Electrical charger for a spinning device

Number: 10657854
Published: 2020-05-19
Filed: 2018-05-21
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Nocon; Nathan
CPC: G09F13/02; G09F13/04; G09F13/20; G09F19/02; G09F27/00; G09F27/005; H02J50/10; H02J50/12; H02J7/751
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Untethered wireless charger for a spinning prop/toy.

Abstract

There is provided a system that includes a base providing a wireless power source, a rotor situated over the base and configured to spin, and a device coupled to the rotor and configured to spin with the rotor, the device having a display and a wireless power receiver, where the wireless power source and the wireless power receiver are configured to power the device to show an image on the display while the rotor is spinning.

Background

BACKGROUND(1) Advances in computer technology and software have made possible the creation of richly featured virtual characters capable of simulating interactivity with a human viewer of the virtual character. The illusion of interactivity can be further enhanced when the virtual character is displayed as a three-dimensional (3D) image, apparently independent of the display system generating it. For example, a display screen upon which a two-dimensional (2D) graphic is rendered may be spun to generate a floating image that appears to be three-dimensional 3D.(2) One obstacle to use of a system including a spinning device such as a display is implementing a solution for recharging a battery powering the spinning device. Conventional solutions for providing electrical coupling for objects that are spinning utilize slip rings or conductive springs or pins. However, those conventional solutions may be subject to excessive wear, as well as add noise to the system, which can be significantly disadvantageous when the system is a display system providing an interactive 3D floating image.SUMMARY(3) There are provided electrical chargers for a spinning device and methods for their use, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, and as set forth more completely in the claims.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a base providing a charging surface; a rotor situated over the charging surface and configured to spin; a device including a battery, the device coupled to the rotor and configured to spin with the rotor; and a charging coupler electrically connected to the battery; wherein the charging coupler is configured to make electrical contact with the charging surface so as to charge the battery when the rotor is not spinning, and wherein the charging coupler is configured to break electrical contact with the charging surface after the rotor begins to spin. 10. A method of charging a battery of a device of a system having a base, a rotor, and a charging coupler electrically connected to the battery, the method comprising: placing the rotor at a standstill; placing the charging coupler in a contact with a charging surface of the base to charge the battery when the rotor is at the standstill, wherein the charging coupler is connected to the rotor; spinning the rotor, wherein the rotor is situated over the charging surface; and breaking the contact between the charging coupler and the charging surface in response to the spinning of the rotor.