ADAPTIVE INDUCTIVE POWER SUPPLY WITH COMMUNICATION

• US 20120043827A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 both transferring contactless power to a remote device and exchanging information between a workstation and the remote device, said contactless power supply comprising:

a communication interface for establishing a communication link between the remote device and the workstation through the contactless power supply;

a primary for transferring contactless power to the remote device; and

a control system coupled to said communication interface, said control system configured to exchange information between the remote device and the workstation through the communication link.

2. The contactless power supply of claim 1 further comprising a power supply transceiver for communication with the remote device, wherein said control system is coupled to said power supply transceiver.

3. The contactless power supply of claim 2 wherein said control system manages data input and output through said communication interface, manages data input and output through said power supply transceiver, and controls power to said primary for transfer of contactless power to the remote device.

4. The contactless power supply of claim 2 wherein said power supply transceiver includes at least one of a communication coil, an RF transceiver, and the primary.

5. The contactless power supply of claim 2 wherein establishing the communication link between the remote device and the workstation includes establishing the communication link between the workstation and the remote device by was of said power supply transceiver.

6. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said communication interface includes at least one of a USB interface, a firewire interface, and RS-232 interface.

7. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said control system includes one controller.

8. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a plurality of controllers.

9. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said contactless power supply is configured to exchange information between the remote device and the workstation while transferring contactless power to the remote device via said primary.

10. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said communication link includes communication session with a device connected to said workstation through a network.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication link includes a communication session with a device connected to the workstation through a network.

11. A method for operating a contactless power supply to transfer contactless power to a remote device, said method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the remote device and the workstation through the contactless power supply;

exchanging information between the remote device and the workstation through the communication link; and

wirelessly transferring power from the contactless power supply to the remote device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said exchanging information further comprises managing data input and output between the remote device and the workstation through a communication interface and a transceiver.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the transceiver includes at least one of a communication coil, an RF transceiver, and the primary.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the communication interface includes at least one of a USB interface, a firewire interface, and RS-232 interface.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein establishing a communication link between the remote device and the workstation includes establishing the communication link between the workstation and the remote device by way of a transceiver.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the communication link includes a communication interface.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said wirelessly transferring power includes controlling power to a primary to transfer contactless power to the remote device.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the contactless power supply includes a control system.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the contactless power supply is configured to exchange information between the remote device and the workstation while transferring contactless power to the remote device via the primary.