Patent Application
20230050425
Residential and commercial buildings provide wall outlets for powering electronic devices such as lights, appliances, computers, and mobile devices. Due to the proliferation of rechargeable consumer electronic devices including cell phones, laptops, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDA’s), and other types of mobile devices, there is a desire for convenient charging of such devices. Mobile devices have internal batteries that are commonly recharged using an alternating current (AC) adapter that plugs into a wall outlet. The AC adapter converts line voltage to a lower output voltage that is fed through a cable to a connector port on the mobile device. Such plug and socket connections to charge mobile devices have evolved over time and now routinely leverage common or standardized connector types, such as those of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification.
Charging voltages for smartphones and other small mobile devices are typically 5 volts (V) or below, though some newer specifications, such as USB Power Delivery (USB PD), reaches up to 20 volts. In an effort to accommodate the proliferation of mobile devices and the desire for convenient charging, electrical outlet manufacturers have incorporated USB connectors into wall box wiring device offerings, such as single-gang wall outlet electrical wiring devices that also include standard 120 V receptacles, or standalone USB-only electrical wiring devices.
Particularly with smartphones and other relatively small form-factor mobile devices, there is a desire to replace traditional wired charging with wireless power transfer capabilities. An example type of wireless power transfer is inductive charging. Inductive charging leverages electromagnetic induction to provide electricity to a mobile device. This in turn charges the battery of the mobile device. Many examples exist of wireless chargers that are powered through a USB port, however there are no available solutions offering wireless charging technology directly integrated into a wall box powered device. These and other aspects are provided herein.
Shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a wiring device that includes a housing that has a front face; a strap, the strap being coupled to the housing and being configured to couple the wiring device to an electrical box; a line input terminal configured to couple to a source of alternating current (AC) power; a charging circuit at least partially disposed within the housing, the charging circuit coupled to the line input terminal, the charging circuit comprising an induction coil configured to propagate a magnetic charging field to emanate from the wiring device; and a magnet disposed proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device and configured to magnetically attract an electronic device when the electronic device is proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device.
The magnet can include an electromagnet coupled to the line input terminal and powered thereby. In some embodiments, a magnet is disposed in a center of the induction coil. The magnet can be configured to magnetically attract a stick-on magnet or case of the electronic device when the electronic device is proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device.
The wiring device can include a plurality of magnets disposed proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device. The plurality of magnets can be arrayed across at least a portion of the front face of the housing of the wiring device. Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of magnets can be disposed at least partially peripheral to the induction coil. In some embodiments, the plurality of magnets can include four magnets.
The charging circuit can include a plurality of induction coils configured to propagate magnetic charging fields.
The front face of the housing of the wiring device can be exposed to provide access to the front face when the wiring device is mounted in the electrical box. The wiring device can further include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector and a USB charging circuit coupled to the line input terminal and the USB connector. Additionally or alternatively, the wiring device can further include a line voltage receptacle configured to selectively couple the source of AC power to an electrical plug.
The housing may be a multi-gang housing, where the multi-gang housing further includes a first region and a second region, and where the induction coil is disposed at least partially within the first region of the multi-gang housing and the line voltage receptacle is disposed at least partially within the second region of the multi-gang housing.
Further, a kit is provided that includes a wiring device and a wall plate configured to cover at least a portion of the wiring device. The wiring device includes a housing having a front face; a strap, the strap being coupled to the housing and being configured to couple the wiring device to an electrical box; a line input terminal configured to couple to a source of alternating current (AC) power; and a charging circuit at least partially disposed within the housing, the charging circuit coupled to the line input terminal, the charging circuit comprising an induction coil configured to propagate a magnetic charging field to emanate from the wiring device. The wall plate is configured to cover at least a portion of the wiring device. The wall plate includes a magnet configured to magnetically attract an electronic device when the electronic device is proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device.
In some embodiments the wall plate includes a plurality of magnets. The magnets can be arrayed across a top portion and a bottom portion of the wall plate. The magnets could be elongated magnets each disposed proximate a respective side of a plurality of sides of the wall plate. The wall plate could include four sides, and a respective one or more magnets of the plurality of magnets can be disposed along a respective side of the four sides of the wall plate. A magnet of the wall plate can be an elongated magnet disposed proximate one side of the wall plate.
The wiring device can also include magnet(s) disposed proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device.
The wall plate can further include a shelf having a top surface, where the shelf protrudes from a portion of the wall plate or a portion of the front face of the housing of the wiring device.
A charging region can be defined by the magnetic charging field emanating from the wiring device, where the shelf can be configured to support the electronic device at least partially within the charging region defined by the magnetic charging field. Magnet(s) of the wall plate can be disposed and configured to attract a top portion of the electronic device toward the wiring device as the shelf supports the electronic device. The shelf can additionally or alternatively include a lip protruding from the top surface of the shelf.
In some embodiments, the wall plate is a ‘blank’, having a surface configured to cover the front face of the housing of the wiring device, where the magnetic charging field is configured to emanate from the wiring device through the surface of the wall plate.
Additionally or alternatively, the wall plate can include an aperture through which the front face of the housing of the wiring device is accessible, where the wall plate is configured to at least partially surround the front face of the housing of the wiring device when the wiring device is mounted in the electrical box.
Further, a wall plate is provided that is configured for at least partially covering a wiring device. The wall plate includes a top portion and a bottom portion; a shelf protruding from the bottom portion of the wall plate and configured to support an electronic device in position of a front face of a housing of the wiring device; and a magnet configured to magnetically attract the electronic device when the electronic device is proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device.
The magnet can include an elongated magnet disposed proximate one side of the wall plate. Additionally or alternatively, the magnet can be disposed and configured to attract a top portion of the electronic device toward the wiring device as the shelf supports the electronic device.
In some embodiments, the wall plate includes a plurality of magnets arrayed across the top portion of the wall plate. The wall plate could include a plurality of elongated magnets each disposed proximate a respective side of a plurality of sides of the wall plate.
Additionally or alternatively, the shelf can include a top surface and a lip protruding from the top surface of the shelf.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the concepts described herein.
Aspects described herein are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Described herein are various aspects related to wall box wiring devices, such as electrical wiring devices. In some embodiments, wireless charging technology is incorporated into a wiring device. Additionally or alternatively, magnet(s) and/or electromagnets may be used to attract and position a mobile device or other electronic device for wireless charging. Various configurations for inductive coil(s), magnets, and USB connectors incorporated into wiring devices, and configurations for complementary wall plates for covering wiring devices, are also provided.
In particular embodiments, a wiring device incorporates wireless charging capabilities and one or more magnets and/or electromagnets. The magnet(s) can be configured and used to magnetically attract and hold an electronic device (such as a mobile phone, as an example) in place and position of a charging region of a wiring device to facilitate wirelessly charging the electronic device. The magnet(s) can magnetically engage with a housing and/or internal component(s) of the electronic device and/or a case or sleeve into which the electronic device is placed, as examples. In other embodiments, a sticker or other material can be placed on the electronic device for magnetically engaging with the magnet(s) to hold the device in place. Various configurations are possible for a wall box wiring device, including those with single-gang and multi-gang configurations, those with or without USB connectors/ports (USB-A, USB-C as examples), and those with or without electrical receptacles, such as standard line voltage (e.g. 120 V) three-prong outlets, as examples.
Wiring device 102 includes a first terminal 114 (a “line” or “phase” input terminal) and a second terminal 116 (a “neutral” terminal) configured for electrically coupling to a source of power. As a specific example, the source is a standard 120 V 60 Hz alternating current (AC) line/phase input for powering the device 102. Each terminal 114, 116 includes a terminal screw (115 and 117) for securing electrical wiring to the device 102. Though not pictured, a ground terminal for connection to ground is also included in device 102.
Wiring device 102 can incorporate one or more power supplies capable of converting line power, for instance 120 V line power, to a relatively low-voltage power used in USB-A, USB-C and USB-C PD (“Power Delivery”) applications. Such power supplies are known and exist in current USB device portfolios.
In addition, as depicted and described herein with reference to other Figures, wiring device 102 includes circuitry for wireless charging. Example such circuity can comport with one or more wireless charging specifications/standards, an example of which is the Qi open interface standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (of which QI is a trademark). Wireless charging circuity is documented in the Qi wireless charging standard to provide power transfer via inductance charging to a target device. An inductive coil as documented in the Qi wireless charging standard functions as a means to transmit power. In aspects described herein, one or more inductive coils and related wireless charging circuitry can be incorporated into, for instance at least partially disposed within housing 106 of, a wiring device for transferring power from the wiring device to a target device, such as a smartphone or other electronic device. Wiring device 102 therefore includes a charging circuit at least partially disposed within housing 106, the charging circuit coupled to the line input terminal 114. The charging circuit includes one (or more) induction coil(s) configured to propagate magnetic charging field(s) to emanate from the wiring device.
The housing 106 of device 102 includes a front face 118. In examples, a magnetic charging field emanates through front face 118 of the housing 106. In this embodiment, front face 118 is generally rectangular but can take any suitable shape. The depicted rectangular shape in
In some examples, magnet(s) and/or electromagnet(s) are incorporated into the mechanical design of the wiring device. The magnets can be selected and configured to be strong enough to hold a target electronic device in place. That is, the magnets can be selected and configured so that they magnetically attract the electronic device and hold the electronic device in the charging region to facilitate wireless charging thereof. Various examples of magnet arrangements are depicted and described herein. In some examples, magnet(s) are placed in an array and situated such that they do not interfere with included inductive coil(s) incorporated within the wiring device. If electromagnets are used, appropriate circuitry can be included within the wiring device to control the power to the electromagnets. Some electronic devices with wireless charging capabilities incorporate material that enables the electronic device to natively magnetically engage with external magnets. In other examples, a single use or reusable sticker/sticker magnet is adhered to the electronic device and engage with the magnet(s) and help hold the target device in the charging region.
Various wireless charging inductive (electromagnetic) coil configuration examples are shown. Specifically, inductive coils 220 of varying size and orientation are depicted across
Referring to
As shown in
The magnets can be arrayed across at least a portion of the front face 318 of the wiring device, as shown in
In
Where magnets are incorporated into or with the wiring device, such as in the housing of the wiring device, the wiring device can be used with any desired wall plate. In some embodiments, magnet(s) are instead, or additionally, incorporated into a wall plate. The wall plate may be used in conjunction with wiring devices described herein, such as those that include wireless charging capabilities. In embodiments where the wiring device does not include magnets as described with reference to
The selection and configuration (arrangement, size, number, etc.) of the magnets 422 can vary as desired.
Various embodiments of wall plates depicted in
Wiring devices in accordance with aspects described herein can incorporate USB-type connectors for charging and/or standard line voltage electrical receptacles, such as 120 V two or three-prong receptacles. In some examples, a wireless charging circuit and, optionally, magnet(s) are incorporated into existing receptacle devices, for instance those including 120 V receptacles and/or USB charging connectors. Thus, wiring devices in accordance with aspects described herein can further include a USB connector and a USB charging circuit coupled to the line input terminal and the USB connector.
Orientations of the USB connectors can be horizontal or vertical, as shown, or any other desired orientation. Furthermore, the positioning and orientation of the USB connectors and/or line voltage receptacles can vary as desired from the specific examples of
In accordance with yet other embodiments, a wiring device is a multi-gang device, i.e. having a multi-gang housing, and is configured to couple to a multi-gang electrical box. The device can include one or more induction coils in addition to one or more line voltage receptacle(s) and/or USB connector(s), for example. In such a wiring device having a multi-gang housing, the multi-gang housing can include a first region, within which an induction coil is at least partially disposed, and one or more second region(s) within which line voltage receptacle(s) are at least partially disposed.
As noted, any of the foregoing wiring devices and wall plates may be sold separate or together, i.e. as part of a kit. In a particular embodiment, the kit includes a wiring device and a wall plate configured to cover at least a portion of the wiring deice. The wiring device can include a housing having a front face, and a strap, the strap being coupled to the housing, and the strap being configured to couple the wiring device to an electrical box. The wiring device can further include a line input terminal configured to couple to a source of alternating current (AC) power, and a charging circuit disposed at least partially within the housing and coupled to the line input terminal. The charging circuit can include one (or more) induction coil(s) configured to propagate a magnetic charging field to emanate from the wiring device. The wall plate can include one (or more) magnet(s). A magnet can be configured to magnetically attract an electronic device when the electronic device is proximate the front face of the housing of the wiring device. Additionally or alternatively, the electrical device could include magnet(s), for instance one or more magnet(s) disposed proximate the front face.
In yet further embodiments, wall plates are provided that include a shelf.
A shelf may be useful in situations where the weight, material, phone case, or other factors render the magnets (if present) of the wiring device and/or wall plate unable to hold the target device in place. The magnetic attraction between the target electronic device and the magnet(s) of the wiring device/wall plate may not be strong enough to support the weight of the electronic device and maintain it in a desired position for wireless charging. The target device could fall from the wireless charging device if knocked or disturbed, for example. A shelf can address this problem of gravity pulling the device away from the charging region.
While the target device could potentially become disconnected from the charging device by falling over the front of the shelf, or to the sides of the shelf, in some examples magnet(s) built into the wiring device and/or wall plate could pull (magnetically attract) the target device toward the wiring device. In this regard, magnet(s) in the wall plate and/or wiring device itself can be disposed and configured to attract a top portion of the electronic device toward the wiring device/front face thereof while the shelf supports the electronic device. This magnetic pull could reduce the likelihood of the target device falling off of the shelf, while helping to keep the electronic device within the wireless charging region of the wiring device, the charging region defined by the magnetic charging field.
Though in these embodiments the shelf protrudes from a portion of the wall plate, in other embodiments the wiring device includes a shelf, for instance a shelf that protrudes from a front face of the wiring device housing to perform the weight-bearing function described above.
A shelf could be provided as a component of any wiring device or wall plate described herein. A wall plate that incorporates a shelf for supporting an electronic device could include magnets arrayed across the top portion of the wall plate (and optionally in some embodiments the bottom portion of the wall plate).
The shelf 750 could be integral with rest of the wall plate body or as a separate component that is coupled (screwed, fastened, adhered, stuck, or the like) to the wall plate body.
The shelf could be made of or include any desired material. In some embodiments, the shelf and/or top surface is made of a no-slip or anti-slip material, such as a no-slip rubber, designed to prevent the electrical device from sliding on the top surface of the shelf.
Although various embodiments are described above, these are only examples. For example, computing environments of other architectures can be used to incorporate and use one or more embodiments.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of one or more embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain various aspects and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2020/060326 | 11/13/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62965188 | Jan 2020 | US |
