POWER SUPPLY

• US 20140035387A1
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• 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., Stoner, William T. Jr., Nguyen, Hai D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,673,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• 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

In one aspect, the present invention provides a universal power supply for wired and wireless electronic devices. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a universal power supply that is reconfigurable to provide a wide range of power supply options.

Claims

1. A wireless power supply for supplying power to a remote device, said wireless power supply comprising:

a rectifier that produces a rectified output from an AC source;

a switching circuit coupled to said rectified output without being converted by a DC/DC converter;

a tank circuit coupled said switching circuit;

a microcontroller programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device from said tank circuit based on feedback from said remote device.

2. The wireless power supply of claim 1 including a low power DC/DC converter coupled to said AC/DC rectifier and said microcontroller for converting said rectified output to DC in order to power said microcontroller.

3. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller is powered by a battery.

4. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting a resonant frequency of said tank circuit.

5. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting an operating frequency of said switching circuit.

6. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting a rail voltage of said wireless power supply.

7. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting a duty cycle of said wireless power supply.

8. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said rectifier is coupled directly to said switching circuit.

9. The wireless power supply of claim 1 wherein said feedback is communicated from the remote device to said power supply by at least one of reflected impedance over said tank circuit and a separate communication system.

10. A method of transferring wireless power from a wireless power supply to a remote device comprising:

providing an AC power source;

rectifying the AC power source to produce a rectified output;

switching said rectified output, without converting said rectified output with a DC/DC converter, to produce an AC output;

using the AC output to inductively transmit power via a tank circuit to the remote device;

controlling said inductive power transmission to the remote device based on feedback from the remote device.

11. The method of transferring wireless power of claim 10 including powering a microcontroller with a low power DC/DC step down converter.

12. The method of transferring wireless power of claim 11 wherein said microcontroller is powered by a battery.

13. The method of transferring wireless power of claim 10 wherein said controlling includes adjusting a resonant frequency of the tank circuit.

14. The method of transferring wireless power of claim 10 wherein said controlling includes adjusting frequency of said switching.

15. The method of transferring wireless power of claim 10 wherein said controlling includes adjusting a rail voltage.

16. The method of transferring wireless power of claim 10 wherein said controlling includes adjusting a duty cycle.

17. The method of transferring wireless power of claim 10 wherein said feedback is communicated from the remote device to said power supply by at least one of reflected impedance over the tank circuit and a separate communication system.

18. A wireless power supply system comprising:

a wireless power supply for inductively transmitting power to a remote device;

said wireless power supply including;

a wireless power supply rectifier that produces a rectified output from an AC source;

a switching circuit coupled to said rectified output without being converted by a DC/DC converter;

a tank circuit coupled to said switching circuit;

a wireless communication receiver for receiving feedback from said remote device; and

a microcontroller programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device from said tank circuit based on said feedback from said remote device;

said remote device including;

a wireless power receiver;

a wireless communication transmitter for transmitting feedback to said wireless power supply;

a remote device rectifier; and

a load.

19. The wireless power supply system of claim 18 including a low power DC/DC converter coupled to said wireless power supply rectifier and said microcontroller for converting said rectified output to DC in order to power said microcontroller.

20. The wireless power supply system of claim 18 wherein said microcontroller is powered by a battery located in said wireless power supply.

21. The wireless power supply system of claim 18 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting a resonant frequency of said tank circuit.

22. The wireless power supply system of claim 18 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting an operating frequency of said switching circuit.

23. The wireless power supply system of claim 18 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting a rail voltage of said wireless power supply.

24. The wireless power supply system of claim 18 wherein said microcontroller is programmed to control inductive power transfer to said remote device by adjusting a duty cycle of said wireless power supply.

25. The wireless power supply system of claim 18 wherein said wireless power supply rectifier is coupled directly to said switching circuit.