Wireless power transfer through conductive materials
First Claim
1. An electrical component for use in the electromagnetic field path of a wireless power supply comprising:
- a conductive material configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the electromagnetic field path, said conductive material having a thickness selected to have a heat gain no greater than an acceptable heat gain and a power loss no greater than an acceptable power loss at an anticipated electromagnetic field operating frequency, wherein said conductive material forms part of at least one of a display, a sensor, and an external housing;
wherein said thickness is selected such that the conductive material has a power loss of less than 1 Watt per cubic centimeter.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical component with conductive material(s) that is suitable for use within the electromagnetic field path of a wireless power transfer system. The electronic component includes conductive materials that are sufficiently thin to absorb no more than an acceptable amount of the electromagnetic field, yet thick enough to remain sufficiently conductive to perform the desired electrical function. In embodiments in which the wireless power supply delivers up to 20 watts of power, the conductive materials are not substantially thicker than about 1/10 the skin depth of the material at the anticipated wireless power frequency. The electrical component may be disposed at any location between the wireless power supply transmitter and the remote device receiver. The present invention permits the use of a wide rang of electrical components in the field path, such as a display, a sensor or a component capable of selectively operating as both.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An electrical component for use in the electromagnetic field path of a wireless power supply comprising:
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a conductive material configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the electromagnetic field path, said conductive material having a thickness selected to have a heat gain no greater than an acceptable heat gain and a power loss no greater than an acceptable power loss at an anticipated electromagnetic field operating frequency, wherein said conductive material forms part of at least one of a display, a sensor, and an external housing; wherein said thickness is selected such that the conductive material has a power loss of less than 1 Watt per cubic centimeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless power supply system comprising:
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a wireless power supply having a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field at a frequency; and an electrical component disposed within a flow path of the electromagnetic field, said electrical component including a conductive material extending substantially perpendicularly to the electromagnetic field path, said conductive material having a thickness selected to have a heat gain no greater than an acceptable heat gain and a power loss no greater than an acceptable power loss at the frequency, wherein said electrical component includes at least one of a display, a sensor, and an external housing; wherein said thickness is selected such that the conductive material has a power loss of less than 1 Watt per cubic centimeter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A wireless power supply comprising:
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a transmitter capable of generating an electromagnetic field for wirelessly supplying power to a remote device, said electromagnetic field having a frequency and a path; a power transfer surface disposed adjacent said transmitter in said path, said surface being capable of selectively receiving the remote device; a display disposed in said path, said display having a pair of spaced-apart conductive pads, a sum of a thickness of said conductive pads being not substantially greater than about 1/10th a skin depth of said conductive pads at the frequency; a communication system capable of receiving communications from the remote device; and a controller for operating said display in response to communication from the remote device; wherein said thickness is selected such that the conductive material has a power loss of less than 1 Watt per cubic centimeter. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A wireless power supply comprising:
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a transmitter capable of generating an electromagnetic field for wirelessly supplying power to a remote device, said electromagnetic field having a frequency and a path; a power transfer surface disposed adjacent said transmitter in said path, said surface being capable of selectively receiving the remote device; a sensor disposed in said path, said sensor having at least one conductive pads, a thickness of said conductive pad being not substantially greater than about 1/10th a skin depth of said conductive pads at the frequency; and a controller capable of applying power to said sensor and of measuring a characteristic of power applied to said sensor to determine when an object is in proximity to said sensor; wherein said thickness is selected such that the conductive material has a power loss of less than 1 Watt per cubic centimeter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A housing for a component of a wireless power supply system comprising:
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a metal surface defining an aperture and having an outer surface; a non-conductive material disposed in said aperture; a layer of conductive material disposed over said non-conductive material on said outer surface, said layer having a thickness not substantially greater than about 1/10th a skin depth of said conductive material at a frequency of the wireless power supply; wherein said thickness is selected such that the conductive material has a power loss of less than 1 Watt per cubic centimeter. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for manufacturing an electrical component for use in an electromagnetic field, comprising the steps of:
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determining an anticipated frequency of the electromagnetic field; determining a skin depth of a conductive material; manufacturing an electrical component with a first conductive element extending substantially perpendicularly to an anticipated electromagnetic field path, the conductive element having a thickness selected to have a heat gain no greater than an acceptable heat gain and a power loss no greater than an acceptable power loss at the anticipated frequency, wherein the electrical component includes at least one of a display, a sensor, and an external housing; wherein said thickness is selected such that the conductive material has a power loss of less than 1 Watt per cubic centimeter. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification