SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VARIABLE GAP WIRELESS POWER AND COMMUNICATION

• US 20180222576A1
• Filed: 02/07/2017
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Pant, Albert Keith, Kordik, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,421,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/043 using transformer type signal transducers, e.g. rotary transformers
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/001 Devices not provided for in the groups B64C25/02 - B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/34 wheeled type, e.g. multi-wheeled bogies
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type

Abstract

Systems and methods for tuning power transmission circuits may sweep a power frequency applied to a transmission coil across a plurality of frequencies. The transmission coil may be inductively coupled to a receiving coil and separated from the receiving coil by an air gap. A current and/or voltage at the transmission coil may be measured in response to the power frequency being at each frequency of the plurality of frequencies. A transmission frequency may be selected based at least in part on the measured current and/or the measured voltage.

Claims

1. A method of tuning a transmission circuit, comprising:

sweeping a power frequency applied to a transmission coil across a plurality of frequencies, wherein the transmission coil is inductively coupled to a receiving coil and separated from the receiving coil by an air gap defined by the receiving coil and the transmission coil;

measuring a current through the transmission coil in response to the power frequency being at each frequency of the plurality of frequencies; and

selecting a transmission frequency based at least in part on the measured current.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a voltage across the transmission coil in response to the power frequency being at each frequency of the plurality of frequencies; and

selecting the transmission frequency at least in part based on the measured voltage.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the plurality of frequencies in response to a binary search.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of frequencies are predetermined.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance of the air gap separating the transmission coil and the receiving coil ranges between 0.05 inches and 0.3 inches.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the receiving coil relative to the transmission coil.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is disposed within a hubcap.

8. A power transmission system for an aircraft, comprising:

a power transmission circuit, comprising;

a transmission coil;

a receiving coil inductively coupled to the transmission coil, wherein the receiving coil is separated from the transmission coil by a variable air gap defined by the receiving coil and the transmission coil;

wherein the power transmission circuit is configured to sweep a power frequency applied to the transmission coil and measure at least one of a voltage or a current in response to the sweep, wherein the power transmission circuit is configured to select a transmission frequency for the transmission coil in response to the voltage or the current.

9. The power transmission system of claim 8, further comprising a hubcap with the receiving coil disposed on the hubcap.

10. The power transmission system of claim 9, further comprising an axle telemetry unit with the transmission coil disposed on the axle telemetry unit.

11. The power transmission system of claim 10, wherein the hubcap is configured to rotate relative to the axle telemetry unit.

12. The power transmission system of claim 8, further comprising a controller in electronic communication with the power transmission circuit.

13. The power transmission system of claim 8, further comprising a tank circuit coupled to the transmission coil and configured to measure the voltage or the current.

14. The power transmission system of claim 13, wherein the power transmission circuit is configured to sweep the power frequency applied to the transmission coil across a plurality of frequencies.

15. The power transmission system of claim 14, wherein the power transmission circuit is configured to select the plurality of frequencies in response to a binary search.

16. The power transmission system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of frequencies are predetermined.

17. A wheel assembly for an aircraft, comprising:

an axle;

a wheel coupled to the axle and configured to rotate about the axle;

a transmission coil disposed in the axle;

a hubcap mounted on the wheel with a receiving coil of the hubcap adjacent the transmission coil disposed in the axle, wherein the transmission coil is separated from the receiving coil by a variable air gap defined by the receiving coil and the transmission coil; and

a power transmission circuit configured to transmit power from the transmission coil to the receiving coil, wherein the power transmission circuit is configured to select a transmission frequency in response to at least one of a voltage or a current of the transmission coil.

18. The wheel assembly of claim 17, wherein the variable air gap varies between 0.05 inches and 0.3 inches.

19. The wheel assembly of claim 17, wherein the power transmission circuit is configured to:

sweep a power frequency applied to the transmission coil across a plurality of frequencies; and

measure at least one of the voltage or the current in response to the power frequency being at each of the plurality of frequencies.

20. The wheel assembly of claim 19, wherein the power transmission circuit is configured to select the transmission frequency in response to detecting an extrema in at least one of the current or the voltage.