Ecosystem for Surface-Based Wireless Charging System

• US 20160181859A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Wiremold Co (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Wiremold Co (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Hess, Gary, Makwinski, Mark, Picard, Richard R., Prestigomo, Phillip D.
• Application Number:
  US14/978,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20160181859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

A wireless charging system includes a power supply, a plurality of wireless charging transmitters adapted to be mounted on an underside of a surface, and a power distribution system adapted to connect the plurality of wireless charging transmitters to the power supply. The plurality of wireless charging transmitters are configured to generate charging areas on a top side of the surface.

Claims

1. A wireless charging system comprising:

a power supply;

a plurality of wireless charging transmitters adapted to be mounted on an underside of a surface; and

a power distribution system adapted to connect the plurality of wireless charging transmitters to the power supply;

wherein the plurality of wireless charging transmitters are configured to generate charging areas on a top side of the surface.

2. The wireless charging system of claim 1, further comprising at least one wired charging point connected to the power supply through the power distribution system.

3. The wireless charging system of claim 2, wherein the at least one wired charging point is a USB socket.

4. The wireless charging system of claim 3, wherein the at least one wired charging point is configured to allow data transmission and/or exchange between a device connected to the at least one wired charging point and a USB hub connected to the power distribution system.

5. The wireless charging system of claim 1, wherein a total combined power rating of the plurality of wireless charging transmitters is greater than the capacity of the power supply.

6. The wireless charging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a satellite configured to be mounted on the top side of the surface and to provide an indication of a charging area on the top side of the surface.

7. The wireless charging system of claim 6, wherein the satellite is configured to project light to the top side of the surface at or near at least a portion of the charging area.

8. The wireless charging system of claim 6, wherein the satellite is configured to project light to the top side of the surface over the entire charging area.

9. The wireless charging system of claim 6, wherein the satellite is configured to project light at a center of the charging area.

10. The wireless charging system of claim 6, wherein the satellite is configured to project light to the top side of the surface at or near opposing edges of the charging area.

11. The wireless charging system of claim 6, wherein the satellite is configured to project light to the top side of the surface at an edge of the surface.

12. The wireless charging system of claim 6, wherein the satellite is configured to vary at least one of the intensity or color of the projected light based on a location of a device relative to the charging area.

13. The wireless charging system of claim 6, wherein the satellite is configured to vary at least one of the intensity or color of the projected light based on a charging status of a device.

14. The wireless charging system of claim 1, further comprising an occupancy sensor configured to detect at least one of the presence or absence of a user in the vicinity of the occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor is configured to send a signal to the power supply to power on or off the connected wireless charging transmitters based on the detected presence or absence of the user.

15. The wireless charging system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the power supply or the occupancy sensor comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with at least one of a wireless network or a communication interface.

16. A wireless charging system comprising:

a first power supply;

a second power supply;

a first plurality of wireless charging transmitters adapted to be mounted on an underside of a surface;

a second plurality of wireless charging transmitters adapted to be mounted on the underside of the surface;

a first power distribution system adapted to connect the first plurality of wireless charging transmitters to the first power supply;

a second power distribution system adapted to connect the second plurality of wireless charging transmitters to the second power supply;

a first occupancy sensor controlling a first supply of power from the first power supply to the first plurality of wireless charging transmitters based on occupancy detection in a vicinity of the first occupancy sensor; and

a second occupancy sensor controlling a second supply of power from the second power supply to the second plurality of wireless charging transmitters based on occupancy detection in a vicinity of the second occupancy sensor;

17. A wireless charging system comprising:

a power supply;

a wireless charging transmitter adapted to be mounted on an underside of a surface and to generate a charging area on a top side of the surface;

a power distribution system adapted to connect the wireless charging transmitter to the power supply for supplying power from the power supply to the wireless charging transmitter; and

an indication system configured to provide a visual indication of the charging area on the top side of the surface.

18. The wireless charging system of claim 17, wherein the indication system is configured to project light to the top side of the surface at or near at least a portion of the charging area.

19. The wireless charging system of claim 17, wherein the indication system is configured to project light to the top side of the surface over the entire charging area.

20. The wireless charging system of claim 17, wherein the indication system includes a satellite configured to vary at least one of intensity or color of projected light based on at least one of a charging status of a device or a location of the device relative to the charging area.