Device for combined transmission of energy and electric signals

• US 5,814,900 A
• Filed: 11/25/1994
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ulrich Schwan
• Original Assignee: Ulrich Schwan
• Inventors: Schwan, Ulrich, Esser, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/345,202
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307/17, 307/109, 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 336/DIG. 2, 439/950, 455/41, 343/841, 343/856, 343/788
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/18 Rotary transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A device in the form of a transformer for transmitting electrical energy is comprised of a core of a ferromagnetic material and a primary coil and a secondary coil wound about the core. At least one receiver in the form of an areal antenna and at least one sender in the form an areal antenna are arranged in the direct vicinity of the primary and secondary coils for a contact-free transmittal of changing signals. The receiver and the sender are connected interchangeably to receiving and sending electronics devices, whereby the receiver and the sender form a constructive unit with the primary coil, the secondary coil, and optionally the core. The device allows the simultaneous transmittal of electric energy between components that are adjustable relative to one another as well as the transmittal of changing signals. The power transmittal in the kilowatt range is only limited by the respective constructive size of the device. A high data transmittal rate of analog or digital changing signals is possible.

Claims

1. A device in the form of a transformer for transmitting electrical energy, said device comprising:

a core of a ferromagnetic material;

a primary coil and a secondary coil wound about said core;

a receiving electronic device and a sending electronic device;

at least one first areal antenna and at least one second areal antenna in direct vicinity of said primary and said secondary coils for a contact-free transmitting of changing signals, said at least one first and at least one second areal antennas connected interchangeably to said receiving electronic device and said sending electronic device to serve as a receiver and a sender, respectively, with said receiver and said sender forming a unit with said primary coil, said secondary coil, and optionally said core.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising rigid supports made of an insulating material, said first and second areal antennas each connected to one of said supports and arranged directly opposite one another.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said supports are shaped as a plate, a disk, a cylinder, a sphere, or a parallelepiped.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein, for inductive transmittal of changing signals, said antennas connected to said supports are in the form of a printed circuit board.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein, for inductive transmittal of changing signals, said antennas are in the form of at least one closed lead areally connected to said supports.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said closed lead is a conductive loop.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said conductive loop is a rectangle or a polygon.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein said conductive loop is a discontinuous circular loop or a discontinuous rectangular loop.

9. A device according to claim 2, wherein, for capacitive transmittal of changing signals, said antennas are in the form of at least one capacitor areally connected to said supports.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said capacitor is selected from the group consisting of metal foil, a metallic lacquer film, and a circuit board.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said capacitor is comprised of two comb-shaped parts, each said comb-shaped part having a connecting stay and a plurality of capacitor plates spaced from one another, with said connecting stays centrally connected to said supports and with said capacitor plates of said capacitors facing outwardly.

12. A device according to claim 9, wherein said capacitor is comprised of at least two concentrically arranged, annular capacitor plates.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said capacitor has slots.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said slots extend radially.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein said antennas each are formed of closed leads in the form of conductive loops and capacitors for inductively and/or capacitively transmitting changing signals.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said capacitors are comb-shaped and arranged within said conductive loops, wherein said loops are rectangular loops and wherein said rectangular loops are optionally discontinuous.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein said capacitors are annularly shaped and inserted into a conductive loop formed as a discontinuous circular ring.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein said capacitors have radially extending slots.

19. A device according to claim 2, wherein said supports, on a side thereof remote from said antennas, have an areal shield.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein, for transmitting changing signals, said areal shields are respectively connected to said sending electronic device and said receiving electronic device.

21. A device according to claim 2, wherein said core of said transformer has two halves, each said half respectively connected to said sending electronic device and said receiving electronic device for using said core as a capacitor.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein between said two halves an air space is formed and each said half has an end face remote from said air space and extending parallel to said air space, said end faces coated with an electrically conductive coating.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein said electrically conductive coating is a metallic lacquer film.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein said supports, on a side thereof remote from said antennas, have an areal shield, with said areal shields and said two halves of said core connected to a common one of said sending electronic device and a common one of said receiving electronic device for use as capacitors and switchable in push-pull operation.

25. A device according to claim 21, wherein, for inductively transmitting changing signals, said two halves each have a further coil arranged transverse to said primary coil and said secondary coil, respectively, and connected to said sending electronic device and said receiving electronic device, respectively.

26. A device according to claim 1, wherein said primary coil and said secondary coil are adjustable relative to one another.

27. A device according to claim 26, wherein said primary coil and said secondary coil are linearly slidable relative to one another.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein said primary coil and said secondary coil are of a different size in the direction in which they are linearly slidable.

29. A device according to claim 26, wherein said primary coil and said secondary coil are rotatable relative to one another.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein said antennas are adjustable relative to one another.

31. A device according to claim 30, wherein said antennas are linearly slidable relative to one another.

32. A device according to claim 31, wherein said antennas are of a different size in the direction in which they are linearly slidable.

33. A device according to claim 30, wherein said antennas are rotatable relative to one another.

34. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said primary coils has coordinated thereto at least one of said secondary coils, and wherein at least one of said antennas coordinated with said primary coil has coordinated thereto at least one antenna coordinated with said secondary coil.

35. A device according to claim 1, wherein said transformer has a coil window, with said antennas arranged in pairs in said coil window.

36. A device according to claim 35, wherein said antennas are in the form of at least one discontinuous rectangle.

37. A device according to claim 35, wherein said antennas are in the form of at least one discontinuous circular ring.

38. A device according to claim 1, wherein said antennas are in the form of at least one rectangular discontinuous ring surrounding legs of said core.

39. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing wherein said antennas are individually and at least partially enclosed.

40. A device according to claim 39, wherein said housing is made of a ferromagnetic material.

41. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing wherein said antennas are commonly and at least partially enclosed.

42. A device according to claim 41, wherein said housing is made of a ferromagnetic material.