ADAPTIVE INDUCTIVE POWER SUPPLY WITH COMMUNICATION
First Claim
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1. A contactless power supply for inductively providing power to a remote device comprising:
- a resonant circuit having at least one of a variable capacitor with a variable capacitance and a variable inductor with a variable inductance, said resonant circuit having a variable resonant frequency that varies as a function of said at least one of said variable capacitor and said variable inductor, said resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device;
circuitry for providing power at an operating frequency, rail voltage, and duty cycle;
a receiver for receiving information from said remote device;
a controller electrically coupled to said receiver and said circuitry, wherein said controller is programmed to;
(1) vary said variable resonant frequency of said resonant circuit by at least one of (i) varying said capacitance of said variable capacitor of said resonant circuit; and
(ii) varying said variable inductance of said variable inductor of said resonant circuit; and
(2) vary at least one of said operating frequency, said duty cycle, and said rail voltage.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A contactless power supply for inductively providing power to a remote device comprising:
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a resonant circuit having at least one of a variable capacitor with a variable capacitance and a variable inductor with a variable inductance, said resonant circuit having a variable resonant frequency that varies as a function of said at least one of said variable capacitor and said variable inductor, said resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device; circuitry for providing power at an operating frequency, rail voltage, and duty cycle; a receiver for receiving information from said remote device; a controller electrically coupled to said receiver and said circuitry, wherein said controller is programmed to; (1) vary said variable resonant frequency of said resonant circuit by at least one of (i) varying said capacitance of said variable capacitor of said resonant circuit; and
(ii) varying said variable inductance of said variable inductor of said resonant circuit; and(2) vary at least one of said operating frequency, said duty cycle, and said rail voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A contactless power supply system for transmitting power from a contactless power supply to a remote device, the contactless power supply system comprising:
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an inverter, the inverter having a duty cycle and an operating frequency; a resonant circuit coupled to the inverter, the resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, the resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device; a power source coupled to the inverter, the power source having a rail voltage; a receiver for receiving power information from the remote device; a sensor generating a sensor output; and a controller in electrical communication with the receiver, the controller programmed to; (1) vary a first characteristic of the contactless power supply in response to the sensor output, the first characteristic being one of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit, the operating frequency of the inverter, the rail voltage of the power source, and the duty cycle of the inverter, and (2) vary a second characteristic of the contactless power supply in response to the information received from the remote device, the second characteristic being one of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit, the operating frequency of the inverter, the rail voltage of the power source, and the duty cycle of the inverter and being different from the first characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating an inductive power supply system including an inductive power supply and a remote device, the method comprising:
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inductively coupling the inductive power supply to the remote device; receiving, in the inductive power supply, stored power information from the remote device; sensing a characteristic of power; adjusting a first characteristic of said inductive power supply in response to the information received from the remote device, the first characteristic being one of the resonant frequency of a tank circuit in the inductive power supply, an operating frequency of the inductive power supply, a duty cycle of the inductive power supply, and a rail voltage of the inductive power supply; and adjusting a second characteristic of said inductive power supply as a function of the sensed characteristic, the second characteristic being one of the resonant frequency of the tank circuit in the inductive power supply, the operating frequency of the inductive power supply, the duty cycle of the inductive power supply, and the rail voltage of the inductive power supply. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A contactless power supply for providing power to a remote device, the contactless power supply comprising:
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an inverter, the inverter having a duty cycle and an operating frequency; a resonant circuit coupled to the inverter, the resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, the resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device; a power source coupled to the inverter, the power source having a rail voltage; a receiver for receiving power information from the remote device; and a controller in electrical communication with the receiver, the controller programmed to; (1) vary a first characteristic of the contactless power supply, the first characteristic being one of the resonant frequency, the operating frequency, the rail voltage, and the duty cycle, and (2) vary a second characteristic of the contactless power supply, the second characteristic being one of the resonant frequency and the rail voltage and being different from the first characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification