Systems and methods for power transfer based on resonance coupling of inductors
First Claim
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1. An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
- a first resonator circuit that includes first and second inductors, wherein the first resonator circuit is connected to a supply voltage;
a second resonator circuit that includes third and fourth inductors, wherein the second resonator circuit is matched to the first resonator circuit, and that includes a transistor that selectively supplies an output voltage to a load,wherein the transistor is driven by a PWM signal,wherein the output voltage is drawn from a node between the third and fourth inductors, andwherein the output voltage has a magnitude less than or equal to the supply voltage; and
an isolation barrier that separates the first and second resonator circuits,wherein the first and second inductors are inductively coupled to the third and fourth inductors, respectively, thereby providing for transfer of power from the first resonator circuit across the isolation barrier to the second resonator circuit.
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Abstract
An integrated circuit (IC) includes first and second resonator circuits and an isolation barrier. The first resonator circuit includes first and second inductors, wherein the first resonator circuit is connected to a supply voltage. The second resonator circuit includes third and fourth inductors, wherein the second resonator circuit is matched to the first resonator circuit. The isolation barrier separates the first and second resonator circuits. The first and second inductors are inductively coupled to the third and fourth inductors, respectively, thereby providing for transfer of power from the first resonator circuit across the isolation barrier to the second resonator circuit.
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13 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
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a first resonator circuit that includes first and second inductors, wherein the first resonator circuit is connected to a supply voltage; a second resonator circuit that includes third and fourth inductors, wherein the second resonator circuit is matched to the first resonator circuit, and that includes a transistor that selectively supplies an output voltage to a load, wherein the transistor is driven by a PWM signal, wherein the output voltage is drawn from a node between the third and fourth inductors, and wherein the output voltage has a magnitude less than or equal to the supply voltage; and an isolation barrier that separates the first and second resonator circuits, wherein the first and second inductors are inductively coupled to the third and fourth inductors, respectively, thereby providing for transfer of power from the first resonator circuit across the isolation barrier to the second resonator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for an integrated circuit (IC), the system comprising:
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a first resonator circuit that includes a first and second inductors and a variable capacitor array, wherein the variable capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel with an inductor-capacitor (LC) tank in the first resonator circuit, and wherein the first resonator circuit is connected to a supply voltage; a second resonator circuit that includes third and fourth inductors; an isolation barrier that separates the first resonator circuit from the second resonator circuit, wherein the first and second inductors are inductively coupled to the third and fourth inductors, respectively, thereby providing for transfer of power from the first resonator circuit across the isolation barrier to the second resonator circuit; and a control module that tunes the first resonator circuit by controlling, based on isolated feedback from the second resonator circuit;
(i) the variable capacitor array and (ii) a switching frequency of the LC tank,wherein the control module includes a capacitance control module that selectively connects or disconnects one capacitor from the variable capacitor array based on the isolated feedback from the second resonator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for tuning a power transfer system, the method comprising:
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transferring power from a first resonator circuit across an isolation barrier to a second resonator circuit, wherein the first resonator circuit includes first and second inductors inductively coupled to third and fourth inductors in the second resonator circuit; generating isolated feedback based on an output voltage supplied by the second resonator circuit to a load; and based on the isolated feedback, controlling (i) a switching frequency of an inductor-capacitor (LC) tank in the first resonator circuit and (ii) a capacitance of a variable capacitor array, wherein controlling the capacitance of the variable capacitor array includes connecting or disconnecting one capacitor of the variable capacitor array based on the isolated feedback. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification