RECEIVER FOR AN INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE RECEIVER

• US 20150295418A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: PowerbyProxi Limited (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Ren, Saining, Dela Cruz, Lawrence Bernardo, Robertson, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,608,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/05 Capacitor coupled rectifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil (13) in series with a capacitor (14), a voltage multiplier (15) for providing a DC output, and a power control switch (18) controlled by a controller (19) for regulating the power supplied to a load. An inductive power transfer receiver is provided including a receiving coil in series with a capacitor, a charge pump for providing a DC output, and a power control switch controlled by a controller for regulating the power supplied to a load. A method of power flow control in an inductive power transfer circuit having a power control switch is also provided. The method includes detecting two operational transitions in the circuit and determining a reference timing bases on which operational transition is detected earliest within a detection window. The reference timing is used to developing a signal for controlling the power control switch.

Claims

1. An inductive power transfer receiver including:

a. a resonant circuit, having a receiving coil connected in series with a capacitor;

b. a voltage multiplier for providing a DC output to a load;

c. a power control switch for regulating the power supplied to the load; and

d. a controller that controls the power control switch to regulate the power supplied to the load.

2. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 1, wherein the power control switch is connected in series with the resonant circuit.

3. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 1, wherein the power control switch is connected in series with the load.

4. The inductive power transfer receiver of claim 1, wherein the voltage multiplier includes a plurality of asymmetric current flow devices in a half-bridge configuration.

5. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 4, wherein the power control switch is connected in series with the asymmetric current flow devices.

6. The inductive power transfer receiver of claim 4, wherein the asymmetric current flow devices are diodes.

7. The inductive power transfer receiver of claim 4, wherein the asymmetric current flow devices are switches.

8. The inductive power transfer receiver of claim 4, wherein the asymmetric current flow devices are a combination of diodes and switches.

9. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the power control switch in switch mode.

10. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 1, including a further power control switch for regulating the power supplied to the load.

11. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 10, wherein the further power control switch is connected in series with the resonant circuit.

12. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 10, wherein the further power control switch is connected in series with the load.

13. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 10, wherein the voltage multiplier includes a plurality of asymmetric current flow devices and the further power control switch is connected in series with an asymmetric current flow device.

14. An inductive power transfer receiver including:

a. a resonant circuit, having a receiving coil connected in series with a capacitor;

b. a charge pump for providing a DC output to a load;

c. a power control switch for regulating the power supplied to the load; and

d. a controller that controls the power control switch to regulate the power supplied to the load.

15. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 14, wherein the power control switch is connected in series with the resonant circuit.

16. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 14, wherein the power control switch is connected in series with the load.

17. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 14, wherein the controller controls the power control switch in switch mode.

18. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 14, including a further power control switch for regulating the power supplied to the load.

19. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 18, wherein the further power control switch is connected in series with the resonant circuit.

20. The inductive coupled power transfer receiver of claim 18, wherein the further power control switch is connected in series with the load.

21-34. -34. (canceled)