Abstract:
A combination receptacle including a wireless power transmitter electrically coupled to a power source, wherein the wireless power transmitter is structured to receive power from the power source and to wirelessly transmit said power, a socket electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the socket is structured to receive power from the power source and to physically and electrically connect to a power cord to provide the power to a wired device electrically coupled to the power cord, and an enclosure structured to house the wireless power transmitter and the socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field 
         [0002]    The disclosed concept relates generally to receptacles, and in particular, to receptacles for providing a combination of types of power. The disclosed concept also relates to wireless power systems. 
         [0003]    Background Information 
         [0004]    Electricity is often provided to electric devices via an electrical receptacle in the wall or floor of a room. Electrical receptacles are usually duplex-type electrical receptacles that include two sockets coupled together with a common housing. Each socket is able to electrically connect to and provide power to one power cord. 
         [0005]    Some electric devices, such as phones, are able to be wirelessly charged via a wireless power receiver integrated into the device or an associated adapter. A wireless power receiver is configured to wirelessly receive power via inductive coupling from an associated wireless power transmitter. Prior wireless power transmitters have been sold as stand-alone devices, such as accessories for phones. 
         [0006]    There is a co-existence of electric devices that are configured to receive power from a power cord or other type of wire and electric devices that are configured to receive power via wireless power transmission. There is a need to provide power for both of these types of electric devices. 
         [0007]    There is room for improvement in receptacles. 
         [0008]    There is also room for improvement in wireless power systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    These needs and others are met by embodiments of the disclosed concept in which a combination receptacle includes a socket configured to provide wired power and a wireless power transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power. 
         [0010]    In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed concept, a combination receptacle, comprises: a wireless power transmitter electrically coupled to a power source, wherein the wireless power transmitter is structured to receive power from the power source and to wirelessly transmit said power; a socket electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the socket is structured to receive power from the power source and to physically and electrically connect to a power cord to provide the power to a wired device electrically coupled to the power cord; and an enclosure structured to house the wireless power transmitter and the socket. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed concept, a wireless power system, comprises: a power source; and a combination receptacle including: a wireless power transmitter electrically coupled to a power source, wherein the wireless power transmitter is structured to receive power from the power source and to wirelessly transmit said power; and a socket electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the socket is structured to receive power from the power source and to physically and electrically connect to a power cord to provide power via the power cord; and an enclosure structured to house the wireless power transmitter and the socket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a wireless power system in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a wireless power system in accordance with another example embodiment of the disclosed concept; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a combination receptacle in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a combination receptacle in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a wireless power transmitter in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, left, right, front, back, top, bottom and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein. 
         [0020]    As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “coupled” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts. 
         [0021]    A schematic diagram of a wireless power system  1  in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept is shown in  FIG. 1 . The wireless power system  1  includes a combination receptacle  10  in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept. 
         [0022]    The combination receptacle  10  is coupled to a power source  2  and is configured to receive power from the power source  2 . In some example embodiments of the disclosed concept, the power source  2  is utility power such as, for example and without limitation, 120 VAC power that is common in residential and commercial establishments in the United States and other countries. However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, that the power source  2  may be any other type of power or utility power without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. 
         [0023]    The combination receptacle  10  includes terminals  16 ,  18  and  20  configured to electrically couple the combination receptacle  10  to the power source  2  and ground. The terminals  16 ,  18  and  20  may include a line terminal  16 , a neutral terminal  18  and a ground terminal  20 . The terminals  16 ,  18  and  20  may be any type of terminal or wire connection, suitable to establish an electrical connection with a wire or another connector. 
         [0024]    The combination receptacle  10  includes a wireless power transmitter  12  and a socket  14 . Internal wiring (not shown) inside the combination receptacle  10  electrically connects the terminals  16 ,  18  and  20  to the wireless power transmitter  12  and the socket  14 . The wireless power transmitter  12  and the socket  14  are configured to receive power from the power source  2  via the line and neutral terminals  16 , 18 . The socket  14  is configured to receive an electrical plug or other type of connector and to create a wired electrical connection with a wired device  30 . The socket  14  is configured to provide power from the power source  2  to the wired device  30  via the wired connection with the wired device  30 . The wired device  30  may be any type of electrical device that it configured to receive power via a wired connection. 
         [0025]    The wireless power transmitter  12  is configured to wirelessly transmit power that it has received from the power source  2 . A wireless device  40  including a wireless receiver  42  configured to receive wirelessly transmitted power may receive the wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter  12  and use it to power the wireless device  40 . The wireless device  40  may be any type of device that is configured to receive and use wirelessly transmitted power such as, for example and without limitation, a smartphone. 
         [0026]    In some example embodiments of the disclosed concept, such as the example wireless power system  1 ′ of  FIG. 2 , the wireless power receiver  42 ′ is not integrated into a wireless device. Rather, the wireless power receiver  42 ′ is configured to receive the wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmitter  12  and provide it to a wired device  30 ′ via a wired connection such as, without limitation, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector or a Lightning connector. In some example embodiments of the disclosed concept, the wireless power receiver  42 ′ is an adapter configured for use with a smartphone and the wired device  30 ′ is a smartphone. However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the wireless power receiver  42 ′ and the wired device  30 ′ may be different combinations of devices without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a more detailed schematic diagram of the wireless power transmitter  12  and the wireless power receiver  42  in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept. The wireless power transmitter  12  includes a transmitter power converter  13  and a transmitter coil  15 . The transmitter power converter  13  is configured to receive input power from a power source such as the power source  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . The transmitter power converter  13  includes circuitry to convert the received input power to be wirelessly transmitted by the transmitter coil  15 . The transmitter coil  15  is electrically connected to an output of the transmitter power converter  13  and is structured to receive and wirelessly transmit the power output from the transmitter power converter  13 . 
         [0028]    The wireless power receiver  42  includes a receiver power converter  43  and a receiver coil  45 . The receiver coil  45  is structured to receiver the power transmitted by the transmitter coil  15  the wireless power transmitter  12 . In more detail, the transmitter coil  15  and the receiver coil  45  become inductively coupled whereby current flowing through the transmitter coil  15  creates an electromagnetic field that induces current to flow through the receiver coil  45 . The transmitter coil  15  and the receiver coil  45  may also be in resonance to help power flow in a loosely coupled system. The receiver power converter  43  is electrically connected to the receiver coil  45  and is structured to receive the output of the receiver coil  45 . The receiver power converter  43  includes circuitry to convert the power received from the receiver coil  45  so that it can be output as output power that is useful for electrical devices such as the wireless device  40  of  FIG. 1  or the wired device  30 ′ of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the combination receptacle  10  in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , the combination receptacle  10  includes an enclosure  50 , 51 . The enclosure  50 , 51  houses the wireless power transmitter  12  and the socket  14  so as to create a single integrated device including both the wireless power transmitter  12  and the socket  14 . The enclosure  50 , 51  includes a rear enclosure  50  and a front enclosure  51 . The rear enclosure  51  is attached to the front enclosure  50  via mounting screws or other suitable fasteners (not shown). Also, in the example embodiment of the disclosed concept shown in  FIG. 4 , the terminals  16 ,  18  and  20  are wire leads extending from the rear enclosure  50 . However, as previously described, the terminals  16 ,  18  and  20  may be any suitable type of device for establishing an electrical connection without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. 
         [0030]    In the example of  FIG. 4 , the combination receptacle  10  further includes a pair of brackets  52  coupled to the enclosure  50 , 51  at the top front and bottom front portions of the front enclosure  51 . The brackets  52  are configured to allow the combination receptacle  10  to be installed in, for example, an electrical box. 
         [0031]    In the example of  FIG. 4 , the socket  14  includes three openings  54  for receiving prongs of an electrical plug. However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that any number and configuration of openings  54  may be employed in the socket  14  without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the combination receptacle  10  in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept. In the example of  FIG. 5 , the combination receptacle  10  is shown installed in, for example and without limitation, an electrical box (not shown). An associated wall plate  56  is also coupled to the electrical wall plate so as to hide the brackets  52  ( FIG. 4 ) of the combination receptacle  10  and provide an aesthetically pleasing installation. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the wireless power transmitter  12  in accordance with an example embodiment of the disclosed concept. In the example embodiment of the disclosed concept of  FIG. 6 , the wireless power transmitter  12  includes a housing  60  configured to house the components of the wireless power transmitter  12  such as the transmitter power converter  13  and the transmitter coil  15  ( FIG. 3 ). The wireless power transmitter  12  also includes terminals  62 ,  64  and  66  (e.g., without limitation, wire leads) for electrically connecting the wireless power transmitter  12  to the terminals  16 ,  18  and  20  of the combination receptacle  10  so as to receive power from the power source  2  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0034]    While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.