Modular pocket with inductive power and data

• US 9,240,702 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Inventors: Soar, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, NGHIA M
• Application Number:
  US13/557,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320113-115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A modular pocket system includes a modularly mountable pocket modularly mountable to a tactical garment. An insert is mounted in the pocket to align and closely inductively couple a primary inductive coil and related primary drive circuits in the insert to a secondary inductive coil and related secondary charging circuits in a portable electronic device mountable into the insert for the inductively coupled transmission of power between the coils so to transmit power to the portable device, where the device has a rechargeable energy storage component electrically connected to the secondary inductive coil and secondary charging circuits.

Claims

1. A modular pocket system comprising:

a modularly mountable pocket modularly mountable to a tactical garment,

an insert to align and closely inductively couple a primary inductive coil and related primary drive circuits to a secondary inductive coil and related secondary charging circuits for the inductively coupled transmission of power between the coils so to transmit power to an electrically powered pocket-stowed portable device having a rechargeable energy storage component electrically connected to the secondary inductive coil and secondary charging circuits associated with the device, said insert for mounting in said pocket on the tactical garment, wherein said pocket includes an opening into said pocket and the garment includes electrical conductors for electrical connection between said pocket and a central power supply and a power management system and a soldier system data computer and processor located remote from said pocket,

wherein said insert is substantially rigid non-magnetic, and non-electrically conductive and is adapted for mounting into said pocket so as to be stable within said pocket and stable relative to the garment to accommodate electrical connection between said insert and the electrical conductor of the garment, said insert including an electrical connector adapted for said electrical connection,

and wherein said insert includes a primary power inductive coil and a primary power drive circuit, and wherein said insert includes surfaces which are shaped to support the portable device in said pocket and when so supported said surfaces precisely align said primary power inductive coil in said insert with the secondary inductive coil associated with the portable device, and hold the device stable within said insert,

and wherein said surfaces define an entry way which, when said insert is said mounted in said pocket, is aligned with the opening into said pocket, whereby a user conveying the portable device into said pocket will mate the portable device into said insert and thereby bring said primary coil into closely inductively coupled proximity and alignment with the secondary coil, whereby single handed operation by a user is enabled.

2. The modular pocket system of claim 1 wherein said surfaces define a cradle.

3. The modular pocket system of claim 1 wherein said surfaces include a mechanical aligner cooperating with the portable device to stably and releasably hold said primary power inductive coil and the secondary inductive coil in said alignment at a fixed closely-coupled standoff proximity, wherein said stand-off proximity optimizes efficiency of said inductive coupling of said primary power inductive coil with the secondary inductive coil when the portable device is mounted in said aligner.

4. The modular pocket system of claim 3 wherein said primary power inductive coil and the secondary inductive coil within the portable device each further comprise ferrite chosen from the group comprising:

backing, core, housing, sheath, for further optimizing said efficiency of said inductive coupling, and wherein said primary power inductive coil and a corresponding said ferrite form a primary power inductive coil assembly, and wherein the secondary power inductive coil and a corresponding ferrite form a secondary power inductive coil assembly.

5. The modular pocket system of claim 4 wherein said primary power drive circuit and said primary power inductive coil assembly are contained within said insert, and wherein said insert is sealed so as to protect said power drive circuit and said primary power inductive coil from environment external to said insert.

6. The modular pocket system of claim 3 wherein said stand-off proximity is in the range of 0 to substantially 1.5 centimeters.

7. The modular pocket system of claim 6 wherein said stand-off proximity is in the range of 0 to substantially 1.0 centimeters.

8. The modular pocket system of claim 7 wherein said stand-off proximity is in the range of 0 to substantially 0.5 centimeters.

9. The modular pocket system of claim 1 wherein said primary power inductive coil and said power drive circuit is further adapted to receive power data transmissions via said inductive coupling from the secondary inductive coil and a corresponding secondary circuit for determining the power level status of the energy storage component when the portable device is mounted in said insert.

10. The modular pocket system of claim 9 further comprising said electrical conductors, and wherein said modular pocket is a plurality of modular pockets adapted for releasable modular mounting at locations chosen from a plurality of mounting locations on the tactical garment, and wherein said electrical conductors are distributed amongst all of said plurality of mounting locations to provide an electrical network.

11. The modular pocket system of claim 10 wherein at least one of said plurality of modular pockets is adapted to hold said central power supply therein in said electrical connection to said electrical conductors.

12. The modular pocket system of claim 11 further comprising a pedestal connector at each mounting location of said plurality of mounting locations, adapted to pass through corresponding apertures in the tactical garment when said electrical conductors are mounted within the tactical garment whereby said pedestal connectors establish said electrical connections with all of said plurality of modular pockets and said corresponding inserts.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said processor determines said power level status of the device and monitors a central power level status of said central power supply.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said processor is adapted to assign priority amongst said plurality of modular pockets.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising sensors cooperating with said plurality of modular pockets, said sensors communicating with said processor, said processor determining a presence of the devices in said plurality of modular pockets.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said processor determines which sensed device in said plurality of modular pockets is to be charged from said central power supply.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said determining by said processor of which sensed device is to be charged is prioritized according to factors including said central power level status of said central power supply.

18. The modular pocket system of claim 1 further comprising a primary inductive near field communication data circuit, and a primary inductive communication data antenna, wherein said communication data circuit cooperates with said primary communication inductive communication data antenna for the inductively coupled transfer of data between said primary communication data antenna and a secondary communication data antenna and associated communication circuits in the portable device, and wherein said primary and secondary inductive communication data coils have a separation distance therebetween in a range of zero to substantially one meter, whereby data from the group comprising voice, text, still-image, streaming video is communicated by said inductive coupling.

19. The modular pocket system of claim 1 further comprising said electrical conductors, and wherein said modular pocket is a plurality of modular pockets adapted for releasable modular mounting at locations chosen from a plurality of mounting locations on the tactical garment, and wherein said electrical conductors are distributed amongst all of said plurality of mounting locations to provide an electrical network.

20. The modular pocket system of claim 19 wherein at least one of said plurality of modular pockets is adapted to hold said central power supply therein in said electrical connection to said electrical conductors.

21. The modular pocket system of claim 19 further comprising a pedestal connector at each mounting location of said plurality of mounting locations, adapted to pass through corresponding apertures in the tactical garment when said electrical conductors are mounted within the tactical garment whereby said pedestal connectors establish said electrical connections with all of said plurality of modular pockets and said corresponding inserts.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said secondary inductive coil and said secondary charging circuits are mounted in a secondary inductive charging sub-assembly, and wherein said secondary inductive charging sub-assembly is a discreet component adapted for retrofit to, so as to cooperate with, said rechargeable energy storage component and said device, and wherein with said discreet component said retrofit to said energy storage component, the device is said mated into said insert.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said discreet component is said retrofit between said energy storage component and an interface of said device interfacing with said energy storage component.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said discreet component forms a second interface between said interface of said device and said energy storage component.