Charging system for charging electronic devices in garments

• US 6,924,619 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patino, Joseph, Dvorak, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/459,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/109, 320/116, 363/15, 363/152, 2/1, 290/5, 223/1, 223/85, 223/DIG.2
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence

Abstract

A charging system (100) for charging electronic devices. The charging system (100) includes a power distributor (110) and a power receiver (112) in which the power distributor (110) transfers power to the power receiver (112) when the power receiver (112) engages the power distributor (110). The power receiver (112) induces a charging current in an article that is supported by the power receiver (112). The power receiver (112) can include an inductor plate (146) having a first charging coil (148), and the article can be a garment (156) having an embedded electronic device (158). The garment (156) can include a second charging coil (162), and the first charging coil (148) can induce the charging current in the second charging coil (162).

Claims

1. A charging system for charging electronic devices, comprising:

a power distributor; and

a power receiver, wherein said power distributor transfers power to said power receiver when said power receiver engages said power distributor;

wherein said power receiver induces a charging current in a garment that is supported by said power receiver, wherein the garment has an embedded electronic device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power receiver comprises an inductor plate having a first charging coil, wherein the garment includes a second charging coil and wherein said first charging coil induces the charging current in the second charging coil.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second charging coil and the electronic device are electrically coupled and wherein the charging current induced in the second charging coil charges a power source of the electronic device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power receiver comprises an inductor plate having a charging coil, a body, said body being attached to said inductor plate, a stem rotatably coupled to said body and at least one power contact protruding from said stem.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said power contact comprises at least a portion of a first wire and at least a portion of a second wire, wherein said portions of said first wire and said second wire that protrude from said stem are exposed.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said power distributor includes a power strip, said power strip including at least one positive power strip and at least one negative power strip.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said power strip is disposed on an inner surface of said power distributor.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein a section of insulation is disposed on an inner surface of said power distributor and said power strip is disposed on a surface of said section of insulation.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein when said power receiver engages said power distributor, at least one of said exposed portions of said first wire and said second wire contacts said positive power strip and a remaining one of said exposed portions of said positive wire and said negative wire contacts said negative power strip.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said first wire and said second wire are housed within said stem and said body, said first wire and said second wire being electrically coupled to said charging coil of said inductor plate, whereby a circuit is completed between said charging coil of said inductor plate and said power strip when said power receiver engages said power distributor.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said power receiver further comprises a switch for controlling the flow of current through said circuit.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said switch is closed when the garment is supported by said power receiver and opened when the garment is removed from said power receiver.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power distributor comprises a channel running substantially along said power distributor, wherein said channel receives said power receiver to permit said power receiver to engage said power distributor.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power distributor comprises a wall mount for securing said power distributor to a wall.

15. A charging system, comprising:

a power distributor; and

a power receiver, wherein said power distributor transfers power to said power receiver when said power receiver engages said power distributor;

wherein said power receiver includes an inductor plate having a charging coil for inducing a charging current in another charging coil in a garment having an embedded electronic device when said power receiver engages said power distributor.

16. A charging system, comprising:

a power distributor; and

a garment hanger for supporting a garment, said power distributor transfers power to said garment hanger when said garment hanger electrically engages said power distributor;

wherein said garment hanger includes an inductor plate having a charging coil for inducing a charging current in another charging coil embedded in a garment supported by said garment hanger when said garment hanger electrically engages said power distributor.

17. A power receiver of a charging system, comprising:

an inductor plate having a first charging coil;

a body, said body being attached to said inductor plate; and

a stem coupled to said body and at least one power contact protruding from said stem, wherein said power receiver induces a charging current in a garment that is supported by said power receiver, wherein the garment has an embedded electronic device.

18. The power receiver according to claim 17, wherein said power contact comprises at least a portion of a first wire and at least a portion of a second wire, wherein said first wire and said second wire that protrude from said stem are exposed.

19. The power receiver according to claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said first wire and said second wire are housed within said stem and said body, said first and said second wire being electrically coupled to said first charging coil of said inductor plate, whereby a circuit is completed between said first charging coil of said inductor plate and a power strip of a power distributor when said power receiver engages the power distributor.

20. The power receiver according to claim 19, further comprising a switch for controlling flow of current through said circuit and wherein said stem is rotatably coupled to said body.

21. A power distributor of a charging system, comprising:

a power strip; and

a channel, wherein said power strip includes at least one positive power strip and at least one negative power strip, wherein said power distributor transfers power to a power receiver when the power receiver engages said power distributor through said channel, whereby in response, the power receiver induces a charging current in a garment that is supported by the power receiver, wherein the garment has an embedded electronic device.

22. The power distributor according to claim 21, wherein a section of insulation is disposed on an inner surface of said power distributor and said power strip is disposed on a surface of said section of insulation.

23. The power distributor according to claim 21, wherein said channel runs substantially along said power distributor.

24. The power distributor according to claim 21, further comprising a wall mount for securing said power distributor to a wall.

25. A method for charging electronic components, comprising the steps of:

engaging a power distributor with a power receiver;

transferring power from the power distributor to the power receiver;

inducing a charging current in a garment that is supported by the power receiver; and

charging with the induced charging current a power source embedded within the garment that is supported by the receiver.