Wireless power transfer for integrated cycle drive systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086713-B2
Application number	US-201615190259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2016
Priority date	Jun 23, 2016
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

Wireless power transfer for integrated cycle drive systems is described. A cycle power system includes a rim that is connected to, and positioned concentrically with, a sealed housing that can rotate about an axis. The cycle power system also includes an integrated drive system disposed within the housing. The integrated drive system includes a battery and a motor for driving a cycle by causing rotational movement of the rim about the axis. Additionally, the cycle power system includes an inductive structure that is disposed within the housing, and that wirelessly charges the battery through induction between the inductive structure and remote a charging station.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cycle power system, the cycle power system comprising:
a sealed housing configured to rotate about an axis;
a rim connected to the sealed housing and disposed concentrically with the sealed housing, the rim configured to receive a tire;
an integrated drive system disposed within the sealed housing, the integrated drive system having a battery and a motor configured to cause rotational movement of the rim about the axis to drive a cycle; and
an inductive structure disposed within the sealed housing, the inductive structure configured to wirelessly charge the battery using induction from a charging station, and configured to transmit power to one or more electrical accessories of the cycle through additional induction using the inductive structure and an additional inductive structure that is connected to the cycle.

2. The cycle power system of claim 1 , wherein the inductive structure includes a coil-shaped structure disposed concentrically with the rim and the sealed housing.

3. The cycle power system of claim 1 , wherein the inductive structure includes multiple coil-shaped structures.

4. The cycle power system of claim 1 , wherein the sealed housing extends to the rim and is connected directly to the rim.

5. The cycle power system of claim 4 , wherein the inductive structure is disposed on the rim.

6. The cycle power system of claim 1 , wherein the cycle comprises one of a bicycle, a tricycle, a scooter, a motorcycle, or a rickshaw.

7. The cycle power system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated drive system is configured to:
determine one of an acceleration or a deceleration in rotational movement of the rim; and
control one or more electrical accessories of the cycle based on the acceleration or the deceleration in rotational movement of the rim.

8. The cycle power system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated drive system is configured to:
sense impedance shifts caused by a metal object approaching the inductive structure; and
control one or more electrical accessories of the cycle based on the impedance shifts caused by the metal object approaching the inductive structure.

9. The cycle power system of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more electrical accessories includes a light; and
the integrated drive system is configured to brighten or flash the light based on the impedance shifts.

10. A method for wireless power-transfer of a cycle power system, the method comprising:
locating a side of a wheel of a cycle proximate to a charging device having a wireless-charging transmit coil;
substantially aligning an inductive structure associated with the wheel with the wireless-charging transmit coil in the charging device, the inductive structure being disposed within a sealed housing that is positioned concentrically with a rim of the wheel;
wirelessly charging a battery of the cycle power system through induction using the inductive structure and the wireless-charging transmit coil, the battery being disposed within the sealed housing and configured to supply electrical energy to a motor disposed with the sealed housing, the motor configured to cause rotational movement of the rim of the wheel to drive the cycle; and
transmitting power from the battery to one or more electrical accessories of the cycle through additional induction using the inductive structure and a receiving inductive structure that is connected to the cycle.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting impedance shifts associated with a metal object approaching the inductive structure; and
controlling the one or more electrical accessories of the cycle based on the detected impedance shifts.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the one or more electrical accessories includes a light; and
the light is controlled by flashing or brightening the light based on the detected impedance shifts.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the sealed housing extends to the rim and is connected directly to the rim; and
the inductive structure is disposed on the rim.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cycle comprises one of a bicycle, a tricycle, a scooter, a motorcycle, or a rickshaw.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining one of an acceleration or a deceleration in rotational movement of the rim; and
controlling one or more electrical accessories of the cycle based on the acceleration or the deceleration.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inductive structure includes a coil-shaped structure disposed concentrically with the rim of the cycle.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inductive structure includes multiple coil-shaped structures.

18. A passive power-transfer system, the passive power-transfer system comprising:
a member configured to be positioned proximate to a rim of a wheel of a cycle; and
an inductive structure connected to the member, the inductive structure configured to:
electrically connect to one or more accessories of the cycle; and
transfer electrical energy to the one or more accessories of the cycle to electrically power the one or more accessories, the electrical energy transferred based on inductive power received from a wheel-mounted inductive structure connected to the rim of the cycle.

19. The passive power-transfer system of claim 18 , wherein the passive power-transfer system does not include a battery.

20. The passive power-transfer system of claim 18 , wherein the member comprises a fender that is connectable to the cycle.

21. The passive power-transfer system of claim 18 , wherein the member is connectable to a frame of the cycle.

22. The passive power-transfer system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more accessories include at least one of a light, a horn, a mobile device, or an electronic payment device.

23. A method for passive power-transfer, the method comprising:
electrically connecting an inductive structure to one or more accessories of a cycle, the inductive structure being disposed on a member positioned proximate to a rim of a wheel of the cycle; and
transferring, by the inductive structure, electrical energy to the one or more accessories to electrically power the one or more accessories, the electrical energy transferred based on inductive power received from a wheel-mounted inductive structure connected to the rim of the cycle.

24. The method for passive power-transfer of claim 23 , wherein the member comprises a fender connected to the cycle.

25. The method for passive power-transfer of claim 23 , wherein the member comprises a portion of a frame of the cycle.

26. The method for passive power-transfer of claim 23 , wherein the one or more accessories include at least one of a light, a horn, a mobile device, or an electronic payment device.

27. The method for passive power-transfer of claim 23 , wherein the inductive structure includes a coil-shaped structure.

28. The method for passive power-transfer of claim 23 , wherein the inductive structure is not physically connected to a battery.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Von Novak Iii William Henry
• Irish Linda Stacey
• Keating Virginia Walker

Classifications

• B60L53/31

  Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• B62M6/90

  Batteries · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title