EP3691487A1

EP3691487A1 - Wireless charging device for a connected shoe or sole

Info

Publication number: EP3691487A1
Application number: EP18774075.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sylvain RISPAL; Denis Audoly; Alexandre TISSIERE
Original assignee: Traxxs
Current assignee: TRAXXS
Priority date: 2017-10-03
Filing date: 2018-10-01
Publication date: 2020-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-01
Also published as: WO2019068637A1; FR3071707B1; EP3691487B1; FR3071707A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless charging device (2) for a battery pack (110) of an electronic module (10) mounted in a shoe (1), the electronic module (10) comprising a receiver coil (120) capable of receiving a charge signal for charging the battery pack (110). The device (2) comprises a body which is suitable for being placed in an inner compartment in the shoe (1), and a wireless charging module mounted in the body and comprising at least one charging coil mounted in the body of the device (2) so as to permit the wireless charging of the battery pack (110) when the device is placed in the inner compartment in the shoe (1).

Description

WIRELESS CHARGING DEVICE FOR CONNECTED FOOTWEAR OR SOLE

TECHNICAL FIELD AND OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of wireless charging and relates more particularly to a wireless charging device of a battery for powering an electronic module mounted in a shoe.

The invention aims in particular to allow the charging of a battery pack of an electronic module mounted in a shoe both easily and without connection between the charging device and the electronic module.

STATE OF THE ART

Nowadays, there is a type of shoe in which is integrated an electronic module, for example in the sole of the shoe, at the heel. Such an electronic module makes it possible to perform one or more functions. By way of example, the electronic module can make it possible to geolocate the wearer of the shoes or to measure his speed of movement. To this end, the electronic module comprises an electric power supply battery enabling it to fulfill these functions. The battery pack can be recharged in two ways: either using a power cable or using a wireless charger.

The power cable is connected on the one hand to the electrical network and on the other hand either on a connector mounted on the shoe, or directly on the electronic module. The use of a connector can change the structure of the shoe and annoy the wearer. In addition, the presence of a connector may cause a leakage of the electronic module, including liquids and dust, which has a significant drawback. In the case where the power cable connects directly to the electronic module, it is necessary to remove the inner sole of the shoe, or even to remove the electronic module of the shoe to allow the charging of its battery, which presents significant disadvantages.

In the case of a wireless charging device, for example by induction, it is necessary to put the shoes or the soles on a load support in order to recharge the battery by wireless power transmission. The support comprises one or more charging coils while the electronic module comprises a so-called receiving coil, adapted to receive electrical energy from one of the load coils of the support. However, in this solution, it is necessary to position the shoes very precisely so that each load coil of the support is exactly opposite a receiving coil of an electronic module of a shoe. Such positioning can be particularly complex and tedious, which has a significant disadvantage. In addition, such a load support can be bulky and bulky, which has another drawback.

There is therefore the need for a simple, reliable and effective solution for charging the battery pack of an electronic module mounted in a shoe to remedy at least in part these disadvantages.

GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, the invention firstly relates to a wireless charging device of a battery for powering an electronic module mounted in a shoe, said electronic module comprising a receiver coil adapted to receive a charge signal for charging said battery pack. Said device is remarkable in that it comprises a body, adapted to be placed in an interior space of said shoe and conforming at least partly to the shape of said interior space, and a wireless charging module mounted in said body and comprising minus a charging coil mounted in the body of the device so as to allow the wireless charging of said battery pack, via said receiver coil, when the device is placed in said interior space of the boot.

With the device according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to remove the sole or the electronic module of the shoe to be able to recharge the battery pack. This is particularly advantageous when the electronic module is mounted in the sole. In addition, the shape of the device, which at least partially matches the shape of the inside of the shoe, allows to place the device automatically in the interior space of the shoe so that it is an optimal position of load of the battery pack, that is to say, so that the charging coil of the device is aligned with the receiving coil of the shoe for an optimal and fast charge. The device according to the invention is advantageously of small dimensions and can be placed as close to the receiver coil of the electronic module for an effective charge of the battery pack. In addition, the device is advantageously portable and can be easily placed in a purse, a backpack or a suitcase. Preferably, the shoe comprising an outsole, said "outsole", and an insole, said "foot sole" disposed inside the shoe on the outsole, the electronic module being mounted in said insole or under said insole, the body of the device comprises a lower wall, called "contact wall", intended to come into contact with the upper face of the insole, the charging coil being mounted against the inner face of said lower wall so as to transmit the energy through the contact wall when the charging coil is traversed by an electric current. Such an arrangement optimizes the position of the charging coil with respect to the receiver coil and thus the charging of the battery pack making it more efficient.

Preferably, the body of the device has at least partly the shape of a human heel, which allows to easily position the device in the shoe, at the rear of the sole, and then remove the device easily.

In one embodiment, the charging module comprises a single charging coil to simplify the device. Alternatively, the charging module may include a plurality of charging coils to increase the charging surface, which facilitates alignment with the receiver coil and then improves the wireless power transmission.

According to a feature of the invention, the device comprises at least one gripping means for inserting and removing the device from the interior space of the shoe.

Preferably, the gripping means is in the form of a handle or a rod, allowing insertion and easy removal of the device in a shoe. The gripping means may be derived from material of the body of the device or attached to the body of the device.

Advantageously, the body of the device is made of a plastic material, lightweight and resistant.

In one embodiment, the body of the device comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, for example assembled by means of a system of bolts and nuts. The device can thus be easily dismantled to carry out the maintenance of the load module.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device comprises at least one connection means to an electrical power supply network for supplying the wireless charging device.

Preferably, this connection means is a wired means. More preferably, this wire means comprises a cable mounted so as to extend towards the top of the device, for example from the upper part of the body of the device, in order to exit the interior space of the boot in a straight line. By the term "high" is meant substantially in the vertical direction towards the sky when the device is in its position of use in the interior space of the shoe. Alternatively, the charging device may be devoid of wired means of connection to an electrical power supply network and further comprise a battery, the charge coil being then configured to receive the transmitted electrical energy. by a wireless charging medium to recharge said battery when the charging device is placed on said charging medium. Such an operation makes it possible to charge the electronic module power supply battery at any time, in particular in the absence of an external electrical network.

According to one aspect of the invention, the battery of the charging device is mounted in the body or on the body, for example removably. Advantageously, the device comprises at least one means for displaying the wireless state of charge of the electronic module power supply battery.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the wireless charging module comprises a printed circuit.

In one embodiment, the printed circuit has a circular shape. In another embodiment, the printed circuit has an elliptical shape. In another embodiment, the printed circuit has a rectangular shape.

Advantageously, the charging coil is mounted coaxially with the printed circuit. This effectively transmits energy while allowing a slight rotation of the device about a vertical axis (i.e. parallel to the earth's vertical) in the shoe.

The charging coil may for example be of circular, elliptical or rectangular shape.

The invention also relates to an electrical assembly comprising a shoe and a wireless charging device as previously described. The shoe includes an electronic module comprising a battery pack and a receiver coil adapted to allow the wireless charging of said battery pack. The device is mounted in said shoe so that the charging coil of the device is positioned in line with the receiving coil of the electronic module to allow wireless charging of said battery pack.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples, in which identical references are given to FIG. similar objects and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic side view in transparency of an example of shoe comprising an electronic module;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of three quarters and above of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of three quarter and bottom of the device of Figure 2;

FIG. 4 is a three-quarter perspective view from above of the lower part of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a three-quarter perspective view from above of the printed circuit of the charging module of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of three quarters and below of the printed circuit of the charging module of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view three quarters and below of the upper part of the device of FIG. 2;

- Figure 8 is a partial side view in transparency of the device of Figure 2; FIG. 9 is a partial schematic side view in transparency of the shoe of FIG. 1 in which the device illustrated in FIG. 8 is mounted;

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

It should be noted that the figures disclose the invention in detail to implement the invention, said figures can of course be used to better define the invention where appropriate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A FORM OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention is a wireless charging device for charging the battery pack of an electronic module mounted in a shoe. By the terms "wireless" is meant that the charge is made by wireless energy transmission between the charging device and the electronic module of the shoe. Preferably, the charge is carried out by induction, for example using the standard "Qi", but can of course be carried out by any other known method without departing from the scope of the present invention. The induction charge being known per se, it will not be further detailed here. There is shown in Figure 1 a shoe 1 adapted to cooperate with a device according to the invention and in Figures 2 to 8 an example of device 2 according to the invention. The device 2 is intended to be placed in the shoe 1 in order to allow the wireless charging of the power supply battery 1 10 of an electronic module 10 mounted in said shoe 1. Note that the invention can be applied in a non-limiting manner to any type of shoe 1 in which an electronic module 20 would be mounted.

[0032] Shoe 1

There is shown in Figure 1 an example of shoe 1. This shoe 1, in which is mounted an electronic module 10, comprises from bottom to top an outer sole 1A called "outsole", an inner sole 1 B and a rod 1 C.

The electronic module 10 is mounted in the sole assembly 1A, 1B of the shoe, preferably in a housing 1A-1 formed in the insole 1B (sockliner) as shown in the example of the figure 1 . Alternatively, the electronic module 10 could for example be mounted in a housing formed in the outer sole 1 B, under the inner sole 1 A.

Still in this preferred example, the housing 1 A-1 is located at the heel 1 D of the boot 1. Note that alternatively, the electronic module 10 could be mounted at another location of the sole assembly 1A, 1B, for example at its middle or front, or even be mounted under the insole 1B. 0035] Still with reference to FIG. 1, the electronic module 10 comprises a management unit 100, a power supply battery 1 10 in electrical energy and a receiver coil 120.

In this example, the management unit 100 comprises a microcontroller (not shown) configured to implement one or more functions. For example, the management unit 100 may comprise a gelation sub-module (not shown), for example of GPS (Global Positioning System) type, allowing the microcontroller to determine the geographical position of the electronic module 10, and therefore the shoe 1. Still as an example, the management unit 100 may comprise a sensor (not shown), for example of the MEMS type (MicroElectroMechanical Systems), allowing the microcontroller to determine the speed of movement of the wearer of the shoe 1, etc.

The power supply battery 1 10 is configured to power the management unit 100 electrical energy in order to make it work. The receiver coil 120 is adapted to receive a wireless charging signal of the device 2 in order to recharge the power supply battery 1 10 in electrical energy as will be explained below.

For this purpose, the receiver coil 120 extends in the shoe 1 so as to be able to receive a load signal transmitted vertically and in its direction by the charging device 2 when said device 2 is positioned in the shoe 1 as will be explained below. The receiver coil 120 may have any shape suitable for wireless charging, for example circular or elliptical.

[0040] Device 2 The wireless charging device 2 comprises a body 20, illustrated for example in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a wireless charging module 25, illustrated for example in FIGS. 4 to 6.

The body 20 is adapted to conform to an interior space 1 E (illustrated in Figure 1) of said shoe 1 delimited between the rod 1 C and the inner sole 1 B of the shoe 1 and located at the right of the receiving coil 120 of the electronic module 10 of the shoe 1. This inner space 1 E corresponds in this example in part to the volume that would occupy the heel of a human foot carrying the shoe 1, this inner space 1 E of the shoe 1 being easily accessible from the outside of the shoe 1. Also, in the example illustrated in particular in Figures 2 and 3, the body 20 of the device 2 has at least partly the shape of a human heel foot so as to conform to the inner space 1 E of the shoe 1 . Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the body 20 is preferably made of a plastic material, for example polycarbonate, and comprises in this example an upper portion 20A and a lower portion 20B.

The upper part 20A of the body 20 comprises at least one gripping means for inserting and removing the device 2 from the inner space 1 E of the boot 1. Preferably, this gripping means is derived from material of the body 20. Alternatively, this gripping means can be reported. The gripping means can be advantageously in the form of a rod or a handle. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 7 and 8, the gripping means is in the form of a handle 20A-1 material of the upper part 20A of the body 20. The part 20B of the body 20, shown in Figure 4, is configured to receive the wireless charging module 25 and to be placed on the inner sole 1 B of the boot 1. For this purpose, with reference to FIG. 3, the lower part 20B comprises a bottom wall 20B1, called a "contact wall", adapted to be placed on the upper face 1 B1 of the sole internal 1B (with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9). Advantageously, this bottom wall 20B1 may comprise non-slip means (not shown).

The wireless charging module 25 comprises a management sub-module 250 shown in FIG. 5, and a charging coil 255, illustrated in FIG. 6. In this preferred example, as illustrated in FIG. wireless charging module 25 is mounted in the lower portion 20B of the body 20 of the device 2. More specifically, the management sub-module 250 and the charging coil 255 are mounted superimposed in the lower part 20B. The charging coil 255 may have any shape suitable for wireless charging, for example circular or elliptical. With reference to FIG. 5, the management sub-module 250 is in the form of a printed circuit 250A, of circular shape, on which electronic components 250B are mounted. The management sub-module 250 manages the wireless transmission of energy through the load coil 255 from an external power source (not shown). This energy source is preferably a domestic external electrical network, for example using a nominal voltage of between 100 V and 240 V.

To this end, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the device 2 further comprises a wired means for connection to an external electrical network, which is in this example in the form of a connected socket 27A to the device 2 via an electric cable 27B and comprising a transformer (not shown) of the AC-DC type, connected to said electric cable 27B (passing through the upper part 20A as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3) in order to convert the alternating current received from the external electrical network in a direct current defining a DC voltage of, for example, between 3 V and 24 V for supplying the components of the management sub-module 250 and the charging coil 255. The electric cable 27B extends from the upper part the body 20 of the device 2 upwards so as not to hinder the positioning of the device 2 in the interior space 1 E.

In order to evacuate the heat produced by the charge coil 255 and the electronic components 250B, the body 20 delimits both in the upper part 20A and in the lower part 20B a clearance space 21 (FIGS. 8) and includes heat-evacuation orifices 22 in the upper part 20A of the body 20, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8.

With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 and 8, the charging coil 255, which is the energy-transmitting coil of the wireless charging device 2, is mounted under the printed circuit 250A of the management sub-module of FIG. load 250 so as to emit down towards the shoe 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless charging module 25 comprises a single charging coil 255, without this being a limitation of the scope of the present invention. In this example, the charging coil 255 is annular in shape, and is fixed on the underside 250A1 of the printed circuit 250A coaxially with said printed circuit 250A. The charging coil 255 is positioned against the inner face 20B1 1 of the bottom wall 20B1 (FIG. 8) so as to transmit the energy it generates through said lower wall 20B1 when said charging coil 255 is traversed by a current electric. Preferably, the charging coil 255 is in contact with the inner face 20B1 1 of the bottom wall 20B1. Alternatively, the charging coil 255 could be spaced a few tenths of a millimeter or even a few millimeters from the inner wall 20B1 1. It will be noted that, in a variant, the shapes of the printed circuit 250A and of the charge coil 255 could be different, for example of rectangular shape or other. In addition, the nature and arrangement of the electronic components 250B mounted on the printed circuit 250A for induction charging are known per se, they will not be further detailed here.

As illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 8, the upper part 20A and the lower part 20B of the body 20 are assembled by means of a system of bolts and nuts 23. It goes without saying that any other system suitable assembly could be used. Likewise, it should be noted that the body 20 could comprise more or less two parts 20A, 20B.

The shape of the body 20 of the device 2 allows a user to position the device 2 in the shoe 1 still substantially in the same position in which the charging coil 255 is positioned to the right of the receiving coil 120 of the electronic module

10 mounted in the shoe 1.

For an effective charge of the power supply battery 1 10 of the electronic module 10,

It is obvious that the positioning of the device 2 in the shoe 1 will depend on the position of the receiving coil 120 of the electronic module 10. Also, the position of the charging coil 255 in the body 20 of the device 2, or even the shape of the device, depend primarily on the position of the receiver coil 120 in the shoe 1 and should therefore be adapted accordingly.

In order to display the state of charge of the power supply battery 1 10, the device 2 may comprise one or more means (not shown in this example) for visualizing the wireless state of charge of the battery. 1, for example one or more diodes indicating a state of charge and a charged state of the battery pack 1 10.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the charging device 2 may be devoid of wired means of connection to an external electrical network (socket 27A and electric cable 27B) and further comprise a battery (mounted in the body 20 or else on the body 20, for example removably), the charging coil 255 then being configured to receive electrical energy transmitted by a wireless charging medium when the charging device 1 is placed on said charging medium. Such an operation makes it possible to carry out the charging of the supply battery 1 10 at any moment, in particular in the absence of an external electrical network.

[0056] Implementation

FIG. 10 shows an example of an electrical assembly comprising a shoe 1, comprising an electronic module 10 as described above, and a charging device 2 placed in said shoe 1. In the case of a pair of shoes 1, a single shoe 1 or each of the two shoes 1 may comprise an electronic module 10 and a charging device 2, placed inside each of the shoes 1. Alternatively, a single shoe of the same pair could include an electronic module 10, then requiring a single charging device 2 to recharge the battery supply 1 10 of said electronic module 10. [0058] Referring to Figure 10 when the user of the shoe 1 wishes to charge the supply battery 1 10 of the electronic module 10, he grasps the device 2 by its handle 20A-1 in order to place it inside the shoe 1, in the inner space 1 E, in a step E1. The shape of the body 20 of the device 2 then substantially matches the shape of the back of the inside of the shoe 1 so that the charging coil 255 is positioned directly to the right of the receiving coil 120 of the electronic module 10 of the shoe 1. This allows the charge coil 255 to be correctly aligned with the receiver coil 120 for optimal and fast charging.

The user then connects, in a step E2, the charging device 1 to the power supply network via the socket 27A and the cable 27B. Then, the management sub-module 250 charges the power supply battery 1 10 of the electronic module 10 the boot 1 by wireless electrical energy transmission in a step E3.

Once the load has been completed, the user again grasps the gripping means in order to remove each of the devices 2 from their respective shoes 1 (step E4) and then disconnects the plug 27A from the electrical network in a step E5, as the case may be . It will be noted that steps 1 and 2 could be reversed as well as steps 4 and 5. Similarly, it should be noted that steps 1 and 5 are optional for the case where plug 27A remains permanently connected to the electrical network. external or when the charging device comprises a battery making it autonomous as explained above. The wireless charging device 2 according to the invention has the advantage of allowing precise positioning of the charging coil 255 with respect to the receiver coil 120 and therefore an effective charge of the power supply battery 1 10. The realization of the wireless charge by a device 2 of reduced size placed inside the shoe 1 advantageously avoids the use of a bulky and bulky charge carrier. In addition, the wireless charging device 2 according to the invention makes it possible to avoid taking out the soleplate or the electronic module 10 of the boot 1 for the load. Finally, the wireless charging device 2 according to the invention makes it possible to avoid the use of a cable for connecting the electronic module and the electric charging network.

Claims

Device (2) wirelessly charging a battery (1 10) of an electronic module (10) mounted in a shoe (1), said electronic module (10) comprising a receiver coil (120) adapted to receiving a charge signal for charging said battery pack (1 10), said device (2) being characterized in that it comprises a body (20) adapted to be placed in an interior space (1 E) of said shoe (1) and conforming at least in part to the shape of said interior space (1 E), and a wireless charging module (25) mounted in said body (20) and comprising at least one load coil (255) mounted in the body (20) of the device (2) so as to allow wireless charging of said battery pack (1 10) via said receiver coil (120) when the device (2) is placed in said interior space (1 E) of the shoe (1).

Device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the shoe (1) comprising an outer sole (1 A) and an inner sole (1 B) disposed inside the shoe (1) on the outer sole ( 1A), the electronic module (10) being mounted in said inner plate (1B), the body (20) of the device (2) comprises a bottom wall (20B1) intended to come into contact with the upper face (1B1 ) of the insole (1 B), the charging coil (255) being mounted against the inner face (20B1 1) of said bottom wall (20B1) so as to transmit energy through said lower wall (20B1) when the charging coil (255) is traversed by an electric current.

Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (20) of the device (2) has at least partly the shape of a human foot heel.

Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging module (25) comprises a single charging coil (255).

Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one gripping means (20A-1) for inserting and removing the device (2) from the inner space (1E) of the boot (1 ).

Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one connection means (27A, 27B) to an electrical power supply network.

Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one means for displaying the wireless state of charge of the battery pack (1 10).

8. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless charging module (25) comprises a printed circuit (250A).

9. Device (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the printed circuit (250A) has a circular shape.

10. Device (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the charging coil (255) is circular and is mounted coaxially with the printed circuit (250A).