Retention of rechargeable devices

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for retaining portable rechargeable devices to recharging stations wherein one or other or both of the recharging station and the portable device are provided with connecting means adapted for temporary releasable connection of the two. This is particularly advantageous when used with recharging stations which permit the device to be recharged in multiple places on the recharging station, providing a positive means of retaining the device. This is particularly advantageous if the recharging station is to be used in a mobile environment such as a car, or on a wall or ceiling.

1 . A power transfer unit for a portable electrical device, the portable device being separable from the power transfer unit and being adapted to receive power by inductive coupling when the portable device is placed against the power transfer unit, the power transfer unit comprising:
 an inductive power supply adapted to supply power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and   a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device is removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the inductive power supply through inductive coupling, the power transfer surface including an indication that a part of the power transfer surface is more appropriate for charging the portable device.   
     
     
         2 . The power transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein the indication is a color different from the remainder of the power transfer surface. 
     
     
         3 . The power transfer unit of  claim 2  wherein the wherein the color comprises a reflective color. 
     
     
         4 . The power transfer unit of  claim 2  wherein the color is an emissive color. 
     
     
         5 . The power transfer unit of  claim 2  wherein the color is at least one of fluorescent and luminous. 
     
     
         6 . The power transfer unit of  claim 2  wherein the color has a sheen. 
     
     
         7 . The power transfer unit of  claim 6  wherein the color is metallic silver. 
     
     
         8 . The power transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein the indication is a texture different from the remainder of the power transfer surface. 
     
     
         9 . The power transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein the indication is a material different from the remainder of the power transfer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The power transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein the indication is tactile. 
     
     
         11 . A power transfer system comprising:
 a portable electrical device adapted to receive power by inductive coupling;   a primary unit having an inductive power supply which supplies power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and   a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device is removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the primary unit through inductive coupling, the power transfer surface including an indication that a part of the power transfer surface is more appropriate for charging the portable device.   
     
     
         12 . The power transfer system of  claim 11  wherein the indication is a color different from the remainder of the power transfer surface. 
     
     
         13 . The power transfer system of  claim 12  wherein the color comprises a reflective color. 
     
     
         14 . The power transfer system of  claim 12  wherein the color is an emissive color. 
     
     
         15 . The power transfer system of  claim 12  wherein the color is at least one of fluorescent and luminous. 
     
     
         16 . The power transfer system of  claim 12  wherein the color has a sheen. 
     
     
         17 . The power transfer system of  claim 16  wherein the color is metallic silver. 
     
     
         18 . The power transfer system of  claim 11  wherein the indication is a texture different from the remainder of the power transfer surface. 
     
     
         19 . The power transfer system of  claim 11  wherein the indication is a material different from the remainder of the power transfer surface. 
     
     
         20 . The power transfer system to  claim 11  wherein the indication is tactile. 
     
     
         21 . A power transfer unit for a portable electrical device, the portable device being separable from the power transfer unit and being adapted to receive power by inductive coupling when the portable device is placed against the power transfer unit, the system comprising:
 an inductive power supply adapted to supply power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and   a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device is removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the inductive power supply through inductive coupling, the power transfer surface including a quality that undergoes a change depending on the state of at least one of the portable device and the power supply.   
     
     
         22 . The power transfer unit of  claim 21  wherein the quality comprises appearance. 
     
     
         23 . The power transfer unit of  claim 22  wherein the appearance comprises color. 
     
     
         24 . The power transfer unit of  claim 21  wherein the quality comprises touch. 
     
     
         25 . The power transfer unit of  claim 21  wherein the state comprises the power supply is powered on. 
     
     
         26 . The power transfer unit of  claim 21  wherein the state comprises the portable device is in need of charging 
     
     
         27 . The power transfer unit of  claim 21  wherein the state comprises the portable device is recharging. 
     
     
         28 . The power transfer unit of  claim 21  wherein the state comprises the portable device is recharged. 
     
     
         29 . The power transfer unit of  claim 21  wherein the state comprises the portable device is in need of attention. 
     
     
         30 . The power transfer unit of  claim 29  wherein the state comprises the portable device receiving an incoming call. 
     
     
         31 . A system for transferring power comprising:
 a portable electrical device adapted to receive power by inductive coupling;   a primary unit having an inductive power supply adapted to supply power inductively by the generation of an electromagnetic field; and   a power transfer surface disposed within the electromagnetic field and against which the portable device can be removably placed within the electromagnetic field, whereby the portable device may receive power from the inductive power supply through inductive coupling, at least one of the power transfer surface and the portable device including a quality that undergoes a change depending on the state of at least one of the at least one portable device and the power supply.   
     
     
         32 . The power transfer system of  claim 31  wherein the quality comprises appearance. 
     
     
         33 . The power transfer system of  claim 32  wherein the appearance comprises color. 
     
     
         34 . The power transfer system of  claim 31  wherein the quality comprises touch. 
     
     
         35 . The power transfer system of  claim 31  wherein the state is comprises the power supply is powered on. 
     
     
         36 . The power transfer system of  claim 31  wherein the state comprises the portable device is in need of charging 
     
     
         37 . The power transfer system of  claim 31  wherein the state comprises the portable device is recharging. 
     
     
         38 . The power transfer system of  claim 31  wherein the state comprises the portable device is recharged. 
     
     
         39 . The power transfer system of  claim 31  wherein the state comprises the portable device is in need of attention. 
     
     
         40 . The power transfer system of  claim 39  wherein the state comprises the portable device receiving an incoming call. 
     
     
         41 . A system for supplying power inductively to one or more portable electrical devices, the system comprising:
 a power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively;   an electrical device separable from the power supplying unit and having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit;   wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the device possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the device is adapted to receive power inductively.   
     
     
         42 . A system for supplying power inductively to one or more portable electrical devices, the system comprising:
 a power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively;   at least one portable electrical device, separable from the power supplying unit, and having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit;   wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the power supplying unit possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is available to supply power inductively.   
     
     
         43 . A system for supplying power inductively to portable electrical devices, the system comprising:
 a power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively;   a plurality of portable electrical devices, each separable from the power supplying unit, and each having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device concerned is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit;   wherein the portable electrical devices include at least two different classes of device, and at least part of an exterior surface of the power supplying unit possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is adapted to supply power inductively to one particular the class of device.   
     
     
         44 . A system for supplying power inductively to a portable electrical device, the system comprising:
 a power supplying unit, arranged within an object so as to be invisible from outside the object, and having means for supplying power inductively, the object having a primary purpose other than supplying power inductively;   a portable electrical device having means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the object, the device being separable from the object;   wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the object possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user of the presence within the object of such a power supplying unit adapted to supply power inductively.   
     
     
         45 . A portable electrical device adapted to receive power inductively from an inductive power supplying unit, the device being separable from the unit and comprising:
 means for receiving power inductively from the supplying means when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit;   wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the device possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the device is adapted to receive power inductively.   
     
     
         46 . An inductive power supplying unit for supplying power inductively to a portable electrical device separable from the power supplying unit and adapted to receive power inductively from the inductive power supplying unit when the device is placed in proximity to the unit, the inductive power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively, and at least part of an exterior surface of the unit possessing a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is available to supply power inductively. 
     
     
         47 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 46  wherein the predetermined aesthetic surface quality is visual surface quality. 
     
     
         48 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 46  wherein the predetermined aesthetic surface quality is a tactile surface quality. 
     
     
         49 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 47  wherein the visual surface quality is a specific reflective color. 
     
     
         50 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 47  wherein the visual surface quality is an emissive color. 
     
     
         51 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 50  wherein the part of the exterior surface comprises a light source for emitting light of the emissive color. 
     
     
         52 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 47  wherein the visual surface quality is a fluorescent or luminous color. 
     
     
         53 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 47  wherein the visual surface quality is a sheen. 
     
     
         54 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 47  wherein the visual surface quality is a pattern repeated within an area of the part of the exterior surface. 
     
     
         55 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 47  wherein the visual surface quality is a logo or text. 
     
     
         56 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 47  wherein the visual surface quality is an outline of the area in which the device is to be placed. 
     
     
         57 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 48  wherein the tactile surface quality is a predetermined surface texture. 
     
     
         58 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 46  wherein the part of the exterior surface is made of a predetermined material which imparts the predetermined aesthetic surface quality to the part. 
     
     
         59 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 58  wherein the exterior surface apart from the part does not possess the predetermined aesthetic surface quality. 
     
     
         60 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 46  further comprising means for changing at least one of an appearance or a touch of the exterior surface part in dependence upon an operating state of at least one of the device and the power supplying unit. 
     
     
         61 . A The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 60  wherein the changing means are operable to change the appearance or touch of the exterior-surface part when power to at least one of the device and the power supplying unit is turned on. 
     
     
         62 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 60  wherein the device includes a rechargeable power source, and the changing means are operable to change at least one of the appearance and the touch of the exterior surface part in dependence on a recharging state of the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         63 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 60  wherein the changing means are operable to change the appearance or touch of the exterior surface part when the device enters a predetermined operating state in which attention from the user is required. 
     
     
         64 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 60  wherein the changing means are operable to change a color of the exterior surface part. 
     
     
         65 . The inductive power supplying unit of  claim 46  wherein the power supplying unit is adapted to supply power inductively to the portable device when the device is placed in proximity to the exterior surface anywhere within a certain area of the exterior surface, and the exterior surface possesses the predetermined aesthetic surface quality throughout the area. 
     
     
         66 . An inductive power supply unit, for use in a system for supplying power inductively to two or more different classes of portable electrical devices, each device being separable from the power supplying unit and having means for receiving power inductively from the unit when the device is placed in proximity to the power supplying unit, the inductive power supplying unit having means for supplying power inductively and at least part of an exterior surface of the inductive power supplying unit possessing a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user that the unit is adapted to supply power inductively to one particular the class of device. 
     
     
         67 . An object comprising:
 a power supplying unit, arranged within the object so as to be invisible from outside the object, and having means for supplying power inductively to at least one portable electrical device when the device is placed in proximity to the object, the device being separable from the object, and the object having a primary purpose other than supplying power inductively;   wherein at least part of an exterior surface of the object possesses a predetermined aesthetic surface quality that informs a user of the presence within the object of such a power supplying unit adapted to supply power inductively.   
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 67  wherein the object is an item of furniture.