GB2392024A

GB2392024A - Power transfer between devices

Info

Publication number: GB2392024A
Application number: GB0313045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lily Ka Lai Cheng; James Westwood Hay; Pilgrim Giles William Beart
Original assignee: Splashpower Ltd
Current assignee: Splashpower Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-07
Filing date: 2003-06-06
Publication date: 2004-02-18
Also published as: AU2003274168A1; GB0313045D0; WO2003105311A1; GB0213023D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method of power transfer, including at least first and second devices, each device having a power storage component and a power exchange component. The power exchange component of the first device is dynamically configurable so as selectively to receive power wirelessly from the power storage and exchange components of at least the second device and to direct the received power to the power storage component of the first device, and to transmit power wirelessly from the power storage component of the first device to the power exchange and power storage components of at least the second device. In this way, the first device may charge or power the second device and vice versa. For example, where the first device is a mobile telephone and the second device is a games console, a person carrying both devices may use one to power the other should the power supply of one of the devices run low.

Description

l IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CHARGING OF DEVICES

The present application claims priority from UK patent application no 0213023.5, filed on 7 June 2002.

This invention relates to a new system for the transfer of power between devices, and a new method for transferring power between devices.

As the use of portable devices increases, so does the use of rectum geable batteries for 10 powering such devices. Some portable devices can be recharged by non-conductive means, such as magnetic fields, solar, microwaves, eliminating the need for exposed

electrical contacts. Some examples include solar powered radios and inductively powered electric toothbrushes. Such non-conductive means for powering portable devices are typically part of a two-part recharging, system: 1. A charging station, typically not very portable, which takes power from some source (for example a mains power supply, or a car power outlet) and uses it to transmit power in such a way that it can be received by the device. For example: in solar power systems, the charging station may emit liy,ht; in 20 inductive systems, the station may emit a fluctuating magnetic field; in

microwave systems, the station may generate microwaves.

2. A device, typically more portable, which, when located near the charging station, receives power from it via a charging component (which could be for 25 example: a photovoltaic panel, a secondary coil or antennae) using it to power itself, and/or recharge its own batteries.

Examples of charging stations and devices of this nature are more fully explained in the present applicant's copending US patent application no 10/326,571 of 20'h 30 December 2002, and also International patent applications nos PCT/GB2003/002030 and PCT/GB2003/002038 of 13'h May 2003, the full disclosures of which are hereby

incorporated into the present application by reference.

|e:!.'t:: Id However if users forget to recharge their portable devices, they may run out of power when far away from the charging station, which is inconvenient.

5 It is possible to construct a family of such portable devices which share a common design and/or have the same or similar charging component for receiving power, and which therefore can all be charged at the same type of charging station.

Typically a user owning several portable, rechargeable devices will discover that one 10 of them runs out of power before the others. For example, a mobile phone may run out of power before a laptop computer. When the user is not in proximity to a charging station, he may wish to transfer some power from one device to another device. For example, if two users both have mobile phones but one has a fully charged battery and the other has an empty battery, they may wish to share the power 15 between the two.

For portable devices which have power connections (for example devices complying to the common USB standard), it may be possible physically to connect the out-of-

power device (e.g. the mobile phone) to a device which still has power (e. g. the 20 laptop) via a cable, and thus power and/or recharge the out-ofpower device.

However, devices powered by non-conductive means have to-date been designed such that the module or charging component on portable devices is only able to receive power, therefore two such devices (e.g. mobile phone and laptop) cannot transfer power between each other.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device capable of exchanging power with another device, the device including at least a power storage component and a power exchange component, wherein the power exchange component is dynamically configurable so as selectively: a) to receive power by wireless transmission from an external transmitter into the power storage component; and

t fl,:..: d' b) to transmit power by wireless transmission from the power storage component to an external receiver.

5 The external transmitter and/or receiver may be comprised as part of the power exchange component of the other device, or may be at least incorporated generally into the other device.

Such a device is advantageous because it allows the user conveniently to power one 10 device from another, even if a convenient charger is not present. This adds a useful user feature without adding substantial additional cost.

It is desirable to have a number of devices with modules or charging components which are not only capable of receiving power but also capable of transmitting power 15 and perform as a small temporary charging station. Such a family of devices would then be able to transfer power from one to another as required by the user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising at least first and second devices, each device including a power storage 20 component and a power exchange component, wherein the power exchange component of the first device is dynamically configurable so as selectively: a) to receive power wirelessly from the power storage and exchange components of at least the second device and to direct the received power to the 25 power storage component of the first device; and b) to transmit power wirelessly from the power storage component of the first device to the power exchange and power storage components of at least the second device. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of exchanging power between a first device and a second device, each device including

r , ' a power storage component and a power exchange component, wherein the power exchange component of the first device selectively: a) receives power wirelessly from the power storage and exchange components 5 of at least the second device and directs the received power to the power storage component of the first device; and b) transmits power wirelessly from the power storage component of the first device to the power exchange and power storage components ot at least the second 1 0 device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of exchanging power between a first device and a second device, each device including at least a power storage component and a power exchange component, wherein the 15 power exchange component of each device is dynamically configurable so as selectively: a) to receive power by wireless transmission from an external transmitter into the power storage component; and b) to transmit power by wireless transmission from the power storage component to an external receiver.

The power storage component of one or more of the devices may be a rechargeable 25 battery or the like. For a device that is intended only to transmit power and not to receive power, the power storage component need not be rechargeable.

The power exchange component may operate by transmission and/or reception of alternating electromagnetic energy, for example electromagnetic induction by way of 30 an alternating electromagnetic field.

À l ( Alternatively or in addition, the power exchange component may operate by transmission and/or reception of light energy or the like.

Further means of power exchange are outlined hereinbelow.

Advantageously, the power exchange component may include a conductor, such as a wire or the like, wound or wrapped around or otherwise associated with a core component. The core component may be made of a magnetic material, such as a soft magnetic material, and in some embodiments is made of an amorphous metal 10 material, optionally in an "as-cast" or non-annealed state.

Amorphous metal is a metal alloy, consisting for example of iron, boron and silicon, which has been melted and then cooled so rapidly ("quenched") that there is no time for it to crystalline as it solidifies, leaving it instead in a glass-like amorphous state. A 15 more detailed description of amorphous metals may be found in US 4,877,464, the

full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into the present application by

reference. The following non-exhaustive list illustrates some examples of devices that may 20 contain the said power-storage component and the power-exchange component.

Possibilities are not limited to those described below: À A mobile communication device, for example a radio, mobile telephone or walkietalkie; À A portable computing device, for example a personal digital assistant or 25 palmtop or laptop computer; À Portable entertainment devices, for example a music player, game console or toy; À Personal care items, for example a toothbrush, shaver, hair curler, hair rollers; À A portable imaging device, for example video recorder or camera; 30 À Containers of contents that may require heating, for example coffee mugs, plates, cooking pots, nail-polish and cosmetic containers; À Consumer devices, for example torches, clocks and fans; s

a ( A battery-pack for insertion into any of the above; À A standardsized battery pack (e.g. AA, C, D); The following non-exhaustive list illustrates some examples of media via which non-

5 conductive power transfer may be achieved: À Magnetic or electromagnetic fields

À Light Infrared À Microwaves 10 À Other frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum À Mechanical motion For a better understanding of the present invention and to show it may be carried into effect, reference shall now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying 15 drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention showing a charger (C) transmitting power by non-conductive or wireless means (for example, electromagnetic induction or transfer of light energy) to two portable devices (A) and 20 (B). Charger (C) is energising its power exchange component (1) to transfer power to the power exchange components (2) of (A) and (B), which receive the power and use it to recharge their power storage components (3).

FIGURE 2 shows the same portable device (A) with its power exchange component 25 (2) now configured to transmit power from its power storage component (3).

Portable device (B), configured as before, is receiving power from portable device (A). The preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention 30 and may be used in any possible combination.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise"

e ( and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", mean "including but not limited to", and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers, moieties, additives or steps.

Claims

1 ' ' ' 1

CLAIMS:

- 1. A device capable of exchanging power with another device, the device including at least a power storage component and a power exchange component, 5 wherein the power exchange component is - dynamically configurable so as selectively: a) to receive power by wireless transmission from an external transmitter into the power storage component; and b) to transmit power by wireless transmission from the power storage component to an external receiver.

2. A device as claimed in claim l, wherein the power storage component is a 15 rechargeable battery.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the power exchange component operates by transmission and reception of alternating electromagnetic energy.

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4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power exchange component includes a conductive wire wound about a magnetic core.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the magnetic core is made of amorphous metal.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the power exchange component operates by transmission and reception of light energy.

7. A device as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the power exchange component 30 operates by transmission and reception of microwave energy.

l Il t!;;4 l:

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is packaged in a battery pack enclosure.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the battery pack enclosure is a 5 standard-sized battery pack enclosure.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with the said other device, wherein the external transmitter is incorporated into the said other device.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the external transmitter is part of a power exchange component of the said other device.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with the said I S other device, wherein the external receiver is incorporated into the said other device.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the external receiver is part of a power exchange component of the said other device.

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14. A system comprising at least first and second devices, each device including a power storage component and a power exchange component, wherein the power exchange component of the first device is dynamically configurable so as selectively: a) to receive power wirelessly from the power storage and exchange 25 components of at least the second device and to direct the received power to the power storage component of the first device; and b) to transmit power wirelessly from the power storage component of the first device to the power exchange and power storage components of at least the second 30 device.

l l l f; ::

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the power storage component of at least one of the first and second devices is a rechargeable battery.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the power exchange 5 components operate by transmission and reception of alternating electromagnetic energy.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the power exchange component of at least one of the first and second devices includes a conductive wire wound about a 10 magnetic core.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the magnetic core is made of amorphous metal.

15

19. A system as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the power exchange components operate by transmission and reception of light energy.

20. A system as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the power exchange components operate by transmission and reception of microwave energy.

21. A system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein at least one of the first and second devices is packaged in a battery pack enclosure.

22. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the battery pack enclosure is a 25 standard-sized battery pack enclosure.

23. A method of exchanging power between a first device and a second device, each device including a power storage component and a power exchange component, wherein the power exchange component of the f ret device selectively:

a) receives power wireless1y from the power storage and exchange components of at least the second device and directs the received power to the power storage component of the first device; and 5 b) transmits power wirelessly from the power storage component of the first device to the power exchange and power storage components of at least the second device.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the power stc.age component of at 10 least one of the first and second devices is a rechargeable battery.

25. A method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein power exchange takes place by transmission and reception of alternating electromagnetic energy.

15

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the power exchange component of at least one of the first and second devices includes a conductive wire wound about a magnetic core.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the magnetic core is made of 20 amorphous metal.

28. A method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein power exchange takes place by transmission and reception of light energy.

25

29. A method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein power exchange takes place by transmission and reception of microwave energy.

30. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein at least one of the first and second devices is packaged in a battery pack enclosure.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the battery pack enclosure is a standard-sized battery pack enclosure.

32. A device capable of exchanging power with another device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

5

33. A system comprising at least first and second devices, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

34. A method of exchanging power between a first device and a second device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to A. as shown in the 10 accompanying drawings.