Flux Guiding Members for Inductive Charging in Personal Care Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal care products with rechargeable power sources face challenges in accommodating charging components due to limited internal space, leading to increased size or undesirable component placement, and magnetic fields from docking magnets can interfere with inductive charging efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A personal care product system with a stand and handle featuring permanent docking magnets and inductive charging coils, along with flux guiding members to concentrate magnetic fields, allowing for efficient charging while maintaining a small form factor and minimizing magnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the personal care product includes inductive charging coils and docking magnets, then charging functionality is provided, but the internal space is limited and component placement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the inductive charging coil and docking magnet in nested or closely integrated arrangements within the handle and stand structures. The charging coil is embedded within the available internal volume, and the docking magnet is positioned to utilize the same spatial region, allowing both components to coexist in a compact configuration that maximizes the use of limited internal space.
2Force
If docking magnets are positioned close to inductive charging coils, then magnetic coupling strength is improved, but magnetic field interference with charging efficacy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flux guiding members with specific magnetic permeability properties positioned strategically between the docking magnets and charging coils. These flux guides create localized magnetic field pathways that direct the magnetic flux through intended paths, allowing strong magnetic coupling at the docking interface while shielding the charging coil region from interfering magnetic fields. This local differentiation of magnetic field characteristics enables both strong coupling and effective charging.
3Reliability
If the distance between docking magnets and inductive charging components is increased to reduce interference, then charging efficacy is improved, but docking alignment and compact design are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces flux guiding members as intermediary components between the docking magnets and charging coils. These flux guides act as mediators that manage the magnetic field interactions, allowing the magnets and coils to be positioned in close proximity for compact design and easy alignment, while the flux guides prevent harmful magnetic field interference from reaching the charging components. The intermediary flux guides enable close positioning without sacrificing charging efficacy.
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 system enables effective inductive charging with improved magnetic field concentration, reducing interference and allowing for proper alignment, thus enhancing charging efficiency and maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
The stand inductive charging coil is configured to generate a magnetic field that penetrates the handle inductive charging coil to charge the rechargeable battery
Implementation Method 2
A first handle permanent docking magnet is positioned within the handle that is configured to generate an attraction force sufficient to hold the handle to the stand when placed in proximity to the first stand permanent docking magnet
Implementation Method 3
a handle flux guiding member having at least a portion positioned within the handle inductive charging coil and a stand flux guiding member having at least a portion positioned within the stand inductive charging coil
Data Source
AI summary
A personal care product system is provided. The personal care product system has a stand that has a first and second stand permanent docking magnet. A stand inductive charging coil is also positioned within the stand. A handle that has first and second handle permanent docking magnets is removably mounted to the stand. A handle inductive charging coil is positioned within the handle. The handle has a first handle flux guiding member and a second handle flux guiding member. The stand has a first stand flux guiding member.