Contact-less power transfer
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof.
284 Citations
144 Claims
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1-72. -72. (canceled)
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73. A portable electrical or electronic device adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit, the device comprising:
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a cover element having a substantially planar portion with inner and outer surfaces, the device being adapted to be placed with said outer surface on or in proximity to such a primary unit when receiving power therefrom; and
a power-receiving element in the form of a thin sheet, comprising a coil arranged in close proximity to said inner surface of said cover element and having a central axis extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, for receiving power inductively from the primary unit when the device is so placed on or in proximity to the primary unit. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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92. A rechargeable battery adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit when fitted into a space in a portable electrical or electronic device, the device comprising a cover element having a substantially planar portion with inner and outer surfaces and being adapted to be placed with said outer surface on or in proximity to such a primary unit when the battery is to be recharged, and the device being adapted to retain the battery in the space with its longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, the battery comprising:
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a power-receiving element comprising a coil which is in close proximity to said inner surface of said cover element when the cell is so retained in said space and which has a central axis that extends generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, for receiving power inductively from the primary unit when the device is so placed on or in proximity to the primary unit; and
a rechargeable energy-storing element connected to the power-receiving element for storing the power received inductively by the power-receiving element. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112)
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113. A rechargeable battery adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit, the battery comprising:
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a generally cylindrical body having a central axis;
a power-receiving element, comprising a coil having a central axis extending generally in parallel with said central axis of said body, for receiving power inductively from the primary unit when the battery is placed on or in proximity to a power transfer surface of the primary unit with said central axis of said body lying across the surface; and
a rechargeable energy-storing element connected to said power-receiving element for storing the power received inductively by the power-receiving element. - View Dependent Claims (114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129)
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130. An adapter assembly, for a portable electrical or electronic device which comprises a cover element having a substantially planar portion with inner and outer surfaces and which is fitted with, or is adapted to be fitted with, one or more batteries such that said one or more batteries are located adjacent to said inner surface of said planar portion, the assembly comprising:
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a power-receiving element, having a coil, adapted to fit in a space between said inner surface of said planar portion and said one or more batteries such that said coil is arranged in close proximity to said inner surface of said planar portion and has a central axis extending generally parallel to a plane of said planar portion, said power-receiving element being adapted to receive power inductively from a primary unit when the device is placed with said outer surface on or in proximity to the primary unit; and
thin electrodes, connected to said power-receiving element and adapted for insertion between terminals of said one or more batteries and battery terminals of the device when the power-receiving element is fitted in said space, for supplying power received inductively by said power-receiving element to said device. - View Dependent Claims (131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144)
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Specification