Portable electronic device with antenna and power transfer coil

• US 8,624,545 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Limited
• Original Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Limited
• Inventors: Hui, Shu Yuen Ron, Xue, Quan, Wan, Kwun Chiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/576,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable electronic device including an antenna having a major planar cross-section, and a power transfer coil having windings parallel to a coil plane, the coil plane extending to the perimeter of the power transfer coil. The antenna and the power transfer coil are arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane if a line directed perpendicularly from the coil plane intersects the major planar cross-section. An associated method of assembling a portable electronic device is also provided.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device including:

an antenna having a first surface and a second surface arranged parallel to the first surface, the antenna also having a major planar cross-section parallel to the first surface;

a power transfer coil arranged to receive energy transmitted through a power transfer surface that is external to the portable electronic device, the power transfer coil having windings parallel to a coil plane, the power transfer coil arranged such that the received energy passes through the power transfer coil in a direction substantially perpendicular to the coil plane and does not flow vertically into the major planar cross-section, the power transfer coil further arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane; and

a signal shield arranged between the antenna and the power transfer coil such that the major planar cross-section overlaps the signal shield, the signal shield further arranged parallel to the power transfer coil and perpendicular to the major planar cross-section.

2. A portable electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the major planar cross-section is positioned to overlap the coil plane.

3. A portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an orthographic projection of the signal shield onto a projective plane containing the coil plane covers an orthographic projection of the power transfer coil onto the projective plane, the coil plane extending to the perimeter of the orthographic projection of the signal shield onto the projective plane.

4. A portable electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the power transfer coil and the signal shield form part of a power transfer module.

5. A portable electronic device according to claim 1 including an exterior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to the power transfer surface.

6. A portable electronic device according to claim 5 wherein the power transfer coil is adjacent and substantially parallel to the exterior surface.

7. A portable electronic device according to claim 5 wherein the power transfer surface is substantially horizontal and the exterior surface is adapted to rest on top of the power transfer surface.

8. A portable electronic device according to claim 7 wherein the power transfer coil functions as an energy-receiving coil and the power transfer surface forms part of a wireless charging pad to charge the portable electronic device through the power transfer coil.

9. A portable electronic device according to claim 5 wherein the exterior surface forms at least a portion of a major exterior face of the portable electronic device.

10. A portable electronic device according to claim 9 including a first face having a user interface and a second face opposite the first face, the second face being the major exterior face.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the signal shield is further arranged between the antenna and the power transfer coil such that the major planar cross-section overlaps the signal shield along an axis of the coil plain.

11. A method of assembling a portable electronic device, the method including:

providing an antenna having a first surface and a second surface arranged parallel to the first surface, the antenna also having a major planar cross-section parallel to the first surface;

providing a power transfer coil arranged to receive energy through a power transfer surface that is external to the portable electronic device, the power transfer coil having windings parallel to a coil plane, the power transfer coil arranged such that the received energy passes through the power transfer coil in a direction substantially perpendicular to the coil plane and does not flow vertically into the major planar cross-section, the power transfer coil further arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane; and

arranging a signal shield between the antenna and the power transfer coil such that the major planar cross-section overlaps the signal shield, the signal shield further arranged parallel to the power transfer coil and perpendicular to the major planar cross-section.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the antenna and the power transfer coil are arranged such that the major planar cross-section is positioned to overlap the coil plane.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein an orthographic projection of the signal shield onto a projective plane containing the coil plane covers an orthographic projection of the power transfer coil onto the projective plane, the coil plane extending to the perimeter of the orthographic projection of the signal shield onto the projective plane.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the power transfer coil and the signal shield are provided as part of a power transfer module.

15. A portable electronic device including:

a plate antenna having a major planar cross-section parallel to a face of the antenna;

a power transfer coil arranged to receive energy transmitted through a power transfer surface that is external to the portable electronic device, the power transfer coil having windings parallel to a coil plane, the power transfer coil arranged such that the received energy passes through the power transfer coil in a direction substantially perpendicular to the coil plane and does not flow vertically into the major planar cross-section, the power transfer coil further arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane; and

a signal shield arranged between the antenna and the power transfer coil, the signal shield further arranged parallel to the power transfer coil and perpendicular to the major planar cross-section.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the antenna and the power transfer coil are arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane.