MAGNETIC POSITIONING FOR INDUCTIVE COUPLING

• US 20120181876A1
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W., Norconk, Matthew J., Zylstra, Brad A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,829,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/021 Construction of PM H01F7/0278 takes precedence; PM compositions H01F1/032
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0247 Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A magnetic positioning system for use in inductive couplings. The magnetic positioning system having a magnet that provides sufficient magnetic force, but does not have enough electrical conductivity to overheat in the presence of the anticipated electromagnetic field. The magnet may be a bonded magnet or a shielded magnet. In another aspect a plurality of magnets are used to provide magnetic attraction forces and said magnetic repulsion forces that cooperate to align the inductive power supply and the remote device. In another aspect, a sensor allows differentiation between different positions of the remote device or inductive power supply. In another aspect, multiple magnets in the inductive power supply interact with multiple magnets in the remote device to position the remote device in different positions.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A magnetic positioning system for use in an inductive power supply system for wirelessly transferring power from an inductive power supply to a remote device using an electromagnetic field, said magnetic positioning system comprising:

at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device including a plurality of magnets disposed about a coil;

the other one of the inductive power supply and the remote device including an additional magnet;

wherein said plurality of magnets and said additional magnet provide a magnetic force for alignment of the inductive power supply and the remote device into a plurality of different positions about said coil;

a sensor located in at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device, wherein said sensor is configured to provide sensor output to differentiate between said plurality of different positions about said coil; and

a controller located in at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device, wherein said controller is in communication with said sensor, said controller programmed to provide an input to the remote device as a function of said sensor output.

9. The magnetic positioning system of claim 8 wherein said controller is programmed to determine whether to operate a display on the remote device in at least one of portrait and landscape mode as a function of said sensor output.

10. The magnetic positioning system of claim 8 wherein said controller is programmed to determine an orientation of the remote device with respect to the inductive power supply as a function of said sensor output.

11. The magnetic positioning system of claim 8 wherein said controller is programmed to determine motion of the remote device with respect to the inductive power supply as a function of said sensor output.

12. The magnetic positioning system of claim 8 wherein said controller is programmed to determine a direction of rotation of the remote device as a function of said sensor output.

13. The magnetic positioning system of claim 8 wherein said input is at least one of a volume control input and a brightness control input for the remote device.

14. The magnetic positioning system of claim 8 wherein said sensor includes a hall effect sensor.

15. The magnetic positioning system of claim 8 further comprising an index magnet located in at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device, wherein said index magnet provides a reference to assist in differentiating between said plurality of different positions.

16. The magnetic positioning system of claim 15 wherein the other of the inductive power supply and the remote device includes said additional magnet and at least one second additional magnet.

17. An inductive power supply for wirelessly transferring power from an inductive power supply to a remote device, said inductive power supply comprising:

a primary configured to transfer power wirelessly to a remote device by an inductive coupling, wherein the remote device is removably positionable in proximity to said inductive power supply for receiving power wirelessly;

at least one magnet configured to provide a magnetic force for alignment of said inductive power supply and the remote device, said at least one magnet configured to provide for alignment of the remote device in a plurality of different positions; and

an index magnet configured to provide a reference to assist in differentiating between said plurality of different positions.

18. The inductive power supply of claim 17 wherein a magnet layout of said at least one magnet and said index magnet is asymmetric, wherein said magnet layout assists in differentiating between said plurality of different positions.

19. The inductive power supply of claim 17 wherein said index magnet assists in determining at least one of orientation of the remote device and motion of the remote device.

20. The inductive power supply of claim 17 wherein said primary includes a primary coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field for transferring power wirelessly to the remote device.

21. The inductive power supply of claim 20 wherein said at least one magnet and said index magnet are disposed about said primary coil.

22. The inductive power supply of claim 20 wherein said at least one magnet is disposed within said primary coil.

23. The inductive power supply of claim 22 wherein said index magnet is disposed outside said primary coil.

24. A magnetic positioning system for use in an inductive power supply system for wirelessly transferring power from an inductive power supply to a remote device using an electromagnetic field, said magnetic positioning system comprising:

at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device including a plurality of magnets, wherein said plurality of magnets are configured to provide a magnetic force for alignment of the inductive power supply and the remote device into a plurality of different positions;

an index magnet located in at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device, wherein said index magnet provides a reference to assist in differentiating between said plurality of different positions;

a sensor located in at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device, wherein said sensor is configured to provide sensor output to differentiate between said plurality of different positions; and

a controller located in at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device, wherein said controller is in communication with said sensor, said controller programmed to provide an input to the remote device as a function of said sensor output.

25. The magnetic positioning system of claim 24 wherein said plurality of magnets includes said index magnet.

26. The magnetic positioning system of claim 24 wherein a magnet layout of said plurality of magnets located in the inductive power supply is asymmetric, wherein said magnet layout assists in differentiating between said plurality of different positions of the remote device.

27. The magnetic positioning system of claim 24 wherein said controller is programmed to determine whether to operate a display on the remote device in at least one of portrait and landscape mode as a function of said sensor output.

28. The magnetic positioning system of claim 24 wherein said controller is programmed to determine an orientation of the remote device with respect to the inductive power supply as a function of said sensor output.

29. The magnetic positioning system of claim 24 wherein the other of the at least one of the inductive power supply and the remote device includes a second plurality of magnets, wherein at least one of said second plurality of magnets is configured to provide magnetic force for alignment of said inductive power supply and said remote device in said plurality of different positions.