Energysquare

France Brevets

Energysquare Sas

Timothée Le Quesne

Daniel Lollo

Matthieu Poidatz

Rokhaya Kane

Gilles Rougon

A charging surface comprising multiple conductive regions can be used to charge an electronic device placed on it the surface so that electrodes on the device engage respective conductive regions of the surface. In order to distinguish such chargeable devices from short circuits and other spurious connections, the coupling interface associated with the charging surface is controlled so as to establish a text voltage across each pair of conductive regions in sequence, and look for pairs of conductive region demonstrating a voltage drop characteristic of a particular class of device. Relationships between every pair of conductive regions can be determined and recording, and the voltage level supplied to each conductive region set accordingly. The coupling interface may furthermore operate to identify device classes, and to set supply voltages or establish additional connections on the basis of stored device class information. Discrimination on the basis of voltage drop can be enhanced by the provision of a coupling adapted associated with a device to be detected, where the coupling adapter demonstrates an anti-inversion characteristic, for example implemented with a MOSFET, across at least a pair of these electrodes.

Coupling interface and method of operation

A charging surface comprising multiple conductive regions can be used to charge an electronic device placed on it the surface so that electrodes on the device engage respective conductive regions of the surface. In order to distinguish such chargeable devices from short circuits and other spurious connections, the devices are required to demonstrate an anti-inversion characteristic, for example implemented with a MOSFET, across at least a pair of these electrodes. The surface can then be controlled so as to establish a text voltage across each pair of conductive regions in sequence, and look for pairs of conductive regions behaving as being coupled by such an anti inverter circuit. Relationships between every pair of conductive regions can be determined and recording, and the voltage level supplied to each conductive region set accordingly. The coupling interface may furthermore operate to identify device classes, and to set supply voltages or establish additional connections on the basis of stored device class information.

The invention discloses an adaptor or coupling arrangement for a device to bus contact connection. According to the invention, the coupling arrangement may be integrated in the device or configured to mate externally to the device. The coupling arrangement comprises electrical contact areas configured to mate to a mating surface that is itself configured to connect to a power line, one or more data lines, or both. The coupling arrangement also comprises an electronic circuit that is configured to perform one or more anti-inversion of current functions. Thus the coupling arrangement of the invention allows detection of the current connections established or not with conductive areas of the mating surface. Also, the coupling arrangement operates as a protection circuit that prevents any short circuit, whatever the positioning of the device on the mating surface. The coupling arrangement may be used to operate smart phones, tablets, laptops or other types of electrical appliances.

Adaptor for a device to bus contact connection

Roaming electronic devices () are recharged on a flat recharging surface provided with wide contact zones, by using an adapter () which defines two electrically conductive terminals (B, B) of small section in an outer face (F) of a strip of the adapter. For each device to be powered, provision is made:&#x2014;to stick an inner face of the strip (B) against a face () of the device and engage a connector () in the device on the side of a bent part () of the strip;&#x2014;to place the adapter between the device and the recharging surface to allow conduction from two of the contact zones, the terminals being spaced apart by a predetermined distance (c) very much greater than their section size; and to selectively supply contact zones with current, for these zones on which the two terminals bear to be in an operational state and allow the recharging via the adapter.

Growing community of inventors

Versailles, France

Timothée Le Quesne