# US 10,873,204 B2 · Inductive coupling assembly for an electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,204 B2 - Document ID: US10873204B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/058,858 - Filed: 2018-08-08 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-29 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Christopher S. Graham; Ibuki Kamei; Timothy J. Rasmussen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873204B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/005: {Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices} - H01F 38/14: Inductive couplings - H02J 7/04: Regulation of charging current or voltage - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - H02J 50/50: using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices - H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES ## Abstract An inductive coupling assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The system may include an electronic device having an enclosure, and an internal inductive charging assembly positioned within the enclosure. The internal inductive charging assembly may include a receive inductive coil positioned within the enclosure. The system may also include a charger in electrical communication with the internal inductive charging assembly of the electronic device. The charger may include a transmit inductive coil aligned with the receive inductive coil. The transmit inductive coil may be configured to be in electrical communication with the receive inductive coil. Additionally, the system can include an inductive coupling assembly positioned between the electronic device and the charger. The inductive coupling assembly may include a field-directing component configured to be in electrical communication with the transmit inductive coil, and/or the receive inductive coil of the internal inductive charging assembly of the electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a first electronic device comprising: an enclosure; and an internal inductive charging assembly positioned within the enclosure, and comprising a receive inductive coil; a second electronic device comprising a transmit inductive coil configured to be aligned with and in electrical communication with the receive inductive coil; and a third electronic device positioned between the receive inductive coil and the transmit inductive coil, the third electronic device comprising: a body having a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall defining a cavity for receiving the first electronic device; and a flux-transfer component positioned within the bottom wall and formed of a material having high permeability to an inductive field, the flux-transfer component being configured to, when the first electronic device is positioned in the cavity, relay inductive power from the transmit inductive coil to the receive inductive coil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the first electronic device further includes a first alignment component; the second electronic device further includes a second alignment component; and the third electronic device further includes a third alignment component configured to draw the second alignment component into alignment with the first alignment component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the flux-transfer component is formed of ferrite. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the flux-transfer component is a solid structure in the shape of a ring having a single loop. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the flux-transfer component is a solid structure that extends from a bottom surface of the bottom wall to a top surface of the bottom wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the flux-transfer component includes a rectangular structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the rectangular structure laterally extends from an inner diameter of the receive inductive coil to an outer diameter of the receive inductive coil. ### Claim 8 A protective case comprising: a body having a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall defining a cavity for receiving an electronic device having a receive inductive coil; and an inductive coupling assembly positioned at least partially within the bottom wall, the inductive coupling assembly comprising: a flux-transfer component positioned within the bottom wall and formed of a material having high permeability to an inductive field, the flux-transfer component being configured to, when the electronic device is positioned in the cavity, relay inductive power from a transmit inductive coil to the receive inductive coil. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The protective case of claim 8, wherein: the flux-transfer component is configured to be in electrical communication with the receive inductive coil; and the transmit inductive coil is housed within an external charger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The protective case of claim 9, wherein: the body comprises a recess formed adjacent to the inductive coupling assembly; and the recess is configured to receive the external charger for the electronic device and align a transmit inductive coil of the charger with the flux-transfer component of the inductive coupling assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The protective case of claim 9, further comprising a battery positioned within the body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The protective case of claim 11, wherein the battery is in electrical communication with the electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The protective case of claim 9, wherein the flux-transfer component is a solid structure that extends from a bottom surface of the bottom wall to a top surface of the bottom wall. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a first electronic device comprising: an enclosure; and an internal inductive charging assembly positioned within the enclosure, and comprising a receive inductive coil; and a second electronic device comprising: a body having a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall defining a cavity for receiving the first electronic device; and a flux-transfer component embedded within the bottom wall and formed of a material having high permeability to an inductive field, the flux-transfer component being configured to, when the first electronic device is positioned in the cavity, relay inductive power from a transmit inductive coil of a third electronic device to the receive inductive coil. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the flux-transfer component is molded within the bottom wall of the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the internal inductive charging assembly is configured to electrically communicate with an external charger positioned adjacent the body of the second electronic device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the charger is configured to be in electrical communication with the flux-transfer component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein: the first electronic device includes a battery positioned within the enclosure; and the battery is in electrical communication with the receive inductive coil. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the second electronic device includes a second electronic device battery operatively coupled to the battery of the first electronic device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the flux-transfer component is a solid structure that extends from a bottom surface of the bottom wall to a top surface of the bottom wall.