Connector-free magnetic charger/winder
First Claim
1. A non-contact method for providing power to a component disposed in an electronic device having a housing, at least a portion of the housing is formed of a non-magnetic material, the non-contact method comprising:
- magnetically coupling a rotating magnetic field with a charge generator positioned within the housing causing the charge generator to rotate in accordance with the rotating magnetic field, wherein at least some of the rotating magnetic field passes through the non-magnetic portion of the housing;
generating an amount of charge by the charge generator in accordance with the rotating magnetic field; and
passing at least some of the amount of charge from the charge generator to the component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for charging an electronic device include rotating a magnetically attractable element, or element, within the electronic device. Rotating a magnet external to the electronic device simultaneously rotates the element. Rotating the element causes an electrically generating device, such as a generator, to create an electric charge in the electronic device. The electric charge may be used to power the electrically generating device, or the electric charge may be transmitted to an internal power supply in order to charge another component or components. In another embodiment, the external magnet may wind a spring inside a device.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A non-contact method for providing power to a component disposed in an electronic device having a housing, at least a portion of the housing is formed of a non-magnetic material, the non-contact method comprising:
-
magnetically coupling a rotating magnetic field with a charge generator positioned within the housing causing the charge generator to rotate in accordance with the rotating magnetic field, wherein at least some of the rotating magnetic field passes through the non-magnetic portion of the housing; generating an amount of charge by the charge generator in accordance with the rotating magnetic field; and passing at least some of the amount of charge from the charge generator to the component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A portable electronic device having an enclosure defining an internal cavity, the portable electronic device comprising:
-
a charge generator disposed within the internal cavity; and a magnetically attractable member disposed within the internal cavity and rotatably coupled to the charge generator, the magnetically attractable member configured to rotate in response to an externally applied rotating magnetic field, wherein the charge generator creates electrical energy based upon a rotation of the magnetically attractable member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification