Charging apparatus for an electronic device

An apparatus for charging a power storage device provided within an electronic device which also includes at least one secondary coil and a motor having a rotor, said apparatus comprising:

• a power source for producing direct current;
• a pair of primary coils electrically connected in series resembling a pair of substantially triangular shaped rings for generating a magnetic field which passes through the at least one secondary coil and for inducing alternating current in the at least one secondary coil of the electronic apparatus;
• a coil yoke made of a magnetic permeable material and having a substantially rectangular shape for positioning the primary coils relative to each other;
• oscillating means for generating an oscillating signal and including adjusting means for setting the frequency of the oscillating signal to a predetermined level to avoid adversely affecting operation of the rotor;
• switching means for alternating the direction of the direct current flowing through the primary coils in response to the oscillating signal and including four pairs of transistors connected electrically together to form a parallel circuit, a first two of said four pairs of transistors forming a first branch and a second two of said four pairs of transistors forming a second branch of the parallel circuit with one end of the pair of primary coils connected between the first two of said four pairs of transistors and with the other end of the pair of primary coils connected between the second two of said four pairs of transistors;
• and
• a case member including mounting means for receiving and holding the electronic device, said case member supporting the pair of primary coils and the coil yoke at a predetermined distance relative to the mounting means whereby during charging of the power storage device substantially all of the magnetic flux of the magnetic field flows through the at least one secondary coil and the coil yoke.

A method for charging a power storage device provided within an electronic device which also includes at least one secondary coil, said method comprising:

• placing the electronic device at a predetermined position on a surface of a casing of a charging apparatus with the at least one secondary coil near said surface;
• positioning a pair of primary coils and a coil yoke at a predetermined position within the casing;
• generating an oscillating signal;
• and
• switching the direction of direct current flow through the primary coils in response to the oscillating signal so as to induce an alternating current in the at least one secondary coil for charging the power storage device whereby during charging of the power storage device substantially all of the magnetic flux of the magnetic field produced by the pair of primary coils flows through at least one secondary coil and the coil yoke.