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US 9,071,077 B2Granted
Limitation of vampiric energy loss within an inductive battery charger or external power supply using magnetic target detection circuitry
OwnerJeffrey R. Eastlackinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vampire energy loss occurs when an electronic or mechanical machine consumes energy while not being utilized for any useful purpose. Vampire energy losses in consumer electronic devices are under intense scrutiny for needlessly wasting an estimated 20% of the electric power production in the United States. It is also estimated by the US Department of Energy that by 2015 vampire electronics could be responsible for nearly 30 percent of the total household power consumption in the United States. Smarter vampire proof technologies are needed to address this growing problem.
Claims20
A charger for recharging a target device when the charger is connected to a power source, the charger comprising:
- an AC feedback circuit configured to provide AC current;
- a DC circuit configured to provide DC current when receiving power from the AC circuit;
- a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, the primary coil being connected to the AC circuit, the secondary coil being connected to the DC circuit and being configured to receive inductive energy from the primary coil when the AC circuit is enabled and the primary coil receives AC power;
- and
- a magnetically controlled switch that is connected to the AC circuit, the magnetically controlled switch being configured to enable the AC circuit when the magnetically controlled switch detects more than a threshold limit of magnetic field strength, and the magnetically controlled switch being configured to disable the AC circuit when the magnetically controlled switch detects less than the threshold limit of magnetic field strength,
- wherein the AC circuit is configured to prevent inductive losses in the transformer between the primary coil and the secondary coil when the AC circuit is disabled, and the AC circuit is configured to enable conversion of AC power to DC power using the primary coil and the secondary coil of the transformer when the AC circuit is enabled.
3 more elements
A method of forming a charger for recharging a target device when the charger is connected to a power source, the method comprising:
- forming an AC feedback circuit configured to provide AC current;
- forming a DC circuit configured to provide DC current when receiving power from the AC circuit;
- connecting a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil to the charger, the primary coil being connected to the AC circuit, the secondary coil being connected to the DC circuit and being configured to receive inductive energy from the primary coil when the AC circuit is enabled and the primary coil receives AC power;
- and
- connecting a magnetically controlled switch to the AC circuit, the magnetically controlled switch being configured to enable the AC circuit when the magnetically controlled switch detects more than a threshold limit of magnetic field strength, and the magnetically controlled switch being configured to disable the AC circuit when the magnetically controlled switch detects less than the threshold limit of magnetic field strength,
- wherein the AC circuit is configured to prevent vampiric energy losses in the transformer between the primary coil and the secondary coil when the AC circuit is disabled, and the AC circuit is configured to enable conversion of AC power to DC power using the primary coil and the secondary coil of the transformer when the AC circuit is enabled.
3 more elements
A method of preventing vampiric power loss in a charger for recharging a target device, the method comprising:
- receiving AC current from an AC power source, the charger comprising
- an AC feedback circuit configured to provide AC current;
- a DC circuit configured to provide DC current when receiving power from the AC circuit;
- a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, the primary coil being connected to the AC circuit, the secondary coil being connected to the DC circuit and being configured to receive inductive energy from the primary coil when the AC circuit is enabled and the primary coil receives AC power, and
- a magnetically controlled switch that is connected to the AC circuit, the magnetically controlled switch being configured to enable the AC circuit when the magnetically controlled switch detects more than a threshold limit of magnetic field strength, and the magnetically controlled switch being configured to disable the AC circuit when the magnetically controlled switch detects less than the threshold limit of magnetic field strength,
- wherein the AC circuit is configured to prevent inductive losses in the transformer between the primary coil and the secondary coil when the AC circuit is disabled, and the AC circuit is configured to enable conversion of AC power to DC power using the primary coil and the secondary coil of the transformer when the AC circuit is enabled;
- using the magnetically controlled switch, detecting more than the threshold limit of magnetic field strength and enabling the AC circuit;
- and
- providing DC current to the target device while the target device is connected to the charger and providing more than the threshold limit of magnetic field strength to the magnetically controlled switch.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.