IP Library Granted Patent US 11,476,707
Granted Patent B2
US 11,476,707 · App. 17/108,923 · Granted Oct 18, 2022

Wireless power system housing

Inventors: Srinivasa V. Thirumalai Ananthan Pillai (San Jose, CA); Paul J. Hack (San Jose, CA); Timothy J. Rasmussen (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H02J50/005H02J50/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,476,707
App. No.
17/108,923
Granted
Oct 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wireless power system has a wireless power transmitting device such as a charging puck and a wireless power receiving device such as a battery-operated device. The charging puck may be connected to a plug via a cable. The plug may include a boot and a connector. The boot may house a printed circuit board that is positioned closer to one of the boot housing walls.

Claims (55)

1. A wireless power transmitting device, comprising:

a device housing;

at least one wireless power transmitting coil within the device housing;

a cable having a first end connected to the device housing and having a second end; and

a plug connected to the second end of the cable, wherein the plug comprises:

a boot with a boot housing having an upper wall and a lower wall;

a connector extending from the boot;

a printed circuit board disposed within the boot housing, wherein the printed circuit board is positioned a first distance from the upper wall and a second distance, different than the first distance, from the lower wall;

an active electronic component disposed on an upper surface of the printed circuit board facing the upper wall;

a passive electronic component disposed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board facing the upper wall; and

an underfill barrier structure disposed on the upper surface between the active electronic component and the passive electronic component, wherein underfill material is disposed under the active electronic component and wherein the passive electronic component is free of underfill material.

2. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, wherein the active electronic component has a first height, and wherein the plug comprises an additional passive electronic component having a second height, greater than the first height, mounted on a lower surface of the printed circuit board facing the lower wall.

3. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1 , wherein:

the device housing houses an inverter configured to drive the at least one wireless power transmitting coil and houses a device microcontroller; and

the boot housing houses a converter and a boot microcontroller that communicates with the device microcontroller.

4. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 3 , wherein:

the second distance is greater than the first distance; and

the converter comprises an inductor mounted on a lower surface of the printed circuit board facing the lower wall.

5. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises:

a plurality of passive electronic components mounted on a lower surface of the printed circuit board facing the lower wall.

6. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 5 , wherein the active electronic component has a first height, and wherein the plurality of passive electronic components have second heights greater than the first height.

7. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 6 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

8. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 5 , wherein a region between the plurality of passive electronic components and the lower surface of the printed circuit board is devoid of underfill material.

9. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises:

only passive electronic components disposed on a lower surface of the printed circuit board facing the lower wall.

10. A wireless power transmitting device, comprising:

a device housing;

at least one wireless power transmitting coil within the device housing;

a cable having a first end connected to the device housing and having a second end; and

a plug connected to the second end of the cable, wherein the plug comprises:

a boot with a boot housing;

a connector extending from the boot;

a printed circuit board disposed within the boot housing;

only active components having first heights disposed on a first outer surface of the printed circuit board;

passive components having second heights, greater than the first height, disposed on a second outer surface of the printed circuit board opposing the first outer surface; and

an underfill barrier structure separating the second outer surface of the printed circuit board into a first region in which the passive components are disposed and a second region, wherein the first region is free of underfill material and wherein the second region includes underfill material.

11. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 10 , wherein the second heights are at least 50% greater than the first heights.

12. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 10 , wherein:

the active components comprise a boot microcontroller; and

the passive components comprise an inductor and a capacitor.

13. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 10 , wherein:

the boot housing has an upper wall and a lower wall; and

the printed circuit board is positioned a first distance from the upper wall and a second distance, different than the first distance, from the lower wall.

14. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 13 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

15. The wireless power transmitting device of claim 14 , wherein the second distance is at least 20% greater than the first distance.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a first wall, and a second wall opposing the first wall;

a connector extending from the first end of the housing;

a cable extending from the second end of the housing;

a circuit board disposed within the housing and positioned a first distance from the first wall and a second distance, greater than the first distance, from the second wall;

first electronic components disposed on a first surface of the circuit board facing the first wall; and

underfill material disposed under the first electronic components;

second electronic components disposed on a second surface of the circuit board facing the second wall, the second electronic components being free of underfill material; and

an underfill barrier structure at least partially surrounding the second electronic components on the second surface of the circuit board.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first electronic components comprise active components having first heights and wherein the second electronic components comprise passive components having second heights, greater than the first heights.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2023
From: IACOB, ALIN THEODOR
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 065249/0661 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2020
From: THIRUMALAI ANANTHAN PILLAI, SRINIVASA V.; HACK, PAUL J.; RASMUSSEN, TIMOTHY J.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 054638/0819 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63088234 · Oct 6, 2020
Related Publication 20220109328A1 · Apr 7, 2022