Inductive charger battery replacement system, device & method

• US 20090072784A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeknoCreations, Inc. (AccessKey IP, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeknoCreations, Inc. (AccessKey IP, Inc.)
• Inventors: Erickson, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,143,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention is a device and system for providing power to a portable electronic device. A battery unit includes a rechargeable battery and is configured to be removably secured to a portable electronic device to provide power thereto. A base unit is configured to receive and charge one or more battery units, either alone or with the battery units secured to portable electronic devices. The battery unit includes a battery charge indicator, which can be a visible signal. An optical bath is defined through the base unit to transmit the visible signal of the battery unit to a base unit battery charge display.

Claims

1. A system for providing power to at least one portable electronic device, comprising:

a first battery unit comprising;

a first battery unit upper side configured for attachment to a first portable electronic device;

a first battery unit lower side;

a rechargeable battery,

a first battery coupling inductor positioned on or adjacent the first battery unit lower side; and

a first battery charge indicator positioned on the first battery unit lower side;

and

a base unit comprising;

a first recess configured to receive the first battery unit lower side while the first battery unit is secured to the first portable electronic device;

a first coupling inductor positioned in or adjacent the first recess, wherein when the first battery unit is placed in the first recess the first battery coupling inductor is inductively coupled with the first coupling inductor;

a base unit first battery charge display,

a first light path configured to define an optical path between the base unit first battery charge display and the first battery unit charge indicator when the first battery unit is placed in the first recess.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first light path comprises a first reflector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first light path comprises a first light tube.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the base unit further comprises:

a first light tube port in optical alignment with the first battery unit charge indicator;

and wherein the first light tube defines an optical path between the first light tube port and the base unit first battery charge display.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second battery unit comprising;

a second battery unit upper side configured for attachment to a second portable electronic device;

a second battery unit lower side;

a rechargeable battery,

a second battery coupling inductor positioned on or adjacent the second battery unit lower side; and

a second battery charge indicator positioned on the second battery unit lower side;

wherein the base unit further comprises;

a second recess configured to receive the second battery unit lower side while the second battery unit is secured to the second portable electronic device;

a second coupling inductor positioned at or adjacent an inner region of the second recess, wherein when the second battery unit is placed in the second recess the second battery coupling inductor is inductively coupled with the second coupling inductor;

a base unit second battery charge display,

a second light path configured to define an optical path between the base unit second battery charge display and the second battery unit charge indicator when the second battery unit is placed in the second recess.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein base unit has a front and a back, and the first recess and the second recess are positioned in a front-to-back configuration.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein base unit has a front and a back and opposing sides, and the first recess and the second recess are positioned in a side-to-side configuration.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a portable electronic device secured to the first battery unit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the base unit is configured to hold the first battery unit and portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is at an angle of about 15 to 35 degrees from the horizontal.

10. A system for providing power to a portable electronic device, comprising:

a first battery unit comprising;

a first exterior surface portion, the first exterior surface portion configured for removable attachment to a first portable electronic device;

a second exterior surface portion;

a battery;

a battery coupling inductor positioned adjacent the second exterior surface portion; and

a first battery charge indicator, wherein the first battery charge indicator is positioned on the second exterior surface portion and is configured to provide a first battery charge indicator signal;

and

a base unit comprising;

a first battery coupling surface configured to receive the second exterior surface portion of the first battery unit;

a base unit power input;

a first base coupling inductor, wherein the first base coupling inductor is configured to receive power from the base unit power input, and the first base coupling inductor is positioned adjacent the first battery coupling surface at a position whereby the first base coupling inductor is inductively coupled with the first battery coupling inductor when the first battery unit is positioned on the base unit with the second exterior surface portion of the first battery received by the first battery coupling surface,

a first battery charge signal receiver configured to receive the first battery charge signal,

a first battery base unit charge display configured to provide a first battery base unit charge signal corresponding to the first battery charge signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first battery coupling surface is a first recess.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first battery charge signal receiver is a first end of a light tube, and the first battery base unit charge display is a second end of the light tube.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first battery charge signal is a visible signal, and the first battery base unit charge display is positioned on a front portion of the base unit.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the base unit comprises an optical path passing from the first recess to the first battery base unit charge display, and wherein the optical path comprises a mirror.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second battery unit comprising;

a first exterior surface portion, the first exterior surface portion configured for removable attachment to a second portable electronic device;

a second exterior surface portion;

a battery;

a battery coupling inductor positioned adjacent the second exterior surface portion; and

a second battery charge indicator, wherein the second battery charge indicator is positioned on the second exterior surface portion and is configured to provide a second battery charge indicator signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the base unit further comprises:

a second battery coupling surface configured to receive the second exterior surface portion of the second battery unit;

a second base coupling inductor, wherein the second base coupling inductor is configured to receive power from the base unit power input, and the second base coupling inductor is positioned adjacent the second battery coupling surface at a position whereby the second base coupling inductor is inductively coupled with the second battery coupling inductor when the second battery unit is positioned on the base unit with the second exterior surface portion of the second battery received by the second battery coupling surface;

a second battery charge signal receiver configured to receive the second battery charge signal;

a second battery base unit charge display configured to provide a second battery base unit charge signal corresponding to the second battery charge signal.

18. The base unit of claim 16, further comprising:

a second recess configured to receive a battery unit;

a second coupling inductor in or adjacent the first recess;

a second light port in the second recess;

a second visible charge display; and

a second light tube defining an optical path from the second light port to the second visible charge display.

19. The base unit of claim 18, wherein the first recess and second recess are positioned in side-to-side configuration with respect to the base unit, and the first visible charge display and the second visible charge display are positioned in side-to-side configuration with respect to the base unit.

20. The base unit of claim 18, wherein the first recess and second recess are positioned in front-to-back configuration with respect to the base unit, and the first visible charge display and the second visible charge display are positioned in front-to-back configuration with respect to the base unit.

17. A base unit for inductively charging one or more battery units, comprising:

a first recess configured to receive a battery unit;

a first coupling inductor in or adjacent the first recess;

a first light port in the first recess;

a first visible charge display; and

a first light tube defining an optical path from the first light port to the first visible charge display.