Inductively coupled ballast circuit
First Claim
1. A wireless power supply for supplying wireless power to an electronic component, the electronic component being absent from physical interconnection with the wireless power supply and absent from electrical connection with the wireless power supply, the wireless power supply and the electronic component being separable and capable of inductively coupling when in sufficient proximity to each other, the wireless power supply comprising:
- a resonant tank circuit configured to generate a varying magnetic field in response to an AC current;
an analog control circuit in electrical communication with the resonant tank circuit, the analog control circuit configured to adjust the frequency of the AC current supplied to the resonant tank circuit;
a digital control unit having an output in electrical communication with the resonant tank circuit, said digital control unit configured to monitor and control the varying magnetic field generated by the resonant tank circuit; and
a ballast feedback circuit electrically connected to the resonant tank circuit and the digital control unit, the ballast feedback circuit configured to provide feedback to the digital control unit indicative of the energy provided by the resonant tank circuit to the electronic component during operation for monitoring the varying magnetic field generated by the resonant tank circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wireless power supply for supplying wireless power to an electronic component, the electronic component being absent from physical interconnection with the wireless power supply and absent from electrical connection with the wireless power supply, the wireless power supply and the electronic component being separable and capable of inductively coupling when in sufficient proximity to each other, the wireless power supply comprising:
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a resonant tank circuit configured to generate a varying magnetic field in response to an AC current; an analog control circuit in electrical communication with the resonant tank circuit, the analog control circuit configured to adjust the frequency of the AC current supplied to the resonant tank circuit; a digital control unit having an output in electrical communication with the resonant tank circuit, said digital control unit configured to monitor and control the varying magnetic field generated by the resonant tank circuit; and a ballast feedback circuit electrically connected to the resonant tank circuit and the digital control unit, the ballast feedback circuit configured to provide feedback to the digital control unit indicative of the energy provided by the resonant tank circuit to the electronic component during operation for monitoring the varying magnetic field generated by the resonant tank circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless power supply for wirelessly supplying energy to an electronic component separable from the wireless power supply, the electronic component being absent from physical interconnection with the wireless power supply and absent from electrical connection with the wireless power supply, the electronic component and the wireless power supply capable of inductively coupling when in sufficient proximity to each other, the wireless power supply comprising:
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a resonant tank circuit configured to generate a varying magnetic field in response to an AC current; an analog circuit that provides AC current to the resonant tank circuit; an analog control circuit with a digital an output in electrical communication with the analog circuit for controlling the analog circuit; a digital control unit having an output in electrical communication with the analog control circuit, the digital control unit monitors the resonant tank circuit and controls the analog control circuit; and a ballast feedback circuit that provides feedback to the digital control unit during operation for monitoring the energy being provided by the inductive coupler. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of manufacturing a wireless power supply for supplying wireless power to an electronic component, the electronic component being absent from physical interconnection with the wireless power supply and absent from electrical connection with the wireless power supply, the wireless power supply and the electronic component being separable and capable of inductively coupling when in sufficient proximity to each other, the method of manufacturing comprising:
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providing a resonant tank circuit configured to generate a varying magnetic field in response to an AC current; electrically connecting an analog control circuit to the resonant tank circuit, the analog control circuit configured to adjust the frequency of the AC current supplied to the resonant tank circuit; electrically connecting a digital control unit to the resonant tank circuit, the control unit having an output, wherein the control unit is configured to monitor and control the varying magnetic field generated by the resonant tank circuit; and electrically connecting a ballast feedback circuit to the resonant tank circuit and the digital control unit, the ballast feedback signal configured to provide feedback indicative of the energy provided by the resonant tank circuit to the electronic component to the digital control unit during operation for monitoring the varying magnetic field generated by the resonant tank circuit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification