Seat wireless charger

• US 9,876,385 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Kuczek, Andrzej Ernest, St. Rock, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US14/939,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20170141600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle

Abstract

A seat control unit (SCU) for use in an aircraft can include a base that has a wireless charger configured to transmit a wireless power signal and a case at least partially enclosing the wireless charger. The SCU can also include a control device having a remote controller configured to wirelessly control a system of the aircraft and a battery coupled to the remote controller and configured to store electrical energy. The control device can also include a wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless power signal from the wireless charger and transmit associated power to the battery and an outer casing at least partially enclosing at least one of the remote controller or the wireless receiver.

Claims

1. A seat control unit for use in an aircraft, comprising:

a base having;

a wireless charger configured to transmit a wireless power signal,

a case at least partially enclosing the wireless charger,

a back cover configured to be coupled to the aircraft and to the case such that the wireless charger is configured to be positioned within a volume defined by the back cover and the case, and

a compressive element coupled between the wireless charger and the back cover and configured to compress in response to the back cover being coupled to the case in order to exert a force onto the wireless charger to resist movement of the wireless charger relative to the back cover; and

a control device having;

a remote controller configured to wirelessly control a system of the aircraft,

an energy storage device coupled to the remote controller and configured to store electrical energy,

a wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless power signal from the wireless charger and transmit associated power to the energy storage device, and

an outer casing at least partially enclosing at least one of the remote controller or the wireless receiver.

2. The seat control unit of claim 1, wherein the compressive element includes padding.

3. The seat control unit of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a top cover coupled to the case for increasing aesthetic appeal of the base.

4. The seat control unit of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a retaining structure configured to resist movement of the control device relative to the base.

5. The seat control unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless charger further includes a charging feature configured to transmit the wireless power signal and the case further defines a recess that aligns with the charging feature when the base is assembled.

6. The seat control unit of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a first base magnet and the control device further includes a first remote magnet, the first base magnet and the first remote magnet being configured to attract to each other to resist movement of the control device relative to the base.

7. The seat control unit of claim 1, wherein the outer casing of the control device includes a top casing and a bottom casing coupled together.

8. The seat control unit of claim 7, wherein the bottom casing defines an opening configured to reduce the likelihood of interference of the wireless power signal when the control device is operatively coupled to the base.

9. A base for use in an aircraft, comprising:

a wireless charger configured to transmit a wireless power signal;

a back cover configured to be coupled to the aircraft;

a case configured to be coupled to the back cover such that the back cover and the case define an opening in which the wireless charger is configured to be positioned; and

a compressive element coupled between the wireless charger and the back cover and configured to compress in response to the back cover being coupled to the case in order to exert a force onto the wireless charger to resist movement of the wireless charger relative to the back cover.

10. The base of claim 9, wherein the compressive element includes padding.

11. The base of claim 9, further comprising a top cover coupled to the case for increasing aesthetic appeal of the base.

12. The base of claim 9, wherein the base is part of a seat control unit and wherein the seat control unit also includes a control device configured to wirelessly control a system of the aircraft.

13. The base of claim 12, wherein the base is configured to mate with the control device and the wireless charger is configured to transmit the wireless power signal to the control device in response to the base being mated with the control device.

14. The base of claim 12, further comprising a retaining structure configured to resist movement of the control device relative to the base.

15. The base of claim 9, wherein the wireless power signal can be received by a personal device for powering the personal device.

16. A seat control unit for use with an aircraft, comprising:

a control device having;

a remote controller configured to wirelessly control a system of the aircraft,

an energy storage device coupled to the remote controller and configured to store electrical energy,

a wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless power signal and transmit associated power to the energy storage device, and

an outer casing at least partially enclosing the remote controller and the wireless receiver; and

a base having;

a wireless charger configured to transmit the wireless power signal,

a case at least partially enclosing the wireless charger,

a back cover configured to be coupled to the aircraft and to the case such that the wireless charger is configured to be positioned between the back cover and the case, and

a compressive element coupled between the wireless charger and the back cover and configured to compress in response to the back cover being coupled to the case in order to exert a force onto the wireless charger to resist movement of the wireless charger relative to the back cover.

17. The seat control unit of claim 16, wherein the outer casing includes a top casing and a bottom casing coupled together and defining a volume in which the remote controller and the wireless receiver are positioned.

18. The seat control unit of claim 17, wherein:

the control device further includes a first remote magnet coupled to the bottom casing;

the base further includes a first base magnet;

the control device is configured to mate with and receive the wireless power signal from the base; and

the first remote magnet and the first base magnet attract to reduce the likelihood of the control device separating from the base in response to the control device being mated with the base.

19. The seat control unit of claim 18, wherein the bottom casing defines an opening configured to reduce the likelihood of interference of the wireless power signal when the control device is operatively coupled to the base.