System, circuit and method for tuning a resonant circuit

• US 7,190,153 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Stover, Howard H., Heiner, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/123,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 675 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/284, 323/286
• US Class Current: 323/282
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/02 with variable tuning element having a number of predetermined settings and adjustable to a desired one of these settings

Abstract

A circuit may be tuned to resonate at a driving frequency. The circuit includes a source that provides an output at a drive frequency and a resonant circuit having an input coupled to the source, an output, and first and second selectable resonant frequencies. The first resonant frequency is below the drive frequency and the second resonant frequency is above the drive frequency. A control coupled to the resonant circuit output selects the first and second resonant frequencies to cause the resonant circuit to provide an output at an apparent resonant frequency equal to the drive frequency.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

a source that provides an output at a drive frequency;

a resonant circuit having an input coupled to the source, an output, and first and second selectable resonant frequencies, the first resonant frequency being below the drive frequency and the second resonant frequency being above the drive frequency; and

a control coupled to the resonant circuit output that selects the first and second resonant frequencies to cause the resonant circuit to provide an output at an apparent resonant frequency equal to the drive frequency.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the resonant circuit comprises a series tuned resonant circuit.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the resonant circuit comprises an inductor, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor, the second capacitor being selectively switchable in and out of circuit with the inductor and first capacitor to provide the selectable first and second resonant frequencies.

4. The circuit of claim 3 wherein the inductor and first capacitor are coupled in series and wherein the second capacitor is switchable in parallel with the first capacitor.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the source provides a square wave output.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the source provides a sinusoidal output.

7. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the control comprises a switch that selects the first and second resonant frequencies.

8. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the switch comprises a field effect transistor.

9. The circuit of claim 8 further comprising a capacitor coupled across the field effect transistor.

10. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the control generates a control signal that operates the switch.

11. The circuit of claim 10 wherein the control signal is a varying duty cycle signal.

12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein the varying duty cycle signal is a pulse-width-modulated signal.

13. The circuit of claim 10 wherein the control signal has a frequency equal to the drive frequency.

14. The circuit of claim 10 wherein the control signal has a frequency that is different than the drive frequency.

15. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the control is responsive to current output of the resonant circuit output for selecting the first and second resonant frequencies.

16. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the control is responsive to phase-shift of the resonant circuit output for selecting the first and second resonant frequencies.

17. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the control is responsive to voltage output of the resonant circuit output for selecting the first and second resonant frequencies.

18. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the control is responsive to output power of the resonant circuit output for selecting the first and second resonant frequencies.

19. A resonant frequency control circuit comprising:

a source that provides an output at a drive frequency;

a tunable resonant circuit having an input coupled to the source, an output, and a series resonant circuit between the input and output, the series resonant circuit including an inductance, a first capacitance in series with the inductance and a second capacitance selectably switchable in parallel with the first capacitance;

a sense circuit coupled to the output of the resonant circuit that senses a characteristic of the resonant circuit; and

a control circuit that switches the second capacitance in and out of parallel circuit with the first capacitance responsive to the characteristic of the resonant circuit to cause the resonant circuit to exhibit an apparent resonant frequency equal to the drive frequency.

20. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the resonant circuit has a first resonant frequency below the drive frequency when the second capacitance is in parallel circuit with the first capacitance and a second resonant frequency above the drive frequency when the second capacitance is out of parallel circuit with the first capacitance.

21. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the source provides a square wave output.

22. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the source provides a sinusoidal output.

23. The circuit of claim 20 wherein the control circuit includes a switch that switches the second capacitance in and out of parallel circuit with the first capacitance.

24. The circuit of claim 23 wherein the switch comprises a field effect transistor.

25. The circuit of claim 24 further comprising a capacitor coupled across the field effect transistor.

26. The circuit of claim 23 wherein the control circuit generates a control signal that operates the switch.

27. The circuit of claim 26 wherein the control signal is a varying duty cycle signal.

28. The circuit of claim 27 wherein the varying duty cycle signal is a pulse-width-modulated signal.

29. The circuit of claim 26 wherein the control signal has a frequency equal to the drive frequency.

30. The circuit of claim 26 wherein the control signal has a frequency that is different than the drive signal.

31. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the characteristic is current output.

32. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the characteristic is phase-shift.

33. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the characteristic is voltage output.

34. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the characteristic is output power.

35. A method comprising:

driving a resonant circuit with a signal at a drive frequency to provide a resonant circuit response;

sensing a characteristic of the resonant circuit response; and

responsive to the characteristic, selectively varying the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit above and below the drive frequency to provide apparent resonance of the resonant circuit at the drive frequency.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the resonant circuit comprises an inductor, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor, and wherein the varying step includes selectively switching the second capacitor in and out of circuit with the inductor and the first capacitor.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the inductor and first capacitor are coupled in series and wherein the varying step further includes switching the second capacitor in and out of parallel circuit with the first capacitor.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the driving step includes providing a square wave signal.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the driving step includes providing a sinusoidal signal.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the varying step includes generating a varying duty cycle signal.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the varying duty cycle signal is a pulse-width-modulated signal.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the varying duty cycle signal has a frequency equal to the drive frequency.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the varying duty cycle signal has a frequency that is different than the drive frequency.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein the characteristic is current output.

45. The method of claim 35 wherein the characteristic is phase-shift.

46. The method of claim 35 wherein the characteristic is voltage output.

47. The method of claim 35 wherein the characteristic is output power.

48. A system comprising:

resonant circuit means for providing a variable resonant frequency;

means for driving the resonant circuit means with a signal at a drive frequency to cause a resonant circuit means response;

sensing means for sensing a characteristic of the resonant circuit means response; and

means responsive to the characteristic for selectively varying the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit means above and below the drive frequency for providing apparent resonance of the resonant circuit means at the drive frequency.