Wireless Powering Device And Electrical Apparatus

A wireless powering device includes a plurality of transmitting coils and a single transmitting circuit board to which the transmitting coils are electrically connected in series.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a powering device and, more particularly, to a wireless powering device.

BACKGROUND

The emergence of wireless power supply technology has brought great convenience to the power supply of moving parts in electrical apparatuses. The wireless power supply technology may completely avoid many problems caused by physical wear, for example, along with problems related to safety, service life, and maintenance of the electrical apparatus. Moreover, the wireless power supply technology may greatly enhance the degree of freedom in the structural design of the electrical apparatus, and increase the aesthetic and functional features of the electrical apparatus, especially consumer electrical equipment, such as household appliances.

A wireless power supply device comprises a transmitting module and a receiving module, and the transmitting module must correspond to the receiving module one to one. At present, the most common wireless power supply technology is based on electromagnetic coupling. Generally, the wireless power supply device based on the electromagnetic coupling comprises a transmitting coil and a receiving coil. The transmitting coil must correspond to the receiving coil one to one. When the transmitting coil and the receiving coil are moved to close to each other, they are electromagnetically coupled to each other.

However, in practical applications, there is often a situation in which a load may be placed at any one of a plurality of different locations of the electrical apparatus. For example, in a refrigerator, a carrier may be placed at any suitable location of the plurality of different locations according to a height of an object to be loaded on the carrier. In order to supply power to a load (for example, a lamp, or a fan) mounted on the carrier, a transmitting module must be provided at each of the plurality of different locations. In this way, all transmitting modules may work at any time, leading to energy waste.

SUMMARY

A wireless powering device includes a plurality of transmitting coils and a single transmitting circuit board to which the transmitting coils are electrically connected in series.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

An electrical apparatus according to an embodiment is shown inFIG. 1. The electrical apparatus in the embodiment ofFIG. 1is a refrigerator. In other embodiments, the electrical apparatus may be any other electrical apparatus, such as a washing machine, an air conditioner, etc.

As shown inFIG. 1, in an embodiment, a carrier (also referred to as a tray)11is provided in the refrigerator. The carrier11may be placed at any one of a plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the refrigerator according to a height of an object to be loaded on the carrier11. A load (not shown) is mounted on the carrier11, and the load may comprise a lamp, a display, a fan, etc. When the carrier11is placed at one location of the plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3, the wireless powering device will power the load mounted on the carrier11.

A wireless powering device according to an embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, comprises a plurality of transmitting coils110, a single transmitting circuit board120, a single receiving coil210, and a single receiving circuit board220. The plurality of transmitting coils110are located at a plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus, respectively. The plurality of transmitting coils110are electrically connected in series to the single transmitting circuit board120. The single receiving coil210is mounted on the carrier11of the electrical apparatus. The receiving coil210is electrically connected to the receiving circuit board220.

After the carrier11loaded with the receiving coil210is mounted at one location of the plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus, the receiving coil210mounted on the carrier11is electromagnetically coupled with the transmitting coil110mounted at the one location to supply power for the load mounted on the carrier11.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the transmitting coil110is formed by winding a wire, and the transmitting coil110is a component separate from the transmitting circuit board120. The plurality of transmitting coils110are connected in series with each other by welding or pressing. In other embodiments, the plurality of transmitting coils110may be connected in series with each other by wires or electrical connectors. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the receiving coil210is formed by winding a wire, and the receiving coil210is a component separate from the receiving circuit board220.

The plurality of transmitting coils110, as shown inFIG. 2, are arranged in a common vertical plane. In other embodiments, the plurality of transmitting coils110may be arranged in different planes. Adjacent transmitting coils110of the plurality of transmitting coils110have a same current direction in the shown embodiment. In other embodiments, adjacent transmitting coils110of the plurality of transmitting coils110may have opposite current directions.

In an embodiment, the receiving coil210is movably mounted on the electrical apparatus, so that the receiving coil210is movable within a coverage of an electromagnetic field of the plurality of transmitting coils110.

A wireless powering device according to another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, comprises a plurality of transmitting coils110, a single transmitting circuit board120, a single receiving coil210, and a single receiving circuit board220. The plurality of transmitting coils110are located at a plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus, respectively. The plurality of transmitting coils110are electrically connected in series to the single transmitting circuit board120. The single receiving coil210is mounted on the carrier11of the electrical apparatus and electrically connected to the receiving circuit board220.

After the carrier11loaded with the receiving coil210is mounted at one location of the plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus, the receiving coil210mounted on the carrier11is electromagnetically coupled with the transmitting coil110mounted at the one location to supply power for the load mounted on the carrier11.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the transmitting coil110is formed by winding a wire, and the transmitting coil110is a component fixed and integrated on the transmitting circuit board120. The plurality of transmitting coils110are connected in series with each other by conductive traces printed on the transmitting circuit board120. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the receiving coil210is formed by winding a wire, and the receiving coil210is a component separate from the receiving circuit board220.

As shown inFIG. 3, in an embodiment, the plurality of transmitting coils110are arranged in a row in a vertical direction on a surface of the transmitting circuit board120. In other embodiments, the plurality of transmitting coils110may be irregularly arranged on the surface of the transmitting circuit board120. Adjacent transmitting coils110of the plurality of transmitting coils110have a same current direction. In other embodiments, adjacent transmitting coils110of the plurality of transmitting coils110may have opposite current directions.

The receiving coil210is movably mounted on the electrical apparatus, so that the receiving coil210is movable within a coverage of an electromagnetic field of the plurality of transmitting coils110.

A wireless powering device according to another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 4, comprises a plurality of transmitting coils110, a single transmitting circuit board120, a single receiving coil210, and a single receiving circuit board220. The plurality of transmitting coils110are located at a plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus, respectively. The plurality of transmitting coils110are electrically connected in series to the single transmitting circuit board120. The single receiving coil210is mounted on the carrier11of the electrical apparatus and electrically connected to the receiving circuit board220.

After the carrier11loaded with the receiving coil210is mounted at one location of the plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus, the receiving coil210mounted on the carrier11is electromagnetically coupled with the transmitting coil110mounted at the one location to supply power for the load mounted on the carrier11.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the transmitting coil110is a coil printed on the transmitting circuit board120. The plurality of transmitting coils110are connected in series with each other by conductive traces printed on the transmitting circuit board120. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the receiving coil210is a coil printed on the receiving circuit board220.

As shown inFIG. 4, in an embodiment, the plurality of transmitting coils110are arranged in a row in a vertical direction on a surface of the transmitting circuit board120. In other embodiments, the plurality of transmitting coils110may be irregularly arranged on the surface of the transmitting circuit board120. In an exemplary embodiment, adjacent transmitting coils110of the plurality of transmitting coils110have a same current direction. In other embodiments, adjacent transmitting coils110of the plurality of transmitting coils110may have opposite current directions.

The receiving coil210is movably mounted on the electrical apparatus, so that the receiving coil210is movable within a coverage of an electromagnetic field of the plurality of transmitting coils110.

The electrical apparatus shown inFIG. 1comprises the carrier11, a load, and the wireless powering device described in any one of the above embodiments. As shown in FIGS.1-4, after the carrier11loaded with the receiving coil210is mounted at one location of the plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus, the receiving coil210is electromagnetically coupled with the transmitting coil110mounted at the one location to supply power for the load mounted on the carrier11.

In the above exemplary embodiments, the transmitting coil110may be mounted at each of the plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3of the electrical apparatus. Therefore, when the carrier11loaded with the receiving coil210and the load is placed at one location of the plurality of different locations A1, A2, A3, the receiving coil210and the transmitting coil110at the one location will be electromagnetically coupled with each other. Therefore, in the present disclosure, it is unnecessary to check the location of the receiving coil210and the load. In addition, it is unnecessary to provide a plurality of independent circuit boards for the plurality of transmitting coils110, which greatly improves the hardware utilization, simplifies the complexity of the wireless powering device, and reduces the cost.