Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090096414 | CONTACT-LESS POWER TRANSFER - A unit for transferring power in an inductive manner to at least one power-receiving device, and a system comprising such a unit and such a device. The unit includes at least one coil structure configured to allow various degrees of translational and rotational freedom of movement of the power-receiving device relative thereto. This provides increased ease of use, since it is not necessary for a user to place the power-receiving device in mechanical or other registration with the unit. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096415 | RETENTION OF RECHARGEABLE DEVICES - There is disclosed a system and method for retaining portable rechargeable devices to recharging stations wherein one or other or both of the recharging station and the portable device are provided with connecting means adapted for temporary releasable connection of the two. This is particularly advantageous when used with recharging stations which permit the device to be recharged in multiple places on the recharging station, providing a positive means of retaining the device. This is particularly advantageous if the recharging station is to be used in a mobile environment such as a car, or on a wall or ceiling. | 04-16-2009 |
20090189565 | CONTACT-LESS POWER TRANSFER - There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof. | 07-30-2009 |
20100219791 | CONTACT-LESS POWER TRANSFER - There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof. | 09-02-2010 |
20100320963 | CONTACT-LESS POWER TRANSFER - There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof. | 12-23-2010 |
20120019202 | RETENTION OF RECHARGEABLE DEVICES - There is disclosed a system and method for retaining portable rechargeable devices to recharging stations wherein one or other or both of the recharging station and the portable device are provided with connecting means adapted for temporary releasable connection of the two. This is particularly advantageous when used with recharging stations which permit the device to be recharged in multiple places on the recharging station, providing a positive means of retaining the device. This is particularly advantageous if the recharging station is to be used in a mobile environment such as a car, or on a wall or ceiling. | 01-26-2012 |
20130204559 | Appliance Monitoring and Control Systems - We describe a system to provide feedback to a user of an appliance for energy saving, the system comprising: means for monitoring an energy consumption of the appliance; means for inferring a mode of use of the appliance from said power consumption; and means for providing feedback to said user responsive to said inferred mode of use to indicate how an amount of energy used by said appliance may be reduced. In some embodiments the means for monitoring power consumption comprises means for identifying one or more periods of operation of the appliance from data representing aggregate power consumption of a plurality of devices including the appliance. In embodiments the means for monitoring the power consumption comprises means for monitoring mains electricity power consumption of the plurality of devices. Alternatively the means for monitoring the power consumption may comprise, for example, a plug-through power sensing device. | 08-08-2013 |