Pliable Wireless Charging Surface for Irregular Device Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless power transfer systems face challenges in optimizing operation, user friendliness, and compatibility for a diverse range of devices with different physical designs and properties, particularly in achieving efficient and flexible power transfer.
Innovation Solution
A wireless power transmitter with a pliable member that adapts its shape to conform to the contact surface of the power receiver, incorporating a power transfer coil that adjusts to match the receiver's shape, and a chamber filled with compressible material to enhance coupling and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid contact surface is used in the power transmitter, then the structural stability is improved, but the adaptability to different device shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible membrane as the contact surface between the power transmitter and receiver. This membrane can deform and adapt to various device shapes while maintaining structural integrity through its elastic properties, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact surface is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing it to change shape in response to different devices. The membrane can adjust its configuration to match the geometry of various power receivers, providing both stability and adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the power transfer coil is fixed in a rigid structure, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power transfer coil is integrated into or mounted on a flexible membrane rather than a rigid structure. This approach simplifies manufacturing as the membrane can be formed in various configurations more easily than rigid structures, while the coil positioning is maintained through the membrane's inherent properties or simple attachment methods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pliable contact surface is used to adapt to irregular device shapes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple flexible membrane to achieve adaptability to irregular device shapes. This single-component solution provides the necessary compliance and shape adaptation without requiring complex mechanisms, actuators, or multiple parts, thereby maintaining low device complexity while achieving high adaptability.
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
Improves power transfer efficiency and compatibility by increasing contact area and stability for devices with irregular shapes, facilitating manufacturing and reducing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
power is inductively transferred from a transmitter coil in a power transmitter device to a receiver coil in the individual devices
Implementation Method 2
a pliable member comprising the power transfer coil and being adapted to provide a pliable contact surface for receiving the power receiver, the pliable contact surface being arranged to adapt a shape (of the pliable contact surface) to a contact surface of the power receiver
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless power transmitter (101) wirelessly provides power to a power receiver (105) via an electromagnetic power transfer signal and comprises a power transfer coil (103) arranged to generate the electromagnetic power transfer signal in response to a power circuit (201) providing a drive signal to the power transfer coil (103). The power transmitter includes a pliable member (405, 503) which comprises the power transfer coil (103) and which provides a pliable contact surface (505) for receiving the power receiver (105). The pliable contact surface (405) is arranged to adapt a shape to a contact surface of the power receiver (105). The approach may e.g. provide improved coupling between power transfer coils for an increasing range of different power receivers.