Contactless battery charging apparel
First Claim
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1. An inductively coupled sequential power transmission system comprising:
- a rechargeable central battery adapted for portable wearing by a soldier, a garment used in a soldier system, said garment having pockets and having an electrically conductive first electrical network mounted therein wherein said first electrical network has an infeed end mountable to, in electrical communication with, said central battery, and outfeed nodes, a first set of inductive primary coils mounted to said pockets and electrically connected to said outfeed nodes, a pocket-mountable independent battery powered accessory mountable into said pockets and having an inductively coupled sequential power transmission sub-system mounted thereon and a rechargeable secondary battery charged by said sub-system, wherein said sub-system includes a second electrical network having at least one inductive secondary conduit extending from an infeed end to an outfeed end, wherein at least one inductive secondary coil having secondary ferrite chosen from a backing, a core, is mounted at said infeed end and said secondary battery is mounted at said outfeed end of said second electrical network in electrical communication therewith,and wherein each primary coil of said primary inductive coils is chosen from;
(a) a rigid, low profile substantially planar coil having cooperating primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein said each primary coil is mounted flush to said pockets, wherein said low profile coil does not interfere with access of said accessory into said pockets, (b) a cylindrical coil having a primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein each said secondary coil is internal to a corresponding said accessory, and said each primary coil protrudes into said corresponding accessory when said corresponding accessory is mounted in said pocket,and wherein said each primary coil is no larger than said accessory so that when said each primary coil is mounted to a said pocket said each primary coil is no wider or taller than a corresponding surface of said accessory adjacent said each primary coil so as not adversely affect garment flexibility when said accessory is mounted in said each pocket,and wherein said each pocket is adapted to mechanically align in a pre-determined fixed alignment said accessory in fixed relation relative to said each primary coil so as to mount said inductive secondary coil on said accessory proximal adjacent to and flush with, and so as to be substantially aligned over said each primary coil,wherein said ferrites direct the magnetic flow between said each primary coil and said secondary coil to minimize flux leakage and optimize magnetic coupling efficiency, whereby when said primary and secondary coils are in said close proximity and aligned they are substantially maximally magnetically coupled.
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Abstract
A sequential power transmission between a portable user-carried battery and first and second independent accessories. At least one primary inductive coupling coil is mounted on an article of apparel worn by the user, so as to place a primary coil adjacent a first intermediary inductive coupling coil on the first independent accessory. The energizing of the first intermediary coil energizes a second intermediary coil on the first independent accessory. The second intermediary coil, when energized, energizes a secondary coil on the second independent accessory for powering the use, including the charging of the batteries of that accessory.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An inductively coupled sequential power transmission system comprising:
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a rechargeable central battery adapted for portable wearing by a soldier, a garment used in a soldier system, said garment having pockets and having an electrically conductive first electrical network mounted therein wherein said first electrical network has an infeed end mountable to, in electrical communication with, said central battery, and outfeed nodes, a first set of inductive primary coils mounted to said pockets and electrically connected to said outfeed nodes, a pocket-mountable independent battery powered accessory mountable into said pockets and having an inductively coupled sequential power transmission sub-system mounted thereon and a rechargeable secondary battery charged by said sub-system, wherein said sub-system includes a second electrical network having at least one inductive secondary conduit extending from an infeed end to an outfeed end, wherein at least one inductive secondary coil having secondary ferrite chosen from a backing, a core, is mounted at said infeed end and said secondary battery is mounted at said outfeed end of said second electrical network in electrical communication therewith, and wherein each primary coil of said primary inductive coils is chosen from;
(a) a rigid, low profile substantially planar coil having cooperating primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein said each primary coil is mounted flush to said pockets, wherein said low profile coil does not interfere with access of said accessory into said pockets, (b) a cylindrical coil having a primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein each said secondary coil is internal to a corresponding said accessory, and said each primary coil protrudes into said corresponding accessory when said corresponding accessory is mounted in said pocket,and wherein said each primary coil is no larger than said accessory so that when said each primary coil is mounted to a said pocket said each primary coil is no wider or taller than a corresponding surface of said accessory adjacent said each primary coil so as not adversely affect garment flexibility when said accessory is mounted in said each pocket, and wherein said each pocket is adapted to mechanically align in a pre-determined fixed alignment said accessory in fixed relation relative to said each primary coil so as to mount said inductive secondary coil on said accessory proximal adjacent to and flush with, and so as to be substantially aligned over said each primary coil, wherein said ferrites direct the magnetic flow between said each primary coil and said secondary coil to minimize flux leakage and optimize magnetic coupling efficiency, whereby when said primary and secondary coils are in said close proximity and aligned they are substantially maximally magnetically coupled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A military battery logistic supply process comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a soldier system including; a rechargeable central battery adapted for portable wearing by a soldier, a garment used in a soldier system, said garment having pockets and having an electrically conductive first electrical network mounted therein wherein said first electrical network has an infeed end mountable to, in electrical communication with, said central battery, and outfeed nodes, a first set of inductive primary coils mounted to said pockets and electrically connected to said outfeed nodes, a pocket-mountable independent battery powered accessory mountable into said pockets and having an inductively coupled sequential power transmission sub-system mounted thereon and a rechargeable secondary battery charged by said sub-system, wherein said sub-system includes a second electrical network having at least one inductive secondary conduit extending from an infeed end to an outfeed end, wherein at least one inductive secondary coil having secondary ferrite chosen from a backing, a core, is mounted at said infeed end and said secondary battery is mounted at said outfeed end of said second electrical network in electrical communication therewith, and wherein each primary coil of said primary inductive coils chosen from;
(a) is a rigid, low profile substantially planar coil having cooperating primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein said each primary coil is mounted flush to said pockets, wherein said low profile coil does not interfere with access of said accessory into said pockets, (b) a cylindrical coil having a primary ferrite chosen from a housing, a core, and wherein each said secondary coil is internal to a corresponding said accessory, and said each primary coil protrudes into said corresponding accessory when said corresponding accessory is mounted in said pocket,and wherein said each primary coil is no larger than said accessory so that when said each primary coil is mounted to a said pocket said each primary coil is no wider or taller than a corresponding surface of said accessory adjacent said each primary coil so as not adversely affect garment flexibility when said accessory is mounted in said each pocket, and wherein said each pocket is adapted to mechanically align in a pre-determined fixed alignment said accessory in fixed relation relative to said each primary coil so as to mount said inductive secondary coil on said accessory proximal adjacent to and flush with, and so as to be substantially aligned over said each primary coil, wherein said ferrites direct the magnetic flow between said each primary coil and said secondary coil to minimize flux leakage and optimize magnetic coupling efficiency, whereby when said primary and secondary coils are in said close proximity and aligned they are substantially maximally magnetically coupled, b) providing only rechargeable batteries for all said electrical powered peripheral devices using batteries, in said soldier system, c) reducing in-field access by the soldier to said rechargeable batteries in said devices, d) providing a plurality of single-size said removable rechargeable central batteries for interchangeable wearing by the soldier within said soldier system, wherein, once mounted in said soldier system so as to become part there of, each said central battery powers said peripheral devices and as said central battery depletes, said process includes steps chosen from;
exchanging depleted central battery for a charged central battery from said plurality of central batteries, recharging said depleted central battery while it remains in said soldier system, selectively degrading power supply to said peripheral devices within said soldier system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification