Wireless inductive power transfer

• US 10,734,843 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Joye, Neil Francis, Van Wageningen, Andries, Abernethy, Simon George, Lulofs, Klaas Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Sun, Pinping
• Application Number:
  US15/849,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20180123401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter configured to provide a power transfer to a power receiver via a power transfer signal. The power receiver includes a first mode controller configured to transmit a standby mode exit request to the power transmitter by changing a loading of a communication inductor of the power transmitter. The power transmitter includes a mode controller configured to control the power transmitter to operate in a standby mode where a presence of the power receiver is detected but no power transfer signal is generated. A detector is configured to detect an impedance change of the communication inductor. The mode controller is configured to initiate a transition from the standby mode to a power transfer mode in response to the detector detecting the impedance change.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer system comprising:

a power receiver; and

a power transmitter, the power transmitter comprising;

a communication inductor, wherein the communication inductor is configured to communicate with the power receiver;

a second mode controller, wherein the second mode controller is configured to control the power transmitter to operate in a standby mode where a presence of the power receiver is detected but no power transfer signal is generated; and

a detector,

wherein the power transmitter is configured to provide a power transfer to the power receiver via a wireless inductive power transfer signal,

wherein the wireless inductive power transfer signal is generated by the power transmitter in a power transfer mode,

wherein the power receiver comprises a first mode controller,

wherein the first mode controller is configured to transmit a standby mode exit request to the power transmitter by changing a loading of the communication inductor,

wherein the detector is configured to detect an impedance change of the communication inductor,

wherein the impedance change indicates the standby mode exit request from the first mode controller;

wherein the second mode controller is configured to initiate a transition from the standby mode to the power transfer mode in response to the detector detecting the impedance change,

wherein the communication inductor is connected to a capacitor to form a resonance circuit, and

wherein the detector is configured to apply an excitation signal causing oscillations to the resonance circuit, and to detect the impedance change from a measurement of at least one of a communication inductor voltage and a communication inductor current.

2. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1, wherein the communication inductor is separate from a transmitter power coil generating the power transfer signal.

3. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1,

wherein the power receiver is configured to generate the standby mode exit request such that the standby exit request comprises control data,

wherein the power transmitter comprises a receiver for retrieving the control data,

wherein the second mode controller is configured to adapt the transition from the standby mode to the power transfer mode based on the control data.

4. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1, wherein the power receiver is configured to transmit the standby mode exit request in response to receiving a power-on user input.

5. A method of operation for a wireless power transfer system, the power transfer system comprising a power transmitter, wherein the power transmitter is configured to provide a power transfer to a power receiver via a wireless inductive power transfer signal generated by the power transmitter in a power transfer mode, the method comprising:

operating the power transmitter in a standby mode, wherein in the standby mode a presence of the power receiver is detected but no power transfer signal is generated;

receiving a standby mode exit request at the power transmitter by changing a loading of a communication inductor of the power transmitter;

detecting an impedance change of the communication inductor, wherein the impedance change indicates the standby mode exit request to the power transmitter;

initiating a transition from the standby mode to the power transfer mode in response to the detection of the impedance change, wherein the communication inductor is connected to a capacitor to form a resonance circuit; and

applying an excitation signal causing oscillations to the resonance circuit, wherein the detection of the impedance change is from a measurement of at least one of a communication inductor voltage and a communication inductor current.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the power receiver transmits the standby mode exit request in response to receiving a power-on user input.