Induction charging apparatus

• US 5,550,452 A
• Filed: 07/22/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kyushu Hitachi Maxell Ltd. (Maxell, Ltd.), Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kyushu Hitachi Maxell Ltd. (Maxell, Ltd.), Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kubo, Koichi, Hiroshige, Eiichi, Yamagami, Hitoshi, Shirai, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US08/279,004
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/5, 336/224, 336/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 336/02 Separable

Abstract

The induction charging apparatus has a power source unit and a device unit which can be detachably coupled to the power source unit. The power source unit has a first casing having one end opened, a primary coil provided in the first casing, an oscillator for supplying an alternating current to the primary coil to generate magnetic fluxes, and a depressible member movably provided and closing the open end of the first casing. The depressible member is movable between a lift position at which the magnetic fluxes are substantially located under the depressible member, and a depressed position at which portions of the magnetic fluxes are substantially located over the depressible member. The device unit has a second casing having one end detachable to the open end of the first casing, a secondary coil provided in the second casing and adjacent to the one end, and rechargeable battery provided in said second casing for receiving power from the secondary coil. When the second casing is attached to the first casing, the depressible member is moved to the depressed position to electromagnetically couple the primary and secondary coils.

Claims

1. An induction charging apparatus having a power source unit and a device unit detachable from said power source unit, said induction charging apparatus comprising:

said power source unit comprising;

a first casing having one end opened;

a primary coil provided in said first casing;

oscillator means provided in said first casing for supplying an alternating current powered by a commercial alternating current power source to said primary coil to generate magnetic fluxes; and

a depressible member movably provided and closing said open end of said first casing, said depressible member movable between a lift position at which said magnetic fluxes are substantially located under said depressible member and inside said first casing, and a depressed position at which portions of said magnetic fluxes are substantially located over said depressible member and outside said first casing;

said device unit comprising;

a second casing having one end detachable to said open end of said first casing;

a secondary coil provided in said second casing and adjacent to said one end; and

load means provided in said second casing for receiving power from said secondary coil, whereby when said second casing is attached to said first casing with said depressible member being moved to said depressed position, said primary and secondary coils are coupled to link said magnetic fluxes from said primary coil to said secondary coil, and when said second casing is detached, said depressible member is moved to said lift position to prevent the leakage of said magnetic fluxes.

2. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said depressible member comprises a cover plate and at least one guide plate extending toward inside of said first casing along inner wall of said first casing from at least one side edge of said cover plate so as to guide said depressible member.

3. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said power source unit further comprises a guiding means for guiding said guide plate during the movement of said depressible member between said lift position and depressed position.

4. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power source unit further comprises urging means for urging said depressible member towards said lift position.

5. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said power source unit further comprises first engaging means provided to said depressible member and upper engagable means provided to said first casing, said first engaging means and said upper engagable means being engaged to each other when said depressible member is moved by said urging means to said lift position for limiting a further upper movement of said depressible member.

6. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said power source unit further comprises second engaging means provided to said depressible member and lower engagable means provided to said first casing, said second engaging means and said lower engagable means being engaged to each other when said depressible member is moved against said urging means to said depressed position for limiting a further downward movement of said depressible member.

7. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power source unit further comprises

a third engaging means, and said device unit further comprises a fourth engaging means engagable to said third engaging means for holding said power source unit and said device unit in the attached position.

8. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power source unit further comprises a magnetic core inserted to said primary coil.

9. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said depressible member is formed with a projected recess for receiving an end portion of said magnetic core when said depressible member is moved to said depressed position.

10. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said device unit is formed with a receiving recess for receiving said projected recess, said secondary coil being position around said receiving recess.

11. An induction charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said load means is a rechargeable battery.