Flexible Wireless Charger for Coil Alignment Across Device Shapes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless chargers are inefficient and clutter-prone due to mismatched geometries between charging coils and receiver coils, requiring separate chargers for different device shapes, and often involve cumbersome cables.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, inductive wireless charger integrated into an information handling system that conforms to the shape of various devices, ensuring equidistant alignment of charging and receiver coils for efficient power transfer, and includes a retractable design to minimize clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid wireless charger with fixed geometry is used, then the charging coil geometry is simple to manufacture, but it cannot conform to devices of various shapes, reducing charging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless charger employs a flexible substrate that allows the charging coil to dynamically change its shape and conform to the geometry of different devices being charged. This dynamic adaptability enables the charger to work efficiently with devices of various shapes without requiring multiple fixed-geometry chargers, while the flexible nature of the substrate maintains manufacturing feasibility through standard flexible circuit board techniques.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless chargers are used to accommodate different device shapes, then each charger can be optimized for its specific device type, but it increases device complexity and creates clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless charger is designed with universal adaptability through its flexible substrate that can conform to various device geometries. A single charger unit can charge smartphones, tablets, wearables, and other devices with different shapes by allowing the charging coil to flex and align with the receiver coil of each device type, eliminating the need for multiple specialized chargers and reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If the charging coil does not align equidistantly with the receiver coil, then the charger structure is simpler, but inductive power transfer efficiency decreases and heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging coil is mounted on a flexible substrate that enables precise alignment with the receiver coil of the device being charged. The flexibility allows the charging coil to conform to the device shape and maintain equidistant alignment across the entire contact surface, optimizing magnetic coupling and inductive power transfer efficiency while minimizing thermal losses through proper geometric alignment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible charger optimizes charging efficiency for multiple device geometries, reduces clutter, and eliminates the need for multiple chargers, while providing a neat and efficient charging solution.
Implementation Method 1
The wireless charger has a charging coil configured to inductively charge the wireless device
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless charger inductively charges devices of various shapes and/or types, such as with multiple bend radii. Smartphones, headphones, key fobs, and other wireless devices may be laid atop the wireless charger. The wireless charger has flexible and pliable features that conform to the shape of the wireless device. The flexible and pliable features maintain a conformal relationship with the wireless device laid atop the wireless charger. The flexible and pliable features increase the efficiency of inductive power transfer and can reduce charge times and/or reduce heat generated due to thermal losses.