Coupling optimized electrical wireless power transmission

• US 20160190816A1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Markus Rehm
• Original Assignee: Markus Rehm
• Inventors: Rehm, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 10,411,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence

Abstract

In a first aspect of the current invention, a receiver circuit for a wireless power transmission link is proposed, wherein while maintaining substantially resonant coupling condition (resonance frequency of the transmitter unit is substantially equal to the resonance frequency of the receiver unit) the coupling is electronically controlled and optimized such that maximal critical coupling occurs.

In a further aspect of the invention, the coupling between the transmitter unit and receiver unit is optimized by transforming of at least one receiver load such that maximal critical coupling occurs and overcritical coupling is avoided.

In a further aspect of the invention, the coupling between the transmitter unit and receiver unit is optimized by transforming of at least one receiver load by means of boost- and/or buck converters such that maximal critical coupling occurs.

Claims

1. A method to transfer electric power or energy wirelessly from a transmitter to at least one receiver including at least one resonant circuit comprising;

a) receiving of at least a part of a radiated power by means of a resonant circuit,

b) switching said resonant circuit topology between series- and parallel resonant circuit respectively parallel- and series resonant circuit, wherein the resonance frequency of said resonant circuit remains substantially constant,

c) rectifying an AC voltage received by said resonant circuit, wherein at least one switch performs step b) and c).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said switch comprising at least one semiconductor in parallel to a diode.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said diode comprising a body diode of said semiconductor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said switching between said series- and parallel resonant circuit respectively parallel- and series resonant circuit is responsive to the load of said at least one resonant circuit.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said switching between series- and parallel resonant circuit respectively parallel- and series resonant circuit is used to increase the coupling between said transmitter and said at least one receiver.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said switching between said series- and parallel resonant circuit respectively parallel- and series resonant circuit is used to decrease the coupling between said transmitter and said at least one receiver.

7. A receiver of a wireless power or energy transmission link comprising,

a receiver resonant circuit, whose resonance frequency is substantially tuned to the frequency of a received electromagnetic field, wherein said receiver resonant circuit operating switchable by at least one switch in either,

a series resonant mode, or

a parallel resonant mode, and

at least one of said at least one switch operating as at least one part of a rectifier of the received AC voltage of said receiver resonant circuit.

8. The receiver of a wireless power transmission link according to claim 7, wherein the said at least one switch comprising at least one semiconductor in parallel to a diode.

9. The receiver of a wireless power transmission link according to claim 8, wherein said diode is a body diode of said semiconductor.

10. The receiver of a wireless power transmission link according to claim 7, wherein the switch state of said at least one switch for switching between series- and parallel resonant circuit respectively parallel- and series resonant circuit is responsive to the load of said receiver resonant circuit.

11. The receiver of a wireless power transmission link according to claim 7, wherein the switch state of said at least one switch for switching between series- and parallel resonant circuit respectively parallel- and series resonant circuit increasing the coupling between said transmitter and said at least one receiver.

12. The receiver of a wireless power transmission link according to claim 7, wherein the switch state of said at least one switch for switching between series- and parallel resonant circuit respectively parallel- and series resonant circuit decreasing the coupling between said transmitter and said at least one receiver.