METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFERS THROUGH MULTIPLE PORTS

• US 20080172176A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert E., DuBois, Mark D., Hayek, Charles F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/220
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/24 using magnetic or electrostatic fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 50/80 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: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

A system and method for wireless power transfer to an electronic device in motion, such as an inertial sensor assembly, is disclosed. In the method, a power level of a battery in the electronic device is monitored to determine whether the power level is at or below a prescribed threshold. One or more internal power ports of the electronic device are aligned with one or more external power ports when the power level is at or below the prescribed threshold. A wireless power signal is transmitted from the one or more external power ports to the one or more internal power ports. The power signal received by the one or more internal power ports is processed to charge the battery in the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for wireless power transfer to an electronic device in motion, the method comprising:

monitoring a power level of a battery in the electronic device to determine whether the power level is at or below a prescribed threshold;

aligning one or more internal power ports of the electronic device with one or more external power ports when the power level is at or below the prescribed threshold;

transmitting a wireless power signal from the one or more external power ports to the one or more internal power ports; and

processing the power signal received by the one or more internal power ports to charge the battery in the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion of the electronic device is suspended around two axes of rotation while maintaining motion around one axis of rotation until the battery is sufficiently charged.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more internal power ports are aligned with the one or more external power ports so that a secondary core of an internal power port has a separation distance from a primary core of an external power port of about 0.001 inch or less.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising serving an electrical load in the electronic device while the battery is being charged.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an inertial sensor assembly.

6. An electronic system, comprising:

at least one inertial sensor assembly, comprising;

one or more internal power ports; and

a sensor device responsive to the one or more internal power ports;

a power supply in communication with the inertial sensor assembly, the power supply comprising;

one or more external power ports that are configured to align with the one or more internal power ports to transfer wireless power signals; and

a power source in communication with the one or more external power ports for providing one or more levels of electrical power; and

a controller in communication with the inertial sensor assembly and the power supply, the controller configured to notify the power supply when the inertial sensor assembly needs to be electrically charged.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

at least two positioning sensors responsive to the controller, the positioning sensors configured to align the one or more internal power ports with the one or more external power ports; and

at least two gas insertion pads that maintain a constant gas-pressurized bearing to provide for rotation of the inertial sensor assembly without physical contact with the power supply and the controller.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the inertial sensor assembly comprises a hollow sphere.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the power supply further comprises:

a power switching circuit responsive to the controller and the power source;

wherein the power switching circuit energizes the one or more external power ports as directed by the controller.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more external power ports comprise one or more primary cores that are concave or convex.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more primary cores comprise a wound magnetic material.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more internal power ports comprise one or more secondary cores that are convex when the one or more external power ports are concave.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the secondary core comprises a wound magnetic material.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein when one of the internal power ports is aligned with one of the external power ports, a secondary core has a separation distance from a primary core of about 0.001 inch or less.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor device further comprises:

a power rectifier circuit responsive to the one or more internal power ports;

a battery bank responsive to one or more power signals from the power rectifier circuit; and

a sensor instrumentation unit in communication with the power rectifier circuit and the battery bank.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a battery monitor that is configured to communicate a battery bank charge level to the controller.

17. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller further comprises:

a control unit in communication with the power supply;

a control unit transceiver responsive to the sensor device and in communication with the control unit; and

an optional display unit that indicates a power status of the sensor device.

18. A system for wireless power transfer to an electronic device in motion, the system comprising:

means for determining if a power level is at or below a predetermined threshold for a battery in the electronic device;

means for aligning one or more internal power ports of the electronic device with one or more external power ports when the power level is at or below the prescribed threshold;

means for transmitting a wireless power signal from the one or more external power ports to the one or more internal power ports; and

means for processing the power signal received by the one or more internal power ports to charge the battery in the electronic device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises an inertial sensor assembly.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more external power ports comprises a primary core that is concave, and wherein the one or more internal power ports comprises a secondary core that is convex.