PROXIMITY POWER PAD

• US 20100327801A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Matthews, Michael Thano, Morris, Julie Anne, Jakes, Philip John
• Granted Patent: US 8,432,128 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A polygonal power pad includes an optional connector to connect to a power supply and a power network in the power pad. At least one power connector is coupled to the power network and is disposed on a periphery of the pad. The power connector is operable to receive and provide power to a provided adjacent pad. At least one power transfer coil embedded in the pad, is coupled to the power network to transfer power to a device proximate the pad

Claims

1. A power pad comprising:

a polygonal pad including;

a power network;

at least one power connector coupled to the power network and disposed on a periphery of the pad and operable to exchange power with a provided adjacent pad; and

at least one power transfer mechanism embedded in the pad and coupled to the power network to transfer power to a device proximate the pad.

2. The power pad of claim 1 and further comprising a switch coupled to each power connector to switch power the corresponding power connector to the power network.

3. The power pad of claim 1 and further comprising a power connector coupled on each side of the polygonal pad.

4. The power pad of claim 3 wherein the polygonal pad is a rectangle.

5. The power pad of claim 3 wherein the polygonal pad is a triangle.

6. The power pad of claim 3 wherein the polygonal pad includes an arc on at least one side.

7. The power pad of claim 1 wherein the power transfer mechanism comprises a power coil.

8. The power pad of claim 1 wherein the power transfer mechanism comprises a set of conductors.

9. The power pad of claim 1 wherein the power connector further comprises a latch to securely physically couple a provided adjacent polygonal pad with a mating power connector and latch.

10. The power pad of claim 1 wherein the power connectors couple multiple adjacent power pads to provide a parallel power supply connection.

11. The power pad of claim 1 wherein the power connectors couple multiple provided adjacent power pads to provide a parallel power supply connection.

12. Apparatus comprising:

a battery powered information handling system having a main processor, a main memory, a display, and a power receiving mechanism; and

a polygonal pad including;

a power network;

at least one power connector coupled to the power network and disposed on a periphery of the pad and operable to exchange power with a provided adjacent pad; and

at least one power transfer mechanism embedded in the pad and coupled to the power network to transfer power to the receiving mechanism of said battery powered computing apparatus while proximate to said polygonal pad.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the power transfer mechanism comprises a power coil.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the power transfer mechanism comprises a set of conductors.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the power connector further comprises a latch to securely physically couple a provided adjacent polygonal pad with a mating power connector and latch.

16. A method comprising:

embedding at least one proximity power transfer mechanism in a polygonal pad;

forming a power transfer network in the polygonal pad that is coupled to the at least one proximity power transfer mechanism; and

providing at least one power transfer connector on a peripheral portion of the polygonal pad to mate with a power transfer connector on an adjacent polygonal pad to transfer power between the two polygonal pads.

17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising providing a switch to couple the corresponding power connector to the power network.

18. The method of claim 16 and further comprising providing a power connector coupled on each side of the polygonal pad.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the polygonal pad is a rectangle.

20. The method of claim 16 and further comprising connecting multiple power pads to each other via their power connectors to form a set of power pads to draw power from each other to power devices placed proximate power transfer mechanisms in the power pads.

21. A system comprising:

a battery powered information handling system having a processor, a memory, a display, and a power receiving coil; and

a first power pad including;

a power network;

at least one power connector couple; and

at least one power transfer coil embedded in the first power pad and coupled to the power network to transfer power to the receiving coil of said battery powered information handling system while proximate to said first power pad.