Wireless Power Alignment for Contactless Tabletop Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless power transfer systems for conferencing devices require drilling into expensive and exotic materials, making installation and future updates challenging due to the need for permanent modifications, and they often lack a method to ensure proper alignment for optimal power transfer.
Innovation Solution
A wireless power transfer system that allows for contactless installation by placing a power supplying device underneath a surface and a powered device on top, using a contactless configuration to transmit both power and data signals, with an alignment module to indicate sufficient power reception and ensure proper alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless power transfer systems use traditional wired installation methods, then power supply reliability is improved, but installation complexity and surface modification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical wired connections with wireless electromagnetic field-based power transmission. The system uses electromagnetic coupling between a power transmitting device and power receiving device to transfer power without physical cable connections, thereby eliminating the need for drilling holes in expensive tables and complex cable routing while maintaining power supply reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary medium to transfer power between devices. The electromagnetic field acts as a mediator that carries energy from the power source to the consuming device without requiring direct physical contact or wired connections, solving the contradiction between reliable power supply and installation simplicity.
2Reliability
If holes are drilled into expensive exotic table materials for cable passage, then power supply stability is improved, but table integrity and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical drilling and cable penetration by using wireless electromagnetic power transmission. This allows power to be supplied to devices on the table surface without compromising the table's structural integrity or aesthetic appearance, as no holes need to be drilled into the expensive exotic materials.
3Stability of the object's composition
If permanent modifications are made to installation surfaces, then device stability is improved, but adaptability for future updates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic, reconfigurable wireless power system that can be easily adapted and repositioned. The power transmitting and receiving devices can be moved, added, or removed without permanent modifications to the table, providing both stability during operation and flexibility for future updates when conferencing equipment changes every three to five years.
4Device complexity
If wireless power transfer is implemented without alignment indication, then system simplicity is improved, but power transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms including alignment indicators that provide real-time information about the coupling status between power transmitting and receiving devices. This feedback allows users to optimize the alignment and distance between devices, ensuring maximum power transfer efficiency while maintaining system simplicity through intuitive visual or auditory signals.
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 wireless power transfer without modifying the surface, reducing installation disruption and allowing for easy updates, while ensuring effective power coupling through alignment indicators.
Implementation Method 1
Wireless power transfer may be useful for powering electrical devices where interconnecting wires are inconvenient, messy, hazardous, or simply, not possible. Typical wireless power transfer systems include a power transmitting device that draws electric power from a power source
Implementation Method 2
a powered device on top configured to wirelessly receive the power and the data signal, wherein the powered device includes an alignment module configured to indicate whether a current position of the powered device is sufficiently aligned with the power supplying device
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless power transfer system is provided, comprising a first device having a power supply and configured to wirelessly transmit electric power from the power supply, and a second device having one or more electrical components and configured to wirelessly receive the electric power and provide it to the one or more electrical components for consumption. The second device further comprises an alignment module configured to activate an indicator if a measured level of the received power is greater than a threshold level. Also provided is a wireless system comprising a first device having a power supply and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a data signal and an electric power signal, and a second device having a wireless receiver configured to receive the electric power signal and data signal, and one or more electrical components configured to consume the received power and process the received data.