Proximity power pad

#Inductive proximity power pads utilize a transmitter coil to provide power to one or more devices having receiver coils. Power is transmitted from the transmitter coil to the receiver coil when the device is placed in proximity to the transmitter coil on or about the power pad. Each power pad has a connector to connect to a power supply, such as an outlet. If several people are meeting in a room with a limited number of outlets, there can be contention for use of the outlets to recharge their devices, such as laptop computers and various wireless devices.

#A power pad includes a power network and at least one power connector coupled to the power network and disposed on a periphery of the pad and operable to exchange power to a provided adjacent pad. At least one power transfer mechanism is embedded in the pad and coupled to the power network to transfer power to a device proximate the pad. An optional connector may be provided to connect to a power supply.

#In one embodiment, a method includes embedding at least one proximity power transfer mechanism in a polygonal pad. A power transfer network is formed in the polygonal pad that is coupled to the at least one proximity power transfer coil. At least one power transfer connector is provided on a peripheral portion of the polygonal pad to mate with a power transfer connector on an adjacent polygonal pad to transfer power between the two polygonal pads.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a polygonal inductive proximity power pad according to an example embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating different layouts of multiple power pads according to an example embodiment.

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a layout of multiple power pads that changes direction according to an example embodiment.

#In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

#Various embodiments of inductive proximity power pads of various shapes are described. The power pads include transmitter coils to transfer power to receiver coils that are in proximity to the power pads. The power pads may be thought of as jigsaw puzzle pieces with power connector on their edges that may be coupled to form different shapes of sets of power pads that share or exchange power between them. One of the power pads may be coupled to a power supply to provide power to all the connected power pads.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a polygonal inductive proximity power pad 100 according to an example embodiment. Power pad 100 may be formed in many different shapes, such as polygons. Power pad 100 is shown in a rectangular shape, or a four sided polygon. In one embodiment, the power pad 100 includes an optional connector 110 to connect to a power supply. A power network 115 may be coupled to the connector 110, and to at least one power connector 120 disposed on the periphery of the power pad 100, such as a side of the power pad 100. Power connector 120 may include a ground connection 125 in one embodiment. Multiple other power connectors 120 may be similarly coupled to the power network 115 and disposed on one or more other sides of the pad. Three such power connectors are shown at 130, 132 and 134 in one embodiment.