Patent Publication Number: US-2007114969-A1

Title: Magnetic electrical daisy connection for simultaneously recharging electronic devices

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/738,836 filed on Nov. 22, 2005, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
      The present invention generally relates to a simultaneous recharging of rechargeable electronic devices of any type. The present invention specifically relates to a magnetic daisy connection for simultaneously recharging multiple LED candle units.  
      In some applications of rechargeable electronic devices, there is a need to regularly recharge a number of these units in a simultaneous manner. A number of known solutions can be applied to implement the simultaneous recharging of a number of rechargeable electronic devices. However, these known solutions have undesirable drawbacks. For example, a cable recharging solution is normally inexpensive, but requires a number of individual cables and connectors which can require extensive storage, can be lost easily and can require considerable time for connection. Also by example, an inductive (wireless) recharging solution is a more operationally convenient solution in view of the absence of any cables but can be expensive and requires a recharging base which is not convenient to carry around especially when the recharging base is made to accommodate a large number of units.  
      The present invention provides a new and unique magnetic based interfaces for simultaneously recharging a plurality of rechargeable electronic devices in a manner that overcomes the drawbacks of the known recharging solutions.  
      In one form of the present invention, a rechargeable electronic device comprises a magnetic rechargee interface and a magnetic rechargor interface in electrical communication with the magnetic rechargee interface. The magnetic recharge interface and the magnetic rechargor interface are operable to simultaneously recharge the rechargeable electronic device and one or more additional rechargeable electronic devices based on the magnetic rechargee interface being magnetically coupled to a battery charger and based on the magnetic rechargor interface being magnetically coupled to the additional rechargeable electronic device(s). 
    
    
      The foregoing form and other forms of the present invention as well as various features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting, the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.  
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrates a top view, a pair of side views and a perspective view, respectively, of one embodiment of a rechargeable LED candle unit in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a pre-magnetic daisy connection of a trio of rechargeable LED candle units as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  to a battery charger in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a magnetic daisy connection of a trio of rechargeable LED candle units as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  to a battery charger in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate a schematic diagram of a pair of rechargeable LED candle units as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  and of the battery charger illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6  in accordance with the present invention; and  
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a pair of rechargeable LED candle units and a second embodiment of a battery charger in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
      The present invention is premised on providing a rechargeable electronic device of any type that employs a magnetic rechargee interface for recharging the rechargeable electronic device and a magnetic rechargor interface for simultaneously recharging one or more additional rechargeable electronic devices. Specifically, the magnetic rechargee interface is structurally constructed to be magnetically connected to a battery charger to thereby establish an electric connection between the rechargeable electronic device and the battery charger for purposes of recharging the rechargeable electronic device. The magnetic rechargee interface is further structurally constructed to be magnetically connected to a magnetic rechargor interface of another rechargeable electronic device magnetically coupled to the battery charger to thereby establish an electric connection between its rechargeable electronic device and the battery charger for purposes of simultaneously recharging the rechargeable electronic devices.  
      In one embodiment, each interface includes one or more magnetic electrical connectors of any type. In another embodiment, each interface includes one or more magnetic connectors of any type and one or more electrical connectors of any type.  
      To facilitate a further understanding of the magnetic rechargee interface and the magnetic rechargor interface of the present invention, the following is a description of a rechargeable LED candle unit employing the magnetic rechargee interface and the magnetic rechargor interface of the present invention. From this description, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate how to employ and use the magnetic rechargee interface and the magnetic rechargor interface of the present invention in other types of rechargeable electronic devices.  
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrates an exterior construction of a LED candle unit  20  having a magnetic rechargee interface  30  and a magnetic rechargor interface  40  of the present invention. Magnetic rechargee interface  30  includes a magnetic electrical connector  31  and a magnetic electrical connector  32  positioned behind LED candle unit  20  and adjacent a sidewall  21  of LED candle unit  20 . Magnetic rechargor interface  40  includes a magnetic electrical connector  41  and a magnetic electrical connector  42  positioned within LED candle unit  20  and partially extending through a sidewall  22  of LED candle unit  20 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates three ( 3 ) LED candle units  20  aligned with a battery charger  50  of the present invention, which has a magnetic rechargor interface  60  including a magnetic electrical connector  61  and a magnetic electrical connector  62  positioned within battery charger  40  and partially extending through a sidewall  51  of battery charger  50 . In a recharging operation as shown in  FIG. 6 , the magnetic rechargee interface of LED candle unit  20 ( 1 ) (not shown) is magnetically connected to magnetic rechargor interface  60  of battery charger  50  as shown in  FIG. 5 , the magnetic rechargee interface of LED candle unit  20 ( 2 ) (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) is magnetically connected to magnetic rechargor interface  40 ( 1 ) of LED candle unit  20 ( 1 ) as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the magnetic rechargee interface of LED candle unit  20 ( 3 ) (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) is magnetically connected to magnetic rechargor interface  40 ( 2 ) of LED candle unit  20 ( 2 ) as shown in  FIG. 5 . As a result, battery charger  50  is simultaneously electrically connection to all three (3) LED candle units  20  whereby all three (3) LED candle unit  20  can be simultaneously recharged.  
      To further facilitate an understanding of the simultaneous recharging of LED candle units,  FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary internal electrical circuit construction of a pair of LED candle units  20  and an exemplary internal electrical circuit construction of battery charger  50 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , each LED candle unit  20  employs a rechargeable battery  25  powering a LED driver  24  for purposes of driving a LED  23 . To this end, LED driver  24 , rechargeable battery  25 , magnetic electrical connector  31  and magnetic electrical connector  41  are electrically connected to a positive recharging node N+. In addition, LED driver  24 , rechargeable battery  25 , magnetic electrical connector  32  and magnetic electrical connector  42  are electrically connected to a negative recharging node N−.  
      Battery charger  50  employs a power supply  52  electrically connected to magnetic electrical connector  61  and magnetic electrical connector  62 .  
      When sufficiently charged, each rechargeable battery  25  is capable of individually powering its associated LED driver  24  for purposes of driving its associated LED  23 . When insufficiently recharged, each rechargeable battery  25  is capable of being simultaneously recharged based on a magnetic electrical daisy connection of both LED candle units  20  and battery charger  50  via the illustrated magnetic electrical connectors and based on an electrical connection of power supply  52  (e.g., a transformer based power supply) to a power source  70  (e.g., an AC wall outlet) as shown in  FIG. 8 . Specifically, the magnetic electrical daisy connection of both LED candle units  20  and battery charger  50  via the illustrated magnetic electrical connectors and the electrical connection of power supply  52  to power source  70  applies a positive recharging voltage V+ to each positive recharging node N+ and applies a negative recharging voltage V− to each negative recharging node N− for purposing of facilitating a simultaneous current flow into both LED driver  24  and rechargeable battery  25  of each LED candle unit  20 .  
      Please note that the connotation of positive and negative to the recharging nodes N and the recharging voltages V for purposes of the present invention signifies each recharging voltage V can be either positive, negative or null as long as positive recharging voltage V+ as applied to positive recharging nodes N+ is greater than the negative recharging voltage V− as applied to negative recharging nodes N−, and the recharging voltages V are appropriate for recharging rechargeable batteries  25 .  
      To ensure a proper recharging of LED candle units  20  as shown in  FIG. 8 , a south pole (“SP”) of magnetic electrical connector  31 ( 1 ) is magnetically connected to a north pole (“NP”) of magnetic electrical connector  61 , a south pole of magnetic electrical connector  31 ( 2 ) is magnetically connected to a north pole of magnetic electrical connector  41 ( 1 ), a north pole of magnetic electrical connector  32 ( 1 ) is magnetically connected to a south pole of magnetic electrical connector  62 , and a north pole of magnetic electrical connector  32 ( 2 ) is magnetically connected to a south pole of magnetic electrical connector  42 ( 1 ).  
      Alternatively, the same magnetic polarity for magnetic electrical connectors  31 ( 1 ) and  32 ( 1 ) (e.g., north pole polarity) can be magnetically connected to the opposite magnetic polarity for magnetic electrical connectors  61  and  62  (e.g., south pole polarity), and the same magnetic polarity for magnetic electrical connectors  31 ( 2 ) and  32 ( 2 ) (e.g., north pole polarity) can be magnetically connected to the opposite magnetic polarity for magnetic electrical connectors  41 ( 1 ) and  41 ( 2 ) (e.g., south pole polarity). For this alternative embodiment, additional circuitry (not shown) may be included to ensure a proper recharging of LED candle units  20 .  
      To further facilitate an understanding of the simultaneous recharging of LED candle units,  FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary internal electrical circuit construction of a pair of LED candle units  80  and an exemplary internal electrical circuit construction of a battery charger  110 .  
      In this embodiment, a magnetic rechargee interface  90 ( 1 ) of LED candle unit  80 ( 1 ) employs a pair of electrical connectors (“EC”)  91 ( 1 ) and  92 ( 1 ) and a magnet  93 ( 1 ) positioned within LED candle unit  80 ( 1 ) and adjacent a sidewall  81 ( 1 ) of LED candle unit  80 ( 1 ). a magnetic rechargor interface  100 ( 1 ) of LED candle unit  80 ( 1 ) employs a pair of electrical connectors  101 ( 1 ) and  102 ( 1 ) and a magnet  103 ( 1 ) positioned within LED candle unit  80 ( 1 ) and partially extending through a sidewall  82 ( 1 ) of LED candle unit  80 ( 1 ).  
      A magnetic rechargee interface  90 ( 2 ) of LED candle unit  80 ( 2 ) employs a pair of electrical connectors  91 ( 2 ) and  92 ( 2 ) and a magnet  93 ( 2 ) positioned within LED candle unit  80 ( 2 ) and adjacent a sidewall  81 ( 2 ) LED candle unit  80 ( 2 ). a magnetic rechargor interface  100 ( 2 ) of LED candle unit  80 ( 2 ) employs a pair of electrical connectors  101 ( 2 ) and  102 ( 2 ) and a magnet  103 ( 2 ) positioned within LED candle unit  80 ( 2 ) and partially extending through a sidewall  82 ( 2 ) of LED candle unit  80 ( 2 ).  
      A magnetic rechargee interface  120  of battery charger  110  employs a pair of electrical connectors  121  and  122  and a magnet  123  positioned within battery charger  110  and partially extending through a sidewall  111  of battery charger  110 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , each LED candle unit  80  employs a rechargeable battery  85  powering a LED driver  84  for purposes of driving a LED  83 . To this end, LED driver  84 , rechargeable battery  85 , electrical connector  91  and electrical connector  101  of each LED candle unit  80  are electrically connected to a positive recharging node N+. In addition, LED driver  84 , rechargeable battery  85 , electromagnet connector  92  and electrical connector  102  of each LED candle unit  80  are electrically connected to a negative recharging node N−.  
      Battery charger  110  employs a power supply  112  electrically connected to electrical connector  61  and electrical connector  62 .  
      When sufficiently charged, each rechargeable battery  85  is capable of individually powering its associated LED driver  84  for purposes of driving its associated LED  83 . When insufficiently recharged, each rechargeable battery  85  is capable of being simultaneously recharged base on the magnetic electrical daisy connection of both LED candle units  80  and battery charger  110  via the illustrated electrical connectors and magnets and based on an electrical connection of power supply  112  (e.g., a transformer based power supply) to power source  70  (e.g., an AC wall outlet) as shown in  FIG. 10 . Specifically, the magnetic electrical connection of both LED candle units  80  and battery charger  110  via the illustrated electrical connectors and magnets and the electrical connection of power supply  112  to power source  70  applies a positive recharging voltage V+ to each positive recharging node N+ and applies a negative recharging voltage V− to each negative recharging node N− for purposing of facilitating a simultaneous current flow into both LED driver  84  and rechargeable battery  85  of each LED candle unit  80 .  
      Again, please note that the connotation of positive and negative to the recharging nodes N and the recharging voltages V for purposes of the present invention signifies each recharging voltage V can be either positive, negative or null as long as positive recharging voltage V+ as applied to positive recharging nodes N+ is greater than the negative recharging voltage V− as applied to negative recharging nodes N−, and the recharging voltages V are appropriate for recharging rechargeable batteries  85 .  
      To ensure a proper recharging of LED candle units  80  as shown in  FIG. 10 , a south pole (“SP”) of magnet  93 ( 1 ) is magnetically connected to a north pole (“NP”) of magnet  113 , a north pole of electric magnet  93 ( 1 ) is magnetically connected to a south pole of magnet  113 , a south pole of magnet  93 ( 2 ) is magnetically connected to a north pole of magnet  103 ( 2 ), a north pole of electric magnet  93 ( 2 ) is magnetically connected to a south pole of magnet  103 ( 2 ).  
      Alternatively, the same magnetic polarity for magnets  93 ( 1 ) (e.g., north pole polarity) can be magnetically connected to the opposite magnetic polarity for magnet  123  (e.g., south pole polarity), and the same magnetic polarity for magnet  93 ( 2 ) (e.g., north pole polarity) can be magnetically connected to the opposite magnetic polarity for magnet  103 ( 1 ) (e.g., south pole polarity). For this alternative embodiment, additional circuitry (not shown) may be included to ensure a proper recharging of LED candle units  80 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate numerous advantages of the present invention including, but not limited to, providing a technique for intuitively and easily connecting a number of rechargeable electronic devices of any type (e.g., LED candle light units) for purposes of simultaneously recharging the devices. Those having ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate various additional forms of a battery charger incorporating a magnetic rechargee interface of the present invention for purposes of simultaneously recharging multiple rechargeable electronic devices.  
      While the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.