Wireless Charging System for Battery Operated Toys

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Battery-operated devices often require frequent battery changes, which are inconvenient and disruptive to users, especially when rechargeable batteries are not designed for frequent removal or replacement, causing devices to be unusable during charging and potentially losing volatile memory data.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the recharging process into normal usage patterns of devices by using thematically consistent charging devices and activities, such as placing a doll in a 'bed' or a toy horse in a 'stable', and employing wireless detection and charging systems that allow continuous interaction during the charging process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If rechargeable batteries are integrated into devices, then recurring battery purchasing costs are reduced, but the device becomes unusable during recharging and may lose volatile memory data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery purchasing costVSAvoiddevice usability during charging

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into removable rechargeable battery packs that can be separated from the device. This allows the battery to be recharged independently while the device remains usable with a different battery pack, resolving the contradiction between reducing battery purchasing costs and maintaining device usability during charging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple battery packs are prepared in advance, allowing one battery to be recharged while another is ready for immediate use. This preliminary preparation eliminates device downtime and maintains continuous usability while still benefiting from rechargeable battery cost savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional alkaline or zinc-chloride batteries are used, then devices are easy to obtain batteries in standardized sizes, but batteries must be changed frequently imposing cost and hassle on consumers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery availability in standard sizesVSAvoidtime spent changing batteries

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares multiple rechargeable battery packs in advance, so when one battery needs recharging, another ready-to-use battery is already available. This eliminates the time spent frequently changing batteries while maintaining the benefit of standardized battery sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from disposable non-rechargeable batteries to rechargeable batteries, changing the operational parameter from single-use to multiple-use cycles. This reduces the frequency of battery changes and the associated time loss, while maintaining compatibility with standard battery sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If rechargeable batteries are used without multiple sets available, then battery purchasing cost is reduced, but the device becomes unusable during the recharging period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery purchasing costVSAvoiddevice operational continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into separate removable packs, allowing one pack to be recharged while the device operates on another pack. This segmentation maintains device operational continuity while still utilizing cost-effective rechargeable batteries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple battery packs are prepared in advance, ensuring continuous device operation while one or more packs are recharging. This preliminary preparation eliminates device downtime and maintains operational continuity without requiring expensive high-capacity single batteries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Reduces user inconvenience by making the recharging process less burdensome and seamless, allowing devices to remain interactive and usable during charging, while minimizing the effort required for recharging through systematic detection and wireless charging.

Implementation Method 1

detecting and wirelessly recharging a battery-operated device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless energy transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9531208B2Charging and communicating with battery operated toys

Publication Date: 2016.12.27 DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC

AI summary

Methods and a system for the recharging of battery-operated devices, whereby the recharging process is made less burdensome and inconvenient to the users of the devices. Embodiments provide for incorporating recharging into the normal usage patterns for the devices using activities consistent with predetermined intended usage of the devices, thereby causing the user to perceive less inconvenience. Other embodiments provide for systematically detecting and wirelessly recharging devices, whereby the burden to the users may be reduced or entirely eliminated.