Adjustable Inductive Power Transmission Platform

• US 20130241478A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Azancot, Yossi, Ben-Shalom, Amir, Greenwald, Oola, Leibovitz, Alfred, Rofe, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 8,766,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An adjustable inductive power transmission platform includes inductive power outlets embedded into adjustable modules having multiple configurations. The inductive power outlets are configured to couple with inductive power receivers to provide power to electrical loads wired thereto. The multiple configurations of the adjustable modules allow the position of the inductive power outlets to be adjusted to match the locations of inductive receivers to suit changing requirements.

Claims

1. An energy management system for managing the power drawn by a power module from a power source, said power module comprising a plurality of primary inductors, wherein said energy management system comprises:

at least one power monitor operable to monitor the power drawn by said power module and to produce a power signal, said power signal comprising information relating to the power drawn by the power module;

at least one load detector operable to detect the presence of an electric load inductively coupled to at least one of said plurality of primary inductors and further operable to produce a detection signal upon detection of said electric load;

at least one controller operable to receive said power signal and said detection signal, select at least one primary inductor to be activated and control power delivered to said at least one primary inductor.

2. The energy management system of claim 1, said controller being configured to sequentially connect a plurality of said primary inductors to said power source.

3. The energy management system of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one energy reservoir and a reservoir monitor, the reservoir monitor being operable to monitor the level of energy stored in said at least one energy reservoir and to produce a reservoir signal comprising information relating to the energy level of each of said at least one energy reservoir, wherein the controller is operable to selectively couple the energy reservoir to the power source based on the energy reservoir power level provided by reservoir signal.

4. The energy management system of claim 3, wherein said energy reservoir is selected from at least one of the group comprising a voltaic cell, a capacitor, a fuel cell, a supercapacitor, a flow battery and a superconducting magnetic energy store.

5. The energy management system of claim 3, wherein said at least one energy reservoir is incorporated within the power module and is connectable to said power source and connectable to at least one of said plurality of primary inductors.

6. The energy management system of claim 5, wherein the power module comprises one energy reservoir, said energy reservoir being connectable to the power source and connectable to all of said plurality of primary inductors.

7. The energy management system of claim 5, wherein the power module comprises a plurality of said energy reservoirs, each energy reservoir being connectable to one of said plurality of primary inductors.

8. The energy management system of claim 3, wherein said each of said one or more energy reservoirs is incorporated within each of one or more of said electric load.

9. The energy management system of claim 8, wherein said electric load further comprises a transmitter operable to provide data regarding the power level the incorporated energy reservoir to the reservoir monitor.

10. The energy management system of claim 8, the electric load being a computer and the energy reservoir being one or more onboard rechargeable power cells.

11. A method for managing the power drawn by a power module from a power source, said power module comprising at least one power monitor, at least one load detector, at least one controller, and a plurality of primary inductors, each primary inductor being connectable to said power source, said method comprising:

the at least one power monitor monitoring the power drawn by said power module and producing a power signal, said power signal comprising information relating to the power delivered to the power module;

the at least one load detector detecting at least one electric load coupled with at least one of said plurality of said primary inductors and producing a detection signal thereupon;

the at least one controller receiving the power signal and the detection signal;

the at least one controller selecting at least one of said plurality of primary inductors to be activated;

the at least one controller determining a duty cycle for connecting the active primary inductors; and

the at least one controller connecting the active primary inductors to the power source according to said duty cycle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a plurality of said primary inductors are activated, and said duty cycle connects each of said active primary inductors to the power source individually and sequentially.

13. The method of claim 11 additionally comprising the steps:

providing at least one energy reservoir;

providing a reservoir monitor;

the reservoir monitor monitoring the level of energy stored in said at least one energy reservoir and producing a reservoir signal comprising information relating to the energy level of each of said one or more energy reservoirs; and

the controller receiving said reservoir signal and selectively coupling the at least one energy reservoir to the power source based on the information provided by the reservoir signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one energy reservoir is incorporated within the power module and is connectable to said power source and connectable to at least one of said plurality of primary inductors.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising the additional step:

connecting said at least one energy reservoir to at least one activated primary inductor when said activated primary inductor is disconnected from said power source.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the power module comprises one energy reservoir, said energy reservoir being connectable to the power source and connectable to all of said plurality of primary inductors.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the power module comprises a plurality of said energy reservoirs, each energy reservoir being connectable to one of said plurality of primary inductors.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said each of said one or more energy reservoirs is incorporated within each of said at least one electric load.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

providing a transmitter incorporated in the at least one electric load; and

the transmitter transmitting data regarding the power level of the incorporated energy reservoir to the reservoir monitor.

20. The method of claim 18, the electric load being a computer and the energy reservoir being one or more onboard rechargeable power cells.