Patent 8013568

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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The US patent 8013568, titled "Contact-less chargeable battery and charging device, battery charging set, and charging control method thereof," relies on a wireless feedback control mechanism to prevent overvoltage damage during contact-less charging. This involves a battery monitoring its own internal voltage and wirelessly transmitting a monitoring result to the charging device, which then adjusts the charging power. This communication is preferably conducted during pauses in the high-frequency AC current induction to avoid interference.

The following are the most relevant prior art references cited in US8013568, along with their publication/filing dates, brief descriptions, and potential anticipation of claims, based on information from the Google Patents database.

Prior Art Analysis for US8013568

A. Baarman Patents (General Theme: Adaptive Inductive Power Supplies with Communication)

Many of the cited Baarman patents describe adaptive inductive power supply systems that include both power transfer and communication between a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, often for control purposes. A common theme is the adjustment of power based on detection or communication.

  1. US6664771B1

    • Full Citation: US6664771B1, Inventor: Baarman, Greg D., Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    • Publication Date: 2003-12-16 (Prior art date: 2001-09-07)
    • Brief Description: Describes a system and method for providing power using an adaptive inductive power supply. The system includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, where the transmitting unit varies the inductive coupling based on information received from the receiving unit. This communication can be used to adapt the power transfer to the needs of the receiving device.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly anticipates the concept of wireless communication for power adjustment in inductive charging. It potentially anticipates the general idea of claims 1, 13, 21, and 23 which involve a charging device adjusting power based on a monitoring result received from the battery. However, US8013568 specifies overvoltage monitoring at the constant voltage/constant current supplier and wireless transmission during non-induction periods. US6664771B1 does not explicitly detail these specific overvoltage monitoring and communication timing features.

  2. US6747435B2

    • Full Citation: US6747435B2, Inventor: Baarman, Greg D., Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    • Publication Date: 2004-06-08 (Prior art date: 2002-09-17)
    • Brief Description: This patent details a variable inductance arrangement for a contactless power supply. It focuses on adjusting inductance to control power transfer, often in response to load conditions. Communication might be implied for determining load or other conditions to trigger such adjustment.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While dealing with adaptive power supply, its primary focus is on mechanical or magnetic variations for inductance rather than a specific wireless feedback for overvoltage protection. It might generally anticipate power adjustment (claims 1, 13, 21, 23) but lacks the specific feedback loop and overvoltage monitoring components of US8013568.

  3. US6825620B2

    • Full Citation: US6825620B2, Inventor: Baarman, Greg D., Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    • Publication Date: 2004-11-30 (Prior art date: 2001-09-07)
    • Brief Description: Describes a switching power supply and an inductive power transfer system where power delivery can be varied. Similar to US6664771B1, it broadly covers adaptive power transfer through inductive coupling.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6664771B1, it broadly anticipates adaptive power adjustment in inductive charging (claims 1, 13, 21, 23) but does not specifically detail the overvoltage monitoring at the constant voltage/current supplier or the communication timing during power pauses, as claimed in US8013568.

  4. US7042196B2

    • Full Citation: US7042196B2, Inventor: Baarman, Greg D., Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    • Publication Date: 2006-05-09 (Prior art date: 2002-09-17)
    • Brief Description: This patent focuses on a switching power supply with a variable inductance arrangement for an inductive power supply system. It mentions communication between units for controlling the power.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to previous Baarman patents, it covers adaptive power control in inductive charging. It lacks the specific details regarding overvoltage monitoring at the constant voltage/current supplier and wireless communication during power pauses that are central to US8013568's claims.

  5. US7072722B2

    • Full Citation: US7072722B2, Inventor: Baarman, Greg D., Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    • Publication Date: 2006-07-04 (Prior art date: 2002-09-17)
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a system for providing power using an adaptive inductive power supply, with emphasis on communication for adapting power. It generally covers the broad concept of adaptive power transmission.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Broadly anticipates the feedback control for power adjustment (claims 1, 13, 21, 23). However, it does not disclose the specific overvoltage monitoring features for the constant voltage/constant current supplier, nor the critical timing of wireless communication during pauses in power induction, which are key inventive steps in US8013568.

  6. US7119519B2

    • Full Citation: US7119519B2, Inventor: Baarman, Greg D., Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    • Publication Date: 2006-10-10 (Prior art date: 2002-09-17)
    • Brief Description: This patent describes an adaptive inductive power supply, focusing on different power modes and communication to manage these modes.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Like other Baarman patents, it covers adaptive inductive power and communication for control. It likely anticipates the general concept of dynamic power adjustment (claims 1, 13, 21, 23), but not the specific overvoltage monitoring of the constant voltage/current supplier or the pause-based communication of US8013568.

  7. US6967462B2

    • Full Citation: US6967462B2, Inventor: Baarman, Greg D., Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    • Publication Date: 2005-11-22 (Prior art date: 2002-09-17)
    • Brief Description: This patent focuses on a system and method for adaptively coupling power, particularly for improving efficiency or safety in inductive power transfer. It involves communication between units to adjust the power.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to the other Baarman patents, it broadly anticipates adaptive power adjustment through communication (claims 1, 13, 21, 23). However, it lacks the explicit elements of overvoltage detection at the constant voltage/current supplier and communication during power pauses that differentiate US8013568.

  8. US20040183506A1 to US20040183515A1, US20040212349A1, US20050099147A1, US20050212479A1 to US20050212493A1 (Baarman et al.)

    • General Description: This large family of Baarman applications (many with filing/prior art dates in 2003-2004 and publication in 2004-2005) generally describe inductively coupled communication systems, switching power supplies with variable inductance, and methods for providing power using adaptive inductive power supplies. They often involve communication between a transmitting unit and a receiving unit to control various aspects of power transfer, including load detection, authentication, and power level adjustment. US20050099147A1 specifically mentions a "Battery charge circuit for inductively coupled power supply," suggesting an awareness of charging batteries.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents, collectively and individually, establish a strong foundation for adaptive inductive power transfer with communication. They broadly anticipate the general concept of a feedback loop for power adjustment (claims 1, 13, 21, 23). US20050099147A1's specific focus on a "battery charge circuit" makes it highly relevant for the overall system. While they establish the idea of adaptive power and communication, it is not immediately clear if they explicitly disclose the precise combination of overvoltage monitoring at the constant voltage/constant current supplier, and particularly the wireless transmission of monitoring results during a pause in high frequency AC current induction (claims 4, 19, 21, 23) to prevent magnetic field interference. These specific timing and monitoring aspects appear to be distinctive features of US8013568. Without a detailed review of each Baarman patent's claims and full specification, it's difficult to definitively say they anticipate all these specific elements. However, they represent very close prior art in the field of adaptive inductive power transfer with communication.

B. Partovi Patents (General Theme: Inductive Charging with Frequency/Voltage Adjustment)

  1. US6882142B2

    • Full Citation: US6882142B2, Inventor: Partovi, Afshin, Assignee: Intel Corporation
    • Publication Date: 2005-04-19 (Prior art date: 2003-02-18)
    • Brief Description: Discloses an inductive charging system with frequency adjustment. The system can vary the operating frequency of the inductive power transfer to optimize efficiency or respond to load conditions. Communication might be used to determine when such adjustments are needed.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates the idea of adjusting charging parameters (like frequency, which affects power) in an inductive charging system (claims 13, 17, 21, 23). However, it does not specifically describe the overvoltage monitoring at the constant voltage/constant current supplier and the wireless feedback communication during power pauses as claimed in US8013568.

  2. US6911796B2

    • Full Citation: US6911796B2, Inventor: Partovi, Afshin, Assignee: Intel Corporation
    • Publication Date: 2005-06-28 (Prior art date: 2003-02-18)
    • Brief Description: Describes an inductive charging system with variable output voltage. This patent is focused on controlling the output voltage delivered by the receiving unit, likely to match the charging requirements of a battery or device.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates the need for regulating output voltage in a wireless charging system. While it addresses voltage control, it doesn't detail the wireless feedback loop for overvoltage protection specifically from the constant voltage/constant current supplier or the communication timing during power pauses that characterize US8013568 (claims 1, 13, 21, 23).

C. Japanese Patent

  1. JP2004072895A
    • Full Citation: JP2004072895A, Inventor: Yoshimoto Koji, Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
    • Publication Date: 2004-03-11 (Prior art date: 2002-08-28)
    • Brief Description: Describes a non-contact charging device. The abstract indicates a charging system for a battery using non-contact power supply, potentially including detection of battery status for charging control.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a general non-contact charging device, it could broadly cover the application area. Depending on its detailed disclosure, it might anticipate basic elements of inductive charging (claims 1, 7, 13, 21, 23). However, without further details, it is unlikely to specifically anticipate the detailed overvoltage monitoring feedback and intermittent communication features of US8013568.

Summary of Potential Anticipation:

The most relevant prior art, particularly the large family of Baarman patents, broadly anticipates adaptive inductive power transfer systems where a receiver communicates with a transmitter to adjust power delivery. This touches upon the core function described in claims 1, 13, 21, and 23 of US8013568.

However, US8013568 appears to distinguish itself by the specific mechanism and timing of its feedback control for overvoltage protection:

  1. Specific Monitoring Point: Monitoring voltages at both ends of the constant voltage/constant current supplier (claims 1, 7).
  2. Overvoltage Focus: Explicitly using this monitoring for an overvoltage state (claims 1, 6, 7, 12, 20, 22, 24).
  3. Communication Timing: The crucial step of transmitting the monitoring result while a high frequency AC current is not induced in the secondary coil / not applied to the magnetic field generating unit (claims 4, 10, 19, 21, 23). This feature aims to prevent interference between the high-frequency charging field and the wireless communication signal.

While the Baarman and Partovi patents teach adaptive power control through communication, a direct and explicit disclosure of this precise combination—especially the intermittent communication during power pauses specifically for overvoltage detection at the constant voltage/current supplier—would be required to fully anticipate the claims of US8013568 under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Without a detailed claim-by-claim analysis against the full specifications of each cited patent, it is difficult to definitively state which specific claims are fully anticipated. However, the existing prior art provides a strong foundation for inductive power transfer with feedback control, suggesting that the novelty of US8013568 lies in the specific implementation of overvoltage protection and communication timing.

Generated 5/17/2026, 6:48:03 PM