ADAPTIVE INDUCTIVE POWER SUPPLY

• US 20160134132A1
• Filed: 01/18/2016
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,906,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/015 with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33576 having at least one active switching element at the secondary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4815 Resonant converters H02M7/4811 and H02M7/4826 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4818 with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53803 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A contactless power supply has a dynamically configurable tank circuit powered by an inverter. The contactless power supply is inductively coupled to one or more loads. The inverter is connected to a DC power source. When loads are added or removed from the system, the contactless power supply is capable of modifying the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the inverter frequency, the inverter duty cycle or the rail voltage of the DC power source.

Claims

1. A contactless power supply for supplying power wirelessly to a remote device comprising:

a tank circuit having a primary configured to transfer power to the remote device via an inductive coupling, said tank circuit having a resonant frequency;

a power source configured to operate at a rail voltage;

drive circuitry coupled to said power source and said tank circuit, said drive circuitry configured to supply power from said power source to said tank circuit based a control signal, said drive circuitry applying said power at an operating frequency and a duty cycle;

a circuit sensor coupled to said tank circuit, said circuit sensor providing sensor output indicative of an operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit;

a control system coupled to said drive circuitry and said circuit sensor, said control system configured to generate said control signal to direct operation of said drive circuitry, said control system configured to vary a first one of a phase of said control signal or a first operating parameter, said first operating parameter being one of said resonant frequency, said duty cycle, said operating frequency, and said rail voltage, wherein said first operating parameter is varied based on said sensor output indicative of said operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit;

said controller configured to vary a second operating parameter different from said first operating parameter, said second operating parameter being a second one of said resonant frequency, said duty cycle, said operating frequency, said rail voltage, and said phase of said control signal.

2. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein operation of said drive circuitry varies in response to changes in said control signal generated by said control system.

3. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said first parameter is said phase of said control system, and wherein control system is configured to vary power transferred to the remote device by selectively changing said phase of said control signal provided to said drive circuitry.

4. The contactless power supply of claim 3 wherein said control system is configured to selectively change said phase by selectively changing a phase delay of said control signal provided to said drive circuitry.

5. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said first characteristic is said operating frequency such that said control system is configured to vary, based on said sensor output, said operating frequency of power applied to said tank circuit from said drive circuitry.

6. The contactless power supply of claim 5 wherein said control system is configured to lock said operating frequency of said power applied to said tank circuit, and wherein said control system is configured to vary said second operating parameter based on said sensor output indicative of said operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit.

7. The contactless power supply of claim 6 wherein said second operating characteristic is said duty cycle, wherein said control system is configured to set said duty cycle and to vary a third operating parameter of said contactless power supply.

8. The contactless power supply of claim 7 wherein said third operating parameter of said contactless power supply is said rail voltage of said power source, and wherein said control system is configured to vary said third operating parameter based on said sensor output indicative of said operating characteristic of power in said tank circuit.

9. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said second characteristic is said phase of said control signal.

10. A method of operating an inductive power supply for a remote device, the method including the steps of:

providing a control signal to a drive circuit of the inductive power supply to control application of power to a tank circuit of the inductive power supply;

establishing, based on application of power to the tank circuit, an inductive coupling between the inductive power supply and the remote device;

monitoring at least one operating characteristic of power in the inductive power supply after establishing the inductive coupling;

based upon said monitoring step, reconfiguring the inductive power supply by adjusting a first operating parameter of the power supply, the first operating parameter being one of a resonant frequency of the tank circuit, an operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, a rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, and a duty cycle of power provided to the tank circuit; and

adjusting a second operating parameter of the inductive power supply, the second operating parameter being different from the first operating parameter, the second operating parameter being one of the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit, and a phase of the control signal provided to the drive circuitry.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said monitoring step is further defined as sensing a characteristic of power in the tank circuit.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said characteristic of power is current in the tank circuit.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the second operating parameter is the phase of the control signal, and wherein said adjusting the second operating parameter further comprises selectively changing the phase of the control signal to control secondary amplitude.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said adjusting the first parameter is further defined as adjusting the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit based on the at least one operating characteristic of power.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising locking the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, and adjusting the second operating parameter based on the at least one operating characteristic of power monitored after establishing the inductive coupling.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second operating parameter is the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit, and further comprising setting the duty cycle and adjusting a third operating parameter of the inductive power supply different from the first and second operating parameters.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the third operating parameter is the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, and further comprising adjusting the rail voltage based on the at least one operating characteristic of power monitored after establishing the inductive coupling.

18. A method of operating an inductive power supply to supply wireless power from a primary to a remote device, the method including the steps of:

providing a control signal to switching circuitry of the inductive power supply to control application of power to the primary;

establishing, based on application of power to the primary, an inductive coupling between the primary of the inductive power supply and a secondary of the remote device;

transferring power to the remote device via the inductive coupling;

sensing a characteristic of power in the tank circuit;

based on the characteristic of power sensed in the tank circuit, varying power transferred to the remote device via the inductive coupling; and

adjusting an operating parameter of the inductive power supply, the operating parameter being one of the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit, and a phase of the control signal provided to the drive circuitry.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the operating parameter is defined as a first operating parameter, and wherein said varying power includes adjusting a second operating parameter different from the first operating parameter and being one of the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the operating frequency of power applied to the tank circuit, the rail voltage of power applied to the tank circuit, and the duty cycle of power applied to the tank circuit.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said adjusting the first operating parameter includes selectively changing, in the inductive power supply, a phase delay of the control signal provided to the switching circuitry to vary power transferred wirelessly to the remote device.