Efficiency monitor for inductive power transmission
DCFirst Claim
1. An efficiency monitor for monitoring power transmission by an inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary coil wired to a power supply, for inductively coupling with a secondary coil wired to an electric load, the efficiency monitor comprising:
- at least one input power monitor for measuring input power received by the primary coil from the power supply;
at least one output power monitor for measuring output power received inductively by the secondary coil from the primary coil;
at least one processor for determining an index of power-loss indicative of the efficiency of an inductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil; and
at least one communication channel for communicating the input power and the output power to the processorwherein the index of power-loss comprises at least one of;
an efficiency quotient Q, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power, andan efficiency differential Δ
, defined as the difference between the output power and the input power.
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Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
An efficiency monitor for monitoring the efficiency of power transmission by an inductive power outlet. The efficiency monitor includes an input power monitor, for measuring the input power delivered to the primary coil, and an output power monitor, for measuring the output power received by the secondary coil. The input and output powers are used by a processor to determine an index of power-loss. A circuit breaker may be used to disconnect the inductive power outlet in case of excessive power loss.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An efficiency monitor for monitoring power transmission by an inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary coil wired to a power supply, for inductively coupling with a secondary coil wired to an electric load, the efficiency monitor comprising:
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at least one input power monitor for measuring input power received by the primary coil from the power supply; at least one output power monitor for measuring output power received inductively by the secondary coil from the primary coil; at least one processor for determining an index of power-loss indicative of the efficiency of an inductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil; and at least one communication channel for communicating the input power and the output power to the processor wherein the index of power-loss comprises at least one of; an efficiency quotient Q, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power, and an efficiency differential Δ
, defined as the difference between the output power and the input power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring the efficiency of power transmission by an inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary coil wired to a power supply, for inductively coupling with a secondary coil wired to an electric load, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the input power received by the primary coil from the power supply; measuring the output power received inductively by the secondary coil from the primary coil; communicating the input power to a processor; communicating the output power to the processor; and the processor determining an index of power-loss indicative of the efficiency of an inductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil; wherein the index of power-loss comprises at least one of; an efficiency quotient Q, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power; and an efficiency differential Δ
, defined as the difference between the output power and the input power. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An inductive power outlet comprising at least one primary coil, for inductively coupling with a secondary coil wired to an electric load, the inductive power outlet further comprising an efficiency monitor comprising:
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at least one input power monitor configured to measure input power received by the primary coil from the power supply; at least one signal detector configured to detect signals carrying data pertaining to output power received by the secondary coil; at least one processor configured to receive data pertaining to the input power and the output power, the processor further configured to determine an index of power-loss indicative of the efficiency of an inductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil; wherein the index of power-loss comprises at least one of; an efficiency quotient Q, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power; and an efficiency differential Δ
, defined as the difference between the output power and the input power. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification