Wideband Data And Power Transmission Using Pulse Delay Modulation

• US 20140140420A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Ghovanloo, Maysam, Kiani, Mehdi
• Granted Patent: US 9,094,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Certain implementations may include systems, methods, and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting data and power across inductive links using pulse delay modulation (PDM). According to an example implementation, a method is provided that includes generating a power carrier signal; generating a data waveform from a series of binary bits, the data waveform including a series of pulses in synchronization with the power carrier signal; transmitting, from one or more transmitting (Tx) coils of an inductive link, the power carrier signal and the data waveform; receiving, by one or more receiving (Rx) coils of the inductive link, an interference signal, the interference signal based at least in part on a superposition of the transmitted power carrier signal and the transmitted data waveform; determining zero crossings of the received interference signal; determining delays associated with the zero crossings; and determining the data packet based at least in part on the delays.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly transmitting data and power across inductive links using pulse delay modulation (PDM), the method comprising:

generating, based on a clock signal, a power carrier signal having a fundamental period T_p;

receiving a data packet comprised of a series of binary bits including Ones bits and Zeros bits;

generating a data waveform from the series of binary bits, the data waveform comprising a series of pulses in synchronization with the power carrier signal, the series of pulses comprising at least one pulse for each of the Ones bits or for each of the Zeros bits;

transmitting, from one or more transmitting (Tx) coils of an inductive link, the power carrier signal and the data waveform;

receiving, by one or more receiving (Rx) coils of the inductive link, an interference signal, the interference signal based at least in part on a superposition of the transmitted power carrier signal and the transmitted data waveform;

determining zero crossings of the received interference signal;

determining delays associated with the zero crossings; and

determining the data packet based at least in part on the delays.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the pulses of the data waveform comprise a rectangular shape or a Gaussian shape having a duration of greater than about 0.5 picoseconds and less than about T_p/2.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by one or more receiving (Rx) coils, the transmitted power carrier signal and regenerating the clock signal based on the received power carrier signal or the interference signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the delays associated with the zero crossings are determined with respect to the regenerated clock signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the Ones bits comprise at least one pulse and wherein each of the Zeros bits comprise no pulse.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the Ones bits comprise at least one positive pulse and wherein each of the Zeros bits comprise at least one negative pulse.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the Ones bits comprise a pair of pulses of opposite polarity and spaced by T_p/2.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data waveform comprises the series of pulses in phase synchronization with the power carrier signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the inductive link comprises a plurality of coils configured to be coupled, the plurality of coils including a power Tx coil, a power Rx coil, a data Tx coil and a data Rx coil, wherein the power Tx coil is configured to be inductively coupled with the data Rx coil in part due to proximity.

10. A system comprising:

plurality of coupled coils including;

a power transmission (Tx) coil;

a power receiver (Rx) coil,

a data Tx coil; and

a data Rx coil;

wherein the power Tx coil is inductively coupled with the data Rx coil in part due to proximity;

a data pulse pattern generator configured to drive the data Tx coil;

a power carrier signal generator configured to drive the power Tx coil;

a power receiver and clock recovery circuit operatively coupled to the power Rx coil;

a pulse delay detector operatively coupled to the data Rx coil; and

circuitry configured to;

generate, by the power carrier signal generator and based on a clock signal, a power carrier signal having a fundamental period T_p;

receive, at the data pulse pattern generator, a data packet comprising a series of binary bits including Ones bits and Zeros bits;

generate, by the data pulse pattern generator, a data waveform from the series of binary bits, the data waveform comprising a series of pulses in synchronization with the power carrier signal, the series of pulses comprising at least one pulse for each of the Ones bits or for each of the Zeros bits;

transmit, from the power transmission Tx coil, the power carrier signal;

transmit, from the data Tx coil, the data waveform;

receive, by the data Rx coil, an interference signal, the interference signal based at least in part on a superposition of the transmitted power carrier signal and the transmitted data waveform;

determine, by the pulse delay detector, zero crossings of the received interference signal;

determine delays associated with the zero crossings; and

determine the data packet based at least in part on the delays.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the pulses of the data waveform with a rectangular shape or a Gaussian shape having a duration of greater than about 0.5 picoseconds and less than about T_p/2.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive, at the power Rx coil, the transmitted power carrier signal, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to regenerate the clock signal based on the received power carrier signal.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive, at the data Rx coil, the interference signal, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to regenerate the clock signal based on the interference signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the delays associated with the zero crossings are determined with respect to the regenerated clock signal.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the Ones bits with at least one pulse and each of the Zeros bits with no pulse.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the Ones bits with at least one positive pulse and each Zeros bits with least one negative pulse.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the Ones bits with a pair of pulses of opposite polarity and spaced by T_p/2.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate the series of pulses in phase synchronization with the power carrier signal.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is further configured to generate, by the data pulse pattern generator, a data waveform from the series of binary bits, the data waveform comprising a series of pulses in synchronization with the power carrier signal, the series of pulses comprising at least one pulse for each of the Ones bits and for each of the Zeros bits, wherein the pulses for the Ones bits and the Zeros bits are of opposite polarities.

20. A transmitter apparatus comprising:

a data transmission (Tx) coil configured for inductively coupling with a data receiver (Rx) coil;

a power Tx coil inductively coupling with the data Rx coil due to their proximity with one another;

a data pulse pattern generator configured to drive the data Tx coil;

a power carrier signal generator configured to drive the power Tx coil;

circuitry configured to;

generate, by the power carrier signal generator and based on a clock signal, a power carrier signal having a fundamental period T_p;

receive, at the data pulse pattern generator, a data packet comprising a series of binary bits including Ones bits and Zeros bits;

generate, by the data pulse pattern generator, a data waveform from the series of binary bits, the data waveform comprising a series of pulses in synchronization with the power carrier signal, the series of pulses comprising at least one pulse for each of the Ones bits or for each of the Zeros bits, or the series of pulses comprising at least one pulse for each of the Ones bits and for each of the Zeros bits, wherein the pulses for the Ones bits and the Zeros bits are of opposite polarities;

transmit, from the power transmission Tx coil, the power carrier signal;

transmit, from the data Tx coil, the data waveform;

wherein the transmitted power carrier signal and the transmitted data waveform are configured to superimpose to produce an interference signal, the interference signal configured to be received at a receiver for determining zero crossing delays of the interference signal, and for determining the data packet based at least in part on the zero crossing delays.

21. The transmitter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the pulses of the data waveform with a rectangular or Gaussian shape having a duration of greater than about 0.5 picoseconds and less than about T_p/2.

22. The transmitter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the power carrier signal is configured to be received for regenerating the clock signal based on the received power carrier signal and the interference signal.

23. The transmitter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the Ones bits with at least one pulse and each of the Zeros bits with no pulse.

24. The transmitter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the Ones bits with at least one positive pulse and each of the Zeros bits with at least one negative pulse.

25. The transmitter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate each of the Ones bits with a pair of pulses of opposite polarity and spaced by T_p/2.

26. The transmitter apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data pulse pattern generator is configured to generate the series of pulses in phase synchronization with the power carrier signal.

27. A receiver apparatus comprising:

a power receiver (Rx) coil configured for inductively coupling with a power transmitter (Tx) coil;

a data Rx coil inductively coupling with the a power Tx coil due to proximity with each other;

a power receiver operatively coupled to the power Rx coil;

a clock recovery circuit operatively coupled to the power Rx coil;

a pulse delay detector operatively coupled to the data Rx coil; and

circuitry configured to;

receive, by the data Rx coil, an interference signal, the interference signal based at least in part on a superposition of a transmitted power carrier signal and a transmitted data waveform;

determine, by the pulse delay detector, zero crossings of the received interference signal;

determine delays associated with the zero crossings;

determine the data packet based at least in part on the delays; and

output the data packet.

28. The receiver apparatus of claim 27, wherein the interference signal is based on a superposition of a data waveform and a power carrier signal having a fundamental period T_p, wherein the power carrier signal is based on a clock signal and the data waveform includes a series of pulses representing bits including Ones bits and Zeros bits, the series of pulses including at least one pulse for each of the Ones bits or for each of the Zeros bits, or for both but of opposite polarity, each of the pulses of the data waveform is a rectangular or Gaussian shape having a duration of greater than about 0.5 picoseconds and less than about T_p/2.

29. The receiver apparatus of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive, at the power Rx coil, the transmitted power carrier signal, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to regenerate the clock signal based on the received power carrier signal, and wherein determining the zero crossing delays of the received interference signal is further based on the regenerated clock signal.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive, at the data Rx coil, the interference signal, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to regenerate the clock signal based on the interference signal, and wherein determining the zero crossing delays of the received interference signal is further based on the regenerated clock signal.