System and method for inductive power provision over an extended surface

Abstract

A power providing system for transferring power from an inductive power outlet to an inductive power receiver. The power providing system includes a targeting apparatus capable of detecting the location of the inductive power receiver adjacent to said extended surface and driving a primary inductor in the vicinity of the inductive power receiver. Optionally, the inductive power outlet includes a moving primary inductor which may move into alignment with the receiver. Alternatively, the inductive power outlet includes an array of primary inductors and a primary inductor may be selected in the locality of the inductive power receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inductive power receiver incorporated into a base of a floor mounted device, said inductive power receiver comprising at least one secondary inductor configured to inductively couple with at least one floor mounted primary inductor, and to provide power to at least one electric load. 
     
     
         2 . The inductive power receiver of  claim 1  wherein said floor mounted device comprises an item of furniture. 
     
     
         3 . The inductive power receiver of  claim 2 , said item of furniture being selected from a group consisting of chairs, tables, workbenches, partitioning walls cabinets and cupboards. 
     
     
         4 . The inductive power receiver of  claim 1  further comprising a power storage unit configured to store energy received by said secondary inductor. 
     
     
         5 . The inductive power receiver of  claim 4  wherein said power storage unit is selected from a group consisting of: capacitors, accumulators and electrochemical cells. 
     
     
         6 . The inductive power receiver of  claim 1  further comprising at least one device-mounted inductive power outlet for inductively providing power to electrical loads. 
     
     
         7 . A power providing system comprising at least one inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary inductor connectable to a power supply via a driver; said driver configured to provide an oscillating voltage supply to the primary inductor; said primary inductor configured to couple inductively with a secondary inductor wired to an electric load wherein said inductive power outlet is incorporated into at least one sheet for incorporating into a bounding surface of a workspace, said sheet comprising said at least one primary inductor; and at least one pair of conductors for connecting said primary inductor to said driver. 
     
     
         8 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said bounding surface is selected from a group consisting of: walls, floors, ceilings, sinks, baths, doors and work surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said sheet comprises a prefabricated building material for incorporating into a bounding surface of a said workspace. 
     
     
         10 . The power providing system of  claim 9  wherein said prefabricated materials is selected from a group consisting of: plasterboard, paper sheets, wallpaper, plasterers tape, doors, window frames, wall-tiles, fitted cabinets, kitchen counters, sinks, baths, sink surrounds, parquet, linoleum, floor-tiles, non-slip matting, tiling, stone, artificial stone and paving. 
     
     
         11 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said primary inductor is covered by a facing material selected from a group consisting of Formica, veneer, plaster, paint, plastic sheet, stone and artificial stone. 
     
     
         12 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said primary inductor is inserted into a base material and covered by a facing material. 
     
     
         13 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said at least one primary inductor is incorporated into an inductively enabled stowage unit and configured to inductively couple with secondary inductors associated with electrical devices stowed in said stowage unit. 
     
     
         14 . The power providing system of  claim 7  further comprising a flux guidance core for directing magnetic flux from said primary inductor to said secondary inductor coupled thereto. 
     
     
         15 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said sheet comprises a plasterboard panel comprising a layer of gypsum sandwiched between two paper sheets and at least one pair of conductors for connecting said primary inductor to said power supply, said primary inductor being behind at least one of said paper sheets. 
     
     
         16 . The power providing system of  claim 15  additionally being characterized by at least one feature selected from:
 a ferromagnetic core for improving flux guidance between said primary inductor and said secondary inductor; 
 at least one primary inductor being printed onto at least one said paper sheet; 
 said panel being water-resistant; 
 said panel comprising a heating element; 
 said panel comprising a high resistance primary inductor; and 
 said primary inductor comprising an alloy having relatively high resistance such that oscillating currents therein, produce a heating effect. 
 
     
     
         17 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said sheet comprises a paper sheet for adhering to the bounding surface. 
     
     
         18 . The power providing system of  claim 7  said sheet being characterized by at least one feature selected from:
 said sheet being a wallpaper; 
 said primary inductor being adhered onto the back of a dielectric layer; 
 said primary inductor comprising a conducting coil printed onto paper; and 
 said sheet comprising an adhesive layer for self-adhering to said bounding surface. 
 
     
     
         19 . The power providing system of  claim 7  wherein said sheet comprises a floor surface for the workspace of  claim 1 , said primary inductor being embedded therein and wired to said power supply via wiring thereunder. 
     
     
         20 . The power providing system of  claim 19 , wherein the floor surface is selected from a group consisting of: rugs, fitted carpets, parquet, linoleum, floor-tiles, non-slip matting, tiling, stone, artificial stone and paving.