Wireless power for portable articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9608455-B2
Application number	US-201615335535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A wireless electrical power system provides access to high voltage and/or low voltage electrical power at portable articles that are positionable at different locations within a work area, and substantially without the use of exposed cabling. The power system includes a portable article that is positionable at two or more locations within a work area. The work area is defined by a plurality of surfaces, at least one of which incorporates a wireless electrical power transmitter. The portable article incorporates a wireless electrical power receiver that is configured to receive electrical power from the wireless power transmitter when the wireless power receiver is sufficiently close to the wireless power transmitter. The portable article further includes an electrical power outlet that provides users in the work area with access to the electrical power.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A wireless electrical power system for use in a work area, said system comprising:
a first wireless electrical power transmitter disposed in a surface that defines a portion of a work area;
a portable article configured to be positioned within the work area and movable between two or more locations in the work area;
a plurality of wireless electrical power receivers positioned at said portable article and configured such that a first of said wireless electrical power receivers receives electrical power from said first wireless electrical power transmitter when said first wireless electrical power receiver is adjacent or spaced from said first wireless electrical power transmitter by a distance that is less than or equal to a maximum transmission distance, wherein a second of said plurality of wireless electrical power receivers is positioned on a same side of said portable article and above said first wireless electrical power receiver; and
a second wireless electrical power transmitter positioned at said portable article, wherein said second wireless electrical power transmitter is configured to (i) receive electrical power directly from one of the plurality of wireless electrical power receivers, and (ii) provide electrical power to another wireless electrical power receiver of an electrical device positioned at said portable article when said another wireless electrical power receiver is adjacent or spaced from the second wireless electrical power transmitter by a distance that is less than or equal to a maximum transmission distance.

2. The wireless electrical power system of claim 1 , wherein said second wireless electrical power receiver receives electrical power from said first wireless electrical power transmitter when said second wireless electrical power receiver is adjacent or spaced from said first wireless electrical power transmitter by a distance that is less than or equal to a maximum transmission distance.

3. The wireless electrical power system of claim 1 , further in combination with the electrical device, wherein said electrical device comprises an electrical outlet configured to (i) receive electrical power directly from said another wireless electrical power receiver of said electrical device, and (ii) provide electrical power to an electrical consumer that is electrically coupled to said electrical outlet.

4. The wireless electrical power system of claim 3 , wherein said electrical outlet comprises a high voltage AC electrical outlet and a low voltage DC electrical outlet.

5. The wireless electrical power system of claim 1 , further in combination with the electrical device, wherein said electrical device comprises a lamp.

6. The wireless electrical power system of claim 1 , wherein said another wireless electrical power receiver is configured to have one of a circular, square, and elongated shape.

7. The wireless electrical power system of claim 1 , wherein said second wireless electrical power transmitter comprises a plurality of wireless electrical power transmitters spaced apart from each other and positioned at said portable article.

8. The wireless electrical power system of claim 7 , further in combination with the electrical device, wherein said electrical device is configured to be movable between said plurality of wireless electrical power transmitters.

9. The wireless electrical power system of claim 1 , wherein said first wireless electrical power transmitter comprises an inductive power transmitter that receives electrical power via wiring from a main power source associated with the work area.

10. The wireless electrical power system of claim 9 further in combination with the surface that defines a portion of a work area, wherein said surface that defines a portion of a work area is one of: (i) a wall or divider surface, (ii) a floor surface, (iii) a work surface, and (iv) a ceiling surface.

11. The wireless electrical power system of claim 1 , wherein said portable article comprises a table.

12. A wireless electrical power system for use in a work area, said system comprising:
a portable article configured to be positioned within the work area and movable between two or more locations in the work area;
an electrical device configured to be positioned at said portable article and comprising a wireless electrical power receiver;
a wireless electrical power transmitter positioned at said portable article and configured to (i) receive electrical power directly from a first electrical outlet via a conventional power cord with a plug, and (ii) provide electrical power to said wireless electrical power receiver of said electrical device when said wireless electrical power receiver is adjacent or spaced from said wireless electrical power transmitter by a distance that is less than or equal to a maximum transmission distance; and
wherein said electrical device comprises a second electrical outlet configured to (i) receive electrical power directly from said wireless electrical power receiver, and (ii) provide electrical power to an electrical consumer that is electrically coupled to said second electrical outlet.

13. The wireless electrical power system of claim 12 , wherein said electrical device comprises a lamp.

14. The wireless electrical power system of claim 12 , wherein said wireless electrical power receiver of said electrical device is configured to have one of a circular, square, and elongated shape.

15. The wireless electrical power system of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of said wireless electrical power transmitters spaced apart from each other and positioned at said portable article.

16. The wireless electrical power system of claim 15 , wherein said electrical device is movable between said plurality of wireless electrical power transmitters and configured to receive electrical power from any of said plurality of said wireless electrical power transmitters.

17. The wireless electrical power system of claim 12 , wherein said second electrical outlet comprises an AC electrical outlet, and said electrical device further comprises a DC electrical outlet.

18. The wireless electrical power system of claim 17 , wherein said AC electrical outlet is a high voltage AC outlet, and wherein said DC electrical outlet is a low-voltage DC outlet.

19. The wireless electrical power system of claim 12 , wherein said portable article comprises a table.

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Knapp Robert L
• Warwick Timothy J
• Burdi Roger D

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Knapp Robert L
• Warwick Timothy J
• Burdi Roger D

Classifications

• A61B5/6891

  Furniture · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H02J50/90

  involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment · CPC title

• A47B13/00

  Details of tables or desks (drawers A47B88/00; feet for furniture in general A47B91/00) · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title