INDUCTIVELY COUPLED POWER MODULE AND CIRCUIT
First Claim
1. An inductively coupling module comprising:
- a housing coupled to a first side of a panel, at least a portion of the housing extending into a cavity in the first side;
an induction coil disposed within the housing and located within an operating distance of a top surface of a second side of the panel opposite the first side, the induction coil being in contact with or adjacent to an interior surface of the cavity and with or without a wall of the housing disposed between the induction coil and the interior surface of the cavity; and
control electronics disposed within the housing for controlling the operation of the induction coil and connecting to a power source.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Inductive coupling modules for providing power to secondary devices placed in proximity thereto on a surface are described. The modules include above-surface, flush, recessed, and sub-surface mounting configurations. The modules further include dual housing, single housing, low-profile, and adjustable configurations. Inductively coupled power distribution circuits are also disclosed. The circuits comprise a plurality of segments that are inductively couple together to eliminate wired connections between segments. Each segment may be attached to a section of a modular furniture component to allow ease and safety in rearranging the modular furniture and ease in reconnecting the circuit.
100 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inductively coupling module comprising:
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a housing coupled to a first side of a panel, at least a portion of the housing extending into a cavity in the first side; an induction coil disposed within the housing and located within an operating distance of a top surface of a second side of the panel opposite the first side, the induction coil being in contact with or adjacent to an interior surface of the cavity and with or without a wall of the housing disposed between the induction coil and the interior surface of the cavity; and control electronics disposed within the housing for controlling the operation of the induction coil and connecting to a power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An inductively coupling power distribution circuit for an article of modular furniture comprising:
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a first induction coil disposed along a first side of a first article of modular furniture; a second induction coil disposed along a second side of the first article of modular furniture; and an electrical conductor coupled to both the first and second induction coils and providing electrical communication between the first and second induction coils, wherein first article of modular furniture is inductively coupled to one or more of a source of electrical power and one or more second similarly configured articles of modular furniture, and wherein one or more electronic devices are coupled to the electrical conductor to supply power to the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An inductively coupling power distribution circuit for an article of modular furniture comprising:
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a plurality of desktop panels; a first induction coil disposed along a first edge of each of the plurality of desktop panels; a second induction coil disposed along a second edge of each of the plurality of desktop panels, wherein the second edge is the same or different than the first edge; an electrical conductor coupled between the respective first and second induction coils on each desktop panel and providing electrical communication between the first and second induction coils; one or more inductively coupling modules disposed on or within an underside of each of the plurality of desktop panels and electrically coupled to the electrical conductor on a respective panel; and an electrical coupling between the first induction coil on at least one of the plurality of panels and a source of electrical power, wherein at least one of the first or second induction coil disposed on each of the plurality of desktop panels is inductively coupled to the first or second induction coil disposed on at least one other of the plurality of desktop panels to form an electrical circuit connecting all of the plurality of panels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification