil being electrically connected to and remote from said primary controller, said primary coil and primary controller generating an electromagnetic field, and wherein the location of said primary coil is visible for allowing the electronic device having the secondary coil to be positioned proximate to said primary coil, and the primary coil flexibly conforms to a shape of the class A surface,

wherein said primary coil and said protective shield are flexible, said protective shield is transparent to render said primary coil visible on said class A surface of said support structure, and said class A surface is a visible surface and said class B surface is not a visible surface.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said primary coil is a plurality of rings with each of said rings abutting said class A surface of said support structure.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein said class A surface has a profile and wherein said rings follow said profile.

19. A system as set forth in claim 16 including an adhesive disposed on said protective shield for adhering said protective shield to said class A surface of said support structure to secure said primary coil to said class A surface of said support structure.

20. A system as set forth in claim 16 including indicia disposed on said protective shield for identifying said primary coil.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said indicia includes an alignment indicator for indicating an alignment of the secondary coil of the electronic device.

22. A wireless power transfer system for transferring power to an electronic device having a secondary coil comprising:

a support structure being a vehicle and having a class A surface and a class B surface;

a primary coil being a plurality tings disposed on said class A surface of said vehicle for allowing the electronic device having the secondary coil to be positioned proximate to said primary coil;

a primary controller disposed on said class B surface of said vehicle remote from said class A surface wherein said primary controller is electrically connected to said primary coil; and

a protective shield being transparent and flexibly coupled to said primary coil for protecting said primary coil and securing said primary coil to the class A surface of the vehicle, wherein the primary coil flexibly conforms to a shape of the class A surface, and said class A surface is a visible surface and said class B surface is not a visible surface.