WIRELESS POWER ADAPTER FOR COMPUTER

• US 20090177908A1
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Norconk, Matthew J., Baarman, David W., Schwannecke, Joshua K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,127,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless power adapter that mounts to the docking station port of a portable computer, such as a laptop computer, notebook computer or tablet computer. The wireless power adapter includes a docking port electrical connector selected to interface with the pre-existing docking port electrical connector on the portable computer. The adapter docking port electrical connector includes power pins to connect with the pre-existing power pins of the portable computer docking port electrical connector. The wireless power adapter may include an inductive secondary to wirelessly receive power from an inductive primary. The wireless power adapter may include a mechanical connector that interfaces with the pre-existing docking station mechanical connector on the portable computer. The present invention may also include a remote inductive power supply having a base adapted to support the laptop and adapter combination. The base may includes inductive power supply circuitry and an inductive primary to produce an inductive field to wirelessly provide power to the adapter and ultimately the portable computer. The remote inductive power supply may alternatively be embedded within a work surface, such as a desktop.

Claims

1. A wireless power supply for a portable computer having a docking station port comprising:

an adapter housing;

a wireless power receiver disposed on or within said housing to wirelessly receive power from an external wireless power supply; and

a docking port electrical connector mounted to said housing and configured to selectively interface with the docking station port on the portable computer, said docking port electrical connector having power pins receiving power at least indirectly from said wireless power receiver.

2. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said wireless power receiver is further defined as an inductive secondary.

3. The wireless power supply of claim 2 wherein said adapter includes at least one of power transforming circuitry for transforming power generated in said wireless power receiver and power conditioning circuitry for conditioning generated in said wireless power receiver.

4. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein the portable computer include a mechanical connector for mechanically securing the portable computer to a docking station;

and

further including a wireless power supply mechanical connector releasably interconnectable with said mechanical connector on said portable computer, whereby the wireless power supply may be selectively mechanically connected to said portable computer.

5. The wireless power supply of claim 4 wherein said wireless power supply mechanical connector is further defined as at least one latch movable between a first position in which said latch is engaged with a corresponding mechanical connector on the portable computer and a second position in which said latch is disengage from said corresponding mechanical connector.

6. The wireless power supply of claim 5 wherein said latch is operatively connected to a user operable slide, said user operable slide selectively moving said latch between said first position and said second position.

7. The wireless power supply of claim 1 further including at least one accessory port, plug or receptable, said at least one accessory port, plug or receptacle being coupled to said docking port electrical connector to interconnect with an appropriate computer docking port connector pin.

8. The wireless power supply of claim 1 further including a communication transmitter for transmitting power information to a wireless power supply.

9. The wireless power supply of claim 1 further including a plurality of communication transmitters for transmitting power information to a wireless power supply.

10. A combination comprising:

a wireless power supply having an inductive primary, said power supply including circuitry for applying electricity to said primary, whereby said primary generates a varying electromagnetic field;

a portable computer having a docking station port configured to selectively interface with a docking station; and

an adapter removably mounted to said portable computer, said adapter being removably placable within said varying electromagnetic field, said adapter having an inductive secondary to wirelessly receive power from said power supply via said varying electromagnetic field, said adapter having a docking port electrical connector removably interfitted with said docking station port of said portable computer, said adapter having circuitry to communicate power generated in said secondary to said portable computer via said docking port electrical connector and said docking station port.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said portable computer includes a mechanical connector configured to selectively mechanically interconnect with a corresponding mechanical connector on a docking station;

and

wherein said adapter includes a mechanical connector removably interconnected with said mechanical connector of said portable computer.

12. The combination of claim of claim 11 wherein said adapter includes at least one of power transforming circuitry for transforming power generated in said wireless power receiver and power conditioning circuitry for conditioning generated in said wireless power receiver.

13. The combination of claim 10 further including a wireless communication link between said power supply and said adapter.

14. The combination of claim 10 further including a wireless communication link between said power supply and said adapter, said adapter including at least two communication transmitters disposed at different locations.

15. The combination of claim 10 wherein said adapter includes at least one accessory port, plug or receptacle, said at least one accessory port, plug or receptacle being coupled to said docking port electrical connector to interconnect with an appropriate computer docking port connector pin.

16. The combination of claim 10 wherein said wireless power supply is disposed within a charging base, said base having an upper surface upon which said adapter may be removably placed to wirelessly receive power, said upper surface of said base contoured to correspond with an undersurface of said adapter.

17. A method for wirelessly supplying power to a portable computer having a docking station port, comprising the steps of:

interfitting an adapter to the portable computer, the adapter having a wireless power receiver and a docking port electrical connector, the docking port electrical connector being electrically coupled to power pins in the docking station port on the portable computer;

generating a varying electromagnetic field via a wireless power supply;

placing the adapter in the varying electromagnetic field, whereby the wireless power receiver generates power in response to the varying electromagnetic field; and

applying power generated by the wireless power receiver to the portable computer via the docking port electrical connector and the power pins in the docking station port on the portable computer.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of mechanically interconnecting the adapter to the portable computer.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of transforming power generated by the wireless power receiver into a form appropriate for the portable computer before said applying step.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

communicating power information from the adapter to the wireless power supply; and

varying at least one characteristic of the varying electromagnetic field in response to the power information received by the wireless power supply.