Multi-dimensional inductive charger and applications thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9112364-B2
Application number	US-201213710062-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2012
Priority date	Jan 18, 2011
Publication date	Aug 18, 2015
Grant date	Aug 18, 2015

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Mojo Mobility Inc

Inventors

• Partovi Afshin

Classifications

• B60L53/122

  Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil · CPC title

• B60L53/124

  Detection or removal of foreign bodies · CPC title

• B60L53/126

  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 title

• H02J7/64

  against overvoltage · CPC title

• H02J7/62

  against overcurrent · CPC title