Tuning and Gain Control in Electro-Magnetic power systems

• US 20090243394A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nigel Power LLC (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Levine, Richard C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,629,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

Tuning and gain control as described for magnetic power systems, including different ways to change the characteristic of transmission and reception.

Claims

1. A magnetic power coupling system, comprising:

a receiver, that receives a magnetic signal that conveys power therein, and converts said magnetic signal into power, and produces a power output, said receiver including a connection to a load, wherein said connection allows coupling said power to said load, wherein said receiver creates an automatic feedback signal, said automatic feedback signal representing at least one characteristic of the power coupling, and said automatic feedback signal including at least information indicative of a concentration of the magnetic field received by the magnetic signal, and said automatic feedback signal being indicative of a characteristic of the power coupling that changes based on environmental conditions.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a transmitter that changes a characteristic of the power coupling based on said automatic feedback signal.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said feedback control changes a directionality of the electromagnetic field in said transmitter.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said feedback signal controls changing a characteristic of the power coupling.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said changing the way the signal transmits comprises changing a position of an antenna.

6. A system as in claim 4, wherein said changing the way that the signal transmits comprises controlling a direction of the magnetic field created by the antenna without physically moving or reorienting the antenna.

7. A system as in claim 2, wherein said automatic feedback signal is sent from said receiver to said transmitter via a short range communication technology.

8. A system as in claim 2, wherein said automatic feedback signal is sent from said receiver to said transmitter via a cell phone communication channel.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein said short range technology is an infrared channel.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said receiver changes its resonant frequency responsive to said automatic feedback signal.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said receiver changes its magnetic frequency responsive to said automatic feedback signal.

12. A system, comprising:

a magnetic power coupling system, comprising a magnetic transmitter, that receives electric power from a power source to be transmitted to a remote receiver, and couples said power to said remote receiver magnetically by creating a magnetic field, said magnetic power coupling system also including a receiving part that receives a signal indicative of a further signal indicative of a feedback control, and changes a characteristic of the created magnetic field based on said signal indicative of said feedback control.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said transmitter changes a way that the signal is transmitted [responsive to said signal indicative of said feedback control.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said changing the way the signal transmits comprises changing a position of the antenna.

15. A system as in claim 13, wherein said changing the way that the signal transmits is generated comprises controlling a direction of the magnetic field created by the antenna without moving or reorienting the antenna.

16. A system as in claim 15, wherein said signal indicative of a feedback control from a receiver is received via a short range channel technology.

17. A system as in claim 15, wherein said signal indicative of a feedback control from a receiver is received via a cell phone communication channel.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein said short range technology is an infrared channel.

19. A system as in claim 16, wherein said transmitter changes a resonant frequency of said transmitter based on said signal indicative of said feedback control.

20. A system as in claim 15, wherein said transmitter changes a driving signal that sets a magnetic frequency.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein said changing uses a digital bitstream to create a sine wave based on said digital bitstream.

22. A system as in claim 21, wherein said sine wave has a adjustable frequency that changes depending on a specific bitstream which is used.

23. A system as in claim 22, further comprising a heterodyne signal that adds a constant frequency to a frequency of the generated sine wave.

24. A system as in claim 22, wherein said changing the way the signal is generated, changes a frequency of the generation.

25. A system as in claim 22, wherein said changing the way the signal is generated, changes a component of the polarization.

26. A system as in claim 25, wherein said polarization causes the field to impinge on the antenna at a specified direction.

27. A method, comprising:

creating a magnetic power field to be coupled to a load;

detecting if the load is present, and if so allowing a magnetic coupling field to be coupled to the load produce power to a load; and

determining when the load is not present, and automatically shutting off transmission when the load is not present.

28. A method, comprising:

receiving electric power from a power source, to be transmitted to a remote receiver,

coupling said power to said remote receiver magnetically by creating a magnetic field;

receiving a signal indicative of a signal indicative of a feedback control, and

changing a characteristic of the created magnetic field based on said signal responsive to ????] said feedback control.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein said changing the way the signal transmits comprises changing a position of the antenna.

30. A method as in claim 28, wherein said changing the way that the signal transmits is generated comprises controlling a direction of the magnetic field created by the antenna without moving or reorienting the antenna.

31. A method, comprising:

using electric power to create a magnetic field that has the capability to convey power from a first location, where the electric power is created, to a second place remote from said first place;

receiving the magnetic field in a receiver that is remote from a source of said electric power and is not connected thereto by an electric wire, and, based on said receiving, producing an electrical output signal based on said magnetic field;

receiving a signal indicative of a feedback control in said receiver; and

based on said feedback control signal, changing a characteristic of the created magnetic field based on said signal responsive to said feedback control.

32. A method as in claim 31, further comprising changing a way that the signal is transmitted based on said signal responsive to said feedback control.