Inductive power transfer units having flux shields
First Claim
1. An inductive power transfer unit, adapted to be placed when in use on a support surface, comprising:
- a flux generating unit which, when the inductive power transfer unit is placed on the support surface, extends in two dimensions over the support surface, said flux generating unit being operable to generate flux at or in proximity to a power transfer surface of the inductive power transfer unit so that a secondary device placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface can receive power inductively from the inductive power transfer unit; and
a flux shield, made of electrically-conductive material, arranged so that when the inductive power transfer unit is placed on the support surface, the shield is interposed between the flux generating unit and the support surface, the shield extending outwardly beyond at least one edge of the flux generating unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive power transfer unit is adapted to be placed when in use on a support surface (200). A flux generating unit (50) extends in two dimensions over the support surface, and generates flux at or in proximity to a power transfer surface of the unit so that a secondary device placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface can receive power inductively from the unit. A flux shield (70), made of electrically-conductive material, is interposed between the flux generating unit and the support surface, the shield extending outwardly (e1−e4) beyond at least one edge of the flux generating unit. Alternatively, the flux shield may have one or more portions which extend over one or more side faces of the inductive power transfer unit or which extend between the side face(s) and the flux generating unit. The flux shield may be supplied as a removable accessory which attaches to the outside of the inductive power transfer unit.
321 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An inductive power transfer unit, adapted to be placed when in use on a support surface, comprising:
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a flux generating unit which, when the inductive power transfer unit is placed on the support surface, extends in two dimensions over the support surface, said flux generating unit being operable to generate flux at or in proximity to a power transfer surface of the inductive power transfer unit so that a secondary device placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface can receive power inductively from the inductive power transfer unit; and
a flux shield, made of electrically-conductive material, arranged so that when the inductive power transfer unit is placed on the support surface, the shield is interposed between the flux generating unit and the support surface, the shield extending outwardly beyond at least one edge of the flux generating unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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4. An inductive power transfer unit, adapted to be placed when in use on a support surface, comprising:
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a flux generating unit which, when the inductive power transfer unit is placed on the support surface, extends in two dimensions over the support surface, said flux generating unit being operable to generate flux at or in proximity to a power transfer surface of the inductive power transfer unit so that a secondary device placed on or in proximity to the power transfer surface can receive power inductively from the inductive power transfer unit; and
a flux shield, made of electrically-conductive material, having one or more portions which extend over one or more side faces of the inductive power transfer unit or which extend between said one or more side faces and said flux generating unit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An inductive power transfer unit comprising:
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a power transfer surface on or in proximity to which a secondary device can be placed to receive power inductively from the inductive power transfer unit;
a flux generating unit arranged to generate flux at or in proximity to said power transfer surface; and
a flux shield attachment arrangement adapted to attach a flux shield to the inductive power transfer unit such that the attached shield is arranged at one or more external surfaces of the inductive power transfer unit other than said power transfer surface, or is arranged between said one or more external surfaces and said flux generating unit, so that the shield serves to shield objects outside the inductive power transfer unit, adjacent to said one or more external surfaces, from flux generated by the flux generating unit.
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14. An accessory, adapted to be attached to the outside of an inductive power transfer unit, the inductive power transfer unit having a power transfer surface on or in proximity to which a secondary device can be placed to receive power inductively from the inductive power transfer unit and also having a flux generating unit arranged to generate flux at or in proximity to the power transfer surface, and the accessory comprising:
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an attachment arrangement which cooperates with the inductive power transfer unit to attach the accessory to the outside of the inductive power transfer unit in a predetermined working disposition; and
a flux shield, made of electrically-conductive material, which, when the accessory is in its said working disposition, extends at or in proximity to one or more external surfaces of the inductive power transfer unit other than said power transfer surface so as to shield objects outside the inductive power transfer unit, adjacent to said one or more external surfaces, from flux generated by the flux generating unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification