Systems and methods for variable gap wireless power and communication

• US 10,421,534 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Pant, Albert Keith, Kordik, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez Borroto, Alfonso
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeshaw, Esayas G
• Application Number:
  US15/426,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20180222576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/043 using transformer type signal transducers, e.g. rotary transformers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/001 Devices not provided for in the groups B64C25/02 - B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/34 wheeled type, e.g. multi-wheeled bogies
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type

Abstract

Systems and methods for tuning power transmission circuits may sweep a power frequency applied to a transmission coil across a plurality of frequencies. The transmission coil may be inductively coupled to a receiving coil and separated from the receiving coil by an air gap. A current and/or voltage at the transmission coil may be measured in response to the power frequency being at each frequency of the plurality of frequencies. A transmission frequency may be selected based at least in part on the measured current and/or the measured voltage.

Claims

1. A method of tuning a transmission circuit, comprising:

sweeping a power frequency range applied to a transmission coil across a plurality of frequencies, wherein the transmission coil is inductively coupled to a receiving coil and separated from the receiving coil by an air gap defined by the receiving coil and the transmission coil;

measuring a current through the transmission coil at each frequency of the plurality of frequencies in the power frequency range; and

selecting a transmission frequency based at least in part on a local minima of the measured current at an optimal frequency in the plurality of frequencies, wherein the local minima of the measured current varies as the air gap varies.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a voltage across the transmission coil at each frequency of the plurality of frequencies in the power frequency range; and

selecting the transmission frequency at least in part based on a local maxima of the measured voltage, wherein the local maxima of the measured voltage varies as the air gap varies.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the plurality of frequencies in response to a binary search.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of frequencies are predetermined.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission frequency is selected over a range of distances of the air gap separating the transmission coil and the receiving coil, the range of distances being between 0.05 inches and 0.3 inches.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the receiving coil relative to the transmission coil.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is disposed within a hubcap.