Optical charger with light receivers and light emitters

• US 9,160,187 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sheu, Yi-Zhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/864,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/107, 320/112
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

An optical charger includes a fixing block, a number of light receivers, a substrate, and a number of light emitters. The fixing block is used for receiving a battery. The light receivers are fixed on the fixing block. The battery is electrically connected to the light receivers. The substrate has a loading surface for loading the fixing block. The light emitters are positioned on the substrate and face the light receivers. The light emitters are electrically connected to an external power supply, and are used for converting electrical energy from the external power supply into optical energy and emitting light rays. The light receivers are used for receiving the light rays from the light emitters, and converting optical power of the light rays into electric energy. The battery receives and stores the electric energy.

Claims

1. An optical charger for charging a battery, comprising:

a fixing block for fixing the battery;

a plurality of light receivers fixed on the fixing block and configured to convert optical power into electric power to charge the battery;

a substrate comprising a loading surface for loading the fixing block;

a plurality of light emitters positioned on the substrate, the light emitters facing the light receivers when the fixing block is positioned on the loading surface, the light emitters configured to obtain electrical energy from an external power supply and emit light rays to the light receivers;

a pressure sensor configured for sensing whether the fixing block and the battery are positioned on the loading surface, wherein the pressure sensor is exposed from the loading surface, the pressure sensor comprises a sensing module, a storage module, and a comparison module, the sensing module is configured for sensing a press applied thereon to obtain a press value, the storage module stores a predetermined pressure value, the predetermined pressure value is substantially equal to a sum of a weight of the fixing block and a weight of the battery, the comparison module is configured for comparing the obtained pressure value to the predetermined pressure value, when the obtained pressure value is greater than or equal to the predetermined pressure value, the comparison module determines that both of the fixing block and the battery are loaded on the loading surface; and

a controller electrically connected to the sensor and the light emitter and configured for controlling to power the light emitters on when the sensor senses that both of the fixing block and the battery are positioned on the loading surface.

2. The optical charger of claim 1, wherein the fixing block comprises a first surface away from the substrate, the first surface defines a cavity for receiving the battery, the shape of the cavity is a fit with the shape of the battery, the fixing block comprises two electrode terminals in the cavity, and the two electrode terminals are configured for electrically connecting to the battery.

3. The optical charger of claim 2, wherein the fixing block comprises a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface faces the substrate, and defines a first receiving groove, the light receivers are received in the first receiving groove, the optical charger comprises a first transparent cover covering the light receivers to seal the light receivers in the first receiving groove.

4. The optical charger of claim 3, wherein the loading surface defines a second receiving groove, the light emitters are received in the second receiving groove, and the optical charger comprises a second transparent cover covering the second receiving groove to seal the light emitters in the second receiving groove.

5. The optical charger of claim 3, wherein the fixing block comprises a first locating element on the second surface, the substrate comprises a second locating element on the loading surface, and the second locating element cooperate with the first locating element to align the light receivers with the light emitters respectively.

6. The optical charger of claim 1, wherein the light receivers are arranged in an array of rows and columns, and the light emitters are arranged in an array of rows and columns.

7. The optical charger of claim 1, wherein the fixing block is an electrical device.

8. The optical charger of claim 1, wherein the fixing block is inserted into an electrical device.

9. The optical charger of claim 1, wherein the light emitters are laser diodes or light emitting diodes, and the light receivers are photo diodes or solar panels.