Multi-bridge topology

• US 10,193,389 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Moes, Benjamin C., Norconk, Matthew J., Taylor, Joshua B., Moore, Colin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mourad, Rasem
• Application Number:
  US15/584,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20170237297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4818 with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53871 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A power supply with a multi-bridge topology configured to provide multiple different bridge topologies during operation. The power supply includes a plurality of half-bridge circuits connected to a controller. The controller can selectively configure the power supply between a plurality of different bridge topologies during operation by controlling the half-bridge circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless power supply for supplying power wirelessly to a remote device, the wireless power supply comprising:

a controller;

a first half-bridge circuit electrically connected to the controller;

a second half-bridge circuit electrically connected to the controller;

wherein the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply between a plurality of different bridge topologies during operation by controlling the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit;

wherein the controller selects a bridge topology from the plurality of different bridge topologies in response to inductive coupling of the remote device to the wireless power supply and based on feedback from the remote device;

wherein, in response to the wireless power supply being configured to the selected bridge topology, the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply to fine tune an amount of power delivered to the remote device by adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the half bridge circuits based on feedback from the remote device;

wherein the controller selects a different bridge topology from the plurality of different bridge topologies in response to inductive coupling of a new remote device to the wireless power supply and based on feedback from the new remote device;

wherein, in response to the wireless power supply being configured to the different bridge topology, the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply to fine tune an amount of power delivered to the new remote device by adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the half bridge circuits based on feedback from the new remote device.

2. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein step size of the adjustment of the characteristic varies based on the selected bridge topology.

3. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein the characteristic of at least one of the half bridge circuits includes at least one of operating frequency, rail voltage, duty cycle, and phase of at least one of the half bridge circuits.

4. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein the different bridge topologies include a full bridge and a half bridge.

5. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit are electrically connected to a tank circuit including a primary coil and a capacitor, wherein the tank circuit inductively couples to the remote device via an air core in response to placement near the wireless power supply.

21. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein the controller selectively configures the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit to adjust the resonant frequency of the wireless power supply.

22. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of different bridge topologies provide a different range of power and wherein the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply to fine tune an amount of power delivered to the remote device within the range of power for each of the plurality of different bridge topologies by adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the half bridge circuits to meet a remote device power request.

23. The wireless power supply of claim 22 wherein the different ranges of power at the plurality of different bridge topologies are provided while maintaining a constant resonant frequency for the wireless power supply.

6. A wireless power supply that supplies power wirelessly to a remote device, the wireless power supply comprising:

a primary inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal;

a first inverter including a first switch for selectively coupling a first node to a first voltage source and a second switch for selectively coupling the first node to a first reference voltage, the first node is electrically connected to the first terminal of the primary inductor;

a second inverter including a first switch for selectively coupling a second node to a second voltage source and a second switch for selectively coupling the second node to a second reference voltage, the second node is electrically connected to the second terminal of the primary inductor; and

a controller for configuring the wireless power supply between a plurality of different bridge topologies by controlling the first switch and the second switch of the first inverter and by controlling the first switch and the second switch of the second inverter;

wherein the controller selects a bridge topology from the plurality of different bridge topologies in response to inductive coupling of the remote device to the wireless power supply and based on feedback from the remote device;

wherein, in response to the wireless power supply being configured to the selected bridge topology, the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply to fine tune an amount of power delivered to the remote device by adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the inverters based on feedback from the remote device;

wherein the controller selects a different bridge topology from the plurality of different bridge topologies in response to inductive coupling of a new remote device to the wireless power supply and based on feedback from the new remote device;

wherein, in response to the wireless power supply being configured to the different bridge topology, the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply to fine tune an amount of power delivered to the new remote device by adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the inverters based on feedback from the new remote device.

7. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein the first node is electrically connected to the first terminal of the primary inductor through one or more capacitors and wherein the second node is electrically connected to the second terminal of the primary inductor through one or more capacitors.

8. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein the first voltage source and the second voltage source are the same voltage source.

9. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein step size of the adjustment of the characteristic varies based on the selected bridge topology.

10. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein the characteristic includes operating frequency, rail voltage, duty cycle, and phase of at least one of the half bridge circuits.

11. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein the different bridge topologies include a full bridge and a half bridge.

12. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein the controller configures the wireless power supply as a full bridge by

the controller driving the first inverter as a switching circuit by operating the first switch of the first inverter and the second switch of the first inverter alternately;

and

the controller driving the second inverter as a switching circuit by operating the first switch of the second inverter and the second switch of the second inverter alternately in phase with the first inverter.

13. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein the controller configures the wireless power supply as a half bridge by

the controller driving the first inverter as a switching circuit by operating the first switch of the first inverter and the second switch of the first inverter alternately;

and

the controller driving the second inverter as reference voltage by driving the first switch of the second inverter open and driving the second switch of the second inverter closed.

24. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein the controller selectively configures the first inverter and the second inverter to adjust the resonant frequency of the wireless power supply.

25. The wireless power supply of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of different bridge topologies provide a different range of power and wherein the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply to fine tune an amount of power delivered to the remote device within the range of power for each of the plurality of different bridge topologies by adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the inverters to meet a remote device power request.

26. The wireless power supply of claim 25 wherein the different ranges of power at the plurality of different bridge topologies are provided while maintaining a constant resonant frequency for the wireless power supply.

14. A wireless power supply system for supplying power wirelessly to a remote device, the system wireless power supply comprising:

a controller;

a first half-bridge circuit electrically connected to the controller;

a second half-bridge circuit electrically connected to the controller;

wherein the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit are electrically connected to a primary coil;

wherein the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology by controlling the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit;

wherein the controller selects the half-bridge topology for a first remote device in response to inductive coupling of the first remote device to the wireless power supply and based on feedback from the first remote device;

wherein the controller selects the full-bridge topology for a second remote device that is different than the first remote device in response to inductive coupling of the second remote device to the wireless power supply and based on feedback from the second remote device;

wherein, while the power supply is configured in the half-bridge topology, the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the remote device while configured in the half bridge topology by adjusting a first characteristic based on feedback from the first remote device;

wherein, while the power supply is configured in the full-bridge topology, the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the second remote device by adjusting a second characteristic based on feedback from the second remote device.

15. The wireless power supply of claim 14 wherein the first characteristic is one of at least rail voltage, duty cycle, operating frequency, and phase, and wherein the second characteristic is one of at least rail voltage, duty cycle, operating frequency, and phase.

16. The wireless power supply of claim 14 wherein the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the first remote device while configured in the half-bridge topology by adjusting at least one of duty cycle and operating frequency, and wherein the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the second remote device while configured in the full-bridge topology by adjusting at least one of phase and operating frequency.

17. The wireless power supply of claim 14 wherein the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the first remote device while configured in the half-bridge topology by adjusting operating frequency, and wherein the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the second remote device while configured in the full-bridge topology by adjusting duty cycle.

18. The wireless power supply of claim 14 wherein the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the first remote device while configured in the half-bridge topology by adjusting operating frequency, and wherein the controller selectively fine tunes an amount of power delivered to the second remote device while configured in the full-bridge topology by adjusting phase.

19. The wireless power supply of claim 14 wherein step size of the adjustment of the first characteristic is different from step size of the adjustment of the second characteristic.

20. The wireless power supply of claim 14 wherein the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit are electrically connected to the primary coil through at least one capacitor.

27. The wireless power supply of claim 14 wherein the controller selectively configures the first half-bridge circuit and the second half-bridge circuit to adjust the resonant frequency of the wireless power supply.

28. The wireless power supply system of claim 14 wherein the half-bridge topology and the full-bridge topology each provide a different range of power and wherein the controller selectively configures the wireless power supply to fine tune an amount of power delivered to the first or second remote device within the range of power for each of the half-bridge topology and the full-bridge topology by adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the half bridge circuits to meet a first or second remote device power request.

29. The wireless power supply of claim 28 wherein the first range of power provided by the half-bridge topology and the second range of power provided by the full-bridge topology are provided at a constant resonant frequency for the wireless power supply.