Patent ID: 12199454

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

With reference toFIG.1, a solid ferro-magnetic attachment member102, which may be generally applied to the back center of a device100may interfere with wireless charging as it is placed between the charging coil of the wireless charger and a receiving coil104of the device which is generally placed in the center of the device100. With further reference toFIG.2, an electromagnetic field110generated by a charging coil108of a wireless charger106(e.g., the charge transmitting coil), may induce current eddies or other current fields in the solid attachment member102, thus reducing or preventing inductive coupling between the charge transmitting coil106and the charge receiving coil104of the device100. Typically, the induction of eddy currents in the solid ferro-magnetic attachment member102results in the solid attachment members being heated. Many wireless charging protocols will in turn sense the heating of the device100(e.g., by direct temperature measurement or by a differential in electrical current between a charging coil108and a receiving coil104of the wireless charger106and the device100being charged, respectively.

With reference toFIG.3, an attachment member202having a “split ring” or other non-continuous shape design may be used that may replace the solid disk attachment member102or continuous ring of the attachment member described in the '009 Patent incorporated by reference above. The non-continuous attachment member202may correspond with the shaped magnetic field510of a carrier member504(as shown inFIG.5) by optimizing ferro-magnetic material where the magnetic field510is amplified and omitting ferro-magnetic material where magnetic field510is not substantial. As can be appreciated, the “split ring” shape of the attachment member202includes a plurality of arcuate members216that are disposed in a circular configuration with space212created between adjacent end portions of each arcuate member216.

As shown inFIGS.3and5, the arcuate members216of the attachment member202may be circumferentially separated arcuate members216that may be disposed in corresponding relation to an area of increased magnetic field strength510of a carrier member504. The shaping of the magnetic field510of the carrier member504may be accomplished by any technique for appropriately shaping the field510. For instance, by placing a disk magnet in a ferromagnetic cup or by using other technologies, the magnetic field may be shaped to direct the majority of the magnetic pull to a narrow ring near the outer circumference of the diameter of the carrier member504that corresponds (i.e., achieves maximum field strength near) an area between the inner diameter and outer diameter of the ferromagnetic split ring of the attachment member202. Preferably, nearly all of the magnetic field510is isolated to an area between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the split ring arcuate members216.

As shown inFIGS.3and5, the arcuate members216may be specifically dimensioned to allow for sufficient magnetic interaction with the shaped magnetic field510of the carrier member504, while also sufficiently reducing or eliminating the generation of eddy currents when exposed between coils used for inductive coupling in wireless charging. For instance, the arcuate members216may have a cross dimension of not less than 0.050 inches, not less than 0.060 inches, not less than 0.070 inches, or not less than 0.080 inches. Additionally, the arcuate members216may have a cross dimension of not more than about inches, not more than 0.080 inches, not more than 0.078 inches, or not more than 0.070 inches, provided the maximum dimension is greater than the minimum dimension. In a preferred embodiment, the cross dimension of the arcuate member216may be not less than about 0.060 inches and not greater than 0.090 inches, and more preferably not less than about inches and not greater than about 0.078 inches. The cross dimension may correspond to a width dimension of the arcuate members216(e.g., measured in a radial direction of the arcuate member216). The arcuate members216may have a thickness of not less than 0.050 inches, not less than 0.060 inches, not less than 0.070 inches, or not less than 0.080 inches. Additionally, the arcuate members216may have a thickness of not more than about 0.090 inches, not more than 0.080 inches, not more than 0.078 inches, or not more than 0.070 inches, provided the maximum thickness is greater than the minimum thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the arcuate member216may be not less than about inches and not greater than 0.090 inches, and more preferably not less than about 0.070 inches and not greater than about 0.078 inches.

Moreover, a spacing212between arcuate members216(e.g., along a circumferential arc about which the arcuate members216are disposed) may be not less than inches, not less than about 0.100 inches, not less than 0.115 inches, or not less than inches. Additionally, a spacing212between arcuate members216may be not greater than about 0.130 inches, not greater than about 0.120 inches, not greater than 0.115 inches, or not greater than 0.110 inches, provided the maximum spacing is greater than the minimum spacing. In a preferred embodiment, the spacing212between arcuate members216may be not less than 0.115 inches and not greater than 0.120 inches. Further still, the arcuate members216may collectively be provided in a circumferential pattern having a diameter measure corresponding to the circumference along which the arcuate members216are positioned (e.g., to a centerline, inner diameter, or outer diameter of the arcuate members). The diameter measure of the arcuate members216may be equal to the diameter measure of a member to which the attachment member202is engageable (e.g., a carrier member504or wireless charging device as described below). Alternatively, the diameter measure of the arcuate members216may be at least 90% of the diameter of the member to which the attachment member is engageable, at least 80% of the diameter of the member to which the attachment member is engageable, or at least 70% of the diameter of the member to which the attachment member is engageable.

By not using a solid disk attachment member102or continuous ring in the attachment member202, that is placed between the charging coil208of the wireless charging device206and receiving coil204of the electronic device200, the electromagnetic (charging) field210remains uninterrupted as shown inFIG.4. That is, inductive coupling between the charge transmitting coil208and the charge receiving coil204may be achieved as the arcuate members216do not interfere with the inductive coupling. Any appropriate split or non-continuous shape may be provided such that there is little or no inductive coupling between the attachment member202and the charge transmission coil208. For instance, the split or spaced apart arcuate members216may not inductively couple with the charge transmission coil208as little or no current may be induced in the arcuate members216of the attachment member202. In this regard, the power transmission by inductive coupling between the charge transmission coil208and the charge receiving coil204may be maintained. For example, it has been found that even a continuous ring of ferro-magnetic material with the width and thickness dimensions as described above would impede inductive coupling using most wireless charging protocols. Thus, the split ring design of the attachment member2020provides for reducing or eliminating the production of eddy currents in the attachment member202when disposed between a charging coil208and a receiving coil204.

The attachment member202comprising the non-continuous shape or “split ring” configuration may be attached to an exterior of a device200(e.g., by way of adhesive). Alternatively, the attachment member202may be integrated into a housing or shell of a device200. Further still, the attachment member202may be integrated into a case in which the device200is disposed. Further still, the arcuate members216may be provided in an over molded portion (e.g., comprising a polymeric material) that maintains the arcuate members216in a predetermined spacing and arrangement (e.g., for adhesively coupling the arcuate members216to a device200). Further still, the arcuate members216may be provided on a film or other material that allows a user to maintain the spacing and arrangement of the arcuate members216when applying the arcuate members216to a device200(e.g., adhesively) even if the film or other material is later removed once the arcuate members216are affixed to the device200.

A user may have a desk stand, car mount and other mounting solutions throughout the user's home, office, vehicles, etc. and a user may want to be able to charge a device200on a wireless charging pad or attachable wireless charger (e.g., such as the inducive charging device shown inFIG.7). With the “split-ring” attachment member202a user is able to use her device on carrier member504magnetic mounts on a desk stand while at the office, in a car using a carrier member504on the drive home and sill allow placing the device200on the wireless charging pad and charge it as the “split ring” design of the attachment member202does not interfere with wireless charging while still allowing magnetic attachment of the device on magnetic mounts as shown inFIG.5.

With the increasing use of wireless charging in electronic devices there are more and more types of wireless chargers on the market. Most of them lay on a horizontal surface and the device rests on them which does not allow for efficient and ergonomic use of the device. However, other chargers may be engaged with the phone (e.g., using magnetic interaction). Such magnetic engagement of a charger to a device may allow alignment of wireless charging coils for more efficient transfer of power. An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an attachment member that may remain in place on a device to allow for engagement with a carrier member for support of a device and also provides for magnetic interaction with a wireless charger to secure a wireless charger to a device while the attachment member remains in place. As such, a user may alternatively use a magnetic mount without wireless charging and a magnetically attachable wireless charger without movement, removal, or other modification of the attachment member on the device.

For example, an inductive charging device700as shown inFIG.7may comprise a wireless charger that may have on one side has a ferro-magnetic attachment member706to allow it to be removably attachable to a magnetic carrier member504. The inductive charging device700may also include (outside of an outer diameter of charging coils704of the device700) a magnetic interface702that allows the attachment of an electronic device300with a corresponding attachment member320. This may allow the users to attach and charge their mobile devices300on wide variety of mounting solutions as shown inFIG.9.

The inductive charging device700may also house a rechargeable battery708such as a power supply which powers the wireless charger700when unplugged. Alternatively, a cabled interface (e.g., a power cord710) may be provided as a power supply. The inductive charging device700may be provided with an attachment member706that is removably attachable to a carrier member504as shown inFIG.9. Alternatively, the inductive charging device700may comprise a carrier member854to allow for direct engagement with a base502(e.g. a bulbous member) as shown inFIG.10.

Also an embodiment of an attachment member302may be provided for alternatively attaching a device300to a carrier member504for mountingly engaging the device300or a charging member700for supportably engaging the device300while allowing the device300to charge as shown inFIG.6. In this regard, an attachment member302having a plurality of first arcuate members316and a plurality of second arcuate members318may be provided that are concentrically disposed to provide an inner ring324of arcuate members316and an outer ring322of arcuate members318as shown inFIG.6. The inner ring324renders a device300removably attachable to a carrier member504while the outer ring322renders the device300removably attachable to the inductive charging device700. The outer ring322may also comprise a solid member comprising a magnet or magnetically interactive material to secure the inducive charger700to the device300. The diameter of the outer ring322may be between 1 inch and 3 inches in diameter. The diameter of the outer ring322may be between 1.7 inches and 2.5 inches in diameter. In another embodiment, the diameter of the outer ring322may be between 1.9 inches and 2.1 inches.

In any regard, the attachment member302comprising the inner ring324and the outer ring322facilitates selective engagement to either the inductive charge device700or a carrier member504such that both support methods are available and wireless charging capabilities are maintained without having to remove or otherwise modify the attachment member302. The magnetic field of the inductive charging device700is shaped and corresponds with the outer ring322of the attachment member302as shown inFIG.7, while the inner ring324corresponds with the shaped magnetic field of the carrier member504as is shown inFIG.5. The inner324and outer ring322shapes may be provided with any of the dimensions and inter-member spacing described above.

The plurality of first arcuate members316and the plurality of second arcuate members318may be attached to an exterior of a device300(e.g., by way of adhesive). Alternatively, some or all of the attachment member302of this embodiment may be integrated into a housing or shell of a device300. For example, the outer ring322may be integrated into a device300and the inner ring324may be adhesively attached in relation to the outer ring322. Further still, the attachment member302of this embodiment may be integrated into a case in which the device300is disposed

While wireless charging is becoming more prominent and many vehicles, coffee shops and other places offer wireless charging, not all mobile devices have wireless charging capabilities. In turn, a ferro-magnetic attachment member402may be provided that houses a wireless receiving coil404and electronics to convert a non-wireless charging compatible device400into wireless charging compatible. This embodiment of an attachment member402attaches to the device400or device case and is connected to the device's charging port through a power cable424and allows the device to be charged by wireless charging as shown inFIG.8.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character. For example, certain embodiments described hereinabove may be combinable with other described embodiments and/or arranged in other ways (e.g., process elements may be performed in other sequences). Accordingly, it should be understood that only the preferred embodiment and variants thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.