Adaptive inductive power supply with communication
First Claim
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1. A contactless power supply for inductively providing power to a remote device comprising:
- a resonant circuit having at least one of a variable capacitor with a variable capacitance and a variable inductor with a variable inductance, said resonant circuit having a variable resonant frequency that varies as a function of said at least one of said variable capacitor and said variable inductor, said resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device;
a receiver for receiving information from the remote device;
a switching circuit electrically coupled to said resonant circuit, said switching circuit operating at a variable operating frequency;
a circuit sensor operatively coupled to said resonant circuit, said circuit sensor generating a sensor output; and
a controller electrically coupled to said circuit sensor and said receiver wherein said controller is programmed to;
(1) vary the variable resonant frequency of the resonant circuit in response to information received from the remote device by at least one of (i) varying said capacitance of said variable capacitor of said resonant circuit; and
(ii) varying said variable inductance of said variable inductor of said resonant circuit; and
(2) vary the variable operating frequency of said switching circuit in response to said sensor output.
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Abstract
An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.
336 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A contactless power supply for inductively providing power to a remote device comprising:
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a resonant circuit having at least one of a variable capacitor with a variable capacitance and a variable inductor with a variable inductance, said resonant circuit having a variable resonant frequency that varies as a function of said at least one of said variable capacitor and said variable inductor, said resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device; a receiver for receiving information from the remote device; a switching circuit electrically coupled to said resonant circuit, said switching circuit operating at a variable operating frequency; a circuit sensor operatively coupled to said resonant circuit, said circuit sensor generating a sensor output; and a controller electrically coupled to said circuit sensor and said receiver wherein said controller is programmed to; (1) vary the variable resonant frequency of the resonant circuit in response to information received from the remote device by at least one of (i) varying said capacitance of said variable capacitor of said resonant circuit; and
(ii) varying said variable inductance of said variable inductor of said resonant circuit; and(2) vary the variable operating frequency of said switching circuit in response to said sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A contactless power supply for providing power to a remote device, the contactless power supply comprising:
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an inverter, the inverter having a duty cycle and an operating frequency; a resonant circuit coupled to the inverter, the resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, the resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device; a power source coupled to the inverter, the power source having a rail voltage; a receiver for receiving power information from the remote device; a sensor operatively coupled to said resonant circuit, said sensor generating a sensor output; and a controller in electrical communication with said receiver and said sensor, said controller programmed to; (1) vary at least one of the operating frequency of the inverter, the rail voltage of the power source, and the duty cycle of the inverter, in response to said sensor output, periodically during use; and (2) vary the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit in response to information received from the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating an inductive power supply for a remote device, the method comprising:
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inductively coupling the inductive power supply to the remote device; receiving, in the inductive power supply, power information from the remote device; sensing, in the inductive power supply, a characteristic of power in the inductive power supply, the sensed characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of the remote device reflected through the inductive coupling; adjusting a resonant frequency of a tank circuit in the inductive power supply in response to the information received from the remote device by at least one of (i) adjusting a capacitance of a variable capacitor of the resonant circuit; and
(ii) adjusting an inductance of a variable inductor of said resonant circuit; andadjusting at least one of an operating frequency of the inductive power supply, a duty cycle of the inductive power supply, and a rail voltage of the inductive power supply, as a function of the sensed characteristic in the inductive power supply. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification