Abstract:
A point-of-sale non-contact charging system to charge portable electronic devices through their packaging on store shelves makes use of electromagnetic induction so that the integrity of the packaging can be maintained and the products can be freely positioned on store shelves. Since the current can be induced in a conductive coil outside of the portable electronic device, the device need not be modified to be charged through this mechanism.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This is the non-provisional application of provisional application No. 60744506, filed on Apr. 9, 2006. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to inductively charging rechargeable battery packs of portable electronic devices while they are stored in retail packaging. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many consumer electronic devices nowadays contain rechargeable battery packs. Oftentimes the problem for the consumer is that when they first purchase the device, the battery pack is not fully charged and it requires a good number of hours charging before the device can be used. The problem for retail stores, particularly at airports and other centers where impulse purchasing is more likely is that customers are less likely to purchase the products knowing that they will not be able to use them right away. A fully charged device would be ideal but it would currently require stores to open the packaging of the devices and charge them individually. 
         [0004]    Inductive coupling for non-contact charging is becoming increasingly popular for charging the battery packs of certain electronic devices (e.g. in electric toothbrushes). The mechanism involved is a primary coil linked to an oscillating power source that creates a magnetic field. A secondary coil in close proximity with the primary coil, and within the magnetic field, has a current induced in it. 
         [0005]    While most electronic devices with rechargeable battery packs have a port through which a current is delivered to charge the battery pack, some newer devices have been disclosed where there is a coil within the device, or its battery pack that can absorb the energy of an external changing magnetic field in the form of an electric current. Therefore charging occurs when that device is placed on a charging mat that contains primary coils with oscillating current flowing through them generating a changing magnetic field above the mat. However, even these newer devices still have the problem of having uncharged battery packs at the time of purchase in a retail setting. 
         [0006]    Thus, what is needed in the art and has not yet been described is an in-store on-shelf in-packaging charging mechanism to charge both traditional rechargeable battery pack devices, and newer non-contact charging devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Aspects of the present invention relate to inductively charging the battery packs of packaged portable electronic devices. An inductive charging arrangement usually comprises at least two coils. A primary coil contains an oscillating current, and is embedded in a matt placed or stuck on the shelf It may also be embedded within the shelf, and there may be a plurality of primary coils. A secondary coil has a current induced in it via the changing magnetic field and it resides either within the packaging of the electronic device, within the battery pack of the electronic device, or within the electronic device itself. 
         [0008]    For the energy to be efficiently transferred from the primary coil to the secondary coil, they should be in close proximity to one another. The secondary coil can be placed at the bottom of the packaging material (either on the inside or outside of the enclosure, and thereby be in close proximity to the charging shelf surface. Conductive wires connect the coil to the electronic device (or its battery pack) via the device&#39;s charging port. If the device does not have the necessary electronic components to control and convert the raw incoming current, then there can be a charging control unit between the coil and the device. 
         [0009]    For devices that have battery packs containing charging coils, the battery pack can be placed at the bottom of the packaging material, but still within the packaging, while the actual electronic device could be more to the center of the packaging for maximum padding protection. 
         [0010]    So that store workers know that devices are being charged there can also be a LED indicator, or similar, within the packaging and powered by the current in the coil to show that charging is taking place. Similarly, so that customers know a device is charged, there can be a similar indicator, powered either by the battery pack or the charging control unit that shows when a device is fully charged. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a shelf charging system with one layer of products for electronics products that are charged through a charging port; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the wiring within the packaging; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a shelf charging system, with multiple layers of products; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of the wiring within the packaging to enable charging of multiple layers of products; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the packaging wherein a non-contact charging battery pack is positioned in proximity to the shelf but still attached to the device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of the packaging wherein a non-contact charging battery pack is positioned in proximity to the shelf separate from the device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7   a,    7   b,    7   c  respectively illustrate variations on the position of the shelf coil 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    The present invention and its embodiments are best described by way of description of the accompanied figures. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation  100  of a shelf charging system that has a single layer of packaged rechargeable electronic devices resting on it. The electronic device  112  is surrounded by protective packaging  104 , often polystyrene foam or similar, which is in turn surrounded by the external packaging  102 , often cardboard printed packaging with or without windows allowing visualization of the electronic device  112 . Within the external packaging  102  there is also represented a secondary coil  106  in which a current can be induced by magnetic means. The secondary coil  106  is on the periphery of the contents of the external packaging  106 . The secondary coil  106  could also be on the outside of the external packaging  106 , and there could also be multiple secondary coils. The electronic device  112 , with its protective packaging  104  and external packaging  106  is illustrated as residing on a shelf  110 , as commonly displayed in stores. Between the shelf  110  and the external packaging  106  is an enclosure  108  that houses one or more primary coils  1   14 . The primary coils  114  are used to create a dynamic magnetic field that induces a current in the secondary coil  106  as well known by those skilled in the art of electromagnetic induction. 
         [0020]    With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a schematic representation  200  of exemplary wiring within the external packaging for a rechargeable electronic device is presented. An electronic device  206  with a charging port  208  is surrounded by protective packaging  218  which is in turn surrounded by external packaging  214 . Within the external packaging  214  there is a secondary coil  220  in which a current can be induced by magnetic means. The secondary coil  220  is on the periphery of the contents of the external packaging  214 . Within the external packaging  214  there is also a charging controller  210  which is responsible for converting the raw oscillating current induced in the secondary coil  220  to a current that is suitable for charging the electronic device  206  via the charging port  208 . The charging controller  210  is also responsible for protecting the electronic device  206  should a large current develop in the secondary coil  214 . The raw current is transferred from the secondary coil  214  to the charging controller  208  via a coil-controller conduit  212 . The processed current, often direct current (DC), is delivered from the charging controller  208  to the electronic device  206  via a controller-device conduit  216 . A light emitting diode (LED) indicator  202  powered by the charging controller  208  via a controller-LED conduit  204 , is lit up either when the charging controller  208  detects that the electronic device  206  is fully charged, or whenever there is a current present in the secondary coil  214 . Such an indicator is useful for the purchaser of the product, as it serves to reassure the purchaser that the product is fully charged, or in the process of being charged. While the LED is the preferred embodiment, the indicator may also be a liquid crystal display (LCD), or other visible electronic indicator. In the case of the LCD, a status of the degree to which the battery is charged, or rate of charging, may be displayed. 
         [0021]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a schematic representation  300  of a shelf charging system that has three layers of packaged rechargeable electronic devices resting on it. The electronic device  304  is surrounded by protective packaging  310 , which is in turn surrounded by the external packaging  308 . Within the external packaging  308  there is also represented a secondary coil  312  in which a current can be induced by magnetic means. The secondary coil  312  is on the bottom of the contents of the external packaging  308 . There is also a top coil  302  which is powered by the secondary coil  312 . The top coil  302  creates a dynamic magnetic field when a changing electric current is passed through it. In this way it acts to induce a current in a nearby coil. Therefore the top coil  302  will act to induce a current in any coil within a package that is placed in proximity of the top coil  302  when a changing electric current is passing through the top coil  302 . The secondary coil  312  and top coil  302  are connected to each other, either directly, or through a charging controller  210  (see  FIG. 2 ) such that the raw changing electric current induced in the secondary coil  312  is transferred to the top coil  302 , and in turn this top coil  302  will generate a changing magnetic field to induce an electric current in a similarly packaged item that is placed on top of it. The initial energy is provided by one or more primary coils  306  that is housed in an enclosure  314  and rests on a shelf  316 . 
         [0022]    With reference now to  FIG. 4 , a schematic representation  400  of exemplary wiring within the external packaging for a rechargeable electronic device is presented. An electronic device  408  with a charging port  412  is surrounded by protective packaging  420  which is in turn surrounded by external packaging  418 . Within the external packaging  418  there is a secondary coil  422  in which a current can be induced by magnetic means. The secondary coil  422  is on the periphery of the contents of the external packaging  418 . Within the external packaging  418  there is also a charging controller  414  which is responsible for converting the raw oscillating current induced in the secondary coil  422  to a current that is suitable for charging the electronic device  408  via the charging port  412 . The charging controller  414  is also responsible for protecting the electronic device  408  should a large current develop in the secondary coil  422 . The raw current is transferred from the secondary coil  422  to the charging controller  414  via a coil-controller conduit  416 . The processed current, often direct current (DC), is delivered from the charging controller  414  to the electronic device  408  via a controller-device conduit  424 . A LED indicator  404  powered by the charging controller  414  via a controller-LED conduit  406 , is lit up either when the charging controller  414  detects that the electronic device  408  is fully charged, or whenever there is a current present in the secondary coil  422 . Such an indicator is useful for the purchaser of the product, as it serves to reassure the purchaser that the product is fully charged, or in the process of being charged. There is also a top coil  402  which is powered by the secondary coil  422 . The top coil  402  creates a dynamic magnetic field when a changing electric current is passed through it. In this way it acts to induce a current in a nearby coil. Therefore the top coil  402  will act to induce a current in any coil within a package that is placed in proximity of the top coil  402  when a changing electric current is passing through the top coil  402 . The secondary coil  422  and top coil  402  are connected to each other through the charging controller  414  (see  FIG. 2 ) such that the raw changing electric current induced in the secondary coil  422  is transferred to the top coil  402 , and in turn the top coil  402  will generate a changing magnetic field to induce an electric current in the coil of similar packaging is placed on top of it. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation  500  of a packaging housing an electronic device  504 . The packaging comprises a protective packaging  506  and exterior packaging  502 . The electronic device  504  is positioned in the center of the protective packaging  506  to take advantage of the padding to physical damage, while the rechargeable battery pack  508  is located on the periphery of the protective packaging  506  but within the exterior packaging  502 . A secondary coil  510  is housed within the rechargeable battery pack  508  and is in an optimal position to absorb the energy from a changing exterior magnetic field to create a current within the secondary coil  510  that is used to charge the rechargeable battery pack  508 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a schematic representation  600  of a packaging housing an electronic device  606 . The packaging comprises a protective packaging  604  and exterior packaging  602 . The electronic device  606  is positioned toward the periphery of protective packaging  604  but within exterior packaging  602 . A secondary coil  608  is housed within the electronic device  606 , or its attached battery pack, and is in an optimal position to absorb the energy from a changing exterior magnetic field to create a current within the secondary coil  608  that is used to charge the rechargeable batteries in the electronic device  606 . 
         [0025]    With reference now to  FIGS. 7   a,    7   b,  and  7   c,  three schematic representations  700 ,  710 ,  720  are presented that illustrate different ways a primary coil  702 ,  712 ,  722  can be positioned in relation to a shelf  706 ,  714 ,  724 .  FIG. 7   a  shows a schematic representation  700  of a shelf  706  that has above it an enclosure  704  containing at least one primary coil  702 .  FIG. 7   b  shows a schematic representation  710  of a shelf  714  that has within it at least one primary coil  712 .  FIG. 7   c  shows a schematic representation  720  of a shelf  724  that has below it an enclosure  726  containing at least one primary coil  722 . With the configuration of  FIG. 7   c,  the shelf  724  should be sufficiently thin or non-shielding so that the changing magnetic field is not too attenuated to significantly impact the items placed on the shelf  724 . In an alternate embodiment, the primary coil  722  can be used to induce a current in the secondary coils residing in the packaging for items below it that have been stacked up from a shelf below. 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of a standalone shelving system  800  capable of producing a changing magnetic field. A stand  812  holds at least one shelf  810  that has above it an enclosure  808  containing at least one primary coil  802 . A transforming circuit  804  transforms electricity from an alternate current (AC) source  806  to a current that is appropriate and optimized for inducing electric current a secondary coil  106  (see  FIG. 1 ). The transformed current is transferred via conduit  814  to at least one primary coil  802  within at least one enclosure  808 . 
         [0027]    Another embodiment is a docking station that transfers power to a device&#39;s battery packs to charge it. The docking station may contain a coil to receive energy and transfer it through traditional conductive means to a device while on the shelf (but still within the packaging). Similarly, the packaging itself with its coil could be used for charging the device by the user if the user has a charging mat. The packaging with a coil is similar to the docking station in this case, as both have a coil to receive the energy and delivers it to the device through conductive means. 
         [0028]    While this invention has been described with respect to charging rechargeable battery packs, the methodology can also be used to power devices that do not contain rechargeable battery packs. For example, packaging that contains light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s) to serve an in-store on-shelf promotional purpose, but that do not need to be powered by a rechargeable battery pack can be powered by these non-contact means. 
         [0029]    The preferred embodiment is a shelf, but this invention also encompasses other orientations, for example, an in-store hanging display where multiple packaged rechargeable electronic devices hang in line on a single rod. In a similar manner to that described in the preferred embodiment, a primary coil at the back of the line of hanging goods can power secondary coils within the adjacent packaging. The top coil  402  (see  FIG. 4 ) would similarly be a “front coil” instead of the top orientation, and thereby power the secondary coil in front of it. Similarly, other orientations are also envisioned, which may include obscure orientations within for instance, a vending machine. 
         [0030]    Similar shelving can also be used in a domestic environment to charge toys or other electronic devices that are fitted with appropriate secondary coils and internal electronics as described above and known to those with skill in the art.