Adaptive inductive power supply with communication

• US 10,439,437 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• 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: Baarman, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borroto, Alfonso Perez
• Application Number:
  US15/157,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20160285320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/015 with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/001 : Current supply source at the exchanger providing current to substations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/25 : Circuit arrangements for protecting against overcurrent
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 : the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.

Claims

1. A contactless power supply for supplying power wirelessly to a remote device comprising:

a tank circuit having a primary configured to transfer power to the remote device via an inductive coupling, said tank circuit having a resonant frequency;

a power source configured to operate at a rail voltage;

drive circuitry coupled to said power source and said tank circuit, said drive circuitry configured to supply power from said power source to said tank circuit based a control signal, said drive circuitry applying said power at an operating frequency and a duty cycle;

a circuit sensor coupled to said tank circuit, said circuit sensor providing sensor output indicative of an operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit;

a receiver for receiving information from the remote device;

a control system coupled to said drive circuitry and said circuit sensor, said control system configured to generate said control signal to direct operation of said drive circuitry, said control system configured to vary a first one of a phase of said control signal or a first operating parameter, said first operating parameter being one of said resonant frequency, said duty cycle, said operating frequency, and said rail voltage, wherein said first operating parameter is varied based on a) said sensor output indicative of said operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit and b) said information received from the remote device; and

said controller configured to vary a second operating parameter different from said first one of said phase or said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter being a second one of said resonant frequency, said duty cycle, said operating frequency, said rail voltage, and said phase of said control signal.

2. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein operation of said drive circuitry varies in response to changes in said control signal generated by said control system.

3. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said first parameter is said phase of said control system, and wherein control system is configured to vary power transferred to the remote device by selectively changing said phase of said control signal provided to said drive circuitry.

4. The contactless power supply of claim 3 wherein said control system is configured to selectively change said phase by selectively changing a phase delay of said control signal provided to said drive circuitry.

5. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said first characteristic is said operating frequency such that said control system is configured to vary, based on said sensor output, said operating frequency of power applied to said tank circuit from said drive circuitry.

6. The contactless power supply of claim 5 wherein said control system is configured to lock said operating frequency of said power applied to said tank circuit, and wherein said control system is configured to vary said second operating parameter based on said sensor output indicative of said operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit.

7. The contactless power supply of claim 6 wherein said second operating characteristic is said duty cycle, wherein said control system is configured to set said duty cycle and to vary a third operating parameter of said contactless power supply.

8. The contactless power supply of claim 7 wherein said third operating parameter of said contactless power supply is said rail voltage of said power source, and wherein said control system is configured to vary said third operating parameter based on said sensor output indicative of said operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit.

9. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said second characteristic is said phase of said control signal.

10. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein the information received from the remote device is based on at least one of voltage or current.

11. The contactless power supply of claim 10 wherein said control system is configured to adjust said first operating parameter based on said information that is based on at least one of voltage and current.

12. The contactless power supply of claim 11 wherein said voltage and said current respectively relate to a voltage requirement and a current requirement of the remote device, and wherein said information includes said at least one of voltage and current.

13. A method of operating an inductive power supply for a remote device, the method including the steps of:

providing a control signal to a drive circuit of the inductive power supply to control application of power to a tank circuit of the inductive power supply;

establishing, based on application of power to the tank circuit, an inductive coupling between the inductive power supply and the remote device;

monitoring at least one operating characteristic of power in the inductive power supply after establishing the inductive coupling;

receiving information from the remote device;

based upon said monitoring step and said receiving step, reconfiguring the inductive power supply by adjusting a first operating parameter of the power supply, the first operating parameter being one of a resonant frequency of the tank circuit, an operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, a rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, and a duty cycle of power provided to the tank circuit; and

adjusting a second operating parameter of the inductive power supply, the second operating parameter being different from the first operating parameter, the second operating parameter being one of the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit, and a phase of the control signal provided to the drive circuitry.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said monitoring step is further defined as sensing a characteristic of power in the tank circuit.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said characteristic of power is current in the tank circuit.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the second operating parameter is the phase of the control signal, and wherein said adjusting the second operating parameter further comprises selectively changing the phase of the control signal to control secondary amplitude.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said adjusting the first parameter is further defined as adjusting the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit based on the at least one operating characteristic of power.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising locking the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, and adjusting the second operating parameter based on the at least one operating characteristic of power monitored after establishing the inductive coupling.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second operating parameter is the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit, and further comprising setting the duty cycle and adjusting a third operating parameter of the inductive power supply different from the first and second operating parameters.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the third operating parameter is the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, and further comprising adjusting the rail voltage based on the at least one operating characteristic of power monitored after establishing the inductive coupling.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said receiving step further comprises receiving information that is based on at least one of voltage and current.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said receiving step further comprises receiving information that includes the at least one of voltage and current, wherein the voltage and the current respectively relate to a voltage requirement and a current requirement of the remote device.

23. A method of operating an inductive power supply to supply wireless power from a primary to a remote device, the method including the steps of:

providing a control signal to switching circuitry of the inductive power supply to control application of power to the primary;

establishing, based on application of power to the primary, an inductive coupling between the primary of the inductive power supply and a secondary of the remote device;

transferring power to the remote device via the inductive coupling;

sensing a characteristic of power in the tank circuit;

receiving information from the remote device;

based on the characteristic of power sensed in the tank circuit and the information received from the remote device, varying power transferred to the remote device via the inductive coupling; and

adjusting an operating parameter of the inductive power supply, the operating parameter being one of the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit, and a phase of the control signal provided to the drive circuitry.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the operating parameter is defined as a first operating parameter, and wherein said varying power includes adjusting a second operating parameter different from the first operating parameter and being one of the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, and the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said adjusting the first operating parameter includes selectively changing, in the inductive power supply, a phase delay of the control signal provided to the switching circuitry to vary power transferred wirelessly to the remote device.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said receiving step further comprises receiving information that is based on at least one of voltage and current.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said receiving step further comprises receiving information that includes the at least one of voltage and current, wherein the voltage and the current respectively relate to a voltage requirement and a current requirement of the remote device.