Vehicle seat inductive charger and data transmitter

• US 9,126,514 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Inventors: Soar, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US13/533,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20130005251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/905 the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas
• 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 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A system to inductively transfer power and transmit and receive data between a support structure associated with a vehicle and apparel worn by a user. The support structure has one or more primary inductive power coils. The apparel has one or more secondary inductive power coils. Primary circuitry cooperates with the primary inductive coils to energize at least one of the primary inductive coils. Secondary circuitry on the apparel cooperates with the secondary inductive power coil. An inductive data transmit and receive sub-system allows wireless inductive transmission of audio, text, images, video and other data between the support structure when occupied by the user, the vehicle data bus the support structure is conductively connected to, and devices located on the apparel.

Claims

1. A system for providing a user, while occupying a support structure cooperating with a vehicle, with at least electrical power wirelessly without the use of a conductive electrical connection between the user and the support structure or vehicle, the system comprising:

an inductive power transfer sub-system including;

a) a support structure having a power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly comprising at least one primary transmitting coil, said support structure adapted to be mounted in cooperation with a vehicle,

b) at least one primary drive circuit, cooperating with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly,

c) apparel having therein a power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, comprising a secondary receiving coil and a secondary power conditioning circuit, said apparel adapted to be worn by a user,

wherein said primary and secondary conductive coil assemblies transmit and receive electrical power when the user, while wearing said apparel, is occupying said support structure so as to mutually inductively connect said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly to each other across an air gap therebetween using an alternating magnetic field,

at least one power sink assembly adapted for wearing by the user, said at least one power sink assembly including at least one power sink and adapted for charging of said at least one power sink by said secondary power conditioning circuit upon said inductive connection between said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, and said at least one resonant drive circuit have different resonant frequencies.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said at least one resonant drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit have substantially the same resonant frequencies to enhance power transfer efficiency.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly includes an array of primary transmitting coils of said at least one primary transmitting coil.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly is an inductive element of a resonant LC tank circuit driven by an alternating current of a primary inductive power drive circuit of said at least one primary drive circuit.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said secondary power conditioning circuit communicates with said primary drive circuit by modulating inductively coupled power signals from said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly by changing resonant characteristics of said secondary power conditioning circuit.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data communication sub-system for data communication which includes communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies having corresponding communication data primary and secondary inductive coils, and associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits for inductively connected data communication to transmit and receive data from the group of data comprising voice, text, numerical, location, tactical, images, video.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein either said communication data primary or secondary inductive coils and said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits provide for data transmitting and receiving by either a peer-to-peer mode or dedicated transmitter-receiver mode.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits are adapted to provide said data communication using near field communication so that the user in said support structure pairs and said connects to said communication data primary inductive coil assembly automatically and substantially as soon as the user is occupying said support structure, and is adapted to maintain said inductively connected data communication after said connection is established.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are independent sub-systems.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are an integrated system.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively on the same axes as, and respectively integrated into, said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively in a separate location from said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies employ antenna or coil assemblies having configurations chosen from the group comprising:

two-dimensional, three-dimensional.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said primary inductive power coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

18. The system of claim 4 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said primary inductive power coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

19. The system of claim 4 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted to detect and correlate a coil of said primary transmitting coils in said array which when energized is most efficiently coupled to said secondary receiving coil, and to energize said most efficiently coupled coil.

20. The system of claim 4 wherein said apparel includes apparel adapted for wearing on any one or combination of locations on a body of a user, wherein said locations are chosen from the group including:

torso, back, buttocks, legs, feet, arms, neck, shoulder, crotch, wrist, pelvis, hand, head.

21. The system of claim 11 wherein a range limit of said near field communication for said data communication is substantially one meter.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said air gap of said inductive power connection is in the power range connection range of substantially 0-5 centimeters.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-10 centimeters.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-20 centimeters.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said primary transmitting coil and secondary receiving coils and wherein said at least one primary drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit are adapted to:

(a) continuously continue said transfer of said power between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil until said power connection range limit is exceeded and said inductive connection thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establish said inductive connection between said primary transmitting coil array and said secondary receiving coil upon detection of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil within said power connection range of each other.

26. The system of claim 11 wherein a primary data processor in said data communication sub-system is adapted to:

(a) continuously continue said transfer of said communication data between said communication data primary and secondary coils of said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies until said range limit of said near field communication is exceeded and said near field communication thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establish said inductive connection between said primary and secondary communication data coils upon detection of said communication data primary and secondary coils within said range limit of said near field communication of each other.

27. The system of claim 4 wherein said support structure includes a seat having a seat back and wherein said seat back maybe rigid or flexible and wherein said primary inductive coil array is at least in part correspondingly rigid or flexible.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said array includes coils having a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented so as to be flexible.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil has a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented to provide flexibility.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein said secondary receiving coil is flexible so as to provide substantially parallel alignment of said primary transmitting coils in said array and said secondary receiving coil when said user is sitting in said seat with said back portion of said apparel against said seat back.

31. A system for providing a user, while occupying a support structure cooperating with a vehicle, with at least electrical power wirelessly without the use of a conductive electrical connection between the user and the support structure or vehicle, the system comprising:

a data communication sub-system for data communication which includes communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies having corresponding communication data primary and secondary inductive coils, and corresponding primary and secondary communication data drive and signal processing circuits for inductively connected data communication between said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils to transmit and receive data therebetween from the group of data comprising voice, text, numerical, location, tactical, images, video,

said communication data primary inductive coil assembly mounted in cooperation with a support structure, said support structure adapted to be mounted in cooperation with a vehicle,

said communication data secondary inductive coil assembly mounted in apparel having therein said secondary communication data drive and signal processing circuit, said apparel adapted to be worn by a user.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

an inductive power transfer sub-system including;

a) a power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly comprising at least one primary transmitting coil, and cooperating with said support structure,

b) at least one primary drive circuit, cooperating with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly,

c) a power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, comprising a secondary receiving coil and a secondary power conditioning circuit, and mounted in said apparel,

wherein said primary and secondary conductive coil assemblies transmit and receive electrical power when the user, while wearing said apparel, is occupying said support structure so as to mutually inductively connect said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly to each other across an air gap therebetween using an alternating magnetic field,

at least one power sink assembly adapted for wearing by the user, said at least one power sink assembly including at least one power sink and adapted for charging of said at least one power sink by said secondary power conditioning circuit upon said inductive connection between said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, and said at least one resonant drive circuit have different resonant frequencies.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said at least one resonant drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit have substantially the same resonant frequencies to enhance power transfer efficiency.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly includes an array of primary transmitting coils of said at least one primary transmitting coil.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly is an inductive element of a resonant LC tank circuit driven by an alternating current of a primary inductive power drive circuit of said at least one primary drive circuit.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

39. The system of claim 32 wherein said secondary power conditioning circuit communicates with said primary drive circuit by modulating inductively coupled power signals from said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly by changing resonant characteristics of said secondary power conditioning circuit.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein either said communication data primary or secondary inductive coils and said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits provide for data transmitting and receiving by either a peer-to-peer mode or dedicated transmitter-receiver mode.

41. The system of claim 31 wherein said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits are adapted to provide said data communication using near field communication so that the user in said support structure pairs and said connects to said communication data primary inductive coil assembly automatically and substantially as soon as the user is occupying said support structure, and is adapted to maintain said inductively connected data communication after said connection is established.

42. The system of claim 31 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are independent sub-systems.

43. The system of claim 31 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are an integrated system.

44. The system of claim 31 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively on the same axes as, and respectively integrated into, said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

45. The system of claim 31 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively in a separate location from said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

46. The system of claim 40 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies employ antenna or coil assemblies having configurations chosen from the group comprising:

two-dimensional, three-dimensional.

47. The system of claim 32 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said primary inductive power coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

48. The system of claim 31 wherein said communication data primary inductive coil includes an array of communication data primary inductive coils.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said communication data primary inductive coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said communication data secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein said primary communication data drive and signal processing circuit is adapted to detect and correlate a coil of said communication data primary inductive coils in said array of communication data primary inductive coils which when energized is most efficiently coupled to said communication data secondary inductive coil, and to energize said most efficiently coupled communication data primary inductive coil.

51. The system of claim 31 wherein said apparel includes apparel adapted for wearing on any one or combination of locations on a body of a user, wherein said locations are chosen from the group including:

torso, back, buttocks, legs, feet, arms, neck, shoulder, crotch, wrist, pelvis, hand, head.

52. The system of claim 41 wherein a range limit of said near field communication for said data communication is substantially one meter.

53. The system of claim 32 wherein said air gap of said inductive power connection is in the power range connection range of substantially 0-5 centimeters.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-10 centimeters.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-20 centimeters.

56. The system of claim 53 wherein said primary transmitting coil and secondary receiving coils and wherein said at least one primary drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit are adapted to:

(a) continuously continue said transfer of said power between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil until said power connection range limit is exceeded and said inductive connection thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establish said inductive connection between said primary transmitting coil array and said secondary receiving coil upon detection of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil within said power connection range of each other.

57. The system of claim 41 wherein a primary data processor in said data communication sub-system is adapted to:

(a) continuously continue said transfer of said communication data between said communication data primary and secondary coils of said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies until said range limit of said near field communication is exceeded and said near field communication thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establish said inductive connection between said primary and secondary communication data coils upon detection of said communication data primary and secondary coils within said range limit of said near field communication of each other.

58. The system of claim 35 wherein said support structure includes a seat having a seat back and wherein said seat back maybe rigid or flexible and wherein said primary inductive coil array is at least in part correspondingly rigid or flexible.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein said array includes coils having a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented so as to be flexible.

60. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil has a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented to provide flexibility.

61. The system of claim 58 wherein said secondary receiving coil is flexible so as to provide substantially parallel alignment of said primary transmitting coils in said array and said secondary receiving coil when said user is sitting in said seat with said back portion of said apparel against said seat back.

62. A method for providing a user, while occupying a support structure cooperating with a vehicle, with at least electrical power wirelessly without the use of a conductive electrical connection between the user and the support structure or vehicle, the method comprising:

a) providing an inductive power transfer sub-system including;

a) a support structure having a power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly comprising at least one primary transmitting coil, said support structure adapted to be mounted in cooperation with a vehicle,

b) at least one primary drive circuit, cooperating with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly,

c) apparel having therein a power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, comprising a secondary receiving coil and a secondary power conditioning circuit, said apparel adapted to be worn by a user,

wherein said primary and secondary conductive coil assemblies transmit and receive electrical power when the user, while wearing said apparel, is occupying said support structure so as to mutually inductively connect said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly to each other across an air gap therebetween using an alternating magnetic field, and,

b) providing at least one power sink assembly adapted for wearing by the user, said at least one power sink assembly including at least one power sink and adapted for charging of said at least one power sink by said secondary power conditioning circuit upon said inductive connection between said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, and said at least one resonant drive circuit have different resonant frequencies.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said at least one resonant drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit have substantially the same resonant frequencies to enhance power transfer efficiency.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly includes an array of primary transmitting coils of said at least one primary transmitting coil.

66. The method of claim 62 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly is an inductive element of a resonant LC tank circuit driven by an alternating current of a primary inductive power drive circuit of said at least one primary drive circuit.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

69. The method of claim 62 wherein said secondary power conditioning circuit communicates with said primary drive circuit by modulating inductively coupled power signals from said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly by changing resonant characteristics of said secondary power conditioning circuit.

70. The method of claim 62 further comprising providing a data communication sub-system for data communication which includes communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies having corresponding communication data primary and secondary inductive coils, and associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits for inductively connected data communication to transmit and receive data from the group of data comprising voice, text, numerical, location, tactical, images, video.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein either said communication data primary or secondary inductive coils and said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits provide for data transmitting and receiving by either a peer-to-peer mode or dedicated transmitter-receiver mode.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits are adapted to provide said data communication using near field communication so that the user in said support structure pairs and said connects to said communication data primary inductive coil assembly automatically and substantially as soon as the user is occupying said support structure, and is adapted to maintain said inductively connected data communication after said connection is established.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are independent sub-systems.

74. The method of claim 70 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are an integrated method.

75. The method of claim 70 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively on the same axes as, and respectively integrated into, said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

76. The method of claim 70 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively in a separate location from said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

77. The method of claim 71 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies employ antenna or coil assemblies having configurations chosen from the group comprising:

two-dimensional, three-dimensional.

78. The method of claim 62 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said primary inductive power coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

79. The method of claim 65 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said primary inductive power coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

80. The method of claim 65 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted to detect and correlate a coil of said primary transmitting coils in said array which when energized is most efficiently coupled to said secondary receiving coil, and to energize said most efficiently coupled coil.

81. The method of claim 65 wherein said apparel includes apparel adapted for wearing on any one or combination of locations on a body of a user, wherein said locations are chosen from the group including:

torso, back, buttocks, legs, feet, arms, neck, shoulder, crotch, wrist, pelvis, hand, head.

82. The method of claim 72 wherein a range limit of said near field communication for said data communication is substantially one meter.

83. The method of claim 62 wherein said air gap of said inductive power connection is in the power range connection range of substantially 0-5 centimeters.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-10 centimeters.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-20 centimeters.

86. The method of claim 83 wherein said primary transmitting coil and secondary receiving coils and wherein said at least one primary drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit are adapted to:

(a) continuously continue said transfer of said power between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil until said power connection range limit is exceeded and said inductive connection thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establish said inductive connection between said primary transmitting coil array and said secondary receiving coil upon detection of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil within said power connection range of each other.

87. The method of claim 72 wherein a primary data processor in said data communication sub-system:

(a) continuously continues said transfer of said communication data between said communication data primary and secondary coils of said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies until said range limit of said near field communication is exceeded and said near field communication thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establishes said inductive connection between said primary and secondary communication data coils upon detection of said communication data primary and secondary coils within said range limit of said near field communication of each other.

88. The method of claim 65 wherein said support structure includes a seat having a seat back and wherein said seat back maybe rigid or flexible and wherein said primary inductive coil array is at least in part correspondingly rigid or flexible.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein said array includes coils having a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented so as to be flexible.

90. The method of claim 62 wherein at least one of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil has a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented to provide flexibility.

91. The method of claim 88 wherein said secondary receiving coil is flexible so as to provide substantially parallel alignment of said primary transmitting coils in said array and said secondary receiving coil when said user is sitting in said seat with said back portion of said apparel against said seat back.

92. A method for providing a user, while occupying a support structure cooperating with a vehicle, with at least electrical power wirelessly without the use of a conductive electrical connection between the user and the support structure or vehicle, the method comprising:

a) providing a data communication sub-system for data communication which includes communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies having corresponding communication data primary and secondary inductive coils, and corresponding primary and secondary communication data drive and signal processing circuits for inductively connected data communication between said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils to transmit and receive data therebetween from the group of data comprising voice, text, numerical, location, tactical, images, video,

said communication data primary inductive coil assembly mounted in cooperation with a support structure, said support structure adapted to be mounted in cooperation with a vehicle,

b) providing apparel having said communication data secondary inductive coil assembly and said secondary communication data drive and signal processing circuit mounted therein, said apparel adapted to be worn by a user.

93. The method of claim 92 further comprising:

a) providing an inductive power transfer sub-system including;

a) a power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly comprising at least one primary transmitting coil, and cooperating with said support structure,

b) at least one primary drive circuit, cooperating with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly,

c) a power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, comprising a secondary receiving coil and a secondary power conditioning circuit, and mounted in said apparel.

wherein said primary and secondary conductive coil assemblies transmit and receive electrical power when the user, while wearing said apparel, is occupying said support structure so as to mutually inductively connect said power transmitting primary conductive coil, assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly to each other across an air gap therebetween using an alternating magnetic field,

b) at least one power sink assembly adapted for wearing by the user, said at least one power sink assembly including at least one power sink and adapted for charging of said at least one power sink by said secondary power conditioning circuit upon said inductive connection between said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving secondary conductive coil assembly, and said at least one resonant drive circuit have different resonant frequencies.

95. The method of claim 93 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit includes at least one resonant drive circuit and wherein said at least one resonant drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit have substantially the same resonant frequencies to enhance power transfer efficiency.

96. The method of claim 93 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly includes an array of primary transmitting coils of said at least one primary transmitting coil.

97. The method of claim 93 wherein said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly is an inductive element of a resonant LC tank circuit driven by an alternating current of a primary inductive power drive circuit of said at least one primary drive circuit.

98. The method of claim 96 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein said at least one primary drive circuit is adapted for mounting in the vehicle and cooperates with said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly, wherein said primary drive circuit is an alternating current drive circuit adapted to energize at least one inductive coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly so as to generate said alternating magnetic field to transfer electric power, and wherein said alternating magnetic field is modulated for communication thereby transferring power and communicating power data between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil via magnetic flux coupling by said mutually inductive connection between said at least one primary transmitting coil of said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly and said power receiving second conductive coil assembly.

100. The method of claim 93 wherein said secondary power conditioning circuit communicates with said primary drive circuit by modulating inductively coupled power signals from said power transmitting primary conductive coil assembly by changing resonant characteristics of said secondary power conditioning circuit.

101. The method of claim 92 wherein either said communication data primary or secondary inductive coils and said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits provide for data transmitting and receiving by either a peer-to-peer mode or dedicated transmitter-receiver mode.

102. The method of claim 92 wherein said associated communication data drive and signal processing circuits are adapted to provide said data communication using near field communication so that the user in said support structure pairs and said connects to said communication data primary inductive coil assembly automatically and substantially as soon as the user is occupying said support structure, and is adapted to maintain said inductively connected data communication after said connection is established.

103. The method of claim 92 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are independent sub-systems.

104. The method of claim 92 wherein said data communication sub-system and said inductive power transfer sub-system are an integrated method.

105. The method of claim 92 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively on the same axes as, and respectively integrated into, said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

106. The method of claim 92 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coils are respectively in a separate location from said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil.

107. The method of claim 101 wherein said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies employ antenna or coil assemblies having configurations chosen from the group comprising:

two-dimensional, three-dimensional.

108. The method of claim 93 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said primary inductive power coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

109. The method of claim 92 wherein said communication data primary inductive coil includes an array of communication data primary inductive coils.

110. The method of claim 109 wherein said support structure includes a seat and wherein said apparel is torso-covering apparel, and wherein said communication data primary inductive coil assembly is on a seat back of said seat, and said communication data secondary inductive coil assembly is located on a back portion of said torso-covering apparel.

111. The method of claim 109 wherein said primary communication data drive and signal processing circuit is adapted to detect and correlate a coil of said communication data primary inductive coils in said array of communication data primary inductive coils which when energized is most efficiently coupled to said communication data secondary inductive coil, and to energize said most efficiently coupled communication data primary inductive coil.

112. The method of claim 92 wherein said apparel includes apparel adapted for wearing on any one or combination of locations on a body of a user, wherein said locations are chosen from the group including:

torso, back, buttocks, legs, feet, arms, neck, shoulder, crotch, wrist, pelvis, hand, head.

113. The method of claim 102 wherein a range limit of said near field communication for said data communication is substantially one meter.

114. The method of claim 93 wherein said air gap of said inductive power connection is in the power range connection range of substantially 0-5 centimeters.

115. The method of claim 114 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-10 centimeters.

116. The method of claim 115 wherein said power connection range is substantially 0-20 centimeters.

117. The method of claim 114 wherein said primary transmitting coil and secondary receiving coils and wherein said at least one primary drive circuit and said secondary power conditioning circuit are adapted to:

(a) continuously continue said transfer of said power between said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil until said power connection range limit is exceeded and said inductive connection thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establish said inductive connection between said primary transmitting coil array and said secondary receiving coil upon detection of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil within said power connection range of each other.

118. The method of claim 102 wherein a primary data processor in said data communication sub-system is adapted to:

(a) continuously continue said transfer of said communication data between said communication data primary and secondary coils of said communication data primary and secondary inductive coil assemblies until said range limit of said near field communication is exceeded and said near field communication thereby terminated, and, (b) automatically re-establish said inductive connection between said primary and secondary communication data coils upon detection of said communication data primary and secondary coils within said range limit of said near field communication of each other.

119. The method of claim 96 wherein said support structure includes a seat having a seat back and wherein said seat back maybe rigid or flexible and wherein said primary inductive coil array is at least in part correspondingly rigid or flexible.

120. The method of claim 119 wherein said array includes coils having a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented so as to be flexible.

121. The method of claim 93 wherein at least one of said primary transmitting coil and said secondary receiving coil has a ferrite backing and said ferrite backing is segmented to provide flexibility.

122. The method of claim 119 wherein said secondary receiving coil is flexible so as to provide substantially parallel alignment of said primary transmitting coils in said array and said secondary receiving coil when said user is sitting in said seat with said back portion of said apparel against said seat back.