Visor-mountable wireless charger and method of wireless charging
First Claim
1. A wireless charger comprising:
- a sleeve configured to secure the wireless charger to a visor of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the sleeve configured to slide over the visor;
a retainer configured to selectively retain a chargeable device with respect to the visor and having a recipient coil such that the chargeable device is selectively and temporarily fixed to the sleeve; and
a wireless power transmitter including a charging coil carrying a fluctuating electric current that generates a changing magnetic field for receipt by the recipient coil of the chargeable devicewherein the charging coil is a repeater coil that is magnetically coupled to a source coil, and wherein the source coil is electrically coupled to a power source of the vehicle and is located on the vehicle in a location other than the visor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for wirelessly charging a chargeable device, such as a smart phone, digital music player, or navigation device, using a wireless charger. The wireless charger includes a connector, a retainer, and a wireless power transmitter. The connector is configured to secure the wireless charger to a visor in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The retainer is configured to selectively retain a chargeable device having a recipient coil. The wireless power transmitter includes a charging coil configured to carry a fluctuating electric current that generates a changing magnetic field for receipt by a recipient coil of the chargeable device. The changing magnetic field induces a fluctuating electric current in the recipient coil, which is used to charge a battery pack of the chargeable device.
17 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A wireless charger comprising:
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a sleeve configured to secure the wireless charger to a visor of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the sleeve configured to slide over the visor; a retainer configured to selectively retain a chargeable device with respect to the visor and having a recipient coil such that the chargeable device is selectively and temporarily fixed to the sleeve; and a wireless power transmitter including a charging coil carrying a fluctuating electric current that generates a changing magnetic field for receipt by the recipient coil of the chargeable device wherein the charging coil is a repeater coil that is magnetically coupled to a source coil, and wherein the source coil is electrically coupled to a power source of the vehicle and is located on the vehicle in a location other than the visor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of wireless charging:
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attaching a wireless charger to a visor in a passenger compartment of a vehicle via a sleeve configured to slide over the visor; securing a chargeable device to a retainer of the wireless charger, thereby securing the chargeable device to the visor coil such that the chargeable device is selectively and temporarily fixed to the sleeve; driving a charging coil with fluctuating electric current to thereby generate a changing magnetic field, wherein the charging coil is a repeater coil and driving the charging coil with fluctuating electric current includes receiving, by the charging coil, the changing magnetic field from a source coil; inducing, by the changing magnetic field, a charging current in a recipient coil of the chargeable device; charging the chargeable device using the charging current; and electrically coupling the source coil to a power source of the vehicle and positioning the source coil on the vehicle in a location other than the visor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification