Induction powered panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9452722-B2
Application number	US-201514789225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2015
Priority date	Nov 27, 2012
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle includes a movable panel having an electronic device; a power source; a data source; and a connector configured to selectively couple the movable panel to the vehicle. The connector is configured to be electrically coupled to the power source and the data source, and is further configured to inductively couple the electronic device of the movable panel to the power source and the data source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a removable panel comprising an electronic device;
wherein the removable panel of the vehicle is: a tailgate; a door; a roof; a trunk lid; a lift gate; a convertible top; a headrest; or, a hood
a power source;
a data source; and
a connector configured to selectively couple the removable panel to the vehicle, the connector configured to be electrically coupled to the power source and the data source, and further configured to inductively couple the electronic device of the removable panel to the power source and the data source.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the removable panel is pivotally attached to the vehicle via a hinge; and
the connector is disposed at the hinge.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises:
a first connecting element coupled to the vehicle;
a first coil wrapped around the first connecting element;
a first modulator-demodulator disposed in signal communication with the first coil, and disposed to receive power from the power source and data from the data source;
a second connecting element coupled to the removeable panel;
a second coil wrapped around the second connecting element; and
a second modulator-demodulator disposed in signal communication with the second coil, and disposed to provide power and data to the electronic device.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the connector further comprises:
a first amplifier disposed in signal communication between the first modulator-demodulator and the first coil; and
a second amplifier disposed in signal communication between the second modulator-demodulator and the second coil.

5. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein one of the first connecting element and the second connecting element comprises a ferrous material.

6. The vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising an interface associated with one of the first connecting element and the second connecting element, the interface comprising a ferrous material, wherein a respective one of the first coil and the second coil is wrapped around the interface.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronic device comprises: a camera; a proximity sensor; a light; or, a switch.

8. A connector adapted to selectively couple a moveable panel having an electronic device to a vehicle having a power source and a data source, the connector comprising:
a first connecting element adapted to be coupled to the vehicle, the first connecting element comprising a first coil adapted to inductively couple the electronic device to the power source and the data source, and a first modulator-demodulator disposed in signal communication with the first coil and adapted to receive power from the power source and data from the data source;
a second connecting element adapted to be coupled to the moveable panel, the second connecting element comprising a second coil adapted to inductively couple the electronic device to the power source and the data source, and a second modulator-demodulator disposed in signal communication with the second coil and adapted to provide power and data to the electronic device.

9. The connector of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first amplifier disposed in signal communication between the first modulator-demodulator and the first coil; and
a second amplifier disposed in signal communication between the second modulator-demodulator and the second coil.

10. The connector of claim 8 , wherein one of the first connecting element and the second connecting element comprises a ferrous material.

11. The connector of claim 8 , further comprising an interface associated with one of the first connecting element and the second connecting element, the interface comprising a ferrous material, wherein a respective one of the first coil and the second coil is wrapped around the interface.

12. A vehicle, comprising:
a movable panel comprising an electronic device;
a power source;
a data source; and
a connector configured to selectively couple the movable panel to the vehicle, the connector configured to be electrically coupled to the power source and the data source, and further configured to inductively couple the electronic device of the movable panel to the power source and the data source;
the connector further comprising:
a first connecting element coupled to the vehicle, the first connecting element comprising a first coil adapted to inductively couple the electronic device to the power source and the data source, and a first modulator-demodulator disposed in signal communication with the first coil and adapted to receive power from the power source and data from the data source;
a second connecting element coupled to the moveable panel, the second connecting element comprising a second coil adapted to inductively couple the electronic device to the power source and the data source, and a second modulator-demodulator disposed in signal communication with the second coil and adapted to provide power and data to the electronic device.

Assignees

• Gm Globaltechnology Operations Llc
• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Weigert Norman J
• Wisniewski Chris J T
• Dynes Paul R
• Goeson Tanner E
• Hagen Thomas D

Classifications

• B60R16/03 Primary

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• H04B5/0037

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01F38/14

  Inductive couplings {(for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10)} · CPC title

• B60R16/027

  between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column {(devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00)} · CPC title

• H04B5/79 Primary

  for data transfer in combination with power transfer · CPC title