Illuminating floor mat with wireless power transfer

• US 9,347,634 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Ammar, Ali, Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warmflash, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/775,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/044 of removable mats B60N3/046, B60N3/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

An illuminable mat adapted for use in a variety of settings is provided. The illuminable mat includes an illuminable region and a light source that illuminates the illuminable region. The light source is powered by a receiver that is wirelessly supplied by a transmitter.

Claims

1. An illumination system comprising:

a mat comprising;

an illuminable region;

a light source for illuminating the region;

a thru-hole; and

a receiver disposed proximate the thru-hole; and

a clip housing a transmitter and fixedly secured to a support surface;

wherein the clip is hooked through the thru-hole to retain the mat on the support surface such that a wireless power transfer occurs between the transmitter and the receiver in order to power the light source.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a receiving coil and the transmitter comprises a transmitting coil.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is disposed in a housing disposed on an underside of the mat.

4. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein the housing is positioned directly below the thru-hole.

5. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein the housing is positioned off to a side of the thru-hole.

6. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein when the clip is engaged with the thru-hole, the housing rests atop a lower portion of the clip in which the transmitter is located.

7. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein a lower portion of the clip extends through the support surface such that the transmitter is positioned below the support surface.

8. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein the clip is received through the housing in which the receiver is located prior to engaging the thru-hole of the mat.

9. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising an RFID for detecting the presence of the receiver to verify whether the receiver and the transmitter are properly aligned prior to the initiation of wireless power transfer therebetween.

10. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a first alignment magnet that is part of the mat and is attracted to a second alignment magnet that is part of the support surface.

11. An illumination system comprising:

a mat comprising;

an illuminable region;

a light source for illuminating the region;

a thru-hole; and

a receiver disposed in a housing directly below the thru-hole and concentrically aligned with the thru-hole; and

a clip housing a transmitter and fixedly secured to a support surface;

wherein the clip is hooked through the thru-hole to retain the mat on the support surface such that a wireless power transfer occurs between the transmitter and the receiver in order to power the light source.

12. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the receiver comprises a receiving coil and the transmitter comprises a transmitting coil.

13. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein when the clip is engaged with the thru-hole, the housing rests atop a lower portion of the clip in which the transmitter is located.

14. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein a lower portion of the clip extends through the support surface such that the transmitter is positioned below the support surface.

15. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the clip is received through the housing in which the receiver is located prior to engaging the thru-hole of the mat.

16. The illumination system of claim 11, further comprising a first alignment magnet that is part of the mat and is attracted to a second alignment magnet that is part of the support surface.

17. An illumination system comprising:

a mat comprising;

an illuminable region;

a light source for illuminating the region;

a thru-hole; and

a receiver disposed in a housing positioned off to a side of the thru-hole; and

a clip housing a transmitter and fixedly secured to a support surface;

wherein the clip is hooked through the thru-hole to retain the mat on the support surface such that a wireless power transfer occurs between the transmitter and the receiver in order to power the light source.

18. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein the receiver comprises a receiving coil and the transmitter comprises a transmitting coil.

19. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein when the clip is engaged with the thru-hole, the housing rests atop a lower portion of the clip in which the transmitter is located.

20. The illumination system of claim 17, further comprising a first alignment magnet that is part of the mat and is attracted to a second alignment magnet that is part of the support surface.