Multi-dimensional inductive charger and applications thereof

• US 9,112,364 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Partovi, Afshin
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US13/710,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20130119929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/00 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/40 Means for preventing magnetic saturation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3376 : with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 : using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 : One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A system and method for providing a multi-dimensional inductive charger. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a base unit having one or more transmitter coils; and one or more components including a ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer, that modify the magnitude and/or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions. When a mobile device, such as a phone, computing device, camera, kitchen appliance, automobile, or other electrical or electronic device having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated therewith, is placed in proximity to the base unit, the transmitter coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device. In accordance with various embodiments, the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile.

Claims

1. A multi-dimensional inductive charger, comprising:

a base unit having one or more transmitter coils which transmit inductive power to a receiver coil placed close to the one or more transmitter coils and configured to receive power therefrom;

a switching layer having magnetic properties and covering the one or more transmitter coils, so that, during charging or powering of a device or battery having the receiver coil, the switching layer is layered between the one or more transmitter coils and a surface of the base unit,

wherein one or more components are used to modify one or both the magnitude or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions, including

wherein the switching layer'"'"'s magnetic properties can be locally modified, by the receiver coil or by a switching magnet associated with the receiver coil, to affect passage of a magnetic flux within a particular region of the switching layer proximate the coils, and

wherein, when the device or battery having a receiver and the receiver coil is placed close to the base unit having the one or more transmitter coils, the switching layer'"'"'s magnetic properties are locally modified, by the magnetic field of the coils or the switching magnet associated with the receiver coil, to guide the magnetic flux to provide localized power transfer in the particular region of the layer generally aligned both with the one or more transmitter coils and the receiver coil; and

wherein, when a mobile device having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated therewith, is placed in proximity to the base unit, the one or more transmitter coils are used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a component of, or is attached to a shell, case, or other cover of the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a component of, or is attached to a shell, case, or other cover of the mobile device, and is provided as an after-market accessory for use with the mobile device, and replaces an original shell, case, or cover of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided as or integrated within a pad, bag, container or similar apparatus for use in receiving and charging or powering one or more mobile devices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is provided as a kiosk that allows individual users to purchase an occasional charge for their mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is any of a phone, computing device, camera, kitchen appliance, or any other electrical or electronic device that can include the receiver coil or receiver and that can be charged or powered by the base unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is an automobile, and the base unit is used to charge the automobile.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more components and the switching layer is used to provide a degree of position independence in charging or powering the one or more devices or batteries.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the modifying the magnitude or phase of the electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions includes locally modifying the properties of the switching layer so that it acts as a switching layer, allowing a transmitter coil electromagnetic field to be preferentially transmitted through a locally modified area.

11. A method of providing and using a multi-dimensional inductive charger, comprising the steps of:

providing a base unit having one or more transmitter coils which transmit inductive power to a receiver coil placed close to the one or more transmitter coils and configured to receive power therefrom;

providing a switching layer having magnetic properties and covering the one or more transmitter coils, so that, during charging or powering of a device or battery having the receiver coil, the switching layer is layered between the one or more transmitter coils and a surface of the base unit, wherein one or more components are used to modify one or both the magnitude or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions, including

wherein the switching layer'"'"'s magnetic properties can be locally modified, by the receiver coil or by a switching magnet associated with the receiver coil, to affect passage of a magnetic flux within a particular region of the switching layer proximate the coils, and

wherein, when the device or battery having a receiver and the receiver coil is placed close to the base unit having the one or more transmitter coils, the switching layer'"'"'s magnetic properties are locally modified, by the magnetic field of the coils or the switching magnet associated with the receiver coil, to guide the magnetic flux to provide localized power transfer in the particular region of the layer generally aligned both with the one or more transmitter coils and the receiver coil; and

wherein, when a mobile device having one or more receiver coils or receivers associated therewith, is placed in proximity to the base unit, the one or more transmitter coils are used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiver is a component of, or is attached to a shell, case, or other cover of the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiver is a component of, or is attached to a shell, case, or other cover of the mobile device, and is provided as an after-market accessory for use with the mobile device, and replaces an original shell, case, or cover of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit is provided as or integrated within a pad, bag, container or similar apparatus for use in receiving and charging or powering one or more mobile devices.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the base unit is provided as a kiosk that allows individual users to purchase an occasional charge for their mobile device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is any of a phone, computing device, camera, kitchen appliance, or any other electrical or electronic device that can include the receiver coil or receiver and that can be charged or powered by the base unit.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is an automobile, and the base unit is used to charge the automobile.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more components and the switching layer is used to provide a degree of position independence in charging or powering the one or more devices or batteries.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the modifying the magnitude or phase of the electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions includes locally modifying the properties of the switching layer so that it acts as a switching layer, allowing a transmitter coil electromagnetic field to be preferentially transmitted through a locally modified area.