PICKUP COIL DESIGN FOR TIGHT SPACES AND ASYMMETRICAL COUPLING

• US 20150077053A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Stamenic, Milenko, Islinger, Simon, Raabe, Stefan, Garcia Briz, Alberto, Van Boheemen, Edward L., Chlebosz, Wojciech Adam
• Granted Patent: US 10,186,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/147 electro magnetic [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/363 made of electrically conductive material
• 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for wireless power transmission are described herein. In one aspect, a charging pad to transfer power wirelessly comprises a power antenna assembly configured to receive wireless power. The power antenna assembly is configured to charge the battery based on the received wireless power. The charging pad further comprises a ferrite layer assembly. The charging pad further a shielding layer defining a shape configured to receive a part of the host device and/or conform to a shape of a host device. The shielding layer can define a notch or can define a concave shape.

Claims

1. A charging pad to transfer power wirelessly, the charging pad comprising:

a power antenna assembly configured to receive wireless power, the power antenna assembly further configured to charge a battery based on the received wireless power;

a ferrite layer assembly defining a gap extending height-wise through the ferrite layer assembly; and

a shielding layer defining a notch, the notch protruding into the gap of the ferrite layer assembly.

2. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the notch defines an indentation on an exterior surface of the shielding layer.

3. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the power antenna assembly comprises:

a first coil wound in a first direction;

a second coil coplanar with the first coil and wound in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a third coil at least partially overlapping the first coil and at least partially overlapping the second coil,

wherein the gap of the ferrite layer assembly extends longitudinally along a center line of the third coil.

4. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein a width of the gap is about 5% to about 30% of an inner width of a coil antenna of the antenna assembly.

5. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein a length of the gap is less than about 90% of an inner length of a coil antenna of the antenna assembly.

6. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the power antenna assembly is configured to receive a wireless flux in a predominate direction, wherein the pocket is aligned longitudinally with the predominate direction of the wireless flux.

7. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the ferrite layer assembly forms a channel extending from the gap, wherein the channel has a width less than a width of the gap.

8. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein:

the ferrite layer assembly forms a channel extending from the gap;

the channel has a width less than a width of the gap; and

the channel is configured to house power lines of the antenna assembly.

9. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the power antenna assembly comprises a circular coil antenna configured to receive wireless flux in a substantially uniformly radial direction.

10. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the power antenna assembly comprises a circular coil antenna configured to receive wireless flux in a substantially radial direction, wherein the gap is substantially radially symmetric.

11. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the charging pad is configured to mechanically couple to a vehicle, the vehicle comprising the battery chargeable by the charging pad.

12. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the charging pad is configured to mechanically couple to a vehicle, wherein the notch of the shielding layer is configured to receive a protruding member of the vehicle.

13. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the charging pad is configured to mechanically couple to a vehicle, wherein the notch of the shielding layer is configured to receive a movable member of the vehicle.

14. The charging pad of claim 1, wherein the ferrite layer assembly comprises two or more tiles defining the gap.

15. A device for wireless power transfer, the device comprising:

means for receiving wireless power from a wireless field, the means for receiving configured to charge a battery based on the received wireless power;

means for altering the wireless field and for defining a gap extending height-wise therethrough; and

means for shielding the wireless field and for defining a notch, the notch protruding into the gap of the means for altering and for defining the gap.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving comprises:

a first coil wound in a first direction;

a second coil coplanar with the first coil and wound in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a third coil at least partially overlapping the first coil and at least partially overlapping the second coil,

wherein the gap of the means for altering extends longitudinally along a center line of the third coil.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive a wireless flux in a predominate direction, and the notch is aligned longitudinally with the predominate direction of the wireless flux.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for shielding and for defining the notch is configured to mechanically couple to a vehicle, and the notch is configured to receive a protruding member of the vehicle.

19. A method of charging a battery, the method comprising:

receiving wireless power from a wireless field using an antenna assembly to provide power to charge the battery;

altering the wireless field using a ferrite layer assembly, the ferrite layer assembly wirelessly coupled to the antenna assembly, the ferrite layer assembly defining a gap extending height-wise therethrough; and

shielding the wireless field using a shielding layer assembly, wherein the shielding layer assembly defines a notch, the notch protruding into the gap of the ferrite layer assembly.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the antenna assembly comprises:

a first coil wound in a first direction;

a second coil coplanar with the first coil and wound in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a third coil formed on a plane separate from the second and first coil and at least partially covering the first coil and at least partially covering the second coil,

wherein the gap of the ferrite layer assembly extends longitudinally along a center line of the third coil.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the antenna assembly is configured to receive a wireless flux in a predominate direction, and the pocket is aligned longitudinally with the predominate direction of the wireless flux.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the charging pad is mechanically coupled to a vehicle, and the notch of the shielding layer assembly is configured to receive a protruding member of the vehicle.

23. A charging pad to transfer power wirelessly, the charging pad comprising:

a concave power antenna assembly configured to receive wireless power, the charging pad configured to charge a battery based on the received wireless power;

a concave ferrite layer assembly operatively coupled to the concave power antenna assembly; and

a shielding layer defining a concave exterior surface.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the concave power antenna assembly includes at least one coil having a fold along an axis such that the at least one coil has a first coil section formed along a first plane and a second coil section formed along a second plane not coplanar with the first plane.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the ferrite layer assembly includes a first ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the first coil section, wherein the ferrite layer assembly further includes a second ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the second coil section, wherein the first ferrite portion and second ferrite portion define a gap.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the gap extends along the fold, wherein the concave power antenna assembly is configured to receive wireless power from a wireless field aligned with the fold.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the ferrite layer assembly further comprises a third ferrite portion, wherein the ferrite layer assembly defines a gap therethrough and extending along the fold, wherein the third ferrite portion is at least partially within the gap.

28. A method of charging a battery, the method comprising:

receiving wireless power from a wireless field using a concave power antenna assembly to provide power to charge the battery;

altering the wireless field using a concave ferrite layer assembly; and

shielding the wireless field using a shielding layer assembly, the shielding layer defining a concave exterior surface.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein receiving wireless power comprises receiving wireless power using at least one coil having a fold along an axis such that the at least one coil has a first coil section formed along a first plane and a second coil section formed along a second plane not coplanar with the first plane.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein altering the wireless field comprises altering the wireless field using a first ferrite portion wirelessly coupled to the first coil section and a second ferrite portion wirelessly coupled to the second coil section, wherein the first ferrite portion and second ferrite portion define a gap.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein altering the wireless field comprises altering the wireless field using a first ferrite portion wirelessly coupled to the first coil section and a second ferrite portion wirelessly coupled to the second coil section, wherein the first ferrite portion and second ferrite portion define a gap extending along the fold, wherein the wireless field is aligned with the fold.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein altering the wireless field comprises altering the wireless field using a first ferrite portion wirelessly coupled to the first coil section, a second ferrite portion wirelessly coupled to the second coil section, and a third ferrite portion at least partially within a gap defined between the first ferrite portion and second ferrite portions.

33. A device of receiving wireless power, the device comprising:

means for receiving wireless power from a wireless field and for defining a concave receiving layer, the means for charging configured to charge a battery based on the received wireless power;

means for altering the wireless field at the means for receiving; and

means for shielding the wireless field and for defining a concave form factor.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the means for receiving comprises at least one coil having a fold along an axis such that the at least one coil has a first coil section formed along a first plane and a second coil section formed along a second plane not coplanar with the first plane.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein means for altering comprises a first ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the first coil section and a second ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the second coil section, wherein the first ferrite portion and second ferrite portion define a gap.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein means for altering comprises a first ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the first coil section and a second ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the second coil section, wherein the first ferrite portion and second ferrite portion define a gap extending along the fold, wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive wireless power from a wireless field aligned with the fold.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein the means for altering comprises a first ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the first coil section, a second ferrite portion configured to wirelessly couple to the second coil section, and a third ferrite portion at least partially within a gap defined between the first ferrite portion and second ferrite portions.