Inductive charger for providing radio frequency (“RF”) signal to a portable electric device

• US 9,276,645 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wisnewski, Mark A., Trzcinski, David J., Kittinger, Gregg R., Hibbard, Donald B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSME, NATASHA W
• Application Number:
  US13/433,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20130260842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 320107-110, 320/137, 455/573
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An inductive charger for a portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device has a radio frequency (“RF”) antenna configured for receiving an outgoing RF signal, as well as a secondary coil. The inductive charger includes a primary coil configured for creating a magnetic flux. The magnetic flux is configured for coupling to the secondary coil in the portable electronic device to induce current. The inductive charger includes RF coupling assembly that receives an incoming RF signal. The RF coupling assembly is configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal that is based on the incoming RF signal. The inductive charger includes a radiator configured to receive the outgoing RF signal from the RF coupling assembly. The radiator is configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal to the RF antenna of the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. An inductive charger for a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having a radio frequency (“

RF”

) antenna and a secondary coil, the RF antenna configured for receiving an outgoing RF signal, the inductive charger comprising;

a primary coil configured for creating a magnetic flux, the magnetic flux configured for coupling to the secondary coil of the portable electronic device to induce current;

a RF coupling assembly receiving an incoming RF signal and configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal, wherein the outgoing RF signal is based on the incoming RF signal; and

a radiator configured to receive the outgoing RF signal from the RF coupling assembly, the radiator configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal to the RF antenna of the portable electronic device

wherein the RF coupling assembly includes a sampler circuit and an antenna, the antenna is an communication with the sampler circuit to transmit the outgoing RF singal to the radiator, and the antenna is a near field antenna and the outgoing RF signal is a near field cellular RF signal.

2. The inductive charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the RF coupling assembly is in communication with a data transmission line to receive the incoming RF signal.

3. The inductive charger as recited in claim 2, wherein the data transmission line is in communication with a vehicle antenna that receives the incoming RF signal.

4. The inductive charger as recited in claim 2, wherein the data transmission line is in communication with a vehicle control module.

5. The inductive charger as recited in claim 2, wherein the data transmision line is a coax cable.

6. The inductive charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the radiator is a passive radiation device.

7. The inductive charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the radiator is a Faraday shield that is located over at least a portion of the primary coil of the inductive charger.

8. The inductive charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the incoming RF signal and the outgoing RF signal are both cellular signals.

9. The inductive charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is one of a smartphone and a cellular telephone.

10. An inductive charger for a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having an a radio frequency (“

RF”

) antenna and a secondary coil, the RF antenna configured for receiving an outgoing RF signal, the inductive charger comprising;

a primary coil configured for creating a magnetic flux, the magnetic flux configured for coupling to a secondary coil in the portable electronic device to induce current;

a RF coupling assembly receiving an incoming RF signal and configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal, wherein the outgoing RF signal is based on the incoming RF signal; and

a RF element that is placed along the primary coil, the RF element configured for receiving the outgoing RF signal from the RF coupling assembly and transmitting the outgoing RF signal to the RF antenna of the portable electronic device

wherein the RF coupling assembly includes a sampler circuit and an antenna, the antenna is an communication with the sampler circuit to transmit the outgoing RF signal to the radiator, and the antenna is a near field antenna and the outgoing RF signal is a near field cellular RF signal.

11. The inductive charger as recited in claim 10, wherein the RF element is an antenna element configured for radiating a near field cellular RF signal.

12. The inductive charger as recited in claim 10, wherein the primary coil includes an outer coil, and the RF element is placed along the outer coil.

13. The inductive charger as recited in claim 10, wherein the RF coupling assembly is in communication with a data transmission line to receive the incoming RF signal.

14. The inductive charger as recited in claim 13, wherein the data transmission line is in communication with a vehicle antenna that receives the incoming RF signal.

15. The inductive charger as recited in claim 13, wherein the data transmission line is in communication with a vehicle control module.

16. The inductive charger as recited in claim 10, wherein the portable electronic device is one of a smartphone and a cellular telephone.