Multiple coil data transmission system

• US 10,079,090 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triune Systems, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Triune Systems, LLC (Semtech Corporation)
• Inventors: Teggatz, Ross, Chen, Wayne, Atrash, Amer, Blaszczak, Andrew, Knight, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Xuan
• Application Number:
  US13/309,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,483 Days
• Field of Search: 307 17, 307104, 307149, 307151
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Multiple coil systems and methods are disclosed in which transmitter and receiver inductors, or coils, are coupled in a configuration for wirelessly transferring data and/or power among them. In preferred implementations, the systems and methods are used for transmitting data using pairs of coupled coils. One preferred aspect of the invention is that the coils are not permanently affixed in physical proximity to one another, but can be moved and/or interchanged.

Claims

1. A system for wireless data transmission comprising:

a plurality of primary coils operably coupled to be driven independently with a signal;

a plurality of secondary coils positioned in proximity to the primary coils and suitable for receiving the signal inductively; and

a first driver circuit configured to inductively transfer a serial sequence of data and a second driver circuit configured to transfer power from one or more primary coil to one or more secondary coil by switching between a resonant frequency for power transmission and a different frequency for data transmission;

wherein at least one first primary coil can be operably coupled to the first driver circuit to drive the first primary coil with the serial sequence of data and at least one second primary coil can be operably coupled to the second driver circuit to drive the second primary coil with a power transmission signal.

2. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of primary coils are operably coupled with circuitry for sensing secondary coil proximity and for responsively and selectively transmitting a signal to one or more of the detected secondary coils.

3. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein each secondary coil is selectively coupled with data receiving circuitry.

4. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein each secondary coil is selectively coupled with power receiving circuitry or data receiving circuitry.

5. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one coil further comprises one or more switchable taps selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil from a first configuration for power transfer to a second position for data transfer.

6. The system for wireless data transmission according to claim 1 wherein at least one coil is operably coupled to one or more switchable capacitor network selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil from a first position for power transfer to a second position for data transfer.

7. A multiple coil data transfer system comprising:

at least one primary coil of a plurality of primary coils operably coupled to a circuit for transmitting data;

at least one secondary coil of a plurality of secondary coils operably coupled to a circuit for receiving data;

wherein at least one of the primary coils and at least one of the secondary coils are adapted for inductively coupling for data transfer;

primary side circuitry configured for selecting at least one primary coil of the plurality of primary coils for transmitting data to at least one of the secondary coils and at least one primary coil of the plurality of primary coils for transmitting power; and

wherein at least one primary coil can be operably coupled to a first driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a data signal and at least one primary coil can be operably coupled to a second driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a power transmission signal.

8. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 7 wherein a plurality of primary coils are operably coupled with circuitry for sensing secondary coil proximity and for responsively transmitting a signal to detected secondary coils.

9. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 7 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with data receiving circuitry.

10. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 7 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with power receiving circuitry.

11. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 7 wherein at least one coil further comprises one or more switchable taps selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

12. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 7 wherein at least one coil is operably coupled to one or more switchable capacitor network selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

18. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 7 wherein the primary side circuitry is configured for selecting at least one primary coil of the plurality of primary coils for transmitting data based on sensed proximity to at least one of the secondary coils.

20. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 7 wherein the data is a serial sequence of data.

13. A multiple coil data transfer system comprising:

at least one primary coil of a plurality of primary coils operably coupled to a circuit for transmitting data;

at least one secondary coil of a plurality of secondary coils operably coupled to a circuit for receiving data;

wherein at least one of the primary coils is dynamically configurable for operation at selectable frequencies for transmitting the data to one or more of the secondary coils and a second primary coil is dynamically configurable for transmitting power; and

wherein at least one primary coil can be operably coupled to a first driver circuit adapted for driving the primary coil with a power transmission signal and at least one second primary coil can be operably coupled to a second driver circuit to drive the second primary coil with the data.

14. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 13 wherein at least one secondary coil is operably coupled with power receiving circuitry.

15. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 13 wherein at least one coil further comprises one or more switchable taps selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

16. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 13 wherein at least one coil is operably coupled to one or more switchable capacitor network selectable for changing the frequency characteristics of the coil.

17. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the primary coils is operably coupled with circuitry adapted for sensing secondary coil proximity and for selecting at least one of the primary coils for transmitting data based on sensed proximity to at least one of the secondary coils.

19. The multiple coil data transfer system according to claim 13 wherein the second primary coil is dynamically configurable at a selectable resonant frequency for transmitting power.