Power system

• US 8,238,125 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fells, Julian Andrew John
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L
• Application Number:
  US12/601,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20100172168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 363/15, 363/16, 363/39, 363/40, 363/41, 363/42, 363/43, 363/95, 363/97, 363/98, 363/131, 363/132
• US Class Current: 363/40
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4815 Resonant converters H02M7/4811 and H02M7/4826 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

The specification discloses a wireless power charging system in which undesired frequencies in the primary coil are cancelled. Exemplary undesired frequencies are the harmonics of the primary coil drive signal. The system includes a sense transformer/coil, an injection transformer/coil, and a compensation signal generator. The sense transformer/coil senses the signal in the primary coil. The compensation signal generator receives the sensed signal and generates an injection signal whose constituent parts are equal in amplitude to, but pi phase different from, each undesired frequency. The combined signal is injected into the primary through the injection transformer/coil so that the injection signal cancels the undesired frequencies in the primary coil.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing an alternating current (AC) signal with low distortion comprising:

an inverter producing an output including a first AC signal having a component of power at a first frequency;

a power detector detecting power in at least one other frequency different from the first frequency;

means for coupling a proportion of the first signal to the power detector;

means for generating a compensation signal including at least one of the other frequencies, the compensation signal adapted to minimise the power at the at least one of the other frequencies at the power detector; and

means for coupling the compensation signal into the inverter output.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first signal is a substantially rectangular signal.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a reference oscillator adapted to drive the inverter.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the at least one other frequency is at least one harmonic of the reference oscillator.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for generating a compensation signal includes means for varying at least one of the amplitude and phase of the other frequencies.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for varying includes a digital filter.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for generating includes a processor, preferably a digital signal processor.

8. A method for providing an alternating current (AC) signal with low distortion comprising:

providing a first signal with at least a component of power at a first AC frequency;

providing a compensation signal comprising at least one frequency other than the first frequency;

coupling the compensation signal to the first signal;

detecting the power in the at least one other frequency in the first signal; and

adapting the compensation signal to minimise the detected power.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the first signal is a substantially rectangular signal.

10. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the first providing step includes using a reference oscillator to drive an inverter.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the at least one other frequency is at least one harmonic of the reference oscillator.

12. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the adapting step includes varying at least one of the amplitude and the phase of the other frequencies.

13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the adapting step includes using a digital filter.

14. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the second providing step includes using a processor, preferably a digital signal processor.

15. An apparatus for transmitting power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction comprising:

an inverter generating power at a first frequency and power at a second frequency;

an inductive coil coupled to the inverter, whereby a first signal is created in the coil;

a power detector for detecting power at the second frequency;

means for coupling a proportion of the first signal in the coil to the power detector;

a compensation signal generator for generating a compensation signal with power in the second frequency;

means for coupling the compensation signal into the inductive coil; and

means for adapting at least one of the amplitude and the phase of the second frequency in the compensation signal to minimise the power at the power detector.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of the second frequencies, and wherein the means for adapting is further for adapting at least one of the amplitude and the phase of each second frequency independently of other second frequencies.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the inverter is at least one of a half-bridge circuit and a full-bridge circuit, such the first signal would be substantially rectangular if isolated from the coil.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein:

the inductive coils has a resonant frequency, and

the first frequency is the resonant frequency of the inductive coil.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the compensation signal generator includes a processor, preferably a digital signal processor.

20. A method for transmitting power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction comprising:

generating power at a first frequency and power at a second frequency;

coupling the power into an inductive coil, whereby a first signal is created in the coil;

generating a compensation signal with power in the second frequency;

coupling the compensation signal into the inductive coil;

detecting power in the coil at the second frequency;

adapting at least one of the amplitude and the phase of the compensation signal to minimise the power detected in the detecting step.

21. A method as defined in claim 20 further comprising a plurality of the second frequencies, and wherein adapting step includes adapting at least one of the amplitude and the phase of each second frequency independently of other second frequencies.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the adapting step includes using a digital filter.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein:

the inductive coils has a resonant frequency, and

the first frequency is the resonant frequency of the inductive coil.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the second generating step includes using a processor, preferably a digital signal processor.

25. A system for transmitting power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction from a primary unit to a secondary unit separable from the primary unit comprising:

a primary unit comprising;

an inverter generating power at a first frequency and power at a second frequency;

a primary coil coupled to the inverter such that a first signal is created in the primary coil;

a generator for generating a compensation signal with power in the second frequency;

means for coupling the compensation signal into the primary coil;

a power detector for detecting power at the second frequency;

means for coupling a proportion of the signal in the primary coil to the power detector; and

means for adapting the amplitude and the phase of the compensation signal to minimise the power at the power detector;

a secondary unit comprising;

a secondary coil; and

a rectification unit for rectifying AC power present on the secondary coil to produce DC power; and

wherein power is transferred wirelessly from the primary unit to the secondary unit at the first frequency and further wherein the second frequency is attenuated such that the amount of power radiated by the primary coil and/or secondary coil at the second frequency is attenuated.

26. A system as defined in claim 25 wherein the inverter generates power at a plurality of the second frequencies, and wherein the means for adapting includes adapting at least one of the amplitude and the phase of each second frequency independently of the other second frequencies.

27. A system as defined in claim 25 wherein the generator includes a processor, preferably a digital signal processor.

28. An apparatus for transmitting power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction comprising:

an inverter generating power at a first frequency and power at a second frequency;

a first coil coupled to the inverter creating a first signal in the first coil;

a generator generating a compensation signal with power in the second frequency;

at least one of a second coil in proximity to the first coil and a second transformer coupled to the first coil;

means for coupling the compensation signal into the at least one second coil/transformer;

at least one of a third coil separated from the first and second coils and a third transformer coupled to the first coil;

a power detector coupled to the at least one third coil/transformer for detecting power at the second frequency at least;

means for adapting the amplitude and the phase of the second frequency in the compensation signal to minimise the power at the power detector.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 further comprising a plurality of the second frequencies, and wherein the adapting means includes means for adapting at least one of the amplitude and the phase of each second frequency independently of other second frequencies.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein the at least one second coil is in substantially the same orientation as the first coil.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein the third coil is substantially shielded from external radio signals.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein the generator includes a processor, preferably a digital signal processor.

33. An apparatus for transmitting power wirelessly by electromagnetic induction comprising:

a driver circuit for generating a substantially rectangular waveform when in isolation by switching between two voltage levels;

a first signal source coupled to the driver input;

an inductive coil coupled to the driver output;

a compensation signal including at least one harmonic frequency of the first signal source;

means for coupling the compensation signal into the inductive coil;

a power detector coupled to the inductive coil, the power detector adapted to detect the power in the at least one harmonic frequency in the inductive coil; and

means for adapting the amplitude and the phase of each harmonic frequency in the compensation signal to minimise the power at the power detector.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the driver circuit includes one of a half-bridge circuit and a full-bridge circuit.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the first signal source is adapted to produce a digital signal at a clock rate higher than the fundamental frequency to be transmitted, such that a fundamental with reduced harmonic levels for the low harmonics is generated.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the first signal source produces a rectangular signal at the fundamental frequency to be transmitted.