SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE CONNECTION FROM A POWER SUPPLY TO AN INDUCTIVE POWER OUTLET

• US 20130062960A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Rofe, Arik, Ben-Shalom, Amir, Greenwald, Oola
• Application Number:
  US13/513,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20130062960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• 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 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

A switching system configured to control a connection between a power supply and an inductive power outlet where the inductive power outlet includes at least one primary inductor configured to inductively couple with a secondary inductor associated with an inductive power receiver includes a circuit breaker configured to disconnect the inductive power outlet from the power supply, and a trigger switch configured to disable the circuit breaker when the inductive power receiver is brought into proximity with the inductive power outlet.

Claims

1. A switching system configured to control a connection between a power supply and an inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary inductor configured to inductively couple with a secondary inductor associated with an inductive power receiver, wherein said switching system comprises:

a circuit breaker configured to disconnect the inductive power outlet from the power supply, and

a trigger switch configured to disable the circuit breaker when the inductive power receiver is brought into proximity with the inductive power outlet.

2. The switching system of claim 1, wherein said trigger switch comprises a magnetic switch configured to detect a magnetic element associated with said inductive power receiver.

3. The switching system of claim 2, wherein said magnetic switch comprises at least one switch selected from the group consisting of a reed switch and a Hall effect switch.

5. The switching system of claim 1, wherein said trigger switch comprises a detector configured to detect an activation signal.

6. The switching system of claim 5, wherein said detector is configured to detect at least one signal selected from the group consisting of mechanical signals, audio signals, ultra-sonic signals, optical signals and microwave signals.

7. The switching system of claim 5, wherein said signal is emitted by said inductive power receiver.

9. The switching system of claim 1, further comprising a power source for powering said trigger switch.

10. The switching system of claim 7, wherein said power source is selected from the group consisting of electrochemical cells, capacitors, piezoelectric crystals, solar cells, thermoelectric generators, electromagnetic generators and radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation harvesters.

11. The switching system of claim 9, wherein said inductive power outlet comprises at least one piezoelectric crystal configured to generate an electric potential when compressed by said inductive power receiver.

12. The switching system of claim 1, further comprising an authentication system configured to confirm the presence of said inductive power receiver when said circuit breaker is disabled.

13. The switching system of claim 12, wherein said circuit breaker is configured to disconnect said inductive power outlet from the power supply after a time period unless said authentication system confirms the presence of said inductive power receiver.

14. The switching system of claim 1, wherein said trigger switch comprises a photovoltaic cell.

15. The switching system of claim 14, wherein said photovoltaic cell is configured to provide an electrical potential and said circuit breaker is configured to be disabled when said electrical potential is below a threshold value.

16. The switching system of claim 1, wherein said inductive power outlet comprises a driving unit configured to provide an oscillating voltage across said primary inductor.

17. The switching system of claim 1, wherein said inductive power outlet comprises a communication line from said trigger switch to said circuit breaker.

18. The switching system of claim 1, wherein said trigger switch comprises a piezoelectric element.

19. The switching system of claim 1, wherein said trigger switch comprises a microphone.

4. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

20. A method for controlling a connection between a power supply and an inductive power outlet, said method comprising the following steps:

step (a)—

providing a circuit breaker between said power supply and said power outlet;

step (b)—

providing a trigger switch configured to disable said circuit breaker;

step (c)—

said trigger switch detecting an activation signal;

step (d)—

said trigger switch sending a disablement signal to said circuit breaker; and

step (e)—

said circuit breaker connecting said power supply to said inductive power outlet.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the additional steps:

step (f)—

waiting for an authentication signal from an inductive power receiver; and

step (g)—

if no authentication signal is received, said circuit breaker disconnecting said power supply from said inductive power outlet.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the additional steps:

step (h)—

said inductive power outlet receiving an end-of-charge signal from an inductive power receiver; and

step (i)—

said circuit breaker disconnecting said power supply from said inductive power outlet.