Method and apparatus for transferring electromagnetic power

• US 9,779,870 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kari, Juhani, Vuori, Petri, Rautiainen, Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/897,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• 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 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for inductively obtaining alternating current from a first variable magnetic field with an input coil; forming with an output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current; and conducting the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible input coil configured to inductively obtain alternating current from a first variable magnetic field at the input coil, wherein the input coil is sufficiently flexible to, when in contact with a magnetic field source producing the first variable magnetic field, adhere to the shape of the variable magnetic field source;

a flexible output coil configured to form at the flexible output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current, and positioned to transfer the variable magnetic field to an electronic device, wherein, the flexible output coil is sufficiently flexible to, when in contact with the electronic device to which the variable magnetic field is being transferred, adhere to the shape of the electronic device; and

a flexible wiring configured to conduct the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input coil and the output coil are flexible planar coils.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a further coil connected to the alternating current by the wiring.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the further coil is similar in structure to the output coil and the input coil, and is connected between the input coil and the output coil, wherein the positioning and connection of the further coil allows it to operate alternatively as a further variable magnetic field input member and as a further variable magnetic field output member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output coil is spaced apart from the input coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the input coil and the output coil is made of a flexible material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is covered with a flexible cover.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wiring is made of a flexible material.

9. A support device for an electric device, comprising:

a structure configured to form an output surface, and an input surface for engaging with an external magnetic power emission element;

a flexible planar input coil on or behind the input surface, configured to inductively obtain alternating current from a first variable magnetic field at the input coil, wherein the flexible planar input coil is sufficiently flexible to, when engaged with the external magnetic power emission element, adhere to the shape of the external magnetic power emission element;

a flexible planar output coil on or behind the output surface, configured to form at the output coil a second variable magnetic field using the alternating current, and positioned to transfer the variable magnetic field to an electronic device, wherein, the flexible output coil is sufficiently flexible to, when in contact with the electronic device to which the variable magnetic field is being transferred, adhere to the shape of the electronic device; and

a flexible wiring configured to conduct the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

10. The support device of claim 9, wherein the support device is a package.

11. The support device of claim 10, wherein the package comprises a transparent window.

12. The support device of claim 11, wherein the package is configured to support the electronic device such that the electronic device is at least partly visible through the window.

13. The support device of claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises a display visible through the window when the electronic device is supported by the output surface or next to the output surface.

14. The support device of claim 9, wherein the input surface is parallel with the output surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the input coil and the output coil is made of a flexible material.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wiring is made of a flexible material.

17. A method comprising:

obtaining inductively alternating current from a first variable magnetic field with

a flexible input coil, wherein the input coil is sufficiently flexible to, when in contact with a magnetic field source producing the first variable magnetic field, adhere to the shape of the variable magnetic field source;

forming with a flexible output coil a second variable magnetic field

using the alternating current, wherein the flexible output coil is positioned to transfer the variable magnetic field to an electronic device, wherein, the flexible output coil is sufficiently flexible to, when in contact with the electronic device to which the variable magnetic field is being transferred, adhere to the shape of the electronic device; and

conducting the alternating current from the input coil to the output coil.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the current is conducted along a flexible wiring from the input coil to the output coil.