Wireless energy transfer via coupled parasitic resonators

• US 9,126,490 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cook, Nigel P., Widmer, Hanspeter, Sieber, Lukas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US13/283,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20120161696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 : involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wirelessly transferring power using parasitic resonators. In one aspect a wireless power receiver apparatus for powering or charging an electric vehicle is provided. The wireless power receiver apparatus includes a receive circuit including a first coil. The receive circuit is configured to wirelessly receive power so as to power or charge or power the electric vehicle. The wireless power receiver apparatus further includes a passive circuit including a second coil. The passive circuit is configured to wirelessly receive power from a transmit circuit including a third coil. The passive circuit is further configured to wirelessly retransmit power received from the transmit circuit to the receive circuit. The wireless power receiver apparatus further includes a controller configured to displace the second coil from the first coil is provided.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver apparatus for powering or charging an electric vehicle, comprising:

a receive circuit comprising a first coil, the receive circuit being configured to wirelessly receive power so as to power or charge the electric vehicle;

a passive circuit comprising a second coil, the passive circuit being configured to wirelessly receive power from a transmit circuit comprising a third coil, the passive circuit being further configured to wirelessly retransmit power received from the transmit circuit to the receive circuit; and

a controller configured to;

detect misalignment between the third coil of the transmit circuit and the first coil, and

displace the second coil from the first coil in response to the detecting.

2. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first coil and the second coil are substantially coplanar according to a first configuration.

3. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passive circuit has a capacitance and an inductance, and wherein the passive circuit is configured to resonate at a frequency based on the capacitance and the inductance.

4. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passive circuit comprises a self-resonant coil.

5. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receive circuit and the passive circuit are configured to resonate at substantially a common frequency.

6. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passive circuit is a first passive circuit, wherein the transmit circuit further comprises a second passive circuit comprising a fourth coil, and wherein the second passive circuit is configured to wirelessly retransmit power received from the transmit circuit to the first passive circuit.

7. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second coil is housed within a cavity in an underside portion of the electric vehicle.

8. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passive circuit is coupled to an electric vehicle only via a mechanical coupling.

9. A method for wirelessly transferring power between a transmit circuit and an electric vehicle, comprising:

wirelessly receiving power at a receive circuit comprising a first coil;

wirelessly receiving power at a passive circuit comprising a second coil from the transmit circuit;

wirelessly retransmitting power received from the transmit circuit to the receive circuit via the passive circuit;

providing the wirelessly transmitted power from the receive circuit to an energy storage device of the electric vehicle;

detecting misalignment between a third coil of the transmit circuit and the first coil; and

displacing the second coil from the first coil in response to the detecting.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first coil and the second coil are substantially coplanar according to a first configuration.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the passive circuit comprises a self-resonant coil.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the passive circuit is a first passive circuit, and wherein wirelessly receiving power comprises wirelessly receiving power from a second passive circuit of the transmit circuit.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second coil is housed within a cavity in an underside portion of the electric vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the passive circuit is coupled to an electric vehicle only via a mechanical coupling.

15. A wireless power receiver apparatus for powering or charging an electric vehicle, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving power configured to wirelessly receive power so as to power or charge the electric vehicle;

means for passively wirelessly relaying power configured to wirelessly receive power from a means for wirelessly transmitting power, the means for passively wirelessly relaying power being further configured to wirelessly retransmit power received from the means for wirelessly transmitting power to the means for wirelessly receiving power; and

means for controlling configured to displace the means for passively wirelessly relaying power from the means for wirelessly receiving power in response to a detection of misalignment between the means for wirelessly transmitting power and the means for wirelessly receiving power.

16. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving power and the means for passively wirelessly relaying power are substantially coplanar according to a first configuration.

17. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power comprises a self-resonant coil.

18. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power is a first means for passively wirelessly relaying power, the means for wirelessly transmitting further comprising a second means for passively wirelessly relaying power, the second means for passively wirelessly relaying power configured to wirelessly retransmit power received from the means for wirelessly transmitting to the first means for passively wirelessly relaying power.

19. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power is housed within a cavity in an underside portion of the electric vehicle.

20. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power is coupled to an electric vehicle only via a mechanical coupling.

21. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving power comprises a receive circuit comprising a first coil, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power comprises passive circuit comprising a second coil, and wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting power comprises a transmit circuit.

22. The wireless power receiver apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for controlling comprises a controller.

23. A wireless power transmitter apparatus for powering or charging an electric vehicle, comprising:

a transmit circuit comprising a first coil, the transmit circuit configured to wirelessly transmit power;

a passive circuit comprising a second coil, the passive circuit being configured to wirelessly receive power from the transmit circuit, the passive circuit being further configured to wirelessly retransmit power received from the transmit circuit to a receive circuit, the receive circuit comprising a third coil and configured to provide power so as to power or charge the electric vehicle; and

a controller configured to displace the second coil from the first coil in response to a detection of misalignment between the first coil and the third coil.

24. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first coil and the second coil are substantially coplanar according to a first configuration.

25. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 23, wherein the passive circuit comprises a self-resonant coil.

26. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transmit circuit and the passive circuit are configured to resonate at substantially a common frequency.

27. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 23, wherein the passive circuit is a first passive circuit, the receive circuit further comprising a second passive circuit comprising a fourth coil, the second passive circuit configured to wirelessly receive power from the first passive circuit.

28. A method for wirelessly transferring power between a transmit circuit and an electric vehicle, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting power from a transmit circuit comprising a first coil;

wirelessly receiving power at a passive circuit comprising a second coil from the transmit circuit;

wirelessly retransmitting the wirelessly received power to a receive circuit comprising a third coil via the passive circuit so as to provide power to power or charge the electric vehicle;

detecting misalignment between the first coil and a third coil of the receive circuit; and

displacing the second coil from the first coil in response to the detecting.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first coil and the second coil are substantially coplanar according to a first configuration.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive circuit comprises a self-resonant coil.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the passive circuit is a first passive circuit, and wherein wirelessly transmitting power comprises wirelessly transmitting power to a second passive circuit of the receive circuit via the first passive circuit.

32. A wireless power transmitter apparatus for powering or charging an electric vehicle, comprising:

means for wirelessly transmitting power;

means for passively wirelessly relaying power configured to wirelessly receive power from the means for wirelessly transmitting power, the means for passively wirelessly relaying power being further configured to wirelessly retransmit power received from the means for wirelessly transmitting power to a means for wirelessly receiving power, the means for wirelessly receiving power configured to provide power so as to power or charge the electric vehicle; and

means for controlling configured to displace the means for passively wirelessly relaying power from the means for wirelessly transmitting power in response to a detection of misalignment between the means for wirelessly transmitting power and the means for wirelessly receiving power.

33. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting power and the means for passively wirelessly relaying power are substantially coplanar according to a first configuration.

34. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power comprises a self-resonant coil.

35. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power is a first means for passively wirelessly relaying power, the means for wirelessly receiving power further comprising a second means for passively wirelessly relaying power, the second means for passively wirelessly relaying power configured to wirelessly receive power from the first means for passively wirelessly relaying power.

36. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting power comprises a transmit circuit comprising a first coil, wherein the means for passively wirelessly relaying power comprises a passive circuit comprising a second coil, and wherein the means for wirelessly receiving power comprises a receive circuit.

37. The wireless power transmitter apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for controlling comprises a controller.