Devices and systems for inductive transfer of electrical energy

Abstract

Devices and systems are described for inductively charging a portable electronic device, such as a tracking device, and for communicatively coupling the portable electronic device to a computer monitoring station or other computing device.

1 . A charging device comprising:
 a receiving component configured to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source; and   an electrical energy transfer component configured to inductively provide storable electrical energy to a portable electronic device and to transfer data between the portable electronic device and a computer monitoring station.   
     
     
         2 . The charging device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy transfer component comprises an inductive charging pad that provides near-field communication between the portable electronic device and the computer monitoring station. 
     
     
         3 . The charging device of  claim 2 , wherein the inductive charging pad is configured to communicate software and firmware updates to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The charging device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving component is configured to receive electrical energy from an AC electrical power source, the charging device comprises a transformer to convert the AC electrical energy to DC electrical energy, and the electrical energy transfer component is configured to inductively provide the DC electrical energy to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The charging device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving component is configured to receive electrical energy from a DC electrical power source. 
     
     
         6 . The charging device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving component is configured to receive electrical energy from the computer monitoring station. 
     
     
         7 . The charging device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy transfer component comprises a plurality of inductive charging pads that provide near-field communication between a plurality of portable electronic devices and one or more computer monitoring stations. 
     
     
         8 . The charging device of  claim 2 , wherein the inductive charging pad is configured to have a shaped opening such that the portable device fits at least partially inside the shaped opening of the inductive charging pad. 
     
     
         9 . A tracking device comprising:
 an inductive component configured to inductively receive electrical energy from a charging device;   an energy storage component configured to store the electrical energy received from the charging device; and   a processor configured for two way communications between the tracking device and a communications satellite and configured to transfer data between the tracking device and a computer monitoring station via the charging device.   
     
     
         10 . The tracking device of  claim 9 , wherein the inductive component is configured to communicate with at least one of the charging device and the computer monitoring station through near-field communication. 
     
     
         11 . The tracking device of  claim 9 , wherein the inductive component is configured to receive software and firmware updates from at least one of the charging device and the computer monitoring station. 
     
     
         12 . The tracking device of  claim 9 , wherein a housing of the tracking device is configured to at least partially fit inside a shaped space formed by a shaped inductive charging pad of the charging device. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a tracking device comprising:
 an inductive component configured to inductively receive electrical energy, 
 an energy storage component configured to store the electrical energy, and 
 a processor configured for two way communications between the tracking device and a communications satellite and configured to transfer data between the tracking device and a computer monitoring station; and 
   a charging device comprising:
 a receiving component configured to receive an electrical energy from a electrical energy source, and 
 an electrical energy transfer component configured to inductively provide storable electrical energy to the inductive component of the tracking device and to communicatively couple the tracking device to the computer monitoring station when the tracking device is in close proximity to the charging device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical energy transfer component comprises an inductive charging pad that provides near-field communication between the tracking device and the computer monitoring station. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the inductive charging pad is configured to communicate software and firmware updates to the tracking device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving component is configured to receive electrical energy from an AC electrical power source, the charging device comprises a transformer to convert the AC electrical energy to DC electrical energy, and the electrical energy transfer component is configured to inductively provide the DC electrical energy to the tracking device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving component is configured to receive electrical energy from a DC electrical power source. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving component is configured to receive electrical energy from the computer monitoring station. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical energy transfer component comprises a plurality of inductive charging pads that provide near-field communication between a plurality of portable electronic devices and one or more computer monitoring stations, and wherein at least one of the plurality of portable electronic devices is the tracking device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the inductive charging pad is configured to have a shaped opening such that the portable device fits at least partially inside the shaped opening.