SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POWER TRANSFER BASED ON RESONANCE COUPLING OF INDUCTORS

• US 20150035380A1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Posat, Baris, Alini, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 10,068,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2019/085 Transformer for galvanic isolation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49171 Fan-out arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/495 Lead-frames or other flat leads H01L23/498 takes precedence; lead frame interconnections between components H01L23/52
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5227 Inductive arrangements or effects of, or between, wiring layers other inductive arrangements H01L23/645
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/645 Inductive arrangements H01L23/647, H01L23/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30107 Inductance
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first resonator circuit that includes: a first switching device that connects and disconnects a supply voltage to and from a first node; a first inductor that is connected between the first node and a first ground potential; and a second inductor that is connected between the first node and the first ground potential. The IC also includes a second resonator circuit that includes: a third inductor that is inductively coupled to the first inductor across an isolation barrier and that is connected between a second node and a second ground potential; a fourth inductor that is inductively coupled to the second inductor across the isolation barrier and that is connected between the second node and the second ground potential; and a second switching device that connects and disconnects the second node to and from a load. The second ground potential is different than the first ground potential.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:

a first resonator circuit that includes;

a first switching device that connects and disconnects a supply voltage to and from a first node;

a first inductor that is connected between the first node and a first ground potential; and

a second inductor that is connected between the first node and the first ground potential; and

a second resonator circuit that includes;

a third inductor that is inductively coupled to the first inductor across an isolation barrier and that is connected between a second node and a second ground potential, wherein the second ground potential is different than the first ground potential;

a fourth inductor that is inductively coupled to the second inductor across the isolation barrier and that is connected between the second node and the second ground potential; and

a second switching device that connects and disconnects the second node to and from a load.

2. The IC of claim 1 wherein a voltage at the second node has a magnitude that is less than or equal to the supply voltage.

3. The IC of claim 1 further comprising a resistor and a capacitor that are connected to the second node.

4. The IC of claim 1 wherein:

the first inductor is implemented on a first layer of the IC;

the third inductor is implemented on a second layer of the IC; and

the first and second layers are different.

5. The IC of claim 1 wherein:

the first and third inductors are implemented on one layer of the IC; and

the IC includes a dielectric disposed between windings of the first and third inductors.

6. An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:

a first resonator circuit that receives a supply voltage at a first node and that includes;

a switching device connected between the first node and a first ground potential;

a first inductor that is connected between the first node and the first ground potential; and

a second inductor that is connected between the first node and the first ground potential; and

a second resonator circuit that outputs power to a load and that includes;

a third inductor that is inductively coupled to the first inductor across an isolation barrier and that is connected to a second ground potential, wherein the second ground potential is different than the first ground potential; and

a fourth inductor that is inductively coupled to the second inductor across the isolation barrier and that is connected to the second ground potential.

7. The IC of claim 6 further comprising two diodes that are connected in parallel with the third and fourth inductors, wherein the load draws power from a second node between the two diodes.

8. The IC of claim 6 wherein the first resonator circuit further includes:

a first inductor capacitor (LC) tank; and

first and second resistors connected between the switching device and the LC tank.

9. The IC of claim 8 wherein the load draws power from a second node between the third and fourth inductors.

10. The IC of claim 9 wherein:

the second resonator circuit further includes a second LC tank; and

the IC further includes;

a voltage divider that is connected to the second node; and

a regulator circuit that generates a signal based on a comparison of an output voltage of the voltage divider with a reference voltage; and

switches of the second LC tank switch based on a state of the signal.

11. The IC of claim 10 further comprising:

a transmitter that transmits the signal across the isolation barrier; and

a receiver that receives the signal across the isolation barrier from the transmitter and that outputs a second signal based on the received signal,

wherein the switching device switches based on a state of the second signal.

12. The IC of claim 11 wherein switches of the first LC tank switch based on a complement of the second signal.

13. The IC of claim 9 further comprising a resistor and a capacitor that are connected to the second node between the third and fourth inductors.

14. The IC of claim 6 wherein a voltage output to the load has a magnitude that is less than or equal to the supply voltage.

15. The IC of claim 6 wherein:

the first inductor is implemented on a first layer of the IC;

the third inductor is implemented on a second layer of the IC; and

the first and second layers are different.

16. The IC of claim 6 wherein:

the first and third inductors are implemented on one layer of the IC; and

the IC includes a dielectric disposed between windings of the first and third inductors.