SYSTEM FOR INDUCTIVE POWER PROVISION IN WET ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20100219693A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Ltd.
• Inventors: Greenwald, Oola, Ben-Shalom, Amir, Azancot, Yossi, Rofe, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 8,536,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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

Abstract

Inductive power providing systems suitable for wet environments are disclosed. Water resistant inductive outlets include primary inductors incorporated into water resistant work-surfaces. Water resistant inductive power receivers include secondary inductors incorporated into water resistant casings. Secondary inductors are configured to couple with primary inductors thereby providing power to electrical loads connected thereto.

Claims

1. A power transmission platform comprising at least one primary inductor configured to inductively couple with a secondary inductor connected to at least one electric load wherein said primary inductor is incorporated into a water resistant work-surface.

2. The power transmission platform of claim 1 further comprising a driving unit for providing an oscillating electrical potential to the at least one primary inductor via connecting wires.

3. The power transmission platform of claim 1 wherein said work-surface comprises at least one of a kitchen work-top, a table, a counter-top, a bathroom surface, a sink-surround, a bath, a sink, a cabinet, a cupboard, a door, a floor, a wall, a ceiling and a laboratory bench-top.

4. The power transmission platform of claim 1 wherein said primary inductor is covered by a facing material selected from a group consisting of Formica, veneer, plaster, paint, plastic sheet, stone and artificial stone.

5. The power transmission platform of claim 1 wherein said primary inductor inset into a base material and covered by a facing material.

6. The power transmission platform of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary inductor is incorporated into an inductively enabled stowage unit and configured to inductively couple with secondary inductors associated with electrical devices stowed in said stowage unit.

7. The power transmission platform of claim 1 further comprising a flux guidance core for directing magnetic flux from said primary inductor to said secondary inductor coupled thereto.

19. The inductive power receiver of claim 5 wherein said secondary inductor is wired in parallel to a first circuit comprising a first electric load, and a second circuit comprising a second electric load, wherein at least one electric load is connected to said secondary inductor via a rectification unit.

20. The inductive power receiver of claim 19 wherein said at least one electric load is wired directly to said secondary inductor.

8. An inductive power receiver comprising at least one secondary inductor configured to inductively couple with at least one primary inductor and to provide power to at least one electric load, wherein said secondary inductor is incorporated into a water resistant casing.

9. The inductive power receiver of claim 8 incorporated into a power adaptor further comprising at least one power-jack socket electrically connected to said secondary inductor, said power-jack socket configured to form a conductive coupling with a conventional pinned power plug connector.

10. The inductive power receiver of claim 8 further comprising a power storage unit configured to store energy received by said secondary inductor.

11. The inductive power receiver of claim 10 wherein said power storage unit is selected from a group consisting of:

capacitors, accumulators and electrochemical cells.

12. The inductive power receiver of claim 8 comprising at least one sucker configured to attach said casing to a work-surface.

13. The inductive power receiver of claim 8 incorporated into a water resistant electrical device.

14. The inductive power receiver of claim 8 incorporated into an electrical appliance selected from the group consisting of:

standing lamps, video recorders, DVD players, paper shredders, fans, photocopiers, computers, printers, cooking appliances, fridges, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers, heavy machinery, desk lamps, ambient lighting units, fans, wireless telephones, speakers, speaker phones, conference call base units, electric pencil sharpeners, electric staplers, display devices, electrical picture frames, Visual Display Units (VDUs), projectors, televisions, video players, music centers, calculators, scanners, fax machines, hot plates, electrically heated mugs, mobile phones, hairdryers, shavers, delapidators, heaters, wax-melting equipment, hair curlers, beard trippers, bathroom-scales, lights and radios, egg beaters, bread-makers, liquidizers, orange juice extractors, vegetable juicers, food-processors, electric knives, toaster-ovens, toasters, sandwich toasters, waffle makers, electrical barbecue grills, slow cookers, hot-plates, deep-fat fryers, electrical frying pans, knife sharpeners, domestic sterilizers, kettles, urns, radios, cassette players, CD players and electrical tin-openers, popcorn makers, blenders, coffee-makers, coffee-makers, water heaters, popcorn-makers, meat grinders, centrifuges, ultrasonic cleaning devices and magnetic stirrers.

15. The inductive power receiver of claim 8 further comprising a heating element connected directly to said secondary inductor.

16. The inductive power receiver of claim 8 further comprising a boost circuit connected to said secondary inductor via a rectification unit.

17. The inductive power receiver of claim 16 wherein said boost circuit comprises a switching circuit configured to approximate the power profile of a mains power supply.

18. The inductive power receiver device of claim 16 wherein said primary inductor is connected to a power supply having a single-phase power profile and said boost circuit is configured to provide a multiphase power profile.

21. A water resistant electrical device incorporating the inductive power receiver of claim 8, said electrical device being configured to be washable in a dishwasher.