Magnet-Aligned Wireless Charging Interface for Wearable Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices such as AR glasses, smartwatches, and handheld controllers face challenges with powering electrical components, as wired charging can be unreliable and expose devices to environmental damage, while wireless charging efficiency is a concern due to logistical and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of various magnetic core, multi-winding transmitter coil, and receiver coil configurations for wireless charging, allowing magnetic alignment without reverse polarity issues and enabling low-speed data transmission, which enhances charging efficiency and reliability by using bipolar magnets and ferromagnetic materials to induce a charging voltage via magnetic induction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired charging is used for wearable devices, then charging reliability is improved, but device exposure to environmental damage and wear-and-tear increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging reliabilityVSAvoidenvironmental damage and wear-and-tear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired charging connection with a wireless electromagnetic field-based charging system. The transmitter coil generates an electromagnetic field that induces current in the receiver coil, eliminating the need for physical connectors and thereby removing the device from exposure to environmental factors and mechanical wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary medium to transfer energy between the charging source and the wearable device. This intermediary allows power transfer without direct physical contact, solving the contradiction between reliable charging and environmental exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If wireless charging is implemented for wearable devices, then protection from environmental damage is improved, but charging efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental damage protectionVSAvoidcharging efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs ferromagnetic materials with specific local magnetic properties to concentrate and guide the electromagnetic field precisely where needed. This local optimization of magnetic field distribution minimizes energy loss while maintaining the wireless charging advantage of environmental protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite structures combining ferromagnetic materials with conductive coils to create an efficient wireless charging system. The ferromagnetic core enhances the electromagnetic coupling between transmitter and receiver, improving charging efficiency while preserving the wireless protection benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If magnetic alignment is implemented without reverse polarity issues, then charging reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging reliabilityVSAvoidcoil configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the polarity management function from the coil configuration by using ferromagnetic materials that naturally guide magnetic flux in a single direction. This extraction eliminates reverse polarity issues without requiring complex active control systems, maintaining reliability while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This solution provides efficient and reliable wireless charging for wearable devices, ensuring water-proofing and reducing wear-and-tear related reliability concerns, while allowing for low-speed data transmission during charging, thus improving the usability and longevity of these devices.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitter coil arranged outside the wearable device to generate a charging voltage for the wearable device via magnetic induction with the receiver coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

allowing magnetic alignment without reverse polarity issues

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic alignment: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS20230361601A1Wireless charging for wearable devices

Publication Date: 2023.11.09 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

According to examples, a charging interface for a wearable device may include a receiver coil arranged inside the wearable device; a transmitter coil arranged outside the wearable device, where the transmitter coil is to generate a charging voltage for the wearable device via magnetic induction with the receiver coil. The charging interface may include a first pair of magnets having respective polarity axes and positioned at top and bottom portions of the transmitter coil, and a second pair of magnets having respective polarity axes and positioned at top and bottom portions of the receiver coil. The polarity axes to may be aligned with an attachment plane between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil. Furthermore, the polarity axes of the first pair of magnets may be reversed with respect to corresponding second pair of magnets.