INDUCTIVELY POWERED MOBILE SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20150326030A1
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Original Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Inventors: Malpas, Simon Charles, Hu, Aiguo, Budgett, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,680,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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

Abstract

An inductively powered sensor system includes a primary conductive path 100 capable of being energised to provide an electromagnetic field in a defined space 1. An inductive power pick-up 120 is associated with a sensor 124 and is capable of receiving power from the field to supply the sensor 124. The system includes a first sensing means to sense the power available to the pick-up 120 and control means to increase or decrease the power available to the sensor dependant on the sensed power available. A method of inductively powering a sensor, an inductively powered sensor and an animal enclosure including one or more primary conductive path of an inductive power supply are also disclosed.

Claims

1-52. -52. (canceled)

53. An inductive power transfer system, the system comprising:

a primary circuit comprising a conductive path capable of being energized to generate an electromagnetic field, and a first controller for controlling the generation of the field; and

an inductive power pick-up circuit comprising at least one pick-up coil capable of receiving power from the field to supply a device and a second controller for controlling the pick-up circuit, the second controller comprising a communications unit operable to communicate to the primary circuit information on power available to the pick-up circuit and power required by the device,

wherein the first controller is operable to control the field in accordance with the communicated power information.

54. A system according to claim 53, wherein the second controller further comprises a sensor operable to sense power available to the pick-up circuit.

55. A system according to claim 54, wherein the sensor comprises a sense circuit operable to provide an indication of the output voltage of the pick-up circuit.

56. A system according to claim 55, wherein the sense circuit comprises a sense resistor.

57. A system according to claim 54, Wherein the second controller further comprises a switch circuit for selective connection of the pick-up circuit to the device.

58. A system according to claim 57, wherein the device comprises a battery charger for charging a battery of the device.

59. A system according to claim 53, wherein the communications unit is operable to communicate the immediate power requirement of the device to the primary circuit.

60. A method of inductively powering a device, the method comprising the steps of:

generating an electromagnetic field by energizing a primary conductive path of a primary circuit;

communicating, to the primary circuit, information on power available to an inductive power pick-up circuit associated with the device from the field and power required by the device using a communications module of the pick-up circuit; and

controlling, using a controller of the primary circuit, the field in accordance with the communicated power information.

61. A method according to claim 60, further comprising the step of sensing the power available to the pick-up circuit.

62. A method according to claim 61, wherein the sensing step comprises measuring the output voltage of the pick-up circuit.