Reliable contact and safe system and method for providing power to an electronic device

• US 7,932,638 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLI Charge, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pure Energy Solutions, Inc. (Pure Energy Visions Corporation)
• Inventors: Randall, Mitch
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US11/800,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 370/75, 370/150, 174/268, 320/108
• US Class Current: 307/75
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/22 Contacts for co-operating by abutting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic system which includes a power delivery surface that delivers electrical power to an electrical or electronic device. The power delivery surface may be powered by any electrical power source, including, but not limited to: wall electrical outlet, solar power system, battery, vehicle cigarette lighter system, direct connection to electrical generator device, and any other electrical power source. The power delivery surface delivers power to the electronic device wirelessly. The power delivery surface may deliver power via a plurality of contacts on the electrical device conducting electricity from the power delivery surface. The electrical device may be mobile device. Each contact may be shaped to improve power delivery reliability. The power delivery surface may further include circuitry to protect against accidental electrocutions.

Claims

1. Electrical apparatus, comprising:

a power delivery surface that comprises at least a part of a support surface, said power delivery surface being connected to an electrical power source, said power delivery surface being capable of supplying electrical power, and said power delivery surface having a plurality of pads, wherein some of said pads are at a first voltage level and others of said pads are at a second voltage level; and

an electrical device, which is supplied electricity and is positionable in any location on the support surface, said electrical device obtaining electrical power from said power delivery surface that is at least part of said support surface; and

a power receiver device comprising a flexible, printed curcuit that is attachable to a battery of the electrical device and is electrically connected to said electrical device and said battery in order to provide a plurality of contacts to said electrical device, wherein said plurality of contacts are spaced apart in relation to each other in positions to make power delivery capable contact with said power delivery surface; and

a back cover of said electrical device that has contact fingers on an inside portion of said back cover that are electrically connected to said plurality of contacts on an outside of said back cover such that said contact fingers electrically connect to said back cover such that said contact fingers electrically connect to said flexible printed circuit when said back cover is placed on said electrical device and there is an electrical connection from said plurality of contacts to said battery.

2. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 further comprising power and receiver electronics built into said back cover to regulate power delivered to said mobile device battery.

3. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible printed circuit board is positionable between the battery and the electrical device and has a cutout in an area where electrical contacts of the battery make contact with mating electrical contacts in the electrical device to accommodate battery connections between said mobile device and said mobile device battery.

4. The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power receiver device may be removed from said electrical device and said power receiver contains a plug to plug into a power receptacle on said electrical device.

5. The electrical apparatus of claim 4 wherein said power receiver device comprises a hardened structure capable of supporting said electrical device such that said plug does not solely support said electrical device.

6. Electrical apparatus , comprising:

a power delivery surface that comprises at least part of a support surface, said power delivery surface being connected to an electrical power source, said power delivery surface being capable of supplying electrical power, and said power delivery surface having a plurality of pads, wherein some of said pads are at a first voltage level and others of said pads are at a second voltage level;

an electrical device, which is supplied electricity and is positionable in any location on a support surface, said electrical device obtaining electrical power from said power delivery surface and that is at least part of said support surface; and

a power receiver device that is removably attachable and electrically connectable via a plug to said electrical device in order to provide a plurality of contacts to said electrical device, said plurality of contacts being spaced apart in relation to each other in positions to make power delivery capable contact with said power delivery surface, wherein said plug is spring loaded to further alleviate weight stress on said plug.

7. Electrical apparatus, comprising:

a power delivery surface that comprises at least a part of a support surface, said power delivery surface being connected to an electrical power source, said power delivery surface being capable of supplying electrical power, and said power delivery surface having a plurality of pads, wherein some of said pads are at a first voltage level and others of said pads are at a second voltage level; and

an electrical device that includes;

(a) an electronic device circuit which enables operable functions of the electrical device;

(b) a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the electronic device circuit for providing electric power to the electronic device circuit;

(c) a housing containing the electronic device circuit and the rechargeable battery; and

(d) a detachable cover of said electrical device that has an inside surface and an outside surface and comprises power receiver apparatus and circuitry, wherein said power receiver apparatus and circuitry includes;

(i) a plurality of external contacts extending outwardly from the external surface of the back cover in a spatial relation to each other that enables power transfer from the power delivery surface to the power receiver apparatus and circuitry when the back cover of the electrical device is positioned on the power delivery surface and interface;

(ii) a plurality of internal contacts that are physically located to align and make electrical contact with interfacing electrical contacts electrically connected to the electronic device circuit and/or the rechargeable battery when the cover is attached to the housing for transmitting electric power from the external contacts to the electronic device circuit and/or the rechargeable battery when the electrical device is placed on the power delivery surface with the external contacts in electrical contact with the power delivery surface.

8. The electrical apparatus of claim 7, wherein the internal contacts include contact fingers.

9. The electrical apparatus of claim 7, including an interface contact assembly interposed between a mating set of contacts of the rechargeable battery and of the electronic device circuit, said interface contact assembly including the interfacing electrical contacts and a set of traces for electrically connecting the interfacing electrical contacts with the mating set of contacts of the rechargeable battery and of the electronic device circuit.

10. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the interface contact assembly includes a flexible printed circuit board comprising the interfacing electrical contacts and the set of traces.

11. The electrical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flexible printed circuit board comprises a flexible, non-conductive substrate supporting the traces on opposite surfaces of the substrate, and wherein a paired set of the traces on the opposite surfaces are electrically connected together such that, when the printed circuit board is interposed between the mating contacts of the battery and of the electronic circuit with one of the set of paired traces positioned in contact with one of the mating battery contacts and the other of the paired traces is positioned in contact with one of the mating electronic circuit contacts, the mating battery contact and the mating electronic circuit contact are electrically connected together by the interposed paired set of traces on the printed circuit board.

12. The electrical apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible printed circuit board has a portion of the non-conductive substrate cut out adjacent the paired sets of traces to allow additional mating contacts of the battery and the electronic circuit to be in direct electronic contact with each other.

13. An electrically powered device that has a housing containing an electronic operating circuit which enables functions of the device and a rechargeable battery assembly with battery contacts located to interface and make electrical contact with mating contacts of the electronic operating circuit to provide electrical power to the electronic operating circuit, comprising:

a detachable cover assembly that has an inside surface and an outside surface and is attachable to the housing adjacent the battery, said cover assembly including power receiver apparatus and circuitry comprising;

(i) a plurality of external contacts extending outwardly from the external surface of the detachable cover assembly in a spatial relation to each other that is adapted to receive electric power from an electric power source; and

(ii) a plurality of internal contacts that are physically located to align and make electrical contact with interfacing contacts of the battery assembly and/or the electronic operating circuit when the cover assembly is attached to the housing.

14. The electrically powered device of claim 13, wherein the internal contacts include contact fingers.

15. The electrically powered device of claim 13, including an interface contact assembly interposed between a mating set of contacts of the rechargeable battery assembly and of the electronic operating circuit, said interface contact assembly including a set of traces for electrically connecting the internal contacts of the cover assembly to the contacts of the battery assembly and/or the electronic operating circuit.

16. The electrically powered device of claim 15;

wherein the interface contact assembly includes a printed circuit board comprising a non-conductive substrate interposed between the battery assembly contacts and the electronic operating circuit contacts with electric traces on opposite surfaces of the non-conductive substrate aligned to make electric contact with the respective battery assembly contacts on one side of the non-conductive substrate and with the respective electronic operating circuit contacts on the opposite side of the non-conductive substrate, said respective traces on the opposite sides of the non-conductive substrate being electrically connected to each other so that electric power from the external contacts applied to the traces of the printed circuit board is effectively applied to both the battery contacts and the electronic operating circuit contacts when the cover assembly is attached to the housing.

17. The electrically powered device of claim 16, wherein the non-conductive substrate has a cut-out portion adjacent the traces to accommodate other contacts of the battery assembly to make electrical contact with mating other contacts of the electronic operating circuit without interruption by the non-conductive substrate interposed between the battery assembly and the electronic operating circuit.

18. The electrically powered device of claim 16, wherein the non-conductive substrate is flexible and formable around edges of the battery assembly with the traces in contact with respective contacts of the battery assembly.

19. The electrically powered device of claim 16, including adhesive on the non-conductive substrate for adhering the non-conductive substrate to the battery assembly.

20. A method of equipping an electronic device, which has a rechargeable battery assembly and an electronic device circuit contained in a housing with contacts of the rechargeable battery assembly in physical alignment and electrical contact with mating contacts of the electronic device circuit, to be capable of receiving electric power from a power delivery surface, including:

attaching a cover assembly, which has power receiver apparatus and circuitry comprising a plurality of external contacts in a spatial relationship adapted to receive power from the power delivery surface and a plurality of internal contacts that are located to align and make electrical contact with interfacing contacts of the rechargeable battery assembly and/or the electronic device circuit, onto the housing adjacent the rechargeable battery assembly with the internal contacts of the cover assembly in alignment to make electrical contact with exposed contacts of the battery assembly and/or the electronic device circuit.

21. The method of claim 20, including interposing a printed circuit board having paired sets of electrically connected traces on opposite sides of the printed circuit board between the battery assembly and the electronic circuit with the paired sets of traces spatially aligned and in electrical contact with respective battery contacts and mating electronic device circuit contacts so that the battery contacts and the mating electronic device circuit contacts are electrically connected to each other through the traces of the printed circuit board, and providing bare interface contacts on the printed circuit board as part of, or electrically connected to, the traces in alignment with the internal contacts of the power receiver apparatus and circuitry so that attaching the cover assembly to the housing places the internal contacts in electrical contact with the bare interface contacts to provide electric power from the external contacts to rechargeable battery assembly and/or electronic device circuit via the printed circuit board.

22. The method of claim 21, including adhering the printed circuit board on the rechargeable battery assembly.

23. The method of claim 21, including wrapping the printed circuit board around a portion of the rechargeable battery assembly with the paired traces aligned and in contact with respective ones of the rechargeable battery assembly contacts.