Inductive Wireless Charging for Electronic Toys
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
USB-based electronic toys require tethered charging, limiting their convenience and utility, and conventional battery-powered toys become inoperable when flat, necessitating frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
An inductively coupled power transfer system using an internal charge pad, storage capacitor, and discharge device that wirelessly powers a mechanism within the toy, eliminating the need for USB cables or batteries and allowing rapid recharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If USB-based toys use tethered charging via cable, then they can be charged reliably, but their convenience and mobility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tethered charging system (USB cable connection) with an inductive wireless charging system. The charging plate and internal charge pad create an electromagnetic field that transfers energy without physical contact, eliminating the mechanical constraint of the cable while maintaining reliable charging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electromagnetic field between the charging plate and the toy's internal charge pad. This field acts as a mediator to transfer energy wirelessly, replacing the direct physical connection of the USB cable and enabling convenient wireless charging.
2Duration of action of moving object
If conventional batteries are used in toys, then they can provide portable power, but they become inoperable when flat and require frequent replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service charging system where the toy automatically recharges itself by placing it on the charging plate. The inductive charging plate detects the toy's presence and automatically transfers energy to the internal charge pad, eliminating the need for manual battery replacement and ensuring continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary charging action by continuously replenishing the energy stored in the internal charge pad and storage capacitor. Before the toy becomes inoperable, the system automatically recharges it through the charging plate, preventing the inoperability issue associated with depleted batteries.
3Ease of operation
If wireless inductive charging is implemented, then convenience and mobility are improved, but the system complexity increases with charging plate and capacitor components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wireless charging system into two separate components: a charging plate (external infrastructure) and an internal charge pad with storage capacitor (embedded in the toy). This segmentation allows the complex inductive charging mechanism to be distributed, with the simpler components embedded in the toy while the charging plate handles the complex electromagnetic field generation.
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
Enables the toy to operate without wired mechanisms, providing extended functionality and convenience through wireless charging and recharging, allowing the toy to perform continuously with repeated energy storage and discharge.
Implementation Method 1
the charging plate inductively couples with the toy's internal charge pad which induces a voltage in the internal charge pad
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic toys have now been around for years and are powered through mechanisms that require a toy to be tethered to a cable or utilize conventional batteries. Such toys are inconvenient because they consume a user's time to re-charge them, which in turn also limits the utility of these toys. Embodiments of this invention implement toys using an inductively coupled power transfer system, which is a wireless mechanism that is convenient to use and provides a faster way for the user to re-charge the toy. Some embodiments include an electronic device comprising an inductive charging plate, and a toy comprising an internal charge pad, a storage capacitor set to a predetermined voltage level, and a discharging device that discharges a function to implement the toy.