Inductive battery systems and methods of operation

• US 8,970,166 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Peter F., Osmialowski, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US13/139,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 429/129, 429/130, 420/130, 420/100, 420/96, 420/9, 420/10, 420/97, 420/98, 420/99, 420/121, 420/122, 420/165, 420/170
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An inductive battery system includes a primary coil system (102) and an inductive battery (122). The primary coil system (102) provides inductive power (106). The inductive battery (122) includes a secondary coil system (108), charge circuitry (110), output circuitry (112), and an internal battery (114). The secondary coil system (108) receives the inductive power (106) and provides electrical power. The charge circuitry (110) receives the electrical power and supplies suitable power to the internal battery (114) for charging and/or device operation. The output circuitry (112) receives electrical energy from the internal battery (114) and provides the electrical energy external to the system (100) as external power (124). The internal battery (114) stores the received electrical power from the charge circuitry (110) and supplies the electrical power to the output circuitry (112).

Claims

1. An inductive battery system, comprising:

a casing;

a secondary coil system that receives inductive power and provides electrical power;

charge circuitry coupled to the secondary coil system that receives the electrical power and provides charging power;

output circuitry that provides external power;

an internal battery located within the casing and coupled to the charge circuitry and the output circuitry that receives the charging power and provides output power to the output circuitry; and

a conductive rod connected to a positive contact and a positive battery contact of the internal battery, wherein the conductive rod provides a conductive path from the positive contact to the positive battery contact of the internal battery and comprises a ferrite material that facilitates coupling of the secondary coil system with a magnetic field from a primary coil system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive rod comprises multiple materials.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the multiple materials comprise the ferrite material and a conductive material.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the conductive rod further comprises an insulator layer between the multiple materials.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the positive contact and a negative contact are connected to the output circuitry.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the positive contact and a negative contact are connected to the charge circuitry.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coil cavity and a battery cavity.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the secondary coil system comprises secondary coils within the coil cavity.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary coil system is located within a label attached to an outer surface of the casing.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pad component.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pad component comprises a primary coil system.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the pad component comprises a conductive rod.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one side component situated on the pad component or proximate to the pad component to stabilize and align the battery.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one side component is removable.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary coil system is located in a coil cavity between the internal battery and the positive contact.

16. An inductive battery system, comprising:

a casing;

a secondary coil system that receives inductive power and provides electrical power;

charge circuitry coupled to the secondary coil system that receives the electrical power and provides charging power, wherein the secondary coil system comprises coils located within a label attached to an outer surface of the casing;

output circuitry that provides external power; and

an internal battery located within the casing and coupled to the charge circuitry and the output circuitry that receives the charging power and provides output power to the output circuitry.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a conductive rod connected to a positive contact and a positive battery contact of the internal battery.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the conductive rod comprises a ferrite material and a conductive material, wherein the ferrite material facilitates coupling of the secondary coil system with a magnetic field from a primary coil system.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the conductive rod further comprises an insulator layer between the ferrite material and the conductive material.