Magnetic positioning for inductive coupling

A magnetic positioning system for use in an inductive power supply system for wirelessly transferring power from an inductive power supply to a remote device using an electromagnetic field, said magnetic positioning system comprising:

• a first magnet having a first polarity aligned with a first magnetic axis of said first magnet, wherein said first polarity and said first magnetic axis of said first magnet are substantially perpendicular to a power transfer surface;
• a second magnet having a second polarity aligned with a second magnetic axis of said second magnet, said second polarity being opposite from said first polarity of said first magnet, wherein said second polarity and said second magnetic axis of said second magnet are substantially perpendicular to said power transfer surface;
• wherein said first magnet and said second magnet are located in at least one of said inductive power supply and said remote device, wherein the other of said inductive power supply and said remote device includes a magnetic element;
• wherein said first magnet is paired with the magnetic element to cooperate with the magnetic element to provide a magnetic attraction force for alignment of said inductive power supply and said remote device;
• wherein said second magnet is unpaired such that said magnetic positioning system is absent an attraction magnet that complements said second magnet, wherein said second magnet provides a magnetic repulsion force in cooperation with the magnetic element for alignment of said inductive power supply and said remote device;
• wherein said magnetic attraction force and said magnetic repulsion force cooperate to align said inductive power supply and said remote device;
• and
• a shield to reduce the electromagnetic field that reaches at least one of said first magnet and said second magnet during wireless power transfer from said inductive power supply to said remote device.

A magnetic positioning system for use in an inductive power supply system for wirelessly transferring power from an inductive power supply to a remote device using an electromagnetic field, said magnetic positioning system comprising:

• at least one of said inductive power supply and said remote device including:
• a first magnet having a first polarity aligned with a first magnetic axis of said first magnet, wherein said first polarity and said first magnetic axis of said first magnet are substantially perpendicular to a power transfer surface;
• a second magnet having a second polarity aligned with a second magnetic axis of said second magnet, said second polarity being opposite from said first polarity of said first magnet, wherein said second polarity and said second magnetic axis of said second magnet are substantially perpendicular to said power transfer surface, wherein said second magnet is unpaired such that said magnetic positioning system is absent an attraction magnet aligned with said second magnet for attraction;
• the other one of said inductive power supply and said remote device including:
• a third magnet having a third polarity opposite from said first polarity of said first magnet;
• wherein said first magnet and said third magnet are paired to provide a magnetic attraction force;
• wherein said second magnet and said third magnet provide a magnetic repulsion force;
• wherein said magnetic attraction force and said magnetic repulsion force cooperate to align said inductive power supply and said remote device;
• and
• wherein at least one of said magnets is at least one of bonded and shielded.

A magnetic positioning system for use in an inductive power supply system for wirelessly transferring power from an inductive power supply to a remote device using an electromagnetic field, said magnetic positioning system comprising:

• at least one of said inductive power supply and said remote device including a first plurality of magnets, each of said first plurality of magnets having a first polarity aligned with a first magnetic axis, wherein said first polarity and said first magnetic axis are substantially perpendicular to a power transfer surface, wherein said first magnetic axes of said first plurality of magnets are substantially aligned with each other;
• the other one of said inductive power supply and said remote device including a second plurality of magnets and at least one third magnet, each of said second plurality of magnets having a second polarity aligned with a second magnetic axis, the at least one third magnet being unpaired such that said magnetic positioning system is absent an attraction magnet aligned with said at least one third magnet for attraction, wherein said second polarity and said second magnetic axis are substantially perpendicular to said power transfer surface, wherein said second magnetic axes of said second plurality of magnets are substantially aligned with each other;
• wherein said second polarity of said second plurality of magnets is opposite said first polarity of said first plurality of magnets, wherein said at least one third magnet has a third polarity similar to said first polarity;
• wherein said first plurality of magnets and said second plurality of magnets are paired to provide a magnetic attraction force for alignment of said inductive power supply and said remote device into a plurality of different positions, wherein at least one of said first plurality of magnets and said at least one third magnet provide a magnetic repulsion force for alignment of said inductive power supply and said remote device;
• and
• wherein at least one of said magnets is at least one of bonded and shielded.