초록 ▼

A flux generator base unit electromagnetically coupled with a receiving unit to transfer energy into the receiving unit. The base unit includes one or more permanent magnets that produce a magnetic flux, which passes through a receiver coil in the receiving unit. The receiver coil is either disposed

A flux generator base unit electromagnetically coupled with a receiving unit to transfer energy into the receiving unit. The base unit includes one or more permanent magnets that produce a magnetic flux, which passes through a receiver coil in the receiving unit. The receiver coil is either disposed in a separate housing that is electrically connected with a portable device, or integrated into the housing of the portable device. Either the permanent magnets or a flux shunt is moved in the base unit to produce the varying magnetic flux that is coupled to the receiver coil. As a result of the varying magnetic field experienced by the receiver coil, an electric current is induced in the receiver coil, which is conditioned (e.g., rectified, filtered, and regulated) by a conditioning circuit to charge a battery or energize electronics contained in the portable device. Various embodiments of both the base unit and receiving unit are disclosed, including "universal" base units suitable for operation with different size receiving units.

대표청구항 ▼

[ The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following:] [1.]1. A contactless electrical energy transfer apparatus comprising:(a) a portable device including:(i) a receiver coil; and(ii) a housing in which the receiver coil is disposed; and(b) a flux generator including:(

[ The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following:] [1.]1. A contactless electrical energy transfer apparatus comprising:(a) a portable device including:(i) a receiver coil; and(ii) a housing in which the receiver coil is disposed; and(b) a flux generator including:(i) a housing adapted to be positioned proximate to the housing for the receiver coil;(ii) a magnetic field generator disposed within the housing for the flux generator and comprising at least one permanent magnet and a flux shunt, said at least one permanent magnet being fixed relative to the receiver coil; and(iii) a prime mover that is drivingly coupled to said flux shunt, said flux shunt being thereby caused by the prime mover to intermittently pass adjacent to pole faces of said at least one permanent magnet so as to provide a magnetic flux shunt path between the pole faces, thereby varying a magnetic field coupled with the core of the receiver coil to induce an electrical current to flow in the receiver coil.