METHODS FOR IMPROVED TRANSFER EFFICIENCY IN A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL INDUCTIVE CHARGER

• US 20130119927A1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Partovi, Afshin
• Granted Patent: US 9,112,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/40 Means for preventing magnetic saturation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3376 : with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 : using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 : One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A system and method for improved transfer efficiency in a multi-dimensional inductive charger. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a base unit having one or more transmitter coils; one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with one or more mobile device; one or more components including a ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer, that modify the magnitude and/or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions; and one or more components within the base unit and/or the mobile device, for improving transfer efficiency. In accordance with various embodiments, the system can include a ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer that acts as a switching layer.

Claims

1. A system for improved transfer efficiency in a multi-dimensional inductive charger, comprising:

a base unit having one or more transmitter coils;

one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with one or more mobile device;

one or more components including a ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer, that modify the magnitude and/or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions; and

one or more components within the base unit and/or the mobile device, for improving transfer efficiency.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer acts as a switching layer including a reservoir and/or guide layer of magnetic flux.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer includes one or more materials selected from the list consisting of soft iron, silicon steel, laminated materials, silicon alloyed materials, powder iron, hydrogen reduced iron), carbonyl iron, ferrites, vitreous metals, alloys of Ni, Mn, Zn, Fe, Co, Gd, and Dy, nanomaterials, ferrofluids, magnetic polymers, or similar materials or combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the transmitter coil and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna for coupling and power transfer over a distance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the transmitter coil and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna, and the system further includes one or more repeaters inserted between the transmitter and receiver resonant antennas.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a relatively large gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna, with the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer close to the charger resonant antenna.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a relatively close gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna and a relatively larger gap between the charger resonant antenna and the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the charger coil and/or ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer is curved or folded to form a multi-dimensional surface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more components including the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer is used to provide a degree of position independence in charging or powering the one or more devices and/or batteries.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein

the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile, and/or

the mobile device is an automobile that can be charged by a base unit.

11. A method of providing improved transfer efficiency in a multi-dimensional inductive charger, comprising the steps of:

providing a base unit having one or more transmitter coils;

providing one or more receiver coils or receivers associated with one or more mobile device;

providing one or more components including a ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer, that modify the magnitude and/or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions; and

providing one or more components within the base unit and/or the mobile device, for improving transfer efficiency.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer acts as a switching layer including a reservoir and/or guide layer of magnetic flux.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer includes one or more materials selected from the list consisting of soft iron, silicon steel, laminated materials, silicon alloyed materials, powder iron, hydrogen reduced iron), carbonyl iron, ferrites, vitreous metals, alloys of Ni, Mn, Zn, Fe, Co, Gd, and Dy, nanomaterials, ferrofluids, magnetic polymers, or similar materials or combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the transmitter coil and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna for coupling and power transfer over a distance.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the transmitter coil and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna, and the system further includes one or more repeaters inserted between the transmitter and receiver resonant antennas.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein a relatively large gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna, with the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer close to the charger resonant antenna.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein a relatively close gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna and a relatively larger gap between the charger resonant antenna and the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the charger coil and/or ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer is curved or folded to form a multi-dimensional surface.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more components including the ferromagnetic, ferrite, or other magnetic material or layer is used to provide a degree of position independence in charging or powering the one or more devices and/or batteries.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein

the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile, and/or

the mobile device is an automobile that can be charged by a base unit.