Wireless Charging Toolbox for Automatic Tool Battery Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Workers face inefficiencies and productivity losses due to the frequent need to change tool batteries, especially in environments where multiple tools and batteries are used daily.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a wireless power transmitter with capacitively tuned antennas and amplifiers within storage containers, such as toolboxes, to wirelessly charge receivers connected to tool batteries or tools directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual battery changing is used for tool charging, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to frequent battery changes and time spent searching for charged batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container automatically detects when a tool or battery is placed inside and initiates wireless charging without user intervention. The system self-manages the charging process, eliminating the need for workers to manually change batteries or monitor charging status, thereby improving productivity while keeping the interface simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container integrates multiple functions: storage, wireless charging, and battery management. By combining these functions into a single system, the patent improves productivity without proportionally increasing complexity, as the container serves multiple purposes simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If wireless power transmitter is embedded in storage container, then ease of operation improves by eliminating manual battery changes, but device complexity increases due to integrated charging system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage container and wireless power transmitter into a single integrated unit. This combination improves ease of operation by eliminating the need to separately handle charging devices, while the merging itself helps manage complexity by consolidating components rather than adding separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system automatically detects tools or batteries placed in the container and initiates charging without user intervention. This self-service capability improves ease of operation significantly, as workers simply place items in the container without needing to understand or interact with the charging mechanism.
3Loss of time
If multiple tools and batteries are managed manually, then loss of time occurs due to frequent battery changes and searching for charged batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when tools or batteries are placed in the container and initiates charging without user intervention. It also tracks charging status and notifies users when charging is complete, eliminating the time workers would spend manually monitoring and managing battery charging across multiple tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to users about the charging status of tools and batteries, enabling them to understand the state of their equipment without manual checking. This feedback mechanism reduces time loss by eliminating the need for workers to repeatedly check battery status and make decisions about which batteries to charge.
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 enhances worker productivity by eliminating the need for manual battery changes, reducing time spent searching for charged batteries, and improving overall efficiency in battery management.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless power transmitter comprising one or more transmitter antennas capacitively tuned to substantially resonate
Implementation Method 2
transmitter antennas capacitively tuned to substantially resonate
Implementation Method 3
wireless power transmitter...configured to wirelessly provide power to one or more wireless power receivers
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes sidewalls and a bottom portion defining an interior storage space with a wireless power transmitter comprising one or more transmitter antennas capacitively tuned to substantially resonate and driven by one or more amplifiers. The wireless power transmitter is embedded in at least one of the sidewalls or the bottom portion and is configured to wirelessly provide power to one or more wireless power receivers positioned within the interior storage space.