IP Library Granted Patent US 9,887,591
Granted Patent B2
US 9,887,591 · App. 14/710,736 · Granted Feb 6, 2018

Electric ring with external power source

Inventors: Ilse M. Breedvelt-Schouten (Ontario, CA); Jana H. Jenkins (Raleigh, NC); Jeffrey A. Kusnitz (Campbell, CA)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H02J50/12H02J7/0044H02J7/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,887,591
App. No.
14/710,736
Granted
Feb 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention may relate generally to electrical systems, and more particularly, to a structure, system, and method of powering an electric ring with an external power source. An energy storage ring may be used to store energy and transmit energy to the electric ring. The energy storage ring may include an energy storage device and an energy transmission device. The electric ring may include an energy receiver device and one or more energy consuming devices. The energy transmission device of the energy storage ring may be configured to transmit energy to energy receiver device of the electric ring. Utilizing the energy storage ring to store energy may increase energy available for use by the electric ring, thus substantially increasing types and number of devices that may be included in the electric ring.

Claims (62)

1. A method for powering a plurality of electric rings comprising:

forming a first energy storage ring having a hollow inner region, wherein the first energy storage ring includes an energy storage device and an energy transmission device, wherein the energy storage device is electrically connected to the energy transmission device; and

forming a plurality of electric rings having a hollow inner region, wherein each electric ring of the plurality of electric rings includes an energy receiver device and one or more energy consuming devices, wherein the energy receiver device is electrically connected to one or more energy consuming devices, wherein the plurality of electric rings comprises a combination of at least one processor, one display, one camera and one projector;

wherein the plurality of electric rings comprises one or more motion tracking devices, wherein data is collected and analyzed by the processor;

wherein the plurality of electric rings automatically communicates with an automobile when a user is within a proximity of the automobile;

wherein at least one electric ring of the plurality of electric rings comprises a microphone and the one camera to collect visual and audio data, while another electric ring of the plurality of electric rings comprises a projector and a speaker to project visual data on a surface and provide audio data by utilizing the speaker;

wherein the energy receiver device of the plurality of electric rings is configured to receive energy transmitted by the energy transmission device of the energy storage ring via a wireless energy transmission device of the energy storage ring;

wherein the first energy storage ring and the plurality of electric rings comprise a coupling mechanism for coupling the first energy storage ring and at least one of the electric rings of the plurality of electric rings, wherein the coupling mechanism does not conduct electricity between the first energy storage ring and the plurality of electric rings;

wherein the coupling mechanism couples the first energy storage ring to the plurality of electric rings along a flat surface of the first energy storage ring and a flat surface of the plurality of electric rings; and

wherein the first energy storage ring is interchangeable with another energy storage ring.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a second energy storage ring having a hollow inner region comprising an energy storage device electrically connected to an energy transmission device, wherein the energy transmission device of the second energy storage ring is configured to transmit energy to the energy receiver device of the plurality of electric rings independently and concurrently with the first energy storage ring for at least a duration of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:

one or more male connectors on a surface of a first ring;

one or more magnets on a surface of a first ring;

one or more female connectors on a surface of a second ring; and

one or more magnets on a surface of a second ring,

wherein each of the first ring and second ring may be either the energy storage ring or at least one electric ring of the plurality of electric rings.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include a display around an outer surface of the plurality of electric rings.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include a computer readable storage medium and a processor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include one or more wireless communication devices.

7. A system for powering a plurality of electric rings comprising:

forming a first energy storage ring having a hollow inner region, wherein the first energy storage ring includes an energy storage device and an energy transmission device, wherein the energy storage device is electrically connected to the energy transmission device; and

forming a plurality of electric rings having a hollow inner region, wherein each electric ring of the plurality of electric rings includes an energy receiver device and one or more energy consuming devices, wherein the energy receiver device is electrically connected to one or more energy consuming devices, wherein the plurality of electric rings comprises a combination of at least one processor, one display, one camera and one projector;

wherein the plurality of electric rings comprises one or more motion tracking devices, wherein data is collected and analyzed by the processor;

wherein the plurality of electric rings automatically communicates with an automobile when a user is within a proximity of the automobile;

wherein at least one electric ring of the plurality of electric rings comprises a microphone and the one camera to collect visual and audio data, while another electric ring of the plurality of electric rings comprises a projector and a speaker to project visual data on a surface and provide audio data by utilizing the speaker;

wherein the energy receiver device of the plurality of electric rings is configured to receive energy transmitted by the energy transmission device of the energy storage ring via a wireless energy transmission device of the energy storage ring;

wherein the first energy storage ring and the plurality of electric rings comprise a coupling mechanism for coupling the first energy storage ring and at least one of the electric rings of the plurality of electric rings, wherein the coupling mechanism does not conduct electricity between the first energy storage ring and the plurality of electric rings;

wherein the coupling mechanism couples the first energy storage ring to the plurality of electric rings along a flat surface of the first energy storage ring and a flat surface of the plurality of electric rings; and

wherein the first energy storage ring is interchangeable with another energy storage ring.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a second energy storage ring having a hollow inner region comprising an energy storage device electrically connected to an energy transmission device, wherein the energy transmission device of the second energy storage ring is configured to transmit energy to the energy receiver device of the plurality of electric rings.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the energy transmitted by the energy transmission device of the energy storage ring is transmitted to the energy receiver device of the plurality of electric rings through resonant inductive coupling.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:

one or more male connectors on a surface of a first ring;

one or more magnets on a surface of a first ring;

one or more female connectors on a surface of a second ring; and

one or more magnets on a surface of a second ring,

wherein each of the first ring and second ring may be either the energy storage ring or at least one electric ring of the plurality of electric rings.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include a display around an outer surface of the plurality of electric rings.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include a computer readable storage medium and a processor.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include one or more wireless communication devices.

14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include a projector.

15. A structure comprising:

a first energy storage ring having a hollow inner region, wherein the first energy storage ring includes an energy storage device and an energy transmission device, wherein the energy storage device is electrically connected to the energy transmission device; and

a plurality of electric rings having a hollow inner region, wherein each electric ring of the plurality of electric rings includes an energy receiver device and one or more energy consuming devices, wherein the energy receiver device is electrically connected to one or more energy consuming devices, wherein the plurality of electric rings comprises a combination of at least one processor, one display, one camera and one projector;

wherein the plurality of electric rings comprises one or more motion tracking devices, wherein data is collected and analyzed by the processor;

wherein the plurality of electric rings automatically communicates with an automobile when a user is within a proximity of the automobile;

wherein at least one electric ring of the plurality of electric rings comprises a microphone and the one camera to collect visual and audio data, while another electric ring of the plurality of electric rings comprises a projector and a speaker to project visual data on a surface and provide audio data by utilizing the speaker;

wherein the energy receiver device of the plurality of electric rings is configured to receive energy transmitted by the energy transmission device of the energy storage ring via a wireless energy transmission device of the energy storage ring;

wherein the first energy storage ring and the plurality of electric rings comprise a coupling mechanism for coupling the first energy storage ring and at least one of the electric rings of the plurality of electric rings, wherein the coupling mechanism does not conduct electricity between the first energy storage ring and the plurality of electric rings;

wherein the coupling mechanism couples the first energy storage ring to the plurality of electric rings along a flat surface of the first energy storage ring and a flat surface of the plurality of electric rings; and

wherein the first energy storage ring is interchangeable with another energy storage ring.

16. The structure of claim 15 , further comprising a second energy storage ring having a hollow inner region comprising an energy storage device electrically connected to an energy transmission device, wherein the energy transmission device of the second energy storage ring is configured to transmit energy to the energy receiver device of the plurality of electric rings.

17. The structure of claim 15 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:

one or more male connectors on a surface of a first ring;

one or more magnets on a surface of a first ring;

one or more female connectors on a surface of a second ring; and

one or more magnets on a surface of a second ring,

wherein each of the first ring and second ring may be either the energy storage ring or at least one electric ring of the plurality of electric rings.

18. The structure of claim 15 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include a display around an outer surface of the plurality of electric rings.

19. The structure of claim 15 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include a computer readable storage medium and a processor.

20. The structure of claim 15 , wherein the one or more energy consuming devices include one or more wireless communication devices.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2015
From: BREEDVELT-SCHOUTEN, IISE M.; JENKINS, JANA H.; KUSNITZ, JEFFREY A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035626/0114 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160336755A1 · Nov 17, 2016