SYSTEM FOR INDUCTIVE POWER PROVISION WITHIN A BOUNDING SURFACE
A power providing system in which inductive power outlets are incorporated into a bounding surface of a workspace includes inductive power outlets having primary inductors connected to a power supply via a driver. The primary inductors may be inductively coupled to secondary inductors wired to an electric load to provide power thereto. The bounding surface may be a wall, floor, ceiling or the like. Various inductively enabled prefabricated materials are disclosed for incorporating into such bounding surfaces.
1 . A power providing system comprising at least one inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary inductor connectable to a power supply via a driver; said driver configured to provide an oscillating voltage supply to the primary inductor; said primary inductor configured to couple inductively with a secondary inductor wired to an electric load wherein said inductive power outlet is incorporated into a bounding surface of a workspace.
2 . The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said bounding surface is selected from a group consisting of: walls, floors, ceilings, sinks, baths, doors and work surfaces.
3 . The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said inductive power outlets are incorporated into prefabricated materials for incorporating into said bounding surfaces.
4 . The power providing system of claim 3 wherein said prefabricated materials are selected from a group consisting of: plasterboard, paper sheets, wallpaper, plasterers tape, doors, window frames, wall-tiles, fitted cabinets, kitchen counters, sinks, baths, sink surrounds, rugs, fitted carpets, parquet, linoleum, floor-tiles, non-slip matting, tiling, stone, artificial stone and paving.
5 . The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said primary inductor is covered by a facing layer selected from a group consisting of Formica, veneer, plaster, paint, plastic sheet, stone and artificial stone.
6 . The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said primary inductor is inset into a base layer and covered by a facing layer.
7 . The power providing system of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary inductor is incorporated into an inductively enabled storage unit and configured to inductively couple with secondary inductors associated with electrical devices stowed in said storage unit.
8 . The power providing system of claim 1 further comprising a flux guidance core for directing magnetic flux from said primary inductor to said secondary inductor coupled thereto.
9 . A plasterboard panel for affixing into the bounding surface of claim 1 , said plasterboard panel comprising a layer of gypsum sandwiched between two paper sheets and at least one pair of conductors for connecting said primary inductor to said power supply, said primary inductor being behind at least one of said paper sheets.
10 . The plasterboard panel of claim 9 additionally being characterized by at least one feature selected from:
a ferromagnetic core for improving flux guidance between said primary inductor and said secondary inductor;
at least one primary inductor being printed onto at least one said paper sheet;
said panel being water-resistant;
said panel comprising a heating element;
said panel comprising a high resistance primary inductor; and
said primary inductor comprising an alloy having relatively high resistance such that oscillating currents therein, produce a heating effect.
11 . A paper sheet for adhering to the bounding surface of claim 1 ; the paper sheet comprising said at least one primary inductor; and at least one pair of conductors for connecting said primary inductor to said power supply.
12 . The paper sheet of claim 11 being characterized by at least one feature selected from:
said paper sheet being a wallpaper;
said primary inductor being adhered onto the back of a dielectric layer;
said primary inductor comprising a conducting coil printed onto the paper; and
said paper sheet comprising an adhesive layer for self adhering to said bounding surface.
13 . A tape for affixing onto the bounding surface of claim 1 , said tape comprising:
a first layer having an adhesive surface;
a second layer comprising: at least one pair of electrical conductors electrically isolated from each other; and said at least one primary inductor being electrically coupled to said pair of electrical conductors; and
a third layer overlaying the second layer such that said pair of electrical conductors and said primary inductor are sandwiched between said first layer and said second layer.
14 . The power outlet tape of claim 13 being characterized by at least one feature selected from a group consisting of:
said second layer comprising a two dimensional array of primary inductors;
a release layer releasably engaged to said adhesive surface of the first layer;
a coating applied to the outer face of said third layer, said adhesive surface releasably engaging with said coating when said power outlet tape is rolled upon itself;
said tape comprising a scrim layer of interwoven fibers; and
said tape comprising a ferromagnetic core for improving flux guidance between said primary inductor and said secondary inductor.
15 . A floor surface for the workspace of claim 1 , said primary inductor being embedded therein and wired to said power supply via wiring thereunder.
16 . The floor surface of claim 15 being selected from a group consisting of: rugs, fitted carpets, parquet, linoleum, floor-tiles, non-slip matting, tiling, stone, artificial stone and paving.
17 . An inductive power receiver comprising at least one secondary inductor configured to inductively couple with at least one primary inductor and to provide power to at least one electric load, said inductive power receiver further comprising at least one power-jack socket electrically connected to said secondary inductor, said power-jack socket configured to form a conductive coupling with a conventional pinned power plug connector.
18 . The inductive power receiver of claim 17 further comprising a power storage unit configured to store energy received by said secondary inductor.
19 . The inductive power receiver of claim 18 wherein said power storage unit is selected from a group consisting of: capacitors, accumulators and electrochemical cells.
20 . The inductive power receiver of claim 17 comprising at least one sucker configured to attach said casing to a work-surface.
21 . The inductive power receiver of claim 17 incorporated into an electrical device.
22 . The inductive power receiver of claim 17 further comprising at least one device-mounted inductive power outlet for inductively providing power to electrical loads.
23 . The inductive power receiver of claim 17 incorporated into an item of furniture.
24 . The system of claim 23 , said item of furniture being selected from a group consisting of chairs, tables, workbenches, partitioning walls cabinets and cupboards.
25 . A method for providing power to at least one electric load via a bounding surface of a workspace, the method comprising the steps:
providing an inductive power providing platform comprising at least one primary inductor configured to couple inductively with a secondary inductor wired to said electric load
affixing said inductive power providing platform to at least one said bounding surface; and
connecting said at least one primary inductor to a power supply via a driver;
said driver providing an oscillating voltage supply to the primary inductor.
26 . The method of claim 25 wherein the step of affixing said inductive power providing platform comprises the substeps:
attaching at least two drywall panels to a frame such that a seam is formed between them;
bridging said seam with a segment of adhesive power outlet tape comprising at least one pair of electrical conductors electrically isolated from each other, and at least one primary inductive coil electrically coupled to said pair of electrical conductors; and
providing driving electronics for said primary inductive coil.