Adapting portable electrical devices to receive power wirelessly
Wireless power receiving apparatus 150 is retrofitted to a portable electrical device 100 to enable the device to receive power wirelessly. The apparatus comprises a power-receiving element 200 adapted to be attached to the device, e.g. by adhesive 201 , and also being adapted to receive power wirelessly from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another. One or more power connectors 203 are connected electrically to the power-receiving element and are adapted to be connected, when the apparatus is in use, to one or more corresponding power connectors 101 of the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the element to the device. The power-receiving element may be in the form of a sticker or may be carried by or incorporated in a replacement cover portion for the portable electrical device.
1. Inductive power-receiving adapter for use with a portable electrical device to enable the device to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction, the adapter comprising:
an inductive power-receiving element adapted to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another;
a first adapter connector for electrically connecting the inductive power-receiving element to the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the inductive power-receiving element to the portable electrical device;
a second adapter connector for electrically connecting equipment to the inductive power-receiving adapter, said equipment being separate from the portable electrical device; and
a pass-through connection for electrically connecting the first adapter connector and the second adapter connector, wherein the pass-through connection enables at least one of:
power delivery from the equipment to the portable electrical device through the inductive power-receiving adapter; and
communication between the equipment and the portable electrical device through the adapter.
2. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 1 , the equipment having a conventional adapter connector adapted to connect to either a conventional adapter connector of the portable electrical device or the second adapter connector.
3. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 1 wherein the pass-through connection interconnects only data connectors between the second adapter connector and the first adapter connector.
4. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 1 wherein the pass-through connection interconnects data connectors and power connectors between the second adapter connector and the first adapter connector.
5. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 1 wherein the first adapter connector and the second adapter connector are on different faces of the inductive power-receiving adapter such that the inductive power-receiving adapter is sandwiched between the equipment and the portable electrical device when the inductive power-receiving adapter is connected to the portable electrical device and the inductive power-receiving adapter is connected to the equipment.
6. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 1 wherein the inductive power-receiving adapter mechanically attaches by sliding on to the portable electrical device.
7. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 1 wherein the equipment is a car hands-free cradle for a mobile phone.
8. A method of adapting a portable electrical device with an equipment connector and no inductive power receiving capability to have both an equipment connector and inductive power receiving capability by installing an inductive power-receiving adapter, the method comprising:
providing the inductive power-receiving adapter having an inductive power-receiving element, a first adapter connector for electrically connecting the adapter to the portable electrical device, a second adapter connector for electrically connecting the adapter to equipment and a pass-through connection electrically connecting the first adapter connector and the second adapter connector;
attaching the inductive power-receiving element to the portable electrical device, the element being adapted to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another; and
connecting the first adapter connector to a power connector of the device so that power received by the element can be delivered to the device;
connecting the second adapter connector to an equipment connector of equipment, the equipment being separate from the portable electrical device; and
providing a pass-through connection that enables at least one of:
power delivery from the equipment through the adapter to the portable electrical device, and
communication between the equipment and the portable electrical device through the adapter.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the equipment connector is a conventional adapter connector adapted to connect to either a conventional adapter connector of the portable electrical device or the second adapter connector.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the pass-through connection interconnects data connectors between the second adapter connector and the first adapter connector, and does not interconnect power connectors between the second adapter connector and the first adapter connector.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the pass-through connection interconnects data connectors and power connectors between the second adapter connector and the first adapter connector.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the first adapter connector and the second adapter connector are on different faces of the inductive power-receiving adapter such that the inductive power-receiving adapter is sandwiched between the equipment and the portable electrical device when the inductive power-receiving adapter is connected to the portable electrical device and the inductive power-receiving adapter is connected to the equipment.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the inductive power-receiving adapter mechanically attaches by sliding on to the portable electrical device.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the equipment is a car hands-free cradle for a mobile phone.
15. Inductive power-receiving adapter for use with a portable electrical device to enable the device to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction, the portable electrical device having an input for connecting a conventional adapter, the inductive power-receiving adapter comprising:
an inductive power-receiving element adapted to receive power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another;
a first adapter connector for electrically connecting the inductive power-receiving element to the input of the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the inductive power-receiving element to the portable electrical device;
a second adapter connector for electrically connecting equipment to the inductive power-receiving adapter, the equipment being separate from the portable electrical device, wherein when the first adapter connector is connected to the input of the portable electrical device, the equipment is connectable to the second adapter connector to connect the equipment to the portable electrical device in a pass-through fashion.
16. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 15 , the equipment having a conventional adapter connector adapted to connect to either a conventional adapter connector of the portable electrical device or the second adapter connector.
17. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 15 wherein the first adapter connector and the second adapter connector are on different faces of the inductive power-receiving adapter such that the inductive power-receiving adapter is sandwiched between the equipment and the portable electrical device when the inductive power-receiving adapter is connected to the portable electrical device and the inductive power-receiving adapter is connected to the equipment.
18. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 15 wherein the inductive power-receiving adapter mechanically attaches by sliding on to the portable electrical device.
19. The inductive power-receiving adapter of claim 15 wherein the equipment is a car hands-free cradle for a mobile phone.