Re-configurable coded inductive charging system

摘要

A method comprising supplying current to charging elements, a charging element producing a configurable magnetic field polarity, magnetic field polarities produced by the charging elements according to a charging polarity code. The method determines a relative position between a receiving element and a charging element, receiving elements fixedly electrically connected according to the charging polarity code, responsive to determining, re-configuring a magnetic field polarity of one or more of the charging elements due to movement of the receiving elements relative to the charging elements, and inducing a charging current by the charging elements in the receiving elements to increase power transfer from the charging elements to the receiving elements.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a charging station disposed in an upper region of a garment worn about a wearer's chest, the charging station further comprising hack iron and charging elements, responsive to current supplied to a charging element, the charging element to produce a magnetic field for coupling to a receiving element in a helmet worn by the wearer, magnetic fields produced by the charging elements according to a charging polarity code; a battery disposed in the helmet for charging by the charging station; a plurality of receiving elements fixedly electrically connected according to the charging polarity code in the helmet, the charging elements greater in number than the plurality of receiving elements; the back iron spaced apart from the charging elements and connected across a back plane of the charging elements, the hack iron to confine magnetic flux created by the charging elements in a direction toward the plurality of receiving elements; one or more sensors at the charging station or at the helmet for sensing relative positions between a receiving element and a charging element as a head of the wearer moves relative to the garment; a processor at the charging station for re-configuring a magnetic field polarity of one or more of the charging elements due to movement of the receiving elements relative to the charging elements as determined by the one or more sensors; and those charging elements aligned with the plurality of receiving elements for to inductively induce a charging current in the plurality receiving elements to increase power transfer from the charging elements to the plurality of receiving elements.