Adaptive inductive power supply with communication

• US 8,538,330 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US13/450,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20120205989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 455571-572, 455/127.1, 455/41.1, 701/50, 307/104, 375/239, 340/10.4, 363/21.02
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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: H02M 3/015 with means for adaptation of resonance frequency, e.g. by modification of capacitance or inductance of resonance circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/001 : Current supply source at the exchanger providing current to substations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/25 : Circuit arrangements for protecting against overcurrent
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 : the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

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.

Claims

1. A contactless power supply for supplying power wirelessly to a remote device, the contactless power supply being physically separable from the remote device, comprising:

a tank circuit having a primary for transferring power to the remote device by an inductive coupling;

drive circuitry configured to apply power to said tank circuit;

a receiver configured to receive information from said remote device; and

a control system coupled to said drive circuitry and said receiver, said control system configured to control operation of said drive circuitry, said control system configured to vary power by selectively inserting a phase delay in said contactless power supply, and wherein said control system is electrically separate from the remote device.

2. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a digital signal processor configured to insert said phase delay.

3. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a controller configured to vary power based on said information and phase delay circuitry configured to vary power by selectively inserting a phase delay.

4. The contactless power supply of claim 3 wherein said phase delay circuitry receives feedback.

5. The contactless power supply of claim 3 wherein said phase delay circuitry includes a digital signal processor and a wave shaper, wherein said digital signal processer and said wave shaper are configured to selectively insert said phase delay.

6. The contactless power supply of claim 3 wherein said phase delay circuitry is operatively coupled to said drive circuitry, wherein said phase delay circuitry is configured to vary power by throttling a phase.

7. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to throttle a phase to control amplitude of power wirelessly supplied to a secondary.

8. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to control said phase delay as a delay line.

9. The contactless power supply of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to vary power by throttling a phase.

10. A method of operating an inductive power supply to supply wireless power to a remote device, the inductive power supply being physically separable from the remote device, the method including the steps of:

establishing an inductive coupling between the inductive power supply and the remote device;

transferring power to the remote device via the inductive coupling;

receiving, in the inductive power supply, information from the remote device;

based upon said receiving step, varying power transferred to the remote device via the inductive coupling; and

selectively inserting, in the inductive power supply, a phase delay to vary power transferred to the remote device, wherein the inductive power supply is electrically separate from the remote device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said selectively inserting includes throttling a phase.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein throttling the phase affects amplitude of power wirelessly supplied to a secondary.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said selectively inserting includes controlling the phase delay as a delay line.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the inductive power supply includes a control system configured to vary power transferred to the remote device and selectively insert the phase delay.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the control system includes phase delay circuitry configured to selectively insert the phase delay.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the phase delay circuitry includes a digital signal processor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the phase delay circuitry includes a wave shaper, and wherein the digital signal processor and the wave shaper are configured to selectively insert the phase delay.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the phase delay circuitry receives feedback.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the control system includes a controller configured to vary power transferred to the remote device.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the control system includes a digital signal processor configured to insert the phase delay.

21. An inductive power supply system for transferring power wirelessly from an inductive power supply to a remote device, said inductive power supply system comprising:

said inductive power supply including;

a tank circuit having a primary configured to transfer power via an inductive coupling;

drive circuitry configured to apply power to said tank circuit;

communication circuitry configured to receive information;

a control system coupled to said drive circuitry and said communication circuitry, said control system configured to control operation of said drive circuitry based on said information and to vary power by selectively inserting a phase delay, wherein said control system is electrically separate from said remote device; and

said remote device physically separable from said inductive power supply, said remote device including;

a receiver configured to receive power from said inductive power supply via said inductive coupling;

remote device communication circuitry configured to transmit said information to said inductive power supply;

a load operatively coupled to said receiver, wherein said receiver provides said power to said load;

wherein selectively inserting said phase delay in said inductive power supply controls power wirelessly supplied to said receiver via said inductive coupling and without electrical connections between said inductive power supply and said remote device.

22. The inductive power supply system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said control system includes:

a controller coupled to said drive circuitry and said communication circuitry, said controller configured to vary power based on said information; and

phase delay circuitry coupled to said drive circuitry, said phase delay circuitry configured to vary power by selectively inserting a phase delay.

23. The inductive power supply system of claim 21 wherein said receiver includes a secondary configured to form said inductive coupling with said tank circuit, and wherein said remote device communication circuitry communicates said information via said inductive coupling between said secondary and said tank circuit.

24. The inductive power supply system of claim 21 wherein said selective inserting includes throttling a phase.

25. The inductive power supply system of claim 24 wherein throttling said phase affects amplitude of power wirelessly supplied to said receiver.