Vehicle seat inductive charger and data transmitter

• US 8,791,600 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roger J. Soar
• Original Assignee: Roger J. Soar
• Inventors: Soar, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mourad, Rasem
• Application Number:
  US12/923,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 320/108
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/36 Electric or magnetic shields or screens movable for varying inductance H01F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/366 made of ferromagnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle seat inductive charger and data transmitter system includes: a vehicle seat having a first inductive coil, apparel having therein a second inductive coil, a first charging and controlling circuit cooperating with the first inductive coil, and adapted to energize and modulate the first inductive coil to transfer power and data to the second inductive coil solely via inductive coupling between the first and second inductive coils, a second charging and control circuit on the apparel cooperating with the second inductive coil, at least one main battery adapted for wearing by the user, where the main battery is adapted for charging by the second circuit upon the inductive coupling of the first and second inductive coils when energized.

Claims

1. A system for providing a user, while seated in a vehicle seat in a vehicle, with electrical power and data communication without the use of a physical electrical connection between the user and the seat or vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a vehicle seat having a seat surface engaging the user while seated in said seat, and having a first inductive coil assembly having a first inductive coil mounted immediately behind said seat surface, said seat adapted to be mounted in a vehicle,

b) apparel having therein a second inductive coil assembly having a corresponding second inductive coil, said apparel adapted to be worn by a user,

c) first electronics adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperating with said first inductive coil assembly, wherein said first electronics is a first charging and controlling circuit adapted to energize and modulate a first inductive coil of said first inductive coil assembly, said first inductive coil adapted to transfer power and data to a second inductive coil of said second inductive coil assembly solely via inductive coupling between said first and second inductive coils,

d) second electronics on said apparel and cooperating with said second inductive coil assembly, wherein said second electronics is a second charging and control circuit,

e) at least one main battery assembly adapted for wearing by the user, said at least one main battery assembly including at least one main battery and adapted for charging of said at least one main battery by said second electronics upon said inductive coupling between said first and second inductive coils when energized,

wherein power is transferred solely via said inductive coupling for said energizing and said charging from said first electronics to said second electronics and data is transferred via said modulations for data communications between said first and second electronics.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, said first inductive coil is on a seat back of said seat, and said second inductive coil is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said first inductive coil is selectively positionable on said seat back to correlate the position of said first inductive coil with the location of said second inductive coil on said back portion of said apparel.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said seat back is flexible and wherein said first inductive coil is at least in part correspondingly flexible.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said first inductive coil is segmented to provide said flexibility.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said second inductive coil is flexible for conformal, parallel alignment of said first and second inductive coils when said user is sitting in said seat with said back portion of said apparel against said seat back.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein said seat back is flexible and wherein said first inductive coil is contoured so as to conform in shape to the user'"'"'s torso.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

electrically powered small devices for carrying by the user in inductively coupled proximity to said apparel, said small devices having secondary batteries for electrical operation of said small devices, said apparel having at least one small device charging primary inductive coil,

wherein said small devices include secondary coils positioned and adapted for charging of said secondary batteries when said secondary coils are in charging proximity to said small device charging primary inductive coil,

and wherein said small device charging primary inductive coil is positioned on said apparel so as to transfer electrical power to said secondary coils when corresponding said small devices are carried by said user and said small device charging primary inductive coil is energized.

9. The system of claim 3 further comprising a sleeve having said first inductive coil mounted therein and wherein said sleeve is sized to fit over said seat back.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a hoist in said sleeve, wherein said hoist is mounted to said first inductive coil, and wherein said hoist is adapted to selectively vertically position said first inductive coil.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said first inductive coil assembly includes a plurality of said first inductive coils mounted to said seat, and wherein said first electronics includes a plurality of said first electronics corresponding to and cooperating with said plurality of said first inductive coils, and wherein said second inductive coil assembly includes a corresponding plurality of said second inductive coils positioned to correspond to said plurality of said first inductive coils.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising encapsulating said first and second inductive coils each within an environmentally resistant encapsulation.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said encapsulation is polymer encapsulation and wherein said, environmentally resistant encapsulation is water-proof.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said inductive coupling forms an air core between said first and second inductive coils, and wherein said inductive coils each have a ferrite backing.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said ferrite backing is positioned relative to said coils so as to increase inductive efficiency within said inductive coupling by minimizing stray flux and increasing flux density across said air core.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said seat includes a metal frame and wherein said first electronics is mounted to said metal frame so as to provide a heat sink for said first electronics.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said second electronics is mounted adjacent said second inductive coil.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said second electronics is mounted within said second inductive coil, and so as to be co-planar therewith.

19. The system of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor cooperating between said first and second inductive coils so that a coupling proximity of said first inductive coil to said second inductive coil so as to allow said inductive coupling is detected by said proximity sensor and wherein said proximity sensor is adapted to communicate a trigger to said first electronics upon said coupling proximity.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said first electronics is adapted to only said energize said first inductive coil upon said trigger.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one main battery assembly includes a battery charging and control circuit adapted to monitor charging required by said at least one main battery and to correspondingly charge said at least one main battery as required upon said inductive coupling, and wherein if said battery charging and control circuit determines no charging of said at least one main battery is required then a corresponding battery status is communicated to said first electronics and said power transfer via said inductive coupling is terminated by said first electronics.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said first electronics is adapted to interrogate said second electronics upon said inductive coupling to determine said charging required by said at least one main battery.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein said proximity sensor includes a first element adjacent said first inductive coil and a second element adjacent said second inductive coil, wherein said first and second elements cooperate to generate said trigger.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said first element is a hall effect sensor and said second element is a magnet.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second inductive coils include, respectively:

a first power transfer coil and a separate first data transfer coil; and

, a second power transfer coil and a separate second data transfer coil.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said first and second data transfer coils are embedded in, respectively, said first and second power transfer coils.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said first and second inductive coils each have a ferrite backing and wherein said first and second data transfer coils are interleaved with said first and second power transfer coils and said ferrite backings.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said first and second data transfer coils are non-concentric with said first and second power transfer coils respectively.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said first and second data transfer coils are spaced apart from said first and second power transfer coils respectively.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said first power transfer coil and said first data transfer coil are co-planar.