Adaptive inductive power supply with communication
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A contactless power supply for providing power to a remote device through an inductive coupling, said contactless power supply located on the primary side of said inductive coupling and said remote device located on a secondary side of said inductive coupling, said contactless power supply comprising:
- a resonant circuit located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling;
a receiver located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said receiver for receiving information from said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, wherein said receiver receives said information independently of said inductive coupling;
a circuit sensor located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said circuit sensor operatively coupled to said resonant circuit located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said circuit sensor generating a sensor output indicative of a characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, wherein said characteristic of said remote device is reflected through said inductive coupling; and
a controller located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said controller coupled to said receiver and said circuit sensor wherein said controller is programmed to control operation of said contactless power supply in response to said sensor output and said information from said remote device received by said receiver.
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Accused Products
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.
344 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A contactless power supply for providing power to a remote device through an inductive coupling, said contactless power supply located on the primary side of said inductive coupling and said remote device located on a secondary side of said inductive coupling, said contactless power supply comprising:
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a resonant circuit located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said resonant circuit having a primary for transferring power to said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling; a receiver located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said receiver for receiving information from said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, wherein said receiver receives said information independently of said inductive coupling; a circuit sensor located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said circuit sensor operatively coupled to said resonant circuit located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said circuit sensor generating a sensor output indicative of a characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, wherein said characteristic of said remote device is reflected through said inductive coupling; and a controller located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said controller coupled to said receiver and said circuit sensor wherein said controller is programmed to control operation of said contactless power supply in response to said sensor output and said information from said remote device received by said receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A contactless power supply system comprising:
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an inductive power supply and a remote device, said remote device capable of inductively receiving power from said power supply via an inductive coupling, said inductive power supply located on a primary side of said inductive coupling and said remote device located on a secondary side of said inductive coupling; wherein said inductive power supply includes; a tank circuit located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said tank circuit having a primary for inductively transferring power to said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling; a receiver located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said receiver for receiving information from said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, wherein said receiver receives information independently of said inductive coupling; a circuit sensor located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said circuit sensor operatively coupled to said tank circuit located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said circuit sensor generating a sensor output indicative of a characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, wherein said characteristic of said remote device is reflected through said inductive coupling; and a controller located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, said controller coupled to said receiver and said circuit sensor wherein said controller is programmed to control operation of said inductive power supply in response to said sensor output and said information from said remote device received by said receiver; and wherein said remote device located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling includes; a secondary located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, said secondary for inductively receiving power from said primary located on said primary side of said inductive coupling, and a transmitter located on said secondary side of said inductive coupling, said transmitter for transmitting information to said inductive power supply independently of said inductive coupling. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating an inductive power supply for providing power to a remote device, the method including the steps of:
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inductively coupling the inductive power supply to the remote device, wherein the inductive power supply is located on a primary side of the inductive coupling and the remote device is located on a secondary side of the inductive coupling; receiving in the inductive power supply located on the primary side of the inductive coupling power information from the remote device located on the secondary side of the inductive coupling, the power information being communicated to the inductive power supply independently of the inductive coupling; sensing in the inductive power supply located on the primary side of the inductive coupling a characteristic of power in the inductive power supply, the sensed characteristic of power being affected by a characteristic of the remote device located on the secondary side of the inductive coupling, wherein the characteristic of the remote device is reflected through the inductive coupling; and controlling operation of the inductive power supply located on the primary side of the inductive coupling in response to the sensed characteristic of power and the power information received in the inductive power supply located on the primary side of the inductive coupling from the remote device located on the secondary side of the inductive coupling. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification