Patent ID: 12224596

Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to various aspects of the present disclosure, a mounting assembly for transferring electrical power to an inductively powered device is contemplated in which a housing of the mounting assembly includes a plurality of magnets for magnetically attracting and retaining the inductively powered device against the face plate of the housing, and maintaining an axial alignment of the inductive power receiver of the inductive powered device relative to the inductive coil assembly within the mounting assembly. A mounting support member is attached to the back plate of the mounting housing and has an adjustable joint for adjusted the orientation of the mounting housing relative to the point of external attachment or contact of the mounting support member. The attraction between the magnets and the magnetically receptive portion retains the inductively powered device against the face plate and in the correct orientation with the inductive coil assembly against the forces which would otherwise disturb the inductive coupling, such as the force of gravity when the face plate of the mounting housing is not horizontally oriented, or the vibrational and inertial forces that are present when inside a moving vehicle.

Turning now toFIG.1, a mounting assembly10is shown having a mounting housing12with a face plate14and a back plate16. A mounting support member18having an adjustable joint20for adjusting the orientation of the mounting housing12is attached to the back plate16. Protruding out of the rear of the back plate16is a power cable22that is electrically connectable to a power supply23.

In the exemplary embodiment, the external surface of the face plate14may be formed primarily of an elastomeric compound. It may be seen that via the use of an elastomeric compound, the force of the inductively powered device15contacting the external surface of the face plate14may be more efficiently absorbed so as to reduce the possibility of any damage to the inductively powered device15when it becomes adhered to the face plate14via magnetic attraction. The face plate14may be entirely formed of the elastomeric compound, or the elastomeric compound may be a coating on the external surface of the face plate14. In the exemplary embodiment, the elastomeric compound is silicone rubber. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments which utilize an elastomeric compound in forming or coating part or all of the face plate, other elastomeric compounds may be used, including but not limited to synthetic compounds such as isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, neoprene, or even compounds such as natural rubber. However, it may also be seen that the use of an elastomeric compound on the external surface of the face plate14is not necessary, and the face plate14may be constructed of any suitable material which is capable of forming the face plate14, with the proviso that the use of ferromagnetic materials such as alloys of iron or nickel, or any other material that may be prone to interact with the propagation of an electromagnetic field therethrough may possibly be disfavored, as the use of such materials may interfere with the magnetic attraction and inductive coupling of the inductively powered device15with the mounting assembly.

In the exemplary embodiment, the back plate16is formed primarily of a polycarbonate material. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments, the back plate16may be constructed of any suitable material which is capable of forming the face plate14, with the proviso that the use of ferromagnetic materials such as alloys of iron or nickel, or any other material that may be prone to interact with an electromagnetic field may possibly be disfavored, as the use of such materials may interfere with the magnetic attraction and inductive coupling of the inductively powered device15with the mounting assembly.

In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting support member18comprises a proximal portion26attached to the back plate16, a distal portion28which serves as a point of external contact or attachment for the mounting assembly10, and an adjustable joint20connecting the proximal portion26to the distal portion28. However, it may be seen that the mounting support member may comprise and be comprised of any structure or structures which may bear the mounting housing12and vary the orientation of the mounting housing12. For example, the mounting support member18may omit a substantial distal portion, and instead have the adjustable joint be at the back plate16. Alternatively, the mounting support member may comprise a plurality of adjustable joints20and multiple portions between the joints, to confer additional adjustability of the mounting support member.

The adjustable joint20may be, in the exemplary embodiment, a single ball joint in order to permit rotational adjustment of the orientation of the mounting housing12. However, it may be seen that the one or more adjustable joints20may be, in other embodiments, more or less articulable and with more or less degrees of freedom in individual or in the aggregate than a single ball joint, and may include, for example but without limitation, knuckle joints, revolute joints, screw joints, or other joints known in the art, or combinations thereof.

The distal support member28may, in the exemplary embodiment, terminate in a suction cup, which may be seen as achieving the benefit of enabling reversible adherence of the mounting assembly10to a smooth surface such as a tabletop or a vehicle windshield. However, in other embodiments, it may be seen that the distal support member may terminate in or with other attachment or otherwise support features which may enable the support of the mounting assembly in free space where its orientation may be adjusted, such as ring clamps, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, a load-bearing surface, screws, nails, or even seamless integration with a larger object, such as being formed as a portion of a vehicle dashboard. The specifics of how the mounting assembly10is supported at the distal end of the mounting support member28is not critical to the functionality of the mounting assembly10, so long as the mounting support member is supported in some way so as to enable the adjusting of the adjustable joint so as to adjust the orientation of the mounting housing12in free space.

The mounting assembly10may, in the exemplary embodiment, include a power cable22extending through the back plate16for transmitting power from a power supply to the interior of the mounting housing where the inductive coil assembly resides. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments, the power cable22may extend through or past other portions of the mounting housing12. For example, but without limitation, the power cable22may be integrated with or within the mounting support member18, or even may be omitted entirely, such as in a situation where the mounting assembly10may be configured with an internal power source such as one or more batteries. The presence or absence of a power cable22is not critical to the functionality of the mounting assembly10, so long as the inductive coil assembly is electrically connectable to a power supply in some fashion.

The face plate14of the mounting housing12may be, in the exemplary embodiment, retained against the mounting housing12by a retaining bracket24and an adhesive. However, in other embodiments, it may be seen that the presence of a dedicated retaining bracket24may not be necessary for retaining the face plate14, and that the face plate14may be otherwise retained by, or integrated into the remainder of the mounting housing12.

Turning now toFIGS.2-6, various views of the mounting housing12of the exemplary embodiment of the mounting assembly10are shown. It is further emphasized, however, that the depicted mounting housing12of the exemplary embodiment is merely exemplary, and does not limit the scope of the disclosure.

Turning now toFIG.7, a view a mounting plate30of the exemplary embodiment located within the mounting housing and disposed between the face plate14and the back plate16is shown. In the exemplary embodiment, an inductive coil assembly32and a plurality of magnets36are attached to the mounting plate30. In the exemplary embodiment, the inductive coil assembly32is attached to the mounting plate30via a plurality of mounting brackets34. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments, the inductive coil assembly32may be attached to the mounting plate30in other ways, such as adhesive, screws, tape, or otherwise. In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting plate30is formed primarily of a polycarbonate material. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments, the mounting plate30may be constructed of any suitable material which is capable of forming the mounting plate30, with the proviso that the use of ferromagnetic materials such as alloys of iron or nickel, or any other material that may be prone to interact with an electromagnetic field may possibly be disfavored, as the use of such materials may interfere with the magnetic attraction and inductive coupling of the inductively powered device15with the mounting assembly10.

Further, it may be seen that the presence of the mounting plate30is not strictly necessary, in that while it may serve to support and directly locate the inductive coil assembly32and the plurality of magnets34behind the face plate14whereupon they may both interact with a inductively powered device15having at least a magnetically receptive portion, the inductive coil assembly32and the plurality of magnets34may be located within the mounting housing12in any fashion so long as inductive coil32may inductively couple with the inductive power receiver17of a inductively powered device15placed in contact with the face plate while the inductively powered device15is retained against the face plate by the plurality of magnets36. For example, in an alternative embodiment, one or both of the inductive coil assembly32and the plurality of magnets may be located on the interior surface of the face plate14or the back plate16.

The inductive coil assembly32may be, for example and without limitation, formed of any coil of any conductive material which may induce inductive coupling with the inductive power receiver of an inductively powered device. In the exemplary embodiment, the inductive coil assembly32is formed as a coil embedded with a printed circuit board, and is controlled by the printed circuit board. However, it may be seen that the exact details of the inductive coil assembly32may vary and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure, so long as it may induce inductive coupling with the inductive power receiver17of an inductively powered device15that is placed and retained against the face plate14of the mounting housing12.

In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of magnets36is retained against the mounting plate30by a magnet plate38disposed over the plurality of magnets36and held against the mounting plate30with a screw. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments, the plurality of magnets36may be retained against the mounting plate30or retained at other locations within the mounting housing12, such as against the interior surfaces of the face plate14or the back plate16, in other ways. For example, but without limitation, the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36may be glued by or encased within an adhesive, or structurally integrated within other components of the mounting housing12.

It may be seen that in the exemplary embodiment, the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36are positioned adjacent to one another. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments, the plurality of magnets36may be positioned dispersed and/or non-adjacently, such as around the periphery of the mounting housing12. The exact positioning of the plurality of magnets36is not critical to the disclosure, except that the positioning be such that the magnets are configured to magnetically attract one or more magnetically receptive portions of an inductively powered device and retain the inductively powered device against the face plate14at substantially all orientations of the mounting housing to which it may be adjusted by the adjustable joint20. For example, the magnetically receptive portion of the inductively powered device may be all or substantial portions of the inductively powered device itself, or may be a separate component attached to the inductively powered device, such as a third party peripheral like a protective case. In such cases, it may be beneficial for the third party peripheral to be sold to be compatible with the specific orientation of the plurality of magnets36and the inductive coil assembly32, so that the inductively powered device will be maximally adhered to the face plate14via attraction to the plurality of magnets36when the inductive power received is axially aligned with the inductive coil assembly32. Further, it may be seen that the inductive coil assembly may likewise be either an integrated component with the inductively powered device, or may be a third party peripheral such as a case that is physically attachable and electrically connectible to the inductively powered device.

It may further be seen that the use of a plurality of magnets36is important, because by the presence a plurality of magnets36, as opposed to a single magnet, will tend to prevent rotation of the inductively powered device along the plane of the face plate14, and thus will potentially result in the inductive coil assembly32not or no longer being aligned with the inductive power receiver, thus preventing or reducing the inductive coupling between the two components.

In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of magnets36are four neodymium magnets, which are permanent rare-earth magnets made from an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron having a Nd2Fe14B tetragonal crystalline structure. However, in other embodiments it may be seen that the plurality of magnets36may other types of magnets, including for example, permanent magnets such as rare earth magnets, sintered composite magnets, or ferrimagnets, or temporary magnets such as electromagnets, which may, for example, be powered by same power supply as the inductive coil assembly32, or combinations thereof. The exact identity of the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36is not crucial, so long as the plurality of magnets36may serve to retain the inductively powered device against the face plate14at substantially all orientations of the magnet housing12.

In the exemplary embodiment, the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36are disc magnets. However, it may be seen that other shapes of magnets may be utilized without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, including, for example and without limitation, bars, squares, or spheres, or combinations thereof. In the exemplary embodiment, the disc magnets each of have a diameter of 10 mm and a height of 3 mm. However, it may be seen that in embodiments which utilize disc magnets, those disc magnets may vary in size.

The strength of the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36is measured as the pull force. The pull force is the normal force required to detach a magnet from a work load surface formed of 1018 cold rolled steel ASTM A794 that is large enough for the magnet-working surface to make 100% contact and thick enough to absorb all lines of magnetic flux emanating from the magnet. In the exemplary embodiment, the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36are N35 neodymium magnets, which have a pull force of 1.6 kg, and thus the four N35 neodymium magnets together have a collective pull force of 6.4 kg. However, it may be seen that in other embodiments, the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36may have more or less pull force than those used in the exemplary embodiment, and may collectively have more or less pull force than the four magnets used in the exemplary embodiment. For example, the individual ones of the plurality of magnets36may have a pull force of at least 1 kg, or at least 1.5 kg. Likewise, the plurality of magnets36may have a collective pull force of at least 4 kg, or at least 6 kg.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the exemplary embodiments.