Device for mechanically and electrically connecting a portable, battery-operated apparatus and portable, battery-operated apparatus

• US 8,362,743 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Andrieu, Jeremie, Bross, Michael, Nieto, Gustavo
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/787,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• 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: H01F 7/0247 Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A device is provided for mechanically and electrically connecting a portable, battery-operated apparatus in order to operate the apparatus and/or to charge its battery. The device includes a receiving area for the apparatus as well as a first coil arrangement, which is disposed on, in or under the receiving area and which is designed for interaction with a second coil arrangement of the apparatus, when the apparatus is disposed in a predefined position on the receiving area. Finally, the device exhibits a first coupling element, which, in interaction with a second coupling element of the apparatus, the apparatus can be moved into the predefined position after being placed on the receiving area. The first coupling element exhibits at least a first component, which is designed for magnetic coupling with a respective second component of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A device for mechanically and electrically connecting a portable, battery-operated apparatus in order to at least one of operate said apparatus and charge a battery of said apparatus, the device comprising:

a receiving area for the apparatus, wherein a contour of the receiving area does not bring about a mechanical positioning of the apparatus;

a first coil arrangement of the receiving area, the first coil arrangement being operatively configured to interact with a second coil arrangement of the apparatus when the apparatus is disposed in a predefined position on the receiving area;

a first coupling element of the receiving area, the first coupling element being operatively configured to interact with a second coupling element of the apparatus so as to move the apparatus into a predefined position after being placed on the receiving area, said first coupling element comprising at least a first component, which is designed for magnetic coupling with a respective second component of the apparatus.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first coil arrangement comprises a first main coil for generating a charge current for the battery of the apparatus, when said first main coil is coupled to a second main coil of the second coil arrangement.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a data communication interface with a charging unit of the apparatus in order to control a charging process of the battery.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first coil arrangement comprises, as the data communication interface, a first control coil, which is coupled with a control unit and which is coupled with a second control coil of the second coil arrangement.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first component of the first coupling element provides a magnetic field.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first component is a permanent magnet.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling element comprises two permanent magnets of different polarity.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling element comprises, as the first component, a solenoid, which interacts with a metallic, second component of the second coupling element.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the solenoid is switchable on and off by a manually operated switch.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the solenoid is switchable on and off by a control unit.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first coil arrangement is disposed at least one of on, in and under the receiving area for the apparatus.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is integrated in a motor vehicle.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first coil arrangement of the device comprises a first control coil and the second coil arrangement of the apparatus comprises a second control coil, and wherein the first control coil and second control coil form a wireless data communication interface over which a charging process of the battery is controlled.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving area is substantially planar.

15. A portable, battery-operated apparatus, comprising:

a second coil arrangement operatively configured to interact with a first coil arrangement, the first coil arrangement being for a receiving area of the apparatus, said interaction occurring when the apparatus is disposed in a predefined position on the receiving area, and wherein a contour of the receiving area does not bring about a mechanical positioning of the apparatus,

a second coupling element operatively configured to interact with a first coupling element of the receiving area, wherein by way of said interaction the apparatus is moveable into a predefined position after being placed on the receiving area, said second coupling element having at least a second component that magnetically couples with a respective first component of the receiving area.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second coil arrangement includes a second main coil for generating a charge current for a battery of the apparatus when said second main coil is coupled with a first main coil of the first coil arrangement.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second coupling element includes as the second component, a permanent magnet.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein two permanent magnets of different polarity are provided as the second component.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second coupling element comprises, as the second component, a metal body that interacts with a respective solenoid of the first coupling element.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the portable battery-operated apparatus is one of a communication terminal and a media data player.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the receiving area is substantially planar.

22. A system, comprising:

a portable, battery-operated apparatus;

a device for connecting the portable, battery-operated apparatus in order to at least one of operate said apparatus and charge a battery of said apparatus; and

wherein the device comprises;

a receiving area for the apparatus, wherein a contour of the receiving area does not bring about a mechanical positioning of the apparatus;

a first coil arrangement of the receiving area, the first coil arrangement being operatively configured to interact with a second coil arrangement of the apparatus when the apparatus is disposed in a predefined position on the receiving area;

a first coupling element of the receiving area, the first coupling element being operatively configured to interact with a second coupling element of the apparatus so as to move the apparatus into a predefined position after being placed on the receiving area, said first coupling element comprising at least a first component, which is designed for magnetic coupling with a respective second component of the apparatus.