Apparatus, a system and a method for enabling electromagnetic energy transfer

• US 9,520,225 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Waffenschmidt, Eberhard, Falck, Thomas, Rogler, Dietrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Vazquez, Arleen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schindler, David M.
• Application Number:
  US12/441,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,381 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• 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 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

The apparatus 10 for electromagnetic energy transfer comprises a charging fixture 1 with a contact surface 4 and a generator coil 2 forming a resonator circuit with a capacitance. The charging fixture 1 is preferably arranged as an elongated bar whereon a plurality of chargeable electronic devices 5 can be arranged. In order to implement electromagnetic energy transfer from the charging fixture 1 to the electronic device 5 the latter has to be arranged with a pick-up circuit for generating secondary alternating current in a loop, preferably a secondary resonator circuit. In order to fix a position of the electronic device 5 on the charging bar 1, the charging bar is preferably arranged with a projection 3 extending in a plane of the contact surface 4. The electronic device 5 can be shaped to be hanged on the projection and removed from it in accordance with arrow 6.

Claims

1. An apparatus with a charging fixture for electromagnetic energy transfer to a plurality of electronic devices with pick up circuits for receiving the electromagnetic energy, the charging fixture comprising:

a contact surface configured to be contacted by a charge receiving surface of each of the electronic devices during electromagnetic energy transfer, a rear surface and a pair of opposite, parallel sides extending between the contact and rear surfaces, the electronic devices including an engaging mechanism which engages the sides of the charging fixture on opposite sides of the contact surface with the charge receiving surface in a plane parallel to the contact surface;

a plurality of circuits, each circuit including a primary winding and a sensor which senses a presence of a one of the plurality of electronic devices adjacent the primary winding of the respective circuit;

wherein the primary windings are positioned in a partially overlapping array along the contact surface,

wherein in response to one of the sensors sensing the one of the electronic devices adjacent the primary winding of one of the plurality of circuits, the one of the sensors activates the primary windings of the one of the plurality of circuits, wherein

the charging fixture and the contact surface are elongated substantially in one dimension, and

the partially overlapping primary windings are arranged in a single row along the one dimension.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sides of the charging fixture include ribs extending oppositely in a direction parallel to the contact surface, the engaging mechanism of the electronic devices engaging the ribs.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each sensor of the plurality of circuits is one of a pressure and illumination sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor of each of the plurality of circuits that senses a presence of the one of the plurality of electronic devices adjacent the primary winding of the respective circuit further includes the sensor of the plurality of circuit is arranged to detect a soft magnetic core of a respective one of the electronic devices disposed adjacent the primary winding of one of the respective circuits.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the electronic devices is electrically operable only when positioned in contact with the charging fixture.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, further including:

charging indicators.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the primary windings of the charging fixture are arranged on a printed circuit board.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic devices include rechargeable medical devices wherein the charging fixture is integrated in medical equipment.