Device cover with embedded power receiver
View Patent ↗A charging system comprises circuitry adapted to devices to be charged, including a power receiver module embedded or molded into form-fit case, e.g., gel-skin, that attaches physically and electrically to the device to be charged and that effectively receives power either conductively or inductively from a power delivery surface of a recharging pad on which the devices are placed.
1. Apparatus for fitting onto an electric power using device, which has a plug receptacle for receiving electric power, to enable the electric power using device to receive electric power from a recharging pad that has a power delivery surface, comprising:
a gel-skin case formed to fit and attach snugly onto the electric power using device;
means for extracting electric power from the power delivery surface formed integrally in the gel-skin case; and
connector means molded integrally into the gel-skin case for connecting electric power extracted from the power delivery surface by the means for extracting electric power to the plug receptacle of the electric power using device, wherein the connector means includes a flexible printed circuit board, which is laminated with a circuit carrier that is flexible but non-stretchable, and which comprises electric conduction for conducting electric power extracted from the power delivery for extracting electric power to the plug receptacle of the electric power using device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for extracting electric power from the power delivery surface includes: (i) a non-conductive, rigid or semi-rigid plate supporting a plurality of power receiving contacts protruding in one direction out of the plate for electrical interfacing contact with the power delivery surface; and (ii) a printed circuit board comprising an electronic circuit connected to the power receiving contacts for rectifying electric power received by the plurality of power receiving contacts from the power delivery surface to DC power for use by the power using device.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the printed circuit board also comprises an electronic circuit for conditioning the rectified power to have characteristics of electric power that is usable by the power using device.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the connector means also comprises an electronic circuit for conditioning the rectified power to have characteristics of electric power that is usable by the power using device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electric conductors are connected to the a plug connector at the distal end of the flexible printed circuit board, and wherein the plug connector is configured for releasable connection to the plug receptacle of the electric power using device.
6. The apparatus of claim l, wherein the means for extracting electric power from the power delivery surface includes: (i) a non-conductive, rigid or semi-rigid plate supporting an inductive pickup coil in a resonant power receiving circuit that produces electric power inductively from an alternating magnetic field created by one or more coils in or adjacent the power delivery surface that is part of a resonant power transmitter circuit in which the resonance matches the resonance of the power receiving circuit; and (ii) a printed circuit board comprising an electronic circuit that includes the resonant power receiving circuit and a rectifier circuit for rectifying electric power received by the resonant power receiving circuit from the resonant power transmitter circuit to DC power for use by the power using device.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the resonant power receiving circuit is set at a pre-selected resonance, and the resonant power transmit circuit is also set at said pre-selected resonance.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the resonant power transmitter circuit includes a programmable frequency generator in a feedback loop that generates exciter voltage, and a phase-sensing circuit and an amplitude or power sensing circuit to place exciter current in phase with the exciter voltage to match resonance of the resonant power transmitter circuit with the resonance of the resonant power receiver circuit.