Wireless power transfer device that redirects a magnetic flux

• US 9,172,437 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Tilvis, Marko, Korkala, Seppo
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US13/643,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/28 Coils; Windings; Conductive connections
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

There is provided a wireless power transfer device comprising an input interface configured to receive a primary magnetic flux in a first direction, an output interface configured to output a secondary magnetic flux in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the input interface and the output interface form a closed electric circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer device comprising:

an input interface that receives a first magnetic flux in a first direction, the input interface comprising a first coil receiving the first magnetic flux; and

an output interface that outputs a second magnetic flux in a second direction different from the first direction, the output interface comprising a second coil outputting the second magnetic flux, the input interface and the output interface being connected together by at least one galvanic link to form a closed electric circuit.

2. The wireless power transfer device of claim 1, wherein the output interface is configured to charge an external device with the second magnetic flux.

3. The wireless power transfer device of claim 1, further comprising a supporting structure for supporting the wireless power transfer device with respect to an external device providing the first magnetic flux, the first coil being oriented with respect to the supporting structure so as to receive the first magnetic flux.

4. The wireless power transfer device of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transfer device further comprises a casing supporting the input interface and the output interface, the casing being configured to receive a wrist device, the output interface being directed with respect to the casing so as to direct the second magnetic flux to a target area of the wrist device.

5. The wireless power transfer device of claim 4, wherein the casing further comprises:

a receiving surface for receiving a backside of the wrist device; and

support members for supporting wrist straps of the wrist device.

6. The wireless power transfer device of claim 1, further comprising a circuitry configured to transfer data over the output interface.

7. The wireless power transfer device of claim 6, further comprising a communication interface for accessing a network in order to communicate data with the network.

8. A wrist device, comprising:

a user interface;

a coil configured to receive a second magnetic flux from a wireless power transfer device;

a detection circuitry for detecting the presence of the second magnetic flux; and

a user interface controller for setting the user interface into a recharging mode when the second magnetic flux has been detected.

9. The wrist device of claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises a display, the recharging mode comprising at least one of the following processes:

illuminating a display and rotating a view on the display.

10. The wrist device of claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises an input interface, the recharging mode comprising a process of reconfiguring the input interface.

11. The wrist device of claim 8, wherein the wrist device further comprises a communication interface configured to communicate data with a network, the detection circuitry being further configured to initiate data transfer over the communication interface when the second magnetic flux has been detected.

12. The wrist device of any of claim 8, wherein the wrist device further comprises an interface configured to exchange data with the wireless power transfer device over the coil and an output interface of the wireless power transfer device, the detection circuitry being further configured to initiate data transfer over the interface when the second magnetic flux has been detected.

13. A system comprising:

a wireless power transfer device, the wireless power transfer device comprising;

an input interface configured to receive a first magnetic flux in a first direction;

an output interface configured to output a second magnetic flux in a second direction different from the first direction, the input interface and the output interface forming a closed electric circuit; and

a wrist device, the wrist device comprising;

a user interface;

a coil configured to receive the second magnetic flux from the wireless power transfer device;

a detection circuitry for detecting the presence of the second magnetic flux; and

a user interface controller for setting the user interface into a recharging mode when the second magnetic flux has been detected.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transfer device further comprises a supporting structure for supporting the wireless power transfer device with respect to an external device providing the first magnetic flux, the input interface comprising a first coil, the output interface comprising a second coil, the first coil being oriented with respect to the supporting structure so as to receive the first magnetic flux.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transfer device further comprises a casing supporting the input interface and the output interface, the casing being configured to receive the wrist device, the output interface being directed with respect to the casing so as to direct the second magnetic flux to a target area of the wrist device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the casing comprises:

a receiving surface for receiving a backside of the wrist device; and

support members for supporting wrist straps of the wrist device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transfer device further comprises a circuitry configured to transfer data over the output interface, and the wrist device further comprise an interface configured to exchange data with the wireless power transfer device over the coil and the output interface of the wireless power transfer device, the detection circuitry being further configured to initiate data transfer over the interface when the second magnetic flux has been detected.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless power transfer device further comprises a communication interface for accessing a network in order to communicate the data with the network.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface comprises a display, the recharging mode comprising at least one of the following processes:

illuminating a display and rotating a view on the display.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface comprises an input interface, the recharging mode comprising a process of reconfiguring the input interface.